idle chatter

Miss me? Awww!

I know this was from a few days (weeks?) ago, during the media blitz before HBP came out, but it's funny! It's in 2 parts, and Yes, it's Dan. ;P Ah, July 9th. Just over three weeks ago.





Sorry, I think the sound is all left channel, but I can't help that.

Still haven't taken pics of the yarn yet - and I'm buying a kettle-dyed lot from Rachel @ Dyeabolical today. She went and dyed it, and then had a severe allergic reaction to it! She posted about it late last night, and I'm relieving her of half of what she dyed this evening. I'll take a pic of that as well. *hugs to Rachel*

I'm almost to the center point of the Ravenclaw shrug, and need to get one more ball of the grey yarn. Meh. I hope they have the same dye lot. In the meantime, I've started yet another sock: it's called Outside In and it's available on Knitty.com in the Summer 2009 set. I'm using the Premier Yarns "Serenity Sock Weight" in Aquamarine for the socks - I've already ripped back and restarted with a larger needle (a US2 instead of a US1) and I think they'll fit better. Me and my big feet!

I'm going to see HBP in IMAX tomorrow - the first 15 minutes are in 3D, so the joke has been that I have a date with Harry in 3D. LOL!

I'm still planning on reading the fic that Ryan wants to podcast, but the Peons have run into a little trouble - it appears that we're going to have to re-record several eps, as one of the guest hosts had a HDD crash and lost all her files. Before she uploaded them. Grrrrrr. We're going to have a meeting tonight to discuss it.

The Cards are in first place (w00t!!) and the new acquisitions (Holliday and Lugo) have been productive! According to...I don't remember, one of the sportswriters off my Twitter list, I think....if the Cards are in first on the morning of 8/1, they have won the division. If they are not in first, they have not won the division. That goes back to the beginning of the franchise, I believe. We're in first today. The trend will continue!!

That's all from me right now. Cheers!

caution: sunglasses needed

I don't follow golf. Really. Having said that, I had to laugh at this:

John Daly's horrifying new golf pants are visible from orbit

*dies*

On another note, Teh Prez was in town this morning marking his 100th day in office. I missed his motorcade going by, but I understand that they closed the highway for a mile ahead and behind it, and blocked all the overpasses. I'm wondering if they didn't go through downtown on the way back, since I think they left Fox about 12:30 and we didn't see them come back by. Ah well.

I do actually have a little bit of yarn to review - that'll be some time in the next little while. I started a pair of "Charade" socks, and after finishing the heel flap and turn (which I had to frog twice!?!) I ripped it all out and decided to use the same number of stitches (increased to 72 from 64) and a smaller needle. I'm also going to see if I can't do these two at a time with the magic loop technique. I just didn't like how the yarn looked - it's Paton's Stretch Socks in Taffy, and it was just too loose of a stitch, especially with the stretch in it.

The Trio were spotted in Piccadilly last week, filming the Apparation from the wedding, and part of the 'cafe attack'. They've moved it from Tottenham Court Road to Piccadilly, apparently because Piccadilly is more recognizable. There are a metric ton of paparazzi pictures from the sequence - they were there at least two nights, filming in the middle of the night with lots of extras and everything else. the pictures have already been picked apart for details! Hermione's 'beaded bag' looks like a pouch bag, in maybe dark green. I liked her red dress and shoes, though! There were also shots of Dan and Emma and a tent from the weekend before in Scotland. No Rupert, so I'm guessing it's the scene after he leaves. The tent looks like the one they used in GoF!

I'm having way too much fun with Twitter. Even got Mom on it, but I'm guessing she hasn't even looked at it since last week. It's amusing watching Brent Spiner's 'run from the law' and Matt Lewis' pining over missing Rachel (his new car). ;)

Cards lead in the Central by 2.5; still early early, though. Rubber game with the Braves tonight!

Okay, back to work for me. Cheers!

a vid gakked from tom smith and babbles

Everyone know Tom Smith? No? You should so go check out his website and blog!!

Anyway, I gakked this from his LiveJournal. I love the smiles!!




I bought yarn from.....Michaels and The Weaving Department. I'll list them after I shoot them - I did get one of the Winter's Tale yarns by Opal! I'll shoot the Ron socks at that time, too. I'm already about halfway through BSJ #....6? No. #7. It's in the Angel yarn, Blue River. I'll be sending this along this week to a baby. Oh, yeah, and to his mom, too. ;) PK and D have decided that what I should give up for Lent is yarn purchases! ack.......!

Not much else happening - Leaky posted that the role of Reg Cattermole was cast for DH - which means the Ministry of Magic scene is in! YAAYY!!

Must read fic for tonight's podcast...Cheers!

the post without a title

I'm tired, I'm cranky, and I'm not taking it any more!

Okay, so, I'm just tired. And I have yarn.

• 1 100g hank Dome Hill Yarns "Supersock" (80% superwash, 20% nylon) in colorway Blueberry (pale to medium sky blue). This is a local hand-dyed yarn out of Warrensburg, Missouri! It's a lovely, smooshy yarn. Check out her shop!
• 1 4oz hank Dream in Color "Smooshy" (100% superfine merino superwash) in colorway In Vino Veritas (dark red, wine, deep purples). "In wine [there is the] truth." Yum.
• 1 100g hank Mountain Colors Yarns "Bearfoot" (60% superwash, 25% mohair, 15% nylon) in colorway Mystic Lake (indigo, blue, wine, purple, orange-gold, forest green, pine) #2.
• 2 50g hanks Mirasol Yarn Collection "Hacho" (100% hand dyed wool) in colorway #308 (dark blue, wine, burgundy, forest green, olive, lime, gold, yellow, orange). It's very colorful!!

I didn't get to see Chi on Monday (you are supposed to cook the meatballs all the way through, roommate-of-Teh-Chi), so instead I went to True Blue Fiber Friends in Columbia where I met Bex (*waves!*) and bought the above yarns. Plu was very very good in the car, even with the high winds pushing me all over the road and the windshield wipers going. The yarn shop is easy to get to, and she has local-dyed yarns and artwork for sale there, too.

Not much else going on - Charter is in the news this week (no, they aren't closing, I promise), and my car needs to go BACK to the shop again for electrical something. I managed to blow out 4 fuses in 2 days, and still have no dashboard or running lights. The GPS and the radio are fine! Meh.

Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training tomorrow *happydances!!!!* and filming for Deathly Hallows starts...next week, I think! Only 153 days to go for HBP. Sigh.

I'm listening to The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig. Audible *finally* got Crimson Rose - only took a year. I already bought the CDs, though, darnit. It's pretty good, but I think the Eloise/Colin storyline is going to kill me for its length. It's like reading a romance novel that has 3 chapters published every year!

Almost almost almost finished with the Ron socks. I'm ribbing. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I know it's early, but I'm pooped.

Cheers!

was going to bed...

I was. Really. This is all OR!Sue's fault.

Anyway.

I just finished reading an interview from "The Daily Beast" with Dan Rad. It's an interesting read (and also not rated G, so heads up).

Filming for DH starts in about 2-3 weeks - no, NE!Sue, I don't know the date :P - and there's already been a serious accident on the set. I hope and pray that it's not as bad as it sounds.

I finished knitting on SiL's scarf - yeah, I started it ages ago, but the modified checkerboard at 62 inches long was starting to drive me barmy. Hope she likes it. I'm almost to the start of my short row heel for Ron Sock #2, and I have lots more knitting to do, so I'm working on that at lunchtime.

Jen on PFW had her baby! I almost won the baby pool! Lee Russell, 26 Jan 2009, 7lb 5oz, 20 inches long. Congrats to Jen and James, and welcome to the mayhem, Baby Lee! This is so exciting! ;D

Oh! I kept forgetting: My Books Read 2008 list is linked below the new 2009 list. I finished up This Will Be Our Year earlier (when I was actually GOING to bed) and it is linked on the new list. Go read!!

I have yarn arriving from DNBY tomorrow *ducks the flying shoes* via UPS, and I actually shoveled the path between the back door and the gate. I didn't put salt down, however, because it's below 20F and most of that path will not get sunlight, so it'll just stay frozen. That, and Plu's feet wouldn't like the salt. We ended up with somewhere between 6 and 9 inches of snow, but it was sunny today! Or yesterday. Something like that.

Okay. Going to bed now.

Cheers!

yarn and dan rad on conan

Well, I'm still here. Sue thinks I'm MIA, but I'm not.

I did find a sock yarn cache of epic proportions in my storage room, so be prepared! This is a scary list, considering that it is NOT counting the (mostly hand-dyed) yarn I have in the office. Note that I haven't bought (much) yarn in the last month - I'd say that the Kroy Stretch and the Baby Jacquard have been the last purchases....I do have one from Dyeabolical that I need to shoot and list. Later.

The mondo list:

• 1 5oz skein Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" (100% acrylic) in colorway Freedom Ombre (red, white and blue)
• 1 5oz skein Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" (100% acrylic) in colorway Autumn Stripe (sage, rust, green, burgundy, orange)
• 1 5oz skein Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" (100% acrylic) in colorway Cranapple Stripe (cream, cranberry, red, green)
• 1 4 oz skein Red Heart "Hokey Pokey" (100% acrylic) in colorway Sunshine (yellow with red, blue, green, purple and yellow fleck)
• 2 5oz skeins Red Heart "Super Saver Multi" (100% acrylic) in colorway Lipstick (red, burgundy, pink, rouge)
• 2 5oz Red Heart "Super Saver Fleck" (96% acrylic, 4% other fibers) in colorway Aran Fleck (cream with brown, black, rust, and dark green donagal fleck)
• 1 100g ball King Cole "Stonewash Double Knitting" (70% acrylic, 30% cotton) in colorway Denim (blue and white)
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #13 (white, grey, charcoal, sky blue). I call it "Glacier".
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #11 (grey, blue, yellow, orange)
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #15 (red, green, blue, yellow, orange)
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #16 (purple, charcoal, orange, pink)
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #09 (charcoal, grey, white, blue)
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #08 (medium to very pale blue)
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (45% cotton, 40% SW wool, 15% nylon) in colorway #12 (bright green, red, yellow, blue, pink, orange)
• 1 100g ball Colorado Yarns "Worsted" (100% superwash) in colorway #1415 (blue)
• 1 100g ball Fortissima "Colori 1000" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #490 (blue, forest green, leaf green, red, yellow, burgundy, orange)
• 1 100g ball Regia "Plus Cotton Jacquard Color" (25% nylon, 37% cotton, 38% wool) in colorway #5274 (dark to light blue, cream to chocolate brown, white/grey dot)
• 2 50g balls Lane Cervinia "Forever Jacquard" (75% superwash, 25% nylon) in colorway #10 (red, green, purple-blue, white/black dot)
• 2 50g balls Regia "Ringel Color" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #5048 (pink, light orange, blue, lime green, yellow)
• 2 50 g balls Regia "Stretch" (70% wool, 23% nylon, 7% polyester) in colorway #88 (olive, pea green, tan, brown, charcoal)
• 1 100g ball Scheepjes "Invicta Coloris" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #1702 (burgundy, dark yellow, purple, blue, green, cream, white/black dot)
• 1 100g ball Scheepjes "Invicta Coloris" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #1700 (bronze, blue, grey, white/black dot) Ravenclaw house colors!
• 2 50g balls Regia "Jacquard Color" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #5274 (dark blue, sky blue, light chocolate brown, tan, white/black dot)
• 1 100g ball Rellana "Flotte Socke" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #828 (white, red, yellow, blue)
• 1 100g ball Trekking "XXL" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #23 (red, white, yellow, purple, green)
• 2 50g balls Regia "Mini Ringel Color" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #5220 (purple-blue, sky blue, med green, leaf green, black)
• 1 50g ball DGB "Confetti" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #236 (charcoal, grey, white/black dot) Souvenir yarn from Wool & Wicker in Richmond, BC.
• 3 50g balls Patons "Kroy" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway #54040 (black)
  1 3.5oz skein Bernat "Baby Jacquard" (90% acrylic, 10% nylon) in colorway Berries & Cream (yellow, very light pink, pink)
• 1 3.5oz skein Bernat "Baby Jacquard" (90% acrylic, 10% nylon) in colorway Cherry Berry (white, pink)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Kroy Socks" (75% wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Flax (grey)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Stretch Sock" (41% cotton, 29% wool, 13% nylon, 7% elastic) in colorway Mineral (sky blue, medium blue, grey, orange, brown)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Stretch Sock" (41% cotton, 29% wool, 13% nylon, 7% elastic) in colorway Licorice (black, grey, charcoal)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Stretch Sock" (41% cotton, 29% wool, 13% nylon, 7% elastic) in colorway Taffy (cream, caramel, chocolate brown)
• 2 50g balls Red Heart "Heart & Sole with Aloe" (70% superwash wool, 30% nylon) in colorway Rustica (medium brown, orange, blue, red, white, sky blue)
• 1 7oz skein Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" (100% acrylic) in colorway Orange. This is for Karen's fingerless mitts (Fetching).
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Haute Fur" (100% Exoline) in colorway Rouge Wiles (red)
• 1 3oz ball Yarn Bee "Gilt Eyelash" (55% polyester, 45% lurex glitter) in colorway Passionspark (peachy pink)
• 1 3oz ball Yarn Bee "Gilt Eyelash" (55% polyester, 45% lurex glitter) in colorway Star Ruby (red)
• 1 3.5 oz ball Yarn Bee "Elvish" (100% polyester) in colorway Almond (cream, tan, white) Hedwig colors.
• 1 3.5 oz ball Yarn Bee "Elvish" (100% polyester) in colorway Raisin (pink and dark purple)

