hehehe

Hat Attack 2– my death hat (the one I made)

yorik, batman and connor macleod — they all agree:

As far as death hats go, “there can be only one!”

look at that lovely tasty sparkly alpaca silk yarn.

((if the pattern weren’t such a PITA I would knit it again for myself))

And my current actual, I mean I really am doing it, I promise wip: the circular shrug from Peony Knits. What a delightful pattern. I am knitting it while sitting in lecture (ignoring a certain teacher throwing me out for knitting– he was joking, I swear) and while cleaning up my tivo. It’s going fast!!

This is baby llama yarn on size 9 needles. The camera– sadly does not capture the true peacock goregousness (there I go making up words again) of this yarn.

And finally, a preview. I am making stitch markers for Melanie over at lotus knits to go with her yarn club. Yarn, captured in resin. This is a snapshot of the practice round (not her yarn– some truly gorgeous Socks That Rock, Jewel of the Nile.

don’t poke the resin too much while it is setting– it gets cloudy.

and: seal your yarn up in good old elmer’s glue. without it, the yarn melts or something. Swear to goodness.

*****

I forgot. I bought the pattern Giselle from Stitch Diva (by marnie maclean) but I haven’t cast on. I’ve been shopping around for yarn. well. I bought the new Mason Dixon book… sorry Giselle. I have a new MUST have sweater. I want this sweater on my body like yesterday:

drool. 1- I love the expanding ribs. Soo pretty, and feminine too. 2- the color is very pretty. 3- words. Yes. words and knitting. I don’t know why I like it, but I do. The hunt is on for an appropriately ‘me’ quote. I am taking suggestions.

Ok, that’s pretty much it for now. TTYL

For 8 long, tiring, stressful years Barry and I have been attempting to live the American dream. You know, the ‘pursuit of happiness’ and all that baloney. There have been many times where I have said, “screw it– let’s move back to England” or “I hate not being able to do ____________” you name it– because of the whole immigration bs. And when he got a letter in January or February of this year, charging him with 11 different crimes, including “entering the country at an unknown port” *cough– I had no idea that LAX and customs is an unknown port, but ok* I about flipped my lid.

Thursday we had yet another court date. I am getting tired of these court dates. I am getting tired of being fed a constant and steady stream of how great America is and how lucky I am when my husband can’t get a driver’s license, can’t get a bank account, etc because of fuck-ups and snafus ALL on the government’s side of things. However, I am pretty sure that the NEXT court date will be the last. As for how it will go– it’s any body’s guess.

Hopefully, this year we will have an extra something to be thankful for. I don’t want any of my whining about the USCIS (INS) to make it sound like I am ungrateful– after all I live in a country where I can speak my mind freely, my education is partially paid for by the government, my daughter is in a school which is teaching to be a greater thinker than she already is, I have a roof over my head, etc. But, when the USCIS stuff is over with, it will be nice to not live my life always saying “once this is done we can ____” because we will be able to.

How many people blindly vote with their party, never willing to listen to what the other party says? I’d like to know– honestly. Have YOU sat and listened to both sides give their speeches? (Probably the answer is yes because you are fabulous like me — otherwise why would you be reading this?)

There is a tone to the RNC that was missing from the DNC– one of condescension and outright disrespect. Sure, the Dems got in their jabs about McCain and the Republicans, but not in a way that was so… low.  I had to turn off Huckabee’s speech and I only made it through 3/4 of Palin’s. I think it’s great that the Republicans nominated a female VP. But you know, 24 years ago another woman was a VP nominee for a major party. Geraldine Ferraro. It’s not that freaking big of a deal that Palin is a woman.

It really isn’t.  Unless of course, you are so feminist (as to be anti-feminist) and will vote for a woman whose campaign has already released buttons like “Hoosiers for the HOT Chick” and “The HOT VP”. (barf) Or you are just going to vote for Palin because she is a female, regardless of the fact that she is 100% pro life and against anything other than advocating abstinence. ((which, I shall now stoop to republican levels of commentary for a moment– worked soo well for her underaged daughter))

About that–the whole “her daughter is pregnant” thing– is it really anyone’s business to know this? To discuss it? Family is kind of off limits and sacred. So my knee jerk reaction is, no way– discussing the daughter’s pregnancy is out of line. Unless of course, you are talking about how Ms. Palin is anti-sex education in any way shape or form except for abstinence, and could possibly make the matter a federal one.

I live in fear of a world where abortion is against the law. I saw that movie with Sissy Spacek and it scared the crap out of me. It kind of scares me that Palin and McCain are so obstinately pro-life. NOBODY should be able to and nobody can tell a woman what choice to make in that situation– not really. And I am pretty certain that at $500 a pop or more abortions aren’t exactly the world’s preferred method of birth control that the pro-lifer’s would have you believe. But I digress.

Let’s just talk about energy for a second.

Obama is against offshore drilling (um, even if we started drilling this very second it would not drop oil prices nor would it end America’s dependence on oil– eventually we will use all of the oil up and then what?) but he is for solar power, clean coal, wind power, biofuels, and limited nuclear power (at least that’s what I think he said.)

