Silliness last week at 1:30 am

Poppy (1:30:26 AM): Alpaca yarn, which is one of the world's rarest natural fibers, has outstanding qualities that make it ideal for the production of high quality knitwear.
Me (1:30:37 AM): rare??
Me (1:30:48 AM): hahaha
Poppy (1:30:51 AM): that's what a sales thingy for a sweater says
Poppy (1:30:53 AM): HAHAHAHAHAHA
Me (1:30:53 AM): are they serious
Poppy (1:30:58 AM): yep
Poppy (1:30:59 AM): dead
Me (1:30:58 AM): lololololol
Poppy (1:31:02 AM): lololol
Poppy (1:31:11 AM): *Link given here...we won't embarrass the store*
Me (1:31:13 AM): crikey! it's the elusive rare alpaca
Poppy (1:31:29 AM): HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Me (1:31:36 AM): hahahahahahahahaha
Me (1:31:43 AM): one of natures oddities
Poppy (1:31:46 AM): oh look! what's that? oh! it's the rare alpaca and its mate
Poppy (1:31:50 AM): shhh
Poppy (1:31:53 AM): be vewy quiet
Me (1:31:52 AM): rarely seen in nature
Me (1:31:57 AM): hahahahahahahah
Me (1:32:03 AM): the alpaca is very dangerous
Me (1:32:07 AM): and deadly creature
Poppy (1:32:13 AM): HAHAHAHAHAHA
Poppy (1:32:25 AM): they will charge at you for no reason
Poppy (1:32:35 AM): which explains why they are so rare
Poppy (1:32:36 AM): hunted
Me (1:32:38 AM): and bobs your uncle they will bite off your head
Poppy (1:32:40 AM): to near extinction
Poppy (1:32:47 AM): hahahahahaha
Me (1:32:46 AM): lolololol
Me (1:32:59 AM): yeah that and the fact that they are invisible
Me (1:33:04 AM): magical
Me (1:33:06 AM): creatures
Poppy (1:33:08 AM): HAHAHAHAHAH
Poppy (1:33:16 AM): live only in the vicinity of unicorns
Me (1:33:19 AM): hahahahahahhaha
Me (1:34:10 AM): and the blood cures disease!
Poppy (1:34:15 AM): lololol
Me (1:34:20 AM): lolololololololol
Poppy (1:34:34 AM): there are whole communities that have been wiped off the planet
Poppy (1:34:43 AM): from the wild alpacas
Me (1:34:42 AM): HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAA
Poppy (1:34:46 AM): roanoke
Poppy (1:34:49 AM): it's a theory
Poppy (1:34:50 AM): you know
Me (1:34:49 AM): oh yes
Me (1:34:51 AM): i heard that
Poppy (1:34:56 AM): lololol
Me (1:34:57 AM): lololololol
Poppy (1:35:00 AM): omg
Poppy (1:35:01 AM): blog it
Poppy (1:35:03 AM): lololol
Me (1:35:08 AM): lolol ok
FaeryCrafty (1:35:15 AM): i am so blogging this

Knitting Meme

I found this over at Samantha's blog and thought it would be fun to do :)

Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

Afghan/Blanket (baby)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn (does swatch count??)
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art I think all knitting is art :)
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (have considered knitting with zoe's hair)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

What have you done?

Silent Poetry Reading

Six Weird Things About Me :)

I got tagged by Gigi and could not resist sharing the weirdness that is me with all of you.

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog

Six "weird" things about myself:

1. I was born with brown eyes that started turning green in my mid twenties. Now my eyes are hazel. Yeah so this isn't super weird, but i'm warming up.

2. I can't kill anything not even a spider. (Not because I'm afraid. I will pick up the spider and put it outside) I can't put a worm on a hook to fish. I can't squish a bug. I can't even eat meat anymore because I feel too guilty. Not too weird to look at this alone but extremely weird considering I come from a LONG line of hunters and carnivores. I'm probably the only person in my entire family that doesn't eat meat.

3. I was a Vet Assistant and saw all kinds of blood, gore, puke, poop, pus, you name it!! Usually ended up with a bunch of it on my scrubs by the end of the day. It never phased me one bit. Oddly enough, I can't handle any kind of thing like that if it is from a human being. I am a major, major germaphobe, and yet I'm not concerned about Zoonotic diseases at all.

