Friday, January 25, 2008
H'y Burns' Night!
Today we celebrate the (presumable) birthday of the National Poet of Scotland, Robert Burns. You know him best for numbers such as Auld Lang Syne and To a Haggis. Tonight we will celebrate the occasion with friends, knitting, haggis, and Scotch.
Appropriately, Braveheart is on TV this morning. I guess it's appropriate. I've heard that it's not a very accurate representation of the events of Sir William Wallace's life. I can't say myself. Don't know much about Wallace, though I've been to his memorial and seen his sword. I can't imagine that their teeth were that nice.
The Wallace Memorial is in Stirling. We made it to that area towards the end of our two-week stay in Scotland a couple of years ago. Beautiful place, Stirling. There are weird UFO/Burial mounds/crop circles all around. I should ask Karen about them, as we were never able to figure out what the hell they are. 
Karen, can you hear me? What the hell are these things? Anyhoo, to get to the Wallace monument at all, you have to hike a half a mile or so up this hill. After tramping around Scotland for two weeks, my legs weren't really excited about making this trek. Me and my legs muddled through, though, and were rewarded with the promise of a lengthy march up a few sets of narrow, spiral staircases. Luckily, the Wallace Memorial is divided into a handful of different levels. I made it up to the second, I believe. After climbing up a few thousand narrow, spiral staircases over the previous two weeks, I just couldn't bring myself to do those last 2,352, 483. Call me a pussy, I don't care. I was just plain tired.
Karen, can you hear me? What the hell are these things? Anyhoo, to get to the Wallace monument at all, you have to hike a half a mile or so up this hill. After tramping around Scotland for two weeks, my legs weren't really excited about making this trek. Me and my legs muddled through, though, and were rewarded with the promise of a lengthy march up a few sets of narrow, spiral staircases. Luckily, the Wallace Memorial is divided into a handful of different levels. I made it up to the second, I believe. After climbing up a few thousand narrow, spiral staircases over the previous two weeks, I just couldn't bring myself to do those last 2,352, 483. Call me a pussy, I don't care. I was just plain tired. Perhaps when we return to Scotland we'll hit Stirling earlier in our journey. I'll have more energy and might make it to the top of the memorial next time. The view was gorgeous enough from the base; I bet it is breathtaking from the top.
Labels: Scottish Sweeties
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I still knit!
Really! Here's proof! We had a knitalong over on Ravelry for Hanks' free January scarf pattern. Here are photos of my contribution before and after blocking. After confirming the address, I'll send it off to its lucky recipient (Not Karen! Sorry!). I know it's not very punk rawk, but it's soft and pretty, and will hopefully keep its owner a bit warmer this winter. This is the first scarf I knit, and I enjoyed it! But now I know why I don't knit scarves. Fuckers just go on forever, don't they?
Labels: Knitta please
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Water, Water, Water
I thought if I started a decent exercise regime I'd drop at least a couple of pounds. Not a lot, just a couple of starter pounds that would encourage me to start eating better (And less.). No go. I *have* managed to stop gaining weight, though, and that's a Very Good Thing. But no signs of a true loss. I've got to drink more water. Lots and lots of water. It's hard to get any healthier if one is dehydrated most all of the time. I keep forgetting to put those little packets of Crystal Light in my water, which make me want to drink my water more. So this week's focus will definitely be water, water, Crystal Light, water. And sticking to the exercise. Yes, DDR is definitely exercise! I can feel it in my legs and lungs every day I play it. And Chris says I'm getting a lot better at the game itself from all of the practice. Yay me. DDR Hero.
Labels: Lists and Goals
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
I Voted Today
I voted today (Early voting! Go to your library! It's quick and easy!). I voted pro-choice. I also voted pro-gun, pro-pot, and pro-queer. All of these things, I believe, are pro-American.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
OMG it's Wednesday!
