Should I be insulted or run with it?

Go read this article about the new rules for Drivers Licenses that we'll be coming up against soon. Go ahead...I'll be here when you get back...

While I'm ecstatic that I fall in the 'born before the date that shall go unmentioned but you obviously know now' and won't have to deal with it all until much later, I can't help but almost feel insulted that by the time this goes into effect, I will most likely not be a threat to national security.

"The over-50 exemption was created to give states more time to get everyone new licenses, and officials say the risk of someone in that age group being a terrorist, illegal immigrant or con artist is much less. " **

Hah! Tell that to the airlines and courtrooms of America. I like to knit, therefore I am a threat. They must not have gotten the memo...oh, and if you're a 'grannie that knits'...rock on grannies! You can take over the world now and no one will suspect you because you are over 50 and not a security risk.


So this all gets me to thinking then...why on earth does my 70-something year old Mom get frisked every single friggin' time she flies? She's over 50, so she's in the 'low risk of being a naughty person' category and she's not even packin' needles...asswipes.

Anyhoo, when my over 50 time comes, I've got my knitchucks...I'm in...




** Oh grrrr...since I've written this, they've changed the article that I'm linking to, but trust me, that paragraph in quotes is from the original...

Here's some clever...along with a public service announcement...

...actually some lazy...just some copy and pasting of links... but still you will learn and get public serviced in one entry...

Originally linked from Claudia...knitting your food...


...and what do my wandering eyes spot when this is over?


Such a catchy little tune....

Knock knock...

......uhhhhhhhhhh....I'm here?!?

Promise I'll post soon...have lots of fodder, but have been in a very non-bloggy mood. Said fodder includes: Finished objects! Pictures of Spencer getting his latest Karate level! Video of Spencer on his new wave board! Our new stove! Our Christmas tree! Our non-burned all the way cooked Christmas dinner! Works in progress!!!

Told ya there was lots.

OH, and I'll try to be clever and interesting too.

24 days...yes my friends...the countdown has begun. I have e-tickets and passport in hand. The trip to see The Honey is ON! And, yes, I could already be packed, but I decided living out of a suitcase for a month was a little too much, so I will wait until my departure time gets closer...

New Stove! Pictures soon...

Lots happening here in the chaos...

New stove delivered this morning...check...last photos of old one taken...check...photos of new one taken...check...

Package from Grandma delivered today as promised by UPS...check...don't open until Xmas...duly noted and check...dammit...

Researching latest rules and regulations about traveling overseas since I haven't done that in 15 years...check...rules have definitely changed...duly noted and check...dammit! No problems knitting on the way there, but can't have knitting on UK to Chicago flight when I return. Argh. They must have heard about my threats to the local justice system here in California. Since "No sharp objects whatsoever - no exceptions - and that means YOU" are allowed on flights leaving the UK, looks like I break out the crochet - didn't say anything about hooks. Can't needlepoint, cross stitch, sew/quilt, knit...crafters must be overly agressive and just plain unruly on transatlantic flights. Honey is hoping I don't get myself in trouble on the way home...or lose any precious crafting supplies.

ACK. All I want to do is keep myself busily occupied and not in anyone's hair. And if I'm busily occupied, no one will get in my hair...which is of course more important in this situation.

Lots of work piling up...check...and ACK!!!! Will be working late the next few days to get it all done.

Lots of pictures piling up in the digi camera...will eventually post.

Knitting Content:
Honey's Dalek is coming along well. 85% complete as of last night. Spencer's Surefire hat was sneakily confiscated Saturday night after soccer, properly blocked, and lined with lightweight fleece last night. Looks awesome. So proud of myself on both projects. Yay!

Some day, I will get all this into Ravelry. I should be thankful I haven't gotten really sucked into it yet, altho I did discover that they also have crochet stuff! Guess where I'll be looking for ideas for the trip home.......let the sucking begin...

In order to distract those who come here for knitting content...

...or any coherent content for that matter....

First a knitty update...still haven't properly finished off Spencer's Surefire hat. He takes it off to sleep or shower and that's it...and quite honestly, I haven't had the energy this week to argue with him or wrestle him to the ground to take it off him...he is a bit bigger than me now you know...

Next update...the Dalek for Honey is coming along quite nicely...but will not be ready in time for Xmas...maybe his birthday in January?

Had a few other projects on the needles that just aren't working out, so those will be re-thought and most likely switched out for others objects d'knitting. Definitely not going to make it for Xmas either...

