Last weekend was MiniMe's solo/ensemble competition. Daddy O couldn't attend so I videotaped it for him (and the Grands) They did a nice job and were awarded a Division 2 rating. They were only one point away from a Division 1.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Past, Present and Future Projects
Finally finished the Monkey socks this morning.
Details:
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug Castegna
Needles: Addi Turbo 40" size1 (Magic Loop)
Modifications: none
Notes: I LOVE this yarn. I will definitely be picking up more of this in the future for more socks and maybe even a small shawl or something. If I could change anything it would be for the pattern to be toe-up. I just prefer toe-up and I came this >< close to running out of yarn before getting the kitchenering done. Thankfully I remembered that I had a small bit I had swatched with hiding by my monitor in the office. Otherwise, this yarn combined with this pattern will easily make a pair with one skein.
BTW, I did NOT shave my legs for these pics, I still need the insulation until spring is officially here!
The Stahman Matthew Scarf is also off the needles. I love how it all worked out. I conforms to the neck so nicely. As usual, the Cascade 220 SuperWash shows off stitches like no one's business. (Almost too much so, don't look too closely, there are a couple mistakes.)
Yarn PrOn after the cut...
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Music of my Life
I saw this meme on Jo's blog today. This one sounded fun so I ran with it.
Directions: If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
7. Don't skip songs.
My Movie:
1. Opening credits: She Has No Time - Keane
2. Waking up: Will You Still Love Me - Melissa Etheridge
3. First day of school: Tender When I Wanna Be - Mary Chapin Carpenter
4. Fight song: Ruins - Melissa Etheridge
5. Breaking up: Sleep - My Chemical Romance
6. Happiness: Love Shack - B-52s
7. Life's okay: I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance (Damn, aint that the truth!)
8. Mental breakdown: Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes
9. Driving: Clocks - Coldplay
10. Flashback: Deep Dark Truthful Mirror - Elvis Costello
11. Getting back together: Freedom - Blues Traveler
12. Wedding song: She's Not For You - Willie Nelson (Should I tell Mr. Mess?)
13. Birth of first child: Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
14. Final battle scene: In Bloom - Nirvana (I can so see Brian DePalma making this work.)
15. Death scene: Add It Up - Violent Femmes
16. Funeral song: Girlfriend Is Better - Talking Heads
17. End credits: I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Directions: If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?
1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
7. Don't skip songs.
My Movie:
1. Opening credits: She Has No Time - Keane
2. Waking up: Will You Still Love Me - Melissa Etheridge
3. First day of school: Tender When I Wanna Be - Mary Chapin Carpenter
4. Fight song: Ruins - Melissa Etheridge
5. Breaking up: Sleep - My Chemical Romance
6. Happiness: Love Shack - B-52s
7. Life's okay: I'm Not Okay (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance (Damn, aint that the truth!)
8. Mental breakdown: Gone Daddy Gone - Violent Femmes
9. Driving: Clocks - Coldplay
10. Flashback: Deep Dark Truthful Mirror - Elvis Costello
11. Getting back together: Freedom - Blues Traveler
12. Wedding song: She's Not For You - Willie Nelson (Should I tell Mr. Mess?)
13. Birth of first child: Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
14. Final battle scene: In Bloom - Nirvana (I can so see Brian DePalma making this work.)
15. Death scene: Add It Up - Violent Femmes
16. Funeral song: Girlfriend Is Better - Talking Heads
17. End credits: I Can't Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
Stage Four
I think I'm officially in the midst of stage four of the withdrawal process. I can only describe it as the stage where you try desperately to stay in control because the yawning abyss of all that brought you to this point in the first place is dangerously close and will take advantage of the slightest chance to suck you back in.
To quote Michael Corleone, "I thought I was free. But it sucked me back in!" But in my case it is depression and chaos rather than the Cosa Nostra.
Clarity has come painfully back into my life this week. I'm seeing things about myself, my relationships, my family, and the world that the medications had clouded over for too long. In an effort to not allow these things to get to me I have to be brutally honest with myself and take control of every aspect of my life that I can. I'm trying to do it with a sense of balance as to not upset the applecart too much in the process. My friends and family are used to me now as an easy going, albeit opinionated, woman. Now I'm letting some of the actions follow the opinions and that is hard for everyone to handle at times.