Do you know what that means?! PROJECT RUNWAY! Squeee! It's always a nice surprise when I realize that it's time for a new episode. And I'll get so much knitting done between now and then. Yay!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
A different kind of inspiration
We have this customer at the store, Sam. Sam is awesome. Sam rocks my world. He talks to me about weaving, filling my head with all kinds of ideas and inspirations. He encourages me to no end, and makes me feel like I can do anything, weave anything, if I just give it a try. The other day Sam brought in a few scarves that he had woven to illustrate some ideas that he had been talking to me about the day before. I was overwhelmed with the simple beauty of these scarves. I could clearly see how they were woven together, but lacked the self-confidence to think that I could ever weave anything as beautiful as these. We hung out for a while, and before he left Sam gave me one of his scarves. I was touched to tears. This was a true gift from the heart. I will have this scarf always, and right now it is draped over my loom, lending me inspiration each time I glance that direction.
I wore the scarf to work yesterday. It's rainbow striped, with a black stripe between each rainbow color to really make the bright colors pop. I wear a lot of black, and the scarf looked beautiful with the red shirt and black skirt I wore with it. And I received comments and compliments on it, as I knew that I would. But no less than three people pretty much said, '*You* didn't make *that* did you?' Now they mostly said it nicer than that. And one person kept trying to say it nicer than that until I said it nicer for her. And I did take it as a compliment each time. The scarf is gorgeous, and of course I didn't make it.
But I could have.
It's a simple weave pattern, and no one was paying any attention to the selvages (That's the hardest part of weaving: getting your selvages to look good and professional. Sam's selvages are gorgeous. Mine, well, they're getting there.). It's really the color combination that makes the scarf fabulous. For people to assume that I couldn't make anything so fabulous kind made me pissy by the end of the day. Pissy in an inspired way. By the time I got home from work I had about three quadrillion thoughts in my head about color combinations and weave patterns that would make fabulous scarves. And skirts! I really want to weave up some gorgeous plaid-like skirts! I'll blow these people out of the water. I'll make them say, 'You didn't make that did you?' and then amaze them when I say, 'Why yes! Actually, I did!'
Hrmph.
I wore the scarf to work yesterday. It's rainbow striped, with a black stripe between each rainbow color to really make the bright colors pop. I wear a lot of black, and the scarf looked beautiful with the red shirt and black skirt I wore with it. And I received comments and compliments on it, as I knew that I would. But no less than three people pretty much said, '*You* didn't make *that* did you?' Now they mostly said it nicer than that. And one person kept trying to say it nicer than that until I said it nicer for her. And I did take it as a compliment each time. The scarf is gorgeous, and of course I didn't make it.
But I could have.
It's a simple weave pattern, and no one was paying any attention to the selvages (That's the hardest part of weaving: getting your selvages to look good and professional. Sam's selvages are gorgeous. Mine, well, they're getting there.). It's really the color combination that makes the scarf fabulous. For people to assume that I couldn't make anything so fabulous kind made me pissy by the end of the day. Pissy in an inspired way. By the time I got home from work I had about three quadrillion thoughts in my head about color combinations and weave patterns that would make fabulous scarves. And skirts! I really want to weave up some gorgeous plaid-like skirts! I'll blow these people out of the water. I'll make them say, 'You didn't make that did you?' and then amaze them when I say, 'Why yes! Actually, I did!'
Hrmph.
Friday, January 11, 2008
DDR Update
I just spent 25 minutes playing Dance Dance Revolution in workout mode. I don't like workout mode because it doesn't track high scores and such, but I wanted to experiment this morning. After entering my weight and height data and dancing for 25 minutes, DDR told me that I had burned 165 calories. The average of calories per song was anywhere between 7 and 14 depending on how fast the game had me moving.
The game told me that I had danced the equivalent of jogging 4 1/2 miles. Um. No. No way. I can't jog across my yard, let alone 4 1/2 miles. A sampling of Internet calculators tell me that burning 165 calories in 25 minutes is about the same as walking at 4mph for 25 minutes. That's much closer to the truth. I used to walk at about that speed for a half an hour each morning, and I can attest that it feels about the same. So if I can get in a total of a half an hour of DDR every other day, burning about 180 calories, I'll be a happy camper.
