Secret Pal Six Questionaire

My answers this time around may be a little bit different, so here goes! (will be updated frequently)

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Unfortunately, I've developed an expensive habit. While I don't mind some acrylic yarns, I really do prefer wool, alpaca, etc. I'd like to try silk (I'm ordering some silk, alpaca and cashmere blends from Knit Picks today, can't wait to try them) and other natural fibers. I do have to admit that I made a really cool purse out of some ribbon that wasn't a natural fiber, so I guess I like synthetic yarns after all. :)

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I can crochet basic stuff but I prefer knitting

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Strong perfumes and dust.

4. How long have you been knitting?
Officially, almost a year! I started knitting a couple years ago but stopped halfway through a scarf. I wasn't sure if I was doing it right and really, I wasn't quite addicted so I stopped. Thankfully, my friend Janet asked if I wanted to go to a knitting class. That was the beginning of the end!

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have wish lists with both Amazon and Knit Picks; you can do a search using my email address.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
A wide variety: lavendar, berry, clean "cotton" scents, tropical and more. I'm sure I could think of more, but you get the idea. :)

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Unfortunately, yes. There are some yummy sugar free sweets though.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, photography, some Fimo crafts, sewing.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like a lot of different music. Blues, pop, country, R&B, classical, jazz. Yes, my computer plays MP3's.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I don't like summer colors, thank goodness fall colors are now in the stores! I also prefer Winter colors over spring, though I do like creams. Blues, pinks, jewel tones...

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Two cats who think they're people and a couple fish. No kids.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To live somewhere I can afford a house, have a job I love and maybe even have a family. Oh yeah, and pay off my student loans.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
So far I love Cascade 220 and Lambs Pride.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
There's this yarn that feels dirty, it's popular in the baby section. It's fluffy but has this dirty feel. I can't stand it! I'm also not a big fan of eyelash yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Felting and socks.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Hmm...I don't think I have a favorite. I like knitting things I've never knit before.

17. What are you knitting right now?
A purse, bookmark, two scarves. Yes, they've been a long time coming.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
They're ok. I think they're best for children and skinny people.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Both are fine. I use straight for socks.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo baby! Wood is cool too!

21. Are you a sock knitter?
Yep.

22. How did you learn to knit?
A book from WalMart, hehe, and a knitting class.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Er, from December 2004. I might as well come clean - Mom, I don't think I'm ever going to finish the poncho, sorry.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I don't have a favorite animated character.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Shelley China and other similarly aged china, tea accessories, yarn and knitting accessories.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Yeah!! Check out my Amazon list. :)

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Yes, they're in the books on Amazon.

No Knit Zone

I've really been slacking in the creativity department. I haven't knit or made anything in weeks! However, Christmas is looming (you need plenty of time when you make Christmas presents) in the not too distant future. I need to get started now!

I've decided to go ahead and finish the Elizabeth bag I started months ago since I need the 10 1/2 circulars for a potential Christmas project. I had originally intended on giving this bag to someone at work, but she quit unexpectedly. So far, the bag is going to be solid black, felted of course. If you see any good color combos or have any suggestions, let me know.

I'm also thinking of tackling some silk ribbon embroidery for Christmas. This will be the first time I've actually used silk, last time I used basic cotton ribbon. I'm not sure what to do it on though. Pillow cases are washed too much and I'm not sure how the silk dyes will hold up. Ideas?

OK, gotta go knit Elizabeth!

My Labor Day...

I worked this weekend...anything to get my car sooner without any car loans!! (side note, I just learned working on LDay was not a bonus at all. Instead, I work only four days this week. ARG!)

The cats had a luxurious time, as usual. Every day is Labor Day for them. Zoe didn't like me devoting all my time to the computer. She kept stretching in front of the screen and meowing like the diva she is. She was really insistant and eventually I had to push her off the desk.

Here they are looking sweet and cuddly in the bowl at the top of one of their cat tree's. Yes, they have two. They're so spoiled, they even have their own blanket. Zoe refuses to sit in it if her blanket isn't there. I didn't believe Apollo when he told me this but even Laura witnessed the diva behavior. She refused to sit on the top and slept on the second shelf for hours. What cat willingly sits on the second shelf?? As soon as I put her blanket back on the top, she immediately jumped in and went to sleep. Brat.

