Category Archives: Randonymity

Contests, Randonymity, Reading, Tunes

Let us bow before the Goddess of Girlie Drinks

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How many projects will Jenn take to her weekend knitting retreat, out of her 40 WIPs? Email your guess by 4 pm CDT, March 2, and you could win a mysterious prize.

If you live in the Twin Cities, you could be in a Cloud Cult video shoot (beware – link has sound) at Como Park this Sunday! (Thanks to Van for the heads up.) I might be there – I’ll be the one trying to knit while wearing mittens and dork boots.

I am so ready for this week to be done! Work has been busy. While the book scanning project was great fun, it disrupted my regularly scheduled relaxation – I haven’t knit since Sunday night. (Good timing on the Guilt-Free Fiber Dispensation, Trek – thanks.)

I’m behind in my blog reading. I’ve only read one book, and it was one of those “so horrible I have to keep reading to see if it can redeem itself” kind of books. The answer? Not even close. The book? Dancing with Werewolves: Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator by Carole Nelson Douglas. I really can’t remember the last time I read a book that bad. If there was an editor involved in the project (doubtful), he or she should never be allowed to work again. Gee, Chris, what did you really think of the book?! 😉

I’m enjoying my ASL class and even learning a bit, but it sure leaves my brain tired. (Stop giggling at me, Fraro!)

“I hope your class is also covering the more important KSL,* Mom, because the big kitty and I are getting plenty tired of having to communicate with you via these photo captions!” -Mayhem

Is it the weekend yet?! All hail the Goddess of Girlie Drinks! Worship amongst yourselves as you see fit…

*Kitty Sign Language

Knitting, Randonymity, Reading

Peeking under my bed

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Filled with “Must Have Cardigan” fever, Jeanne and I each ordered a copy of Street Smart to get the pattern. (I was extremely impressed with the service we got – Jessica of Weaving Rainbow even checked to make sure I’d meant to order two copies; she’ll have more copies of Street Smart soon).

“You’re boring me, Mom.” -Mayhem

“Does that come in black?” -Chaos

I realize my pictures of the CueCat barcode scanner yesterday didn’t emphasize its feline qualities, so here it is with a similarly shaped cat carving from MamaTulip:

“Now this is much more interesting!” *sniff sniff sniff* -Mayhem

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos

“Mmmm…. cord…” -Mayhem

Looks like I need to get the bitter apple out again, doesn’t it?!

Last night I finished scanning my books, other than the odd copy that I’ve loaned out and some knitting books/booklets that don’t have barcodes or ISBNs. For the morbidly curious, you can take a peek at my library – I recommend filtering by a keyword tag, such as “knitting” or “cycling.” (Yes, Van, you will find something if you filter by “zombies.”)

I was even inspired to pull out the boxes of books from under my bed! Wanna take a peek?

Perhaps you need a bit more info about what you’re seeing (beyond that I have enough wrapping paper for the next five years)? About eight years ago, my brother helped me build a queen-size futon frame (well, ok, he did 95% of the work – thanks, Matt!). This particular frame turns all the space under the futon into dust-free storage – I can fit a total of 24 copy paper boxes under the frame, with space on top of the boxes for a layer of luggage, ski poles, wrapping paper, snowshoes (on the other side, sorry) and a broomball stick (helpfully keeping me from being crushed by the futon as I rummage around). The amount of storage this adds to my wee condo is considerable and much appreciated. When in use, the futon rests on two removable slatted sections:

Sorry the picture is blurry – I was attempting to balance on one foot and take the picture while using my other foot to prevent the futon from falling back into place. It didn’t go so well, but I think the bruising will be minimal. 😉

Contests, Randonymity, Reading

Mayhem meets Chappy!

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Jen’s having a contest to help her friend choose kitchen cabinet hardware. Weigh in with your opinion by 8 am EST, February 29, and you could win some kitchen cotton.

Reading Update
Housekeeping vs. the Dirt by Nick Hornby. Really, I can’t believe how much I’ve enjoyed Hornby’s books about reading. Hornby is very, very funny and most of his insights are spot on. This was a particular favorite: “But please, if you’re reading a book that’s killing you, put it down and read something else, just as you would reach for the remote if you weren’t enjoying a TV program.”
Unshapely Things and Unquiet Dreams by Mark del Franco. A promising new urban fantasy/mystery series set in Boston about Connor Grey, a druid who lost most of his powers in an accident.
Three in Death by J.D. Robb. This book contains three Eve Dallas/Roarke novellas that have been published elsewhere: “Interlude in Death,” “Midnight in Death,” and “Haunted in Death.”

