This is the end, beautiful friend

This is the end My only friend, the end Name that song and the group who sang it. This is my last post on Blogger. Thanks for the memories Blogger. I'll keep the site up here because I haven't been able to transfer all my posts over (such a Luddite) to WordPress. You are cordially invited to join me as I continue to blog about my exciting life here. Don't forget to add my new URL to your Bloglines. See ya later, alligator.

Wait, You're Giving Away Chocolate?

My girl Harriet turned us on to a contest. Nicole is giving away chocolate! Hello? Who cares if it's liquid. I've licked melted chocolate out of things before. I know you have too. Contest ends tonight at midnight. And don't forget the LimeDragon herself is having TWO contests!

I went to church and a knit group broke out

Mostly what's on the needles these days is prayers shawls. Maybe it's because the needles and yarn are thick and easy to work with or it's easy to hide mistakes. And because it feels good to help others. Like Kay, I wasn't feeling the lace love, so after twenty-five or so attempts, I decided to save lace until I could concentrate (in the afterlife?). And speaking of those lovely Mason-Dixon ladies, I even got a shout out today! It pays to remember your mother's advice. Because I'm so poor I can't even pay attention, I have three shawls on the needles now and am switching off to keep myself amused. I took my simplest one--a feather and fan pattern with me to hang out at church while I waited for my son's youth group to finish. Four ladies showed up, and I had yarn and needles for everyone. As I mentioned yesterday, the camera is AWOL, so I don't have pictures, but it was amazing to see ladies of all ages and experience join together for knitting, crocheting and conversation. It's a beautiful thing. Here's a picture of the basketweave shawl (it's a repeat I know; what can I say? I'm pathetic). And of course, gratuitous kitty pictures. Oh, and I was going to say here's a video of me knitting (definitely my nose), but I'm not sure I'd throw knitting needles away. I was thinking "frog the dress and repurpose!" How about you? Oh, and que pasa with Blogger and no spaces between paragraphs?

Censorship

Thanks for all your comments about how to import Blogger posts to WordPress. I found my way to the Import section and made all the correct clicks. And WP imported everything for two years up to the end of July. I think it doesn’t like the rest. Perhaps it’s not of a certain quality.

I have a huge learning curve--how to add all the bells and whistles that are eye candy for the attention deficit (like I am) or the links to shopping for the fiber addicted (like I am). If you have any suggestions about where to read, what to do, I'd be much obliged. And I'll post my new blog address when I have a little more figured out--still under construction at this point. Also I have made two posts in WP, and they are not sorting "newest post first." Any thoughts?

Help! I need somebody

Those of you who've made the move from Blogger, help! Did you move all your archived posts or just create a link back to Blogger?

Go ahead, make his day

My eleven-year old has created a blog. It would make his day, week, month if you visited and left him a comment. Thanks!

Once again I am persona non camera

(I probably just told you I eat raisins by the light of the moon, but after reading my last post, you will know that retention of language has ceased to be my forte.) When I find that @#$% camera that has gone missing AGAIN (where is my gingko biloba?), I will post pictures of the great yarn that Anne sent me. Thanks Anne! And the super cool D-backs merch that I won in Andi and baby (CUTE!) Kendra's contest. And Mama-E's rockin' fall socks club yarn. Pictures cannot do it justice. I want to eat it--it's that beautiful. Oh, and I can't forget, Blogless MJ (now not so blogless--but love the name), shared her mango shawl with me.

The only caveat is that I finish it. It's so beautiful. I hope I don't disappoint you MJ! Check out her blog; she's a knitting wonder--with Koigu no less! And I haven't forgotten my September ColorSwap package. I promise Valerie! I'm assembling it today and will post by the weekend. Oh, and while I'm at it, check out her totally awesome SOCK YARN STORE!!!!! Shop 'til you drop, knitters. She has Fleece Artist. And she has Regia Bamboo on sale. 'Nuff said. And you too, Chocolate Swap partner Marion from Estonia (how cool is that?). She is the most amazing knitter--knitting her friend a dress without a pattern. Wow. What's Estonian for "you rock"? Oh, wait, don't tell me because I'll forget. But tell my 2.3 readers--they would like to be able to drop Estonian words casually into conversation. And to answer a question posed awhile back by the anonymous S.N. "What is a Chibi?" Ah, the knitting jargon. I asked the same question not too long ago. The answer dear S.N. is this: "The Chibi is a jumbo darning needle set. It has a easy to handle case with a screw on cap and comes with two jumbo sized needles (other silver needles shown are DMC tapestry needles). The case keeps needles safe by helping to prevent accidents and misplacement.". Props to Merribee for the def.

