Because I'm cool like that...

Ravelry

2009-12-10T14:52:00.001-07:00

I am on Ravelry (CerridwenColleen, which is basicly my default username for any social networking site. Or, of course, my real name. I am not all that creative). Two of my friends just joined, silver_tulip, who is a knitter, and pixyxtixy, who wants to be. So, if you are on Ravelry, friend them. They need more encouragement!

Woolly Thoughts

2009-10-28T14:47:00.002-07:00

Has anyone been to this website? I am totaly amazed and smitten.
How they describe themselves:
We are designers of mathematical knitwear. Or perhaps we are mathematical designers of knitwear. Whatever you want to call us, many of our designs are simple geometric shapes combined to make elaborate patterns. We are now best known for our collection of large-scale knit and crochet afghan and cushion designs.

I want to get the patters for Maze, and several of the other afghans. Some hurt my eyes, but they are all so very cool!!

Check them out if you haven't seen their stuff. They are UK based, so I think with current excahange you double the prices for everything (roughly $7 for each pattern).

Ribbed for her pleasure!

2009-10-26T20:56:00.002-07:00

Does anyone else love knitting as much as I do? It looks like crap for the first 3 or 4 rows, and you think you messed up. Then, BAM, out of nowhere it all lines up and looks wonderful and you are happy!

There was this shirt I saw. It said:

K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2
P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2
Ribber for her pleasure
P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2
K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2

I wanted it, but figured noone would get it, and having to explain all the time what it was would get old fast.

Dear Santa...

2009-10-18T16:47:00.007-07:00

Dear Santa,
Please find enclosed my Yule Wish list. I have been a good girl this year. I haven't killed either of my brothers, despite the fact that they totaly deserved it and no jury in the world would convict. I didn't murder my father in his sleep and butcher his still warm carcass in the frount yard (I had PMS. He was being insensitive. I thought it was a creative threat.)

Not that I am materialistic or anything. I am just a littl...obsessed? No that's not the right word. What is more than obsessed?

I can't save a thumbnail to show each. But I encourage you to check them out. Very cute! There are several thousand different things at cafepress.com, and several are repeated. These are just my favs. :)

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/23964796
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/16871971
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/20244982
http://homedecor.cafepress.ca/item/christmas-ornament-round-santa-bring-more-yarn/15007706
http://t-shirts.cafepress.ca/item/jr-raglan/13522605
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/25362144 this one I am getting. YAY!!
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/5113234
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/14790582
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/8423349
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/11357523
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/29080603
http://buttons.cafepress.ca/item/do-your-worsted-mini-button/101244076
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/18687906
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/31409382
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/29629838
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/29477674
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/26083796
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/7572756
http://bumperstickers.cafepress.ca/item/in-case-of-the-rapture-bumper-sticker/229798030
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/23657690
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/30097738
http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/15644201

Support

2009-07-27T16:13:00.003-07:00

I just read the post from the 25th on The Yarn Harlot the blog of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee: knitter and humanitarian.

Some woman has been hateful to her. So, I want everyone to go to her blog, and comment. Tell her that American's are not these hateful people. Tell her that this vicious woman does not speak for American's. If you are a fan, tell her that.

Now, I think I am going to go to the book store and buy a new copy of her books.

This is my comment:

There are so many people in this world who you have helped and who love you. I know it hurts when someone is hateful and cruel. But just keep thinking of everyone who you meen something to. For me, you were teh first "knitting" think I found. And because of that, I joind my local Stitch 'n Bitch. This group of women have been good friends for years. I took your books with me to Africa and would read them when I had a bad day, and the dy seemed a little less bad. My dad would print up your blog entries and mail them to me. It was a 2 day trip to electricity and internet, but I would look forward to it and the first thing I would do after email was opening your blog. I got a copy of "Yarn Harlot" right before my nephews funeral (my sister was 8 months pregnant when she lost him). I read the essay about you finshing a sock for that baby, and cried and cried. ANd then felt a little better because we weren't the only family who went through that. I could go on and on about all the little things that made a big difference in my life. Hundreds of people can do that same.
We can list all the charities you've helped. All the money you've raised. All the friendships you've created. You've brought so much joy into this world. And you will be remembered for that. What will this woman be remembered for? Nothing. In a week, noone will remember she ever existed.

And remember this: obviously this person knows nothing about being American. We stand up. We support our friends. And we don't like people who matter to us to be attacked. American's have your back. Noone's got hers.

And the clock ticks on...

2009-07-25T18:29:00.004-07:00

Much randomness. Still job hunting. Filled out applications for a Unit Clerk position at TMC and a phone job a Geico. Hopeing to get my CNA. That should make it easier to get a job. Then save up money and get the hell out of AZ. We're really thinking of Boston. I like the schools there. Chris likes the schools there. Dan even wants to go. We can all get a house together. It'll be fun.

TAWN has been bugging us. Fall Fest is in September, and they want us to have a booth. We do every year. THis year, we most likely won't. The idea of boycotting Fall Fest this year has been discussed and approved by most everyone in the Coven. We all have different reasons, the main ones are
1-the price for an informational booth has gone up from $5 to $25. That's a huge increase, especialy since it isn't at a very good location. Usualy it is at Reid Park, which is a great place. It's a nice park. It's a nice location. It's right on a main road. This year it is at the Unitarian Church. Smaller, inside, off the road. Yes, it's on a main road, but there is a parking lot and trees between the building and the road. Less chance of walk in traffic.