The game told me that I had danced the equivalent of jogging 4 1/2 miles. Um. No. No way. I can't jog across my yard, let alone 4 1/2 miles. A sampling of Internet calculators tell me that burning 165 calories in 25 minutes is about the same as walking at 4mph for 25 minutes. That's much closer to the truth. I used to walk at about that speed for a half an hour each morning, and I can attest that it feels about the same. So if I can get in a total of a half an hour of DDR every other day, burning about 180 calories, I'll be a happy camper.
Labels: Lists and Goals
On lists
Last week or so I talked about lists for the new year. I'm happy to report that the crossing off is going pretty well!
One of the things on my daily list is to 'write before I read.' Before reading my morning email or my feeds, I have been writing something. Anything. Could be either a blog post or an email. And the email can be a goodly long answer to someone or a note to a long not-so-lost friend. And that's been going well!
I also have mini health goals. I'll work at a mini goal until I have it down pat, then add on the next mini health goal. This week's goal is to be more aware of what I'm eating, drink lots of water, and exercise a bit.
I've become aware enough of what I eat that I've started eating a little less of the bad stuff. Not necessarily more of the good stuff, but that will come. I've snacked less, and tried to quit eating when I'm full instead of stuffing myself to no tomorrow.
The water thing? Not so good. All the tea I drink counts a little, I know, but flat out water would be better. Gotta keep working on that.
Exercise. Hrm. Does Dance Dance Revolution count? Yes?! Good! Then I'm doing well! This article claims that one can burn up to 25 calories per song on DDR. I usually play for 9 songs or so per session, so that's not too bad. I play on random, and if I get a slow song I'll play it once at my normal level, then play it a couple of more times on a harder level to get myself moving around more.
Ok that's all. Thanks for listening!
One of the things on my daily list is to 'write before I read.' Before reading my morning email or my feeds, I have been writing something. Anything. Could be either a blog post or an email. And the email can be a goodly long answer to someone or a note to a long not-so-lost friend. And that's been going well!
I also have mini health goals. I'll work at a mini goal until I have it down pat, then add on the next mini health goal. This week's goal is to be more aware of what I'm eating, drink lots of water, and exercise a bit.
I've become aware enough of what I eat that I've started eating a little less of the bad stuff. Not necessarily more of the good stuff, but that will come. I've snacked less, and tried to quit eating when I'm full instead of stuffing myself to no tomorrow.
The water thing? Not so good. All the tea I drink counts a little, I know, but flat out water would be better. Gotta keep working on that.
Exercise. Hrm. Does Dance Dance Revolution count? Yes?! Good! Then I'm doing well! This article claims that one can burn up to 25 calories per song on DDR. I usually play for 9 songs or so per session, so that's not too bad. I play on random, and if I get a slow song I'll play it once at my normal level, then play it a couple of more times on a harder level to get myself moving around more.
Ok that's all. Thanks for listening!
Labels: Lists and Goals
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Happy poop!
I get excited when I find poop in my yard. It means that woodland critters have been on our property, and that makes me happy.
Yesterday while walking Monty I found a pile of rabbit poop. Not completely unusual. We have a whole family of rabbits that live under some downed trees on the other side of the yard. But man, that's a *lot* of rabbit poop. That rabbit must be fucking huge! I took another look and realized that the pellets weren't exactly round. They were more elongated than rabbit poop. It was obviously vegetarian poop, but what other vegetarian creatures to we have around here? Deer? That's an exciting thought. Deer?! We've seen deer a couple of times in the neighborhood, but not on our property. I ran inside to ask teh mighty and wise Internets what deer poop looks like. Lo and behold it looks just like (What I now know is) the deer poop in my back yard. Teh Internets also tell me that this means deer are either feeding or bedding nearby (Come on. When do *you* poop? After you eat or sleep, right?) and that just makes me smile. Happy deer. Happy home. Happy me.Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Speak to me!
