Contests, Reading, Tales of the Neighborhood

4Paws gives cause to pause…

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Last week, I mentioned that Maryse was collecting afghan squares for an afghan for Elisa’s dad. Now Maryse is having a contest – anyone who sends her an afghan square by February 14 will be included in a prize drawing!

Ha – you think Chaos and May have had it bad with the bibs?! They shouldn’t complain – they could be wearing petal bibs.

Well, my experiment on Friday got a little out of hand, but it was a lot of fun – thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion! I’m definitely sticking with email responses to comments, but I will try to remember to also respond in the comments when appropriate.

Reading Update
Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff. Hard to beat the tagline: “They were supposed to be saving the world, not running a B&B where Hell was one of the guests…”
The Second Summoning (The Keeper’s Chronicles #2) by Tanya Huff. Still a good read, but not as over-the-top good as Summon the Keeper.
Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light by Tanya Huff. More well-written urban fantasy (set in Toronto) from Canadian Tanya Huff.
Sorcery and the Single Girl by Mindy Klasky. Librarian and novice witch Jane Madison returns in another enjoyable novel of paranormal chick lit.

Surreality Update
I apologize in advance for the blurry pictures you are about to view. Dim lighting and no tripod conspired to create a more surreal effect than I’d planned… Yesterday I happened to be in Calhoun Square before it opened and noticed 4Paws Boutique (no website that I found), which is a store for “the pampered pet.” I’d say!

“But did she bring any goodies home for us?! Nope. Hmph.” -Chaos

Don’t you think he’d be grateful that I didn’t bring him home a leopard print cat jacket with pink trim?!

Meta

The unexpected side effects of blogging

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Frarochvia noticed an important detail in one of yesterday’s pictures – an ASL book. Last night I started taking ASL classes through Minneapolis Community Education.

“Hey, big kitty, what does this mean in Kitty Sign Language (KSL)?” -Mayhem

“It means you’re smooshing my ear and cruising for a bruising, May!” -Chaos

ASL is one of those unexpected side effects of blogging. (Not making the connection yet? Read on!) Like many of you, I’ve developed a number of friendships through blogging and have met bloggers from the Twin Cities, from across the US, and from overseas. Spoken English has been the common language; however, it isn’t the common language of some deaf bloggers I very much hope to meet and spend time with: my dear friend Fraro, local Limedragon, and Tiphanie. I don’t want our meetings to consist of us typing frantically and staring at our computer screens – we already have that down without leaving our own living rooms.

So I’ve been inspired to go forth and learn ASL. And I find myself thinking about blogging and the direct benefits (connection! community! friendship! laughter and tears!) and some indirect benefits, such as this ASL class. What have the expected and unexpected benefits of blogging been for you? The direct and indirect benefits? I’m curious. This seems a great topic for discussion.

Speaking of discussion, recently, Deb aka Chappysmom wrote about a post she’d read on getting more blog comments by replying to comments via comments instead of via email. She was curious what we thought about it; a very interesting discussion subsequently developed in her comments as the author of the aforementioned post and others participated.

Now, I personally really like replying to comments via email because some great conversations and friendships get started that way. You know who you are! 😉 But since I’m curious to see what sort of discussion develops in the comments if I reply there and maybe some of you return a time or two to contribute additional thoughts to the discussion, I’m not going to reply to the emailed comments for this post. Nor am I going to reply to every single comment with a comment of my own. I’m just going to participate in the discussion, and I hope you will, too!

“Gee, I guess he wasn’t kidding about that one… Hey, what do you think this is the sign for in KSL? Maybe ‘Help?!!’ Or ‘Unpaw me, you wretch?!!'” -Mayhem

(Nope, they aren’t dusty or dirty – they are simply covered in catnip…)

Those Cats

Chaising around

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Aw, thanks to those who’ve included SoC in their lists of blogs that make their day – Karen, kmkat, and Chris, I’m blushing! 🙂

About a month ago, Jeanne sent me a link to something she thought Chaos, with his deep and abiding passion for cardboard scratchers, would really like – a SmartyKat CatChaise cardboard scratcher. (As Crazy Aunt Purl notes, you can’t find this $15 product on either the Target website, even though we each found this product at Target, or the company’s website.) (Of course, this small “chaise” scratcher turns out to be nothing compared to others I saw online… but Chaos and Mayhem will just have to live with the disappointment of not having a chaise that costs ten times as much as theirs!) Anyway…

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos

*sniff sniff sniff* – Mayhem

*sniff sniff sniff* -Chaos

“Mmm, it’s got nip on it, big kitty. You don’t mind if I stand on your head, do you?” -Mayhem

“Well, now that you mention it, May…” -Chaos

“…I do mind. This is my kitty chais scratcher doohickey! Mine!” -Chaos

“So you just keep on moving on there, missy, or I’ll take you out with my laser eye!” -Chaos

“Hmph.” -Mayhem

Contests, Those Cats

Shouldn’t she be weaned by now?!?