Example: One benefit of my recovery has been that I'm retaking control of my home. Things are getting reorganized and cleaned. I'm staying on top of finances, school work, chores, etc. Mr. O has appreciated this I know. On the other hand I no longer can casually overlook when my hard work gets messed up or my reorganization process gets ignored and shit isn't put away where it belongs, per my new system. I'm trying to be patient and realize that change is fluid and will take time to fully take effect and become the norm. But it is still frustrating and I'm currently walking on emotional eggshells as it is so it is very easy for me to snap.
I happen to be loud, opinionated, and have a rather twisted sense of humor. I also know how to behave in polite company, use proper etiquette, how to initiate a conversation with a new acquaintance and politely ask them about themselves and listen to their answers. But it is those first three rather innate qualities about my personality that stick out in a person’s mind after meeting me. It is also those same qualities along with my extreme sensitivities and emotions that get me into the most trouble in my personal and social life. I know there is more to me than the outward bravado and my closest friends and family know that too. They know there is as much Oprah in me as there is Paris Hilton. I have to relearn now how to bring the two sides together and give them both equal airtime so that wrong impressions aren’t set and assumptions made.
Another thing that has snapped into clarity for me this week is how depression and being emotionally "out of the norm." Is viewed and handled by our society. Especially when in regards to women, there is no denying that women's health issues, both mental and physical, have been given the short shrift by the scientific community for ages. Women have made great inroads in the areas of breast cancer research, infertility, heart disease and many other diseases. But mental health is still a very taboo subject. Add to it that society has a very specific ideal of how a woman should behave socially and privately I’ve come to see that if a person, a more commonly, a woman, doesn’t fit into societies ideal they are made to feel that they have to find a way to go along to get along. Antidepressants are one way to do that. Therefore even if when on these meds you still don’t quite fit, you can cope with the rejection and being an outcast more easily. The Stepfordizing of the American Woman continues. It needs to stop.
If you have a friend, sister, mother, wife, daughter, niece or other female in your life that you care about whose behavior at times can be embarrassing, rebellious, maudlin, angry, loud or otherwise just not “normal,” before you make a rash judgment take a second to think before you say any of the following things to them,
Not surprising that young girls are cutting themselves, being promiscuous, drinking and smoking, doing drugs, committing suicide and otherwise hating themselves. Also not surprising that more and more middle age women are doing the same things and they “should know better.” We do and with support from those around us we can avoid these landmines and be functional human-beings. Some of us do need to be medicated and there shouldn’t be any judgment about that decision. Some of us just need to know we aren’t alone and that there is at least one other person out there that understands, has been through it before, forgives us of our ‘sins,’ and will be with us when we’re loud and obnoxious and when we’re quiet and reflective and know that both sides are “normal” for us. I ask everyone that has read to this point to try to be that person for at least one person in your life. I know it isn’t an easy role to play in a relationship, but believe me when I say, it can change a life, and maybe even the world.
To quote Michael Corleone, "I thought I was free. But it sucked me back in!" But in my case it is depression and chaos rather than the Cosa Nostra.
Clarity has come painfully back into my life this week. I'm seeing things about myself, my relationships, my family, and the world that the medications had clouded over for too long. In an effort to not allow these things to get to me I have to be brutally honest with myself and take control of every aspect of my life that I can. I'm trying to do it with a sense of balance as to not upset the applecart too much in the process. My friends and family are used to me now as an easy going, albeit opinionated, woman. Now I'm letting some of the actions follow the opinions and that is hard for everyone to handle at times.
Example: One benefit of my recovery has been that I'm retaking control of my home. Things are getting reorganized and cleaned. I'm staying on top of finances, school work, chores, etc. Mr. O has appreciated this I know. On the other hand I no longer can casually overlook when my hard work gets messed up or my reorganization process gets ignored and shit isn't put away where it belongs, per my new system. I'm trying to be patient and realize that change is fluid and will take time to fully take effect and become the norm. But it is still frustrating and I'm currently walking on emotional eggshells as it is so it is very easy for me to snap.