2-TAWN treats us like crap. DHC was one of the founding members of TAWN. We've been around longer than anyone in town. But we're Garnderians. And whether you want to hear it or not, 90% of the pagan/wiccan community are a bunch of bigots. I have never met so many racists in my life. They insult me, call me names, treat me with such derision because of my religion! Can you believe it? And if you have the audacity to call them on such hypocracy, well then, you are judgemental and intollerant. I see no reason to be tolerant of anothers intollerance.

3-I was publicly insulted by a member of the TAWN Board. He insulted me as an official member of TAWN. I expect an official and public appology. Until that happens, I will have nothing to do with them. That's personal. But my Coven understands. Since my dad was put on moderated status on their elist for telling people that X is against the law, the law says Y, then when he told one of the board members (a different one than the one I had a problem with), the board member was told by the web moderator that my dad was taken off moderated status and the guy claimed he was never put on moderated status. Hmm...I guess all those months where his profile said "moderated" was a glitch in the system. Anyway, I have a problem with the lies, and my COven does as well.

4-They use people. They want us to do for them, but never are there when we need help. Patrick keeps asking for us to write something for Tapestry, the newsletter. But he only wants us to write what he wants us to write. They want us to be new agey, fluffy bunny lewellynites. Hate to break it to you incase you haven't figured it out but we're Gardnerians. We're educated, and we take our religion seriously. I'm not saying that non-Gards aren't and don't. I'm saying that we're asked to write drivel that will appeal to the lowest common denominator, and it needs to be ecclectic. Not going to happen.

On knitting news: I knit some flowers last night:

The pattern is from Lion Brand. I would link to it, but it's a bitch to find. It's from their "Flower of the month" thing. These are supposed to be roses.

I am also knitting a blanket for my neice. I wasn't going to post pics so far, but then realised that noone reads this

This is one of the pannels for the blanket. It is The Summer Garden Coverlet in Wool Ease. You can google the pattern. I'm making 3 different ones, for each of my neices. With any luck they will be done for christmas.

Time sure flies...

2009-06-28T15:22:00.002-07:00

Since I last updated, I have had surgery. It was the most painful experience of my life. Everyone told me "oh, don't worry. I had my gallbladder out and was up and about the next day." LIERS!!! FILTHY LIERS!!! I couldn't move without pain for more than a week. For days I needed help sitting and standing. I couldn't sleep flat. It was hell. My entier gallbladder was calicified. They said "you know how people get gallstones? Well, your gallbladder was one giant gallstone. Thank god we got it out. That could have killed you." Seriously, I should sue that ER doc at Tucson Medical Center that sent me home Christmas Day after doping me up with demoral which I hate. I didn't want it. I don't like pain meds anyway, but demoral makes me throw up and telling me nothing was wrong with me.
But I am better now. No more pain, no more nausia, no more vomiting. Who knew such a small thing could cause so much probloms.

Now, I am trying to find a job. Like everywhere, the job market in Tucson sucks. Very few people are hireing, and those that are, I am competing with people way more qualified than I am. I can't really blame the buisnesses, though I hate it. Would you hire a 26 year old who wants to go back to school? Or a 40 year old man with kids and a morgage? I will quit in a year or two to go to grad school. He will be grateful for the job and stick around as long as he has bills to pay and a family to feed. One of my friends is a manager at a fast food place. She is getting applications from people our parents age who have 20 years running an office and just got laid off. I hate the ecconomy. And this stimulus thing is a joke. Me and Tam were kinda joking about joining Americorps. Only half joking too.

On a happier note, I am knitting this blanket in Wool-Ease Rose Heather kinda a darkish pink. It is fun so far. Except I keep getting these holes in the honey comb part. It's only visable from the back, so no big deal really. Just not sure if that is a thing with this cable pattern or with how I am knitting it.

Information

2009-02-11T17:37:00.002-07:00

**DISCLAIMER**I have no clue who these people are, or how they got my information, but they emailed me a couple of times and asked if I would post the link and infomation about The Fresh Air Fund. If anyone knows anything about them, please comment.

The Fresh Air Fund
Forehead sweating
Legs aching…
Kids yelling…

And loving every second of it!

Counselors from around the world get together each summer to share excitement, the tears, the achievements, and the challenge.

We’re hoping that you can be one of them!

Funk

2009-02-10T19:26:00.002-07:00

Well,I have been in this funk for the last...while. I haven't been to the SnB in 3 weeks, I think. Nothing says "knit me". I haven't really wanted to pick up my needles. I have never gone this long without wanting to knit. So, I will peruse ravelry and some other sites and see if there is a pattern that will knock me out of this. Anyone have a favorite un-funk pattern?

Where Were You?