File this under: Yes, I really WAS a language major. No, I'm not blonde under the red.

So the other day I commented to a guy that my daughter would really like his flame-covered sneakers. He said, "Yeah, El Fuegos." And I said, "Oh, I thought they were Converse." I'm still blushing.

Fun New Blog Jewelry

Think yarn and yarn accessories.

Resounding thanks! And a Contest.

Thanks so much for all of you that weighed in on the SKB survey. I will take all your suggestions into consideration--especially the ones that suggest a higher neckline. Maybe my SKB love will be requited yet, or I'll end up knitting it for my daughter who has a perfect pre-pubescent physique (then she'll spill ketchup on it). My sp8 girl Harriet is having not one but TWO contests! Go find her cute self in the Stitches postcard section and let her know and guess which pattern and which Opal Rainforest yarn she will be using to knit her next pair of socks. There are yarn prizes involved. This girl has seriously great yarn. Check it out!

Simple Knitted Bodice Survey

I'm watching the wave of SKBs across knitbloglandia, and I want to make one. But I have a question. Will the SKB work for those of us who have, shall we say, an abundance of frontitude? Or will we just be showcasing the girls? Will the design of a slightly-parted front become a flaw for those who've already hit puberty (unlike the girl in the pattern)? I want to know because I WANT the SKB. Shall I requite this love or add it to the afore-posted post?

Love, Unrequited Style

My girl Ellen, aka The Red Mojito (mojito, yummmm), who when she is not making me laugh is making me think (scary combo), posed a question--why do people like cats? And I responded thusly, "for the same reason we have crushes on movie stars--unrequited love. It's all about the melancholy." We love our cats and, at best, they tolerate us. We adore our movie stars (marry me, Viggo, I promise you won't regret it), and they wouldn't know us from a hole in the wall. Isn't it true? I'm all about the unrequited love. And if you asked me for a list, of course I would have to say "Alphabetical or chronological?" and "Imaginary or real?" and "How much time do you have because it's a pretty extensive list."

Starting with Donny Osmond back in grade two to the present day. And I can't "out" my latest unrequited one because it could lead to public humiliation for me. Maybe someday. I'll give you a hint though. I'm a sucker for accents, especially any and all derivatives from the Commonwealth Realms. I'm also a big time sucker for smart guys, oh, and cute, oh, and a nice bod doesn't hurt. (And if you're making an educated guess, for heaven's sake don't post it in the comments; this is a public blog. Email me and we'll talk.) I'm narrowing the field too much. We all have unrequited loves--be they human, spiritual or material (think Tilli Tomas or Alchemy Haiku). There certainly wouldn't be a music industry if we didn't obsess over relationships lost or never found. And literature would definitely be the poorer should we collectively awake and say, "No more loving people or things that won't love me back!" Melancholy may be an acquired taste, but once embraced can become addiction. The sweet despair, the divine discontent. The complete control. That's the heart of my unrequited love; I'm forced to admit. My imaginary lovers never color outside the lines or memorize the wrong speech. The pain is bittersweet--a tiny bit bitter but mostly sweet. Very like the glamorous illnesses in stories of old in which women in gauzy dresses dwelt in opulent sanitoriums langorously awaiting heroes' arrivals. It's not the gut-wrenching, limb-severing pain of real life when people walk away and won't give you a second (or third or hundredth) chance or where the person or feline or fiber you would die to have won't give you the time of day. I will try to live in the real world, honest. But don't fault me should I repair at regular intervals to mingle with my unrequited lovers. And don't ask me about it because I won't kiss and tell. Okay, maybe I will.

Check out the Party!

Chris is the fountain of all contest wisdom. Thanks, Chris! Found out that Becky is having a contest to celebrate her blog move and her blogaversary. Go visit her and see what she has going on. It's awesome! Socks that Rock, yummmmmmy.

Because Everyone Should Journal

*A Dog's Diary* 7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite! 8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite! 9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite! Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite! 2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite! 3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite! 4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite! 6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite! 7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite! 8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite! 9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite! 11 pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *A Cat's Diary* Day 183 of my captivity. My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get fr om clawing the furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Maybe I should try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. I must try this on their bed. Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little kitty cat I was. This is not working according to plan. There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary confinement throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing something called allergies." Must lea r n what this is and how to use it to my advantage. I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant. He speaks with them regularly, and I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured. But I can wait. It's only a matter of time.

Don't Click on This

Unless you want to go insane. And check out the songwriter's name. Thanks, Susie; now I'm certifiable.

What Flavour Crisps DOES James Bond Eat?