I happen to be loud, opinionated, and have a rather twisted sense of humor. I also know how to behave in polite company, use proper etiquette, how to initiate a conversation with a new acquaintance and politely ask them about themselves and listen to their answers. But it is those first three rather innate qualities about my personality that stick out in a person’s mind after meeting me. It is also those same qualities along with my extreme sensitivities and emotions that get me into the most trouble in my personal and social life. I know there is more to me than the outward bravado and my closest friends and family know that too. They know there is as much Oprah in me as there is Paris Hilton. I have to relearn now how to bring the two sides together and give them both equal airtime so that wrong impressions aren’t set and assumptions made.
Another thing that has snapped into clarity for me this week is how depression and being emotionally "out of the norm." Is viewed and handled by our society. Especially when in regards to women, there is no denying that women's health issues, both mental and physical, have been given the short shrift by the scientific community for ages. Women have made great inroads in the areas of breast cancer research, infertility, heart disease and many other diseases. But mental health is still a very taboo subject. Add to it that society has a very specific ideal of how a woman should behave socially and privately I’ve come to see that if a person, a more commonly, a woman, doesn’t fit into societies ideal they are made to feel that they have to find a way to go along to get along. Antidepressants are one way to do that. Therefore even if when on these meds you still don’t quite fit, you can cope with the rejection and being an outcast more easily. The Stepfordizing of the American Woman continues. It needs to stop.
If you have a friend, sister, mother, wife, daughter, niece or other female in your life that you care about whose behavior at times can be embarrassing, rebellious, maudlin, angry, loud or otherwise just not “normal,” before you make a rash judgment take a second to think before you say any of the following things to them,
“You are so embarrassing, why can’t you act like everyone else?”
“She’s so loud that’s not ladylike.”
“Don’t you care what other people think about you?”
“I don’t ‘get’ her.”
“She’s too moody.”
“You are so irrational.”
“You need to stop acting like that; no one will want to be your friend.”
“The reason you are unpopular is because you’re too emotional.”
“You make people uncomfortable.”
“You don’t fit in, you should try harder.”
“I was embarrassed to be your friend.”
“Drink this/smoke this/try this medication, it will mellow you out so you are easier to deal with/don’t care what people say about you.”
Not surprising that young girls are cutting themselves, being promiscuous, drinking and smoking, doing drugs, committing suicide and otherwise hating themselves. Also not surprising that more and more middle age women are doing the same things and they “should know better.” We do and with support from those around us we can avoid these landmines and be functional human-beings. Some of us do need to be medicated and there shouldn’t be any judgment about that decision. Some of us just need to know we aren’t alone and that there is at least one other person out there that understands, has been through it before, forgives us of our ‘sins,’ and will be with us when we’re loud and obnoxious and when we’re quiet and reflective and know that both sides are “normal” for us. I ask everyone that has read to this point to try to be that person for at least one person in your life. I know it isn’t an easy role to play in a relationship, but believe me when I say, it can change a life, and maybe even the world.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
unReality
There has been a popular meme going around recently about, "Tell us about 5 *weird* things about you."
I have considered participating in it.
But I haven't.
Why?
Duh!
Everything about me is pretty much weird.
But I do have a true confession time here.
I'm a reality tv whore.
But within limits.
I've never watched one episode of Survivor.
or Amazing Race
or The Real World.
I didn't catch the 1st season of American Idol
except the finals,
Kelly vs. Justin!!!
Squee!
and I thought it was a total teeny-bopper cluster-fuck.
But then along came
Ruben vs. Clay!!!
OMG!
I suck,
I slurped along with Joe Millionaire
and the Real Housewives of the OC.
(did I mention that Desperate Housewives gives me hives?)
If you have a ghost
or denomic posession,
I'm your bitch.
Hello, Jason and Grant!
They're here to help.
Who ya gonna call?
Girl Children tow the line
why?
Because,
I may just replace their mommy with
some whack-a-do
ultra-conservative/liberal
vegan/evangelical
cleaning-fiend-slob
Don't make me
call my
Super Nanny!!!
Have I even mentioned
Talk Shows?
Oprah is swahili for G*d
Dr. Phil has the forehead of doom
Montel has Sylvia talking to dead people
and Tyra is fierce!
*end*
GothGirl and I have been saying for a long time now that we should have our own RealiTV Show. Or at the very least our own podcast. But it really needs to be in real time, you know the saying, "you really had to be there." That's us. We're really freaking entertaining, but we don't translate well after the fact.