Damn those knitting muses...I have a few successes and bammmm! Total blockage...gah...need a brain plunger!

Work has been busy, lots of stuff happening with school and Spencer left and right...

ooooh! Have some tickets on Hold for my visit to go see Honey as of this afternoon. Have until Dec 24th to either buy them or find something better. I'm so excited I can't stand it.

OOOH! Getting a new stove/vent-a-hood combo on Monday. Sure will miss my avocado green "That 70's Stove"...well, not really.

Ok here's something for the WTF file...saw it on someone else's blog, but can't remember who...and then shut it all down before I decided to post it here, so had to go digging for it...wasn't hard to find tho...




Kept hoping one of them would fall off the catwalk or run into another model...can you just imagine what the models were thinking under those?!?

Desperate Knitters...

...take desperate measures...

Well, not really that dramatic, but we got tired of waiting for the last color of Lamb's Pride to come in so we could start the infamous hat for Spencer...

Into the stash we dove...and came out with some leftovers from Honey's Leeds United scarf. Namely the white and yellow. Combined that with the dark brown and turquoise we had ordered just for the hat and viola!






One finished Surefire hat! Welllll....one not-really-finished-quite-yet Surefire hat because Spencer put it on to test the size and never gave it back.

It still needs to be blocked and I think we are going to line it with some lightweight flannel. But first it had to go to school today and over to Dad's house for the weekend. It will be back on Sunday night at which time I will confiscate it so I can finish it off properly!

Once the other yarn does actually arrive, I will make him another. This time I think I'll use a size smaller needles so it'll be a bit more fitted.

Can't believe I finished the knitting up part that quickly. I started Wednesday night and finished weaving in the last ends and doing the crochet edge last night. Wow. Have never finished knitting anything so quickly in my life.

Then and Now...where has the time gone?!?

Good grief...time sure flies....where's the tissue box....sniff sniff sniff...



Baby photo courtesy of the hospital where Spencer was born, school photo from this year's photographer - whoever it was this year...

Knit happenings...

Hi everyone,
I was a little out of this weekend...if it's not one thing, it's another! But...I did manage to get some knitting in...

Started this...and it's been cool so far...altho...ask me again after I've finished making all 58 bobbles....

Would really like to start this...so far I have the dark brown and the blue that we ordered, still waiting on the cream color. Our version will not look like that tho...we are going for something along the lines of this...but without the pompom. We are trading in stripes for snowflakes... We were going to go with Swell, but we didn't like how things were starting to look. Earflaps just weren't right...and I couldn't get the damn thing to stop being so curly. Next!

Spencer and I are excited to get going on this...He graphed out the snowflake pattern from the American Eagle hat and now I've got to do some math to get it to work on the Surefire Hat. Now all I need for him to do is graph out the little wave pattern at the top for me and I'm in business. And...if the wool is too itchy, she has instructions on how to line the hat! How cool is that?!? It was intended to make the hat warmer, but stopping itchies will be it's mission here in the house of Chaos and Wool Sensitivities.

Been surfing and reading lots of magazines and books and blogs and websites lately...so many wonderful patterns out there! Waaaannnnnt to make so many. Realistically tho, some are way out of my league, some I'd get bored with and would never finish, and then there are some that I could totally do! And those I will do...eventually. In-between life.

Lamb's Pride, Lamb's Pride...where for art thou Lamb's Pride?!?

Hurry up and get here dammit!

Oooh...If anyone out there has any recommendations of anything knitty that's English, I'd appreciate it. Going to ask Honey's Mum (the only English knitter I know), but thought I'd put the question out there into blogland as well. Honey (bless his heart) has agreed to take me yarn shopping. I told him we needed to wait until my visit was almost over because I didn't want to blow all my spending money on yarn on the first day...poor dear has no idea what he's getting into...but now he does wink wink...wonder if he'll get too embarrassed if my eyes roll up into my head and I just dive into the yarn? Sensitivities be damned!!!

Ooooh...and when I mentioned I wanted to learn how to spin, he mentioned that Wales is famous for it's spinning wheels. Oh my...how will I get this all home?!? hee hee

You know, I'll probably be so overwhelmed, I'll come home with nothing (nothing but blotchy, itchy skin anyway)...but I promise I will at least take pictures...

PIF is happening...and an FO!

Wow, I have two people signed up so far...my friend Cherry...and someone I don't know - Suz - from all the way over in Scotland!