Some notes on some of these:

I bought the King Cole Stonewash Denim along with a ball of the same yarn in pink that were knitted into my very first pair of socks. I don't have those socks anymore - they were 'borrowed' by Steve R. just after I finished them because he had no thick socks for hunting! He still wears them, and it's been at least 10 years since I knitted those.

I love Sockotta - and at one time had every color that had been dreamed of at the time. Several of the ones listed above have been discontinued for at least 6 years.

It amused me that two of the yarns - the Scheepjes Invicta "Ravenclaw" colors and the Regia immediately following the Invicta are both Ravenclaw house colors - and I'd bought them long before I'd even read the Potter books, let alone before I was sorted into Ravenclaw!

The Colorado Yarn was bought as a test skein for the Aran-styled sweater Jack which is still in design and test phase. I've designed 5 sweaters for the Stargate: SG-1 team (original team plus Jonas) that are on paper only. I'd seriously considered doing them in colors, but I think I've decided to make them all cream-colored. It is a pretty blue, though.

I also found several pairs of socks that I'd finished knitting, and for some reason hadn't finished grafting and weaving in the ends. One was in Regia Plus Cotton, one was Swizzle greys, one was in Sockotta stone browns (I think that was the same pattern that I sent Linds when she went from crutch to cane for the first time many years ago!) and one knee-hi pair in what looks like Fortissima Colori self-striping. Go me!

I'm almost finished with Lisa's scarf - I soooo want to be done with this thing. I've been sneaking in more rows on the Ron socks...and I really want to finish Seeker.

Dan Radcliffe was on Conan O'Brien again this past week - the clip is on YouTube...er, it WAS on YouTube. Removed. oops!

Sue in OR and I were talking about Mr. Rad a little tonight - I know this sounds odd, but I'm starting really see what he's going to look like in a few years, when the rest of the adolescent 'baby fat' has melted away. His features are becoming sharper. It's rather hard to explain, and not sound like a perv. ;) He is (imho) good-looking now, and will be striking in a few more years.

The Japanese version of the international trailer for HBP was capped over on the hbpmoviepics comm on LiveJournal - there are a few caps that I haven't seen yet, and so we're all waiting anxiously for the English version! The new caps had the Harry/Ginny kiss literally a breath away...I think they're trying to kill us. Guh.

Pitchers and catchers report in 26 days. YAY!!!

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Tomorrow - Inauguration Day! Going to be a busy news day, I think.

Cheers!!

how about a knitting meme

I usually post these to LiveJournal, but what the heck.

You Are a Cardigan

You are traditional, old-fashioned, and even a little conservative. More than anything else, you are a creature of habit. You haven't changed much over the years. You shy away from flashy ideas, people, fashion, and foods. You have simple tastes. You go for established quality and longevity every time.

What Kind of Sweater Are You?

They didn't have an option in the last question for socks. Humph.

not a fangrrl, really. *ahem*

I'm wearing my Jitterbug Horcrux socks. I'm cold!!

I ran across some YouTube clips of DR:



Dan talks about donating his jeans for charity



On the daily10 talking about Equus, Harry Potter, and Robert Pattinson (Cedric)

I still have yarn to review, but I'm pooped. Tomorrow will be interesting - I'm driving 30 miles to see a PeeWee hockey game, and it should be snowing by the time I leave. Yay! Ash is going with me and will get to meet my brother, SIL, nephews, and Dad! Eeep.

Cheers!!

i'm drowning in yarn

Um...a little too much. What, you may ask? Yarn....:

• 2 3oz balls Naturally Caron "Country" (75% Microdenier Acrylic/25% merino wool) in colorway #0024 Black (black).
• 2 3oz balls Naturally Caron "Country" (75% Microdenier Acrylic/25% merino wool) in colorway #0011 Gilder Age (gold).
• 1 4oz skein Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polyamide) in colorway Teddybear Ombre (sky blue, tan, pink, white).
• 1 4oz skein Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polyamide) in colorway Blue Baby Camo (medium blue, light blue, tan, chocolate brown, pale blue).
• 1 4oz skein Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Prints" (60% acrylic/40% polyamide) in colorway Green Camo (light green with dark green, medium green, white, and light chocolate brown dots).
• 1 4oz skein Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Prints" (60% acrylic/40% polyamide) in colorway Pink Camo (very light pink with forest green, light chocolate brown, and pink dots).
• 1 6oz skein Lion Brand Yarns "Homespun" (98% acrylic/2%polyester) in colorway Corinthian (red, purple, green, orange, yellow)
• 1 50g ball Red Heart "Heart & Sole with Aloe" (70% superwash wool/30% nylon) in colorway Tequila Sunrise (orange, sky blue, hot pink, red-purple, rust).
• 1 100g hank Araucania "Ranco Solid" (75% wool, 25% polyamide) in colorway Brick Pumpkin (deep rusty orange). #2
• 1 100g hank Araucania "Ranco Multy" (75% wool, 25% polyamide) in colorway Island Retreat (brown, sky blue, cream, aqua). #2
• 1 100g hank Araucania "Ranco Multy" (75% wool, 25% polyamide) in colorway Cocoa Blue (rust, chocolate brown, dark sky blue, cream). #2
• 1 115g hank Handmaiden Yarns "Casbah" (80% merino/10% cashmere/10% nylon) in colorway Merlin (yellow-green, ruby red, purple, jewel blue, black)
• 1 115g hank Fleece Artist "Trail Socks" (80% merino/20% nylon) in colorway Horizon (olive, forest green, yellow, hot pink, red, black, rust, chocolate brown). #2
• 1 115g hank Fleece Artist "Trail Socks" (80% merino/20% nylon) in colorway Paris (dark leaf green, gold, dark purple-red, orange, black, rust, chocolate brown). #2
• 1 50g hank Araucania Yarns "Atacama" (100% alpaca) in colorway #509 (medium brown, dark brown, cream, rust). #2
• 1 100g ball Noro "Kureyon Sock" (70% wool, 30% nylon) in colorway #S226 Reds (red, orange, olive, purple, teal).
• 1 100g ball Noro "Silk Garden Sock" (40% wool, 25% silk, 25% nylon, 10% kid mohair) in colorway #245 Bronzes (deep forest green, leaf green, blue, teal, bronze, grey, purple, rust). #2
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Hedwig (green, grey, cream, white)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Harry and Ron (blue, white, green, orange, yellow, rust)

