Category Archives: Randonymity

Randonymity, Swappin'

Handy Mayhem butt

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I’ve mentioned swap-bot a few times recently. Kristi has a great post on how to establish a rating on swap-bot.

Check out the Biteberry yarn in its new habit!

A sign I saw yesterday that amused me – so that’s where preteens go to get rid of pesky parents! Do you need to bundle parents with twine like you do newspapers and corrugated cardboard? 😉

Monday evening I was unlocking my mailbox after work and my (admittedly large) bag fell off my shoulder onto the mailbox key and snapped it off in the lock. Ugh! I could still get the key pieces to work – but so could anyone else with a screwdriver. I was calling a locksmith yesterday when my coworker interrupted me and got me off the phone before I could make an appointment for an expensive locksmith house call (because of course the lock can’t be removed and taken into the locksmith, as it requires a special removal key). Turns out my coworker had a lockpicking kit on him. . . . I didn’t ask, either. Usually it’s best not to know. Anyway, he loaned me a “key extractor” and after a bit of fiddling with the key extractor and a leatherman tool, I once again have a secure mailbox. Make sure you have copies of all your keys for times like this!

“This stuff is too boring to even bother sniffing.” -Mayhem

Is it just me, or does it look like May is mocking Chaos’ tail? Anyway, she wandered off to play ghost paws on the Kitty Casa instead.

“This is much more fun! Whee!” -Mayhem

Contests, Randonymity

Take that, Muffin Man!

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Wendy’s giving away a copy of Starmore’s Fishermen’s Sweaters. If interested, send an email to her contest line before noon EDT, July 29.

Tink’s having a contest throughout the day today (July 27). Check in and answer the questions and you could “a mixed bag of surprise goodies” or a personal post from Tink!

If you remember the muffin incident, you will know why this made me very, very happy:

Mmmm… gluten-free, dairy-free cherry almond muffins… *wipes drool from keyboard*

But the fact that Bloglines hasn’t been picking up my main RSS feed (it had an ominous red exclamation point by it yesterday) makes me unhappy. (Note: Looks like it’s all better now – whew!) Good thing I’m heading to the cabin later this morning, eh? Have a great weekend, everyone!

“Welcome to my Fortress of Solitude. Would you like a tour?” -Mayhem

Contests, Randonymity

Thursday is for thank yous

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Don’t forget about the Biteberry Yarn contest, which runs until 6 pm CDT, Friday, July 20!

Eliza’s printing some small sock pattern books on an old-fashioned flatbed press (sounds very cool). She’ll give a copy away to a random commenter – you have until August 1 to leave your comments.

Time for thank yous! The random number generator loved me recently – through its graces, I received some Azul body butter (lemon), which is one of the products available at Kristi’s new store. (How does she have time with those busy twins??) I’ve actually been using the body butter as hand lotion and while it didn’t feel quite like what I’ve been using (duh, it’s body “butter,” not lotion), it’s done great things for my chronically dry hands. Thanks, Kristi! Think I’ll be ordering some more – maybe the “chocolate mousse” scent…

The random number generator also selected me to win some yarn in Jewel’s recent contest – I picked those two lovely skeins of Regia Bamboo. Thank you, Jewel!

I got that great (partially obscured) card of Charlie for supporting Debby’s husband Chris in the Get Your Guts in Gear bike ride to raise money for Crohn’s and colitis research. (Charlie the kitty has inflammatory bowel disease, too.)

“It looks like a kitty, but it doesn’t smell, taste, sound, or feel like a kitty. I give up. What is it?” -Mayhem

I received mix cds from Van and from E, plus a great insulated sheepy water bottle carrier from E! Thanks, Van and E!