How exciting! I'm already thinking of stuff to make...I'll be reading Suz's blog to find out more about her and will be asking both a few questions to help me make them something not only crafty, but that they will enjoy. Once the gift knitting is done, and the Holidaze are over, I'm going to get going on this. Whee!

Now need only one more person! Hello - knock's on screen - anybody else out there wanna play?

And now for bed...just getting over the head cold and I've been blind-sided by some sort of stomach bug. Gah!!!! Didn't make it to the treadmill today...headed to bed for a short nap instead and then went back to work.

This weekend will most likely be filled with many hours in bed being taken care of by my 13 yr old. About time, don't you think?!?

Ooooh...FO ALERT! The cable project is done...needs the ends woven in and a good blocking. Still waiting on the rest of the yarn for Spencer's hat. In the meantime, I have started the Honey's Dalek. I'm making it out of the leftover yarn from his Leeds United scarf. Going good so far as I've been managing to keep count despite my current state. Also going to start on a few other gifts 'cause I like to have a few projects in varying degrees of difficulty on the needles to switch around to if I get bored or tired of counting.

OH, and we've switched up the plan for Spencer's hat...it will be loosely based on Swell now and we're adding a third color. Once I get all the yarn, I'll show you the colors he picked out. He's found a different graphic pattern that he likes, and I'll be making the earflaps a bit differently, and there will be a color work pattern at the top of the hat as well, and , and, and... Once I'm feeling better, I've got a lot of numbers to crunch to make sure the new design and extra design work in with the amount of stitches I've got to work with...gah...so many numbers, so few coherent brain cells...

Honey visit update...Looks like it's been pushed back to Feb...Spencer is in the school play and they've finally set the date for January 27th. We've been working on his lines for a few weeks now, and there's no way I'd miss his stage debut. But you better believe I'll be jumping on a plane soon afterwards...

Keeping pace...

Really enjoying the treadmill experience these past two days. Going to stick with it for about a week or so longer before I start switching off to other machines. My body is definitely adjusting to this whole alien exercising thing. There are some aches and soreness and all, but it's all ok...the knee is doing well.

And yes AmpuT...it's in my jeans...and so is about 14 years of pie, bread and butter, and other yummy things. hee hee...

Lots of knitting and drawing and sneezing (yep still have the cold) and tea drinking going on in the chaos lately. Finishing up projects left and right...really needing to post this stuff up on Ravelry...cos there won't be like posting up on here cos they're all like gifts...and recipients aren't like up on Ravelry...hee hee...

OOOOOH...so forgot to mention...I've learned how to cable without a cable needle. It's like the coolest thing ever...seriously...kept reading knit blogs about how people are cabling without an extra needle...and decided to check it out...for me cabling is cumbersome...can't handle the extra needle very gracefully and needles slipping out of stitches and all that and of course my almost finished project is just covered in cables...don't have to worry about that anymore... Try it, you'll like it...just Google 'cable knitting without a cable needle'...lots of tutorials and even some YouTube videos will come up...practice and enjoy your new-found liberation.

Now...what else knitty can I learn today?!?

My 70-something year old Mom is in better shape than I am...

...I should be ashamed of myself...and I am.

One hour and 9 minutes to workout time.

And yes, she walks a few miles every morning, eats right and takes very good care of herself.

Hanging my head in shame and signing in to work now...

There is no try, there is only "Do"

...ok, so anyone who's been reading this blog for the last year or so knows I struggle with weight loss. I have done well, I have done not so well, but I continue on.

Just updated the ticker up top with the latest info...up 4 more pounds. Oh well. What's a girl to do?

Well for starters, she can get off her ass and exercise more. Watching what I eat is not enough. I've been doing well enough watching what I eat though: paying attention to calories, fat, salt, and sugar content and so on. Some days I'm better than others, but I'm getting back on track and want to stay there for a while. My problem is with exercising. I just don't want to do it.

Things have changed though. I have the encouragement of loved ones once again and a very hunky workout partner to help things along, so I'm getting back into it.

Today, after living in this complex for over 8 years, I entered the "Exercise Facility" over in the main clubhouse/manager's office building. It's basically a room with a mirror on one wall, a wall of windows overlooking the pond area, a universal gym, a stair stepper, 2 treadmills, an elliptical, a scale, and a TV suspended in the corner. I nice place for a complex as old as this one.

It's open from 9am to 10pm. Every day. I've never gone. 8 years people. And I've never taken advantage of 'free' equipment. Sigh...8 years...