Good grief. Where did all of this yarn come from?? Okay, well, the first 8 came from Hobby Lobby, the next six came from The Loopy Ewe (including my Groupie hank! w00t!!), and the last 5 are from the Weaving Department.

I need a yarn diet. Seriously. I heard a term the other day that describes my problem:

SABLE

This is an acronym for "Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy". I don't need a 12 step program for pancakes (okay, maybe I do...) - I need one for YARN.

Time to knit! I am almost finished with the Swan Song socks in Ron - I'm going to knit another pattern repeat, ribbing, and then start the next one. I'm going back and forth between the Fetchings and the socks; it just depends on what I'm in the mood to work on.

Harry, A History is on the bookshelf! I already have my copy!!! Well, I don't know if it's STILL on the bookshelves, as it appears to be selling well. I'm so happy for Melissa (she was on the front page of USAToday!!! Squee!!), and haven't read past the foreword by Jo yet. There was a review on Borders that made me tear up, tho!! Julia has another one on PFW that I haven't read yet, but she told me to find tissues before I read it. :)

Off to read, watch Leno, and knit.

Cheers!

nyc, day 1 (9 oct 2008)

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Well, we’re here in New York! The plane took off about an hour late, but we had clear skies all the way into LaGuardia. We flew in on a different route – we were within sight of the northern shore of Lake Erie for a good distance (it's weird being able to see across the whole lake...) – and then I was lucky enough to be on the correct side of the plane to get an absolutely wonderful view of downtown and midtown Manhattan at night. Everything was lit up. Amazing view. It looked like a wire construct from that height, and I managed to see the Statue of Liberty as well, out in the middle of the harbor.

We took a cab from LGA to D’s mom’s (she lives in the Upper East Side, I think the area is called Yorkville) – after dropping our luggage off, we walked to the Papaya King at 86th and 3rd for real NY hotdogs (according to D) and fruit drinks. YUM! We walked a few blocks up 3rd and then back over to the apartment. I hope the weather holds – it’s NICE outside!!

We’re going to see how much we can squeeze in tomorrow – we are coming back to change before going to the play. Mrs. G saved me a very nice picture and article from the Sept 14th edition of the NYT – I’ll take it into work and see if I can scan the picture in and post it somewhere. Probably on the PFW forum as well as the blog. (ETA: Haven't brought it in yet, but the picture that's on the link is the same one, and it took up most of the top of the front page of the Arts & Leisure section.)

I have purchased several of the Opal HP yarns – three last Saturday and another three Wednesday night. Saturday’s haul was Dumbledore, Ron, and Harry, and Wednesday’s was Draco, Lupin, and Tonks. Nancy still had all the colors, but she was down to 1 ball in a couple colorways. I brought Ron with me, as well as the pattern for the Lombard Street socks. D likes the Comfort Sox yarn, and now wants Twinkles as short-cuffed socks. :) (ETA: I have reviewed the above Opal yarns in a previous post.)

More later!!

Cheers!

yarn only

I wanted to get the yarn purchases from the last four weeks out of the way....first two are from Knitorious, the second two from Hearthstone Knits, and the 6 "Potters" from Weaving Department.

• 1 100g ball OnLine "SuperSocke 100 - Savanne" (75% superwash, 25% polyamide) in color #1032 (cherry red, forest green, wine, white, sky blue, olive, pink)
• 1 100g hank Ella Rae "Lace Merino" (100% extra fine merino superwash) in color #102 Primaries (bright yellow, green, pink, orange, deep purple, red, wine)
• 1 100g hank Araucania "Ranco Multy" (75% wool, 25% polyamide) in colorway #302 Purple, Blue, Ecru (purples, blue, wine, aqua, white)
• 1 100g hank HPKY "Sock Superwash Merino Donegal" (65% superwash, 25% nylon, 10% donegal) in colorway Madama Butterfly (gold, orange, wine, brown, purple, blue, black)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Ron (orange, burgundy, gold, cream, blue, grey, pinkish grey)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Draco (dark blue, grey, light blue, white, forest green)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Dumbledore (blue, pink, grey, green, wine, white, gold, brown)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Tonks (yellow, pink, grey, white, green, wine, teal)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Lupin (yellow, orange, green, grey, pink, blue, white, red, black)
• 1 100g ball Opal "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (75% superwash, 25% polyamid) in colorway Harry (dark blue, purple, lime, white, fuchsia, red, sky blue, indigo)

Ron is already on the needles - I've started a pair of socks using the pattern Swan Song Toe-up Socks from WendyKnits - the pattern is available from the Loopy Ewe or from Wendy's page. I've started and frogged it three times - once, I was trying Lombard Street (needs a semi-solid or a solid), then on US3s (too big) then on US2s (still too big) - and now I'm cruising on US1s with magic loop. Zoom!!

That's all for today - I went to the zoo with Rae and her husband's Aunt Becky and am pooped!

Cheers!

hawks, jkr, yarn, and ike

I have a couple meanderings, so here goes.