“More of these wee unsheep. Hmph.” -Mayhem

“I see what you mean about the unsheep, May. Hey, I bet you could fit in this bag.” *hee hee* -Chaos

“Hmm, big kitty, I am not sure you have my best interests at heart…” -Mayhem

KnitNana sent me these adorable personalized black kitty stitchmarkers from Wee Ones. I love them! You should really go check out Wee Ones – she has more cats, penguins, sheep, dogs… Thank you so much, KnitNana! (She also sent some homegrown… catnip… but that’s a post for another day.) (The photos are most excellent.)

No, you don’t get caption commentary from black cat stitchmarkers!

Remember last week when I mentioned getting a little distracted over at etsy? I picked up two black cat-themed pouches and a black cat key fob from bagladiesinpa, and she threw in a matching black cat hair fastener for being a return customer! Awww…

“Big kitty, you better get over here! There are an awful lot of black kitties… Should we be worried?” -Mayhem

“I think it’ll be ok, May… unless you steal that hair fastener. Bet that’ll get Mom shrieking at us again.” -Chaos

“But it’s so cute! I can’t help myself!” -Mayhem

Alongs, Contests, Randonymity, Reading

A contest of dubious value (along with some perfectly fine contests, a swap, and more!)

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Running a bit late today, aren’t I? I wrote my post Monday evening as per usual, but when I got to work this morning (where I proof and publish), our building didn’t have any power. After two hours, we were sent home – something about 20 transformers being down. Glad to be home in the air conditioning, because it’s going to be a hot and sticky day in the Twin Cities.

Anyway! At the end of May, I dyed a lot of yarn, most of which was destined to be gifted to various knitbloggers during my vacation. However, one very pretty skein of sock yarn (the blue and black skein in the previous link) was unable to fulfill that destiny due to an extremely unfortunate accident. (Well, I saw it as an accident. For Mayhem, it was an intent.) When that blue and black yarn was hanging in the bathroom drying, I heard a mysterious soft “thwoomp” from the bathroom. By the time I realized I should probably investigate that sound, it was too late – May had pulled down the yarn and her sharp teeth were snickity-snicking through a number of the strands, turning the skein from “Blueberry” to “Biteberry.”

“Enough with the accusations. Would I do something like that?! Look at how sweet and cute I am!” -Mayhem

This yarn needs a very special home. If you think you can provide that home and not mind dealing with the additional 12 or so ends that Mayhem created, please send an email to my contest line before 6 pm CDT Friday, July 20. (Hey, I said it was a somewhat dubious contest!) (Additional yarn vital stats – the base yarn in Kraemer Jeannie, a superwash wool and nylon blend. Prior to biting, there were around 470 yards.)

On to some less dubious contests – the Heathen Housewife is giving away a copy of Victorian Lace Today and a skein of laceweight yarn. Leave her a comment with your email address before 8 pm CDT, July 20.

Ruth is having a contest – in her comments, leave a link to your first and 100th blog posts, or if you don’t have a blog, to the blog post that really got you into reading blogs. Contest closes midnight MDT, July 20, and the prize will be yarn and “baubles.”

If you’re interested in dyeing and swapping sock yarn, there’s a hand-dyed sock yarn swap on swap-bot. Deadline to sign up is August 10 and deadline to send is September 30.

Reading Update
Love Bites by Lynsay Sands. Um, I can’t believe I actually read this. Paranormal romance at its most trashy and poorly written. You have been warned!
Thunderbird Falls and Coyote Dreams by C.E. Murphy. I enjoyed books two and three of the Walker Papers (about neophyte urban shaman and police officer Joanne Walker) as much as I did the first. Hopefully Ms. Murphy is busily writing, because I want to find out what happens next! (For those who are reading this series, there’s sort of a book 1.5 between Urban Shaman and Thunderbird Falls – the novella “Banshee Cries,” which can be found in Winter Moon.)
Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. The latest Hannah Swensen mystery is par for the course – kind of simplistic and contrived… but I keep reading them, maybe because they’re set in a fictitious Minnesota town.

Randonymity
Curious about what I got up to over the weekend? Miss T and Deb have documented the event very well! Thanks, Miss T!