Went today at 9am. Hopped on the elliptical for 30 minutes. Just about died. Pretty much crawled back to my apartment. Will soon take Ibuprofen and put up my feet...oh, and don't forget the ice pack for the knee. I hurt. Everywhere. And I did the lowest level workout.

Pitiful.

But I'm doing something about it. The weight must come off, no if's and's or but's about it. My health (and let's face it, my doc) demand it. So it shall be.

It's going to take a lot of work...and oh my GOD does it hurt...damn...I'm getting old, aren't I...but I will perservere. I must.

Tomorrow? I dread tomorrow. Oh the aches when I wake. Even with all the stretching I did before and after and continue to do...I will ache. That's what happens when you carry almost 200 pounds on a 5ft 2.5in frame. It wasn't meant for that...and it's been reminding me a lot lately...and it hurts.

Am I going to go again tomorrow? Yes, I said I would. So I will. Elliptical again? No...not just no, but HELL NO. I will move over to the treadmill for a while and get myself used to moving again. Lots more knee friendly over there. Walking I can do... I am walker hear me roar. Just need to be nice and level for a bit before I go all incline and high resistance on myself. Knee needs healing time, but I must continue to move. As long as I keep it level and consistant, knee will be just fine...and in a few weeks, I will climb back aboard that damn elliptical and show it who's boss.

And next month, the weight loss ticker will show progress. If I keep up the 30 minutes of daily exercise (and I mean daily), there will definitely be weight loss. Which is good because my jeans are tight and there's this really cute little black dress that's two sizes too small hanging on my door that I will wear soon. I don't care if it's just to go check the mail. I will fit into it damn it and I'll look fabulous...cos that's just the kind of dress it is...

PIF

Not pffft, but PIF as in Pay It Forward...

Saw this on No-Blog-Rachel's blog and then today on Amputeehee's blog. Decided to think about it and well...I'm in...so here goes...

First we have the pledge:

Here's the deal:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days. That is my promise. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.


And then we have the...omg what have I done?

Well, for starters, I'm going to get something handmade by non other than the Amputee. She's a wonderfully creative lady and can't wait to see what she comes up with...met her in person last year and she's just as lovely in real life as on her blog.

Next, I get to make something for 3 different people that I most likely have not made something for before...at least I hope it'll be 3 people...do 3 people actually read my blog?!? hee hee

Something different and definitely fun...oh, and please realize, I do all sorts of crafting, so it may or may not be knitted, but it will definitely be made by my own two little hands. Once someone signs on and pledges, I might ask you a few questions to help me decide what I should make and send to you.

OK? s'alright...let the crafting begin...oh and the 365 day time limit? No problem.

what the?!?

Hey everyone,
Yeah, I'm still here. Seems I'm right in the middle of a cold and something else decides to join in as well. WTF I say, WTF! Lovely way to spend a 4 day weekend, isn't it?!?

Anyways, I've been getting some knitting done, some online chatting with the Honey (of course) and some texting in with the kid while he's in Vegas living it up. Told him not to come back unless he won 6 figures on the slots. heh heh...

Have one color of the yarn I need to make Swell for Spencer. He picked out a dark brown and an oatmeal color of Lamb's Pride Worsted. Yes folks, I continue to knit with wool. I still have a bit of a reaction to it, but I'm definitely getting better with it. Still can't wear it myself, but I'm not having any issues knitting with it! Yay!

And that's good news because when I go soon to visit the Honey in England, I intend to pick up some knitterly goods...wool included of course!

Yes, that's right. I'm going to visit the Honey in England. We're shooting for Jan/Feb, but judging from the prices I've been coming up against, looks more like Feb. Now to convince the bossman he doesn't need me for 3 weeks (yes 3).

But Donna...won't it be cold?!? Well duh, of course! But now I'll get to wear all the winter clothes that I can never wear here because it just doesn't get cold enough!

I am so excited I can't stand myself. I haven't been to England in soooo long. This is going to be great!

OK...back to reality, my chilly apartment, some nice, hot, freshly brewed, mint tea, and Viggo II. Time to chill in front of the boob tube and knit out the rest of the night.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful day with family, friends, and turkey.

Spencer is off in Vegas with his Dad, and I've spent most of the day chatting online with the Honey (best. day. ever.), and called Mom and Sis in the morning...could almost smell the turkey and dressing. mmmmmm...let me tell you Mom makes the. most. bestest. dressing. Ever.