Oh, you can see some of my plants! This year I'm not doing anything special. Just a bunch of green plants that recover from the heat well. I'm thinking of going with a So Cal theme next. Or something a little more tropical.

Simba sprawled around on his back a lot. You can see the cute white heart on his belly. And his nipples! AWWWW! His tummy fur is so soft too. Note he too has a blanket. *sigh* All blankets mentioned in this post were originally mine. And there's a third blanket on the bed that is also theirs. But, I guess it keeps their fur a bit more localized. (yeah right!)

To Answer Your Question...

No, I do not have the elliptical up and running. Apparently , you really do need two people to put it together! And a rubber mallet. I'm waiting for the guys to get back from Texas so one of them can help me. *sigh* I was hoping I'd be able to use it while they were gone.

As you can see, the elliptical came in several, no, scratch that....MANY pieces. Including two boxes full of smaller parts and a pile of plastic wrapped pieces to the right. It's hard to see them but believe me, it's quite a mess.

I also haven't thrown away the box yet, just in case I need to take it back! The box is almost as long as my couch and is taking up so much space, I can't wait until I feel it's OK and I can throw it away! It's full of cardboard and plastic that used to protect the elliptical (though oddly enough some of the pieces had dried mud on them).

You can bet the cats have fun playing in the box night and day.



So, until Apollo and Tee come home, it's going to sit like this. Fortunately, they're due back tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Mom's New Sign

Mom bought two signs yesterday from the state fair. She showed them to me on chat this morning. I like this one best - she says she's going to put it on the barn. :)

Live List

I volunteered to surf for missing people in online data bases. I started with my first missing person tonight. Ellen Durhan or Elvira Durham (75) of Gautier Mississippi which is right on the coast. Her status is unknown. There's so many resources out there for Katrina victimas - it's overwhelming.

Pray for Elvira, please.

LOOK WHAT I BOUGHT, LOOK WHAT I BOUGHT!!

One of my first steps towards fat-anarchy:

Man Eater AKA ?

Man Eater has made it home safely, but not without some problems. See, I was going to get her a new tank i.e. condo - the vase is just too small for this diva fish. At first I was going to buy it and bring it to work. But then I realized I wouldn't have time to do it and really, does my boss want to pay me to do work on the aquarium? No.

So I decided to bring her home. However, before I made this decision, I had drained all but a couple inches of water from her container and taken out her large decorative rocks. My reasoning being I was going to slowly introduce nice clean water to her icky water, etc. So, when I decided to take her home I decided I needed to put her decorative rocks back in the vase so I could use them for her "condo." Well, um, I uh accidently dropped one of the rocks on her head!! It slipped out of my fingers and hit poor Man Eater! She flipped out and did a little bit of a permanent nose dive. It REALLY freaked me out! I added more water and put in the rest of the rocks and hoped she would be OK.

Then, on my way down the stairs to hop into Chad's car (yay, cheaper gas! yay carpool lanes here we come!!), the glass lid that covers her container (it's not attached) slid off and into her water! ARG!! I have no idea if it hit her or not, but again she started splashing about.

*sigh* I felt sooo bad!

With images of me tripping and Man Eater flying across the parking lot, I carefully walked to Chad's car. Thankfully, we made it home safely. I put her next to the boys (my two male betta) and she didn't react. This morning I noticed she had what appears to be a flake of skin peeling away from the top of her body.

oops.

But, she ate dinner and she's swimming around and seems to be happy. So, when I think it's safe, I'll get her condo and introduce her to the new digs.

Meanwhile, I think "Man Eater" deserves a new name. Isn't it just like a gay man to call a female "Man Eater?" I mean, JUST because she killed and ate part of the male he put in her tank? :) If you have any suggestions for her new name, let me know. I'm leaning towards "Shanaynay." LMAO!

Here she is propped up on a cat food can in front of the boys tanks. Don't worry, they can't get to each other!

Just When I'd Given Up...

Secret Pal Angels swooped in to make me feel better!! First, Barbara sent me a lovely package with yarn, school supplies and candy! Unfortunately, the candy did not make it to the photo shoot. They had a quick and ugly demise. We apologize for this but thank you...We? Why am I talking in plural about myself?? Freudian slip maybe???

I should start by saying I was extremely happy when I received the package. My Secret Pal wasn't able to participate so Rox quickly found a Angel to come to my rescue. Just the fact that I received a package was enough to make me feel loved! *sniff* Am I pitiful, or what??