Case in point; you really should have been here tonight while we watched the guys sing on American Idol. We said shit Randy and Simon reiterated a good 5 minutes before their producers put it on the air. Our stinging commentary about Paula's alleged drug use and why people like SUNDANCE! HEAD! are still on this show were straight up brilliant!!!! Forget Joan & Melissa, they are industry hacks, the future is Beth(Snarkdog) & Sarah(GothGrrl). Look to us for your entertainment industry bullshit meter adjustment.
I have considered participating in it.
But I haven't.
Why?
Duh!
Everything about me is pretty much weird.
But I do have a true confession time here.
I'm a reality tv whore.
But within limits.
I've never watched one episode of Survivor.
or Amazing Race
or The Real World.
I didn't catch the 1st season of American Idol
except the finals,
Kelly vs. Justin!!!
Squee!
and I thought it was a total teeny-bopper cluster-fuck.
But then along came
Ruben vs. Clay!!!
OMG!
I suck,
I slurped along with Joe Millionaire
and the Real Housewives of the OC.
(did I mention that Desperate Housewives gives me hives?)
If you have a ghost
or denomic posession,
I'm your bitch.
Hello, Jason and Grant!
They're here to help.
Who ya gonna call?
Girl Children tow the line
why?
Because,
I may just replace their mommy with
some whack-a-do
ultra-conservative/liberal
vegan/evangelical
cleaning-fiend-slob
Don't make me
call my
Super Nanny!!!
Have I even mentioned
Talk Shows?
Oprah is swahili for G*d
Dr. Phil has the forehead of doom
Montel has Sylvia talking to dead people
and Tyra is fierce!
*end*
GothGirl and I have been saying for a long time now that we should have our own RealiTV Show. Or at the very least our own podcast. But it really needs to be in real time, you know the saying, "you really had to be there." That's us. We're really freaking entertaining, but we don't translate well after the fact.
Case in point; you really should have been here tonight while we watched the guys sing on American Idol. We said shit Randy and Simon reiterated a good 5 minutes before their producers put it on the air. Our stinging commentary about Paula's alleged drug use and why people like SUNDANCE! HEAD! are still on this show were straight up brilliant!!!! Forget Joan & Melissa, they are industry hacks, the future is Beth(Snarkdog) & Sarah(GothGrrl). Look to us for your entertainment industry bullshit meter adjustment.
Scottish food for thought
No not haggis, Craig Ferguson's monologue. I've recently started watching the Late, Late Show and last night's monologue (February 19) was both funny and painful and above all, honest. Bravo Craig.
***to watch the clip click on the link for "Show and Tell" for February 19***
***to watch the clip click on the link for "Show and Tell" for February 19***
The Pipes, the pipes, they are a' calling!
I've been saying for years that I wanted to go to Scotland for my 40th birthday. Except that my birthday is in March and the weather in Scotland really sucks in the spring. So Mr. Mess just booked us a family trip to Edinburgh and points north, via London for August 2007!
We are using a combination of our Hilton Grand Vacation Club points, Marriott points, Hilton Honors points, American Express points, and different airline miles to make our flights and accommodations almost nothing out of pocket. Makes all these weeks of Mr. Mess being on the road and the girls and I alone here in the cold and snow worth it. This wasn't an easy feat to accomplish. Mad props to the Man for spending his entire day Saturday online and on the phone making it all come together.
The Auld Town Band Pipes - Scotland The Brave [Album Version].wma
We are using a combination of our Hilton Grand Vacation Club points, Marriott points, Hilton Honors points, American Express points, and different airline miles to make our flights and accommodations almost nothing out of pocket. Makes all these weeks of Mr. Mess being on the road and the girls and I alone here in the cold and snow worth it. This wasn't an easy feat to accomplish. Mad props to the Man for spending his entire day Saturday online and on the phone making it all come together.
The Auld Town Band Pipes - Scotland The Brave [Album Version].wma
Thursday, February 15, 2007
On the eve of yet another Knitting Circle day I have to admit a shameful fact.
