Proof that I don’t just talk about knitting

Posted on March 24, 2006
Filed Under Blather, knitting | Leave a Comment

After repeatedly telling everyone that I was “almost” done with the blanket I’d been knitting since late 2004, I can now finally say that it is “completely” done. Here’s the proof:
cabled blanket
The color is a little off–it was too dark in the house when I took the photo and I couldn’t get it quite right. I’m quite pleased with the blanket, though. I used Jo Sharp Classic DK wool and I love it love it love it.

I’ve started another project in the same yarn (different color–again not reproducing well), which I probably won’t finish for a while since it’s among a total of 4 sweaters I have in process. NOTE: Those are not bobbles! I don’t like bobbles so much. What may look like bobbles in this picture is actually blackberry stitch. The “blackberries” are little and protrude less than bobbles.
wine sweater

This one, for Ezra, will probably happen sooner. For this one I’m using Tahki Donegal Tweed. So far so good. sweater for ezra
Again, the color is a bit off. This one is a woodsy green.

We wandered into Woolcott last night, and there were so many lovely yarns, but I have so much going right now that I feel guilty buying any new yarn. I will need a new scarf for next year, and I wouldn’t mind actually knitting something for summer, and then there are the babies in my life, and friends (you know who you are) who wonder why I’ve never knit anything for them. Well, I knit in waves, and I’m hesitant to make anything if I’m nervous that it won’t come out well or that the recipient won’t like it. Not great excuses, but it’s all I’ve got.

Broadcast-The World Backwards

Posted on March 23, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, music | Leave a Comment

Still Annoyed

Posted on March 22, 2006
Filed Under Blather, politics, rant | Leave a Comment

I could easily sit here all day and blog about how much I despise the Bush administration and the vast majority of what they do and have done, but that would be as painful for me as it would be for you. I will say, though, that everytime I see Bush I can’t help feeling that he insults the world with everything he says and does. Today at the gym I saw (but opted not to actually listen to) part of his news conference. The closed captioning allowed me to read what was being said if I wanted/needed to. I was annoyed once again by his smug attitude and lack of respect for the reporters, and when I was reminded that, if the Iraq war is indeed supposed to be a part of some “war on terror” (and I’m not sure I totally buy that), then the U.S. government is insisting on waging a state-to-state war when what they supposedly want to eradicate is not necessarily state-sponsored or even state-based. These guys ask us to believe a lot. OK… rant over.

Office Supply Wonderland

Posted on March 20, 2006
Filed Under Blather, me and my brain | 1 Comment

Last night I dreamt that I was shopping for pens at an office supply store–like a Staples or an Office Max. They advertised pink and grey pens, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. The store was even bigger than the real-life office megamarts. The ceilings seemed infinitely high, and there was this weird sicko circus feel to the place. I guess I am a pen sicko. Welcome to The Disturbed Life of a Freelance Editor Freak by Terri Wise.

The i-word and the f-word

Posted on March 18, 2006
Filed Under Blather, politics | 1 Comment

Thanks to Ezra for alerting me to this article. It seems that some mainstream media are starting to pick up on the movement to impeach (what this article calls the “i-word”) President Bush. This reminds me of the other night when Tony Kushner said that we need to just face up to the direction our country is taking toward “the f-word”–fascism. He gave a string of examples–invading other countries without major provocation, wiretapping citizens, torture, etc. (I’d add fear-mongering to that list. Since when are Americans afraid to tell it like it is about the government?) It’s not just us crazy lefties anymore–many people are starting to ask what the hell is going on here.

Techno-bomb

Posted on March 17, 2006
Filed Under Blather | Leave a Comment

Technology has really been letting me down today. It might all be linked to our home internet connection. Whatever it is–grrr. First I wrote out this massive response to one of Ezra’s blog entries that promptly disappeared the moment I tried to post it. That was my own fault for trusting the technology. I should have saved a copy for sure. Then I just tried to call Ezra–about 7 times–on my work phone. It’s a voice over IP thing, and it usually works. Not today, though. I dialled and dialled and it never made a connection. I think it is telling me to go the hell outside, already. Here I go.

