24
I took this survey a while ago thinking it was hysterical but today I think I could go all the way to 30! Who's in?
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Enchanted Atonement
As I recover from my cold flu bronchitis pneumonia Ebola plague, I've had a chance to rest on the sofa, consume copious amounts of my famous ginger, garlic Asian chicken soup and watch movies. So many movies that the 12 year old Blockbuster slacker felt possessed to inform me that I've spent $45.00 dollars this month and dude, for $19.99 you could rent all the movies you want! I hate being called Dude and hate being told I have no life in a roundabout way.
I have found delight in two films though during this epic sickness; one film that is in fact epic and the other sickeningly sweet. I speak of Enchanted and Atonement! First off, Atonement deserved the academy award it received. The film is amazingly photographed, it's cinematic beauty jumps right off the screen and James McAvoy is my new crush. God I hope he's over 30 otherwise my dirty old man period might be upon me. The film is a downer but worth the journey. It's about true love and that always gets me. I was doubtful. Every time I see Kiera Knightly I just want to force-feed her calories but she was remarkably good here. I hope she's really British because I couldn't understand half of what she said but the overall appeal of this film is unquestionable. The timeline is so unique and utterly captivating from the moment the downhill spiral begins.
The second film that I must comment on is Enchanted - a Disney extravaganza that I know I will get some heat about! There's singing, dancing, big musical numbers, talking animals (which usually freaks me out but that's another post), classic gags based on all the Disney films and Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden. James Marsden never really did anything for me but when I saw him in 27 Dresses (yes, a chick flick, I can't help myself), he was adorable and pretty sexy. He too brings out the dirty old man fears but this too shall pass. He wears tights and acts like a buffoon but he carries a big sword and wears a blouse that rivals most 1980's wedding dresses (poofy sleeves and all)!
In the midst of all this movie wathcing, knitting has been very slow but I've been researching a very special knit for friends having their first child. I'm more excited than Princess Giselle when she wakes from her poisoned apple coma to find her one true love...but I digress. I've decided on a blanket, doily lace pattern in worsted weight yarn as these friends are not the type for christening gown style knits instead a modern interpretation on a classic.
Otherwise, send wishes of wellness and Happy Spring, Easter or whatever's in vogue to celebrate these days!
He's 35, I looked it up!
I have found delight in two films though during this epic sickness; one film that is in fact epic and the other sickeningly sweet. I speak of Enchanted and Atonement! First off, Atonement deserved the academy award it received. The film is amazingly photographed, it's cinematic beauty jumps right off the screen and James McAvoy is my new crush. God I hope he's over 30 otherwise my dirty old man period might be upon me. The film is a downer but worth the journey. It's about true love and that always gets me. I was doubtful. Every time I see Kiera Knightly I just want to force-feed her calories but she was remarkably good here. I hope she's really British because I couldn't understand half of what she said but the overall appeal of this film is unquestionable. The timeline is so unique and utterly captivating from the moment the downhill spiral begins.
The second film that I must comment on is Enchanted - a Disney extravaganza that I know I will get some heat about! There's singing, dancing, big musical numbers, talking animals (which usually freaks me out but that's another post), classic gags based on all the Disney films and Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden. James Marsden never really did anything for me but when I saw him in 27 Dresses (yes, a chick flick, I can't help myself), he was adorable and pretty sexy. He too brings out the dirty old man fears but this too shall pass. He wears tights and acts like a buffoon but he carries a big sword and wears a blouse that rivals most 1980's wedding dresses (poofy sleeves and all)!
In the midst of all this movie wathcing, knitting has been very slow but I've been researching a very special knit for friends having their first child. I'm more excited than Princess Giselle when she wakes from her poisoned apple coma to find her one true love...but I digress. I've decided on a blanket, doily lace pattern in worsted weight yarn as these friends are not the type for christening gown style knits instead a modern interpretation on a classic.
Otherwise, send wishes of wellness and Happy Spring, Easter or whatever's in vogue to celebrate these days!
He's 35, I looked it up!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Birds in Paradise
On my recent vacation, I laid in the sun, read an entire novel, drove a moped and a a jet ski, dined with old friends, had several massages and took at least one nap per day. It was delightful. You say, no knitting? Of course, there was knitting as well and a visit to Knit Wits of Key West.
