Friday, June 29, 2007

Baby cuteness

Big J put the baby in the tub for his bath (Little J's, not Big J's), got him all cleaned and scrubbeded, then turned off the light and gave the baby a glow stick. hehehheee...Big J called me in to look: Little J's waving that thing around in the water, like it's the best thing since a rubber duckie. LOL! I've even got a picture...will put it up later(when I have a camera cord...)

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

New Book...


I got a book from Amazon today! And, it's probably a sign that I've been reading way too much, but I've almost got it finished. Lois McMaster Bujold has done it again, totally believable characters, that I'm totally sympathetic with. And, she shoves her characters into the worst possible situations...but it's very interesting! This book deals with family problems, from Dag's side this time. How does a nomad tribe (matriarchal) deal with a man bringing home a farmer bride? And even worse, she dosen't have magic?

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Wierd comment

Hey, on the last post, look at this comment (the one at the bottom). What the heck?? Babelfish can't translate it properly, I think it's in some South American dialect of Spanish, and it's an advertisment for custom T-shirts. How wierd is that? But, as it's my first comment ever in a foreign language, I think I'll leave it there, instead of deleting it.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Camera dissapointment

You wouldn't think it would be hard to find a replacement camera cord? Well, neither would I. But it seems it's harder than I thought.

I checked on my Radioshack order online, because I hadn't heard from them lately. Whadda ya know, FedEx says it's been delivered to my local store. Ooooh, I can see the signature that signed for it...Now, why haven't they called me or something. Little J and I traveled to the store, and, captured a sales person. They didn't have my order in their computer, but! they were willing to go look for it. Yes, it had arrived, several days before, but had not been entered into the computer properly. They handed it over to me...and when we got home, it didn't fit in my camera. Darn, darn, darn.

The online description was of a cord that should have worked with my camera. Maybe mine's just a wierd brand, i don't know. But, I'm not going to try Radioshack again. I'm returning this one, and ordering one from a camera store.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Updates on Life

Father's Day: The first thing we did was to see Fantastic Four at the movie theater. Big J wanted to see this, and it was really good...Big J grumbled about Galactus(in the comic book, Galactus was small enough to walk on the earth) but I think it made more sense to show it as larger than our planet. Little J was good thru the whooole movie (he really likes popcorn) so I watched the entire movie. WooHoo!

Our DVD player had broken a couple weeks ago, so we went over to the electronics store, to pick out a new one. I was insisting on a DVD recorder, and we brought home one from Insignia, a brand I hadn't heard of before. Oh, and a stack of anime DVDs. :D Let's see, there's the boxed set of Boogiepop Phantom (Big J's pick), boxed set of NeonGenesis Evangelion(My pick, but Big J wants to see it too) and Volume One of Ah My Goddess 2.

We went for ice cream after our shopping exp edition, and then home to watch some of our DVD haul.

Knitting: The dvd we watched when we collapsed at home was the Ah my Goddess. Guess what the Goddess Belldandy does in episode 2? She knits a sweater!! Is that not cool? a goddess, knitting. What I saw, in the short little scenes where she was actually knitting, was a sweater, knit from the bottom up, knit in the round on loong dpns, with intarsia (argyle style) diamonds around the chest. It was k-nifty!

I had posted at some point (i think) that I was running short on the blue Koigu for my Hogwart Socks. Well, yes, I've finally ran out of the blue. And, I have another 3 1/2 inches to go on the sock. Pbththth! I've ordered 2 more skeins from online places (2 different dye lots) so, hopefully, one of the new skeins will match. They should get here sometime this week. These are closer to Dobbie socks than I wanted...the pattern is slightly different on the feet, and now with the yarn...oh well. These are details only knitters will notice, thank heavens.

And, I finally gave in to the alpaca. I had to, I couldn't work on my Hogwart's Sock! That's such lovely loverly stuff. I wound three of the skeins into a ball (only a little bit of weedy material in it, a very tiny bit) and started a swatch on my size 8 circ. I've only got 24" ones, no 16", so, my swatch is thirty stitches, and slideing it over at the end of the row, to simulate knitting in the round. I really like this yarn...

