Mary Has A Knitting Blog

February is for Finishing

2012-02-04T09:39:00.000-06:00

Jumping on the bandwagon started by Life In Cleveland. I have at least three projects that I would really like to see finished this month, a pair of socks for Keith, a pair of felted clogs (again for Keith), and a Harry Potter scarf for his mom.

I am sure that if I manage to get these finished, I have some other things around here that could use some attention too. Like the DeGrazia needlepoint that's been sitting around unfinished for a couple of years!

Now to get to it!!! This stuff won't finish itself (obviously or I would be done by now!)

This post is brought to you by the Letter P!

2011-10-02T19:05:00.000-05:00

Because P is for Pickles.

A couple of months ago, I decided to try my hand at making my own pickles. No real canning involved, just a easy refrigerator dill pickle.

They are just the way I like them ... really really sour. In fact, I've made them a second time since then!

P is also for Pittsburgh Pirates.

In July (yeah I know I'm behind) Keith and I went to the Pirates Stitch N Pitch event.

P is also for PBS, which carries Antiques Roadshow.

I managed to score a tshirt at the Liberty Mutual Booth on the way out of the event!

Earlier this year, I learned that Antiques Roadshow was coming to Pittsburgh so I entered the drawing for tickets. To my surprise we got tickets! They don't allow you to take any pictures on the appraisal floor but it was really neat to see all of the "behind the scenes" workings of the show.

Will we be on TV? Probably not, unless we're in the background of some shot. Nothing we took with us will make us rich, but on the plus side we didn't over pay for any of out items either!

Day Thirty - A Song You Liked Last Year

2011-07-03T04:30:00.001-05:00

I actually discovered this song (or more accurately this video) about two years ago. Yes the song is a nice song and I enjoy it .... but the video!!! Well if you know me you'll understand :D

Enjoy!!!!!

Day Twenty-Nine - A Song From Your Childhood

2011-07-02T04:30:00.000-05:00

If I had to pick a song from my childhood I would say this is the QUINTESSENTIAL song from that era. For some reason I was OBSESSED with this song and would sing it constantly.

Why this song? No idea. It came out when I was 5 and I probably didn't fixate on it until a year or so later (when I was 6 or 7). I think at some point I probably had the 45 for it (and may still for all I know!).

My obsession with song was so rampant that my cousin actually posted on my facebook wall earlier this month that she heard this in the grocery store and IMMEDIATELY thought of me.

So I would say that 36 years later this is the song from my childhood!

Day Twenty-Eight - A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty

2011-07-01T04:30:00.001-05:00

OK I am seriously stretching the whole "guilty" thing here. Because, honestly, I can't think of a song that actually inspires guilt. But this is a great workout song and I really haven't been working out lately. Why? No real good reason but if I did I could certainly listen to this song more often!!!

Day Twenty-Seven - A Song You Wish You Could Play

2011-06-30T04:30:00.001-05:00

Well Blogger ate my post the first time I tried this, so here is hoping the second time is a charm!

As I mentioned yesterday, I don't play an instrument and never have. That being said there is ONE instrument I've always had a not-so-secret desire to learn how to play.

The Bagpipes.

I blame the Welsh in me for that one. And yes, the Welsh do pipe. In fact, the video today is of Welsh bagpipes. Originally I was going to go with something modern and Scottish but as I said Blogger ate that one and I'm too lazy to be arsed to go and find it again.

Day Twenty-Six - A Song by a Group You Should Know

2011-06-29T04:30:00.002-05:00

Not really. Today's official topic is "A Song You Can Play on an Instrument." That would be NONE. I've never played an instrument or had any sort of lessons. And somehow I think that the organ my dad bought me when I was a kid, where you played the songs based on the numbers on the keys, counts as playing something.

Although I still know that Silent Night starts 5-6-5-3 (with 5 being middle C). But anyway I digress.

So I thought instead of giving you nothing to listen to, I would pimp the band my friend Emma's husband is a part of, The Woe Betides. They are a just starting out group in England but well worth a listen to (I have their first CD).

Hope you enjoy them!

Day Twenty-Five - A Song That Makes You Laugh

2011-06-28T04:30:00.001-05:00

I grew up with this song. My dad had it on tape (I think) but regardless I fondly remember it from when I was growing up. I never expected to find a video of this one though. To me it's kind of obscure and I don't expect other people to know it.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that my husband also had a love of this song. He put it on a mix cd for one of our South Dakota to Ohio roadtrips. I don't think he expected me to know this song and was equally surprised to find out that I knew it too!

I love all of the puns in this song and it never fails to make me laugh.

So remember "she drank like a .... she drank a lot!"

Day Twenty-Four - A Song You Want Played at Your Funeral

2011-06-27T04:30:00.001-05:00

First of all I don't even think I want a funeral! And I've certainly never given any thought to the musical accompaniment of the event!

But, I don't have anything else for today (I think I've "tweaked" enough of these challenges that I'll just go with this one). So I started by searching youtube for music by one of my favorite artists, Bette Midler. And that's when I came across this video of her covering the Peggy Lee standard Is That All There Is?

If I were to have a funeral with musical accompaniment this is what I would want them to play!

Day Twenty-Three - A Song You Want Played at Your Wedding

2011-06-26T04:30:00.001-05:00

Ever since I heard this version of this song, I fell in love with it. And yes I am willing to admit it was from the soundtrack of the TV show thirtysomething. When we were planning our wedding last year, there was no doubt in my mind that I did not want "traditional" music (our ceremomy wasn't traditional so why should my music be?) and this was my leading contender for the song that I wanted to hear when I walked down the aisle.

I'm gonna love you, like nobody's loved you
Come rain or come shine
High as a mountain, deep as a river
Come rain or come shine
I guess when you met me
It was just one of those things
But don't you ever bet me
'Cause I'm gonna be true if you let me
You're gonna love me, like nobody's loved me
Come rain or come shine
We'll be happy together, unhappy together
Now won't that be just fine
The days may be cloudy or sunny
We're in or out of the money
But I'm with you always
I'm with you rain or shine

Day Twenty-Two - A Song You Listen to When You're Sad

2011-06-25T04:30:00.001-05:00

This is another song that I put on the mix cd I made my husband when we started dating. It's not a song that should make one sad but instead gives hope that you are not alone in the bad times.

I've been lucky enough to hear Donny perform this song live and never fail to find it a very powerful and moving song.

Day Twenty-One - A Song You Listen to When You're Happy

2011-06-24T04:30:00.001-05:00

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG!!!! As soon as I hear it it makes me want to start dancing around the room. For a very very long time this was even my ringtone for my phone. Almost any Sugarland song will do for me when I'm in a good mood but this one really is a particular favourite!

Day Twenty - A Song You Listen to When You're Angry

2011-06-23T04:30:00.000-05:00

When I am totally pissed off I want to listen to a song that will get me out of that mood, not one that will keep me mad and pissed off. For me, I need a song that will make me want to MOVE.

As soon as I hear this song, my toes start tapping and before long I am bopping along with it. It's hard to stay angry with this one!

Day Nineten - A Song From Your Favorite Album

2011-06-22T04:30:00.001-05:00

Well this is one of my favorite albums, and I haven't used an Elvis Costello song yet.

This is from the album Painted From Memory, and the only other version of this song (in my opinion) that comes close to the power of this one is Bette Midler's.

Day Eighteen - A Song You Wish You Heard on the Radio

2011-06-21T04:30:00.000-05:00

I was going to use Paul Revere and the Raiders singing Cherokee Nation for today, in fact I even had the post ready to go when this song popped into my head. I can't think of the last time I heard this song ANYWHERE let alone saw the movie.

I remember watching the movie (with Robby Benson) when I was 8 or 9 (it came out in 1976 -- thank you IMDB!). Oh and here is a bit of trivia from the movie for you. It was directed by Max Baer Jr., aka Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies.

Day Seventeen - a Song you Often Hear on the Radio

2011-06-20T04:30:00.001-05:00

We listen to a strange radio station at work. They play a variety of music from the Beatles to Billy Joel, but they play THE SAME SONGS EVERY DAY!!!! Seriously, the only station I've ever listened to with a tighter playlist than this one is one of the country stations in Sioux Falls.

But anyway, in this case I find that tight playlist to be a good thing. Because I like this song!!! Again it's one of those songs that I have no idea why I like it, but I do and I always have.

So if you find yourself passing the time away at a port on the western bay, look for Brandy - she's a fine girl!

Day Sixteen - A Song You Used to Love But Now You Hate

2011-06-19T04:30:00.002-05:00

OK Love might be too strong of a word, but this was the first song that came to mind when I saw the topic for today.

When the song first came out, it wasn't too bad. Nothing great but nothing that would make me run screaming from the room or want to throw the radio across the room. Why does it now make me want to impale the radio with sharp objects (hey it's either that our poke out my ear drums!)? Being PLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON THE FREAKIN RADIO!!! (Yes I'm looking at you WGAR in Cleveland!)

I don't understand why modern radio must take a song that is not horribly offensive and play it so much you never ever want to hear it again. Actually I do understand why, they are only willing to pay for a play list that contains a set number of songs and therefore you hear the same songs ad infinitum. So you're left with stuff like this and believe me forcing myself to look this one up was downright painful for me.

So my apologies on this one.

Day Fifteen - A Song That Describes You

2011-06-18T04:30:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that choosing today's song gave me the angst and problems that it did.

I surveyed people (including my husband who oh so lovingly suggested Randy Newman's Short People (he was just teasing!)), and was about to go with a semi ironic choice of Adam Ant's Goody Two Shoes. I had the post written and scheduled to be published (come now, you don't REALLY think I'm up posting these at 5:30 in the morning do you????) when I clicked on a file of music I made for my husband when we started dating.

I was looking for another song in the file and clicked on this one, only to realize that I included this song in the mix because it DESCRIBED ME TO A TEE!!! I even insisted that we play this as part of our pre-ceremony music.

Well now that I have that cleared up, this is the song that best describes me!

Day Fourteen - A Song No One Would Expect You to Love

2011-06-17T04:30:00.001-05:00

Yes it IS a Three Stooges inspired song! I know, I know .... not necessarily something anyone would expect me to like (but hey isn't that the point of this post?)

I was raised on the Stooges (this is what happens when you are raised only by your dad!) and married a man who also loves them. We frequently watch Stooges episodes when we find them on TV (and I bought him a box set of DVDs for Christmas a couple of years ago) and they never fail to amuse me.

We even played this song at our wedding reception, and if I didn't think someone might divorce me (no NOT REALLY) I would post the pictures of us dancing to it. But since I'm not going to, just use your imagination!