It's a lovely yarn store considering it's in the tropics. They have a nice selection of yarns and have a warm and inviting staff. From the moment I walked in to the moment I left, I never once got that "why is this man in my yarn store vibe". They were gracious, interested in what I was knitting and helpful in selecting yarn and a pattern. But that purchase must remain a secret ... for a while. If you're visiting Key West, be sure to stop in and visit the only knitting store in the Keys. For those who knit, Knit Wits is a welcomed addition. I was told that prior to their opening, knitters could only purchase yarn on the internet or drive 3 hours to the closest yarn store. And I thought my 1/2 hour drive was a burden.
It was a great week and I even made some time to make some new friends.
For those who know me well, I detest birds having once been attacked by seagulls trying to carry a burger and fries back to our spot on the beach and the drama that ensued around the entire event. My ex always found humor in this story retelling it at any opportunity. In my process of expansion; body, mind and soul, I decided to embrace the beast and mingle with our feathered friends while on vacation. As fate would have it, I received a picture message from my ex of a seagull who had obviously perched himself very close to him on a beach 3,000 miles away from me and he was possessed to take a quick phone/camera shot and send it to me as a goof.
In an effort to not over-analyze, I opted to know that true spirits are always together, if not in body, always in spirit. In that very moment; I was happy, zinc oxide on my nose, sun on my face and the breeze blowing through my shirt (sans undershirt, another unheard of event for those who know me) in the wind off the Gulf. All with some ugly bird not 5 feet away from me and his twin in my phone. Astonishing! I had a rum colada daquiri strawberry punch cocktail piece of heaven with an umbrella and twirly straw in it and toasted all the birds of the world. What shall I name my new parakeet?
It's a lovely yarn store considering it's in the tropics. They have a nice selection of yarns and have a warm and inviting staff. From the moment I walked in to the moment I left, I never once got that "why is this man in my yarn store vibe". They were gracious, interested in what I was knitting and helpful in selecting yarn and a pattern. But that purchase must remain a secret ... for a while. If you're visiting Key West, be sure to stop in and visit the only knitting store in the Keys. For those who knit, Knit Wits is a welcomed addition. I was told that prior to their opening, knitters could only purchase yarn on the internet or drive 3 hours to the closest yarn store. And I thought my 1/2 hour drive was a burden.
It was a great week and I even made some time to make some new friends.
For those who know me well, I detest birds having once been attacked by seagulls trying to carry a burger and fries back to our spot on the beach and the drama that ensued around the entire event. My ex always found humor in this story retelling it at any opportunity. In my process of expansion; body, mind and soul, I decided to embrace the beast and mingle with our feathered friends while on vacation. As fate would have it, I received a picture message from my ex of a seagull who had obviously perched himself very close to him on a beach 3,000 miles away from me and he was possessed to take a quick phone/camera shot and send it to me as a goof.
In an effort to not over-analyze, I opted to know that true spirits are always together, if not in body, always in spirit. In that very moment; I was happy, zinc oxide on my nose, sun on my face and the breeze blowing through my shirt (sans undershirt, another unheard of event for those who know me) in the wind off the Gulf. All with some ugly bird not 5 feet away from me and his twin in my phone. Astonishing! I had a rum colada daquiri strawberry punch cocktail piece of heaven with an umbrella and twirly straw in it and toasted all the birds of the world. What shall I name my new parakeet?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Boom Boom Boom in my Room!
I started the day with a man-made phenomenon and am ready for bed watching a natural one.
As I lay in bed this morning, watching Mr. Pelican take his AM douche (no I'm not being vulgar, just busy listening to my french DVDs) in the fountain outside my bedroom window, I heard the most incredible sound! The sonic BOOM AND BOOM AGAIN of the space shuttle entering the Florida atmosphere. It was an incredible sound and shook the entire building. Everything stopped for a split second, the pelican froze as did I. My first reaction was, "what the hell are they doing upstairs?" and then I realized no 30-something couple made the noise I had just heard. Incredible and totally out of this world, pun intended!
I came home and settled in for the Lunar Eclipse (no Bonnie Tyler pun, sorry - one pun per post). Yes, my photos suck, what can I tell you? It's a point & shoot digital camera and I was trying to capture an image that is 30 times the earth's diameter away. Cut me some slack, okay? Everyone was outside taking photos. I took just 5 and parked my ass in my beach chair outside my front door and enjoyed the show (insert gin & tonic here). Everyone was grumbling that they couldn't get a good shot. That would have been me a while ago but tonight I just enjoyed the moment. Way cool!