The Guardian has an interesting article about splogs (spam blogs that steal content to generate ad dollars).

Some time ago, KnitNana sent me a postcard that reminded her of Chaos.

What do you think? Can you see a resemblance?

“Pooey on you, Mom. I am so much more handsome than that poser!” -Chaos

Randonymity, Tunes

Now with even more thank yous!

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I knew I had more thank yous to do! Here’s the previously mentioned cute stationery from Elspeth (thanks again, E!), although I’m not sure I’ll actually ever get to use it – Ms. Mayhem seems a bit proprietary about it, doesn’t she?

“Hey, I have a lot of letters to write if Mom ever gets out from under my feet and works from the office again.” -Mayhem

I won a prize over at Diva Knitting. Thanks, StitchDiva!

“Mmmmm… yarny yarn.” -Mayhem

KitKatKnit sent me some fun goodies. I haven’t tried A Piece of Vermont yarn before. She also sent me some cute stitchmarkers that she made (Chaos is apparently trying to steal the one with his name on it) and a very cute black kitty necklace. Thank you so much, KitKatKnit! How did you know that I was looking at those necklaces on vacation, but never found one that I liked?!

“Mmm… stitchmarkers.” -Chaos

“Mmm… glow sheep!” -Mayhem

Glow sheep? Yes indeed.

“It isn’t as flat as that other sheep, but it isn’t very lively, either. Do you think maybe it’s just too scared to move? I am scary.” -Mayhem

Finally, I participated in the Sound Swap that Jennie organized. I sent music and treats to Clare in the UK, and received music and treats from Raches in Australia. Raches sent me a great mix cd, some tea, a journal, self-patterning sock yarn, and incredibly lovely merino-cashmere sock yarn. YUM! Thank you, Raches!

“Hmm, I wonder if I should start keeping a diary? I wouldn’t want Mom or the big kitty to peek at it…” -Mayhem

Festing, Randonymity

Mimsical: An Estes tangent

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Ok, because I threatened to do it and because I got such fun pictures and quotes – allow me to present the unfettered Mim! (She requested in advance that no one tell her mom.)

“I bought a whole fucking fleece!”

“I love gin.”

Can you identify the other bloggers in the pictures below? (Edit: Curious what Mim’s doing? She’s spinning! And you can even see me in that video…)

“My ass wears pretty well, thank you very much!”

“My goodness. I wouldn’t have believed it if it wasn’t for the pictorial proof!” -Chaos

Contests, Randonymity, Reading

Feline groovy

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Rachael’s cat Digit returned after being long given up for dead! However, he requires surgery and a lot of other medical care, and Rachael and Lala don’t have that kind of money right now. So Rachael decided to have a raffle – donors to be entered in a drawing for one of three sweaters that Rachael knitted – one of which is from a Philosopher’s Wool kit. However, since enough money to cover Digit’s care was donated in the first 24 hours (knitbloggers really do rock), Rachael’s going to donate extra monies to the Milo Foundation and the Best Friends Animal Society. So if you’d still like to participate in the raffle, you can – the drawing will be July 7.

Reading Update
Three Junes by Julia Glass. My 6th TBR Challenge book, finished on the last possible day of June. Whew! I highly recommend this National Book Award winner.
Knockout Mouse: A Bill Damen Silicone Valley Mystery by James Calder. Bill Damen is a documentary filmmaker in Silicone Valley working on a publicity film for a biotechnology firm after the dot.com bust. This is the first book out of three (so far?) and I have the other two on reserve at the library.
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris. The latest Sookie Stackhouse book continues is a speedy and enjoyable read. I definitely like Sookie better than Anita Blake these days…

A Few More Things…
I’m a bit shocked at the blogging backlog I’ve developed – I need to post lots of thank yous for some wonderful gifts I’ve received, plus I haven’t even made it to the Estes Wool Market in my vacation narrative! So of course, I shall do neither of these things today. Instead, a few more things I purchased on vacation…