Day Thirteen - A Song that is a Guilty Pleasure

2011-06-16T04:30:00.000-05:00

I love this song! Yes it is cheesy and screams the 70s but what can I say? Actually my hubby and I had a conversation one day that the lyrics aren't really all that dated. Yoga's hugely popular again and who doesn't want someone with at least half a brain?

Anyway, as far as I can tell there isn't an official music video for this song, which means I looked at A LOT of videos that people made up to go with it. Some of them were kind of funny (especially the one that didn't understand the line about in dunes on the cape) and some were just BAD.

I finally settled on this one because how can this post not be enhanced with the addition of the Solid Gold Dancers?

So if you like pina coladas, sit back and enjoy this song!

Day Twelve - A Song from a Band You Hate

2011-06-15T04:30:00.001-05:00

Well as much as I am trying to not duplicate artists (well except for Bruce but hey it's BRUCE!!!) I have to go with Genesis for this one. Once again this is because of my loathing of Phil Collins. Honestly, as much as I thought about this there really wasn't another group I could think of that I hate so I had to duplicate.

I will admit that I'm not really familiar with this song (I don't think it gets much airplay) but when I went to youtube to find a video this was too freaky and weird not to share it.

Please don't try to send me your therapy bills for any nightmares it may cause you (I am warning you the Phil Collins puppet is FREAKY!!!!).

Day Eleven - A Song From Your Favorite Band

2011-06-14T04:30:00.001-05:00

Well, I started this with my favorite song of all time which is by a band, so no Beatles music for you today. Instead you get the Cowboy Junkies, a group I've loved for twenty years.

This is not one of their best known songs, but I love this version of Thunder Road. It is so dramatically different than the Springsteen version that it is sometimes hard to imagine it's the same song.

Day Ten - A Song That Puts You to Sleep

2011-06-13T04:30:00.001-05:00

I am taking a different twist on this one. I can't think of any song that bores me to the point that I would fall asleep, which is how I interpreted the theme for today. So my twist on it is I am picking a song that relaxes me, which would then ALLOW me fall asleep.

I am going to assume that most of you don't know this group. Except for using two of their songs in Liberty Mutual commercials, most people have never heard of Hem. I certainly had never heard of them until my friend Heather introduced me to their music on a trip to Rhinebeck one year. Now they are one of my favourite groups.

Please give this a listen and maybe you too will have a new favourite!

Day Nine - A Song You Can Dance To

2011-06-12T04:30:00.001-05:00

Maybe we should re title this one "A Song You USED to Dance To."

I have really fond memories of dancing to this in high school. I especially remember it at a Key Club Mixer (I think it was at Rocky River but that part is fuzzy) in either late 1984 or early 1985.

Yep this is one that takes me back!

Day Eight - A Song You Know All the Words To

2011-06-11T04:30:00.001-05:00

Well this may not (oh hell probably isn't) a song that ANYONE would think I would pick for anything. I mean I am not really known for my great love of religious musical theatre after all.

But I do know all the words to this song, and have since I was in the sixth grade. Which, trust me, is a freakin long time!!!

How and why do I know all the words to this? Julie Glovich and I were selected to sing this as a duet for our spring concert that year. I guess all of the practicing we did must have paid off, because I still remember the words to this day!

Day Seven - A Song That Reminds You of a Specific Event

2011-06-10T04:30:00.001-05:00

There were actually a few songs I was debating about for today's song (no really I was!) But in the end I had to go with this one. The first time I ever heard the song, Keith was already in South Dakota and I was still in Ohio. He heard this on E Street Radio and sent me an email with a link to the video. I still have that email.

When it came time to plan the wedding, there really wasn't any choice as to what we would dance to as our first song. This was it, hands down. Now I can no longer hear it without thinking of my wonderful husband, how much I love him and our wonderful wedding.

This wasn't the version we danced to, but as I said it was the first version of the song we heard and therefore very special to us.

Day Six - A Song That Reminds You of Somewhere

2011-06-09T04:30:00.000-05:00

For some reason this one stumped me for a while. Then as I looked down at my shirt (Michael Stanley Athletic Department) I sufferd a D'OH!! moment and knew what song I had to pick for today.

I'm not sure you're ALLOWED to be from Cleveland and not love the Michael Stanley Band. And if there is one song that reminds me of a place it's this one. How could a song entitled My Town from a Cleveland legend NOT remind me of the place I called home for almost 42 years?

I just wish there were more Cleveland shots in the video.

Day Five - A Song that Reminds You of Someone

2011-06-08T04:30:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I could have gone with something obvious that would remind me of my husband but I didn't! This song IMMEDIATELY makes me think of my friend Amy. I'm guessing that we've been friends for at least 10 years now, but she's the kind of friend where you can't even remember when you weren't friends. I'm not sure how this became "our song" but it is, to the point that we once called each other when making our way home from another friend's wedding to let the other know the song was on the radio. It was played at each of our weddings and every time I hear it I think of Amy!

Day Four - A Song That Makes You Sad

2011-06-07T04:46:00.001-05:00

First of all, I adore this song. When it comes on E Street Radio, I become the person "sharing" their music with everyone else on the road. Full blast all the way.

That being said, this song makes me incredibly sad. To think that we now live in a country where this song had to be written.

"Lena gets her son ready for school
She says "on these streets, Charles
You've got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise me you'll always be polite,
that you'll never ever run away
Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight

Is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret
It ain't no secret
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in
Your American skin"

This isn't the America I grew up in. That is a statement made all too frequently in our house by my husband and I. I just wish I knew where that America went and how we can get it back.

Now turn up your speakers and rock out (even if the song does make you sad for what we have lost).

Day Three - A song that makes you happy

2011-06-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

This song makes me insanely happy! It is one of those songs that can immediately transport me back to a particular place and time in my life.

Yeah, I spent one or two Friday and Saturday nights (and perhaps the occasional Thursday night!) on the dance floor at Attractions in Oxford Ohio dancing to this song.

20 years later it still brings a smile to my face.

Least Favorite Song

2011-06-05T07:42:00.001-05:00

30 Day Song Challenge

So this was a relatively easy one for me. Actually the hardest part was narrowing it down to just ONE song from this particular artist.

I have managed to narrow it down to Sussudio by Phil Collins. I have a deep and abiding hatred of Phil Collins music, why I have no idea but if a Phil song comes on the radio the channel is immediately changed. Except at work where I am forced to be subjected to daily Phil songs thanks to the narrow play list of the radio station we listen to (but that is another rant). Believe me, there was a great deal of rejoicing here when Phil formally announced his retirement a few months ago.

So for today I give you Sussudio (and my apologies for subjecting you to this).

30 Day Song Challenge

2011-06-04T21:35:00.000-05:00

Most people do the 30 day song challenge on facebook (which is where I got this from) but I figure that blogging more is not a bad thing so I'll try doing this here. The first day's challenge is an easy one -- your favorite song. The hardest part for me was finding a decent video of the song.

The 900 Pound Gorilla in the Room

2011-05-17T18:57:00.000-05:00

Well tomorrow's the day. The day we find out if the 900 pound gorilla is actually a gorilla or if it's an orangutan or perhaps not even a primate.

Right now we are pretty sure it's a gorilla and we're going to need to learn how to live with this behemoth.

Tomorrow will tell.

Random Thoughts

2011-04-11T19:08:00.000-05:00

Just some random thoughts .....

Recently I head a commercial for mini-coopers on the radio touting the fact that the car has "go cart handling." Really??? This is a feature that grownups look for in a vehicle? I'm sorry, you're already trying to sell me a clown car (oh wait that's a Smart Car) shouldn't it come with REAL car handling???

Do you think that Peter Scolari is pissed off that Tom Hanks starred in the same show when they were starting out (Bosom Buddies) and is now an Oscar winning actor, while Scolari is hawking erectile dysfunction treatments on the radio? I really wish I could find a link to one of the actual commercials (I suspect they may be out there but I am probably too lazy to search hard enough) but just use your imagination.

When recently reading Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs I came across this little nugget:

CSI

Law and Order

Bones

Ever really listened to those ads for medications to treat depression? You know the ones where they list 9 gazillion side effects? Why is one of the side effects usually that it can cause an increased risk of suicidal thoughts? If you are taking medication for depression, don't you want and increased risk of happy and perky thoughts? Seems like a really bad side effect for that type of drug and something the manufacturers might want to work on someday.

Yep those are just a few of the random thoughts that have been living in my head. Aren't you glad I shared them with you?

I Hereby Declare....

2011-02-06T19:45:00.000-06:00

That this is the last year that will have a February 6. From now on February only has 27 days (28 in a Leap Year). It's too long anyway so who cares if I get rid of a day.

St. Brigid's Day

2011-02-02T06:30:00.001-06:00

Today is St. Brigid's Day and therefore it is also the day for Blogge's Silent Poetry Reading. I've missed the past couple of years and for all I know I may be the only one doing this today.

Regardless of that, I leave you today with (yet again) another poem by Margaret Atwood. Maybe next time I'll venture forth and find a different poet to share with you but then again why mess with a good thing?

Spelling

My daughter plays on the floor
with plastic letters,
red, blue & hard yellow,
learning how to spell,
spelling,
how to make spells.

I wonder how many women
denied themselves daughters,
closed themselves in rooms,
drew the curtains
so they could mainline words.

A child is not a poem,
a poem is not a child.
there is no either/or.
However.

I return to the story
of the woman caught in the war
& in labour, her thighs tied
together by the enemy
so she could not give birth.

Ancestress: the burning witch,
her mouth covered by leather
to strangle words.

A word after a word
after a word is power.

At the point where language falls away
from the hot bones, at the point
where the rock breaks open and darkness
flows out of it like blood, at
the melting point of granite
when the bones know
they are hollow & the word
splits & doubles & speaks
the truth & the body
itself becomes a mouth.

This is a metaphor.

How do you learn to spell?
Blood, sky & the sun,
your own name first,
your first naming, your first name,
your first word.

Farewell

2011-01-22T16:15:00.000-06:00

Apparently the powers that be over at MSNBC have decided that we no longer need Keith Olbermann on our televisions each evening.

I disagree with this. I am not much of a political tv show viewer (well not since Tim Russert left this earth) but my husband is what I would call a bit of a political junkie. And through him I was introduced to *Countdown with Keith Olbermann.*

Since we have been together, I have found myself spending many an hour with Mr. Olbermann, being entertained and often times enlightened.

I am very sad that MSNBC has decided for whatever cockamamie reason he is no longer welcome in my living room each evening. I'm sorry, but the man that can give us such thought provoking commentary as this, about the World Trade Center "mosque" in August of 2010 will always be welcome in my living room.