Haircuts: This could have partially been included on Father's Day. Sunday, Little J got his first real haircut. I'd trimmed it before, but, yesterday, he had an appointment, and everything. He did really really well. The salon was very kid-centric, had a playground and slide in the waiting room, fun little chairs (racecars, carousel ponies) and TV's for the kiddos to watch while they're hair was being cut. The stylist put in an elmo tape, and Jaiden was hypnotized. The only time he moved was when the stylist sprayed his head with water. Otherwise, he was absolutely still. Wonderful child. And so cute, now that I can see his big blue eyes.

My cat Princess also had a haircut. Her appointment was today, however, instead of Father's Day. She's a medium hair fluffy cat, and hasn't been doing to well at keeping her fur untangled. Her body, poor thing, was covered with mats, and she was all over itchy. Now, she's got all that matted fur shaved off, and she feels like a plushie toy. Very cute, especially when she lays down and you can see her little pink tummy.

I'm still waiting for my new camera cord, so no pictures yet. Hopefully, that too will arrive this weekend, and then I'll be able to put some up.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Thanks

...for all your comments. I wanted to acknowledge your kind thoughts, all y'all in the blogosphere. It's appreciated. I don't feel like writing much now, perhaps more later.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Upsetting news

I learned last night, that an old friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer. Stomach cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma.

We haven't been as close over the last year, but, I care about him very much. And this is hard. My mom died of complications from breast cancer, and he was there when I needed support.

He's over 600 miles away. I AM going to visit him. I wish I was closer, so I could see him...

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Knitting Updates

I've been working on my Hogwart's sock, and it's getting longer. I'm still on the gusset, with about 4 rows until it's straight foot knitting. Finally! The alpaca has been calling to me...I don't know how much longer I can resist it. At least swatching it, that wouldn't be too much, would it?

It's pathetic when I can't even believe the exagerations I come up with. If I start swatching it, it's going to take multiple little samples, because, after I get the needles and gauge right, (because I know what sweater I want to make. E.Z.'s hand-to-hand sweater) I'll start swatching out little cable patterns...noooooo.... So, I must finish the socks first. I must, i must , im ust....Let's see how long I can hold out.

No pictures tonight :(

Sigh. I went to the mall to get a cable from Radioshack, carrying a sleeping Little J, even, and the one I picked up didn't work. Le sigh. Baby fell asleep early tonight, and after he did, I ran (okay, drove, I'm not athletic) back to the mall to see if they had one that would work. I even took the camera along! See, I am smart ;) Sadly, they did not have the one I needed. I've ordered one from Radioshack.com, so, the piccies are going to have to wait until it gets here. Sigh.

Essential blogging item purchased

I've got it! I purchased a camera cord from Radioshack, and, if I selected the right one, I'll have pics up later today. See ya!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Knitting Night!

It's knitting night at Panera's again, with the Southside Indy knitters. From what people have said on their emails, it looks like there are two different projects tonight...Vestee, and socks. A couple of people have said they want to learn to knit socks, and there's lots of us veterans willing to introduce them. So, socks it shall be. If you've never made socks before, it looks intimidating (all those needles) but really, with a simple pattern, it's not bad at all. I expect people will mostly want reassurance. "Am I doing this right?" "Yes, that looks great! Keep on at it!" I'll be taking my sock too. Maybe i'll even take pictures. :)

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Ravlery for me, at last

I got my Ravelry invite! Yay yay Yay! User name marigo, and no pics up yet, but, check it out :)

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Book List Update

  • Slightly Tempted, by Mary Balogh
  • Sex, Lies, and Online Dating, by Rachel Gibson
  • How Nancy Drew Saved My Life, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted(A very updated version of Jane Eyre. Thankfully, the main charcter mentions it in the book, or I would have to wonder if the author knew what she was doing, recreating an archetype.)
  • The Sky People, by S.M. Stirling (Good! Interesting world(s))
  • The Sharing Knife: Beguiling, Lois McMaster Bujold

Correction to my problems with needles

Awhile back, I wrote a post about my Hogwart's Swap Socks, and how I was doing with the needles. Does "variable pointyness" come to mind? well, I was making unfriendly remarks about Boye needles, because some of the needles I was using worked better than others. I'm here to apologize today, (please don't sue me! ;) ) because I discovered that I was incorrect. (in error, mistaken, flat-out WRONG)

The needles are not variable pointynessed, instead, I have needles of two different sizes in my sock. Eek! I realized this when I came to the toe of the first sock, and had all the stitches on two needles in preparation for kitchernering (sic. "grafting"). I looked at the two I wasn't using, and my goodness, they look to be slightly different sizes! Imagine that! They were the same color, and surely I measured them before I started...not! I found my guage again, and measured all of them. I'm using two size 0's, and two size 1's. Ooops.