So here's the stuff I pulled out first. EEEE! Presents! For me! It was all I could do not to rip them open before I took this photo.

I got YARN! OH YEAH BABY! I haven't bought yarn for probably a couple months because I'm saving up all my money for The Car. Like any addict, I was starting to go through withdrawals for my precious yarn...and LOOK, I got some!!

I'm thinking of making some Fuzzy Feet for _______ for Christmas and this "Orchid Thistle" is perfect! And I just LOVE Lambs Pride. It's so soft! Oh yes my precious yarn...I have needles and a pattern waiting for you! mu wa hah ah a haaaa

The yarn on the blue yarn bottom is a really soft cotton called "Hash, Classic Elite Yarns." At Barbara's suggestion, I'm going to make a washcloth with it. I've been waiting for the perfect yarn to make this flower washcloth from Weekend Knitting that Faythe got me.



Barbara also got me a lavendar candle (it smells nice and "clean"), candle holder and a water bottle! I've started using the water bottle at work - this gift had such good timing. I need to drink more water and with this baby holding 32oz's, it'll definitely help me meet my water goal each day! And the fact that it's insulated also helps to keep the water nice and cold. :)

As stated earlier, the candy didn't make it to the photo session. I also got some school/office supplies and a plastic container to hold them in. You can sorta see a corner of the container in the first photo. Too bad that I accidently deleted the picture. :( I was having some problems with the batteries and trying to manipulate them to get more juice and ended up doing more damage than good. Really, it's a long story. But I did take them to work where they are getting plenty of use!

Thank you so much, Barbara! You really made me feel special!

Imagine my surprise when I got a SECOND package a couple days later from Skylar! I definitely was not expecting this. Due to that whole problem with the batteries, I had to group everything into one shot. See that cute card on the top?? I just LOVE it!


I got a large magnetized note pad (on the fridge now), cards that I've already started using, and a Knitting Knobby! This thing is gonna be SO helpful! From what I understand, it makes I-CORD!! Yay!

*gasp!* Holy Cracker Jack!! I wonder if I can make small tubes of cord for small projects like baby booties and hats with this Knobby?? OK, I gotta go now so I can experiment with this new toy.

Thank you so much Skylar! You really helped restore my faith in the Secret Pal program. After I received your package I decided to go ahead and join SP6 and give it another try. :)

You guys are so cool.

More Crying - and It's Not Me This Time!

I haven't been knitting. I've either been tired or have other things to do. But Brianna suggested I take knitting to work for my breaks...excellent idea. I tend to sit at the computer on my breaks and do other stuff, which is fine, but then I don't really get a break from my work area or my computer! I think I'll take some knitting into work that will be my "work only" project. Maybe something secret for Apollo? Hmmmm....

Hunter came over to visit i.e. get babysat by me a few nights ago. The evening started out wonderfully.

But open closer inspection was destined to not end so well.

Sure enough, the evening errupted into an all-out Cry Fest. Seems it was bedtime AND he's teething.


Why did they bring him over at bedtime?? Where's the Orajell?


How sad is this? I am posting photos of someone else's kid!! Well, it's either this or more cat photos. Mr. Cranky wins

This Weeks "Why, WHY" Winner

Jen and I decided I should print out my IQ test results and use it to help negotiate for a raise. HEEHEE! "I deserve a raise because I are smart." "I be smart as Bill Gates - gimme more money." I'm sure it'll impress them.

Meanwhile, the other day I was driving home from work when I saw this thing driving in front of me.



So I got closer and took a better photo. Seriously, what is it? I had to act very cool as I took the picture from my steering wheel, pointing the camera and hoping it would get a photo. I was a little afraid this funny little car would chase me down if the driver knew I was taking the pic. But, here it is in its glory. I just don't understand why people do the things they do with their cars. Note the vanity license plate and skull and cross bones. Interesting.

Tickle Test - What's Your True Talent?

"Ray, your true talent is spatial ability

"Your ability to visualize objects in three-dimensional space gives you a unique view of the world. Because of this talent, you are much better than most people at imagining new designs including floor plans, page layouts, and three dimensional objects. How do we know that's your true talent? While you were taking the test, we calculated your responses to each test question and rated your skills in 5 areas. You scored highest on spatial ability.People like you are usually great when it comes to putting together assemble-it-yourself furniture or other household items — whether the items arrive with instructions or not. Your spatial skills also help you understand the finer points of how things work."