2009-01-23T16:42:00.002-07:00

So, we are 4 days into the Obama Presidency. Everyone is talking about the Inaguration. I think this is going to be another "where were you?" things. Where were you when MLK/JFK were shot? Where were you when the Challenger exploded? Where were you when Obama was sworn in? though I guess we have to ask "which time?" to this now. The thing is, I didn't watch it. Before you start flaming me, assuming anyone actualy reads this blog anymore, let me explain. This was the largest and most expensive inaguration in history. They kept adding things, which cost money. Now, I know that a lot of the stuff was paid for by private donation, but not all of it, and none of the security. The bigger it got, the more things that were added, the more security was needed. I find that horribly irrisponcible. We have a national debt that is in the trillions. Does anyone even know what a trillion is? It's a made up number! It's so huge that we can not logicaly conceive of it. People try to explain it by saying how high a stack of $20 bills are. I have heard to the moon and back. That is huge!!! We spend something like a billion dollars a DAY in Iraq. We are still in Afghanistan remember that place?. We are still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina. The country is bankrupt. Yesterday on the news they said that the state of Arizona is $4 billion in debt!!! They want to cut the education budget by 40%. Sidenote: um...lawmakers, just FYI, cutting the education budget is no way to help with the deficite. Less education means fewer people can get jobs, which means more unemployment and welfare, which means more depbt.
So with all this, how can we as a nation seriously be ok with spending that much on the inaguarion? So I did not watch it. I did not feel pride that we had elected our first African American president. I felt shame that the Democratic Party, which I have supported all my life, would be this fiscaly irrisponcible.
So, where was I when Obama was sworn in? No clue. Proboby at home. Probobly knitting. Probobly doing what I do every day. And in a year, I won't remember it at all.

But there are other "tv moments" I will remember. So I am curious, what do you think is your most memorable tv moment? I ask for "tv moments" rather than any memorable moment because tv is something we share as a culture. You're most memorable moment could be when your oldest child first said "mama", but that is for you. Something like when Mr. Cooper died on Seseme Streetit affected generations. I remember watching Big Bird trying to find out what happened, and my dad sitting next to me, trying to help me understand is something we all can remember and share together.

So, my most memorable moment: the 2000 election coverage. My history class had cable, and we were all in there just watching, amazed. We fought and argued and stared at the tv. I think things were thrown at the tv, and we had to be dragged from the classroom. Can you immagine it? A bunch of teenagers, who mostly don't care about politics, mesmerised by the political process, discussing the electoral college and teh constitution and the candidates. A bunch of high schoolers not wanting class to be over, and later in the day not wanting school to be over. I think our reaction to it is what makes it stick in my head so much.

How about you?

Anyone know about this?

2009-01-22T18:19:00.002-07:00

Does anyone have information on this? I've been trying to find out, and can't find anything. Anyone know what happened?

OK, I have found that there was a settlement reached between. Anymore info? Though, I think the boycott should continue until SFSE appologises. I got a profanity filled letter from their lawyer threatening to sue me "for everything [I am] worth" and have me thrown in jail. Not the way to endeer me to you. And since NYC is one of the places I am considering going to grad school, it may make a difference. I think that unless they send out individual letters appologising for their lawyers behavior, since it was individual letters threatening knitters, than they still should not get our buisness.

Just once

2009-01-14T12:18:00.003-07:00

Last night I wasn't feeling well, so I stayed home instead of going to my knitting group. I watched this show on CBS called "The Menatlist", about some guy who works for the cops helping solve crimes with the power of his intellect. Last nights show was a boy who was found dead in the woods with candles and a pentagram near the body. You can see where this is heading. When they asked the parents if the kid was interested in the occult, they said that this witch had called and said she put a spell on him for stealing her cat.

So they go and visit the witch. Her "name" was Tourmaline Dove, or some new age crap like that. She was a complete freak, with a coven of high schoolers. She put a "death curse" on the kid for stealing and killing her cat um..isn't that a crime? What ever happened to calling the cops?. She is the worst stereotype of the New Age fluffy bunny crazy freak witch wannabe. She took great pleasure in playing that role, and scaring the cops and people around her. Later you find out she did time in a mental institution. One of the cops describes people who follow Wicca as "nerds in cloaks".

Now, my coven is made up of these people:

HP: retired Air Force, Civil Engineer. Now works for the county clerk

HPS: retired Air Force, medic. Now a neo-natal nurse practitioner, works with Doctors Without Borders

Maiden: palates instructor, working on her degree in physical therapy

Others include: retired military intelligence officer, working on masters. Pharmacist. Vet tek. Artists. Grad student in music. Teacher. IT. Restaurant manager. Artist. RPCV.

Now, while between the 14 of us we have or ar working towards 16 higher educational degrees (from bachelors to PhD), I don't think any of us are nerds. And the closest thing I have to a cloak is a shawl.

Just once, I would like to watch one of these shows where the cops are looking for the evil/scary/crazy witch and find a normal person, like the majority of us are. Here's my script:

cops approach a nice ranch style home. The yard is desert landscaping, with islands of flowers. Very neat and conservative, as fitting for the neighborhood. They use the knocker, which is a wrought iron green man like this:
The first indication that the house is not exactly like it's neighbors. Then again, they could just have liked antiques and thought it was a cool door knocker. The door is opened by a man in a pinstripe suit

Man: Can I help you?

Cops: Yes, um, we're looking for the witch. We were told she lives here.

Man: She? Well, I suppose you mean my wife. She's still doing rounds. Is there something I can help you with? I'm John Smith.