It's a burning question, I know. Do you sit up nights wondering? Pao is on a quest to solve the mystery; help him out if you know. There are prizes involved!

And while we're on the subject of Bond, James, Bond; which one is the real (best, favorite)? Sean Connery, of course.* *I've never actually watched a James Bond movie, but I like Sean Connery. Nods to mrspao.

Do You Ever Get the Feeling

That the world is spinning a little too quickly? That in the Tour de France of life you are riding your purple banana-seat bike from grade two? That you are the rock in the middle of the stream and the current is rushing over and around you? That's how I feel today. The minutes of my day pour from the top of the hourglass, and I can't catch up. I'm torn between anxiety and joy. The sun is shining, my cat is sitting beside me, and there is much reason to smile. But the minutes, oh, the minutes, they speed away. Must knit quickly. On the upside. Although I did not make it into the six months of Scout, I did get into Month One. Good, now I only have to sell my hair or some teeth maybe (like Fantine in Les Miserables: "You have beautiful teeth, you girl there, who are laughing; if you want to sell me your palettes, I will give you a gold napoleon apiece for them." "What are my palettes?" asked Fantine. "The palettes," replied the dental professor, "are the front teeth, the two upper ones."), and not my whole self ("A hundred francs," thought Fantine. "But in what trade can one earn a hundred sous a day?" "Come!" said she, "let us sell what is left." The unfortunate girl became a woman of the town.) Oh, and by the way, which Les Miserables character are you? How à propos for me!

I'm Fantine!
Though I mean well, my trusting nature gets me into appalling amounts of trouble. Still, I do my best to get through, and I would do absolutely anything for my loved ones. Which Les Miserables Character Are You?

The Lost Art of Conversation

Great article in today's newspaper about reviving our conversation skills. Two favorite parts: the part about FDR saying shocking things to see whether people were paying attention and this-- If you want good conversation, Shepherd said, "Find a place where you are not interrupted, where you can give it some time, where people are not performing for other people, where there's this sense of safety. I do think having food and sitting down is a good idea." A great place for two people to hold a conversation is during a car trip. "A conversation or a connection is not just about you and the other person. It's about this third thing between you _ a relationship. When you take your eyes off each other for a while, you can put your eyes on the relationship." Let's work on that today. Who's up for going out to eat or a road trip?

My Fave Comic Strip

Hey Spinners!

Deb of Chappysmom has a great offer! She's selling her Kiwi, and it's a beaut. Check out the details in her September 12th post. And pass the word along, please!

Contest!

Thanks to Chris (and of course Mayhem and Chaos), I've discovered my calling:

Entering contests! I've won two this week! Mrs. Pao's acronym contest and Anne's "write a caption about my son who is the cutest in the world" contest. Thanks, ladies! Gotta love that random number generator. Here's a contest that is still going. Head over to Cindy's blog and predict when she'll finish her shawl-in-progress. She's giving away yarn, folks! Oh, and Chris, love the new avatar!

My 10 Names

Fun meme from Lisa who has a super name for her blog. 1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: ( pet and current street name) Velvet Mill 2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on your moms side, your favorite candy) Martha Skor 3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of last name, first three letters of your middle name) C. Kay 4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Bengal 5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Kaye Phoenix 6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 2 letters of mom's maiden name and first 3 letters of the town you grew up in.) Car-lo-li-bra 7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, favorite drink) The Blue Cosmopolitan 8. NASCAR NAME: (the first name of both your grandfathers) Henry Lacey 9. FUTURISTIC NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne and the name of your favorite shoes) Euphoria Dansko 10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother/father's middle name ) Marjorie Thomas

I'm Not Listening!

My eleven-year old sat down on the couch with me Friday and began to argue. He didn't want to go to his dad's house. He was working himself into a full-on rant, and I said, "You have to go; it's not optional." He is usually a pretty cooperative kid (after the initial power struggle), but this time, the fingers went in the ears and the "La la la la, I'm not listening" commenced. I kept knitting. I was working on lace, for heaven's sake, and I wasn't about to be distracted. There wasn't any point in arguing. Then I noticed it was quiet on the other end of the couch. Here's what I saw: I couldn't resist taking the picture. You'll notice the fingers are still in the ears. He'll be mad if he sees it, but what eleven-year old boy reads knitblogs? We're safe. I took the time he was sleeping to pray that God would help me to step outside my usual "you'll do it because I said so" in a screechy voice mode. And I knit. A few minutes later, he opened his eyes and said, "What time is Dad picking me up?" Sometimes all a guy (and his mom) needs is a nap. Added note: As soon as I posted this, the phone rang. It was the boy-son telling me he has a fever and needs to come home. I always seem to miss the cues and then go back after he's sick and say, "Oh, THAT'S why he was crabby!"

