i'm pissed

mark & i were given a visa gift card as a wedding present last year, and we got it about 2 weeks before the wedding. however, we didn't get around to using it until now. when i tried to use it? it got denied, even though the amount was less than what i'd been told the gift card amount was for. apparently, in the small, tiny print on the back of the card, if you don't use it within six months of purchase, they take a $3 fee monthly. there's nothing left on the card! jackasses. so i've got a piece of plastic that i can't use. i know the giftor (is that even right?) had no awareness that these assmonkeys were going to pull this kind of shit, or they'd have given us something else. GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

happy birthday, liam

happy birthday bud! (i was going to load a video of him in marching band, but it was taking 20 minutes with no end in sight, so i gave up. i'm going to have to investigate this stuff further).

I know this picture isn't the greatest, but it's better than it was. that lovely child who is about 1/2 pace in front of everyone else? liam. he was back in line by the time they got past us.

and they sounded GOOD.

the big problem? parade was slated to start at 1030. it was a 6 block march. however, this pic was taken around 1140. wanna know why? someone dropped the ball. the police were supposed to show up to block the street, and escort the beginning of the parade. i haven't heard all the pertinent details, but either the parade organizers forgot, the police forgot, or the people who issued the permit so they could have the parade forgot. either way, liam was looking a wee bit droopy by the time this picture was taken. thank god they were wearing light grey t-shirts! (although many of the kids were wearing their other t-shirts underneath, poor sots). just when parents (particularly band parents) were getting upset enough to take matters into their own hands (i saw several SUV's pulling up to block side streets, and mark was about to go fetch the van to help), the police showed up. i even saw one mother pull her daughter out of the line up (not the band, this was some sort of dance troupe; the poor kid looked like she was going to cry), because she had somewhere else she had to be. apparently, from overheard conversation (she was getting pretty loud, lol) she was promised t his would be done by 11, and that the noon appointment she had with whatever would be just fine.

the funny part? where we were standing there were NO CHILDREN on our side of the street except sean. he got PELTED with candy (and one ingenious church who wrapped crayons in big-bubble bubble wrap!). he loved it.

Liam had a ball. when i picked him up from the school, though, he was soaked through (two t-shirts on the sweat machine? not good), thirsty, hot, tired, and dirty. i would like to know how a kid who sat nowhere but my car (and i can vouch for my seats) and the bus got dirt on his backside. oy.

He enjoyed his presents that he got today, which included 3 bionicle toys and 2 star wars transformers (slave one transforms into boba fett and advanced tie fighter transforms into darth vadar. how cool is t hat!). what he doesn't know is that i actually FOUND a copy of Star Wars Bounty Hunter for PS2, but because we were under a time crunch to meet his grandparents for dinner, i couldn't go get it. he knows i'm looking, but doens't know i've found it. i'll pick it up monday, and surprise him with it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIAM!

(someday i'll scan in a pic of my dad, and you'll see how much Liam is like him)

TTFN!

sp 11 contest

my hostess with the mostess, Robyn, is having a contest. we have to answer some questions, and who knows, maybe it will help my SP out!

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?

my tape measure. i can figure everything else out, but it's hard to measure without it!

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?

That's like asking if I take clothes. It's not a matter of do i take it, but more like, how much can i cram in my suitcase, and still have enough to suit every mood, to include startitis, and still have enough clothes (i've been known to use the kids' suitcases when they were smaller!). i guess that just answered the how much question, eh? as to what type? depends on what i'm working on! i usually don't take highly complicated things with, like shawls, but baby clothes, socks, hats, scarves, ponchos, the rest is all game, as long as i can fit the yarn and the pattern in. i also take yarn and patterns, and necessary needles to start new projects. (i have a bad, chronic case of startitis)

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. I went 14 years ago, and am dying to go back. 2nd place would be depoe bay, oregon. i'm addicted to the ocean. (funny for a midwestern born-and-raised gal, eh?)

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?

Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook. Yes, i do own it. I love it because it also combines another love of mine, spinning.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? Yes, I do! However, I only listen to 2. I'd like to listen to more, but i'm an avid book tape listener, and there's only so many hours of the day i can be plugged in! My favorite is Lime & Violet (i am adminnie, actually, lol), but i do enjoy Cast On by Brenda Dayne (angels singing!)


6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be?
A dusky royal blue. Not the eye searing type, but not navy, either. that has too much black in it. a true blue with a slight grey haze (like plum, only blue)

7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do?
It would depend on the error. If it was a huge, glaring thing that i just absolutely could not pass off as a design element, t hen i'd frog. however, if it wasn't, i just might pass it off as s uch. also depends on my frustration level with the project. if this is the first time? i might frog it. if not? the number of times i've already frogged is directly proportionate to the likelyhood of a refrogging.