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Holly’s having a destashing contest –leave her a comment about your favorite fictional or autobiographical book and you could win some lovely laceweight mohair. Contest closes midnight PST, January 27.

Sallee’s having a contest to celebrate her blogiversary – leave her a comment explaining why you think she should select a particular color combination for a fair isle hat and you could win. Contest closes 5 pm EST, January 27.

Emily’s having her first baby and you can participate in the baby pool! Send your guess by February 8, 2008. Do not despair, you non-knitters out there – prizes will be “Regular” (for non-knitters) or “Extra Fiber” (for knitters). (And thanks to Emily for the link that proves there really is a kids’ book for everything!)

Maryse sent up the bat signal because Elisa needs our help. Her dad’s recuperating from a stroke in a VA hospital, with very little support from his family. Maryse is collecting 8″ afghan squares for an afghan to let Elisa’s dad know he hasn’t been forgotten.

Mayhem will be two years old at the end of May. Shouldn’t she be weaned by now?!

*purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr* -Mayhem

Let’s not even get into the biological impediments here…

“Let’s not. I love my kitten! Well, usually at least. Her teeth can be awfully sharp sometimes.” -Chaos

Contests, Knitting

In which I finish a pair of socks, bitter cold notwithstanding

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‘Tis the season for destashing! Wanda’s having a multipart yarn stash sale. Mouse is also starting a multipart stash sale – yesterday was fiber and novelty yarns.

It must also be the season for contests! Brace yourselves…

To celebrate her birthday, the Knit Witch is collecting embarassing stories – share your embarassing story with her by midnight EST, January 23, and you could win yarn or a yarn bowl.

Guess how many baby socks Diane knitted in the first 20 days of January and you could win some sock yarn! Contest closes at noon EST, January 25.

Ambermoggie’s having a contest to brighten up the dark winter days and to thank everyone for their good thoughts during Mr. Mogs’s cancer woes. Leave a comment about why you’re looking forward to spring and you could win some goodies (orange yarn, stitch markers, and an elemental figure). Contest closes January 26.

Phyl’s having a pet foot contest (The Central Park Footie) – send her a picture of your pet’s foot by 6 pm EST, January 27, and you could be eligible for sock yarn.

Whew!

Knitting Update
I know, I know – probably poor Marina’s fallen over in shock. 😉 I finally finished my plain old socks! The yarn is Wisdom Yarns, Marathon Socks – Boston (color 212), knit on 2mm needles. I love this colorway! Stripey blue, purple, and black – life is good.

“What? What do you mean, I’m not the subject of this photo?!” -Mayhem

“Fine, be that way. But I’m sure everyone will like the other photo better!” -Mayhem

Contests, Reading

She looks so innocent…

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Wendy’s having a contest – before 4 pm EST, January 22, send her an email guessing how the pictured sock was knit, and you could win a skein of Wollmeise.

Nikki is having a contest to celebrate her blogiversary, 200th post, and new WordPress blog! Simply leave her a comment by January 24 and you could win a fibery prize.

Dotty and Gladys are celebrating their blogiversary with a contest, too. To participate, leave them a comment with a link to a rectangular stole pattern by midnight PST, January 31.

Reading Update
Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Carrie Vaughn. Radio personality and werewolf Kitty returns for another solid installment in this series.
Crime Seen: A Pyschic Eye Mystery by Victoria Laurie. Psychic Abby Cooper is back in another light’n’fluffy mystery.
Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich. These old, reissued romances from Evanovich are trite and boring and not recommended (even though there are four black kittens at the end of the book).
Cybermancy by Kelly McCullough. This is the sequel to Webmage, which I recently read and enjoyed. Decent writing and a heck of a premise that mixes cyberpunk with Greek mythology make this a series I’ll continue reading. I think McCullough’s influences include Jim Butcher’s series about wizard Harry Dresden and Roger Zelazney’s Amber series (particularly Corwin).
Wolf Moon by Charles de Lint. This is an old one (1988) and definitely not as skillful or involving as more recent works. It isn’t Lint’s trademark urban fantasy, but it does put a nice twist on some some fantasy archetypes.
Promises To Keep by Charles de Lint. This Jilly Coppercorn story seemed awfully familiar to me – maybe just because it’s described as a prequel to Widdershins?
Old Man Crow by Charles de Lint. Is Joey Creel “a man dreaming he’s a crow, or crow dreaming he’s a man”?
Paste Magazine #39. Many thanks to Margene for turning me on to this magazine! Each issue comes with a sampler cd – what’s not to love about that?