I Told You I've Been Knitting; I Wasn't Lying

Here are some things on the needles. I find it hard to share WIPs--it feels like getting caught in my underwear (which believe me, you DON'T want to see). Hard to fight that good ol' Maine "keep it to yourself" attitude. I learned it well. Not that there aren't some things we should keep to ourselves (e.g., "Dude, what the @#$#@ happened to your hair?" "Wow, is that your perfume or did we just pass some fetid road kill?"), but I'm going outside my comfort zone here. The first (above) is my basketweave prayer shawl with kitty assistance. The second is my Sarah moebius scarf--so named because the lovely and able Sarah both sent me the yarn and suggested what to do with it! It's wonderfully soft and will make a perfect Christmas or birthday gift for the present box (not for it to wear, but to put in it--you get me, right?)

Cats are so overrated

So says Gino, the nine-pound, thirteen-year old Yorkie. Why does everyone like cats? They hate you, and I love you, so why do you spend your whole day trying to please them when all you have to do is throw a toy and I'm ecstatic? Just sayin'. What's all the fuss? I may weigh the least, but I'm the fullest of @#$# and vinegar in the whole house. It's my duty to find a cat to bite on the head EVERY time I go outside to help them remember that I'M the boss. Don't forget. I'm the boss. And if you forget, I'll pee on your stuff. But I'm so cute you won't be able to stay mad at me. And I'll sit right beside you ON your knitting, because I love toasty things.

September 11

Five years ago, in the turmoil and panic, this is the verse I read: When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. (Psalm 75:3)

These Dudes Clean Up Good!

I attend a multi-site church in the western suburbs of Chicago. Here's a video with all the campus pastors strutting their stuff. Don't hold it against us. ;) Be Our Guest

Eye Candy Friday

I'm all about Eye Candy Rowan, yummmmmmm. (Pay no attention to the girl.)

The Only Decent Use for a Treadmill

Fun with Treadmills I am completely in love with this video. I especially love the dude's skinny red pants. OkGo is my new favorite band. Thanks to Anne for sharing! And here's the redux: ok go treadmill Love it too.

Knitting has happened

Chez Bluey there is actual knitting going on. Here's proof: my sixth completed prayer shawl. Number seven is on the needles and going FINALLY. I tried the Basketweave shawl pattern on the prayer shawl website, but I couldn't get it to work out. I couldn't figure out if it was me or the pattern. I found a pattern that works better for me here. It's looking pretty good in Lion Brand's Homespun Adirondack colorway. It's amazing to me how hideous some yarn can look on the skein, but when you start knitting with it, it transforms itself.

Good Causes!

Celia of Unraveling is raising money for the AsthmaWalk. She's offering a pair of handknitted socks as a prize to donators! Both my son and I suffer from asthma and so do a lot of other people I know. Lisa's handsome son (the guy in the sidebar picture), Brett, is riding in the National MS Society's annual MS 150 Bike Tour to help raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis research and local programs. Lisa's also offering a prize; don't forget to leave her a comment after you donate. I have two friends with MS, and one of my dear friends lost her mom to MS last year. A worthy cause.

Worst Plot Twist EVER

I spent yesterday doing two of my favorite things: knitting and watching a Law & Order marathon. Because I love the show, I am willing to cut them all kinds of slack, but this one is just too much.

In the final episode with ADA Serena Southerlyn (Elizabeth Röhm), District Attorney Arthur Branch fires her because she is not a good match for the DA's office. And she asks, "Is it because I'm a lesbian?" He tells her no, and she says "Good." How many seasons was she on L&O? There was never even an inkling that she was a lesbian--no reference, no relationship, no plot conflict including that detail. What idiot writer decided to throw that in as the last thing she said? Is she also an alien? The President of the United States? That's just shoddy scriptwriting; there's no excuse for Dick and his crew who've been doing this for sixteen years. Shame on you, guys. P.S. Knitting pictures will be forthcoming,b ut the light is horrible today with the rain.

G'day, Croc Hunter

I was reading Trek's very funny post about her Wonky socks, and someone left a comment that Steve Irwin, the Croc Hunter, was dead. I couldn't believe it, so I googled. How sad; he's only two years older than I am and leaves behind a wife and two kids under ten.

Somehow saying he died doing what he loved best seems like small comfort. I guess death is always a potential outcome with the lifestyle he lived, but no one ever really thinks it will happen, do they? My thoughts and prayers are with his family.