Palin says that her platform/party is for solar power, clean coal, windpower, nuclear power, and off shore drilling. And that even if off shore drilling doesn’t solve all our problems, it’s better than doing nothing.

Am I missing something?

The ONLY difference is that the dems support moving america away from oil dependence and the republicans just want to move america away from foreign oil dependence.

I’d also like to know how Obama’s statement of “I will lower taxes” means “I will raise all of your taxes and turn america into communist russia” comes from. But I am kind of politically stupid.

I am just really saddened by the sheer amount of low blows and outright blatantly screwy logic some people are employing in this race. I talk to everyone about this because I can be kind of screwy when it comes to reading people and maybe you see something differently and discussing it may bring me to a new realization.

But when I hear crap like 99% of all the black people will vote for Obama because he is black, or most of the disgruntled Hilary supporters will vote Palin because she is a female (despite the fact that she is like, the anti-Hilary) it kind of scares me. Are people really so rigid in their beliefs and so locked into stereotypes?? and don’t forget, I live in California.

1. Pineapple Orange juice: I got hooked on this in Hawaii, and post gastric bypass, the pineapple cuts the acid of the orange juice so it’s a citrus juice I can drink without pain.
2. Pepsi.  I took the Pepsi challenge a looong time ago, LOL. I think that Coca Cola is just too acidy and not sweet enough.
3. Monster M-80 or Monster Assault. The taurine is really strong in both but is offset by the juice flavor, and I don’t crash or dump on Monster like I do on other energy drinks.
4. Milk. Lukewarm. As a kid I loved it! Still do, but can’t handle it too much cuz of my tummy.
5. A Grande White Mocha Frappucino, extra thick with an addshot of hazelnut. Word of warning, it has to be extra thick– I prefer my Fraps to be the consistency of an Icee, and if they aren’t the coffee is too strong for my taste. BECAUSE:
6. Hot tea with milk and a crap load of sugar. I am a tea drinker. Tea over coffee every time.
7. Sweet tea. I’ll have a Venti Black IcedTea with 12 pumps of classic. Which is like 8 oz of syrup (not really)
8. Pina Coladas. Pineapple and coconut milk. I like these because they taste good and the booze doesn’t peel the lining off of my esophogus like the starbucks and cream cocktail I had at Black Angus last night.
9. The Peach Belinis @ Johnny Carinos. Now there is a mixed and frozen cocktail I could drink all night long.
10. Lemonade or Watermelon Ice flavored gatorade. If I am really sick, I also like the lemon lime flavor.

———

Finals are next week. Right now my hair is various shades of purple, orange, green, brunette, and blue. Over the weekend Barry looked at me and said “Your hair looks like it’s going off.” I agreed and said, “That’s why I have an appointment on Wednesday.” I will post before and after pics.

The J4M sweater is almost done! I hate the bottom/hem and am struggling with whether or not I should undo it and redo it. The purl bumps want to curl unflatteringly and overall it’s just not nice. Any suggestions? Furthermore… I have started on the sleeves and am already in the lace section of sleeve one and thinking to myself… “I know I wanted long sleeves… but I could be done in 4 hours, 5 tops if I chose short sleeves…” *sigh*

My headache still won’t go away. It’s devastating (to me) and more than a little worrisome.

Then Sunday night I just kind of said, “to hell with this s–t” and picked up the J4M sweater and started knitting. I am finally finished with the body of the sweater, and expect to finish the sleeves very soon. The lace section is irritating, but otherwise, it’s been a pleasant experience for me, knitting a sweater all my very own. Plus, I’ve gotten to try it on like seven or eight times whilst the knitting was in progress, so I am fairly certain it will fit and not be all for nothing! big cheer.

Because I had a cold I have been keeping away from my sister. I am afraid to go over to her house when I have a really bad cold, because I don’t want to get her sick and actually fear that me giving her a cold will kill her and then it would be on my head… (I mean it). And since I haven’t been in class, I’ve been a little lonely (ok, a lot lonely)

I’ve managed to watch the first 2 seasons of Lois and Clark, catch up on my Tivo, and watch the first season of ER. Not bad, huh???

I wouldn’t vote for either one of you (so Pete Wilson you’re wasting your breath endorsing either one of these morons, I hope you got paid well) on threat of death.

Who in their right friggin mind believes that a “anti illegal immigration” wall is a viable method of keeping illegal immigrants out of the country?? FURTHERMORE,  YOU RACIST BASTARDS, who says all of the illegals are from MEXICO???