Cops: Rounds?

John: Yes. My wife is chief of staff at the local hospital. Got her MD from John's Hopkins. Can I help you? Though I only have about 20 minutes to spare before I have to leave for court.

Cop:with a look of condensation on his face. "Here it is!" he thinks. "all these freaks are criminals, and he's just admitted it." Court?

John: Yes. I am an appellate judge. I am hearing a case this afternoon. Why don't you come inside. I can offer you some coffee and you can tell me what this is about.

everyone goes inside. They see a nice home, maybe a bit cluttered with the collections of a lifetime. The cops wait in the living room while the man goes for coffee. They look around and see pictures of kids in every stage of development

John:with obvious pride in his voice Ah, I see you looking at our children. That is my oldest son. He's a corporate lawyer in NYC. We joke about if that is a violation of the Rede. There is my daughter. She's getting her masters in political science at Georgetown. And my youngest, a teacher in an inner city school. Wonderful children.

Cop: Are they witches too?

John: Of course. Why wouldn't they be?

Cop: You actually raised your children like this?

John:confused Yes, of course. We raised three wonderful children into three wonderful adults. I am confused...

Cop: No, I mean raised them as witches

John: We raised our children in the religion that we follow. Didn't you do the same? Now, how can I help you?

Cop: We're investigating a murder. A boy named Jimmy.

John: hmm...I don't recall any of the cases before me to be about children. But you said you were looking for my wife. Was he a patient of hers?

Cop: Not that we know of. But we'll be looking into that. He was killed in a ritualistic fashion.

John: That's terrible. His family must be devastated. Not enough to loose your son, but to have him taken in such a way. I am not sure how I can help though.

Cop: He was found with candles and a pentagram. We think he was sacrificed.

John: I am still confused...Ah, now I see. A boy is killed, and you come to the followers of a non-mainstream faith. Tell me, what makes you think me of my family did this besides the name of our religion? I wonder, if a boy is killed and there is wine or bread present, do you go and question the Catholic priests in the area? Or if there is salt found near the body, do you get a list of Jews? Do you do that instead of looking for the nearest kitchen?

Cop: well, um...

John: I know! If a black man is killed, you question every black man you can find. Obviously, one of them did it! My, police work must be gratifying, with your suspect list so obvious. You never have to investigate. Like if you had, you would have realised that in this house is a judge and a doctor. We live an upper-middle class existence. We raised 3 kids and put them through school. We also happen to be a religious family. Had we attended St. Joseph's down the street, you would never have looked twice at us. Now, I have a question for you: What was the religion of the last murder suspect you arrested?

Cop: I don't know. Christian I guess.

John: And the one before that? Christian? How about the five before that? So, statistically, of the last 7 murder suspects, 100% were Christian. So, statistically speaking, shouldn't you be next door questioning Mr. Doe? He's in human resources, raised 5 kids, has 8 grand kids. He's also the deacon of his parish. Being Christian, doesn't it stand a better chance of him being your killer? Do some investigating, and if you still feel like I or my wife are viable suspects, you can contact our attorney, who will be quite interested in your religious discrimination and racial profiling. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get to work.

the cops are shown out, with a sheepish look on their faces. John closes the door, and you can hear a garage door opening and see him drive away

Cop; Maybe we should do some investigating, and find out if this murder actually has anything to do with the religion. Maybe it's kids, or someone trying to stage something to throw us off the trail. I mean, we zeroed in on a suspect, and if he's not the killer, the real one has had all day to cover his tracks.

Fade to commercial

Solstice Fun

2008-12-25T11:00:00.011-07:00

We have a new holiday tradition. It started while I was in Africa, and this is th first year I have been able to participate. On the morning of the Winter Solstice
(21 Dec this year) we go and sing up the sun. We jump the bonfire to give it strength, and we sing to encourage it that first morning we all know how hard it is to get out of bed when it is cold. Imagine if you were the one expected to warm everything up>. Though, hearing some of us sing, I am not sure if we are encouraging it to come up, or to run away... This year it was at Reid Park.

I think for next year I am going to knit us all matching hats and scarves. Maybe glvoes. Nan thinks I should do element themes, but I am thinking rebirth of the sun theme. Either way, it is COLD at dawn!

A lot of Pagans (some of the BNP's and those who think they are, which is sad) think that a lot of the things we do are just symbolic and stuff. One author told me that the Gods don't exist, that they are just anthromorphic representations of your psyche needless to say, I have not read any of her books since then. Her first wasn't that good to begin with, but how can you write books about dieties you don't beleive in? Or claim to be the priestess of a religion you don't think is anything more than a psyhological construct?. But here is the thing. The ancinets all over the world of every religion belived that if we didn't do these things, the sun would not come back and winter would last forever. Gardnerarians beleive the ones who know what they are talking about. Unfortunetly, like anything, there are a lot out there who are more interested in power and ego and were never trained properly because they were taught by people who were more interested in power and ego. The cycle continues, and we have groups like the Hard-Gards, who are fundamentalists. The kind who would be quite happy to start a new Inquisition to get rid of everyone who does not beleive their exact way or won't bow down to their athority. And I am sure these people also don't beleive in the Gods they claim to worship either that if we stop doing these things - stop celebrating the sabbaths and stop jumping the bonfire ect - then the wheel of the world will stop spinning. You can laugh, but think about it. For the whole of human history, someone out there has always done these things. And the world keeps turning. Do you really want everyone to stop because you think it is a silly superstition? What if we are right?

