Knitiot Savant

Taggedy Tag Tag Tag

Over the weekend Melody tagged me for a Name Meme.  This is good because it means I don't have to talk about the real pain in the ass that Glee has become and can distract myself from the knitting agony by doing something mindless and fun.  Sure, I made an incredibly stupid mistake and lots of frogging is in my future but let's not dwell on that, 'kay?  Instead, let's enjoy the Name Meme.  Here are the rules:

I'm going to list one relevant fact per letter of my first name. Then I'll tag as many people as the number of letters in my name to do the same thing on their blog.  If you don't have a blog, just leave it here in comments.  (So the trick here is finding a relevant fact about myself.  Hm.)

S- Suck.  That's what Glee is doing to my life.  Just sucking it away.

U-Unbelievable.  This describes perfectly my reaction to the mistake I made on Glee.

S-Shit.  What I yelled when said mistake cropped up.

A-Anger.  What I feel every time I look at Glee.

N-Never.  Right now I never want to knit this sweater again.

Thanks for the distraction, Melody!

I'm tagging,  Janna, Enid, Michelle, Kim and J.P. 

Seven Things Thing

Miss Sweetie Pie Ruth tagged me for this meme while we were house hunting. I do have some knitting pictures to show you but I don't want to disrespect a tag so here we go. Okay, wait. I sort of had to shorten the list...you'll see why*.

Here are the rules: Each person tagged gives 7 or 8 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 or 8 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. But, since I don't follow rules consider yourself tagged if you'd like to play along. (If you do decide to play along let me know so I can see if you're more of a freak than me!) Here are my facts:

1. I compulsively make lists about damn near everything. The lists used to be very long and largely unachievable but I've managed to get a handle on that over the years. (*Remember what I said at the beginning.)

2. I am absolutely terrified of snakes. During our house hunting trip we looked at a home while the renter was still there. The renter followed us around giving us fun facts about the house and when she mentioned that a snake had gotten in the house recently it was all I could do not to run.

3. Even though I am terrified of snakes when offered a chance to pet one, I will. I like the adrenaline rush.

4. I LOVE coffee. LOVEITLOVEITLOVEIT!

5. When I was pregnant I hated the smell of the grocery store and meat. I craved Mountain Dews and Baby Ruth candy bars. No, I am not a crackhead.

6. I was a child bride. (My anniversary is Friday. Even I don't know how long I've been married to this dude. I love you hon!)

7. I really hate wearing shoes.

I have lots of knitting pictures and one jacked up sock to show you plus a post-trip report. Ruth's tag was a great diversion from that! Thanks Ruth!

Six Degrees of Weird Meme

A big thanks to all of you for your get well wishes and general sympathy for my pain.  I'm feeling better although I've managed to cough myself out of a voice.  (I was talking too much anyway.)  The oven should be repaired by late Friday afternoon so it's cookies for Santa!!!  Unfortunately Boogie is running a low-grade fever and she has a runny nose.  She's snuggled in bed now with her Daddy, a few books and a teddy bear.  We'll see what the morning brings.

I was thinking about writing out words of wisdom on how much happiness there is to be found this time of year but others have said it far better than I ever could.  Instead, I'll do the meme Janna tagged me with.   Before I meme away I should say that I don't dig rules.  I'm posting the meme rules here 'cause I don't want to totally pee in Janna's Wheaties but I'm not tagging anyone.  If you read it and think it's cool, tag!  You're it!  (And boy!  Is this weird thing a deep well for me to draw from or what?)

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.”

1. I LOVE pens.  LOVE them!  I have tons in my purse!  At any given time I'm probably carrying a rainbow's worth of colors.
2. Although I love pens, I almost never have paper in my purse.  Go figure.
3. I hate reality T.V. but love Project Runway.
4. I HATE hot tea.  I've never liked it and can't figure out why anyone does.  If I'm going to drink something hot it had better make me tense.
5. I can speak Ubbi Dubbi.
6. I don't like talking on the phone but am distressed that no one ever calls me.  Odd, huh?

Holiday Meme

This little meme has been making the rounds.  I lifted it from Carole and I hope you'll lift it from me. 

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?  Hot chocolate with alcohol.  Okay both, with booze.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Santa likes a little wrap action and a little non-wrap action.  He's peculiar that way.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both on the tree but we didn't do the house this year.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.  I have a toddler and dogs. 

5. When do you put up your decorations? Around the second week of December.  That's when my sister's birthday falls.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?  Pretty much anything that I don't have to cook.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Driving around with my family looking at Christmas lights.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?  Gosh, I think I've always known the truth about Santa.  He's kind, generous, compassionate and a little on the heavy side.  Did I miss something else about him?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Hell yes!

10. What kind of decorations are on your Christmas Tree? Toys, red hearts, cats, dogs, angels from Germany and fairies that I picked up for Boogie.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread? I think I'd like snow.

12. Can you ice skate? Nope.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I don't, sadly enough.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Making sure the folks I love are happy and well fed.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?  Pumpkin pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Watching "Monty Python's  The Meaning of Life" on Christmas Eve.  Seriously.

17. What tops your tree? An angel.

18. What is your favorite holiday book? "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?  "Oh Holy Night"

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yummy?  As long as they are in their natural state, red and white, yummy.