Tickle

*snicker*

Client Copia.....MUWA HA HAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAAA!! We're not alone after all!!

Some winners from their site:

Client: I am able to get my e-mail, but I'm not able to get on the internet. Me: Are you behind a firewall? Client: Oh no, no, nothing like that, we're just inside a metal building.

//

A girl was holding a sheet of blue paper with words on it and she ask me "I don't know why my printer at home won't print white on this sheet of paper ~ can yours?"

//

Potential Client: You can't possibly expect us to purchase something sight unseen! You do the web site and if we like it, we'll buy it.

//

Client: The Internet - that's the blue thing right?

//

Background: I work for a national chain of business centers (ala Kinko's)

Customer call...

Customer: Hi, I'd like to know if you have a dot com operator, there.
Me: Pardon?
C: A dot com operator. I'd like to connect to the dot com, and I want to know if you've got an operator there to assist me.
Me: Ma'am we don't have a "dot com operator" here, but we do have computers with internet access available for you to use.
C: Will these internet terminals allow me to connect to the dot com?
*At this point I decide its best to play along and not spend the rest of my night explaining the previous 30 years of network development.*
Me: Do you have a specific "dot com" you would like to visit?
C: A specific one?
Me: Yes... such as google.com or yahoo.com, do you have a piece of paper with a "dot com" written on it?
C: Oh! Yes, I have a document with a dot com written on it. *she reads it, it sounds like the website for her insurance company*
Me: Ok then... you can come in and rent a computer to go to that address on the internet.
C: On the dot com? Will there be an operator?
Me: No ma'am there won't be an operator, but you will be able to connect to the dot com. Have a good night *click*

I can't even tell you how long that was a running joke around the office.

Prosthetic Boob - Knit Style

Umm....I think I'll let this speak for itself:

Dust Off

I received an email about Dust Off, the canned air used to clean computers, amongst other things. Thinking it might be an urban legend, I checked Snopes. Sadly, it is not - it is a true story. Because we all need to be aware, I wanted to share it with you:

First I'm going to tell you a little about me and my family. My name is Jeff. I am a Police Officer for a city which is known nationwide for its crime rate. We have a lot of gangs and drugs. At one point we were # 2 in the nation in homicides per capita. I also have a police K-9 named Thor. He was certified in drugs and general duty. He retired at 3 years old because he was shot in the line of duty. He lives with us now and I still train with him because he likes it. I always liked the fact that there was no way to bring drugs into my house. Thor wouldn't allow it. He would tell on you. The reason I say this is so you understand that I know about drugs. I have taught in schools about drugs. My wife asks all our kids at least once a week if they used any drugs. Makes them promise they wont.

I like building computers occasionally and started building a new one in February 2005. I also was working on some of my older computers. They were full of dust so on one of my trips to the computer store I bought a 3 pack of DUST OFF. Dust Off is a can of compressed air to blow dust off a computer. A few weeks later when I went to use them they were all used. I talked to my kids and my 2 sons both said they had used them on their computer and messing around with them. I yelled at them for wasting the 10 dollars I paid for them. On February 28 I went back to the computer store. They didn't have the 3 pack which I had bought on sale so I bought a single jumbo can of Dust Off. I went home and set it down beside my computer.

On March 1st I left for work at 10 PM. At 11 PM my wife went down and kissed Kyle goodnight. At 530 am the next morning Kathy went downstairs to wake Kyle up for school, before she left for work. He was sitting up in bed with his legs crossed and his head leaning over. She called to him a few times to get up. He didn't move. He would sometimes tease her like this and pretend he fell back asleep. He was never easy to get up. She went in and shook his arm. He fell over. He was pale white and had the straw from the Dust Off can coming out of his mouth. He had the new can of Dust Off in his hands. Kyle was dead.

I am a police officer and I had never heard of this. My wife is a nurse and she had never heard of this. We later found out from the coroner, after the autopsy, that only the propellant from the can of Dust off was in his system. No other drugs. Kyle had died between midnight and 1 Am.

I found out that using Dust Off is being done mostly by kids ages 9 through 15. They even have a name for it. It's called dusting. A take off from the Dust Off name. It gives them a slight high for about 10 seconds. It makes them dizzy. A boy who lives down the street from us showed Kyle how to do this about a month before. Kyle showed his best friend. Told him it was cool and it couldn't hurt you. Its just compressed air. It cant hurt you. His best friend said no.