After, a few of us went up to Mt. Lemmon to play in the snow. Mt. Lemmon is about 7000feet or thereabouts and an hour drive from my house. So you can go up there and have a blast in the snow, then get cold and come back to Tucson and warm up. Nan, Gary, Mike, Dad and I went.

Playing in the snow Neo, Mike's Husky mix and Ava, Nan and Gary's Jack Russel. We think the two of them have a thing going. :)

Trying to sled on some cardboard we found. We need a real sled...

Fresh tracks. Probobly heard us singing that morning...

Harvey wondering why we aren't playing Ava's previous boyfriend. He hasn't noticed he's been replaced

Holiday Fun

2008-12-24T14:51:00.003-07:00

I am going to start this post off with my favorite Xmas song. It is sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells"

Kill A Tree

Dashing to the mall in a fleet of rented trucks,
a million hairless apes are out to spend some plastic bucks.
It's Christmas time again -- or maybe World War Three --
and to keep their spirits happy now, they've got to kill a tree.

CHORUS
Oh, kill a tree, kill a tree, kill a tree for Christ.
(Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, accept this sacrifice.)
Kill a tree, kill a tree, kill a tree for Christ,
not sure what we're doing, but it seems to work out nice.

We know we each deserve a ton or two of crap,
but to keep the goodies coming now, we've got to spill some sap,
and string electric lights, and raise the ritual star,
and bribe our friends and families to forget what jerks we are.

Chorus

We always kill a tree. That's always been enough
for videos and GI Joes and all that kiddy stuff.
But Mommy wants a Harley, and Daddy wants a boat;
that's prob'ly gonna cost at least a chicken and a goat.

Chorus

Hehe. Great song, huh?

Ok, here is now my favorite serious song:
It's sung to the tune of "Do You Hear What I Hear" which I love in any version. This is my favorite. I have two credits to the writer, Kal Brennan and Eleen Reed (I think that is how you spell their names).

PENTAGRAM

1)
Said the East wind to the Priestess Witch:
Do you hear what I hear? (echo)
Silence rules the still and sleepy night.
Do you hear what I hear? (echo)
The God, the God, cries out with his birth
and showers His light on the Earth,
and showers His light on the Earth.

2)
Said the South fire to the Priestess Witch:
Do you see what I see? (echo)
Darkness blankets over all the Earth.
Do you see what I see? (echo)
The Sun, the Sun, is reborn tonight,
from the Goddess, He's shining so bright,
from the Goddess, He's shining so bright.

3)
Said the West waters to the Priestess Witch:
Do you feel what I feel? (echo)
Hopelessness is heavy in our hearts.
Do you feel what I feel? (echo)
The God, the God, the Mother's newborn child
is the symbol of hope and rebirth,
is the symbol of hope and rebirth.

4)
Said the North land to the Priestess Witch:
Do you know what I know? (echo)
Winter grips the cold and naked land.
Do you know what I know? (echo)
The Sun, the Sun, warms the Earth again
as the Goddess suckles her child,
as the Goddess suckles her child.

5)
Said the Inner Spirit to the Priestess Witch:
Do you understand now? (echo)
Life is like a circle, spinning 'round.
Do you understand now? (echo)
For I, the Goddess, am the endless source
and the web that binds all the Earth,
and the web of the whole universe.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

In Defence of Arizona

2008-12-05T16:00:00.002-07:00

In November, Arizona had several controversial propositions to vote for. The three biggest ok, the three I actualy cared about were the one about the pay day loans this one pissed me off. The comercials about them had no basis in reality. They flat out lied!! How can you legaly or moraly lie like that. I understand twisting the truth. It is moraly repugnant. But a flat out lie?!? that would extend the pay day loans exemption from the AZ State usury laws indeffinitly, while now they end in 2009. It would also raise the intrest rate from 390+% to over 400%. Luckily, Arizonan's voted this one down. The second was a proposition to require a measure to pass it had to have the vote of the majority of eligable voters. Not a majority of people who voted, but a majority of all the people who could have voted, whether they decided to or not. Stupid, huh? Fortunetly, Arizonan's showed good sense again and voted this one down as well. I was feeling pretty confident. My state had voted down two stupid propositions. Then they faced the third.
The so-called Defence of Marriage Act. Yes, I am sure you have heard of it. Arizona, along with Florida and California, amended our state constituton to say marriage is between one man and one woman. What pisses me off the most about this is that it is the first time we have voted to limit the rights of an entier group of people. It doesn't really matter if you agree with homosexuality or not. It doesn't matter if you beleive marriage is a religious institution under god this is a completley different topic. If marriage is a religious institution, what does the state have to do with it? If it is a governmental thing (and since you have to get a lisence from the government it is) then what does religion have to do with it? Choose. Either marriage is a religious thing, and the individual church can choose who gets to get married or not and the state stays out of it; or it is a governmental contract and equal right for everyone and the religons get no say. I could go on, but then you'd forget what my original point was. Actualy, so would I. It matters if you beleive that a whole group of people should be denied a governmental sanction because of their membership in a group. I understand that the majority of the people in government grew up beleiveing this was ok. Until 1976 the law may have been changed earlier, but it was on the marriage lisence until then it was illigal in the State of Arizona for a white person to marry a "coloured" person; this means hispanic, asian, black, native american, ect. Until the 1980's there were parts of Tucson that were segregated by law. There was actualy a law that said interracial couples and non-white people could not live in certain neighborhoods in some areas there was a provision that they could not live in a house. This made it possible to have live-in help. They got a shed on the property. To many guys from DMAFB were comming back with their foreign brides and the military got this one overturned. They didn't have enough houseing on base and were getting sick of guys comming in saying they were denied houseing after fighting and bleeding for their country because their wife was not a WASP actualy that would be WASC since it is southern AZ. But that doesn't roll off the tounge that well.