Recently, I won a contest over at Chappysmom. Deb sent me some gorgeous purple Zephyr and one of her cute Chappy cards – thank you, Deb!

“That Chappy kitty has a very long nose and ears! What do you mean, he’s not a kitty? What else is there?!!” -Mayhem

“Oh! Laceweight yarn! My favorite!” -Mayhem

“I’m sure Mom won’t even notice if I steal a ball or two of this. It’s not like she’s knitted any lace that I can remember.” -Mayhem

Randonymity, Reading, Viewing

More evidence of that sink kitty thing

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Damn, I didn’t realize that Friday was Singles’ Awareness Day. For a good read on the subject of singleness, check out “Exploring Relationships with the Single Weirdo” over at lifehack.org.

The new issue of Yarnival, as edited by Miss T, is now available!

Reading Update
The Three Incestuous Sisters and The Adventuress by Audrey Niffenegger. If you’re looking for something in the vein of Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, you won’t find it in these visual “novels.” Niffenegger writes that when she tries to explain The Three Incestuous Sisters, she tells people “to imagine a silent film made from Japanese prints, a melodrama of sibling rivalry, a silent opera that features women with very long hair and a flying green boy.” Of the second non-visual novel she’s working on, the biographical blurb in the back of The Adventuress notes that “she’s a very slow writer, easily distracted by her cats and the lure of libraries and airplanes.”
Howling Moon: A Tale of the Sazi by C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp. I started out getting very involved in this tale of a werejaguar and a pack of werewolves, but I think the story was drawn out too much for the amount of story there was to tell.
Relative Magic by Tanya Huff. I admit to not reading all of the stories in this collection of Tanya Huff’s short fiction. Frankly, her “high fantasy” works don’t interest me (no one’s “high fantasy” or “sword & sorcery” seems to interest me anymore – I’m all about contemporary fantasy now), so I stuck to the more contemporary tales.

Viewing Update
Into the Wild. I own the Eddie Vedder soundtrack, so when a friend I haven’t seen in a while suggested catching the film at the Riverview Theater ($3.00) Friday night (after catching up over a glass of hard cider at the Riverview Cafe and Wine Bar), I decided I should do so. The movie is gorgeous, the story thought-provoking and ultimately, to me, very tragic.

Mayhem Update
Can you see the cat in this picture? (Um, yeah, I might have a few books and cds…)

Need some help?

This time, she’s lying on about 10 pairs of wet wool socks…

Randonymity

A Keen interlude

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Emails were starting to trickle in last night, so maybe this morning things will get caught up and I’ll start to receive my comment emails in a timely fashion again. I really missed them yesterday! 🙁

Regarding kitties and sinks – Matisse left a comment pointing out that he is also a bathroom sink kitty. And then Deb posted some cute pictures of Sammy and Tig in her kitchen sink. (More on kitchen sinks later this week…)

Yesterday was an expensive lunch break. I went to REI and found some Keen boots on sale.

“What good are they if I can’t hide in them? Although I suppose I could hide some of my favorite furry mice in there…” -Mayhem

“Oh, come on, May – you should stick your head in just to see if you fit… Hee hee hee!” -Chaos

I was also unable to resist a new Keen bag, which has a little LED light that turns on when you open the bag…

“Where’s that light again? I want to see if I can get May to chase it!” -Chaos

Randonymity

Dipping my toes in the dating pool again

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But how many times will I have to tell some stranger my life story
Which gets longer and longer and longer the longer I live on this earth?
And how many times will I pretend I’m fascinated by the ordinary
Details of the lives of the strangers that I’ve encountered on my search?
Christine Lavin, “Blind Dating Fun”

Back at the beginning of December, I had a little personals ad contest; many of you participated by writing very creative and amusing “ads” for me. I am positive that my life would be infinitely more… unusual if I actually used one of your ads. 😉

As I mentioned in that post, one of the wonderfully unexpected side effects of my October surgery has been how much happier and grounded I’ve been feeling – better than I have for two or three years, actually. For much of that time, dating just sounded like too much effort; by December, it was starting to sound like it might be kind of fun. (Really! Shocking, I know. I swear I was off the heavy duty painkillers by then, too!)

But… I don’t actually meet any dateable people in my regular life. I’m a knitter, so my free time is spent hanging out with groups of women (you’re my pals and you’re cute and all, but…). I’ve worked at the same small company for nearly 12 years (not that I recommend poaching coworkers! No! Do not want!). So… on to the online personals.