Mayhem (literally) Update
Mayhem had a busy weekend. Saturday she extricated the FM antenna from its supposedly safe perch, then gnawed about six inches off of it (I don’t think she ingested any, fortunately). Sunday I woke up to the sound of her tipping over a heavy oak kitchen chair onto the tile floor and cracking the floor… Maybe she really does have cabin fever!

“Quit telling tales, Mom!” -Mayhem

“I can’t believe you’d fib about me like that. I can’t even look at you.” -Mayhem

“I am so disappointed in you. Obviously, if such things had even happened, the big kitty would’ve done them!” -Mayhem

Randonymity

Bracing for brrrrr!

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Valerie of Knitting in Pink has moved her blog because bloglines hasn’t been picking up her old blog for the past month or so. Stop by and visit her at her new location – and welcome to WordPress, Valerie! 🙂

Although I’m happy and productive (i.e., not slipping into SAD), I sure can’t come up with much of anything to blog about, beyond the fact that the high here on Saturday is going to be 0°F (no idea what the windchill will be). Knitting’s moving slowly. I have a project that’s keeping me busy while I’m at work. I moved the Feliway diffuser so it isn’t jammed behind the entertainment center; it seems to be diffusing now, although I haven’t noticed any changes yet. I bought a white noise machine for my downstairs neighbor, thanks to a suggestion from Michaele – hopefully that does the trick, eh?

Here’s another, more artistic bunny thumpers shot of Chaos. (Do you think it’s suitable for Playcat?)

“…zzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

“Mom said we can’t open the windows until spring. Do you think spring is tomorrow, big kitty?” -Mayhem

“…zzzzzzzzzzzz…” -Chaos

Contests, Those Cats

In which a cat is actually discovered on the cat bed

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Round one voting for the 2007 Canadian Blog Awards is now open! MamaTulip’s been nominated for Best Family Blog – head on over and vote for her before 11:59 PST, January 21. (Of course, the Yarn Harlot has been nominated for several categories, too, including Best Blog and Best Activities Blog.)

Deb (aka Chappysmom) is having a contest celebrating some blog milestones, including her three-year blogiversary.

Although I’m sure no one remembers, we do actually have a cat bed around here. Here’s a picture of Chaos at six months of age (around March of 2003) actually using the cat bed. If he tried that now, he’d have to be surgically removed from it…

Anyway, I haven’t seen a kitty in the cat bed in forever… until one day when I simply flipped it over, bottoms up.

“What?” -Mayhem

“Really, this isn’t exciting enough to merit paparazzi.” -Mayhem

“Although it does merit some stretching.” -Mayhem

“You’re making mer nervous, Mom. Is there something about this cat bed that I should know? Are you waiting for it to devour me or something?” -Mayhem

Contests, Randonymity, Reading, Viewing

Twitterpated Tuesday

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Cheryl’s decided to plan out her gift knitting for the year in order to both use stash yarn and not drive herself crazy with deadline knitting, so she’s starting Project Sanity. She’s looking for a cool button for Project Sanity – if you create one and email it to her by midnight EST, January 25, your button could win you a yarny prize.

Hey, things weren’t so bad for Chaos in his bib yesterday – Jeanne’s cats got stuck wearing preemie hats… (Hmm, come to think of it, it was Jeanne’s inspiration that led to Chaos’s modeling a strawberry hat nearly two years ago.)

Woo-hoo! I won a Golden Spork Award (Crafting/Creative category) for the second year in a row! Thanks, Tink! I am honored indeed.

Reading Update
Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, and Vicki Pettersson. If you’re a fan of Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, this collection contains a story about Rachel as a teenager. If you’re a fan of Pettersson’s Zodiac series, this collection contains a story about the mysterious Zoe Archer, mother of Joanna Archer.
Creation in Death by J.D. Robb. The latest Eve Dallas and Roarke mystery – same dependable stuff. Mmm… Roarke…
Key of Knowledge and Key of Valor by Nora Roberts. Books two and three in the Key Trilogy were enjoyable, if rather predictable.
Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky. What’s not to like about a chick lit novel with this opening line: “They don’t teach witchcraft in library school.”
Spring Break and Wedding Bell Blues by Charlotte Douglas. I’m continuing to read and enjoy this low-key series about Florida ex-cop and PI Maggie Skerritt.
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. I much enjoyed the newest Mercy Thompson novel – and not a vampire to be found, CarrieK! Briggs is a skilled writer of paranormal fiction, and I’m already looking forward to the next book. Now, if only the cover illustrator would read the books and realize that Mercy only has one tattoo…

Viewing Update
The Importance of Being Earnest This exceedingly silly movie based on Oscar Wilde’s play has an exceptional cast, including Colin Firth, Judi Dench, and Rupert Everett.

“Neener neener, big kitty! Do I look dumb enough to stick around when the bibs come out?!” -Mayhem

Art journaling, reading, knitting, and cat parenting. It's a wild life.