8. Where is the most unsual spot you've ever knit?

In the dentist chair waiting to get numb (i've actually visualized myself knitting to get through some pretty stressful work on my back teeth (i have a small mouth (hush up, i heard that!))

Also, outside my car waiting for the tank to fill at the gas station. just run the yarn out the drivers' window and click away.


How's them apples?

i guess this is required

i'm supposed to post 4 time a month for the SP11.

i need to post more often anyway, lol.

What's on my needles.

whew! i'm still working on my sockpalooooza socks. it's a test knit, so i can't really show you a pic, but they're coming out lovely. I have 2 problems. 1- my pal's feet are much bigger than mine. my duck feet are saving me as far as the width, but i'm having to get assistance on the length. the other problem? i'm making these out of trekking xxl, which is 100 grams. i have one sock finished, and it weighs 50 grams. yikes! the good thing is i've been working on these exclusively for a week, and i'm into the gussets on the second sock. i ought to have them done soon. A funny story: I was skeining yarn @ miss V's, and while i waited for skeins to finish (once i finished my other work), i would knit on my sock. i'd set my bag on the sofa next to the table the skeiner was on, and my sock on the table. her older dog, shunka, jumped off the sofa when she heard the other dogs bark, got the sock wrapped around her neck, and strung the yarn all the way from the studio to the stairs! we both yelled at her to stop, which she did (thank god!). i have now been dubbed Adminnie of the Iron Knitting. not a stitch dropped! and the yarn was ok, too. that part scared me!

I'm working on a test knit for shannon okey, that is very interesting. working things out as i go, but it's coming along.

how embarassing is this? i'm having to check my ravelry account to see what i've got on the needles! (btw, my name is dragonknitter (imagine that!))

i'm making a black newborn wool soaker to send to Father's House. it's actually quite interesting, and i may make a few for some pregnant people i know.

MS3 is not progressing (see above about the sockpaloooooza sock). However, i did finally get past chart A, and am now into Chart B. (yes, that's still clue #1! hush! as long as it's done by christmas, i'll be fine!)

the spring socks are technically on the needles, except i broke one of my sock needles, and it gave one up for the sockpalooooza socks. i just bought some aluminum size 1's and 0's last weekend, so if i so feel it, i'll cast them back on all the way (it's a short row toe to start, and i only use 2 needles for that). however, i found another pattern that uses the panda cotton i am using, and i just may drop this one, and change patterns. we'll see.

the bereavement booties have been on hold for months. i need to find the needles and the yarn, and finish the last one, and send them off (they were only due in May!)

the baby surplice jacket went into time out when i lost the magazine. i recently found it, but i need the green yarn for a project miss v wants me to take on (i volunteered, lol!), so it will sleep on a bit longer.

i have a pair of mittens in my bag, that have sat idle for quite a while (since the Ratdog concert on July 20!). i've got too many irons in the fire.

there's another project i'm doing for miss v, but hopefully she doesn't mind while i finish up a few things, lol.

SEVEN DAYS LEFT TIL SCHOOL STARTS! gee, think i'm ready for them to go back?

Liam will be a freshman this year, and while i'm looking forward to it, it is a bit frightening. i've been able to put off letting him take the learner's permit test by telling him i want to see his first quarter grades before i'll let him, but that will only work for so long. Gah! that lunatic, driving? Lord help me. I did tell mark he could teach the boys, as i had taught both girls. he's cool with that. we've agreed that liam needs to learn in mark's truck, first, since it's a stick. he's going to take liam down to work and let him drive around in the parking lot (when we get that far).

liam is in marching band as well. those 2 a day practices were wearing me out! (yeah, i know, it was hard for him, too, but he's young!). he still has practice every tuesday night, and when school starts, he will have zero hour marching band, which means he will need to be at school by 705, which means we're getting up at 545. ugh. however, he's enjoying it as much as i am (i never got to play in band. in my day, you had to purchase your own instrument, and my folks were farmers. now the school will provide one if you don't have one. i bought liam's trombone, cuz i have the money. that way, someone else could play). and i'm a band mom! we had fittings last weekend, and the pants they gave him were too short. because the uniforms are $700, they don't allow them to leave the school, so i was nice, and helped out the hemming moms by doing liam's pants myself. i would have stayed and done more, but sean was s upposed to be mowing, and i had to get back.