This morning Chris was up and about getting ready for work, while I laid in bed for a bit with the dogs. I was clearly speaking to my husband, but he wasn't answering me. What the hell, man? I then realized that he wasn't even in the room. Oh. And *then* I realized that I hadn't been speaking out loud.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
More musings
Betharoopie commented yesterday about how she actually met Lorena and I through Rob's death. And you know, I often forget about that. Beth and Joe fit into our little group so well, so naturally, that I feel like they've always been there. I know Rob would be tickled beyond belief that Beth and I became friends, but that would not have happened at all if she hadn't been seeking out his obituary on-line. And if I hadn't met Beth, chances are I wouldn't have gone to Rhinebeck this past year. And gotten interested in weaving. And how much is that going to change my life? Dunno yet, but I'll keep you posted.
Labels: Navel Gazing
Friday, January 04, 2008
Last night I had a very vivid dream about Rob. He was dead but he didn't know it. Yes, just like in The Sixth Sense (Hope I didn't ruin the ending for anyone.). He was eating and laughing and, of course, drinking. He still had his dreadlocks (I'd venture to guess that the reason I dreamt about him at all is because yesterday I wore my leather jacket in the pocket of which I keep one of his dreadlocks.) But other live people could see him too, and they didn't know he was dead either. So I had to tell everyone, including Rob. That sucked. One girl screamed and turned into a little screaming doll when I told her. Which was quite convenient because I didn't like her at all, and in doll form I was able to break her arms and legs and head off.
I woke up thinking about all of the things that Rob has missed in the past three and a half years. Things that he would be proud of (Me starting my own business, Mike and Christy's daughter, Mel and Jim's daughter) and tickled about (The iPhone, the Wii, both a woman and a black man running for president, the I am Legend movie). I wonder if he would like Lily Allen or not. I wonder if he would keep up a MySpace page. And I'm glad that I'm still here to experience all of these things myself. I'm thankful that the grief of death has touched me a little less than it has many of my friends. I miss Rob something awful, but I am a better person for having known him.
I woke up thinking about all of the things that Rob has missed in the past three and a half years. Things that he would be proud of (Me starting my own business, Mike and Christy's daughter, Mel and Jim's daughter) and tickled about (The iPhone, the Wii, both a woman and a black man running for president, the I am Legend movie). I wonder if he would like Lily Allen or not. I wonder if he would keep up a MySpace page. And I'm glad that I'm still here to experience all of these things myself. I'm thankful that the grief of death has touched me a little less than it has many of my friends. I miss Rob something awful, but I am a better person for having known him.
Labels: Navel Gazing
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Happy New Year
I felt so *clean* yesterday. Not that 2007 felt dirty to me or anything. But all day I felt like a superhero. I had a clean slate, and I could write anything upon that slate that I pleased. I could do anything!
I woke up happy (After sleeping in for a bit, I must admit.) and while showering, walking the dogs, and driving to work, my mind was filled with thoughts of lists. I wanted to fill my clean slate with lists and goals and organizational cubbies. Then I wanted to cross things off of those lists and met those goals, one at a time, all of these little things done adding up to really big things done.
Add to all of this my and Chris' 'Bucket List' plans, and I've got a lot of lists to make. Yay! Brings out the Virgo in me. I won't post the lists here, because honestly, while I really enjoy making lists, I'm not very good about crossing things off of them. But I'll try to post here when I've managed to get some things done. It'll be good for me to kind of keep dibs on how I'm keeping on track.
Happy new year, everyone! May you be as excited about your lists as I am about mine!
I woke up happy (After sleeping in for a bit, I must admit.) and while showering, walking the dogs, and driving to work, my mind was filled with thoughts of lists. I wanted to fill my clean slate with lists and goals and organizational cubbies. Then I wanted to cross things off of those lists and met those goals, one at a time, all of these little things done adding up to really big things done.
Add to all of this my and Chris' 'Bucket List' plans, and I've got a lot of lists to make. Yay! Brings out the Virgo in me. I won't post the lists here, because honestly, while I really enjoy making lists, I'm not very good about crossing things off of them. But I'll try to post here when I've managed to get some things done. It'll be good for me to kind of keep dibs on how I'm keeping on track.
Happy new year, everyone! May you be as excited about your lists as I am about mine!
Labels: Navel Gazing