I could freak out over this, and worry "what do I do?!?!" but instead of starting all over, or trying to decide which size I should use for the second sock, I just used the same needles again. And I'm not worrying about it. Do you know why? First, because I tried on the first sock, and it should fit my swapee just fine. It's a little long, and a little loose on me, which is just perfect. And second, because I was reading in one of Elizabeth Zimmerman's books, that she had experimented with using one out of four needles being a different size, and it did not make any difference to her gauge. In fact, she once used four different sizes, and the finished product looked fine. Thank Goodness!

This little digression, is part of what I was thinking at midnight last night, when I was working on the heel flap of my Hogwart's sock. I shouldn't be awake that late, but you know how when you're working on a project, and you think "just one more row, and then I'll stop"? And then another, and another row? until you come to the end? It was something like that...and a really good book, too. I kept knitting until I finished the heel flap; next up, turning the heel, and doing the gusset. After that, the foot of the sock goes much faster than the cuff, probably because only half of the row is in the pattern stitch, and the other half is straight stockinette.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Knitting on the Boob Tube

I plopped down on the couch with Little J to watch cartoons, and guess what I saw? Knitting! How Serendipitous! The T.V. was already on Cartoon Network, and the Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends episode was "Say it isn't Sew!", where Boo (Blu?) gets very crafty! He quilts, he embroiders, and....He Knits! He knitted a cute little door bell cozy, so that Mrs. Foster wouldn't hear him sneaking out the door. Very cute. After Foster's, Cartoon Network had a movie on (they never have movies, so this was a shock to me. I was paralyzed. That's why I didn't move, and watched the whole thing. Riiiight...) Chicken Run! Heehee...that was a kewl movie. I hadn't seen it before, and nobody ever told me that it was loosely(!) based on "The Great Escape". Awesome! And a flapping chicken plane...rofl...But, Bab, the chicken, knitted thru the whole movie. What an inspiration! Giggle!

With my knitting, I do have a bit to report. Not nearly exciting as chickens with knitting needles, but, on my H.S.S. sock, I'm working on the heel flap (of the second sock). This pair was worked top-down. I sure hope that I'll be able to finish it before the Harry Potter book comes out. Also, on my mindless sock pair, I'm turning the heel on the second sock (these are worked toe-up, so I've got quite a bit done.) Y'know, if I had my camera cord (for my Konica Minolta DiImage Z2) I'd post pictures...soooo, y'all better pray that I find it soon ;)

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Knitting? What Knitting?

I haven't got much knitting done (and I still haven't found the cord to my camera! @#$%!), but I did find a quiz online, from Saisquoi?'s blog to share with y'all. I don't mess with Tarot cards, normally, because I don't want to mess up the imagery in my head, but, this is an interesting one. And, I liked the pretty pictures :D


You are The High Priestess


Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.


The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Hoosier Hills Fiber Fest:

Big J, Little J and I went over to Franklin for the fiber fest...and I was going to have pics of some stuff (and my goodies) but I can't find the camera cord! Darn it! I can't upload the pics without that cord. Let's just hope that i didn't leave it in St. Louis.

The weekend was okay. I decided very definitely that I am getting too old to sleep on floors (When traveling, I want Little J to sleep with me, and if we're on the floor, he can't roll off, can he?). I kept having bony points on my body getting squashed into the floor. Even through a thick rug and a fluffy sleeping bag. It makes me tired for the entire day. Phthth. It was nice seeing my aunt, Grandma, and my other sister, and I'm glad we were all together.

I did forget something over the weekend. On the way to St. Louis, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel to eat, and I forgot Little J's blankie there. I think I can be forgiven, that was right after I'd spilled orange juice all over myself. Tomorrow, I need to check with the credit card company to figure out where that restaurant was (all I know is it's in Illinois), call them, and see if they can mail me the blankie.