bag 'n' trash -- home of monster yarn

I Luv Bloglines

i’m so new to this blogging thing (well not THAT new now but new enough) that I get all excited when i discover something technical that the average 10 year old would have figured out ages ago. usually i do pretty well against the average 10 year old -- i beat the pants off of my 10 year old nephew the last and only time he challenged me to Rocket Mania – but this HTML, CSS, RSS feed stuff is really a tad beyond me. to me a lot of this internet computer stuff is like trying to learn and understand calculus without first knowing how to add, subtract and multiply. or picking up War and Peace before mastering Go Dog Go.  i've got a lot of studying up to do. know what I mean, jelly bean? anyway, i’ve discovered bloglines. and now it’s official, i have no life. since it’s so easy to subscribe to all of the blogs that i used to just add to my favorites list, or get to via clicking on my knitting/crochet lists to see if there was anything new, i now don’t have to. i just log in to bloglines, and poof, there’s my up to the minute list of updated blogs. which means that there’s no stopping me from reading everyone’s. THERE IS NO END! and to make matters worse (or better), bloglines is like blog TiVO – IT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS! so i don’t even have to look anymore. “bloglines has noticed that you subscribe to blogs with yarn/knitting/crocheting/anti-bush/liberal elitist intellectual amoral content. here are a list of more of those types of blogs. click away.”

excellent.

p.s.  peter from the shop promised -- PROMISED -- that i would get my car this week.  i made him promise.  i even said to him, "do you promise?"   and he said he promised. 

Jude Not So Obscure

as i write this, i'm watching inside the actor's studio. jude law is the actor being interviewed.  not only is he physically beautiful, he's got that easy going, unselfconscious charm that makes me totally incapable of taking my eyes off of him.   he's also got a fantastically large head.  as do i.  you'll excuse me if i seem distracted.  (by the way, i've been obsessed with him for years.  i haven't jumped on the People's Sexiest Man Alive bandwagon although i do applaud their choice).

*not even trying to come up with a clever segue (seg-U)*

i finally found my own LYS that isn't AC Moore.  or rather a YS, since it isn't as local as i'd like it to be.  last weekend i went to the Fabric Place in framingham to help a friend buy supplies to make christmas stockings and found out that they don't only carry fabric.  THEY CARRY YARN.  GOOD YARN!  NORO, CLASSIC ELITE, BROWN SHEEP.... (no koigu but it's just a matter of time).  i didn't buy any yarn, but i did buy plenty of books.  (check out the floors by the way... they looked like this once.)

i've got this stuff waiting in the wings.

so i can make this...

for me.. me me me me

in the FO  column, i finally finshed the ponchos for my 10 year old twin nieces.

here's a close-up of the blue one and a blurry shot of both.

 

that's it for now...

Let's Make Lots of Money

a male hetero co-worker of mine came into my cube this morning, saw a picture of my husband, and remarked that he was cute.  after i got over my initial surprise that a non-gay man would make such a remark (because i know of very few men who would), i had to agree.

One More Week

for about 10 days now, when i call pete at boston village (the autobody place fixing my mini) he tells me that my car will be ready by the holiday (the thanksgiving one).  today when i called him he recognized my voice.  i've been good.  i haven't called more than once or twice a week.  today i called twice, but he told me to.  anyway, it appears that the car still isn't ready.  "will she be ready next week?"  "absolutely," he says.

fingers crossed.

i'm so excited about getting my car back -- i feel like i did when i was in the 10th grade after not seeing the boy i liked over an entire summer.  would i still like him?  would he still like me?  would everything be the same?

in the meantime, i've been driving this heinous black dodge neon.  oh i shouldn't be so hard on the car.  he can't help he's dull and jerky and that he handles like crap.  it's not his fault he was designed by an american automaker.  i mean, not every car can be .... violins please ... the mini.  but today, i found out that for the cost of renting this heinous automobile, i probably could have bought one.  oh well.  that's what credit cards are for.  as wilma and betty would say ... CHARGE IT!

Feed Me

claudia brought to my attention the fact that my rss feeds (whatever those are) are all fucked up.  after getting over my initial excitement (claudia reads me!!!) i alerted typepad.  brenna is on the case. 

here's what my secret pal sent me.  there's a fleece scarf, a cute little sheep toy (it appears it's a dog toy but there's no way that the dog is getting this), a beautiful red, orange and black striped felted pouch, a x-mas ornament, stitch markers and some perfect "blood red" lambs pride.  my guess is that the scarf , pouch and stitch markers were handmade.  my secret pal is talented in all media.  thanks again!

today i'm going to see a friend who  lives in my old hood.  i'm going to help her make x-mas stockings.  i've given her the impression that i know what i'm doing.  ha!  if i can i'll take pictures.

A Quickie

just a quick post before going to work.  i want to thank my secret pal for the wonderful gifts.  thank you thank you secret pal.  i'll post pictures of the loot later on but i did want to thank you.

i'm very much looking forward to finally "meeting" you. 