I leave you now with that special commentary. It is 12 minutes long but well worth it.

Good night and good luck to you as well Keith Olbermann.

So What Have We Learned?

2011-01-18T20:12:00.002-06:00

About me blogging all the time ... not much why do you ask?

Actually it's been about 6 weeks since we moved here to the Burgh and I would have to say that I have learned a few things in that time.

Want to get from Point A to Point B? Great!!!! Now to get there you must go through point Z to point L and then point Q first. Oh and point L is under construction and will be for the rest of your life.
How do you feel about hills? Hills, we have hills. Lots and lots of hills. I don't think there is any flat land in the state of Pennsylvania. Hell I'm not even sure if my living room floor is flat!
Speed Limit - Oh you mean suggestion of MINIMUM speed. Seriously, doing about 15 miles per hour above the posted speed limit in the high speed lane is no guarantee that you will not be the slowest driver in the lane. Do not be surprised if you have a douchecanoe on your bumper flashing his lights at you to get you to move out of his way.
Rivers - Three of those. Although the Monongahela seems to be hiding from me. Haven't managed to find that one yet!
Tunnels and Bridges - got those too! Lots of those! And sometimes you have to do sudden lane changes on the bridge in order to get in the proper lane to get into the right tunnel. This goes along with numbers 2 and 4, by the way.
SNOWMAGEDDEN!!!!! Seriously, two inches of snow and the town freaks out. This is the one time when number 3 is not in effect. Last time we had more than 3 inches of snow it took me 2 hours to get to where I needed to pick up Keith and then almost another hour to get home.
Only two colours matter in this town.... Black and Gold. I have never seen so many people wearing Steelers stuff in my life! We went to the mall on Saturday and I told Keith we could field a team just from the kids wearing Steelers gear in the play area. Never saw anything like it in my life. Seriously.
Want a beer or drink with dinner? Don't plan on picking up a six pack of your favorite or a bottle of wine at your local grocery store. Beer is sold in beer stores - by the case. Wine is sold in separate wine and spirit stores. So when you select a beer, hope you like it cause you'll be drinking it for a while.
Yinz. So I hope yinz have learned a thing or two about Pittsburgh after this. Yes Pittsburgh does have it's own language. And no I'm not kidding.

I don't know why spellcheck doesn't understand Steelers or yinz. Must not be from Pittsburgh.

Summing up

2010-12-09T09:47:00.002-06:00

I was reading some blogs written by the friends that live on my computer and I discovered something called Reverb 10 on my friend Beth's blog. The point of it is they provide you with a word that will allow you to reflect on the past year and they do this every day during December.

I think it's pretty interesting, although I don't think I'm going to do every word they provide (well and I'm starting over a week after the official start anyway). So the first prompt is this:

One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

I would have to say that word for me is change. With this being the year that I got married, moved (twice - once to South Dakota and now to Pennsylvania), left my job of almost 15 years how could it be anything else?

I think that sometimes people see change as a bad thing, but in my case all of these changes have been wonderful. I adore my husband and can't imagine him not being in my life. Sometimes it feels as if we've been together forever (in a good way!) and I'm amazed that it was merely a year ago we were getting engaged.

Moving to South Dakota was a great experience. It gave me the opportunity to live somewhere completely different than anything I had ever known before. People laugh at "midwest hospitality" but it really does exist and was something Keith and I actually had to get used to when we moved there. People saying hello on the street is a bit disconcerting at first!

And this move to Pennsylvania has been good too. Our apartment isn't perfect (the windows seem to leak cold air! and the floor has some odd bumps) but it is homey and I really do love it!

Leaving my job of almost 15 years was actually a great move. I think that in general I am much less stressed and happier. I had talked on and off for years about finding something new but inertia kept me from doing anything about it. So, yes, change is a good thing.

What would I like my word to be for 2011? I would say happiness. Probably cliched but true.

IKEA ....... Ohhhhh SHINY!!!!

2010-12-08T21:44:00.001-06:00

So Sunday we took a trip to IKEA - my first visit ever to an IKEA. As everyone predicted, I LOVED IT!!!

Our first stop was the cafe for Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce. OMB so good!!!!! And Keith and I split a piece of chocolate cake that was also really, really good.

We weren't there for lunch however. We were there for FURNITURE! Sitting on lawn chairs gets a bit old after a while. Plus we figured after sitting on the futon from hell for a year we deserved some comfortable living room furniture.

On the plus side, they do have cup holders!

I had been looking online so I knew pretty much what I wanted. The EKTORP line sofa and chair, although we briefly considered the love seat/chaise combo but figured that might be awkward if we had company.

We also needed some bookshelves (is anyone surprised that the book lover and former bookstore owner needed more space for books?), end tables and a coffee table. Well that's what we needed THIS trip - we have a kitchen cart and another storage unit for the bedroom on our wish list.

I enjoyed the showroom and seeing how they have things laid our in room type settings, once we got to the Market Place I was in heaven!!!! Pretty much everything down there was an ooooohhhhhhhhh shiny moment for me and I think Keith must have thought I was on crack the way I was flitting from one thing to the next. I did get a new set of whisks but held off on the new wok!

So once we managed to pull me away from there, we went to the warehouse to pick up our boxes. By the time we were done - three pallet carts full of boxes. There was no way the boxes for the couch, chair and coffee table would fit in the car so we arranged for delivery. I guess there is a plus side to being temporarily unemployed since there was no question I would be home to accept the packages!

Once we got home I got to work on assembling the bookshelves and end tables. Yep I am a goofball and installed the one back panel backwards. Oops! You can't tell so much now that it's filled with books.

Ummm.... oops!

Boxes!

Monday the couch, chair and coffee table were delivered and I started with the chair so I could work my way up to the big stuff. My assistant/supervisor (aka the cat) was not quite as helpful as she thinks she is what with her whole lack of thumbs and all, but we managed to get everything built.

I have to give IKEA credit, their furniture is relatively inexpensive, goes together easily and is comfortable as all get out! I think we made some good choices!

If I had a hammar......

2010-12-04T20:13:00.000-06:00

I'd hammar in the morning. I'd hammar all the way to Ottowa.

No I have not lost my mind (OK at least not in the past few seconds, the previous part of my life is subject to interpretation but I digress). Instead it's been pointed out to me by my darling husband that the art of proofreading in major newspapers is going to hell in a hand basket.

Hammar is apparently a tool used to break into cars in mall parking lots in order to steal holiday gifts. I think most people consider that a HAMMER!!!!

Oh and Ottowa is the capital of Canada. I apologize to my Canadian friends for changing the spelling from Ottawa.

I am not sure what this says about the state of journalism today. For the love of Pete, even I run spellcheck on my blog before I hit publish.

Regardless, all of this makes me think of this routine by Taylor Mali. I hope you enjoy it.

Unless You're The Lead Dog - The View Never Changes

2010-12-03T23:08:00.000-06:00

View Larger Map

That map is how I've spent most of my week, driving from our old home in Sioux Falls to our new home in Pittsburgh.

Yep, 1089 miles according to Google maps. Started out on Tuesday and got here on Thursday.

And believe me, unless you're the lead dog (or the first car in a mini caravan) the view never changes.

So how do you amuse yourself for 1000 plus miles over the course of 3 days while staring at the back of a Penske truck? There are a few things you can do:

come up with clever titles for the blog post you are planning to write
sing very loudly (and badly and off key .... have I mentioned I've had a horrid cough since just before Thanksgiving???) along with the radio and annoy the cat
thank your stars that you have the Sirius radio in the car
be fascinated that there is a radio station devoted to alerts for the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum and Library
wonder what they have to announce
be very disappointed when the radio station is nothing but static
kegel exercises ...... (what ... it was a long drive, it's not like I had anything else to do)
make strange noises for no reason except to amuse yourself and again annoy the cat
find it very amusing that Cosmo magazine has a satellite radio station
can't believe you're actually LISTENING to Cosmo radio
hurry up and turn on Martha Stewart radio instead
wonder why you can't manage to stop at ANY turnpike plaza with a Starbucks
break down and buy a mocha at McDonalds
regret that purchase pretty quickly
cough (did I mention the annoying and lingering cough that will not leave?????)
be amazed that this is the first time you've made the drive from Sioux Falls to Ohio while being awake for the entire trip (or the other way around actually)
calculate that this is the longest you have ever driven in one day

Now thanks to my lovely husband, all of our boxes are either in the apartment or our new storage locker. Tomorrow I get to start unpacking all of these boxes and figuring out where to put all of our stuff. I'm looking forward to that (and to doing some cleaning here ... no one fall over dead at that one please), these boxes are driving me nuts!!! Oh and as far as the cleaning goes, I don't think the previous tenant did a very good job cleaning (of course I apparently have high standards since our last landlord was amazed by how clean I left the apartment).

A little of this and a little of that

2010-11-28T21:59:00.000-06:00

So what's new?

Just a few things going on here.... where to start! I suppose starting at the beginning is always the best...

In July or thereabout we found out that Keith's job would not be renewed when his term expired in November. YIKES! Well at least we had a great deal of advanced warning and he began applying for all of the government jobs he could find.

In September we had the wedding. It was small and we were surrounded by our family and friends (in spirit if not in person) and everyone had a wonderful time.

Yes, we went to Chipotle before the wedding!

Our best man Tim, matron of honor Kristen and minister Mary Ann

The topper LOOKED fantastic on the cake (yes I made it!)

So last month, we got some good news... Keith got a job with the Veteran's Administration as a public relations specialist. We are now in the midst (and I do mean midst as I sit on our floor surrounded by boxes and the frame of our now dead futon) of a move to Pittsburgh!

Bobble is confused by all of the activity in our apartment. I think she is worried that I'm either going to throw her in a box and tape her up or leave without her. Of course neither of those scenarios is an option! When we leave here Tuesday morning, she will be in her harness in her carrier on the seat next to me. She gets to be the navigator. Keith will be driving the moving van and I am driving our car. So I hope she is a good map reader! :-D

Hopefully I'll be able to update once we are in Pittsburgh. I haven't seen the apartment yet (just pictures) but I am really looking forward to seeing my new kitchen!

You are kidding, right?

2010-08-23T18:11:00.000-05:00

So this weekend we were watching TV and a commercial came on for a new show on NBC this fall. The premise for this cultural masterpiece? Outsourcing American jobs to India!!!!

I kid you not! The show is actually called Outsourced and apparently will be following the crazy escapades and hijinks of an American sent to run his company's call center in India.