The Police-So Lonely

Posted on March 16, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, music | Leave a Comment

Pogues and Poguettes

Posted on March 15, 2006
Filed Under Blather, music | Leave a Comment

I’m sure Ezra will write a more thorough and informed review of tonight’s Pogues show, as of the two of us he is the bigger fan, but I enjoy them, too, so here’s my quick rundown. The somewhat older crowd was a pleasant sight after all the relatively kiddie crowds we’ve seen at other shows (I’m thinking mostly of when we saw Belle and Sebastian at the Orpheum and the all ages Of Monteal show last week). We didn’t really go in for the opening bands too much, but instead opted to have a few drinks and gaze at the merch. Well, we did more than gaze–two semi-punk-rockish t-shirts came home with us. They’ve got to get the most out of the 12 (or however many) shows they’re playing. The merch was pretty good, as far as these things go.

After hearing over and over that Shane is notorious for missing gigs, I was quite pleased to see him lumber onstage. He is a funny looking guy, that’s for sure, but a sight for sore eyes, I guess you’d say. We couldn’t actually see the details of his face from where we were, which may have been a blessing. On top of his accent, his speech was pretty mumbly-slurred, so it was rough to follow what he was saying much of the time, but I think he did a fine job singing most of the songs. Some even sounded particularly good. I’m not as great with the titles as Ez is, but I recall that they played “If I Should Fall From Grace with God,” “Turkish Song of the Damned,” “Thousands Are Sailing” (which I loved), “Bottle of Smoke” (which I also loved), “The Sickbed of Cuchulainn” (a favorite), “Dirty Old Town,” “Sally Maclennane,” “The Sunny Side of the Street,” “Sayonara,” “Rain Street,” “Fiesta,” and “Fairy Tale of New York.” I’m sure that’s not everything.

I think the most amusing moments came at the end when they played “Fiesta.” Spider repeatedly whacked himself square in the face with some sort of aluminum pan (sort of like an old cartoon character repeatedly whacking himself with a frying pan), and after dribbling a bit of it on the stage, Shane balanced a bottle of whiskey (I assume it was whiskey) on his head for a good long bit–probably a full 15 or 20 seconds.

While I’m sure it was incomparably great to see them fifteen or twenty years ago, I feel that the space in my life for live Pogues has been well filled. If by some chance I ever get to see them again, that would be yummy gravy indeed. If not, this show was the stuff.

Broadcast on KEXP

Posted on March 15, 2006
Filed Under And another thing..., music | Leave a Comment

Broadcast performed live in the KEXP studios last fall, and you can listen to their performance on the KEXP site at this link.

Ladytron-The Way That I Found You

Posted on March 14, 2006
Filed Under Song of the Day, music | Leave a Comment

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The Knitting Turnip

On My Needles

Rhapsody in Tweed cabled pullover for Ezra! using Tahki Donegal Tweed in Forest, from Fall 2004 Interweave Knits. I've just picked this one up again, so it's moving up in the queue!

Sweater with Cable Patterns pullover using Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in Mauve, from Rebecca Magazine Number 28

Heather Pullover using Classic Elite Wings in Larkspur, from Rowan’s A Season’s Tale... This needs the knit doctor. I'm going to have to frog back a little bit and redo the shoulder area. Long story.

Hush Pullover using Jo Sharp DK wool in Wine, from Rowan’s Calmer Collection

Recently Finished Projects

In the Groove boatneck pullover using Manos del Uruguay in Black and Cheek (pale pink), from Fall 2006 issue of knitscene. SWEATER IS DONE!

Stash Stealer Scarf for me, using delicious yarn that darling Amy let me raid from her stash. I made up the pattern--a couple of wide ribs rimmed in moss stitch. It's soft and fuzzy and DONE!

Moss Stitch Jacket with Collar for Hope using Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo in Ivy, from Quick Baby Knits by Debbie Bliss. JACKET IS DONE!

Next in line

Brompton cardigan using Noro Cash Iroha in Jewel Green (my name for shade #100)

Eyelet Yoke Pullover using Debbie Bliss Merino Aran

Under consideration

Loads!

More scoop on my knitting endeavors can be found at my home on Ravelry (clicky here).

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