Basking in the Light

a few days ago, i posted pictures of this cowl that i designed (yes i designed it -- totally made it up in my head and on pieces of excel graph paper) and then knitted.  then on november 10th, bonne marie posted the directions for her own cowl design.  so i figured, what the hell.  maybe someone out there might be interested in making my cowl.

so here you go.

Yarn:  3 skeins of Noro Kureyon in 3 different colorways (or not.).  i used 147 (A), 134 (B), 138 (C).

Needles:  I used my denise circulars size 9.

Finished Measurements:  24 inches in width, 12 inches in length.  I have a huge head and i like a cowl long enough that i can wear it on my head.

Gauge:  18 stitches x 24 rows per 4 inches in stockinette chevron pattern.

Using color A cast on 108 stitches, place marker, and join without twisting.  If you want a narrower cowl just cast on any multiple of 6 stitches because the chevron pattern is based on 6 stitches.  Knit in 2x2 rib for 6 rows.

Then continue pattern as follows starting with one row of A. 

 

follow the chart above until the desired length.  i stopped after 6 pattern repeats, ending with one full row of B.   continuing in B, finish off in 6 inches of 2x2 rib.  cast off.

this is an easy pattern for learning fair-isle.  remember to keep the floats in back somewhat loose.  if held too tightly, the fabric will pucker. 

Veteran's Day

hmmm based on the number of comments i received from yesterday's post, my guess is that i'm the only one who thought the link was funny... oh well.  the thing is ... i'm ok with that.  I'M SECURE WITH BEING UNPOPULAR ... YES I AM!

in the meantime, i haven't really spoken seriously about my political feelings since the election because there are so many bloggers doing a much better job, most notably kerstin.  and she is clearly much more popular than i am ;).

Raw and Angry

a friend of mine sent me this link earlier on today and i have to say, it made me laugh out loud.

i've been thinking all day as to whether or not i should post it here.  and i've decided to do so. 

a warning -- it uses  foul language.  so if you don't care for that, don't read it.  it makes disparaging assumptions about our southern friends.  it's rude.  it's at times simplistic.  and it's very very angry.

but it's still funny.

Out in the Open

cathi accused me of being secretive :)  so i'm showing  everything ....

would a fake knitter have half a closet dedicated to her yarn stash? 

here's a crocheted lamb "before"

and "after"

(i think napoleon is a little freaked out by the lack of a face on the lamb -- he's sensitive that way)

finally, this is what happens when i discover the photo editing tools ....

me as stained glass ...

me in black and white

(i've got to do something with those eyebrows.)

Choice

i could cry about tuesday's election results...but i 'd rather go shopping.  check out this cafe-press site.   

and no matter what your opinion of michael moore is, he's certainly puts things into perspective:

Friday, November 5th, 2004 17 Reasons Not to Slit Your Wrists...by Michael Moore

Dear Friends, Ok, it sucks. Really sucks. But before you go and cash it all in, let's, in the words of Monty Python, “always look on the bright side of life!” There IS some good news from Tuesday's election. Here are 17 reasons not to slit your wrists:

1. It is against the law for George W. Bush to run for president again.

2. Bush's victory was the NARROWEST win for a sitting president since Woodrow Wilson in 1916.

. The only age group in which the majority voted for Kerry was young adults (Kerry: 54%, Bush: 44%), proving once again that your parents are always wrong and you should never listen to them.

4. In spite of Bush's win, the majority of Americans still think the country is headed in the wrong direction (56%), think the war wasn't worth fighting (51%), and don’t approve of the job George W. Bush is doing (52%). (Note to foreigners: Don't try to figure this one out. It's an American thing, like Pop Tarts.)

5. The Republicans will not have a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate. If the Democrats do their job, Bush won't be able to pack the Supreme Court with right-wing ideologues. Did I say "if the Democrats do their job?" Um, maybe better to scratch this one.

6. Michigan voted for Kerry! So did the entire Northeast, the birthplace of our democracy. So did 6 of the 8 Great Lakes States. And the whole West Coast! Plus Hawaii. Ok, that's a start. We've got most of the fresh water, all of Broadway, and Mt. St. Helens. We can dehydrate them or bury them in lava. And no more show tunes!

7. Once again we are reminded that the buckeye is a nut, and not just any old nut -- a poisonous nut. A great nation was felled by a poisonous nut. May Ohio State pay dearly this Saturday when it faces Michigan.

8. 88% of Bush's support came from white voters. In 50 years, America will no longer have a white majority. Hey, 50 years isn't such a long time! If you're ten years old and reading this, your golden years will be truly golden and you will be well cared for in your old age.

9. Gays, thanks to the ballot measures passed on Tuesday, cannot get married in 11 new states. Thank God. Just think of all those wedding gifts we won't have to buy now.