What brain trust thought that this would be a good premise for a show? I mean, seriously. Unemployment is still running rampant in this country and they think we want a chuckle about how funny it is when American culture and jobs meet Indian society?

Needless to say this is yet another show we will NOT be watching. Of course we rarely watch broadcast network television (can anyone say YAY for Food Network)? Maybe someone should outsource the NBC programming director's job to India ... that might be worth a laugh.

The Corn Palace

2010-08-08T20:33:00.001-05:00

Yesterday Keith and I decided to hit the road and drive up to Mitchell. I've never seen the Corn Palace so away we went!

It is pretty amazing that they cover the outside of this building with different pictures made of corn each year. The 2010 theme seemed to be transportation through the ages.

If you notice the side pillars, they've already started working on the new designs for 2011.

There was also one panel dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America (which seemed appropriate given how much popcorn those little buggers sell each year!)

The concession (I'm sorry CORN-CESSION) stand amused me to no end so I had to take a picture of the sign!

Yep the stuff they sell is heavily corn based!

We watched a video explaining how the history of the Corn Palace and how they make the designs each year. Basically they draw an outline of the designs and fill them in (kind of a "corn by numbers" as the video said!) with the nine different colors of corn they use.

I found an example of it on the outside of one of the gift shops across the street.

Duck corn by numbers

The completed duck

We also found a cheerful fella to hang out with!

I am a bad kitty momma....

2010-07-28T22:41:00.001-05:00

I neglected to mention my Bobble girl's second "birthday" on July 19. Sorry Kitty (luckily she doesn't get internet access so, well we just won't tell her now will we?)

She seems to have adjusted well to our apartment. She likes to look out of our sliding glass door that leads to the balcony. Unfortunately I can't convince the birds to come to the feeder so she will have entertainment. Occasionally (more than that if you ask Keith) she is very naughty and tries to climb the bookshelves (I swear she is part monkey!!!) and gets great pleasure in knocking things off the countertops.

Testing out the card basket for the wedding! Everything must be Bobble Approved!!

I am so a good kitty ... when I am asleep!

And this just amuses me. Keith took the video of Bobble doing one of her favorite activities..... staring at him!

Not dead yet!

2010-07-22T20:15:00.004-05:00

Well the cough may indicate otherwise (I swear to BOB that South Dakota is only filled with stuff that I am hideously allergic to!! Nice stuff but lots of coughing, sneezing and nose blowing going on here!) but I am alive and well.

Things are going well here. I still love my job and Sioux Falls is a great place to live.

Wedding planning is going well (actually it's pretty well done). Just waiting for the RSVPs to come back so we can get everything finalized. The final fitting for the dress will be on August 11 (YAY!!! and thank BOB for David's Bridal who oh so kindly EXCHANGED the dress I was sold THAT.DID.NOT.FIT!!!!)

I made the cake topper.

I think it turned out pretty cute and can't wait to actually see it on the cake.

I have found myself hopelessly hooked on bridal tv shows these days. I am wondering if this new compulsion will go away after the wedding?

Now that you know I'm still around maybe next time I'll actually get around to posing some of the Sioux Falls pictures I keep meaning to share!

Greetings from South Dakota!

2010-04-18T20:37:00.007-05:00

Well it's official - I am now a South Dakotan! I even have a driver's license from here now.

Keith flew back to Ohio on St. Patrick's Day and we picked up our rental truck. Packing happened all day on Thursday (and yes we are still engaged and in love after all of that!!!)
Friday morning we said good bye to Cleveland and hit the road.

Bobble was a pretty good little traveler once she settled down. She just hung out in her carrier in between the seats for the trip.

We spent the night in Iowa instead of trying the 15.5 hour trip all at once, so Bobble also had a good time exploring our straight out of the 70's hotel room too!
Ummm yes that IS a mirror on the ceiling...why do you ask?

We managed to get everything unpacked from the truck on Saturday and Sunday (thanks to some of the guys that Keith works with). Monday started my new job (which I LOVE!!!!)

Now we're just putting the "settling in" touches on the apartment. More pictures of that later.

At the zoo

2010-02-14T20:20:00.002-06:00

So Keith and I went to the zoo today to scout out the Wolf Wilderness Lodge where we are getting married in September. As many of you know my favorite animal is the beaver, which is very rarely active when I am at the zoo (much to my chagrin). Today was definitely an exception!!!! Not only was it out and swimming, it was sitting in the corner of the exhibit and I think Keith was amused to watch me trying to interact with it.

Now for totally gratuitous shot of adorableness!

Half of a Lifetime

2010-02-06T10:48:00.002-06:00

Not sure why I feel compelled to blog this but I do and therefore I will listen to the inner voice and put this out here.

Today my dad has been dead for literally half of my life.

I will be 42 in May this year. The year he died I turned 21 that May. Literally half of my life has been spent without any parent in it since my mom will be gone 37 years in May.

Is there anything more than a rambling observation to this entry? Probably not. It was just something that struck me as I was sitting here this morning.

That being said I have things to do today: cleaning, sorting things out to prepare for the move to South Dakota (which considering half a lifetime has passed so quickly will be here oh say tomorrow), and an event with the people from work.

Remember life changes quickly and time passes before you know it. Tell those you love you love them at every opportunity.

So? Anything new with you?

2010-01-27T20:13:00.005-06:00

Well it's been a while since my last post. In fact I had to go and read what the last thing I told you was (sorry!!!).

I suppose I should do an update huh? I guess first things first -- my suitcase did show up and the FedEx guy even brought it up to the third floor for me! YAY!!!!

Not too long after that, Keith and I drove back to Ohio to spend Christmas here. Which was nice and quiet and uneventful....

Oh except for one thing......

WE GOT ENGAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He proposed on Christmas Eve via Ravelry. The way he proposed was totally unexpected, filled with all of my friends and made me cry. It had to be one of the most romantic and perfect things I could imagine.

This is a picture of my ring

it's rather hard to take a picture of your own hand so if I do this right this will be the photo I ganked from the web.....

Keith picked it out on his own although I had tried it on when we were looking for rings and I was giving him some ideas of things I liked.

So the wedding will be here in Cleveland on September 11 of this year. We are getting married at the zoo! Again this was all Keith. He discovered you can rent zoo buildings after hours and thought it might be a neat place for the reception. Well instead we decided to do the whole wedding at the Wolf Wilderness Lodge.

My dress is purchased and just needs some slight alterations. Is anyone surprised it's too long?

Other than finding a photographer we're pretty much on track for having it all together!

Where oh where

2009-12-19T10:04:00.002-06:00

has my suitcase gone??

Well I flew into Omaha on Thursday. My suitcase decided to take a later flight or a detour somewhere else (not sure which). The airline did manage to track down the wayward traveler but since I am in Sioux Falls they wouldn't be able to have FedEx deliver it to me until today.

Yesterday Keith let me have the car so I could go to walmart and get some essentials (undies and socks) until the flipping thing gets delivered today. According to the tracking it should be here in less than two hours.

Is it sad that I really really want my extra knitting projects more than my clothes? I have stuff to wear. I don't really have anything else to knit right now!

A Weekend Too Fast

2009-10-25T16:13:00.002-05:00

This ended up being a very fast weekend here in Mary-land. Keith flew home Thursday night since his son was in the hospital. We had hoped to go out to dinner Friday night when I got home from work but his mother also ended up in the hospital. (Both are doing much better now).

Saturday we decided to skip Heather's October cupcakefest and spent a quiet evening together. Dinner at Olive Garden (not much appetite on my part so I now have dinner again tonight! Yay to not having to cook!!) and then just a quiet night at home.

This morning was a relaxing morning at home before we went off to visit his son in the hospital. Rather Keith visited, I hung out in the waiting room. Even though I am finally feeling better there is no way the hospital would let me near his son's room with my cough.

We went out for lunch before heading home so Keith could get his suitcase and head back to the airport.

The weekend was nice bonus time together as we ended up calling it, even though neither one of us liked the reason we got this time together. Still it went all too quickly. Now we're just counting down the days to Thanksgiving.

Now it's time for me to get the laundry done so I can start packing for my trip on Tuesday. A week in San Diego courtesy of work, hopefully that shouldn't be too hard to take ;-)

Well it's not hamthrax

2009-10-21T20:39:00.002-05:00

Unlike several of my friends from Fred, I do not have hamthrax (or Swinebeck Flu). However whatever I do have is kicking my ass from here to Sunday. I even went to the doctor today and came home with a z-pack and some cough stuff.

I would like it better if it would start working a little faster though. Now I have a fever and some of the cough (which physically hurts I've been doing it so much).

If I don't feel better tomorrow (you better sit down for this one....) I will call off sick.

Yep it's that fun.

Travelin' (Wo)Man

2009-10-20T09:52:00.002-05:00

Go ahead.... sing the Rick Nelson song... you know you want to do it!

Well today is the last day of my vacation and what a vacation it has been. I've been off since last Friday (10/9) and I've managed to be in 10 different states in that time.

Started out in Ohio on 10/9 and Keith and I packed up his car and headed out around 4:30 am (yes am...) and drove to South Dakota. He needed to move into his/our new apartment on Saturday so he could start his new job on Tuesday.

I came home on Monday (flew home from Nebraska) and on Thursday I packed up and headed out again.

This time it was the annual excursion to Rhinebeck with the Fredizens. Much fun (as well as coughing and sneezing were had by all) and we got home yesterday. Today is my last day off before going back to work for a few days. Then it's time to pack the suitcase (again) and head off to California for a week courtesy of work.

So for those keeping track at home the official list is...

Ohio
Indiana
Illinois
Iowa
South Dakota
Nebraska
Missouri (only to change planes but I was still there)
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York

Hopefully my plan of not leaving my couch unless totally necessary will help my Rhinebeck cough go away.

Sorry pictures will have to come later since I am not sure where the cable is for the camera.

Speedy and Stuff

2009-08-23T18:35:00.003-05:00

Well I haven't dropped off the face of the world and I don't have any new pictures of anything (OK maybe I can come up with one or two now that I think about it).

What I do have is a speedy speedy computer thanks to Keith. He upgraded my RAM today from 512 MB to 1.5 GB and boy am I just flying along now!!!!

It's one of those things where you don't know how slow and crappy something is until you make it faster.

I also have a plea to any of my readers (I think there may be one or two of you) to please follow this link and make a donation for my walk to fight diabetes. I know the economy sucks and money is tight but every penny is meaningful and gratefully accepted.

Now I think I promised a picture or two....(OK I found 4)

The bank sent me to Florida last month and I got to stay on the beach.... isn't it lovely? It would have been even nicer if people didn't throw garbage on it (but that's another rant)

I went to the Everglades and saw this handsome fellow!