i'll get a pic of him in his uniform (and his XL head! he said he wanted to get his hair cut to help that, but it won't, lol)

sean is going to be in the 8th grade, and is actually looking forward to going back to school. he is in resource (because of his adhd and ODD), and misses his teacher. Unless she's gone to another school, or left the system, she will have him again this year (he loves that!). it doesn't hurt that she's pretty (she's also my age, and "gets" sean, which is more than what i can say for his 6th grade teacher).

i intend on helping with knitting club again (if they have it at the middle school. sean was the only 7th grader last year, and he'd rather play video games in the library), and i intend on finding out who the sponsor is for knitting club at the high school, and seeing if he/she wants help, or just let me come and schmoooze, lol.


What I'm Reading
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier (book tape in the house)
Sorcery & Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia Wrede (this book is wonderful! it's england in edwardian times, only with a magical twist, with letters being written back & forth between two cousins who have come of age. priceless!)
The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan (booktape in the car, maybe i'll finish it this time!)
Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky. technically, this is a book about a woman trying to find her roots after she bears a child with african american traits, even though she and her husband are both white. however, there's quite a bit of knitting in it (i didn't know this when i requested it, oh so long ago). i'm not very far into it, but it's definitely interesting!

and now, i must hie me to a bed. i gotta start going to bed earlier if we're going to be getting up that freaking early!

attention omaha knitters

for those of you who use the omaha public library system, i have apparently made a palace coup. I had been wanting to read several of EZ's books, but can't aways afford to purchase them myself, and the library didn't have any. NONE. so, the last time i went to the library, i asked how i could request the library purchase certain books. she showed me how, and i did so.

THEY HAVE THE BOOKS ON ORDER!

The Opinionated Knitter

The Knitter's Almanac

Knitting Without Tears (ok, i own this one, but no library should be without a basic book on knitting like this!)

i'm thrilled to death! the funny part? on the request form, they say if a book's copyright is more than 2 years old, to look into interlibrary loan. i put all 3 in anyway ( the almanac is copyrighted 1995 for its latest edition), and they got FIVE copies of the almanac! oh happy day!

baaaaaaaaaaaaad joke

Two Old-timers, Larry and Dean, met in the park every day to feed the pigeons, watch the squirrels and discuss world problems. One day Larry didn't show up.Dean didn't think much about it and figured maybe he had a cold orsomething.But after Larry hadn't shown up for a week or so, Dean really got worried.

However, since the only time they ever got together was at the park Dean didn't know where Larry lived, so he was unable to find out what had happened to him.A month had passed, and Dean figured he had seen the last of Larry.But one day, Dean approached the park and -- lo and behold there satLarry!Dean was very excited and happy to see him and told him so.

Then he said, 'For crying out loud Larry, what in the world happened to you?'

Larry replied, 'I have been in jail.

''Jail?' cried Dean. 'What in the world for?'

'Well,' Larry said, 'you know Judy, that cute little waitress at the coffee shop where we sometimes go?'

'Yeah,' said Dean, 'I remember her. What about her?'

'Well, one day she filed rape charges against me and, at 63 years old, I was so proud that when I got into court, I pleaded guilty.And ...the Judge gave me 30 days for perjury.'

sp 11 questionairre

i know, i know, i'm a slacker. but here it is!

SP11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

i really don't have a preference. i do have one request, though. no acrylic. i don't mind blends, but i do a TON of charity knitting, and i have enough to float the titanic. i'm serious. i have reached SABLE with acrylic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Well, it's kind of weird. I have a 3-drawer cart at my house that i keep needles in. however, we're living in my husband's house, and my storage there is vases and a sewing box my MIL gave me for christmas a few years ago.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting since i was 10, and i turned (mumbledy) one this spring, so that's 31 years. I've been crocheting for 36! i'm kind of an advanced intermediate, i suppose. i haven't steeked yet, although after reading the anniversary edition of vogue, i might try a v-neck. anything else is because i have chosen not to, not because i can't.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

yup! right here (you can skip the lego books, lol, those are for me to remember to get them for christmas for my legomaniacs)

5. What's your favorite scent?

i like sandalwood, vanilla, and anything sweetly floral, like jasmine. i do not like spice scents, as they make me sneeze ( i had bronchitis 10 years ago, and haven't been the same ever since)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Duh! I like chocolate, and toffee, and butterscotch. anything rich & creamy. Dark chocolate is my fav, though. (and i'm a good girl and only eat 2 squares a night!)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I spin & crochet regularly. I can also embroider, quilt, and sew, but these are not my drugs crafts of choice.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

i have an entirely eclectic collection. my computer/stereo can play mp3s.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

my favorite colors are rainbow colors. i veer towards blue & deep/dusky purples, but i love bright, vibrant colors. (i just ordered 2 skeins of lorna's laces daffodil, if that's any indication, lol)

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

i have 3 boys (ages 13, 15, and 43) and 2 cats. i also have 2 older daughters, one who lives in my house with her roommate and her dog (jack russel terror terrier) .