I’ve done the online dating thing a time or two in the past and I have a few interesting stories (as does Juno). For some reason that escapes me now, the first time I did the online personals, I went on 25 or 30 coffee dates in six weeks. Shall we pause to contemplate the utter insanity?! Christine Lavin could easily have written “Online Dating Fun” instead of “Blind Dating Fun.” Out of all that craziness, I went on two second dates, one third date, no fourth dates, and finally took a break from the whole venture.

Then I dated a friend of a friend (that classic method of meeting) for a year or so. But really, once you’re out of your mid-30s, your friends tend not to have a lot of single friends anymore… at least not ones they can, in good conscience, introduce you to. So, back to the online personals – but that also coincided with the beginning of the waning energy and enthusiasm mentioned above.

Which brings us back to the present. I’ve been giving the online personals another shot, albeit on a much more restrained basis this time around – I’m aiming for quality over quantity. Wish me luck!

“Have you cleared this plan with us?! We do not approve of you having any more distractions.” -Mayhem

Randonymity, See the Sights

What Minnesotans do to stave off cabin fever

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We fish. You won’t find me out ice fishing in this lifetime, but I might be tempted to check out the Art Shanty Project sometime… ETA: Annie wrote about the Art Shanty Project a few days ago – and there’s even a Knitting Shanty!

We drink. If you’ve ever wanted to sit outside in a bar made from 12,000 pounds of ice, check out the Ice Chamber at the Chambers Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. I think I’d be huddled by the fire pit the whole time!

We fest. The St. Paul Winter Carnival is over for another year, but you can still check out the pictures and contemplate what the Hot Dish Tent was like.

We raise money. For a shockingly different fundraiser, you could participate in the Polar Bear Plunge and support the Special Olympics – yup, you do have to jump into an icy lake.

We cross-country ski.

We skijor.

We fly kites.

We ice skate – both indoors and out.

We read.

We knit.

We hibernate…

“…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Mayhem

Randonymity

Tails passing in the night

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Keep Jeanne in your thoughts – she’s had a very rough week. Goodbye, Bugsy – you will be missed. *sniff*

When I got home from work yesterday, I found two packages waiting for me! The first was a gorgeous mix cd and a postcard from MamaTulip, which was apparently carried here on foot from Canada, as far as we can tell. Thanks, MamaT – I’m enjoying the music muchly! The second was a ball of yarn that I begged off Jane when she hated how it was knitting up – thanks, Jane! Hopefully my larger feet will work to my advantage for a change and prevent the pooling that was driving Jane crazy. Jane also sent some toys for Chaos and Mayhem, which Mayhem is helpfully obscuring in the photo below.

“I’m always helpful, aren’t I, Mom?!” -Mayhem

*gagging sound offsides* -Chaos

Chaos was lured into a better mood with one of the toys, now dubbed “Bee Mouse.” (Chaos is indeed often called “Claw Boy” – how did you guess?!)

“It isn’t going to sting me, is it?” -Chaos

Apologies for yet another blurry photo in a week of blurry photos, but I couldn’t resist the expression on May’s face.

“With my chameleon-like ability to color coordinate my eyes with this toy, I’m going to lure it to its doom! Tee-hee!” -Mayhem

Alongs, Randonymity

Linkity linkity link

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Don’t forget that Saturday, February 2, is the Third Annual Bloggers’ (Silent) Poetry Reading for the Feast of St. Brigid. (Year One; Year Two)

Sock Madness 2 is just around the corner – you can already get updated buttons on the blog!

Lucy of the Free-From Blog has a great list of gluten-free knitters – go add yourself if you’re a gf knitter who isn’t on her list!

Nice article on Pet Connection about cats – my favorite quote is “‘Cats are not as domestic as you might think… They are probably allowing you to live with them, not the other way around.'” Hence Fraro’s brilliant description of we cat “owners” as “catstaff.”

Speaking of Fraro, she sent me this link yesterday – does it remind you of any particular kitty you know?! And then she sent me this link. Hee hee – that is exactly what Chaos and Mayhem would email or IM me while I’m at work.

And then, continuing the cat theme here, Eklectika sent me a link to an adorable tea set.

And then Lisa sent me an amusing link on how to make a “cat burglar joule thief.”

Oy – was I radiating “send me links!” vibes yesterday or what?!

I think I’ve done this one before, but hey, since I’m not reading the same book… Open the book you’re currently reading, turn to page 161, and copy the fifth sentence on the page:

“Beats the fuck out of me, but it’s not a squid.”

And there you have it. What? The book? You want to know what book? Oh. Ok – Long Hot Summoning (The Keeper’s Chronicles #3) by Tanya Huff.

“Cheesecake? Who you calling cheesecake?!” -Chaos

“Beefcake? Who you calling beefcake?!” -Chaos