Since it is a "knitting blog" I shall show you a picture of my latest finished project. RedScot's Traffic Island socks... pattern free on ravelry.

And since you may have noticed the kitty assistant in the picture of the socks, here is a gratuitous picture of my Bobble!!!

One year ago

2009-07-19T21:30:00.003-05:00

It's hard to believe that it was just a year ago that I brought home a tiny little kitten that spent the night hiding from me!

Well Bobble is not quite that tiny anymore (although she is a little thing as far as most cats go). She is getting SLIGHTLY friendlier (she loves Keith much to his chagrin sometimes and even let Heather pet her the other afternoon).

So for today we bring you the latest picture of the Bobble girl!

Better Late Than Never!

2009-05-24T07:34:00.003-05:00

Well a couple of weeks ago, Keith and I decided VERY spur of the moment to take in an Indians game. The weather was wonderful, the game not so much (the team isn't playing well on a consistent basis this season so far).

Mojo the nellyphant was enjoying the sunshine and the pretty field behind her (despite the fact that someone ~~Keith~~ thought she needed rabbit ears!!!)

What we didn't quite expect were the companions we had in our section.

There were gulls EVERYWHERE!!!!! It was seriously beginning to remind us of Hitchcock's movie The Birds. I think all we needed was Tippi Hedron!

Today is the Great Lakes Fiber Festival so there will be some yarny goodness in the future (and maybe a blog post too!)

Hopefully I'll have some more posts in the next week or so. I'm off on another trip (thanks corporate!). This time to Oregon (where I've never been before so I am really looking forward to it.

Then it will be busy busy busy when I get home. A six day work week, having Keith move in (YAY!!!!!!) and then Miami's bicentennial.

Gee you would THINK I might be able to get at least ONE post out of all of that (I will try!)

65 Crazy Questions

2009-04-17T19:18:00.002-05:00

Well I stole this from one of my facebook friends and was going to post it there but facebook ate it. Since I don't post enough here my lovely blog gets it instead!

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
My left arm (no really it's the left one!)

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Black (with red letters that say Miami Redhawks)

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Yes :)

4. Do you plan outfits?
Nope. I wear a uniform to work ... not much planning involved.

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
Full (just had dinner) and stuffy.

6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red?
Second place ribbon from the county fair.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
I don't remember it.

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
Nope. I don't count the people I deal with at work as "meeting people."

9. What are you craving right now?
Nothing.

10. Do you floss?
Occasionally

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Stuffed cabbage.... yum!!!

12. Are you emotional?
Sometimes but not as much as I used to be.

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Not that I remember.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Depends on my mood.

15. Do you like your hair?
It's OK. It needs a trim!

16. Do you like yourself?
Most of the time.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Oh god no!

18. What are you listening to right now?
PBS

19. Are your parents strict?
Well since they are dead I will have to say no.

20. Would you go sky diving?
Is the plane broken? Will I die if I don't because that's the only way!

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
Yes...especially with black olives.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yep.

23. Do you rent movies often?
No, occasionally I'll get them from the library.

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Sure if I shake the snow globe by me.

25. How many countries have you visited?
Two (if you count the one I live in)

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
Probably when I was a teenager.

27. Ever been on a train?
Yes, I enjoyed it and would do it again.

28. Brown or white eggs?
White.

29.Do you have a cell-phone?
Yes.

30. Do you use chap stick?
If I know where I put it.

31. Do you own a gun?
Not unless a bb gun counts.

32. Can you use chop sticks?
Yes.

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
Just the Bobble kitty.

34. Are you too forgiving?
Sometimes, but I can also hold a grudge for a VERY VERY long time.

35. Ever been in love?
Yes.

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
No idea.

37. Ever have cream puffs?
Yes.

38. Last time you cried?
Ummm maybe about 6 weeks ago.

39. What was the last question you asked?
What time are you scheduled to be in tomorrow? (to two of my employees)

40. Favorite time of the year?
Spring!

41. Do you have any tattoos?
No

42. Are you sarcastic?
Oh hell yes!

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
Ummm no (is that a movie?)

44. Ever walked into a wall?
Possibly but I did walk into a tree once.

45. Favorite color?
Red

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Not that I can think of.

47. Is your hair curly?
Not at all.

48. What was the last CD you bought?
The new Keith Urban (can't think of the title)

49. Do looks matter?
Not really.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
Nope.

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
Not too bad.

52. Do you like your life right now?
Most of it but there are things I could stand to change.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
Yes

54. Can you handle the truth?
I hate liars so yes the truth is always better.

55. Do you have good vision?
With glasses sure.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Hmmmm I don't think so.

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
Every day.

58. The last person you held hands with?
My sweetie :)

59. What are you wearing?
pyjamma pants and a Bette Midler concert t-shirt

60.What is your favorite animal?
Beaver

61. Where was your default picture taken at?
(this is my picture on facebook).... at my grade school class reunion.

62. Can you hula hoop?
I try but I suck at it.

63. Do you have a job?
Yes

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
Do groceries count? If not a new antenna for the TV.

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
No

October is just around the corner

2009-04-15T18:27:00.003-05:00

No I'm not in a hurry to rush past spring (the entire day of it we usually get) or summer but I have registered for my annual walk to fight diabetes which is in October.

And I am already fundraising for it. So please think about giving early so we can make the goal I have set (a mere $200) and maybe even raise the goal as we go along.

I will be having another blog contest as we get closer to summer. I still need to go in search of the yarn (but am strongly leaning towards more lovely yarn from Tuscan Grove again this year).

But please, consider making an early donation to the cause! It will be here before we know it!

Again for ease of donations there is a link to the left side of the page!

What else do you do

2009-04-03T20:08:00.004-05:00

to celebrate Wear a Moustache in Public Day? Heather and I thought the obvious answer was to knit a nose warmer, add fun fur moustache and wear it around Erie PA.

I'm not sure how she feels about having her picture on the interwebs so you're stuck with pictures of just me.

Fishie kissies outside of a chocolate shop/cocoa shoppe we found at the end of the day.

Cleveland has guitars, Erie has frogs. We found this guy outside of the library.

With the Flying Walleye. We were a bit disappointed in this one. While it was cute, we thought it was going to be bigger than it was.

We also saw Mad Antony Wayne's Kettle of Death, and found the replica blockhouse where he died. If you go there TAKE A FLASHLIGHT! Especially if you plan on getting the key from the Soldiers and Sailors Home security guard and risking life and limb to see the replica of Mad Anthony. The stair case is very curvy and very slanted. We debated letting him wear a moustache but decided against it.

And believe me my camera has a rather powerful flash on it. I was actually holding my flashlight in my mouth while I took this one, it's not that bright in there.

One last picture... this is from the art museum. I don't remember the name of the piece or the artist (maybe Heather does) but this turned out to be the most amazing picture.

I survived New Jersey

2009-02-25T11:42:00.002-06:00

Greetings! I am happy to report that I survived the trip to New Jersey with only minor frustration in getting lost every time I went somewhere. That and the fact that I was driving (to me) the equivalent of a tank (did I mention that they rented me a Toyota Highlander? midsized my ass!!!) compounded with the special craziness that is driving in New Jersey made for a really fun trip.

No pictures since 1) I am at work (shhhhh no telling) and 2) I really didn't take any. Want to see what the hotel room looked like? Check out the last time I was there in 2007. Same thing with the amazing view of the NYC skyline from the workout room.

I did manage to make my way to a yarn shop while I was there and picked up some yarn (a pretty sunrise/sunset color of variegated wool) and a discounted pattern for some cable-ish socks.

There was some breaking news on the home front while I was gone though! Bobble let someone that wasn't me pet her! Barb and Joey were watching her for me and she let Joey pet her so he was THRILLED!!!!

Bobble got a catnip banana from me as her souvenir since she stole one of my actual bananas off the counter a couple of weeks ago. She seems to be rather fond of it so maybe if I get off my tush I will post the pictures of her with it later on tonight.

And I really haven't forgotten that I still have one more post I want to write for the end of the 2008 wrap up. It's going to be photo intensive so that one will have to wait until I am on my own computer.

Guess who fondeled my sock?

2009-02-17T19:43:00.002-06:00

Greetings from another business trip to the wilds of New Jersey! Only a short trip this time, in today and home on Saturday.

Got some quality knitting time in today while waiting to board the plane (cause you KNOW I was a good two hours early!) and while in flight.

A couple of people asked about my knitting, one of whom said I was the "cleverest thing ever!" once she heard I was making my own sock. (Noro Kureyon if anyone is interested)

While on the plane the lady across the aisle from me asked me about my knitting technique since I was knitting magic loop (my preferred sock knitting method) which she was not familiar with. We chatted about that (I gave her the basics and suggested google for more details) and the fact that I knit continental (apparently she does too). She showed me her sock she was working on, felt my sock (the Noro is odd... it feels like straw in the ball but gets softer as you knit with it).

We discussed local yarn shops (she had never heard of Soft n Sassy) and throughout all of this I am thinking to myself "this lady looks soooooo familiar!"

Well at the end of the flight I finally figured out WHY she looked familiar and why I kept thinking she looked like someone. It was because she IS that someone!

My sock got fondled by Carol Heiss-Jenkins!!! I totally would have Kinneared her if I had any remote chance to do so! For a skating geek like me this was a pretty darn cool way to start my trip.

Tradition continues here... I am at the same NJ hotel as last time and getting lost in the same places as last time. I had hoped to go into NYC this afternoon since I had the afternoon free but was about to chew off my arm at that point so it was time to get lunch which turned into dinner (at 4:30 I feel old) instead....

I might get over to the city at the end of the week to see my friend Kathe so all hope is not lost!

We interrupt....

2009-01-17T08:58:00.002-06:00

the year in review to bring you breaking news from the kitchen/drive way!

We have a puddle forming since the blasted weather has caused a pipe to break somewhere under the kitchen.

A plumber has been called (before 7 am I might add). But I couldn't have them here at 9 because I needed to do my quarterly visit to the vampire (aka doctor for my quarterly blood work). So now I have a four hour window of between 10-2. It's just now 10 so hopefully the phone will be ringing soon to tell me the plumber man is on the way!

Trust me when I say this is not how I wanted to spend my three day weekend, but at least it happened when I was home. I am desperately trying to find a silver lining here!!! And I suspect it may have something to do with the pipe that feeds the never used hose which would also be a plus.

Oh and in case anyone wonders .... so far winter sucks.