4. Even weirder...I had at least three cleaning jobs in my life and cleaned public restrooms. Now I am scared to death of them. It's a huge production every time I have to use the bathroom when I'm out and about. You should see me trying not to touch ANYTHING. It's quite comical.

5. I grew my hair super long once inspired by Lara Croft played by Angelina Jolie...then chopped it off, gave it to locks of love. The weird thing is that I'm not a superhuge fan of Angelina Jolie or Lara Croft. I just thought her hair was really cool!

6. I never cry from getting hurt, and I have an insane tolerance for pain hence all the piercings and tattoos. If I throw up, I cry like a little baby, huge tears, sobbing, the whole production.

This was fun!! I'm not usually a rule breaker,(I'm one of those annoying goody two shoes) but I think I'm gonna break the rule and not technically tag anyone. If you are reading my weirdness and think you might have some weird qualities yourself, TAG you're it!!

Amazing Discovery

1. Get one Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle, one packet of hot chocolate, and hot water.

2. Place all ingredients into mug.

3. Die and go to Heaven.

World AIDS Day

IN THE U.S.

*An estimated one million people are currently living with HIV in the United States, with approximately 40,000 new infections occurring each year.
*70 percent of these new infections occur in men and 30 percent occur in women.
*By race, 54 percent of the new infections in the United States occur among African Americans, and 64 percent of the new infections in women occur in African American women.
*75 percent of the new infections in women are heterosexually transmitted.
*Half of all new infections in the United States occur in people 25 years of age or younger.

AROUND THE WORLD
*There are 14,000 new infections every day (95 percent in developing countries). HIV/AIDS is a "disease of young people" with half of the 5 million new infections each year occurring among people ages 15 to 24.
*The UN estimates that, currently, there are 14 million AIDS orphans and that by 2010 there will be 25 million.
*Over 22 million people have died from AIDS.
*Over 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and 74 percent of these infected people live in sub-Saharan Africa.
*Over 19 million women are living with HIV/AIDS.
*By the year 2010, five countries (Ethiopia, Nigeria, China, India, and Russia) with 40 percent of the world's population will add 50 to 75 million infected people to the worldwide pool of HIV disease.

It's Only Words

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.

No.
Explanations.

1. Yourself: strong
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): love
3. Your hair: red
4. Your mother: heart
5. Your father: bad
6. Your favorite item: ring
7. Your dream last night: strange
8. Your favorite drink: diet
9. Your dream car: hybrid
10. The room you are in: den
11. Your ex: forgotten
12. Your fear: losing
13. What you want to be in 10 years? married
14. Who you hung out with last night? Rob
15. What you're not? Liar
16. Muffins: Chocolate
17. One of Your Wish List Items: Camera
18. Time: short
19. The last thing you did: twitch
20. What you are wearing: Yuck
21. Your favorite weather: mild
22. Your favorite book: Horror
23. The last thing you ate: food
24. Your life: Test
25. Your mood: tired
26. Your best friend: rob
27. What are you thinking about right now? bed
28. Your car: Black
29. What are you doing at the moment? typing
30. Your summer: Move
31. Your relationship status: married
32. What is on your TV? Hanks
33. What is the weather like? chilly
34. When is the last time you laughed? morning

I found this over at Knitorious, and I thought it was an interesting meme. I figured I ought to post something since I am camerless. I think the title is very appropriate considering that my blog has been reduced to only words. Blogs are no fun without pictures, and I'm not really sure when that situation is going to be fixed. Alas, the money tree never sprouted. I really need to get a better gardener.

Johnny Cash Fans?

I just saw the new video for Johnny Cash's song, God's Gonna Cut You Down, and I thought I would share it with you. I'm not typically a country music fan per say, but I love me some Johnny Cash. I have been a fan since my Pawpaw (ya'll now I'm from the Appalachian mt's right?) would sit down with his guitar and sing his songs to me when I was little. "Play that prison song again Pawpaw!! Please!!" My heart broke when he passed away, but I was not surprised. I knew he wouldn't last long (4 months!) without his beloved June. Now that's a love story right there. I must admit, I was quite suprised by the video in that it was not what I expected. A long list of *celebrities (Kate Moss? huh?) appear in the video, which appears to be a tribute to The Man In Black. Now it seems that many fans have extremely differing opinions on it. Some love it. Some are just plain ticked off. What do you think?