I am becoming quite irate at just the thought… ::red in the face:: grrrrrrrrrrr

1. the package was huge!
2. there was  enough yarn in it to induce a coma… remember how when I went to la knitterie parisienne I got all dizzy and overwhelmed?!(and NOT just because nothing has a price on it in that store)
3. bunny yarn
4. sheep!
5. and just the fact that she stepped in and angelled me in the first place is enough to make her deserve loads of rewards and praise. Thank you so much Debbie!!

so here’s a weee little picture– click it and it will open HUGE–

and now I am sure the question everyone wants to know is: Why is it on the trunk of my car? well… It came Monday, and between classes at that. So I had enough time to go home, grab the box, some water, and Megan from the bus stop then drive to my sister’s to drop Megan off. I had six hours (I KNOW!) of class time ahead of me and simply could not wait that damn long so when I got to my sister’s house, I unwrapped the package and took a quick picture.

wanna know what’s in it?

2 little bags with lipsmackers and bonne bell lip gloss in them– perfect because my lips need it about now

some soap, some aromatherapy stuff, and a bag full of fun spa things to scrub myself with (that sounds soo weird)

a felted bag with pretty handles and extra yarn for repairs inside it– Debbie made it for me

an awesome yarntainer thing with yarn (getting there) enormous addi turbos and a pattern from hello yarn inside

easy knitted accessories

In the white box is a black sheep tape measure (yay!!)(baaaaaaa) stitch markers, a grow your own snowman kit, and some foam stickers. Please forgive me if I missed anything.

So.

The good stuff.

The yarn.

3  skeins of lionbrand fettucini (?) which is a squishy tapey yarn

2 skeins of lionbrand watercolors which is more of a boucle

3 skeins of lionbrand moonlight mohair (which is very sparkly)

1 ball of sensations angel hair which is perfectly colored red— I have some green for a zombie now I can have fuzzy blood yarn too!!

2 (?) skeins of cascade– I didn’t pull them out because I have been crazy busy…

and

3 skeins of bunny yarn. That’s the pink stuff. It is a merino angora blend. But it’s bunny yarn to me! To me! Bunny yarn. How cool is that?? and it very nicely matches the pink tilli tomas… so maybe I can do the Nicky Epstein throw in all pink instead of pink and green. so. cool.

*and! she says that there’s something else coming, which just plain boggles the mind*

Thank you thank you thank you Debbie.

In other news, I am awake at 4:08 in the morning with a headache, cramps, and a bum leg– I can’t get comfy in bed even though Barry’s there. This only sucks because we’re driving to Burbank in the morning to get theatrical makeup from a halloween store and to visit dark delicasies *an all horror book store* before whizzing back home and making me up into a zombie for class.

See, in my digital video production class we have 10 weeks to do something. If everyone in the class was like me and about 3 other students, it’d be a snap because we’re all grads of the Multimedia dept @ the junior college anyways. But most of the students are Comm majors who haven’t really worked with macs or the programs we’ll be using. Therefore, our first assignment was to come up with an idea for the group project (max 3 min long) and storyboard it. Then tomorrow we will pitch our projects to the class and so forth. (there’s only 13 people…)

My idea? I liked it so much I had to get a domain because I just need to make this teeny little video project. the domain is zombiesarepeopletoo.com and .org. My webhost was having a sale.

Ok. So, the idea is a public service announcement/charity commercial somewhat similar to the Sarah McLachlan doggie commercial or the Sally Struthers starving kids commercials. Only. with zombies. oh. And violence. Basically, in my little world, zombies are poor unfortunates who have been unjustly raised from the dead and then persecuted for something beyond their control! every day zombies are violently attacked for no other reason than because of what they are…

So, I have some shots of zombies being brutally maimed and injured, intercut with more sad looking zombies, and the announcer will be sitting with a zombie, stroking its head… (it’d be awesome to kill the announcer, but I want it to come off as humorous not just gratuitously gory) The whole thing is overlaid with a sad, somber, guilty inducing soundtrack and the announcer running thru their charity spiel.

hehehehe. I am very excited. so

tomorrow, I will have to post a pic of me in zombie dress…

(i just felt like dressing up and had to make a reason…)

oh finally— the J4m sweater is going… I have 1 more round of lace and then the purl ridges to go before the wonderful goodness of straight stockinette stitch sets in. I’ve tried it on several times and am amazed that it actually seems to fit. I have no boobies, so it’s a little wide in the front… (my bust size is mostly from the width of my back, its not fair that I am tubby without breasts. However, if I am wearing a bra, it works nicely… )

I am dying to cast on for a pair of socks in this yarn:

Mel *lotus knits* was my swap partner for the punk rock gift exchange and then I found her store… In September I bought this skein of yarn and the pic just doesn’t do it justice. It’s softly sparkly and just the name– I wanna be sedated– is perfect. But I don’t know what pattern I should use, etc. any suggestions?

I have never knit socks for me. But I want to.

After the movie a discussion over who the best chipmunk was ensued.

Everyone expects you to say Alvin, cuz he’s the coolest.

But Alvin’s got an attitude.

My favorite was Theodore. Sometimes I crushed on Simon too, cuz hey– he wore glasses, and guys in glasses are cute. but mostly, I really really liked Theodore.

Megs said her favorite was Theodore, and K-man said his favorite was Simon, which surprised Brigitte. Who’s favorite was Alvin, cuz he played guitar (and he was lead). She needs a t-shirt that says
“I’m with the band”