sending good thoughts

I was flipping back to the game tonight (two shows recording, one had just finished), and everyone in the stands were on their feet and QUIET. This is never a good thing. Next thing I see is players and coaches huddled around the wall in the outfield with THE CART. At first I thought someone had fallen OVER the wall, but it turns out that Rick Ankiel had gone for a ball (caught it) and then careened face-first into the wall.

STL Cardinals.com article and video

There was an update about 45 minutes ago - from Twitter:

stl_cardinalsRT @dgoold Scans showed no fractures in his head, neck or back. He is staying at the hospital overnight for observation.

Let's hope he's okay. We lost the game, but I really don't think anyone cared at that point.

Night all.

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!

fanfic rec - go read

Yeah, this is gonna be a short post....

Just finished reading Away From The Sun by cibjasfad, aka hgfan1111, aka Andi. I've talked about this a little before, and she posted the epilogue and the "incredibly long author's note" on her LiveJournal tonight. It's still in the process of being posted at SIYE and SimplyUndeniable, but is complete on LiveJournal.

This is a really good story. I cried, I laughed, I read with my hands over my face, I cheered.

I've also nommed it for review on PFW, and I hope we can get it there. Wow.

Go read it. I'm not kidding. Don't be dissuaded by the character death. Trust me.

Cheers!!

omg final full trailer

I am so freaking excited about this movie. I have been in a state of squee all afternoon - and it's now UP for viewing!



*dances around the room* Did you see the Unicorn in Captivity tapestry in front of Ginny when they were holding hands??!!?? w00t!!!!

You can also download various sized versions at Leaky here, and we've discovered that you can do frame-by-frame on Quicktime by using the arrow keys! Raesive and I spend over 30 minutes going thru each frame...and the trailer is only 2:20 long! Was WAY FUN!! In fact, we're STILL picking it to pieces...and Rae has figured out that the guy that Greyback has in his clutches in Diagon Alley is Ollivander! Holy crap!!

PotterCast did a special - or tried to do a special - recording, but Rae said that there were 300+ people in the ustream chat. I'm sure that THAT was an adventure!

Go....look......don't forget to breathe....

Cheers!!

oshie for mayor and other chuckles

Okay, in a bit of a better mood than I was two days ago. I'm still miffed at Warner Bros for jerking us around, but I'll get over it.

The Blues lost the first game of a best-of-seven to Vancouver last night *eyes Ang* but they played a good game. They really poured it on in that last minute! Go Blues!!!

On a Blues-related note, someone apparently broke state law by writing in T. J. Oshie for mayor and then taking a picture of the ballot. *rolls eyes at Missouri* Give me a break. I think it's very funny that he was a write-in, considering he's 22 and not FROM Missouri (altho....I've been to Mt. Vernon, WA, where he is from).

Cards are playing Chicago this afternoon - Carpenter is on the DL *sniffs* and they called up two pitchers from Memphis. They're saying he's got a left oblique strain, and that he may be out a while. I remember Woody Williams having the same thing (his was severe, if I recall) and he was out for MONTHS. Sigh. We're on top on the Central, though. 10 games in, and we're 7 and 3. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going!!

I still haven't posted about the yarn I got from DBNY - it's been an up-and-down couple of weeks, but I'll get to it. The Peons recorded another PFW 'cast this week which should be out some time in May, and we should be getting back to our own podcast starting next week.

I've been reading a fic called Away From The Sun by hgfan1111 (aka cibjasfad, aka Andi). It's really, really good. You can access it at Sink Into Your Eyes (edited) and Simply Undeniable (may be edited, login required). I've been reading it off of her LiveJournal, and talked OR!Sue and indirectly Jules into reading it as well. She's also a friend of (the eevil) Ella aka deadwoodpecker, who wrote Yellow Submarine among other things. *prods you into the direction of fic*

I think that's all for right now - there will be a new trailer released tonight, and I'll link/post it here when I get it! There's at least one new clip - Katie Bell being cursed - so we'll see how it looks.

Cheers!

not happy with wb

Why do they keep doing this?

`Harry Potter' sweeps into theaters 2 days early

We're all geared up for the Friday premiere, midnight shows, podcast reactions from Azkatraz, people taking time off work, etc. I think they do this on purpose. Dorks.

The better news is that we're supposed to be getting a 'new' new trailer on Thursday - not the same as the Japanese trailer - at least, that's what it looks like. The one in the post below is just at 2 minutes, and the one for Thursday is supposed to be 2:20. I'll believe it when I see it. We've also had a few new pics out; one of them has Harry playing the piano of all things. Um, I don't think so.

I have a little bit of yarn to review, but I'm off to bed. Just popped in to watch the end of the Cards-D'backs game (we lost, extra innings, alas) and if there was an update on Carp (possible pulled left ribcage). We JUST got him back, and he left before the first pitch of the fourth. *crosses fingers for not bad injury*

Cheers!