*Iggy Pop, Kanye West, Chris Martin, Kris Kristofferson, Patty Smith, Terrence Howard, Flea, Q-Tip, Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Chris Rock, Justin Timberlake, Kate Moss, Sir Peter Blake, Sheryl Crow, Dennis Hopper, Woody Harrelson, Amy Lee (Evanescence), Tommy Lee, Dixie Chicks, Mick Jones, Sharon Stone, Bono, Shelby Lynne, Anthony Kiedis, Travis Barker, Lisa Marie Presley, Kid Rock, Jay Z, Keith Richards, Billy Gibbons, Corinne Bailey Rae, Johnny Depp, Graham Nash, Brian Wilson, Rick Rubin, and Owen Wilson

Random

I was just stumbling around the internets and found this. Wouldn't that be great for Halloween!! Can you imagine freaking out some kids by taking a bite out of any of those!!!

What Is In A Name?

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions. They were all wonderful. After much consideration, I decided to go with Helena! First of all I thought it was so cool that someone else had even seen that movie other than myself. That movie is so twisted and weird!! For those of you that are going "huh???" right now, the movie is called Boxing Helena. It is about a doctor that becomes obsessed with a woman and eventually cuts her arms and legs off to fully posess her. At one point he has her all displayed on a table or something with flowers all around her. Freaky!!! When I read that suggestion I just cracked up lauging and said, "That's the one!!". Thanks Elspeth! Send me your snail mail address and I'll send you a little somethin' somethin' to show my appreciation :)

My New Friend

Ain't she purty! Much to my dismay my favorite store, Petite Sophisticate, is going out of business. I got this dress form for a great price! I have always wanted one for the blog, especially on the days where I'm really not feeling ummm let's just say...photogenic. Now I have to give her a name. Any suggestions?

Four Memes

Birdsong tagged me...

4 jobs you had in your life.
Knitting Teacher
Vet. Tech.
Bartender
Receptionist

4 movies you could watch over and over
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas
Steel Magnolias
Groundhog Day
Airplane
(I love goofy movies)

4 places you have lived
Allegheny County
Newport News
Hampton
Central Florida

4 TV shows you love to watch
Dead Like Me
Sopranos
Carnivale
Deadwood

4 places you have been on vacation
Maine
New York
Florida
North Carolina

4 websites you visit daily
Bloglines (which leads me to all my favorite blogs)
Haloscan
Yahoo mail
Blogdrive.com

4 of your favorite foods
Korean food
Sushi
Bread
Chocolate

4 places you would rather be right now
Phoenix, AZ with my hubby
Virginia with my friends and family
New Zealand
Hawaii

4 bloggers you are tagging (first 4 that popped into my head)
Lanie
Bethany
Pioggia
Diane

Say It Ain't So...

Martha Stewart Coming Home Ponchos for Dogs knit and crocheted. I have seen it all. Thanks for the laugh Rachel!

Tagged :)

I got tagged by Pioggia. This one seems really interesting. You're supposed to pick five and then fill in the blank. Here it goes...

If I could be a scientist…
If I could be a farmer…
If I could be a musician…
If I could be a doctor…
If I could be a painter…
If I could be a gardener…
If I could be a missionary…
If I could be a chef…
If I could be an architect…
If I could be a linguist…
If I could be a psychologist…
If I could be a librarian…
If I could be an athlete…
If I could be a lawyer…
If I could be an inn-keeper…
If I could be a professor…
If I could be a writer…
If I could be a llama-rider…
If I could be a bonnie pirate…
If I could be an astronaut…
If I could be a world famous blogger…
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world…
If I could be married to any current famous political figure…

If I could be a scientist I would be hard at work trying to discover either a cure or a vaccine for HIV. Then mass quantities of this cure/vaccine will be distributed around the world to the many people who are suffering from this horrible epidemic.