Last week I loudly (do I ever do it any other way?) proclaimed that I don't read most of the "popular" knit-blogs. Much to the shock and horror of those gathered around the table I admitted that I wasn't a regular reader of the Yarn Harlot. I didn't particularly have anything against the formidable Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, I just tend to not jump on popular parade floats if you get what I mean. SPMcP was already a well-known name in the knit blogosphere when I happened upon the scene. At the time I figured she was a Janey-Come-Lately to the "knitting is now cool and hip" zietgeist and I don't suffer posers.
I've read a post or two when I've seen them referenced by other bloggers or on the knitty board. But I resisted the urge to go all *Oprah Book Club* and join the fawning masses. But just about 15 minutes ago I saw yet another reference to her, more specifically, to her Valentine's Day entry and I take it all back. There is a valid reason she is writing books and has a huge fanbase. She is a great writer and damn, after a bit of further looking about, a damn fine knitter too (in addition she's Canadian, I'm from Michigan so I'm practically Canadian too, eh?) . It takes a strong woman to admit her failings, this is me admitting mine. However, I don't feel it is really necessary to add her blog to my blogroll. I mean really, is there anyone out there in the knitblog world besides me that isn't already on that bandwagon? Anyone? Bueller?
Last week I loudly (do I ever do it any other way?) proclaimed that I don't read most of the "popular" knit-blogs. Much to the shock and horror of those gathered around the table I admitted that I wasn't a regular reader of the Yarn Harlot. I didn't particularly have anything against the formidable Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, I just tend to not jump on popular parade floats if you get what I mean. SPMcP was already a well-known name in the knit blogosphere when I happened upon the scene. At the time I figured she was a Janey-Come-Lately to the "knitting is now cool and hip" zietgeist and I don't suffer posers.
I've read a post or two when I've seen them referenced by other bloggers or on the knitty board. But I resisted the urge to go all *Oprah Book Club* and join the fawning masses. But just about 15 minutes ago I saw yet another reference to her, more specifically, to her Valentine's Day entry and I take it all back. There is a valid reason she is writing books and has a huge fanbase. She is a great writer and damn, after a bit of further looking about, a damn fine knitter too (in addition she's Canadian, I'm from Michigan so I'm practically Canadian too, eh?) . It takes a strong woman to admit her failings, this is me admitting mine. However, I don't feel it is really necessary to add her blog to my blogroll. I mean really, is there anyone out there in the knitblog world besides me that isn't already on that bandwagon? Anyone? Bueller?
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Big Fat Hairy Valentine's Day
In an effort to just do something nice for those I love today I started with doing Little E's hair before school. Last night she asked if I'd help her do something "extra pretty" for Valentine's Day. So we set the top section in soft curlers. This morning we took that section of hair and pulled it back and clipped it with a pretty barrette. I think we accomplished our goal.
1418
If you are allergic to the common canine don't continue after the break!
If you are allergic to the common canine don't continue after the break!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Eclectic Books from an Eclectic Library
I've been adding all my books to my Library Thing. I knew I had a variety of interests and a small problem with overbuying at the book store but sheesh! This is ridiculous. Especially considering how many boxes and bags of books I've sold on Half.com, garage sales, church rummage sales, and given away to friends and Goodwill over the past two years or so. I still haven't gone down to the "dead files" on the built in bookshelves in the basement or gone threw my daughter's rooms for favorite children's books. I've raised at least one daughter that has the same impulse shopping tendencies when she's in a book store. The other one isn't as interested in books but in the off chance that I can capture her interest, I'm always buying her more hoping that "this one" will be the one to turn her on to the wonder of books.
Because my collection is so weird, wild and eclectic I made it its own page instead of adding it to my already overburdened sidebar. So if you are interested in seeing what is on my shelves and the minutae of information I've tried to filter through my brain over the years, visit My Library Page.
Because my collection is so weird, wild and eclectic I made it its own page instead of adding it to my already overburdened sidebar. So if you are interested in seeing what is on my shelves and the minutae of information I've tried to filter through my brain over the years, visit My Library Page.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Do as I say, not as I do
When one is knitting lace, especially with black yarn, one should always put in a life line. This is particularly important when one is beginning a new chart.
How do I know this? Other than having read this valuable bit of advice on numerous websites and knitting books. Experience is a powerful teacher.
