Monthly Archives: September 2006

Contests, Reading, Those Cats, Tunes

“When the villagers come to my door, I will hide underneath the table in the dining room.”

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Reading update: Slow week reading here! Dead Wrong by J.A. Jance. In the latest Sheriff Joanna Brady mystery (Arizona), she’s coping with a staff shortage, murder, and being 9.5 months pregnant.

Last night I went to the Triple Rock Social Club to see one of my very favorite bands, the Mountain Goats. (This post’s cryptic title is from their song “If You See Light.”) It was very, very traumatic for me, staying up that late and being out and about! Fortunately, I had good parking “carma” and then snagged a prime spot to watch the show when I got inside. They basically played their new album Get Lonely in order, with a few detours (Heart’s “Barracuda” was the best!), then played some of their older stuff. (And Leah, the new stuff was mostly excellent live – it had a lot more zing than on the cd.) It was a great show, especially considering it was the first stop of their tour! But damn, did I feel old – I was probably one of the 10 oldest people there… This was the first time I’ve been to a show at a bar since the Minneapolis smoking ban went into effect last year – I know it’s been controversial, but it was amazing to not need a shower after a show and also not to wake up with a “hangover” from second-hand smoke.

Largehearted Boy is having a Get Lonely contest! Could the timing be more perfect?! 🙂

Time for a decent picture of Mayhem – she’s purring and making happy paws because I’m looking at her, the sweetie. She definitely has the stealth tabby thing going, as well as maybe being a “smoke” (check out section 2 in that link). Her eyes are actually a sort of gold amber, not the green that they’ve appeared in photos.

*rumbling*

I think Chaos and May are playing now. I’m hoping that’s what it is! Either that, or she’s running for her life much of the time. I caught Chaos giving her a bath this morning. Awwwww… (No, there isn’t a picture – it was 5:30 am…)

“Ha ha! I got Mom’s spot and that big kitty isn’t anywhere around!”

“But why am I feeling so nervous? It’s as if someone’s watching me…

Contests, Knitting, Randonymity, Those Cats

SoC staff not responsible for any kittens procured as a result of this blog

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Kate is having an amusing contest: the Look Back and Cringe Contest. On your own blog, explain to her why you don’t want 80s fashions to come back. Leave Kate a comment with a link to your post anytime through September 24th.

Kate, I don’t need to tell you – I can show you. Just say no to big hair that took forever to achieve, high-waisted pleated jeans (Zena, anyone?), stirrup pants (fortunately, I was too tall to wear those successfully), knee-grazing tunics, shoulder pads (I already have a linebacker build, thank you!), and all that. Been there, done that, not going there again! 🙂

Thanks to everyone who’s been sending me contest and swap information! Keep it coming – send an email to chris at this domain.

Knitting update: Yup, I still knit. But gosh, it’s a bit challenging to knit with a kitten around – I’d forgotten about that! I’m about to bind off my first Regia Silk sock and I’m still plodding along on the border of my moderne log cabin baby blanket. Ummmm… Oh! Did I mention that I entered some socks in the Minnesota State Fair? Jeanne talked me into it and really, how could I refuse when she was willing to drop them off and pick them up from the Fair?! (Thank you, Jeanne!) I entered my Chaotic Black Lagoon socks (toe-up, using Maeve’s Cherry Blossom Lace pattern and Sundara Black Lagoon yarn). I got full marks for general appearance, color, design, condition (even though I ran out of time to block), and materials used, but only 35.5/40 for workmanship. Here’s what the judge had to say: “Beautiful Knitting – This was an extrememly competitive lot this year. Watch out for twisted stitches during grafting.” Interesting, since these were toe-up, no grafting required – but obviously I need to switch to the Turkish cast-on, as mine is leaving a row of twisted stitches.

Tink and I are doing a mix cd exchange and Tink is way ahead of me (I’m still working on the mix). Along with the cds, she included some lovely little shells from Florida. Thanks, Tink! Chaos was intrigued by the shells.