Anyway, you get the impression that we/Arizonan's don't really care. Well, knitters care!!

The local Tucson knitting group was approached by Tucson Medical Center to come in and teach their antipartum mothers to knit. These are women who are pregnant and for whatever reason are stuck in the hospital, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months. There are only so many movies you can watch. So we will go in and teach them to knit, and to make stuff for their babies. Booties, hats, blankets, sweaters, ect, depending on their skill level. Should be interesting. So if you are a knitter in Tucson and want to get involved in this, email me cerridwencolleen at gmail dot come or the group and we will get you information. You need to pass a background check and have had a measles vaccination.

ok, the first and the second really don't have much to do with each other, and my seque sucked. But I wanted to bitch about the first and mention the second. Yay, two birds! But seriously, if you are a knitter in Tucson and want to help. Or even if you aren't a knitter. There are many volunteer opertunities at TMC and the other hospitals, as well as many other worthy causes in Tucson that need people. And if you aren't in Tucson but this still sounds interesting, call your local hospital. If they don't have a program like this, maybe you can start one. Or find an other program you can help with! The best things I have ever done have been volunteer. First at Souther Arizona AIDS Foundation then the Peace Corps, and am grateful everyday that I was given those oppertunities.

Holy Crap! You're Alive!!

2008-11-28T16:23:00.006-07:00

Why yes I am. I returned home to the good ol'USofA in early September. About a week after I got back, my grandfather died (my dad didn't take it well) so I was dealing with readjusting as well as the fall out from that. And I keep getting sick. I'll catch a cold, and have it for 2 or 3 weeks. Then I will finaly kick it, and a couple days later, be laid up with the flu. Since I have been home, there has maybe been 2 weeks scattered about where I haven't been sick. And Monday I am going in to get a EGD done, as a precurser to surgery to have my galbladder removed. Yay. On top of that, I am trying to figure out what the hell I want to do with my life. Grad school? Law school? Mooching off my parents?

So, I finished the Sampler Shawl from Folk Shawls. It's in the mail to it's intended recipient.

Ever notice how lace looks like crap until you block it? As I was knitting, I hated the third pannel. I just couldn't see how it would work. I would stretch it, and it looked like something my cat threw up. Then I blocked it, and it is my favorite. Just goes to show the miricle of blocking. I liked this, but if I knit it again, I would do more repeats of each pannel. Luckily I didn't this time, because see the little bit of yarn bunched on the bottom? Ya, that is all I had left.

I joined Ravelry. My page isn't nearly as cool as other people's yet. I am still figuring things out.

And I am starting on the sweaters for my neices. They will in no way be done for CHristmas, so I am starting the AMerican 12th Night Tradition. I like to pretend they will be done by then.

I love cables. They are so easy to do, but they look realy complicated. So I feel smarter than I actualy am. This is the first sweater. I have 3 colors (all Wool Ease). Sweater 1 will be Dark Rose Heather with Wheat accents (it's white heatherd). The second will be Wheat with Blue accents. And third will be Blue with the rose accents. All are Black and White Cabled VNeck Sweater Ithink that is the name From Nautical Knits For Kids by Debbie Bliss.

I am off. Lots of knitting and not enough time.

Depressing Knitting Books

2008-08-26T12:22:00.002-07:00

I am in Kombo on med-hold (trying to figure out what is wrong with my stomache. Then got an infectiona and am on pennicillin. Yay pennicillin. It's itchy!). So I am a little not thrilled. I am knitting a lot for people. Several are getting bags and stuff. WHile hanging out here, I am reading. Or trying to. I have read a lot of the books here already. Croc's mom sent here a box and she is comming tomorrow and will bring me some. But I found The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. It was really depressing! OK, the theme is woman joins a knitting group after her daughter dies. So you get that. But it was a lot sadder than I thought. And not something I want here. I was so excited to find a novel on knitting in country. Then read it. Maybe if I was in America I would have enjoyed it. Books should have a warning! "This book has a 100% happy ending" or "This book will make you cry. Be warned". That is why I read a lot of Nora Roberts here. You know going in that it will be happy, no matter what.