I've been spotting what I figured out was a red-tailed hawk - perhaps two of them - in Maryland Heights and in Hazelwood. It might be the same one, since I'm not sure what the range usually is for one, and I saw them about 6 miles apart. The first time was on the way to work on the highway on Wednesday of last week - it was perched on the highway sign, and sat about 15-18 inches tall. Those signs are not small, and it didn't dwarf the bird! The second sighting was audible first - I was walking the pooch last Friday, and heard the cry. You know, that sound you hear when you're watching an old Western and they want to make sure you feel like you're watching the frontier or something. Anyway, the cry made me stop - it didn't register at first - and when I turned, the bird was on the peak of the roof over my townhouse. He was gone by the time I came back out with my camera. I saw it again yesterday on the way into work back in Maryland Heights, riding the thermals over the highway.

The red-tailed wasn't the only new bird I've seen lately - heard and saw an owl on Tuesday this week...my Hogwarts letter! Okay, maybe not. The knitters heard and maybe saw an owl (prob the same one) just after the Wednesday Night S&B session at WeavDept.

There was an announcement on Monday that a decision was reached in the JKR/WB vs RDR/SVA trial - JKR/WB won and you can read it here at the Boston Herald website. I'm glad. This means that WB won't go batsh*t over enforcing copyright the way that Paramount did a few years ago to their Star Trek fans. It was also a nice birthday present for Julia. ;)

Yes, I did buy lots of yarrrrnnnnn:

• 1 100g ball Fortissima Socka Mexico Country Color (75% superwash wool, 25% polyamide) in colorway #14 Serengeti (yellow, orange, green, brown, tan, rust, grey, black/white check) which is also here and here.
• 1 100g hank Misty Mountain Farm Blue Ridge Yarn "Jubilee" (100% superwash merino) in #22 Waterfall (deep blue to sky blue, grey). Ravenclaw colors!
• 1 100g ball Zitron "Trekking XXL" (75% superwash 25% polyamide) in colorway #145 (orange tweed). Also pictured here - I'm thinking the Autumn Lace socks for this yarn.
• 1 100g ball Noro "Kureyon Sock" (70% wool, 30% nylon) in colorway #S233 Deep Blues (grey, deep to sky blue). Also here. I found a nice scarf pattern online that used this yarn, so I'm torn. Scarf or socks??
• 1 3oz ball Yarn Bee "Intrigue" (57% polymide, 43% Lurex glitter) in colorway Bisque (bronze) to go with the midnight blue for a Ravenclaw scarf.
• 2 3.5oz balls Yarn Bee "Beguile" (100% acrylic) in colorway Aegean (cream, red, teal, lime).
• 2 3.5oz balls Yarn Bee "Whirligig" (100% acrylic) in colorway Regatta (white, yellow, royal blue, red) for another scarf.
• 1 4oz ball Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Sweet Mocha (pink, tan, cream, chocolate brown). Think Neopolitan ice cream. For another BSJ.

Newsflash! IHOP is taking over the world! Okay, maybe not. I love xkcd.

Speaking of BSJs, I finished the third one (!!) and started a fourth. Isn't it cute?? My dentist is going to be a grandfather again, so i'm making one for his new grandson. He's due September 24th, which happens to be my nephew's birthday! w00t!

I ran across this very helpful blog post by Kenny. His blog is The Boy Who Knits - Techniques: Baby Surprise Jacket Spreadsheet Revision 2 and that particular post has a wonderful line-by-line reference for the BSJ. Thanks, Kenny!!

I think that's all for me right now - we'll be getting ready to face the remains of Ike tomorrow (5-8 inches of rain. Yay.) and having a sale at the Weaving Department! The sale info is here! Come buy yarn so I won't. :)

Cheers!

ETA: Here's a pic of my Wollmeise. Yum!!!!!!!

the h/g top ten updated

StMargarets updated the Top Ten list that I found on her LJ to reflect DH, and for silly's sake here it is:

Ten Reasons Why I *Still* Ship H/G (by StMarg)

1. Because it’s still canon! (And it's still satisfying to say that!)
2. Because Ginny knows the best birthday presents to give Harry.
3. Because Ginny doesn't have to marry the nameless, faceless guy.(Cho does, poor dear)
4. Because Ginny steals swords and does what she can for Harry even when apart.
5. Because Harry's only fun on the camping trip was looking at her dot on a map.
6. Because twenty-something years later there are three Potter dots on the map.
7. Because now his best friends are his brother and sister-in-law.
8. Because Ginny was his last thought when Voldemort was going to kill him.
9. Because neither one of them is a vampire. (HP - you're my One True fandom)
10. Because Ginny was at Kings Cross in book one and she's there in the epilogue.
*11. Bonus movie shipping reason. Just look at [this] icon. How cute are they?



Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. *g*

Teh Kez on PFW was squeeing this afternoon on Skype - apparently there's been some paranoia about if we will REALLY see a H/G kiss in HBP. According to this article, that's been confirmed by one of the kiss-ees (Dan). Thanks for the hook-up, Kez! I have to say, I've been trying to stay away from the actors' websites - I'm so trying not to fangrrl, but it's not working. Oh well. I do think it's amusing how Dan talks about Harry in the third person, and then says "I survive and I defeat the bad guy...". *chuckles*

I capitulated and started a BSJ yesterday. I'm almost to the end of the decreases, and its not looking like anything yet. From what I understand, it won't look like anything till I bind off and sew the shoulders! Hmm. I'll take the Comfort socks along with me on Tuesday in case we get stuck somewhere. Hopefully somewhere cool.

Nothing else going on - just trying to stay cool.

Cheers!

omg, no yarn this time

No, I haven't taken leave of my senses. I just didn't buy any yarn this weekend. I didn't say I wasn't gonna talk about knitting, though.

I am working on Julia's Challot cloth - I discovered a major problem in looking at finished projects in Ravelry: The blessing is misspelled. On the third line! Aaaaaaaargh. I think I'll just rip and re-do the entire middle section. Sigh. I'd finished the pointed lace edging, and I'm currently doing the braid. I think it looks cool - the braid is an alternating cable, and really looks like it's three segments braided together. Re-doing the middle section's gonna set me back a bit, though - I was hoping to have this finished by the end of the month, but I don't think that's going to happen.

I have about 10-15 more rows of Seeker's Sleeve #2 before binding off for the armpit. I've been seriously looking at how to make this pattern into a seamless raglan, but it's going to be a challenge with all those different stitch patterns. I really need to sit down and chart it, so I can see what I'm doing, but I need to find the activation key for my software. It's in a box in the office closet, I think. I hope! I don't want to have to purchase the software again.

