Archive for August, 2006

Idle Hands

Monday, August 14th, 2006
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Lazy Lounger

Lazy cow (ironic, considering her name) has recently mused about the fact that women seem to feel more guilty about being lackadaisical than men do.

I think most men are born with the indolent gene. Mr LC and my son have naps whenever they lie down during the day. How many women admit to that, without feeling terribly guilty? Every mother blogger – at one time or another – has written a long list of all the tasks they’ve completed that day. (I’ve done it too). I can think of only one blogger who has written about the joys of doing nothing on a regular basis. Please correct me if I’m wrong :-)

Unfortunately I can’t. I’m the same way; I have to be doing something all the time, which is one of the reasons I took up knitting. I feel guilty when I’m sitting in front of the television or watching a movie without having something to do. TV time is programming time; movie time is knitting time. Idle hands and minds are the devil’s playground, after all.

I was talking to my boss a few weeks ago about something I was working on at home, and he turned to me and asked, “do you ever not do anything?” The answer was a quick no. I feel uncomfortable if I’m just sitting around. My laziest days are my guiltiest days. Of course, what I consider productive are things like reading blogs and playing with [[genetic algorithms]]. I most certainly used the genetic algorithms to avoid putting together a desk today. But my program is almost finished! Maybe tomorrow I can show it off. It has knitting applications!

I think I just had multiple M*A*S*H – related orgasms. M*A*S*Hgasms.

Saturday, August 12th, 2006
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Red Cross Knit Kit

I used to be a huge devotee of Mash (both the movie and the TV show), so when I saw the olive drab sock yarn and the cute little red needles in the Red Cross’s reissue of their Knit Kit, I had an entire litter of kittens.

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Sock it to me bay-bee

Friday, August 11th, 2006
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I know everyone else is already talking about it but Sock Wars 2006 sounds like it will be the SHIZZ-knit. I am so in. And now that I know where to buy sock yarn that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (after all, where then would I put my finished socks?), I can partake worry-free.

Oh and by the way, I’m GOING TO KILL YOU ALL.

That’s right. I’m going to whip your cute little butts with my foxlike sock knitting. I am filled with HUTZPAH and BRAVADO. Fear the Eve.

Knit2BTied

Friday, August 11th, 2006
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In case you haven’t discovered it yet, you should listen to April‘s podcast, Knit2BTied. Her next-to-last episode included a reading of The One Spinner, episodes 1 and 2. I listened to it ages ago and it was so great but then I was stolen away from the internet and just now I realized that I never thanked her or plugged her podcast or anything until now. I feel so bad.

So go off and listen to The One Spinner in STEREO! April, you did a fantastic job. Better than I could ever have hoped. Thanxxx with three X-es! No, four!

Another Yarnival extension? My word!

Thursday, August 10th, 2006
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Here’s a link to Yarnival, and the message that accompanies it:

She must be a whiz at this editing/blogging/linking speed warp thing or maybe a lot of time on her hands..either way, I’m looking forward to learning about some new blogs this way. Check it out.

Apparently I have no time on my hands. I got a link through Cara (props) and ended up getting something like 40+ Cara-entries in addition to the 50 or so I received through other means. I also ended up getting surprised by a trip to Cornwall with no wireless in the hotel, and long story short, I must ask for an extension.

But I gave you guys one, so it’s okay, right? * quivering lip, followed by puppy dog eyes *

Captain, I’m sensing… pain. And socks.

Thursday, August 10th, 2006
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For the record, I’m watching a Jeopardy episode and there’s this college kid talking about Marina Sirtis (also known as Counsellor Troi) coming to his hometown when a Star Trek convention came there and about how stoked he was, and he’s got a seriously comical Southern drawl and IT IS HILARIOUS.

Here is a universal sock pattern. I believe I will use it to create my own sockular magnificence, after I finish the Jaywalkers I’m knitting now.

They just had a question about Danica Patrick! GIRL POWER!

On Being Crafty

Thursday, August 10th, 2006
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Recently, I was thinking about this new “knitter” identity I’ve taken on for myself. I’ve been knitting for about 4 years now, but it’s only been the past year that I’ve really taken it seriously as something that was worth spending lots (and lots) of time with. I was thinking about how I’ve never been very crafty, and then suddenly I realized that I’ve been a cross-stitcher since before I can remember, and that I used to have one of those knitting looms that you use to make i-cord.

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Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap: Done! Again!

Tuesday, August 8th, 2006
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Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap: Done!

k, I redid the hat. And it fits! And it’s cute! I feel like a classy dame.

Amelia, finally finished Tuesday, August 8th, 2006
Pattern: Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap
Yarn: 100% cotton frogged from a green sweater
Needles: tiny circulars, ~2.75 mm
Dimensions: Le size de ma tête
Pattern Notes: This is a reknit of the original, far-too-large attempt. I really like it!
Would I knit it again? I just did. It was fun. I want to knit it for a bunch of other people; maybe one of my cousins for Christmas.

The One Spinner: Part Three

Tuesday, August 8th, 2006
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This is Part Three of The One Spinner Choose Your Own Adventure series. Read Part One and Part Two if you haven’t yet.

DEATH.

HUNGER.

LACE.

The wobbly, tomato-soaked letters in my Alphaghetti taunt me with their accidental arrangements. We don’t want to start a fire for fear of attracting attention, so we’re eating the soup cold. I slurp down the artificially-thickened, artificially-sweetened mixture. I smush the pasta with my tongue. No need to chew it; I haven’t used my teeth on anything but tree bark and mushrooms for the past three weeks. I stare into the bottom of the bowl and my eyes refocus out of boredom. I stir my soup, absently.

WASHINGFON.

That one doesn’t count.

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It has been decided!

Monday, August 7th, 2006
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After all that searching for pretty shawl patterns, I have realized that my mother is not at all a shawl wearer. She prefers squares to triangles and moss stitch to lace, so I will be knitting her a sweater. I did a lot of searching for tops this weekend and then I showed them all to her (there must have been at least thirty). She finally settled on the Somewhat Cowl, which coincidentally is an oily, lust-filled fantasy of mine. I will knit one for her and then one for me. We will be handknit twins! It will be extremely fantastic.

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