New experiences

2009-01-14T21:20:00.002-06:00

2008 review continues.....The year also brought some new experiences --- smooshed boobs and a traffic ticket. Sorry no pictures to go with this one (even though I have the ticket and my "booby bandaid" from mammogram #2) cause if I wait to get pictures of those things it will be 2010 before I finish reviewing 2008!

The mammogram wasn't hideous for anyone that is putting of their own for fear of agony. Although in my case the right boob is a total pain in my ass and caused me to go back for a second smooshing and an ultrasound. One cool thing though - they do give you a band aid with a bb attached to it to wear for the procedure.

The traffic ticket was also great fun! I managed to make it to 40 before I got my first (and hopefully only) traffic ticket. I missed a red light and the lovely police man was kind enough to stop me and give me an Independence Day present for it.

I did go to traffic court - which believe me was an experience in and of itself!!! I think my favorite had to be the guy telling a bunch of people he just met while we were all waiting that he had been totally honest with his parole officer when he said he had a dope problem. He even said that if he had to pee in a cup that minute the test would be positive!

Yes I admit, this is a side of life I don't normally see (thank Bob!). But anyway I ended up playing lets make a deal with the prosecutors office and had to pay a non-moving violation and court costs.

There will be further updates on 2008, hopefully soon! I'd like to get that year wrapped up before this year is too old!

A Year in Review (part one)

2009-01-03T10:46:00.003-06:00

So let's see what happened in 2008? Not too much (yeah right!) actually it was a pretty busy year.

There was knitting....

There was a rather significant birthday....

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T23:03:00.002-06:00

So much was left unblogged in 2008 (and by the way -- when the HELL did it become 2009!!!!! I mean hello I am pretty sure I just did this new year's eve thing last month or something) that I am hoping for a "year in review" post this weekend.

So watch this site but knowing me I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you!

Such an honor!

2008-12-13T20:10:00.002-06:00

Ann just gave me this fantastic award!

The Spreader of Love award rules are simple:

1. Post a copy on your blog
2. Mention who gave you the award
3. Pass the award on to 6 others.

My six people are:

Heather kitteh pusher extraordinaire
Nicola my favorite fraggle
Emms my wonderful moustached friend
Calista a future crazy cat lady (in the best possible way!!)
Jesh spindle maker extraordinaire
Franklin if you don't know the charming and delightful Franklin your life is sadly lacking. He is a rare gem of a human being.

Oh and rule 4 ... leave a message on their blog letting them know about the award.

I know I know

2008-11-04T07:47:00.001-06:00

Yes I know I still owe a Rhinebeck post but in the meantime here is a quiz...

Well my results from a quiz. And yes I was surprised at the result.

Your result for The Best Thing About You Test...

Humility

Humility is your strongest virtue. You are humble.

Humility is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. And you? When you do the right thing, you're doing it for all the right reasons. All 7 virtues are a part of you, but your humility runs deepest.

It is likely you're a quiet type. But if not, then you just have dark, secret side that loves to give.

Humble famous people: JD Salinger, Isaac Newton, Harry Potter (pre-puberty)

Your raw relative scores follow. 0% is low, and 100% is perfect, nearly impossible. Note that I pitted the virtues against each other, so in some way these are relative scores. It's impossible to score high on all of them, and a low score on one is just relatively low compared to the other virtues.

YOUR VIRTUES

30% Compassion

56% Intelligence

63% Humility

56% Honesty

50% Discipline

0% Courage

58% Passion

Take The Best Thing About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Oh and just because...

2008-10-17T06:40:00.003-05:00

I realized I haven't posted any new Bobble pictures in a while (I know, bad kitteh mamma) so to hold you over until I get home with Rhinebeck pictures here is a picture of the world's most adorable kitteh!!

WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

2008-10-17T06:35:00.003-05:00

No pictures but I'm getting ready to leave for Heather's house so we can head off to RHINEBECK!!!!

There will be tonnes of VLT-ers there that I will finally get to meet in person plus yarn and fibre and other goodies!

No I'm not excited at all? Why do you ask?

Details and pictures when I get home!!!

I kow the contest is over.....

2008-10-12T09:27:00.002-05:00

But I've gotten an email from the American Diabetes Association and with the economy the way it is our walk fell short of it's projected goals.

So if anyone still wants to make a contribution it would be gratefully accepted. The link is still to the left of the page.

Thanks!

This time I mean it!

2008-10-09T22:57:00.002-05:00

OK after my oops I redid the contest. No fanfare, pictures or anything more than pieces of paper in my lunch bag today at work.

The latest (and someone that actually entered!) is Heather. Congratulations!!!

The Winner Is........

2008-10-07T15:56:00.004-05:00

No pictures right now because I am at work and the camera and I can't do those kind of things here, but I wanted to make the official announcement of the winner of the contest.

Taralyn is the lucky winner of the beautiful skein of sock yarn. I have contacted her and am just waiting for her information to get the yarn in the mail to her.

OK scratch all of that.... new drawing tomorrow. I accidently put TaraLyn in the drawing when she hadn't actually entered! She was kind enough to let me know I goofed up.

We will try this again tomorrow!!

Thanks to everyone for their support (and to Tuscan Grove for the lovely comment).

Hopefully next year we can get even more people to participate and raise money for the American Diabetes Association!!!

OFFICIAL BLOG CONTEST BEGINS

2008-09-01T14:04:00.003-05:00

WOW!! Only two days after I announce I am going to have a contest I am here to start the contest!

It's pretty simple actually. See the link to the left of this that says "My ADA page"? If you follow that link and make at least a $5 donation to support my walk against diabetes between now and October 3, 2008 (the walk is October 4) and leave me a comment letting me know that you donated I will enter you in a drawing for this lovely skein of sock yarn.

The yarn is one skein of 100% superwash merino wool hand-dyed by Tuscan Grove. It is in the colorway Venetian Glass and contains approximately 440 yards/110 grams.

On my monitor the colors look pretty accurate, but just in case the yarn is brightly multi-colored with pink, light blue, greens and some yellow/oranges.

If you have any questions please leave a comment.

AND THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Coming Soon!!

2008-08-30T20:42:00.002-05:00

Once I get a picture of the ~~swag~~ prize I picked up there will be an official announcement about our first ever Mary Has A Knitting Blog contest.

It is going along with the fundraising for my American Diabetes Association walk.

So be prepared!!!

Kitteh!!

2008-08-02T11:45:00.006-05:00

Oh I know totally like me to mention that I'm getting a kitten and then disappear for two weeks without a word.

Well I did get a kitten. Her name is Bobble Mia. Bobble for a couple of reasons:
1) it's a knitting term and I wouldn't have gotten her if I didn't knit
2) I also wouldn't have gotten her if I wasn't on ravelry and since Bob the Boston Terrier is the official mascot of ravelry, Bobble seemed like a good name.
3) Her middle name is MIA -- short for Missing In Action.

When I got her home after dying yarn at Heather's house with Jen (the blogless kitteh keeper)
I tried to get yet unnamed kitteh out of the carrier. Yeah she had a few other ideas and took off for under my bed. I tried to get her out and then she ended up under the night stand. I'm not sure where she went after that - I heard meowing around 12:30 in the morning but couldn't find her.

I closed off the craft room, bathroom and my bed room and slept on the couch in the living room.

Around 4:30 in the morning I hear a "meow" and see her under the chair with all of my exercise equipment. This time she makes a run for the kitchen and heads under/behind the refrigerator. In case you were wondering it's not very comfortable to sleep on my kitchen floor while trying to tempt a kitteh out from behind the fridge.

Eventually I had to leave to go to a birthday picnic and hoped she would come out while I was gone. No such luck - I knew she wasn't stuck since I would see her stick her head out and look at me but then she would run back and hide. I ended up calling in the reinforcements and had Barbara's brother Terry come and move the fridge.

While I was worried that someone wasn't drinking anything my resourceful kitteh was drinking the condensation off the fridge coils.

I got her to her safe room (aka the bathroom) and she started settling in a little bit. There was still hissing at me involved but she would let me pick her up and pet her.

Of course the next morning I discovered her missing from the closed bathroom. The door was completely closed and those of you that have been here know -- the bathroom isn't that big. I heard a "meow" and found Bobble in the cabinet under the bathroom sink. Had to wonder about that one, no opposible thumbs, closed cabinet door (a sticky one at that) and a kitten inside of it. Turns out there is a kitty sized gap between the counter top and the cabinet - big enough for an adventurous kitten to fit through. Later on I found her SITTING ON THE PIPES!!!

This is Bobble attacking her favorite toy (well except for the catnip mouse she got from Kathe (aka knittingfiddler) in New York)
I had to hide this in my closet after it looked like we were eating part of a feather.

Our newest trick though is to lay on top of the computer....
Which does tend to make it a little hard to type!

Shhhhh

2008-07-17T12:59:00.003-05:00

Ok we all have to whisper right now.

I am blogging at work (shhhh don't tell!!!)

So no pictures but an announcement --

I am GETTING A KITTEN!!!!

Heather (of the cupcakes) has a friend that has rescued a litter of five kittens. They're about 6-8 weeks old (that's what they are telling me .. I know nothing!!) and very cute. (Again the work thing means no pictures and no links).

I should get him or her on Saturday so I'm sure we will have a couple of pictures after that. Unless of course Heather reads this, comments and posts some links :-)

Name suggestions may be helpful!

Cupcakes

2008-06-15T19:04:00.002-05:00

Well since this is the last day of my vacation I thought I might get around to posting the pictures from the field trip Heather and I took to the cupcake store.

Well first we stopped at Miss Chickpea's for some yarn fondling (and buying). I found what I have declared to be the official key chain of the Completely Pointless and Arbitrary Group on Ravelry.
It's a cake key chain (obviously I know). I haven't decided what (if any) set of keys to put it on yet. Right now it's just hanging out on the dining room table. I've thought about making it a cell phone charm but I think it's too big for that.

After getting the key chain, some more sock yarn (yeah like I NEEDED that!!!) and some other yarn for afghan squares Heather and I walked over to the cupcake store. Main Street Cupcakes only sells cupcakes and they make a bunch of different kinds every day. I didn't take any pictures of the shop and for some reason the picture of my cupcake box shows up very pixitlated when I try to post it.

I went with a four pack of cupcakes.

From top left clockwise I picked:
Petal Cake (white cake with hints of almond, orange and vanilla covered in a butter cream frosting)
Wedding Day White (white cake again with a hint of almond and butter cream frosting)
Chocolate Covered Cherry (dark chocolate with a cherry inside and covered in a chocolate cherry butter cream frosting)
Day and Night (dark chocolate cupcake with white chocolate chips with white butter cream frosting topped with chocolate chips).