Comfort Sock #2 is on hold with me working on the Challot cloth. It's my carry-around project at the moment, and since I haven't had time to do anything while I'm out and about (busy busy at work), I haven't touched it. It'll get there.

Jim doing fine, as far as I know.

Happy Birthday to Dan Radcliffe - 19 years old today. I am still amazed that it's been an entire year since Deathly Hallows hit the bookshelves, and a year today that I went and saw Order of the Phoenix in the theatre. I talked to Alli a little about it last night - I called her about 10:30 my time and blubbered with her on the phone about Remus and Tonks and Fred and Dobby and Hedwig. A whole year. Wow.

Work is continuing on the recording of Battle of Wills, but I haven't heard from the author yet. :(

I think that's all for me for right now - got another meeting to go to, and you know me - I'm boring!

Oh, one last thing - if you get a chance, go watch this video. It looks like a lot of fun!!

Cheers!

i was attacked, i swear...

Never go to a craft store and 'accidentally' walk past the clearance rack. I went to Hobby Lobby to see if they'd received any "Sock-Ease" (they had!) and walked out with 16 - SIXTEEN - balls of yarn. Most of it was a buck or so each, but still! Oh, and Hobby Lobby sellers? Two things. Firstly, if you're going to send a new sock yarn to a store, make sure you send enough of each color to MAKE A PAIR OF SOCKS. The new Red Heart "Heart and Sole" yarn is only 50g, and they sent one of about 6 different colors to the store. *rolls eyes* I mean, come on. Luckily, the LB yarn is 100g, which is enough for a pair of socks. Secondly, if you are going to carry sock yarn, you also need to carry the needles for it. The smallest circ or DPNs they carry? US4. Hellooooo....

I can see that I'm going to have to take pics of the Yarn Bee yarns - there are very few shots of it online (according to Google). I'll post the haul here, and when I get the pics taken I'll update the links.

• 1 100g ball Lion Brand yarn "Sock-Ease" (75% wool/25% nylon, finished with aloe vera) in colorway Toffee (brown, olive, orange, yellow)
• 1 4oz ball Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Giggles Ombre (yellow, pink, orange, green)
• 4 4oz balls Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Ladybug Ombre (light red, sky blue, very light pink, charcoal)
• 2 4oz balls Baby Bee "Sweet Delight Baby" (60% acrylic/40% polymide) in colorway Baby Camo (tan, light to forest green, brown)
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Featherwisp" (100% nylon) in colorway Tempting (blue, rust, olive green, yellow)
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Airy" (100% nylon) in colorway Royal (bright amethyst)
• 1 3.5oz ball Yarn Bee "Paradox" (49% acrylic, 40% nylon, 9% polyester, 2% spandex) in colorway Wild Night (black core with rainbow twist, hot pink eyelash)
• 5 3oz balls Yarn Bee "Intrigue" (57% polymide, 43% Lurex glitter) in 5 different colors: Bunny (blush pink), True Love (dark red), Rouge (lipstick red), Blushing (blush bronze), and Midnight (deep blue)
• 1 4oz hank Scarlet Fleece "Totally Tubular x2" (80% merino, 20% nylon) in colorway Painted Desert (rust to deep black-brown, dusty blue-grey to deep teal, dusty pinks) from Loopy.
• 1 100g hank of Spindle City Yarns "SCY" (75% superwash, 25% nylon) in colorway Copper Pot (verdigris green to olive, sky blue to deep blue, red rust to medium burgundy), also from Loopy. Yummy yarn.

My Loopy Ewe Order #3 present was a mini red sock kit! It's so cute. I may have to make that this weekend. I have another hank of yarn, but it's a surprise. *waves to Teh Sue*

Jim is doing fine as far as I know - he still doesn't want visitors, and Mom hasn't called me (I specifically told her to if she needed anything, like to be kidnapped or something), so I'm clueless on the recovery front.

I picked up and worked on Seeker a bit yesterday - I'm past the increases on sleeve #2, so I have about 4 inches of 'straight' knitting in pattern before the armpit and raglan decreases.

I'm catching up on my podcasts again - I got behind while listening to the Born In series - and sooo want to send Violet a hank of the fibraNATURA yarn that I found at Kirkwood Knittery in the Seattle Skies colorway. She's nutz about the PNW. Who else would buy ROCKS from there??

Latest rumor about the HBP trailer is that it might might might be attached to the newest Mummy movie. *sigh* At this point, I don't care. I just want to seeeee.

There's a new promo pic - this one is from EW, and looks like it's the Felix Felicis potion. :) The covers for the calendar and sticker books are out too (here, here and here). The same pose that was used for the Opal Yarn poster is on the cover of the calendar - and I STILL don't think it looks like Dan. It just doesn't. *shrug* I can't put my finger on it. The first link for the sticker books doesn't look like him, either. The second and the third ones are him, though. They all look.....I dunno. Photoshopped.

Scott (the Hufflepuff King), Dan (the Pwncast of Wrock guy/aspiring broadcaster dude) and me (*cough*) are collaborating on a new audiobook. The PFW Reading Group is discussing Jocelyn's Harry Potter and the Battle of Wills and Scott had the brilliant idea to record it. We're still waiting for actual posting permissions from the author (hope that Hotmail account still works!) and we'll be trading off the chapters. 51 in all, which will break down to 17 for each of us.

I desperately need to edit and upload the next chapter or three of AtE, too.

The American League beat the National Leage on Tuesday in the longest All-Star Game on record: 4 hours and 50 minutes. 15 innings. the NL lost, and someone needs to nominate Uggla (from FL) as the Least Valuable Player. 3 errors. THREE! Meh.

I think I've wound down now - it's going to be very hot this weekend, so I'll either be staying inside where it's cool, or I'll be out for a drive. I'm thinking the former, as the A/C in the car is kaput.

Cheers!!

long week

Been a long and weird week.

The 4th of July was very very slow at work - I think we took 20 calls all day, and we had 4 staffed. Zzzz. Not a lot of calls the entire weekend, so it was nice.

Monday was hospital day. Jim went in for his laryngectomy surgery, and I had planned to sit with Mom in the afternoon. The actual operation started after 1PM (they were scheduled for 10AM) and I had to go to the dentist, so they started just before I got there. About 3, I went to get something for lunch, and while I was gone, the doctor came out and told my mom there had been a complication - Jim's BP had dropped and he'd arrested on the table. They shocked him out of the arrhythmia and closed up what they'd done, and stabilized him before coming out to tell Mom.