You see, I've been working on the Swallowtail Shawl and finally got to the end of the first two charts and began the lily chart. First off those stupid "Nupps" are a total pain in the ass, secondly, I was knitting this late at night, in bed, while tired. The inevitable screw up occurred as scripted by the knitting imps. The next morning I was required to admit defeat and figure out a way to rip back. I really didn't relish the idea of "tinking" back three rows of this pattern, nupps included. Had I inserted a life line before proceeding to the new chart this would be no problem.
But of course, I hadn't. So I had to do the next best thing, do it now. I sat myself up at the kitchen table in the bright sunlight and with the strong overhead light illuminating my way. I carefully threaded a Chibi with a bright purple sock yarn and tried my best to thread it through a row of stockinette stitches.
Once I was back to my life line, I took a smaller needle (size 1) and carefully picked up my stitches. I personally wasn't too careful about whether or not I had my stitches positioned on the needle correctly. I'm pretty good at reading my stitches and if I came across a stitch that was backward I would just knit into the correct side of the loop.
I'm happy to say that I currently have the correct number of stitches on my needles and am preparing to proceed. First of all I'm going to go google "Swallowtail Shawl nupps" and decide how I want to handle those bastards.
Progress on the Dog Poop aka Monkey socks is now past the heel turns. Photos coming in the near future...
Friday, February 9, 2007
Book 3 in a series....
No time for a *real* post.
But today's Knitting Circle produced the next title in my ongoing series; "Men Who Knit and the Sheep That Fear Them"
Reserve your copy today on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
But today's Knitting Circle produced the next title in my ongoing series; "Men Who Knit and the Sheep That Fear Them"
Reserve your copy today on Amazon and Barnes & Noble!
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Fickle is as Fickle does
I took the Theme Switcher plug in out because it wasn't performing as advertised. Plus I don't have all the themes I've downloaded personalized to my satisfaction.
For now (like the next 10 minutes minimum) I'm sticking with the default theme and trying to customize it. Can y'all see the new image for my header? When I have time I'd like to do some fun customized headers, maybe that will keep me busy enough that I won't feel the urge to switch themes so much
(but I doubt it!)
For now (like the next 10 minutes minimum) I'm sticking with the default theme and trying to customize it. Can y'all see the new image for my header? When I have time I'd like to do some fun customized headers, maybe that will keep me busy enough that I won't feel the urge to switch themes so much
(but I doubt it!)
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Little bit of everything
Heidi says:1319
Bring it on!!!!
Latte says:Don't be stupid, stay inside and be cuddly.1307
Yarny goodness after the break...
Just watching it snow
I wish I could just sit here and diddle on the computer, knit and watch it snow. But I have to go get ready for a trip to the orthodontist with Little E to get her first torture device retainer. And um yep, you guessed it, it is now not only colder than the aforementioned witch's tit, it is now snowing like a son-of-gun.
In honor of winter kciking us in the butt yet again, I installed a new fun plug-in...do you see the snow? I don't know if the snow shows up in the Melissa theme, but I can see it on other themes. I also added a theme picker to the side bar. Not all of them are configured correctly so pick and choose carefully. Let me know in comments how these new plug ins are working on your browser please.
In honor of winter kciking us in the butt yet again, I installed a new fun plug-in...do you see the snow? I don't know if the snow shows up in the Melissa theme, but I can see it on other themes. I also added a theme picker to the side bar. Not all of them are configured correctly so pick and choose carefully. Let me know in comments how these new plug ins are working on your browser please.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Keep your cashmere warm today
Yes my dears, it is officially colder than a witch's tit in a brass bra here in Chicagoland.
I have something new on the needles. It begged to be photographed outside yesterday out in the snow before the big game. I conceded after I attempted to photograph it from the warmth of my cozy living room to no avail. Black cashmere lace just doesn't like being photographed under artificial light.
I have something new on the needles. It begged to be photographed outside yesterday out in the snow before the big game. I conceded after I attempted to photograph it from the warmth of my cozy living room to no avail. Black cashmere lace just doesn't like being photographed under artificial light.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Lick our balls
afterall they are the only thing worthy of admiration tonight.
Yes, I know, Rexy and the Bears lost the Super Bowl tonight. (honestly not a big surprise, one can't win a major bowl game with a lame QB and a kickass coach and field goal kicker alone!)
