Randomly Generated

Using a random integer generator, I chose a page number and photo number out of my Flickr gallery. The page number is 26, and the photo number is 9. Soooo, let's see what that brings up.


I remember this bento well. I had made it shortly after making Brown Eyed Susan cookies. The gyoza were just frozen ones I steamed and put atop a bed of rice and furikake. Add some edamame, spinach, tomatoes, and koala cookies and you have a tasty lunch. I also happened to have some Ramune too. I need to start making bento again. I ate healthier when I had bento, and I definitely ate less.

Random Asshattery

I'm walking in downtown Flagstaff, back to my office. See, I had forgotten to pack a lunch, so I walked 2 blocks over to the local Pita Pit (tasty place, I must say). I usually bring my food back to the office because I have no one to eat with... and I usually don't like sitting alone in a place. It's not so much a needy thing. I'm perfectly capable of going places independently. But it's more that I tend to stare at people, usually contemplating odd thoughts such as how much their head weighs, are those Mick Jagger's lips, etc. I get dirty looks. So I am heading back to the office with my soda and chips in purse, pita in hand. A strapping young man opens the garbage can in front of me. Then he sees me and asks me for money for lunch. I think, probably a college student. Guy doesn't look homeless or underfed. But I have no money on me. "No, sorry" I answer politely. Then the guy looks at my pita and asks "Do you want that?" ..... uh...... what? Do I want that? Apparently I would leave my desk and walk 2 blocks and pay some money for something I didn't want... something that I might throw in the very trash can he was looking in? WTF? I kind of gave him a weird look and walked onward, mumbling to myself about what kind of bullshit question was that?

Wedding Blues

Today I've been pretty cranky, as far as crankiness goes. I have been working like crazy on my wedding shawl, and apparently caused a lovely case of tendinitis in my right arm. I drank some Pain-Go-Bye-Bye Juice though, and I'm in the mood for blogging.

It's been awhile... much longer than I like to have in between posts. But there's a good reason. Several actually. After the last post, classes picked up a helluva lot and then of course finals hit. During all of this I'm planning a wedding, attempting to find a job, failing at keeping my home clean, and pretty much completely losing my mind. Immediately after finals were over, I started a Philosophy class entitled PHI 105: Introduction to Bullshit*. As of this writing, that class is over and I have survived. I start another class on Monday though, so the saga continues.

In wedding news, I managed to hand-make 50 invitations and send them out. That may not sound like much, but when you consider that, on the invitation inserts alone, I rubber-stamped a flower 250 times... well you get the idea. Here are a few lovely photos:

and

As for general crafting, I've done pretty much jack. Too stressed and too tired to really settle down to all the projects calling to me from the Unfinished Crafts Closet of Shame. Someday, my pretties. Someday.

And of course, for your random gratification, a cat photo:

*ok not really, but it sure felt like it

Survey says!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love to knit with merino, and soft wool blends. Anything that is so soft that it induces fondling. I fondle my yarn people. I HATE red heart. It's such a scratchy yarn, its awful. Oh, and chenille. @#$&*%! chenille. Soft and cushy yes, but a bitch and a half to knit with.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a couple needle rolls, one for straights, and one for DPNs and circulars.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting a couple years now. Taught myself everything, from reading books and online tutorials. I'm intermediate. I'm not afraid to try anything, the only thing that defeats me are long projects. Sweaters and garments have eluded me thus far.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
http://www.wists.com/halblingefrau