When I got them home I knew I wouldn't be able to decide on just one to try and I didn't want to eat all four of them at once, so I compromised. I cut them in half and had a half of each of them. This way you can see the inside of them. (cause stuff like this is all about you the reader!)I'm not sure why the picture comes out fuzzy here - it looks great on flickr.

They were pretty good cupcakes but I preferred the chocolate ones over the white ones. Heather said the same thing about the ones she tried too. Of course we said we can't pass judgement on only one trip so we will have to make another visit for mere scientific purposes of course!

More about ME!!

2008-06-13T09:20:00.002-05:00

Swiped this from a friend's myspace page.... more than you probably want to know about me...

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name: Mary
Birthday: May 30
Birthplace: Cleveland OH
Current Location: Cleveland OH
Eye Color: Grey
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 5'2" (or so says the state of Ohio)
Right Handed or Left Handed: Right
Your Heritage: Belgian, Welsh, Irish and German
The Shoes You Wore Today: none yet (probably crocs later)
Your Weakness: carbs
Your Fears: abandonment and falling from great heights
Your Perfect Pizza: pepperoni, sausage, olives and mushrooms (pretty much anything except green peppers, pineapple and anchovies)
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year: Lose weight and have it STAY LOST
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger: no idea - I don't IM enough to know
Thoughts First Waking Up: ugh what time is it?
Your Best Physical Feature: Smile, eyes
Your Bedtime: depends on what I have to do the next day
Your Most Missed Memory: 1) spending time with my dad 2) having my bird climb into bed with me
Pepsi or Coke: Coke Zero
McDonald's or Burger King: Chipotle
Single or Group Dates: Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Either as long as it's diet
Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: Tea
Do you Smoke: No
Do you swear: Fuck yes -- I'm sorry what was the question?
Do you Sing: Yes - although some people probably wish I wouldn't
Do you Shower Daily: Yes
Have you Been in Love: Yes and I hope the next time the person loves me too instead of pretending to in order to use me
Do you want to go to College: Been there done that
Do you want to get Married: I want to find a person I can be with - I don't know if marriage is a requirement
Do you believe in yourself: Most of the times
Do you get Motion Sickness: No
Do you think you are Attractive: Sometimes
Are you a Health Freak: Sometimes (trying to get better about it)
Do you get along with your Parents: ummmmm kind of had to do this one (if you need to know just ask)
Do you like Thunderstorms: YES!!!
Do you play an Instrument: No but I want to learn how to play the bagpipes
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol: Yes
In the past month have you Smoked: No
In the past month have you been on Drugs: No
In the past month have you gone on a Date: No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall: Unfortunately
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos: Unfortunately (which is why I don't usually buy oreos)
In the past month have you eaten Sushi: YES NOM NOM NOM
In the past month have you been on Stage: no
In the past month have you been Dumped: no
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping: no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything: no
Ever been Drunk: yes
Ever been called a Tease: no
Ever been Beaten up: no
Ever Shoplifted: no
How do you want to Die: either quickly or with enough time to say goodbye to everyone I love
What do you want to be when you Grow Up: I'll let you know when I grow up
What country would you most like to Visit: Europe (yes I KNOW it's a continent!!) and Australia
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color: doesn't matter
Favourite Hair Color: doesn't matter
Short or Long Hair: short
Height: taller than me
Weight: doesn't matter
Best Clothing Style: able to be casual but also able to dress up when needed
Number of Drugs I have taken: only prescription
Number of CDs I own: too many
Number of Piercings: two
Number of Tattoos: none
Number of things in my Past I Regret: a few

Another personality test

2008-06-11T18:55:00.001-05:00

Just to hold you over until I can get the pictures from the cupcake field trip uploaded.

Independent Thinkers are analytical and witty persons. They are normally self-confident and do not let themselves get worked up by conflicts and criticism. They are very much aware of their own strengths and have no doubts about their abilities. People of this personality type are often very successful in their career as they have both competence and purposefulness. Independent Thinkers are excellent strategists; logic, systematics and theoretical considerations are their world. They are eager for knowledge and always endeavour to expand and perfect their knowledge in any area which is interesting for them. Abstract thinking comes naturally to them; scientists and computer specialists are often of this type.

Independent Thinkers are specialists in their area. The development of their ideas and visions is important to them; they love being as flexible as possible and, ideally, of being able to work alone because they often find it a strain having to make their complex trains of thought understandable to other people. Independent Thinkers cannot stand routine. Once they consider an idea to be good it is difficult to make them give it up; they pursue the implementation of that idea obstinately and persistently, also in the face of external opposition.

Independent Thinkers are not the type who easily comes out of his shell. Speaking about their emotional life is also not one of their strong points. Anyway, social relationships are not particularly important to them; they are happy with just a few, close friends who find it easy to share their intellectual world. They find it difficult to establish new ties. In love, they need a lot of space and independence but this does not mean that their partner is not important to them. Independent Thinkers often make a cool and reserved impression on others; but this impression is deceptive: they can hardly bear it if people close to them should reject them. They prefer a harmonious, balanced relationship with a partner who shares their interests and with whom they can realise their visions.

Adjectives which describe your type
introverted, theoretical, logical, planning, rational, independent, intellectual, self-confident, analytical, structured, dogged, witty, resolute, self-critical, visionary, inventive, independent, unsociable, reserved, nonconformist, quiet, visionary, honest, demanding, hardworking

I am thinking this one seems relatively accurate.

40 and fabulous!!

2008-05-31T12:22:00.005-05:00

OK well first we will post something not usually seen here in Mary-land. A picture of me!!!

OK I'm not thrilled with how my hair came out but I am past due for a haircut so whatever!

Dinner was AMAZING!!!! And I have pictures of everything except dessert (I forgot but trust me it was awesome).

I started with the mussels which have spicy sausage, garlic and white wine.
Everyone had a different appetizer and I got to try all of them (only one other person wanted to try mine). Even the chicken livers were good! I want to try and figure out how to make the roasted beets and the Jamison baby lamb ribs were so tender they just slipped off the bone. The bruschetta was garlicy and crunchy and delicious. Oh and I almost fell over when the "bowl" they brought me for my mussel shells was a calphalon pan. You could tell it had been well used but still!

For my entree I had the hanger steak. The picture is a little blurry but the dinner was fantastic. I had mine rare and it's served over chickpeas with red peppers -- YUMMY!!! I chose the soft polenta as my side (I was being adventurous) and I am sooooo glad I did. They make it with marscapone cheese (and another one I can't remember) but it was phenomenal.

Barbara and Rich had the snapper for two. I had a taste and he was pretty yummy too.

I didn't have any leftovers but Terry and Sarah did and they package them up in these cute little boxes. OK and if anyone cares the polish I'm wearing is OPI Got the Blues for Red.

I almost forgot to post the picture of the yummy beverage I started my evening with. It's called a Zeta and it's champagne, cranberry juice and peach nectar. It was as good as it looks too.

Wrapping Up the Thirties and the Weekend

2008-05-29T20:42:00.008-05:00

Well this is the last post as a thirty-something since tomorrow is (cue music) THE BIG 40!!!!

So I figured I would wrap up this decade of my life by wrapping up some stuff I meant to post about this week but haven't gotten around to yet.

Great Lakes Fiber Festival --

This was Saturday. There were alpacas

OK all together now --- say awwww. Aren't they cute? And much to my friend Marcia's dismay, our friend Sally and I did not buy her one.

There were moths (and their cocoons for making silk)

There was lamb......

This was my lamb sandwich that I had for lunch but there were live still bearing wool lambs at the festival too. I just didn't get a picture of them.

There were Ravelers......

We had a meet-up in the food vendor "area" (OK I'm honestly not positive that two carnival type food trucks constitute an "area" but whatever!)

And of course there was fiber. But I was well behaved and only bought enough yarn for two pairs of socks.

I came up with some red and white yarn from Stone Barn Fibers from their Gypsy Girl Creations line in the color Peppermint Twist. It's 100% superwash merino.

Can we say Miami socks anyone????

And I got some more 100% superwash merino from Diane at Creatively Dyed Yarns

She was working on a pair of socks in this yarn and it looked great.

On Monday I went to Heather's house for a cook-out. Let me just say that the Ravelry CPAaGg knows how to party!!!

We did have actual food there too but the cupcakes were a 17.8 to 1 ratio between cupcake and guest. They were all great too but I really loved the Mexican Chocolate and the Wasabi-White Chocolate has inspired me to tweak it and see what revisions I can come up with.

OK I think that is it for this one. We've wrapped up the weekend and my last post of my thirties. See you tomorrow! Or the next day with a full report of dinner at Lolita's!

The post with no name

2008-05-23T21:32:00.004-05:00

Well I'm sure as heck not calling it "more beaver shots!!!!" I got the cutest package in the mail on Wednesday. While I was wandering through Jess's flickr account looking at pictures of Bob (the cutest ravelry mascot ever!) I discovered some Boston Terrier stich markers someone sent her. I went to check out the site and discovered BEAVER stitch marker. OMG HAD TO HAVE THEM!!!!!

I placed my order and they arrived on Wednesday.

2008 - the year of naughty knititng

2008-05-17T13:38:00.005-05:00

Apparently 2008 is the year of knitting naughty things. First we had the vibrator cozy and now we have the penis chapstick holder. Ummm yeah anyone reading this with small children MIGHT want to clear the room of rugrats at this point.

I made this for one of my ravelry buddies for our latest swap. I promised my other internet knitting buddies on the ex-prodigy site pictures and a pattern link so here we go!

I used Caron's Simply Soft in the color Bone (yeah I know ..... we don't need to cover the jokes here!) and already have a request for another one - this time from one of the girls at work.

The pattern is here or the ravelry link is here.

Enjoy!

Another quiz

2008-05-11T10:25:00.004-05:00

Found this one on Needlephile's blog.

you are aquamarine
#7FFFD4

Your dominant hues are cyan and green. Although you definately strive to be logical you care about people and know there's a time and place for thinking emotionally. Your head rules most things but your heart rules others, and getting them to meet in the middle takes a lot of your energy some days.

Your saturation level is medium - You're not the most decisive go-getter, but you can get a job done when it's required of you. You probably don't think the world can change for you and don't want to spend too much effort trying to force it.

Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Not postive that I agree with that last bit though -- maybe someone that actually knows me can tell me if I'm "sunny and optimistic" about life.

Hi Heather!

2008-05-09T20:40:00.006-05:00

Well I almost titled this post "my beaver" but thought that might just be asking for too much trouble so never mind.