Did this all from bed. Yep...woke up with a cold. weeee. Not a bad one, so not so bad. Propped myself up with lots of pillows and enjoyed life on the innernets almost all day.

Kept myself full of tea, juice, and pizza. An unorthodox Thanksgiving yes, but a well deserved rest as well. And there will be much knitting tonight as I watch movies on TV...or whatever I can find on TV to amuse myself while I knit.

Rest well all you Day-After-Thanksgiving-Shoppers. You guys are crazy, but more power to you. Happy bargain hunting and may you get everything you set out for...

Psychotic Knitting lives...

Whoops, I've frogged it again...

I was um working on a gift thing and like I um didn't like how it was turning out and like I am so frogging it...it's still going to like be the same like thing, but you know, like it's going to be a different stitch pattern, like ok? I've already started the new thing and like it's totally awesome. Cool!

You'll have to excuse me. Spencer's friend HWFT (he who floods toilets) is here for the weekend. They are like saying the word like, like every other word. Dude. It's annoying and I'm like finding myself like saying it too. GAH!!!

The cat is totally traumatized. She hissed, and growled, and spit at the boys the second they walked into the apartment. She has hidden herself in my room and probably won't come out until HWFT leaves on Sunday afternoon. Don't blame her, last time HWFT came to stay with us, not only did he flood the toilet, but the two of them teased her so much. Poor baby kitty girl.

Quite a few baby booties coming off the needles lately. I really have to post pix of those and update my Ravelry...

Ooooh...beep beep beep...laundry is ready to come out of the dryer. Yay. I just like totally like doing laundry. Like NOT!

Dude.

Post #301

Wow...can't believe I missed making a big deal out of post 300...

Oooh...Look!!!! A quiz...

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

ummm...commune? Don't think so...

Vow of silence? As if...Once I get comfortable with you...you can't shut me up.

Night owl? You betcha. Hoot Hoot!

Lookie what I did!

OOOh...she lives! Yes, I've been uber lazy about the blog lately. Lots of things piling up to post about...and a few finished objects as well. We won't even go into how much I've been ignoring Ravelry...

Anyhoo....

Last month, I participated in Claudia's Stricken Sie Deutsch swatch contest thing. And I have yet to post about it.

Well, now I am. First off, for the entire month of October, Claudia put up a German Knitting Word every day. At the beginning of November, she put up a pattern for a swatch. Anyone who wanted, could knit up the swatch, post a picture of it somewhere on the internets and comment on Claudia's blog.

I can't tell you how much fun I had doing this...my German is very rusty, so having her 'dictionary' of words was very helpful. One night last week, think it was Thursday, I finally sat myself down and knitted it up. After a few bad starts - somehow last week, I lost all abilities to count - I did it!

Hmmmmm....vat have ve hier....vas ist das? Wolle? Mmmmm....yum...





Ya...es ist eine deutsche Maschenprobe (a German Swatch)...ya ya...(can I eat it now? huh can I? Can I?)




Die deutsche Maschenprobe...post inspection...pre snackage...




She actually didn't eat it, but did lick it a few times.

Materials used: frogged swatch from the Honey Scarf, size 8 bamboo circular needle from WalMart.

YAY! and another YAY!

First of all, Spencer passed his latest Karate test at the Dojo last night. He now has two blue stripes on his purple belt. Next test? Full blue belt. The kid is movin' on up... Will add photos this weekend.

Next YAY! - no jury duty. Off the hook for another year. 'Nuf said.

Courthouse Knitting Update

OK, so I've decided to not try and think of something 'clever' to use as knitting needles when I maybe go next week. It hurt too much. Instead, I'm going to take actual needles. This past week, Antonella and I headed out to In N Out for some yummy burgers and then went on down the highway to Wal~Mart.

While at WM, I found a 16" size 8 bamboo circular needle. It cost me $2.44. This lovely, possibly disposable needle will accompany me to the courthouse. Along with some stitch holders. Just in case "they" decide that these wee, little needles are the most dangerous things ever and they get confiscated. I'll be upset, but not as upset as if they were some of my vintage needles, or the ones my Mom bought me in Alaska, or some of my other precious needles (that were my grandma's).

Only time will tell. I get to phone the courthouse the night my son is testing for his next stripe in Karate to see if I have to go in...I'd better hear "Group 8 does not need to report. All members of Group 8 have been excused." Otherwise, I will be one cranky Mother.