“Mom, you’re really sure that Vanna’s retiring and I’m in the running?” -Mayhem

“Because I’m not sure how I’d look in an evening dress…” -Mayhem

“One black kitty, two black kitties, three black kitties… Why are there so many more white kitties than black kitties on your new PJs, Mom?!” -Mayhem

“Hmm, you have a point there, Mayhem. Mom?!” -Chaos

“Mom? I’m waiting.” -Chaos

Contests, Randonymity

And I thought I bruised my credit card before…

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Check out the Summer Stash Swap (but hurry – you have to leave a sign-up comment by June 30!) – besides the swap and the blog, there will be prizes.

Julie’s having a blogiversary contest – leave her a comment with a name suggestion for her new bag pattern before midnight 6/30 and you could win some sock-related goodies!

Deb has some bonus pictures of Chaos and May!

Ok, due to overwhelming pressure (*cough*Marina*cough*), I shall not continue with my tale of reaching Estes (stay tuned for that next week). Instead, I present… the purchases.

From Estes, clockwise from May’s nose, a big ol’ hank of Interlacements rayon-linen in some very unChrislike colors (should be enough for a tank top – they print you a customized pattern right in the booth), a skein of variegated wool from Plain & Fancy Wool, a ball of amazingly soft black 5% cashmere/95% merino laceweight, two skeins of cormo/alpaca that I’m going to dye sometime when I am feeling very brave, two skeins of Brooks Farm Four Play (50% silk/50% wool) (they may become a contest prize someday!), two skeins of the Brooks Farm Acero sock yarn, and a pair of cute sheep socks. Whew!

“Is it safe?! That hank of yarn is bigger than me!” -Mayhem

Chaos was quite taken with the cormo/alpaca.

“Mmmm… smells sheepy and alpaca-y!” -Chaos

Some yarns from my yarn crawling with Kristi (who has great pictures of some of our adventures) – black Berroco Suede (half off!), Panda cotton, and Panda wool. (The Panda yarns make really yummy socks – stretchy, but nowhere near as thick as Fixation.)

“Hmm, where to start, where to start…” -Mayhem

A bit more yarn – top row (Opal) from My Sister Knits in Ft. Collins (Opal without a label is half off) and the bottom two skeins are Jojoland Melody Superwash from Colorful Yarns in Centennial.

“I think the pink suits me best, don’t you? Plus it looks especially tasty.” -Mayhem

I also stopped at the Brown Sheep outlet near Scottsbluff, Nebraska, during my travels. I bought a few pounds of Cotton Fleece and Serendipity Tweed, a few skeins of Wildfoote, and a bit of Lamb’s Pride.

“Yowza! The other stuff must’ve been the appetizers – this sure looks like a main course.” -Mayhem

I also have a small weakness for bags and picked up a few of those along the way… Hmm, just realized that the laptop sleeve I purchased at the Sierra Trading Post outlet in Wyoming isn’t in that picture – well, it’s brown with black trim and light purple corduroy lining. (Edit: The bag on the far left is a Kavu Reversible Bag in black/lilac, now on clearance!)

No cats were interested in the bags.

You might have noticed that I’m a bit of a reader – here are the books that I purchased over vacation at various locations, including the Boulder Bookstore, High Crimes Mystery Bookshop, and Anthology Book Company.

“Good grief! Aren’t there already enough books stacked up around this place?!” -Chaos

“No kidding, big kitty. Pretty soon, between the books and the yarn, there won’t be room for us.” -Mayhem

“Hmph.” -Chaos and Mayhem

Randonymity

Redrum random!

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I left blog writing until too late last night, alas, and so didn’t get photos organized for my continuing vacation adventures (and purchases). This work thing – I am not quite used to it yet after vacation! So, let’s see what I found lurking in my photo folder, shall we? A-ha, here’s an Estes picture – anyone recognize it? 😉

 

Oh, and a few pictures of Chaos – shhhhhh… he looks sort of sleepy.