Outstanding stuff today and very glad to be here! I say I top off the evening with a purchase from QVC and I may soil myself!
As I lay in bed this morning, watching Mr. Pelican take his AM douche (no I'm not being vulgar, just busy listening to my french DVDs) in the fountain outside my bedroom window, I heard the most incredible sound! The sonic BOOM AND BOOM AGAIN of the space shuttle entering the Florida atmosphere. It was an incredible sound and shook the entire building. Everything stopped for a split second, the pelican froze as did I. My first reaction was, "what the hell are they doing upstairs?" and then I realized no 30-something couple made the noise I had just heard. Incredible and totally out of this world, pun intended!
I came home and settled in for the Lunar Eclipse (no Bonnie Tyler pun, sorry - one pun per post). Yes, my photos suck, what can I tell you? It's a point & shoot digital camera and I was trying to capture an image that is 30 times the earth's diameter away. Cut me some slack, okay? Everyone was outside taking photos. I took just 5 and parked my ass in my beach chair outside my front door and enjoyed the show (insert gin & tonic here). Everyone was grumbling that they couldn't get a good shot. That would have been me a while ago but tonight I just enjoyed the moment. Way cool!
Outstanding stuff today and very glad to be here! I say I top off the evening with a purchase from QVC and I may soil myself!
Friday, February 8, 2008
A Little Action in Florida!
Sweater Action that is! I finally finished the baby sweater started last year. I decided that it had to be completed if the child would ever have a chance to wear it. It was knit for a 12-month size and it was started almost a year ago ... so you do the math!
The pattern was very simple. It was an all knit stitch but I'd never carried a color from row to row and learned a little something about it. It's a bitch when you go to put the garment together. In the end, I sent it to the finisher and even she couldn't perfect all of my carry mistakes. But in the end, I loved the color mix and the buttons were the perfect find. They're tiny little airplanes in the exact colors of the yarn. I love when that happens!
An FO and two posts in a week - a new knitguyla milestone!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Alive & Kicking!
Thank you everyone who emailed me to see if I was okay - most appreciated! I've been nesting, getting used to the new place. Here's a little shot of the view from my bedroom window. It's lovely, the lake is serene and the light is fantastic in the morning. For those of you who know me well, I'm not much for morning light but hey, old dogs can learn new tricks.
Yes, I celebrated my Blogiversary in style by not posting nor celebrating with some witty quip about the passage of time. It's a blog, deal and yes, it's one year old.
In honor of that, I'll be posting some FO's very soon. I'd prefer the recipient receive it first, you know the drill.
And I'm pleased to say I'm knitting again. My new knitting chair, affixed with perfect lighting has finally been set up at the perfect angle to my new big TV. Netflix arrives regularly and the two have become lover and best friend. I love the space and find myself communing with nature more regularly, knitting outdoors; on the lanai. The Florida version of a porch or patio. The lizards get in occasionally but I'm learning to co-exist.
I trust everyone is enjoying the Winter. Florida has no Winter, don't let them fool you. It's just plain hot all year round, just really hot in Summer.
My parents and the other 2 billion senior citizens have arrived in Florida, escaping the cold weather from other parts of the country. They drive slow or Mario Andretti fast and haven't got a clue what the rules of the road are since their roadtests were on Model T's in the roaring 20's. We get out of their way quickly and accept that the Grand Marquis are like locusts that come more frequently than once every 20 years!
Thanks again for all the well wishes. I'll be hanging around more regularly -- promise!
Yes, I celebrated my Blogiversary in style by not posting nor celebrating with some witty quip about the passage of time. It's a blog, deal and yes, it's one year old.
In honor of that, I'll be posting some FO's very soon. I'd prefer the recipient receive it first, you know the drill.
And I'm pleased to say I'm knitting again. My new knitting chair, affixed with perfect lighting has finally been set up at the perfect angle to my new big TV. Netflix arrives regularly and the two have become lover and best friend. I love the space and find myself communing with nature more regularly, knitting outdoors; on the lanai. The Florida version of a porch or patio. The lizards get in occasionally but I'm learning to co-exist.
I trust everyone is enjoying the Winter. Florida has no Winter, don't let them fool you. It's just plain hot all year round, just really hot in Summer.