However, the O family was invited to a Super Bowl party and in normal Mr. O fashion, we brought a shit-ton of food. My contibution to the cause was a recipe I heard about last week on WTMX 101.9, "the MIX." A caller described their favorite Bear game recipe for "Bare Bear Balls." As soon as I heard the (very basic) ingredients I knew this was one for me.
1 package Oreo cookies (I chose the Double Stuf variety for the extra creamy fillingness)
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese (no fat free shit!)
Whiz them together in a food processor. [I gave away the 3 (yes three!) regulation size food processors I received as wedding gifts in 1989 but I did replace them with a small model. So therefore I used the small FP to chop the Oreos into oblivion and then used the big-ass KitchenAid mixer to make a happy family out of the cream cheese and cookie crumbs.]
Melt chocolate dipping shtuff or semisweet chocolate morsels or whatever form of chocolate coating that makes you happy in a chocolate fondue pot or similar thingimajigger doohicky.
Take cookie/cream cheese mixture and scoop melon-baller/cookie ball scooper sized balls and roll into nice balls (wash your nasty hands first! Jeez!) and dip into chocolate dipping mixture. Leave to cool/firm up on waxed paper covered cookie sheets.
If you are feeling artsy-fartsy you can microwave some white chocolate squares and drizzle that over the balls for a very Martha Stewart moment. If one is a big fan of whitepseudo chocolate one could dip an entire ball in white chocolate and make a Polar Bear Ball! 1275 
If one prefers their balls unshaven, they could roll them in cocoa sprinkles and make them fuzzy balls. (Didn't even want to think of a way to make Shweaty Balls, thank you very much!)
**Inclusion of the above recipe is the first in a series of recipes that will be included in the upcoming book, Yarn Balls and the Men that Inspire Them. As my friend, Jodee pointed out, all good knitting books should have room for recipes. So therefore all my upcoming entries for my *books* will include recipes. The unique spin I'm putting on them is that all will follow the "ball" theme. Afterall, there is nothing more appetizing or funnier than balls! Mr. O has already started working on a recipe for Jerk Rub Balls, there is comedic genius just waiting to happen!
Yes, I know, Rexy and the Bears lost the Super Bowl tonight. (honestly not a big surprise, one can't win a major bowl game with a lame QB and a kickass coach and field goal kicker alone!)
However, the O family was invited to a Super Bowl party and in normal Mr. O fashion, we brought a shit-ton of food. My contibution to the cause was a recipe I heard about last week on WTMX 101.9, "the MIX." A caller described their favorite Bear game recipe for "
1 package Oreo cookies (I chose the Double Stuf variety for the extra creamy fillingness)
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese (no fat free shit!)
Whiz them together in a food processor. [I gave away the 3 (yes three!) regulation size food processors I received as wedding gifts in 1989 but I did replace them with a small model. So therefore I used the small FP to chop the Oreos into oblivion and then used the big-ass KitchenAid mixer to make a happy family out of the cream cheese and cookie crumbs.]
Melt chocolate dipping shtuff or semisweet chocolate morsels or whatever form of chocolate coating that makes you happy in a chocolate fondue pot or similar thingimajigger doohicky.
Take cookie/cream cheese mixture and scoop melon-baller/cookie ball scooper sized balls and roll into nice balls (wash your nasty hands first! Jeez!) and dip into chocolate dipping mixture. Leave to cool/firm up on waxed paper covered cookie sheets.
If you are feeling artsy-fartsy you can microwave some white chocolate squares and drizzle that over the balls for a very Martha Stewart moment. If one is a big fan of white
If one prefers their balls unshaven, they could roll them in cocoa sprinkles and make them fuzzy balls. (Didn't even want to think of a way to make Shweaty Balls, thank you very much!)
**Inclusion of the above recipe is the first in a series of recipes that will be included in the upcoming book, Yarn Balls and the Men that Inspire Them. As my friend, Jodee pointed out, all good knitting books should have room for recipes. So therefore all my upcoming entries for my *books* will include recipes. The unique spin I'm putting on them is that all will follow the "ball" theme. Afterall, there is nothing more appetizing or funnier than balls! Mr. O has already started working on a recipe for Jerk Rub Balls, there is comedic genius just waiting to happen!