Mailrun

2008-08-20T09:05:00.012-07:00

Once a month, a Peace Corps car travels around the country visiting every PCV and delivering their mail. This month, I was one of the two who did it. It was fun. I got to see parts of the country that I have never seen before. If it weren't for having to listen to the kids scream "TOUBAB" all the time, and dealing with Gambians, it would have been great 82 days and I go home. As you may be able to tell, I am past ready

Going from Basse to Barra, this is the SP I was in. I looked over and the steering wheel, and this is what I saw...

Why, yes. This car needs to be hot wired to start.

So I texted a friend and asked which should worry me more, if I get in a car that needs to be hot wired, or if I get in a car that has it's own juju? been in cars like that before. After I hit send, I looked down and saw:

Yep. The car also has a juju...

Here is one of the "roads" we took. We got lost several times, because the wet season things get bad.

Here is a PCV's site. She has turned her house into a rabbit project. she wasn't there. that is Kristina, a Cottey girl who did Mailrun with me

This is the mural that is at Allison's house, painted by her and her sitemates.

This is the only "handicap friendly car" that is on the continent

It was a lot of fun. I am glad I did it. Now, after 7 days, I am exhausted.

Dear Peace Corps...what a week...

2008-08-11T12:15:00.006-07:00

Where to begin? How about at the beginning?

Wensday last, while everyone was sleeping, someone came into my compound I really hope so. If not, it was someone from my compound and cut a slit in my window screen. This is the window that I sleep under earplugs, tylanol pm and my dog vissiting the next village helped them here, reached in and stole my phone.
I was a little freaked out when I realised what happened. Senario one: someone who knows me, where my house it, where I put my phone at nite, where my dog was and my compound well enough to sneak in robbed me. Senario two: someone in my compound robbed me. Either way, I freaked just a little. So I went to Basse Thursday after trek. Friday was going to be the new Basse House opening ceremony we'll get to that in a minute. I met Mike, our new CD here, at the riverside. I told him what happened, and that I was scared to be in my house right now, so I came to Basse early. Guess what his reaction was? If you thought considerate and sympathetic, you are way off the mark. I was told that it was "stupid" to be scared. That this was just like having a peeping tom. CAN YOU BELEIVE IT?!?
I was so shocked and angry I didn't say anything.
Let me reply now:
1)Mike, if you weren't my boss and we were in America, I would have slapped you for that. And I would have been supported by every woman in the country. As a man, you have no right to tell me when I should be scared or not. You don't know. As a man in the Gambia who lives in Kombo and doesn't spend time in village, you deffinitly don't know what it is like to be a woman here. We face constant harrassment from the cops, the military, the customs officers, governemnt workers, the random man on the street. When you face that every day, then are shown how easy it would be to have your home broken into while you are in it you get afraid. You start thingking "what if...?" What if they came in to my back yard? What if I had forgotten to lock my back door when I came in from the bathroom at 1am? What if...?
2)As a man who lives in a nice compound with security guards at the frount and never leaves Kombo withouth a Peac Corps driver and sees a very edited version of the country, you have no idea what there is to be scared of or how dangerous a situation can be. You don't live in reality. At least not a PCV's reality. Don't try to tell us how to interpret it.

The next day was the Basse House Open House. First, let me explain something. PCV's face constant harrassment. Especialy the women. You have no idea what it is like. I hope you never do. Girls ET because of it. Girls complaints are egnored because of it, then when they are sexualy assulted, admin is shocked. That being said, here is the top 5 list of who harrasses us the most outside of Kombo:
1-cops
2-soldiers
3-customs and secret poliece
4-governemnt workers or anyone in athority
5-any male between the ages of puberty and decrepid

Guess what the guest list was for this?
1-the governor and his staff
2-cops
3-soldiers
4-people in athority

Hmm...can anyone else see the flaw in this? THEY INVITED THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE WORST OFFENDERS!!!

THEN Alpha theoreticaly our Saftey and Security Officer, who in fact puts thoes things in jepordy didn't translate what Mike said. We sat there, as he was adding things that were never said. When Amanda walked in and he said "that girl there who just came in, she is from village name has been omited because it is AGAINST PEACE CORPS POLICY TO OUT A PCV'S VILLAGE" we were all shocked. Then he invited the "security people" as he put it to tour our house. Yes, please. The people who put us in the most danger and we are most afraid of. Please show them the security arrangements of our house.
Again, we complained to Mike. He said "so what? At the 40th Annaversary 100 volunteers announced their villages on national tv. It's not against policy" this from the man who didn't know the federal governemnt couldn't speculate on currency and is the biggest gossip in country with no clue what "confidential" means. Again, so angry, didn't respond. So here we will:
1)The man responcible for our saftey can't even be trusted to translate what his boss says accuratly. That worries us. His boss didn't care that he didn't translate correctly.
2)100 volunteers didn't announce their villages. There are not 100 volunteers in country. Not every volunteer choose to do it or was there.
3)there is a huge difference between CHOOSING to announce your village and having that choice taken away from you.
4)National tv in Gambia means Kombo. Kombo viewers are made up of 90% of people who have a vague recolection that there is someplace called the URD in their country but couldn't tell you where. Versus sitting in the middle of the URD telling the people with the cars and motorcycles who harrass us with immunity where a single woamn lives far from any athority who cares to help her if they come "visit" note: In Gambia when a man says he wants to "visit" with you or come and "chat" with you, he means sex.