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

hats, scarves & mittens. however, i need an extra large hat, as i have VERY long hair, and have to stuff it in a hat to keep my ears warm. i'm actually contemplating making myself a caliometry from knitty, to help that situation (my hair gets matted up if the hat is too tight)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

baby clothes. again with the charity knitting, lol. anything small. i do like socks, but i don't wear them much (i'm a hippy that was born 20 years too late). anything that is a "challenge." i'm doing MS3 right now (very slowly, mind you!), and enjoying it.

13. What are you knitting right now?

my sockpalooooza socks in a pattern i can't name as it's a test knit.
another test knit for shannon okey.
MS3
a baby sweater
bereavement baby booties.
a wool soaker (for charity)
charity mittens
panda cotton socks for my SIL (she's allergic to wool, so this yarn is perfect!)

that's it, make me accountable! (i had to check ravelry, lol)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

i like to receive handmade gifts, as so little i knit i keep for myself.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

i actually like straights. i'm odd t hat way. someone just gave me a whole boatload of old style aluminum needles, and i adore them (i apparently type the way i speak. i can't say aluminum, and i had to retype it twice!) i do like wooden needles, as well (most of my sock needles are wood of some sort). i'm not a big fan of plastic needles, though.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

i do own a swift, but not a yarn winder. i'm an odd duck. i like hand-winding yarn. i may even get myself a nostepinne (if you don't, lol!)

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

one that i'll go back to? my husband's sweater. he's 6'8" so it was a slog, but it's almost done. i just need to finish one sleeve, and sew it up. however, i was also making his mother a lapghan for her birthday, and he made me stop working on his sweater to finish it, and that was 3 years ago, sigh. (we weren't married yet at that point, either, lol. maybe that's why the curse didn't work, lol!)

one that i probably WON'T go back to? i crocheted an afghan for my younger daughter, and had to put it aside for a while. i started it 8 years ago. however, when i went back to work on it, it was full of holes. what the hell eats acrylic? i may just toss the whole shooting match out at this point, and get her to pick a different one.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween, by far. There's no pressure for gift giving, you get to be who ever you want, and you get to buy creepy stuff to scare people. (i'll have to take a pic of what i do this fall!)

19. Is there anything that you collect?

i collect dragons (imagine that!) and fairies. but not the cutesy type. real fairies and real dragons (yes, they are real, why do you ask?)

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

i have IK and Knit Simple (i'm going to let that one lapse, it's been lame since they changed it). I'd like Vogue Knitting, and InKnitters. It's hard to find InKnitters around here, but i love the technicality of it. i would love to have some Addi lace needles. i bought a set for the MS3, but they were too big (size 3), and since i coudln't afford to spend another $17 on needles, i had to take them back. i t hink i would just about adore any of Cookie's sock patterns, although twisted flowers turns my crank the most. (hush, E)

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

after knitting for 30+ years, there's not much i'd be interested in trying. there's so much info onthe internet, nowadays.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

yes, i am. i love getting socks, even if i dont' wear them much. i'm in sockpalooooza, lol. i wear a women's size 7 wide. my foot is 9" from heel to toe, and the ball of my foot measures 8". i like shorter socks, but not anklets ( i have fat calves, and taller socks just fall down, unless they're knee socks (and i'm not expecting anybody to knit me knee socks if i wont' knit them for myself!)

23. When is your birthday?

April 1 (hush)

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
yup! dragonknitter (duh!)

and an additional thing for y'all; i'm allergic to banana and watermelon, and really don't care for mint anything.

there! done did my duty!

happy birthday sean

you, my youngest, my baby, are turning 13 today. it's official. you're a teen.


As you can see, he's thrilled (it might have something to do with modeling the hat for me, lol).

It's been a long hard haul, and at one time, i wasn't sure if we'd make it to 13. we've been through screaming fits, and destructive behavior, and all the ups and downs of a preadolescent, only cubed.

We've been through foster care, and foster parents, and tests of faith and love.

But you know what? You're incredibly smart, and funny, and have turns of thought that no 13 year old should have. You think about things like how to actually invent the crazy things you find on your video games. The scary part? I'm sure you'll do it! You, my child, are Leonardo DaVinci, Michaelangelo, and every video game inventor all rolled into one.