Kyle's Death

Kyle was wrong. It's not just compressed air. It also contains a propellant. I think its R2. Its a refrigerant like what is used in your refrigerator. It is a heavy gas. Heavier than air. When you inhale it, it fills your lungs and keeps the good air, with oxygen, out. That's why you feel dizzy, buzzed. It decreases the oxygen to your brain, to your heart. Kyle was right. It cant hurt you. IT KILLS YOU. The horrible part about this is there is no warning. There is no level that kills you. It's not cumulative or an overdose; it can just go randomly, terribly wrong. Roll the dice and if your number comes up you die. ITS NOT AN OVERDOSE. Its Russian roulette. You don't die later. Or not feel good and say I've had too much. You usually die as your breathing it in. If not you die within 2 seconds of finishing "the hit." That's why the straw was still in Kyle's mouth when he died. Why his eye's were still open.

The experts want to call this huffing. The kids don't believe its huffing. As adults we tend to lump many things together. But it doesn't fit here. And that's why its more accepted. There is no chemical reaction. No strong odor. It doesn't follow the huffing signals. Kyle complained a few days before he died of his tongue hurting. It probably did. The propellant causes frostbite. If I had only known.

Its easy to say hay, its my life and I'll do what I want. But it isn't. Others are always effected. This has forever changed our family's life. I have a hole in my heart and soul that can never be fixed. The pain is so immense I cant describe it. There's nowhere to run from it. I cry all the time and I don't ever cry. I do what I'm supposed to do but I don't really care. My kids are messed up. One wont talk about it. The other will only sleep in our room at night. And my wife, I cant even describe how bad she is taking this. I thought we were safe because of Thor. I thought we were safe because we knew about drugs and talked to our kids about them.

After Kyle died another story came out. A Probation Officer went to the school system next to ours to speak with a student. While there he found a student using Dust Off in the bathroom. This student told him about another student who also had some in his locker. This is a rather affluent school system. They will tell you they don't have a drug problem there. They don't even have a dare or plus program there. So rather than tell everyone about this "new" way of getting high they found, they hid it. The probation officer told the media after Kyle's death and they, the school, then admitted to it. I know that if they would have told the media and I had heard, it wouldn't have been in my house.

We need to get this out of our homes and school computer labs.

Using Dust Off isn't new and some "professionals" do know about. It just isn't talked about much, except by the kids. They know about it.

April 2nd was 1 month since Kyle died. April 5th would have been his 15th birthday. And every weekday I catch myself sitting on the living room couch at 2:30 in the afternoon and waiting to see him get off the bus. I know Kyle is in heaven but I cant help but wonder If I died and went to Hell.

Jeff

I DID IT I DID IT!

Surprises

Yay! I received a package from Barbara - she's my angel from Secret Pal 5. I started to take photos but my camera died and I haven't had time to get batteries. DOH! I'll post them this weekend with a description of all my goodies.

I have to say that while my experience with SP5 wasn't exactly what it was meant to be (my original Pal from SP5 wasn't able to contribute), Rox and her angel Barbara did a great job of making up for it.

I have always considered Mobile to be one of the more inexpensive places to buy gas. WELL! OH.MY.GOD! On the way in to work I looked over at their gas prices, I'm running low and will need to get more tonight, and I was absolutely
shocked to see their prices set at $3.06/3.16/3.26!!

It has seriously made me reconsider a hybrid.

Noah's Ark Game

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. But you have only 40 seconds to match up all the animals. When you match up the animals, rainbows appear (a symbol of God's covenant to us that he will not destroy the world with a flood again).

Cute!

Google Talk

I just downloaded Google Talk. It only took a few seconds. Has anyone else tried it?

Brutus

Well, he put up a good fight, but tonight I thought it better to euthanize Brutus rather than let him go through any more pain. After treating his tank and performing other various potential remedies, he wasn't getting any better. When I got home tonight I saw how terrible he looked and went to the fish store to get some medicine and advice. They basically told me I shouldn't medicate him because it would disturb the good bacteria in the water. Instead, I bought something to treat the water. When I got back from the store, he was struggling to live. I knew he wouldn't last through the night.

My neighbor, Sean, came over and scooped him out for me. I feel terrible. I'm sure I did something to bring about his demise.

:(