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Captain Wild Child to the Rescue!
Took this test this morning and found out that I am an ENFP
It's kind of freaky the shit those psych majors come up with itsn't it?
ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm
Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're a wonderful and fascinating person.
Followthrough tends to be a problem, however; they tend to get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along.
ENFPs have what some call a "silly switch." They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Som etimes they may even appear intoxicated when the "switch" is flipped
ENFPs like to tell funny stories, especially about their friends.
ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it.
It's kind of freaky the shit those psych majors come up with itsn't it?
Friday, February 2, 2007
Check it out-------->
Thanks to Bharat (no not Borat!) and others who pointed me toward Gallery2 software and the embedded plugin I now have a swifty-neato gallery.
It has been pointed out to me by my peeps at knitting circle that my blog theme changes like a mood ring. (tm Crazy Carla). If you have a preferred theme let me know in the comments. I noticed that Dee is using the brown theme I had going for a while. I like that one a lot. My favorite right now is the light grey/green one but the formatting on the static pages is wonky and until I can find a solution to it I'm cycling through the others I have downloaded.
It has been pointed out to me by my peeps at knitting circle that my blog theme changes like a mood ring. (tm Crazy Carla). If you have a preferred theme let me know in the comments. I noticed that Dee is using the brown theme I had going for a while. I like that one a lot. My favorite right now is the light grey/green one but the formatting on the static pages is wonky and until I can find a solution to it I'm cycling through the others I have downloaded.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Ending My Chemical Romance (welcome to my black parade)
I wasn't going to blog about what is going on with me on the personal side but I guess I've changed my mind. Later I may change it again and delete or hide this post.
I'm in my own personal version of hell right now. I've been on antidepressants for at least 5 years. I had suffered with various degrees of depression since I was a teen. Eventually I found that I couldn't function as a wife and mother in the manner that I wanted to in that state so I did something positive about it. I found a psych and got put on prozac. Things got better, lots better. Then the generic form of Prozac came out and insurance would only pay for that and I think my body also was building an immunity or something and the generic didn't work as well. Dr. switched me to Zoloft, and slowly started raising my dosage every 6 mos. or so. Even when the generic came out it still worked for me. Until the last year or so and it seemed to be working almost too well. I was in a fog a lot of the time. At first I attributed a lot of my mental fades to menopause brought on by my hysterectomy. Also I wanted to care about things but I just didn't. I've also put on almost 40 pounds since going on the meds. On top of all that, my sex drive has crashed and burned. Again, I was tempted to attribute that to the hysterectomy but it was circling the bowl for a LONG time before that, actually, the hyst. helped things for a short time. Also my drinking has really started to get out of control over the past couple years. More on that later...
All that said, when my Rx ran out 3 weeks ago I didn't refill it. I read accounts online about the pros and cons of going "cold turkey" versus weaning yourself off gradually. Neither way sounded pleasant and I'm all for quick and dirty so there you go. The effects have been both good and bad.
I'm in my own personal version of hell right now. I've been on antidepressants for at least 5 years. I had suffered with various degrees of depression since I was a teen. Eventually I found that I couldn't function as a wife and mother in the manner that I wanted to in that state so I did something positive about it. I found a psych and got put on prozac. Things got better, lots better. Then the generic form of Prozac came out and insurance would only pay for that and I think my body also was building an immunity or something and the generic didn't work as well. Dr. switched me to Zoloft, and slowly started raising my dosage every 6 mos. or so. Even when the generic came out it still worked for me. Until the last year or so and it seemed to be working almost too well. I was in a fog a lot of the time. At first I attributed a lot of my mental fades to menopause brought on by my hysterectomy. Also I wanted to care about things but I just didn't. I've also put on almost 40 pounds since going on the meds. On top of all that, my sex drive has crashed and burned. Again, I was tempted to attribute that to the hysterectomy but it was circling the bowl for a LONG time before that, actually, the hyst. helped things for a short time. Also my drinking has really started to get out of control over the past couple years. More on that later...
All that said, when my Rx ran out 3 weeks ago I didn't refill it. I read accounts online about the pros and cons of going "cold turkey" versus weaning yourself off gradually. Neither way sounded pleasant and I'm all for quick and dirty so there you go. The effects have been both good and bad.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)