“Mmmm… oceany…”

Big thanks to everyone who’s provided info and handholding during the cat acclimation process!! Here’s another picture of May and the catnip mouse:

*kick kick kick kick kick bite bite bite bite bite*

But eventually… the mouse flew from her grasp.

“Oh oh…”

And though she be but little, she is fierce. – William Shakespeare

“Take that, big kitty! I’m not afraid of you!!” – M
“Good grief!” – C

Contests, Randonymity, Those Cats

Wandering through WTF Wednesday

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Cherry Tree Hill Yarn is having a contest to create designs for their solid sock yarns. Socks must be received by Thanksgiving.

I’m clueless about this tv show (you know me and the “doesn’t watch television” thing), but there’s a Grey’s Anatomy knitalong starting if you’re interested.

Ok, for WTF Wednesday, from the misguided advertising campaign files… Is coffee the first thing you think of when you see this sign?!

Me either.

I swapped some yarn with Danielle for one of her very cool little jars – imagine my surprise when I opened the package to discover not just the jar, but other goodies, too! Danielle included a ball of Peaches’n’Cream cotton from the MDK bag o’ yarn she received (bib or dishcloth with this yarn from the source of all such cottony madness?!), as well as some tasty chocolate, a cute card, lovely stitchmarkers that she made (they’re in the jar), and a package for Chaos. Thanks, Danielle!

When I presented the package to Chaos, he got busy.

“I’m sure this would be easier with opposable thumbs.”
<
“Probably much easier…” *mmph*

But with some assistance, he eventually persevered.

“Neener, neener, May, I got catnip mice!”

And so of course May got right up there and took one, because all the mice are all for her now…

*fight fight fight bite bite bite*
Festing, Reading, Those Cats

In the company of knitbloggers

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Special thanks to Mouse for my newly modified sidebar avatar!

Scout’s launching a new sock (and more) club – read all about Scout’s Indie Swag Club, which is going to have a very limited number of members to start with. You can sign up Wednesday, September 13, 9 pm EST. Anyone want to take bets that all the memberships will be filled by 9:10 pm?!

Celtic Kelly is starting a Fall Equinox to Winter Solstice knitalong involving tweedy yarn – check it out!

Reading
Men and Other Mammals by Jim Keeble. Interesting twist on British chick lit – would you call it “lad lit”?! Not a life changing book, but I did read the whole thing at least. (Why, yes, I am utterly lukewarm on this book!)
Cue the Easter Bunny by Liz Evans. I think this is probably the most recent book about British PI Grace Evans. I much enjoyed this and wish the first book from the series would hurry up and get here!
Dating Dead Men and Dating Is Murder by Harley Jane Kozak. The only two books (so far) featuring LA greeting card writer Wollie Shelley. I am eagerly awaiting another book! Bless the serendipitous browse through the actual physical library – I usually come across some great stuff.

Ok, back to the Harlotation on Sunday in Eau Claire. We saw many more folks than I’m going to remember – so please forgive me and leave details in the comments! Vicki Knitorious (with Deb of Wound Too Tight here),

Jeanne of k3tog (really, she isn’t always so serious – trust me, and check out the cool striping yarn she dyed),

CursingMama and Mr Motorcycle (so brave to come along),

Beadslut (ohmigod, she has a decent picture of me!), KnittyMama and KnittyBaby, Catherine of Yogurt and Granola, Jess of Mikknit, kmkat,

Christy of Purling Away, Stephania of Moraie Knitting, Kelle of Knits and Giggles, and many, many more…

And now for something completely different, I thought I would try to illustrate the size difference between Chaos and Mayhem… Note that her collar hangs loosely on her neck… and that her tail is the same length as Chaos’ tail. Poor stubby-tailed Chaos!

