Damn You iTunes!

Well, I just did some more impulse shopping at iTunes.

Purchased Songs:
Biochemical Equation - MF Doom, RZA & Think Different iTunes
I Hope (Katrina Charity Version) - Dixie Chicks iTunes

Purchased Albums (I know I just dated myself):
Third Degree / Confidence / Global Dynamics EP - Dilated Peoples iTunes
Schla Demos - The Schla La Las iTunes
Essentially Naked - Bif Naked iTunes Amazon
Over and Over - The 88 iTunes Amazon

And this is after I took stuff out of my cart! I still really want to go back and get the Roadrunner Records 25th (iTunes) but I'm trying to pretend like a have a modicum of self control.

Ever notice how my posts seem to get more and more links when I'm supposed to be doing my homework? At least I locked my knitting in my trunk so I couldn't get to it.

Dooced

Remember when Sarah got fired from her job for posting about it on her blog? Who knew that there was actually a term in our vernacular to describe it? I present to you dooced. Man, I love Urban Dictionary.

On an unrelated note it drives me crazy that when I spell check my posts the dictionary that Blogger uses doesn't recognize the word blog.

Fo Shizzle My Nizzle

What, No Steve Jobs?

I found this quiz on Margot's blog and of course had to take it. I actually did it a couple of times to see what other options were out there but I only found Kirk Cameron and John "Uncle Jessie" Stamos. *shiver*

My 80s Heartthrob Is

Bill Gates

Who's Your 80s Heartthrob?

A Girl's Best Friend

I finally started working on the Marilyn sweater this Saturday. I know what the girls over at You Knit What said but I already bought the expensive yarn and have to do it. I may enlist the help of Jess B or the other Emily S to help me rework the collar - I'm thinking a cowl may be more flattering for those of us that can't see their toes.

Progress as of Sunday night? Two sleeves and a cable swatch as I've never knit any cables before.

Bastards

I had to turn on word verification for the comments. I know it's a pain in the ass but if I get one more comment about someone's debt consolidation blog I might scream.

Blech

Bill posted Weirdest Parasite Ever today...thanks a lot, Bill. Of course I had to read the page that he linked (yes it was stomach churning but it was also really interesting) and this particular genius of adaptability caught my eye.

The life cycle of the lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) goes as follows: adults inhabit cows or other grazers, releasing eggs that are spread in manure. When swallowed by scavenging snails, the eggs hatch and the parasites are eventually coughed up by the snail in balls of slime, which are then consumed by ants. Late in the evening as the temperature drops, infected ants experience an uncontrollable urge to wander from their colony, climb a blade of grass and attach to the tip by their jaws. The ants will remain in this position until accidentally eaten by a large, grazing mammal...beginning the cycle again.

The image belongs to these folks.

If You Like Preparedness Holla Back

Disaster . . . it can happen anywhere,
But we've got a few tips, so you can be prepared
For floods, tornadoes, or even a 'quake,
You've got to be ready - so your heart don't break.

Want some more of the FEMA For Kidz Rap? Check-check-check it out here.

Mmmm Nerdy

This pattern post is special for Ami the Red, my mostest favorite science nerd.

DNA Scarf

Stupefied

I know that the whole point over at You Knit What is to point out the horrendous, the ugly, the shameful in fiber but this leaves me absolutely speechless.

Who Am I?

I completely forgot to post my Secret Pal questionnaire to give my pal an idea of who I am and what I like. As a bonus it'll probably get rid of that creepy pic from Germany. If you already know me or just don't care, skip this post.


1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I don't really care what brand it is as long as it doesn't feel like sandpaper against my skin. That being said I do tend to gravitate toward more natural fibers.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Not yet but I'd love to learn to crochet.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
No

4. How long have you been knitting?
I learned when I was a kid and picked it p for a minute when I was pregnant but didn't become obsessive or really even very interested until about a year ago.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes but I don't think there's anything knitting related on there.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like lavender, I like Skin Trip coconut lotion because it reminds me of my mom when I was a kid. I tend to like darker scents, sagey, musky (not too musky!), sandalwoody, Nag Champa kind of smells.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, I like milk chocolate, almost anything with nuts, good coffee.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Well, after work, parenting, and homework the only DIY thing I can manage is dragging my ass to bed.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like everything, well everything that doesn't suck. But seriously Fear Factor to Common, Amiel to Emmy Lou Harris, Nikka Costa to Super Cat, Miles Davis to Stereolab - I like it all. Yes my computer can play MP3s.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
Orange is my favorite color but I don't think my own coloring lends to my being able to really wear it. What's the new black this season? Maybe that will be my new favorite! *snark* There aren't really colors I don't like except maybe dusty rose.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm single with a daughter who turns five on 18/9. We have 2 cats only one of which goes outside.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To be able to take naps, to not get so wrapped up in what I think I'm supposed to be doing that I miss out on my daughter's life, to be a super math nerd.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I don't know that I have a favorite; Lamb's Pride is probably what I use most often. They have some yard made out of bamboo at my LYS that seems soft I may try soon.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Eyelash was fun for a minute but I'm pretty much over that one. I'm not a fan of a lot of acrylic but I have come across yarn that was secretly* acrylic that I liked.