10. Five more African Americans were elected as members of Congress, including the return of Cynthia McKinney of Georgia. It's always good to have more blacks in there fighting for us and doing the job our candidates can't.

11. The CEO of Coors was defeated for Senate in Colorado. Drink up!

12. Admit it: We like the Bush twins and we don't want them to go away.

13. At the state legislative level, Democrats picked up a net of at least 3 chambers in Tuesday's elections. Of the 98 partisan-controlled state legislative chambers (house/assembly and senate), Democrats went into the 2004 elections in control of 44 chambers, Republicans controlled 53 chambers, and 1 chamber was tied. After Tuesday, Democrats now control 47 chambers, Republicans control 49 chambers, 1 chamber is tied and 1 chamber (Montana House) is still undecided.

14. Bush is now a lame duck president. He will have no greater moment than the one he's having this week. It's all downhill for him from here on out -- and, more significantly, he's just not going to want to do all the hard work that will be expected of him. It'll be like everyone's last month in 12th grade -- you've already made it, so it's party time! Perhaps he'll treat the next four years like a permanent Friday, spending even more time at the ranch or in Kennebunkport. And why shouldn't he? He's already proved his point, avenged his father and kicked our ass.

15. Should Bush decide to show up to work and take this country down a very dark road, it is also just as likely that either of the following two scenarios will happen: a) Now that he doesn't ever need to pander to the Christian conservatives again to get elected, someone may whisper in his ear that he should spend these last four years building "a legacy" so that history will render a kinder verdict on him and thus he will not push for too aggressive a right-wing agenda; or b) He will become so cocky and arrogant -- and thus, reckless -- that he will commit a blunder of such major proportions that even his own party will have to remove him from office.

16. There are nearly 300 million Americans -- 200 million of them of voting age. We only lost by three and a half million! That's not a landslide -- it means we're almost there. Imagine losing by 20 million. If you had 58 yards to go before you reached the goal line and then you barreled down 55 of those yards, would you stop on the three yard line, pick up the ball and go home crying -- especially when you get to start the next down on the three yard line? Of course not! Buck up! Have hope! More sports analogies are coming!!!

17. Finally and most importantly, over 55 million Americans voted for the candidate dubbed "The #1 Liberal in the Senate." That's more than the total number of voters who voted for either Reagan, Bush I, Clinton or Gore. Again, more people voted for Kerry than Reagan. If the media are looking for a trend it should be this -- that so many Americans were, for the first time since Kennedy, willing to vote for an out-and-out liberal. The country has always been filled with evangelicals -- that is not news. What IS news is that so many people have shifted toward a Massachusetts liberal. In fact, that's BIG news. Which means, don't expect the mainstream media, the ones who brought you the Iraq War, to ever report the real truth about November 2, 2004. In fact, it's better that they don't. We'll need the element of surprise in 2008.

Feeling better? I hope so. As my friend Mort wrote me yesterday, "My Romanian grandfather used to say to me, 'Remember, Morton, this is such a wonderful country -- it doesn't even need a president!'"

But it needs us. Rest up, I'll write you again tomorrow.

Yours, Michael Moore MMFlint@aol.com www.michaelmoore.com

Revolution

last night on my way to the train, about 100 people were demonstrating in copley square. two of the signs they carried read "no blood for oil" and "bush is a nazi." cops were milling about and alcohol fumes permeated the air. a resistant young man was getting arrested. good times.

more good times. what's a girl to do with 3 skeins of noro kureyon in 3 different colorways (134, 138 and 147).

well she can knit 3 tiny scarves. or 3 tiny hats. or one big scarf. or she can use all 3 skeins and make a simple fair-isle chevron pattern to make a cowl.....

kind of cool, huh.

It's Over

John Kerry has conceded.

i clearly had underestimated the simplistic and closed minded stupidity of over half of the american people.

yes, stupidity.

I Can't Look

about 2 weeks ago, i half watched with trepidation while the redsox did the impossible and beat the yankees in game 7 of the ALCS.

tonight, i can't even watch. we actually have Coyote Ugly on. blech.

i'm nervous about the outcome of this election.

earlier today though, i did get a little excited. since the accident, i've decided to bag driving in to work and instead have been taking the train. it takes longer but in the end, it's saner. i get to knit and read. and when i get off of the train i end up in copley square. and there's always something interesting going on in copley square.

like this morning:

and on my way home this afternoon ... there were probably tons of people just like these guys, milling around. for awhile afterwards, i felt hopeful and inspired.

tomorrow morning, everyone will be gone...let's hope it's after a long night of celebrating.

ok i'm going to bed without turning on the news. i really am.

(and yes, i voted. took all of 15 minutes. weirdo ballot where i had to connect the name of the candidate to an arrow using a black magic marker. oh...we got an interesting ballot question which i had heard nothing about. would i allow my state senator to vote for allowing a sick person to grow their own marijuana. i voted yes. i swear i've become more and more liberal in my old age.)