*crunch crunch crunch crunch crunch*
Alongs, Contests, Those Cats

S is for…

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Hold that thought! 🙂

MrsPao is having a contest for her first blogiversary! Come up with a mnemonic for her cats’ names (Jasper, Ariel, Merlin, Perdita, Ophelia, Phoebe) by 9 pm GMT on Tuesday, September 12.

Jeanne is having a contest – guess the number of socks in her sock pile before midnight, September 15, CDT.

Ok, so where were we? Oh yeah… S is for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

Yesterday, Deb, Jeanne, and I (along with many other Twin Cities knitters) journeyed east to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to see Yarn Harlot Stephanie.

First, we met a lot of great knitters and knitbloggers – more on that later this week. Then we walked to the Temple of Free Masonry to hear Stephanie speak.

She was, of course, terrifically funny. She showed off her Olympic sweater (the heap by her feet in this picture, as I was too slow with the camera) and her Icarus shawl:

Then Stephanie signed copies of her books at Yellow Dog Knitting (we provided the Leinenkugel Honey Weiss – thanks for the tip, Louise!):

And graciously posed for a picture with us (pretend I’m not in this picture, because it is a horrific picture of me! What the hell am I doing back there?! My simple photoediting program didn’t have a red X or dot to put over me – drat.):

Curious about Chaos and Mayhem? Chaos likes to keep a close eye on May, whatever she might be doing…

“What are you doing in there?!”

Um, yeah, two guesses, Chaos…

I’d like to say that May is unconcerned about Chaos, but she keeps a wary eye out, since he’s been trying to beat the crap out of her. She is safely shut in the bathroom when I’m not around to supervise! (It’s funny how sleek she looks in pictures, because she’s still got some kitten fluff and is amazingly gangly.)

“Man, that big cat is crabby! I wonder where he is right now…”
Randonymity

It came from 1946…

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Stephania of Moraie Knits is giving away some unmatched knitting needles – Lantern Moon and Brittanies. Maybe with her help you can create a new full set of unbroken dpns or turn that lone needle back into a pair!

Thanks to everyone for the health wishes of yesterday! I’m still sick, but at lunchtime I’m going to pick up some of the wonderful Yogi Cold Season Tea – I had some at home, but it had expired in 2002… Ewww!

Remember the funky old knitting booklet I found at the thrift store last week? Turns out it’s from 1946. I thought I’d share a few pictures of the wondrous things that await inside. Why should I be the only one having nightmares?! 😉

First we have Loopy Doll. Personally, I think an entire horror movie franchise could be fashioned around Loopy Doll. I really hope no one ever made one of these for a child. You can so tell that Loopy Doll is Up To No Good.

I can’t decide if this is a promise… or a threat:

This baby seems to be leaning toward threat.

While this baby is obviously in hysterics that his parents could be so cruel.

And this girl seems to be getting her revenge be killing the family pet.

Probably best that Chaos was preoccupied during this photoshoot after that last shot, don’t you think?

“That Sparkly Orange Mouse can run, but it cannot hide from me!”
Tales of the Neighborhood

Ah-choo!

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I apparently have a summer cold. Blech. My brain feels wrapped in cotton wool… Hopefully I’m feeling livelier by Sunday, when Deb, Jeanne, and I journey east (along with many other Twin Cities knitters) to see the Yarn Harlot in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I’m still surprised that Eau Claire is as close as she will be to a metro area of over a million people, with more than 20 yarns stores… although I know that her publisher has tried unsuccessfully to set something up for the Twin Cities. Oh well – I’m looking forward to meeting some Wisconsin bloggers, such as Vicki of Knitorious.

Anyway, since my brain’s a bit sloggy today, I will attempt to distract you with colorful architecture! In the purple series, here’s Dreamhaven Books and Comics, located a few blocks south of me on Lake Street:

Here’s the Rainbow Building, located on Lake Street a few blocks west, in Uptown – first from the front and then from the side.

Seems that Chaos is keeping the exercise bike warm until I feel healthier…

“Actually, I’m waiting for you and the camera to leave the room so I can get started with my workout.”