*I would have sworn that the yarn was a natural fiber but it was just undercover.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I've done two first socks and that's going well, winter is creeping up so hats will come back into the mix, I'd like to make a pair of gloves (for the first time) this winter and finally do a whole sweater. I always love to felt.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don't know

17. What are you knitting right now?
2 scarves, some socks and a hat.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I prefer wraps but some ponchos are nice.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
It depends on the job.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I use bamboo mostly but I do own both plastic and aluminum.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yes

22. How did you learn to knit?
Most recently I bought some books, ask my friend Jessica (who's been knitting since she was 5), and got together for a SnB at my house.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
I have a scarf I work on when I have no other projects, that one is probably 4 or 5 months old.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Hello Kitty is my favorite animated character. My favorite animals are frogs and octopuses (but realistic ones, not cartoony).

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Winter Solstice because we all get together to hang out, open gifts, and eat my mom's yummy grits for breakfast.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
I try not to do a ton of collecting because I have enough stuff but anything that catches my eye has the potential, I like dark woods, boxes, random trinkets from India, and I could go on and on, it's more about the item than the completion of or addition to a collection.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
My friend just got That Darn Yarn from her Secret Pal and it looks great. Last Minute Knitted Gifts looks interesting as does Weekend Knitting. Nicky Epstein seems to have some good books out. I also like the Yarn Girls and while I could go on forever, there's not anything I've been dying to get my hands on.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Not right now, the internet and one click shopping mean that my impulsiveness take care of that most times.

Gluttony For Knitters & Yarn Hoes

October 1st is a day to indulge!
First the Kaleidoscope Tent Sale from 9-2 Link
Next the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival from 10-5 (10-4 on the 2nd) Link
And to finish off the day, a knitting and pasta potluck at Margot's house!

Thank to Margot for her knitting mania email.

The iTunes 5 Announcement From the Perspective of an Anthropomorphized Brushed Metal User Interface Theme

A very funny post for my Mac nerd friends can be found at Daring Fireball.

Are You Serious?

"Despite this overdependence on Gulf Coast oil, Congress has thus far failed to open other regions of the country to new oil drilling, most notably the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the coast of California." Link
The new justification for drilling in the Arctic? Katrina. The excerpt is from the Human Events Weekly Wrap Up email I get. Before you start, yes I know it's a conservative right-wing organization and yes I intended to get the email regularly - you can't fight something about which you know nothing.
I probably shouldn't be surprised by this new argument for drilling in the arctic but I am. It seems so opportunistic - "Look people are freaked out, sad, overwhelmed and feeling helpless! Let's tell them that drilling in the Arcitc will be doing something positive for their country and all the victims of Katrina. See, they're not helpless." I know I'm over simplifying and that both sides of the aisle are opportunistic but this one just gets my goat (is that how that saying goes?).
Enough bitching for one Monday morning; I don't have to work and I'm going swimming! *brrrr*

We've heard from the bulk of my family and they've successfully made it to my aunt's house in Texas. I'm relieved and happy they're safe but also feeling extremely helpless and frustrated. I thought I was doing alright until I read DanZ's post at candleblog. This quote: The woman sobbed into the camera: "Don't think 'black', don't think 'poor', think 'trapped' ... think 'desperate'!" did me in, I started crying at work and had to take a minute.

What do we do? People at work are taking supplies to be shipped down and at CCV we're trying to collect $30,000 by next Friday. People have been really supportive. I'm totally overwhelmed and exhausted and then I feel like a selfish clod for being so.

My plan tonight is to go home and snuggle with my daughter. It will do her some good too, my 8 weeks were up yesterday and I took Elah with me to donate blood. We ended up being there for 2 hours and she was very patient and sweet. She could use a little relaxing down time.

News From Louisiana

A neighbor of my grandfather's got in touch with an aunt who lives in Texas who got in touch with my stepmother in California and my uncle in New York who both got in touch with me to let me know that my grandpa and the rest of my family are OK.

We originally thought it was only my grandpa and my Aunt Joanne that stayed in Slidell but my Uncle Billy, Aunt Carol, cousin Jennifer and Jennifer's daughter all stayed. According to the neighbor (who had a very bad phone connection and very little time), the house looks salvageable and everyone is alright.

I don't think I realized how tense I was until I knew they were OK. There's still a long road ahead, no electricity for at least 4 weeks, the plumbing's not working, etc. But if I know my granddad he'll stick it out in lieu of taking the easy way out. Hmmm, maybe that's where I get my stubbornness from.