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I love the smell of real orange blossoms, but it tends to be too intense in its manufactured form. I also like patchouli, and this scented oil called "Egyptian Goddess." And just in case you're wondering, I do in fact shave my pits.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love sweets a bit too much. Chocolate is my vice over other types of sugar. Dark chocolate is best, but good quality milk chocolate is also appreciated. I have recently found an affinity for gummi Life Savers too.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew on a machine, and I'm teaching myself to crochet. I spin with a drop spindle, but I am salivating over the pretty Kromski wheels I've seen. I also stencil and make jewelry.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like a lot of music but I hate rap and R&B. Don't particularly like Country but there are some exceptions. I love old rock (Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd in particular), as well as some of the old 90s alternative bands.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I have a lot of browns and blues in my closet. I'm trying to branch out though. I'm told that rosy pinks and deep reds look good on me. I like black but usually don't dress in all black except when I'm trying to go a bit more formal. Pink is ok for me, but I like it paired with brown a lot more. I dislike yellow, pastels, and bright colors (eg. I prefer navy blue to royal blue, sage green to bright green, etc.).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my boyfriend and our 4 fur children... our cats. We have 2 boys and 2 girls and they are spoiled brats. I also have 2 gerbils and 2 fish tanks (one 30gal planted and one 2gal betta tank).

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I hate mittens but I will wear gloves. I like fingerless gloves a lot, since my computer is close to a drafty window. I used to not wear scarves until I started knitting. Now I love them, but only if they're soft. My neck is sensitive and itchy-ness is bad. Ponchos make me look like a barn... I generally avoid them. Hats are necessary here at 7500ft. and I wear them often, even in summer (ok, the real reason is that I have disobedient hair and it's easier to cover it up than try to fix it).

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to make fingerless gloves, hats, and I'm starting my first sock project (I've made felted slippers, but those are on huge needles and I don't consider them a "sock"). I don't particularly love scarves mostly because I get really tired of them about halfway through. I love to knit bags, as I am a bit of a purse-a-holic.

13. What are you knitting right now?
FuzzyFeet for my dad, socks for me, bag for me, scarf for friend.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Oh I love it. I love it as much as getting tools to MAKE handmade gifts. :)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I love circs and DPNs. I will knit on straights, but I prefer wood or the flexible Bryspun. I hate aluminum straights. They hurt my hands. I just ordered the KnitPicks Options set, but I wish it came with a 16" length. I guess I'll have to learn the magic loop technique.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have two swifts, one made by my dad. I have a notespinne, but I suck at hand winding. I want a ball winder for Christmas.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Longer than a year. I have a tank top out of microspun that is about 66% finished, but I just can't seem to pick it up again.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I LOVE halloween because I love spooky movies and stuff, but overall I love Christmas. I just love the cozy winter, the decorations, cookies, carols, etc. Plus the presents. I mean come on, everyone loves presents.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn (my stash is growing), boxes, interesting glass bottles, cool pens. I guess books too, I have literally almost a ton.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Gosh, I would just love some Lantern Moon needles.... pretty. I also absolutely love Addi Turbo circulars and bryspun DPNs. I would love some great books on socks, but I mostly already have the books I have coveted (manic spending spree on Amazon one night). I have no knitting magazine subs, however. I don't know which are good and interesting, and which are (what I call) obnoxious and pretentious. Any suggestions?

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'm trying to learn fair isle, and I would love to make a chullo. Getting better at lace would also be nice. I can read a pattern and all, but I have never had the patience to make anything large and lacy.

22. Are you a sock knitter?
I am just starting socks. I love handknit socks, but I'm not sure how I like knitting with 0's... it sure takes forever. Maybe I'd like it better if I did something other than just stockinette stitch the whole time. Booooring.

Weird

Today has been very strange. For some reason I didn't hear my alarm this morning and slept through two classes. Then, as I went to my car, I discovered someone had written "I love cats" and other such silly things in glass chalk on my windows (eventually found out who it was). My third class (computer lab) gets cancelled, The Boy's cell phone goes into no-signal-land for awhile, and I dropped a cordless phone on my foot while shopping for such items. Now it's 10pm, and the doorbell rings. No one is there, but there is a book about cats and a Jelly Belly gummi rat on my doorstep. Is today Freak-Out-Mary-Day? Because it's working. I mean, yeah I love gummi rats, but still, this is too weird.

I don't know why....

... but this made me happy today.