If I could be a musician I would play the violin and piano. I have always loved those instruments and have often played them in my dreams. I do a really good job too! Maybe I was a musician in a former life :)

If I could be a chef, my husband would be ecstatic. This would mean he didn't have to cook dinner every night. It's not that I can't cook, it's that I don't like to cook. I pretend to be incompetent in the kitchen so that he will do the cooking. Hahaha! You know it's usually men that do that!

If I could be a doctor, I would volunteer for Doctors Without Borders. I have always admired the doctors that are so giving and most often brave hostile environments to help their fellow man.

If I could be a gardener, I would grow all of my own organic veggies. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but I'm stuck in an apartment. However, I did plant some tomatoes in a pot the other day, and I got little sprouts coming up!

If I could be a llama rider, I would be riding a bald llama! You know I'd have to spin it's hair! Well I guess it wouldn't be bald all the time. I would have to let it grow long enough so that it will spin Haha!

Had to do it!

I saw this on Mason Dixon Knitting and Passion Knit, and I just had to do it. This is too cute! Oh wait, I want to do  my name too!

How adorable is that!! Go try it yourself here.

I've Been Tagged

1. Total amount of music files on your computer: 0 
 
2. The last CD you bought was: Phantom Of The Opera original cast

3. What is the last song you heard before writing this message? They were playing the soundtrack to Top Gun while we were closing up at work. I don't remember which song was the last song I heard though.

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you: Not Fade Away, Head Over Feet, All My Life, Superman, and Clocks

5. Who will you pass the torch on to (3 people) Not Sure Yet.

Cartoon Me

I saw the link to make a cartoon portrait of yourself on Wendy's blog, and  I thought it would be fun to try it. I showed mine to my husband, and he said, "Hey it's Anime You!" Actually, it does kinda look like me, freckles and all. If you click on the picture, it will take you to the site where you can make your own.

Knitter's Geek Code

The Knitter's Geek Code v1.1
Adapted by Kate Pickering and published in Knitty

-----BEGIN KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 1.1

KER++$ Exp+ SPM++ Bamboo+ Wood+ Brittany++ Steel- Plastic- Syn+ Cot+ Wool+ Lux>+ Hemp>+ Stash+>++ Scale+ Tex Lace >FI >Int>Ent Flat Circ DPN Swatch KIP+++ Blog+++ SNB+++ FO++ WIP+++ Gauge F+W+B+ AltCr+++Sw+>Sp

------END KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK------



I guess I got it right. Here is how I think it translates.

KER++$ : I knit English and right handed. I love to knit but I'm not quite obsessed. I get paid to knit :)

Exp+ : I have been knitting for a few years now, and consider myself an intermediate knitter, at least.

SPM++ : I am not a speed knitter, but I am definately not slow.

Bamboo++
Wood++
Brittany++
Steel-
Plastic- : I knit using bamboo needles and wooden needles. I am trying to collect every size of Brittany needles. I have both steel and plastic needles, but I don't really like them.

Syn+
Cot+
Wool+
Lux>+
Hemp>+ :I have synthetic, cotton, and wool yarn in my stash, and I would like to have cashmere, camel, alpaca, silk, angora, yak, and hemp/organic yarns in my stash.

Stash+>++ : When I spy a terrific yarn bargain, I'm not about to pass it up, so I've got a bit of a stash. I sort through it regularly, and when I start a new project, it's usually out of my stash yarn. I would like to be able to buy moreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Scale+ :Thanks to my day job, I mostly concentrate on small projects, but I manage to fit in a sweater a year.

Fin : I hate this part, but you have to do it. I always try to keep it simple, and I weave in ends or sew seams as I go so it isn't so bad at the end.


Tex
Lace
>FI
>Int
>Ent : I do cables, textured knitting, and lace. I want to do fair isle, intarsia, and entrelac.

Flat
Circ
DPN : I knit flat, with circulars, and double pointed needles. 

Swatch : I knit a swatch before I start a project zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

KIP+++ : I knit in public quite often.

Blog+++ : I love my blog :)

SNB+++ : I love my knitting group and meet with them as often as possible

FO++: I have quite a bit of finished objects.

WIP+++ : I always have a ton of projects going on!

Gauge F+W+B+ : I like to knit with fingering, worsted, and bulky weight yarns.

AltCr+++Sw+>Sp : I also know how to crochet(24 years), sew, and I am learning to spin.