Happy birthday, kiddo. Here's to a ton more.

(by the way, the hat is cotton-ease crocheted with an F hook for father's house.)

randomness again

ok, now, i may be out of the loop, but isn't it odd that a medication for RLS (restless leg syndrome) has a warning that if you experience extreme urges to gamble or have sex, you need to contact your doctor? ummm, yeah. at this age, damned right i'm going to have sexual urges (oooo there goes my rating again! i said sex!). ummm, yeah.

go over to norma's. now. run, do not walk. go donate. the red scarf is on, and now they've got a scholarship fund. go.

and i've fallen off the fiber wagon. i ordered 2 bumps of ruby from lisa souza in superwash to spin up for my red scarf. they said to focus on quality, so i am.

i also ordered 1 1/2 POUNDS of handpainted fiber from deb. wheeeee!

all this because i sold ONE SKEIN of handspun over at eliza's site . feeling my oats, apparently.


i've been a bit dilatory about posting because i'm EXHAUSTED. liam's band camp was last week (july 30 - aug 3), and he was practicing for 3 1/2 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening for every morning, and 3 of the 5 evenings. and i've been driving him. that's 4 trips a day. and i thought i'd be driving LESS this summer. HAH! they cut thursday short because jazz on the green is next door at the joslyn museum (i can understand, but it doesn't make me any happier, since sean was at the library lock-in, and i was looking forward to staying longer at S&B, not shorter!), and friday night was the night to show off to the parents.

dude. this ain't my high school marching band, fer sure. the sound was wonderful. these kids play very well (if i could find a way to post the cd i got, i would!). and they have a kid who plays the fricking BAGPIPES! bagpipes, folks! the song? culloden. oh dear. and they don't just march onto the field and play, then march off. they were ALL OVER THE FIELD. and not just squares. diagonals! moving everywhere! and liam kept up! i'm so proud of that little shit. for those of you who don't know, liam has been playing trombone for ONE YEAR! one year. and he's keeping up with kids who have been playing since 5th grade. (gee, no proud mama here!).

and i am now a band mom. i volunteered to do drinks/snacks for away trips, and help with the bake sale table. big surprise there, lol. my one bit of irritation? mark was surprised when i told him i expected him to come to every home game that liam plays at. hello! this is our SON! i think i've straightened him out, though (i keep dragging him out of his hermit cave!)

the fiber of DOOOOOOOOOOOM is spun, & plied. i think deawn will like it. hear that, deawn? you better damned well like it!

so i started up on something else. beth (aka theknittingidiot on the L&V message board) came to visit miss vi, and since i'm the adminnie, she had little gifties for us. i got roving! i'm spinning it up now, and it's PURDY. nice job, beth! (i'd link her shop, but i don't know what it is, lol)

in other fibery news? (i almost typed that noose. freudian slip, anyone?). i've been working on a cottonease blanket to send to kenya, and blocks for a u.s. flag afghan that will go to balboa military hospital in san diego (each square is a state square (seen the state dishcloths that stephanie keeps getting? yeah, that pattern) and i did nebraska (duh!) and kansas). i need to wash them and toss them in the mail.

MS3 has seen a little action, but it's been kinda crazy hot here, and fuzzy alpaca yarn doesn't do well with sweaty fingers. however, i have finished chart A, and am well on my way in chart B (ok, ok, i'm on row 57. gimme a break, school's not back in yet)

16 days til school is back in! yes, i'm counting the days. liam gets to go on the 22nd because he's a freshman. happy butt dance here!

what i'm reading:
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (booktape in the car)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hoseini (booktape in. . . well, where-ever i can find something to play in the house. mark took the cd player downstairs in an effort to kick his music in the rear (he's much happier when he's singing/playing. and much grumpier when he isn't), and the dvd player is missing the remote(again, mark used it for music, and left the remote at the last place he had it), and it's high tech enough that it doesn't have an ON button), so i use my cd player, but i just ate the batteries in it, sigh)
Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind
Unless by Carol Shields

now, i'm off, to try to finish piecing this damned blanket!

here we go again

apparently, somebody's got their heads up their asses.

another food recall.

this one is on french cut green beans. for us locals, that includes Kroger. the link will give you the list.

ok, now we have to have a mini-rant here.

We are supposed to have the safest food supply in the world. I suppose my question is this:

Is all this happening because people are getting careless?

Or is it that these people were always this careless, and they're catching more of them at it?

what do you think?