Yeah, that was a shock coming back from lunch.

We called everyone, and my brother and SIL and 3 of Jim's kids came up to the hospital. About 7ish they moved him from Recovery up to the CCU, and we got to see him about 8:30, but he was pretty much out of it.

Tuesday was test day. They ran an ECHO and a cardiac catheterization to see what may have caused the problem, and didn't find anything. The cardiologist was of the opinion that the drop in BP caused the arrhythmia, and so the laryngectomy was rescheduled for Wednesday. I went up and saw him on Tuesday night after work, and he was complaining that he wanted out of bed, so he was feeling fine.

Wednesday was laryngectomy take 2. No complications and no surprises this time. Thank you, everyone who was thinking about him this last week. I haven't been to see him yet - he's not really wanting visitors at the moment, so I'll see him in a couple of days.

Thankfully Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were uneventful. Note: The new Pizza Hut pastas are yummy! I liked the Chicken Alfredo (which used rotini noodles O_o) better than the red sauce version, but the red version was better on Saturday. I also finished Comfort Twinkle #1 and started #2. Pics at my Flickr page.

Sunday, me and the motorcycle people (Paula, Art, and Mikey) went for a ride - we had lunch over at King Louie's in Wood River (I had Ash in the car, too) and then up the Great River Road to Grafton. The Mississippi is at flood stage up there still, but is dropping. Ash was complaining because of the smell (hey, it's a river, fps) and there was a lot of brown earth - in places it looked like someone had drawn a line, above which everything was green and below, everything was brown. Ash rode with Mike from Grafton up to the lookout at Pere Marquette Park, and we took some pics:

Yes, she's sticking her tongue out. Brat. The view is of Calhoun County, IL, and the river below is the Illinois. You can't see the Mississippi, as it's behind the hills, but you can make out the bluffs in Missouri in the far distance.

Mike and Art left us at this point, and we took the homemade root beer - did I mention that King Louie's makes their own root beer? yummmmmmmm - and some sweet corn we'd bought at a roadside stand back to PK's house, and then I kidnapped Ash to go over to Knit and Caboodle in St. Charles. The haul:

• 2 50g balls of Cascade Yarns "Fixation" (98.3% cotton, 1.7% elastic) in colorway #9980 Los Alamos (bright blue, yellow, orange, hot pink to red). Yes, this is the same color I'd bought before, and they were still on sale, so I bought more.
• 2 50g balls of SandnesGarn "Sisu" (80% wool, 20% nylon) in colorway #4503 (pink). Guess who wanted this one?
• 1 100g hank Trekking "Hand Art" (75% superwash wool, 25% nylon) in colorway Tundra (light pine to forest green, burgundy to ruby red). This one is for me.
• 1 100g ball of Plymouth Yarn Co. "Sockotta" (cotton/SW wool/nylon) in colorway #5613 (red, yellow, blue, white/green). Bold bright stripes.

We met Kesh and Panda at DQ, and they took Ash back as I went to the store for dip materials. I rescued a wandering boxer (dog, not person) on the way to PK's house, and then we cooked. Did you know that 12 people can make a lot of noise? Especially while eating!

When I got home, I found out that a friend's husband had had a massive heart attack in the middle of the night Saturday night. She's my age, and has 2 small children. I just don't know what more to say. Think about Alison this week, will you? She needs your good thoughts.

Today, I had an errand to run in South County, so I took the pooch with me to drive down. It was so nice out, I decided to go for a cruise - and ended up taking the Great River Road down to Chester, IL and then came back up US61 on the west side of the river. The Mississippi is very high down there still, and lots of places were obviously under water until very recently.

I stopped at a roadside park and took a few pictures at Bloomsdale:

Plu is enjoying the view. :) Yes, that's a picnic table he's sitting on.

Looks pastoral, doesn't it? What you don't know is that I-55 is right below - apparently the park is on the bluff cut above the highway, and you can very clearly hear the traffic passing maybe 200 yards away. Was a rather weird dichotomy of a view and the highway noise!

All everyone is talking about here is the A-B/InBev 'merger' - and Leno just joked that the Clydesdales will be sold to Sizzler. Oi.

New rumor is that the HBP trailer will be on Star Wars: The Clone Wars in August. Le sigh.

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick are in the All-Star Game tomorrow for the Cards. Albert is the starting DH! Yay!

I think that's all for me. Hope your week isn't as nutty as mine was.

Cheers!

twinkle twinkle little sock

Another drive-by post. No, you're not delirious.

Loopy has the Spirit Trail Fiberworks yarn up on her site! I am eyeing this one, and this one, and maybe this one. Or this one. *sigh* Decisions, decisions. The yarn looks pricey, but take a look at the yardage. It's for 437yards, 5.3oz. 5.3!! Wow.

I think I missed the Wollmeise, though. Alas. I think I'm going to have to be a Groupie and get the Sneak-Ups to snag one of those.

I am making yet another pair of Twinkles, with the Comfort yarn this time. I've already ripped and restarted since yesterday, and they look pretty good! Here's a close up (more at my Flickr)

I think I like the yarn! It sorta looks like a cotton, (it's a little splitty like cotton can be) but feels like...I'm not sure. Almost silky smooth.

We finally finally FINALLY got more photos for HBP! About frickin' time! The articles are on Leaky (most with pics), and are:

• Empire Magazine cover and article
• Julie Walters returning as Molly in DH
• USAToday's "First Look" with pics and a great article (*squee!*)
• First look of Jim Broadbent as Slughorn
• More from Empire
• Luna's 'Spectacles'
• HBP Video Game trailer (!!)
• Official high-res pics (thanks, WB)

According to the USAToday article, there was a 'near miss' snog - that's new! I think two of the guys I sit close to at work are hinting at wanting to go to the midnight showing in November (yes, I know, it's 140 days away. Deal!), and Scott want me to smuggle him to NYC in my suitcase - or at least take a video camera with me. I don't think so!!!!! I have noooo wish to get tossed out of the theatre.

I've been commissioned to read a WIP in the Dangerverse. Ought to be interesting! I may have a few more on the 'to-do' pile as well.

Okay, that's enough of a drive-by from me. Have a safe and fun 4th of July holiday if you live in the US!