'new' international trailer is up

98 days. 98 DAYS. NINETY-EIGHT DAYS!



So can't wait for this. To quote Jen, "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited!!"

Got to see Trek first, though!!

*goes off to breathe into a paper sack for a bit*

Cheers!

ps: Twitter is a hoot! No pun intended, but there you go. Try it!

tweeting and other news

Yes, I have succumbed to Twitter. I don't have much on it yet - no access to it from the work computer (as expected) - but I can text in Tweets. I only signed up for it two days ago and I've already got two followers who I totally don't recognize. I DO have a few that I did recognize - and one of them is making me laugh and laugh! I followed him, and he followed me back. See if you can figure out who it is. ;)

Anyway, I think I'll search for some more once the "Find" function comes back. Apparently Twitter had a meltdown right after I signed up (coincidence? hmmm) and the 'Search for Others' functionality went poof.

This will be more fun once I get the smartphone. Heh heh heh.

I guess I didn't mention in the last post that I never made it to Kansas City over the weekend. No way was I driving through sleet, freezing rain, ice, and snow. KS!D said that they were closing stores on Saturday due to the weather. I'm glad I stayed at home. We got 2 inches here between 3AM and 5 AM - it snowed sideways for a while! - and it was all melted by 8AM. Why can't we have snow like that for Christmas?

My DNBY order arrived, and so I need to shoot, post, review, and stash the yarn. I got two colorways that are very similar! Ah well. NE!Sue, they're in 'my colors'. You'll know what I mean!

Baseball in 6 days. w00t!!! The Blues may make the playoffs this year, too. I know. Cue "*GASP*". They're in Chicago tonight, playing the Blackhawks. Go Blues!

Happy 63rd anniversary, Oma & Opa! I love you.

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone else!! Cheers!

yarn haul catchup

Oh, dear lord.

I've been working on this list for the last 5 hours, and there's more on the way here. Yikes. The first two are from Weaving Dept, the next eight are from Michael's, four from Hobby Lobby, three from Yarn Barn of Lawrence, KS, two from DNBY, and one each from hand-dyers. That's 21 yarns.

• 1 100g ball Zwerger Garn "Opal Wintermarchen (Winter Tale)" (75% superwash wool/25% polyamid) in colorway #2153 (cream, dark tan, cream, demin blue)
• 1 100g Zwerger Garn "Opal Rainforest" (75% superwash wool/25% polyamid) in colorway Der Aufmerksame Emil (Clever Emil) (cream, tan, deep forest green, medium green)
• 1 3.5oz ball Bernat "Baby Jacquards" (90% acrylic/10% nylon) in colorway Boo Berries (white, medium to very pale blue)
• 1 3.5oz ball Bernat "Baby Jacquards" (90% acrylic/10% nylon) in colorway Berries & Cream (hot pink, bright yellow, white)
• 4 50g balls Patons "Stretch Socks" (41% cotton/39% wool/13% nylon/7% elastic) in colorway Plum (purple, plum, orange, olive, forest green, cream, pink, white) 2 balls of this were purchased at Michael's, as they were on clearance, and the other 2 at Hobby Lobby.
• 2 50g balls Patons "Kroy Socks Stripes" (75% washable wool/25% nylon) in colorway Burnished Sierra Stripes (orange, grey, rust, black, brown)
• 2 50g balls Patons "Kroy Socks Jacquard" (75% washable wool/25% nylon) in colorway Fern Rose Jacquard (pink, green, rust, blue, green, white, purple, yellow)
• 2 40g balls Bernat "Glow In The Dark" (70% acrylic/30% nylon) in colorway Green Glow (electric green/white twist)
• 2 40g balls Bernat "Glow In The Dark" (70% acrylic/30% nylon) in colorway Light Bright (electric yellow/white twist)
• 1 100g ball Patons "Divine" (79.5% acrylic/18% mohair/2.5% polyester) in colorway Regal Red (lipstick red, black)
• 1 100g ball Yarn Bee "Walk Away Sock Yarn" (70% superwash wool/23% polyamide/7% PBT*) in colorway Tootsies (chocolate brown, very dark brown, electric blue, white, lime, olive, orange, yellow, indigo) #2 and #3
• 1 4oz ball Yarn Bee "Rainbow Wool" (86.4% wool/5% mohair/8.6% acrylic) in colorway Waterway (blue, white, charcoal twist)
• 1 4oz ball Yarn Bee "Snowflake Wool Blend" (56% wool/22% polyester/22% PTT**) in colorway Cloudy (white, light to dark blue, charcoal, red/yellow/blue/white fleck)
• 2 50g balls Red Heart "Heart and Sole" (75% superwash wool/25% nylon) in colorway Black (black)
• 1 100g hank Mountain Colors "Bearfoot" (60% superwash wool/25% mohair/15% nylon) in colorway Yellowstone (rust, orange, red, burgundy, red-brown)
• 1 100g ball Plymouth Yarns "Encore Sock" (75% acrylic/25% wool) in colorway 7521 (grey, charcoal, white, lipstick red)
• 1 100g ball Knit One Crochet Too "Ty-Dy Socks" (80% superwash wool/25% nylon) in colorway 1767 (lime, yellow, hot pink, purple)
• 3 100g balls Plymouth Yarn "Sockotta" (45% cotton/40% superwash wool/15% nylon) in colorway Serendipity (#6674) (grey, purple, dark brown, hot pink, forest green)
• 1 100g hank Cherry Tree Hill "Supersock Solid" (100% wool) in colorway Ginger Snap (light brick red)
• 1 100g hank Sunshine Yarns "Twist" (100% superwash wool) in colorway Department of Mysteries (dark blue, indigo, black, charcoal grey, sky blue, white, electric yellow)
• 1 400yd hank Razzy Tazzy Yarn "Hand Painted Sock" (100% superwash wool) in colorway Gryffindor (rust, orange, yellow)

