It's not just International Pajama Day, it's SUPER International Pajama Day. This sort of thing reminds me of Talk Like a Pirate Day but this is right up my alley. I love pj's, I adore staying in them all day long and lately, I especially enjoy going to the supermarket in them ... and dark glasses. Hey, I'm lazy not crazy!

So, if you're so inclined and don't have to work like me, feel free to enjoy. I know I would. The best I can do is sport a spiffy pair of undies. That'll have to do until Wednesday! Happy Sunday and Happy Super International Pajama Day!

Just do it, you know you want to!

It's a Bird, Its a Plane...

Actually, it's just a big hat and yesterday it was ready for felting. First. I made a quick trip to Goodwill for a pair of old jeans. The instructions indicated tennis balls or old jeans for agitation. Check.

The instructions also indicated a zippered pillowcase to prevent washer damage. Bed Bath & Beyond. Check.

The last bit of the instructions that I followed before completely abandoning the entire instructional manual was to wash for 2-3 minutes and with that stitch definition would disappear and the entire piece would shrink to desired size. Well .... 30 minutes later and 3 wash cycles, I took it out of the washer. I decided to let it dry overnight and see what developed. It got drier but no discernible changes took place. I wish you could really see the colors in it, it's beautiful.

I liked it so much I took it for a little walk. Yes, I am that crazy guy in your neighborhood walking around unshowered taking pictures of a bowl. Life's rich, eh? But when we got home and I put it on the nightstand, I couldn't help but think that it's still too big.

Can you re-felt? Can you over-felt? From my comfy chair on the lanai, I can hear the washer going full throttle. I'm thinking 2 more minutes, you?

Prayers for Bobby

Tonight I watched Prayers for Bobby on Lifetime. If you don't know Bobby & Mary Griffith's story, click on the image.

I don't think this television movie will win any major awards but its message is so important, everyone should watch it. I will probably never be a parent but I know that many of you are. If nothing else, this film will remind you that your children are always listening. They hear every word you say -- your commentary on the news, your remarks about a passerby, your feelings about someone else's child, the neighbor ladies and their new baby and even your tolerated [whisper] gay relatives. If you think it doesn't affect them and the choices they may make, you're wrong.

["Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey).
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth who come from a rejecting family are up to nine times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (2007 San Francisco State University Chavez Center Institute)."]

The film is sometimes simplified in its dialouge and most definitely edited by Lifetime's standards vs. a feature film but its message is clear and resoundingly critical in light of these statistics.

It made me cry and forced me to put a mirror up to my own youth. One I've long since forgotten. I often joke that I blocked out most of my childhood and without my sister's memory, I'd have few childhood memories. I may not be proud to share that with you or consider it ideal ... but at least I'm here to tell you.

Let every word empower everyone you love.

I'm sure to screw up the washer...

but I've decided to felt something! After all, I proclaimed 2009 to be the 'Year of the Felting' and I have so much Cascade 220 there's few options. It's not that exciting a project but it's a practice felt as I've always wanted to make felted slippers. I'm enjoying it and I love the color mix! It's been forever since I used double-pointed needles. It's a quiet and slow day around casa knitguyla. It's warm again, perfect 70 degrees and the sun is simply brilliant today which is not helping a certain someone who had a little too much to drink last night. In hat and dark glasses I ventured out to the store to pick up all the essentials: chocolate milk, Milano cookies, Gatorade, bacon and a sundry of other fattening and greasy staples to nurse a hangover -- my first in more than several years.

It's already late in the day and I've accomplished nothing but vegetate on the couch and watch Love Valour Compassion twice on a really old VHS tape. If you haven't seen it lately, I recommend it entirely. It's one of my favorites and brings me right back to a sea of fond memories and a wonderful time in my life.

I'm so glad I took the day off from work to get some chores done. All the same, it's turned into quite a relaxing and enjoyable afternoon.

Beginnings & Ending...

I want to know why I don't get the same stitch definition as the authors of projects like this dishcloth? It's a simple design, a mixture of knits and purls that I'm calling "Home Sweet Home". What do you think?

- Am I simply not as good a knitter?
- Is there some blocking trick I missed along the way?
- Is it all an illusion of photography, skills I obviously do not possess?
- Do I need a better camera?
Anyway, the color is so much fun and it's super useful in the kitchen. I'm totally keeping it for myself. It only took a few hours but I'll use it all the time. I don't know why I was such a snob about dishcloths, they're a blast! And if nothing else, I finished something, anything. My 2009 mantra, I will finish all projects. I found this pattern over at MenWhoKnit. I recently joined but haven't really jumped into the action. I'm still finding my way around. Elemmaciltur is one of the men there and one hell of a knitter. He knit this number as his last in 2008 so I decided to make it
my first in 2009. Who knows, his talent may rub off on me.
An hour ago, these little pods of yarn were an awful afghan that I knit a million years ago. It was a basketweave pattern in multiple colors of double strands of yarn. At the time, I thought it was creative. It was a mess and I finally got tired of carrying around half a project that would never be finished. Now I have more Cascade 220 in multiple colors to last a lifetime. I think 2009 may be the year of the felting! I'll keep you posted.

You can find the dishcloth pattern and a few others at Kris' blog. She's a talented knitter and has a lovely website. And while you're there, check out her photos and stitch definition. errrr.

I hope you had an enjoyable Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the best Inauguration Day ever!

Can I really...

post to my blog from my phone?

Testing 123!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Edit: That's incredible! This could be deadly.

Television & Knitting.

Before we get to television, specifically The Biggest Loser, let's all congratulate Brett. He knows his booze and now he's sock yarn richer. Congratulations again Brett! The yarn will be on its way to you early next week and if it matters, I wear a size 8 shoe. ;-)

As for The Biggest Loser, I can only recommend NOT knitting while watching this program.

Announcer: Amber, if you lose 80 lbs. you can take 1st place and not fall below the yellow line. When we started the competition you weighed 403 pounds, your weight tonight is 351 pounds. You lost 52 pounds for a total percentage of weight loss of.... Numbers, numbers everywhere and all the while trying to count a row ... k1, pl, k13, p403 k2tog, k351, p1. [SCREAMS FREAKISHLY AT TELEVISION].

Anyway, no harm done and my quick knit project is well underway. It'll be on the needles for a day or two so we'll save the photo for the finish!

Hey, my two-year blogiversary was on 12/25. I never remember that but an excellent reason for a visit from Madame!

I'm in love again....and giving away sock yarn!

I can't believe no one recognized my lady friend (actually I'm not surprised at all)so I'll give you a few hints and divulge the fact that if you guess who this fair maiden is, you'll be the lucky recipient of sock yarn.

Hint 1: People all over the world celebrate New Year's Eve with her and sometimes special occasions.

Hint 2: She was real but is now dead.

Hint 3: I'd have her every chance I get but I'd fall over, fall asleep or fall from grace at work.

Any ideas?

And I can't tell you how excited I am to have Ed join the fray. He's a tech genius and an amazing spinner, knitter and entrepreneur.


Recognize my new love and you win! Happy New Year!!