Cheers!

drive-by posting

In no particular order:

1. My first pair of Coriolis socks are finished! Here's Sock #1, and a closeup of the toe. w00t! More pictures to come.
2. Trying to figure out what to make next. Maybe Twinkles with the Comfort Sock acrylic? *ponders this*
3. Little Debbie S'mores are the messiest thing I've ever eaten made by them. Chocolate-covered graham crackerish cookies top and bottom, with a cross-shaped marshmallow middle with chocolate CREME FILLING at the quarters. You bite it, and SMOOSH. Chocolate creme everywhere.
4. HBP trailer rumored to be shown with Dark Knight. I'll believe it when I see it.
5. Won a free adult movie ticket for Get Smart! Hope the movie is still in the theatres when I get it...
6. Don S. Davis (General Hammond of Stargate: SG-1) passed away on Sunday. RIP, Don. You will be missed.

That is all. I think.

loopy-ness and broadway-bound

Wow, look, another post! I'm coming back. Sorta.

Took the plunge last night and bought the tickets for Equus!! There was a change in casting - an addition. Kate Mulgrew! w00t! We're going to the Oct 10th show - that's Friday night at 8. I managed to get Right Orchestra, 9 rows from the stage. I'm excited! D has already seen this play (with Leonard Nimoy!) so she's excited for me. ;) Pricey tickets, tho. It's going to take me 4 weeks to have the tickets in hand due to high demand. Wonder why? heee

I stopped at Loopy on the way into work this morning - and now I understand the craziness over Wollmeise. OMG. *fans self* I want this one, and this one and this one. And maybe this one too. She had them THERE, but not for sale. *cries* Maybe someday I'll manage to grab some.

She also had Spirit Trail Fiberworks yarn - oh, yummy colors! Alas, these were also in the 'not for sale' group, but soon!

I did manage to behave and only got a little yarn:

• 1 4oz hank of Cherry Tree Hill "Summer Sock" (30% merino wool/35% cotton/35% acrylic) in colorway Granite (stone grey) to use with the blue of the same type that I bought from DBNY. The Silver Dollar that I got with the blue is just too dark, and I think this lighter grey will work better.
• 1 100g hank of The Alpaca Yarn Company "Paca-Peds" (20% alpaca, 65% superwash wool, 15% nylon) in colorway Grapevine (deep green, clay, deep burgundy-purple, black). Yum. One of my co-workers just came by and tried to take off with it so he could pet it all afternoon! The colors on the Loopy site aren't as saturated as they are in hand.

See? I was good. Only 2 pairs...

The End of Term Ball is rolling this weekend, so no other yarn shopping for me. I need to edit more of AtE anyway, and so I'll be doing that.

Spiralling Coriolis Sock #2 is coming along - I'm up to the beginning of the band, and will be working on that while editing, I think. Haven't worked on it except at lunch the past few days.

Speaking of lunch, I'm off. Cheers!

carlin, balls, and yarn

PK and I were talking the other day - I'd called her while I was channel surfing, and I'd come across an HBO special with George Carlin. I'd exclaimed that he looked old! She'd laughed and said that that happens when you get to be in your 70's.

George Carlin passed away last night of heart failure - and Jay Leno was among those who remembered him. He was 71. I think the one routine I'll remember is the one about "the earth...plus plastic!" Mind you, that link is not kid safe. Carlin was best known for his "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" (also not a kid safe link) which went to the US Supreme Court. RIP, George.

We've been busy on the PFW - the End of Term Ball is coming up, and the Prefects are running games, and auctions, and other stuff. Ought to be a fun time, so come check it out! Speaking of games, Dan and Kez started the Ravenclaws playing at bowling online - it's one of a ton of games you can play at the Wrigley Company's site, "The Candystand". You don't have to sign up to play. I beat my first opponent, and and arranging to play the next person on the bracket. I think Dave is chomping at the bit to play the winner of my next match! It's a fun time-waster.

I visited a new (to me) yarn store in St. Charles called Knit and Caboodle on Main Street. They just moved this last week, and the new place has a lot of room. They're now in the middle of the 'craft' area of Main - there are quilt shops and needle arts shops across the street, and it's about a half a block up from the visitor's center. Easy to find! I bought:

• 1 100g call of Berroco "Comfort Sox" (50% superfine nylon/50% superfine acrylic) in colorway Hari Hari (blues and greys to light charcoal). I swear I didn't know the name of the colorway when I bought it...
• 1 100g hank of Rio de la Plata Yarns "Lana del Artista" (100% superwash merino) in colorway SL38 (grey-green, grey-blue to sky blue, chocolate browns to light pinks, cream). This is a kettle-dyed yarn, and is a very unusual color. Here's the yarn I bought!
• 2 50g balls of Cascade Yarns "Fixation" (98.3% cotton, 1.7% elastic) in colorway #9980 Los Alamos (bright blue, yellow, orange, hot pink to red). I've heard lots of things about people making socks out of this yarn, and K&C had ot on sale, sooo...I bought some.

Mom bought a new digital camera, and she 'loaned' me her old one. It's a Olympus C-50 Zoom, which is about 4 or 5 years old. It's a 5 MPixel camera but the biggest card it can take (with a firmware update that you have to SEND THEM YOUR CAMERA to do) is a 512. I'll be ordering a 256 card online - you can't find them anywhere except online because everyone now has the 1GB and 2 GB cards. Oh well. A 256 is only $12 with free shipping, so I'll get one or two of those. I've been playing around with it, and it has a macro setting, which is exactly what I was looking for to take my sock pics. Yay! The color representation looks pretty good too - the pic I have of the Rio de la Plata yarn was taken from about 2 feet away with the flash - I adjusted the color temperature and the saturation, and it's very close.

I finished the Monkeys and cast right on another pair. Okay, so it took me a couple of days to get started on the new pair - the Spiraling Coriolis sock from Cat Bordhi's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters Vol 1. I'm using the multi-colored Sockotta I bought from DNBY a few weeks ago. It's a very WEIRD pattern. It actually reminds me of The Joy of Cooking, where if you want to make say, a lasagna, you have to jump all over the cookbook for the meat sauce recipe here, the cheese blend there, yadda yadda. The Spiraling Coriolis pattern is the same. The toe is in one chapter, the heel in another, and the leg in a third. Never mind the initial cast-on and the increases/decreases. It's mind-boggling! But fun. I'm thinking that I might make the next pair out of this book with the Opal 6-fach that I got from the Weaving Dept.

I think that's all for me. Cheers!