Some info about two of the yarns...there were some new fibers listed:

*Product Name: High Elasticity Fiber:PBT
Brief introduction & Characteristics:

PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) fiber is a new polyester fiber developed in recent years, it has many excellent properties, such as good processability, good dyeability, high colour fastness, soft handle of its fabric. Garments made of it can flex with human body's move, which make consumers feel very comfortable. The elasticity of PBT fiber is between that of nylon and polyurethane fiber. At certain scope, it can replace polyurethane fiber, its resistance to chemical corrosion and aging is better than that of polyamide fiber and its price is only that one quarter of polyurethane fiber.

Characteristics

1)Good elasticity, the elastic recovery percentage of nylon and PET are 70% and 55% respectively, if that of PBT is 100%.
2)Dyeable without media at normal temperature and pressure and it colourfastness is high.
3)Good resistance to chemical corrosion. Compared with nylon, it doesn't have the disadvantages of prone to yellowing and chlorine corrosion.
4)Good dimensional stability.5)Soft handle, good antipill and antistatic properties

and the second:

**PTT is an advanced polymer that can be spun into fibers. The fibers and yarns have a unique combination of properties including stretch and recovery, softness, bulk, and easy dye. Fabrics produced from PTT fibers and yarns clean easily and have superior durability.

Like I said, more on the way!

Cheers!

a mini-catchup

Okay, so this really isn't a blog post...I'm a bit behind on posting, and have been (seemingly) all over the place in the last month. Sorry about that.

Hallows & Horcruxes II/Gathering of Awesome was ...well, awesome! Bought CDs, jumped around like I was 10, sang at the top of my lungs with a roomful of people doing the same thing, hung out with PFW peoples, awesome. Really, I have pictures, and links, and all sorts of other stuff to share about the trip. I've also managed to get at least one Ministry of Magic song totally trapped in my head. Sigh.

I also have a bunch of yarn to photograph, add to stash on Rav, and review here from a bunch of places including Yarn Barn of Lawrence.

A few more promos have been released for HBP, and I managed to see the trailer (#3, I think) for the new Star Trek. Oh Em Gee.

Speaking of rendering me speechless (*g*), I have just in the past hour or so finished Backward With Purpose by the evil Ella, aka deadwoodpecker. Oh my freaking Merlin. If you have a spare...oh, I don't know, few days, go read the fic. It's linked in the Books Read 2009 sidebar. PFW reviewed this fic, and it's sequel The Book of Albus, on upcoming episodes. I haven't started BoA yet, but plan to do so ASAP. This is the same author who wrote Yellow Submarine (which I have apparently forgotten to add to the Books Read list *fixes that*) and has at least three or four other irons in the fire. She's on LJ and on ff.net. Go read her stuff. I'm not kidding.

I got to record a PFW! Go me! I'm a guest host on the second Season 3 PFW ep. We reviewed the last half of Harry Potter and the Power of Truth by CreativeQuill. Yes, it's linked on the sidebar. ;) No word yet as to when the release date is....probably May or so. You can hear me on Peoncast starting with the season opener, too! We've been having a great time with the one-shots and short chaptered fics.

Oh! and you can also hear me narrating a story for Spellcast. I think the podcast with the reading will be released in the next week or so.

I'll be driving (on Saturday) into the winter storm that is apparently going to be zooming through Kansas City this weekend...D and NE!Sue are having a mini-meetup, so I'm going for an overnight. It looks like I'm not going to get snowed on until at least Boonesville, and it shouldn't be too bad. I hope.

Last but certainly not least, please keep my OR!Sue (aka Sueatducksfoot) from PFW in your thoughts...her grandfather passed away on Friday, and she's in California this weekend for the funeral. It's been a difficult week for them.

Phew. This wasn't going to be this long.

Cheers!

PS: BASEBALL IN 12 DAYS!!!!!!!! w00t!!!!!!!!!!!!!