Heather and I were chatting tonight on ravelry about the PBS auction and I mentioned my Nyland planter. She googled it and the second link is to here, and my mentioning that I don't have a picture of it.

Well I dragged my tush off the couch and now we have pictures of the infamous Nyland beaver planter. And as a side note - I flipped it over and I've had it for 12 years now. I bought it during the 1996 auction.

Please ignore the messy table!!!

This is a picture from above - you can tell that the interior is unglazed and it's actually designed to be used as a planter. Just in case anyone is wondering - I have NEVER put anything inside this, nor do I ever plan on putting anything in it.

Isn't his little face just the cutest thing? I love the clover too.

My first OFFICIAL MeMe

2008-05-01T21:10:00.003-05:00

Well I have FINALLY been tagged for a meme!!! Heather tagged me for the seven random things meme.

The rules:

Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.

Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

Let them know they are tagged by leaving comments on their blogs.

OK I won't be tagging 7 people (mostly because I don't think I HAVE seven friends with blogs.)

Random facts:

1. I have one sister and she is 31 years older than I am. Her three kids are all older than I am as well.

2. I keep track of all of the books that I read. This started when my dentist's receptionist mentioned that I was always reading a new book when I came in (yeah I'm there every six months) and she wanted to know how many books I read in a year. I had no idea so I started keeping track. Now I do it all the time.

3. I was the hockey reporter for my college newspaper. For two years I also travelled with the team, and believe me one female checking into a hotel with a bus full of men gets some SERIOUSLY weird looks.

4. I have had three birds at various times. Two of them were actually rescues that were found. My first bird, Wylie, was a great little cockatiel who I found walking around my street one day. He was the best bird that I ever had.

5. I have a list of things that I guarantee would get me fired from work that I swear I will do if I ever win the lottery and don't have to worry about being employed any more.

6. I believe that my aunt visited me before she died and that I had to tell her I would be OK before she would move on. I also believe that my sister was visited by our dad when she was in the hospital last summer - in part because I told him he wasn't allowed to let her die since I still needed her here.

7. I have "dress crocs" that I wear to work. They are black MaryJanes and I am so glad it's warmer again so I can wear them.

OK so now who to tag:

LeeAnn

Ann

Faith

Evil Science Chick

Just stuff

2008-04-23T09:31:00.003-05:00

No real point (or pictures) for this one. Just felt like posting (especially since I've been up since 5:30 this morning).

Why was I up so early you ask? Well even though today is my day off and I COULD have slept in - I got up for the 6:15 abs class at the Y. Yep.... me - I got up (willingly) and did it so I could have Tony make me do crunches for half an hour.

Then it was off to the Wal-Mart to buy some towels and ant traps. No relation other than I needed them.

I must say it was a little wierd to have worked out, shopped and had breakfast all before 8:30 am on a day off. I already raveled (not topless! - long story unless you're a member of the CPAaGg on ravelry) and now I need to get ready to do the laundry.

I think I'll take the car in for the dumbass e-check that I have to get because I live in Cuyahoga county. Ummmm yeah it's a good thing to protect the environment and I'm all for that part but it's dumbass because not EVERYONE in the state has to do it, only those of us that live in certain counties. Like no one from the other counties drive their pollution belching cars into my area.

Plus I need to make some phone calls regarding the BYOD (Buy Your Own Dinner) birthday party I want to have for the rather SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY I have coming up next month.

Right now I am leaning towards Lolita or maybe Lola (but Lolita is ahead by a teeny tiny bit). Sokolowski's University Inn is still in the running too but for some reason I REALLY want to go to Lolita's. Of course this being a "hot trendy" Michael Symon restaurant I need to see how soon they would have to have a reservation for my event.

Ahhhh things to do!

Nom Nom Nom

2008-04-13T19:12:00.003-05:00

No knitting in this one but LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!!

Yep that's right - single serving Ben and Jerry's!!!

Just to show how tiny the carton really is I included my camera case behind it in this one.

But look --- it's more than JUST ice cream! They even give you a tiny little spoon under the lid to eat it with. I suppose that's in case you have an ice cream emergency on the way home from the store or something.

My only real complaint is that there only seem to be three flavors available right now (or at least my store is only carrying three flavors). And none of them are my favorites, I can't wait to see a teeny tiny serving of Chubby Hubby or New York Superfudge..... NOM NOM NOM!!!

Sounds about right actually

2008-03-14T19:25:00.000-05:00

What Mary Means

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated.
You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want.
You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

They do say Spring ahead, right?

2008-03-08T19:42:00.003-06:00

Well the saying is spring ahead and that does happen tonight but you would never guess that based on what is outside my door right now.

Yep snow ... lots and LOTS of snow.....

I did manage to shovel myself out (in theory because I didn't actually try to move the car) and hopefully I will be able to make it to the grocery store tomorrow. Of course I know I need to shovel some more tomorrow - it's been snowing all day long and the winter storm advisory is on until tomorrow at 4 am.

You know it has to be bad when CHURCHES cancel services...... AND the bingo place closes down for the day!

Alice?

2008-02-28T19:26:00.001-06:00

Which Alice in Wonderland character are YOU?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Alice

You scored Alice! You are kind-hearted and curious and give yourself very good advice, but seldom follow it, which leads you into trouble. You always try to be courteous and polite, but you become cross when people speak in nonsense to you and scold them sharply.

Alice

92%

Queen of Hearts

83%

March Hare

83%

Cheshire Cat

83%

Carpenter

75%

Mad Hatter

75%

Walrus

75%

Caterpillar

67%

The Dormouse

67%

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

58%

A Playing Card

58%

The White Rabbit

42%

Flamingo

33%

Oyster

33%

Brace yourself

2008-02-23T10:26:00.005-06:00

Rumor has it this is occasionally a knitting blog. That being the case I figured I might show some actual knitting content. This was a gift for my friend Kristen's bachlorette party in January. What do you give someone for an adult toy party? Well an adult toy cozy of course! You may want to avert the eyes of any small children in the room!

Turns out this is a pretty good use of leftover sock yarn. Several people suggested I might want to try and sell these - maybe I'll look into it!

St. Brigid's Day

2008-02-03T14:00:00.000-06:00

Technically I am a day behind since yesterday was actually the Blogger's Silent Poetry Reading in honor of St. Brigid's Day. Well figuring better late than never ....

Siren Song by Margaret Atwood

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:

the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see beached skulls

the song nobody knows
because anyone who had heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember.
Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical
with these two feathery maniacs,
I don’t enjoy singing
this trio, fatal and valuable.

I will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song

is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique

at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.

More sock-ventures

2008-01-30T21:58:00.000-06:00

Yep the sock had another adventure last night. OK it is a different sock than the one that met authors last year but whatever!

My book group (yes the three of us constitute a group!!) had a guest last night. Casey Daniels joined us to discuss her latest Pepper Martin book, Tombs of Endearment. This is her third book in the series and despite my usual reservations about reading a series book out of order I bit the bullet and dove into the book. I enjoyed it and will go back to read the first two books since as I told Casey last night with my usual reading quirk not knowing what happened earlier was JUST enough to make me slightly nuts!! but you don't have to read the first ones to enjoy this book.

She was a great guest and even willingly posed with the sock.

Oh yes it might help that she is also a knitter!

A Meme (with pictures)

2008-01-26T20:51:00.000-06:00

Once again I am swiping a meme (well most of it) from someone (since I never get tagged for them!). This one comes from melliesmama a ravelry friend.

1) Answer the questions below

2) Take each answer and type it into Photobucket (whoops I used Google Image!)

3) Take a picture from the first page of results and post.

4) You can’t copy the persons answers who posted this before you!

1. The age you will be on your next birthday:

40

2. A place you would like to visit:

Alaska

3. Your favorite place:

on the water

4. Your favorite object:

couldn't find a picture of my Nyland beaver planter so this one has to do

5. Favorite food

I really can't decide so I picked two!

6. Favorite animal

I would love to get a dog and always thought I might like one of these.

8. Favorite color

Red

9. Your hometown

Cleveland

10. Name of a past pet

Skittles

I know I know

2008-01-19T13:12:00.000-06:00

OK I swear I am not dead and have not run off to Tahiti (although the second option sounds REALLY REALLY tempting right now). It's been super crazy with work and work (oh yeah and WORK) plus the holidays didn't help either. I promise I will come back and post a real post soon - with pictures (of actual knitted items (yes knitted by me shut up!!!)). Got to get ready for a bachlorette party tonight......

Shhhh we don't want to startle her

2007-12-15T19:38:00.000-06:00

I was on vacation the week before last and I finally started cleaning out my craft room. I was ruthless and went through all (well almost - sock yarn still needs to be done) of my yarn. I tried to be realistic and realize I was getting into SABLE status (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy) which leads to the question - what in the world am I going to DO with all of this yarn????

(Sorry no before pictures of the stash - it was too unruly to pose)

Luckily for me one of my online friends is a much more prolific knitter than I am and does a great deal more knitting for charity than I do as well. I aspire to knit for charity the way that she does but alas I am not there yet.

Anyway, I sorted the wild and unruly stash into four categories: 1) stuff to use to knit for ME, 2) stuff to use to knit for gifts and/or charity 3) stuff to go live with Ann and 4) stuff to give to the St. Vincent DePaul society for resale (most of this is partial balls - enough to do some small things with or for kids crafts).

This is the yarn that is going to St. Vincent DePaul - yes that is five bags of yarn.

Now this is why we don't want to startle Ann - she knows that I am sending her some yarn but she has no idea HOW MUCH yarn......
This is what it looks like looking into the packed box.

Now for reference this is the box next to the foot stool (according to the box itself and the lovely lady at the post office who had to measure the box because of it's ginormous size it's about 20 inches high)

As a side note, please please PLEASE someone remind me the next time I decide to mail a package the last weekened for Chrismoose mailing. The line was literally half an hour long. Luckily there were several nice people in line with me and we had a nice time chatting. Plus I got in some nice knitting time on the purse sock.

You might very well be asking yourself at this point "Gee I wonder if Mary has any yarn left for herself at this point?" Don't fret about that .... this is the no longer unruly stash.
I think casa mary will be OK in the yarn department for a little while.

Chris-moose knitting

2007-12-09T22:13:00.000-06:00

Chris-moose is coming and I have my first knitted gift done!!!

It's the gelato bag from Fiber Trends and I made it with Paton's Classic Merino in Look Pink!

It was pretty darn close on the yarn. This was all I had left of the two skeins I purchased for the project. Believe me I was starting to sweat it near the end!

This is a close up of the button I found for the decorative closure. There is actually a magnetic snap under the flap to really close the bag.