Musical/iPod sort of Meme

I had this post in mind about seeing the doctor, talking about my stupid running injury...stuff like that but I found this meme over at Kathryn's.  (My coffee swap bud!)  It's really neat and makes for a nice post on a hectic day.  Here we go:

Here's what you do:
1. Open your music library
2. Set settings to "Shuffle"
3. Press play
4. For each entry, type the song that's playing
5. For new entry, press the next/forward button

Opening credits:  High on Sunday 51/ Aimee Mann
Waking up: Girl and the Sea/The Presets
First day at school: So Unsexy/Alanis Morissette
Falling in love: You Oughta Know/Alanis Morissette
Breaking up: Moonchild/Cibo Matto
Prom: Whenever, Wherever/Shakira
Life's okay: Crazy/(James Michael Mix) Alanis Morissette
Mental breakdown: For the Trinity (Laus Trinitati)/Richard Souther (It's Hildegarde of Bingen.  Don't ask)
Driving: It's Not/Aimee Mann
Flashback: King of Silence/Cibo Matto
Getting back together: Lint of Love/Cibo Matto
Wedding: Guys Like Me/Aimee Mann
Birth of a child: Sunday Pt. 2/Cibo Matto

If you like this meme, do it!  I'd love to see what everyone else gets. 

Hallowmeme

I lifted this from J.P. who lifted it from someone else.  Honestly, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

1.  Google "Halloween" and the year you were born on Google Images.
2.  Find the most bizarrely frightening photo and post it (you really ought to pick from the first page instead of surfing around for an hour).
3.  Recoil in horror!

Holy shit!  I don't think I'll sleep for a week! 

If your eyes haven't leaked out of your head consider yourself tagged.

The Un-meme

As JP pointed out, everyone in blogworld has done this list.  I'm a bit of a late bloomer so I thought I'd give it a try anyway.

Bold the ones you have done:

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with wild dolphins 
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said 'I love you' and meant it (Every day!)
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights 
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne (So, champagne is the only choice here?)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (Funerals.  I laugh like a freak.)
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster (The faster the better!)
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking (This one could go along with number 23)
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland 
52. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love 
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan 
55. Milked a cow (Don't ask.)
56. Alphabetized your cd's  (and dvd's and books and anything with letters on it.)
    
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke 
    
59. Lounged around in bed all day   
    
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business  (taught piano)
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
    
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (Yes, I'm a geek.)
72. Gotten married
    
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo (not yet!)
    
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark (Eating a predator is very satisfying.)
88. Had a one-night stand
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone (Boston or real war?)
    
92. Buried one of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror 
    
96. Raised children (This is a work in progress)
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an illness that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
     
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
     
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
     
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school 
     
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
     
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
     
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions (Why would I want to see those freaks again?)
     
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone's life

Hey.  Maybe I'm not as dull as I'd thought!

5 by 5 freakin' meme

My friend Janna tagged me for this meme.

5 Things always in my purse:

• Baby wipes
• One lonely diaper
• Tissue
• Tampons
• Pens...lots and lots of pens

5 Things always in my wallet :

• Driver's License
• Library Card
• ATM Card
• Pictures
• a dollar bill

5 Things always in my refrigerator:

• Milk
• Fruit
• Tomatoes
• Yogurt
• Sweet Tea

5 Things always in my closet:

• Lots of shoes
• Journals
• Purses
• Big B's clothes
• A weeble

5 Things always in my car:

• Car Seat
• Stroller
• Car shade thing
• CDs
• A toy of some kind (it changes depending upon where we're going and who needs to go with us.)

5 Things always on my desk:

• Scissors
• Stapler
• Ball Winder
• Pens
• The Dali Lama

If you'd like to play along, consider yourself tagged.

A Summer Meme

I'm not a huge fan of the meme but my friend J.P. started this one and I think it's really sweet.  It spoke to the mood I've been in this weekend and Big B and I had a great time talking about it.  Here it is:

Is there a song that you hear on the radio or from an old CD that immediately carts you off to a summer of your past, either way far away or pretty recent?  One where you can hear the first few notes and feel the emotions you felt on the day the memory was happening?  Then post an account of the memory along with the song's lyrics.

It's not just a song but an entire album for me.  The album is "So" by Peter Gabriel.  It was 1986 and Big B and I were living in Monterey, CA while he attended D.L.I.  We'd been married for just over a year and it was the farthest from home either of us had ever been.  We were like kids let loose to play in the big grown-up world.  We had our very own apartment, our first credit card and I'd been in a Macy's department store for the very first time.  ( I was also legal to drink.  Let the games begin!)

While Big B worked his ass off at D.L.I., I worked at a little gift shop in Pacific Grove.  I drove our beat-up Mustang to work everyday while Big B usually walked to his classes.  We spent our evenings hanging out with friends, going to movies, or just enjoying the fact that we were together.  It really was one of those "poor but happy" sort of situations.

"So" was one of the first tapes we bought for the really cheap stereo system we picked up at the PX.  That tape was with us on every move we made after Monterey and we still have it as well as the CD.  I can't name one song that strikes me because the whole album meant, and continues to mean, so much to both of us. 

So I'm gonna tag three of you and, if you aren't tagged, go ahead and pass it along anyway.  I think it's a really neat little summer meme.  Janna, Chris, and Rhelynn, your turn!  Thanks J.P.!  That was awesome!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

I was going to write some deep post about what I've learned as I've gotten older, become a parent...you know, share the wisdom and the love that comes with age.  Instead, I turn to my favorite philosopher Buffy who provides this nugget of wisdom:

"Seize the moment, 'cause tomorrow you might be dead."

Ain't it the truth?

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!  I plan on having a spectacular day!  Have a great weekend!