My parents and the other 2 billion senior citizens have arrived in Florida, escaping the cold weather from other parts of the country. They drive slow or Mario Andretti fast and haven't got a clue what the rules of the road are since their roadtests were on Model T's in the roaring 20's. We get out of their way quickly and accept that the Grand Marquis are like locusts that come more frequently than once every 20 years!
Thanks again for all the well wishes. I'll be hanging around more regularly -- promise!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
I like Foamy!
I don't even know who Foamy is but my friend WoolGatherer posted this little guy and I had to spread the cheer! It's great with all the nonsensical talk these days about taking Jesus out of Christmas so more people can celebrate the season!
Last week I attended a Holiday party thrown by a jew. He had a Multicultural tree and served a ham with challah bread. I'm not even trying to figure that out - and thanks to Foamy I don't have to. Merry Christmas.
Last week I attended a Holiday party thrown by a jew. He had a Multicultural tree and served a ham with challah bread. I'm not even trying to figure that out - and thanks to Foamy I don't have to. Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Embrace Yourself
Today I made three purchases and I can't tell you which one I prefer the most. Of course, first chance I had I headed over to Idle Hours and picked up the new Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts edition.
Jared, of Brooklyn Tweed fame has an amazing cabled hat pattern in it. I've never knit a cabled project and I think this hat is the perfect way to start. What does one do with a cabled hat in Florida though? Play your cards right and it could be yours! The hat is modelled by a woman in the mag but I think a man could wear it, do you? Check it out here on Jared's blog.
After the dry cleaner and bank, I headed over to Lowe's to pick up this puppy and boy have I embraced my guy side.
This baby has 2.5 horsepower but man can it suck up glass. It's amazing -- I was tempted to bust the other sliding glass door just to keep using the damn thing. They ought to make vacuum cleaners with this kind of power. You could vacuum the whole house in 5 minutes. I shop vac'd until there was no more glass and like all good things, I wanted a cigarette afterwards, it was that good!
Perusing the bins at Barnes and Noble, I came across this on the bargain table.
How could I resist it? Three professional jugging balls and a beautifully photographed instruction booklet. Everyone wants to learn to juggle as a kid. And as an overly-serious adult in recent years, I've discovered it's time to embrace the silly side of life. I'm not juggling responsibilities anymore, I'm juggling balls!
Jared, of Brooklyn Tweed fame has an amazing cabled hat pattern in it. I've never knit a cabled project and I think this hat is the perfect way to start. What does one do with a cabled hat in Florida though? Play your cards right and it could be yours! The hat is modelled by a woman in the mag but I think a man could wear it, do you? Check it out here on Jared's blog.
After the dry cleaner and bank, I headed over to Lowe's to pick up this puppy and boy have I embraced my guy side.
This baby has 2.5 horsepower but man can it suck up glass. It's amazing -- I was tempted to bust the other sliding glass door just to keep using the damn thing. They ought to make vacuum cleaners with this kind of power. You could vacuum the whole house in 5 minutes. I shop vac'd until there was no more glass and like all good things, I wanted a cigarette afterwards, it was that good!
Perusing the bins at Barnes and Noble, I came across this on the bargain table.
How could I resist it? Three professional jugging balls and a beautifully photographed instruction booklet. Everyone wants to learn to juggle as a kid. And as an overly-serious adult in recent years, I've discovered it's time to embrace the silly side of life. I'm not juggling responsibilities anymore, I'm juggling balls!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
One Good Deed Deserve Another - NOT!
So I spent the last 2 days taking care of a friend recovering from elective surgery. I hauled my butt to St. Petersburg, drove her to the hospital, changed surgical drains, bloody gauze, cooked and woke up every 2 hours to express icky gunk from science fiction tubes popping out of a human body. I know, enough, but when you love someone you do what you have to do.
So I drove home, went to work and on the way home, got rear ended (a little damage and yes, I'm okay - only shaky) to come home to a shattered glass door. No reason, nothing fell on it but it cracked into a million pieces and waited for me to arrive home for its crescendo finish to the floor.
I've always said and now I believe it even more that all things that can be fixed with time and/or money mean nothing! So I'll call the insurance company tomorrow and sweep up the mess. The mess, perhaps symbolic of my life could have got me down. Instead, I believe that striving forward, moving towards my personal center will always have a few bumps in the road.
Happy Wednesday! - the new joe
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