Conversation with another PCV
Question: What do you do when you are more afraid of the cops than the criminals?
Answer: ET

Question: What do you do when Admin doesn't give a damn?
Answer: ET

Question: What do you do when your Saftery and Security Officer puts both your saftey and secrurity at risk?
Answer: ET

Question: What country has the highest ET rate in the Peace Corps?
Answer: The Gambia

Question: Are you surprised?
Answer: not at all.

Only 90 days left.

Roots Tour 2008

2008-07-15T07:11:00.018-07:00

Remember the book Roots? Kunta Kinte kidnapped and taken to America as a slave? Well, he was "taken" from The Gambia. So every 2 years, there is a Roots Festival here. This year the theme was "celebrating unity through culture" We started the day in Cristin's village, where we geared up. Dharma and Cristin modeling for us Then went to Cristin's village school. We were kidnapping the assistant headmaster to be our "Bumpster for the Day". While we waited for him, we decided to check out her school's library. Then we walked the 4km to the island After you go onto the island, there is a little park like thing with plants, and a statue of a kankurang... The safest way to see them, as a statue behing a fence. These guys get dressed up for ceremonies: cumcisions, etc. They walk around village at night with 2 machetes and scare off the witches and deamons and evil spirits who may try to hurt the participants while they are weak. Noone really knows for sure who is in the costume. They can be very dangerous because they are drugged and followed around by drummers. Between the drugs and the rythmic beating of the drum, they fall into a trance state and...well, your saftey cannot be garunteed if you meet one. So we hide in our houses when they are out. The outfits are traditionaly made of a certain type of bark, as seen above. Some have grass and leaves: "Modern" onee will be made out of rice bags: If you look past the kankurang there is a little Fulla boy dancing. Here is is later Me and Dharma with our "Bumpsters For The Day", the assistant headmaster from Cristin's school, and the head teacher from JJB Upper Basic School These are the little Fulla boys sitting waiting for their turn to dance. These are traditional costumes for their post-circumcision. I always feel sorry for these boys. They come back from the bush, all dressed up, and their fathers pick them up and parade around with the boys on their sholdres and everyone dances. They just got parts of their very sensitive anatomy cut off!! What if they don't want to dance?!? More Dancing The JJB Senior Secondary school band Some Serehule drummers A weding ceremony

Randomness. Now in technicolor

2008-07-13T11:38:00.012-07:00

Gambia is here only. It is hot, and not enough rain. We planted, but are now getting a little worried about not having enough rain and loosing crops. Added to that, the rice seed we ordered was lost by the World Food Program.
This is someone prepareing their fields. They use the "burn and pray" method. You light little fires so the grass will burn, and pray it doesn't get out of hand.

I got punched in the face on the ferry. Gambian 1 insulted the man selling the tickets for the ferry in Barra. Ticket Seller's Friend (Gambian's 2 and 3) came out and grabbed G-1 and started punching him. There was yelling and hitting and kicking. Then G-1 swung to hit G2 and instead connected with my face. I grabbed his ticket that he had dropped and ran. Made the ferry as it was pulling out. Mai was on it and we went and got a smoothie. Eye swelled a bit. But glancing blow off my glasses and got ice on it quick (yay Banjul!) so it didn't get bad.

Why I Am Afraid of Horses
I went to go out of my house, and this is what I saw:

Later, when I went to the well to fill my bucket for a bath, the other horse came and stole it. SO I am running around chasing this damn horse and screaming at it to give me back my bucket. By the way
FOR SALE One horse. Goes by the name of "goddamnitstopeatingmyfuckingfence". Free OBO.

Other intersting animal news:
My dog has been molested by a donkey. Now I know why the mother chases him off whenever he wants to go play with this baby. I fully support the mother now.

I was delayed going to Basse. Didn't feel comftorbol with the other passangers...

Travis found the Basse slaughter house rejects:

Willy says hi:

Questions:
1 Should I be worried if I get into a car and it has it's own juju?

2A billboard in Basse. We are trying to decide what it is.
Sinario 1A school girl being propositioned by a school boy (out of uniform). She won't have sex with him until he finishes her homework. A few weeks ago, they put up a second one on the otherside that is a boy in uniform, so we now think this sinario is no longer valid.
Sinario 2 A teacher. She won't have sex with him until her grades are in and she has passed all her classes.
Sinario 3 A random man from village. She won't have sex with him until he pays her school fees.
why yes, I am a bit cynical about the Gambian school system. Why do you ask?

Pattern

2008-05-13T10:36:00.002-07:00

I made this bag. And a friend likes it a lot, so I was going to make her one too. But, I now can't find the chart. So, if anyone has a chart like this (or another interesting Celtic knot), could you e-mail it to me, or send me the link or something?

Why yes, I do knit...

2008-05-12T10:26:00.007-07:00

OK. I admit it, it has been a while since I have posted about any knitting projects. That is because I have had real(-ish) work! I am excited. I am trying to get funding from a Spanish NGO to plant a mango orchard at the hospital. When/it I get that in, we are going to expant to cashew and citrus.
But, in between saving the world, I have been working on a few projects.

First up, we have Dan's Gambian Man Purse. Made from acrylic I got in Basse, with a muslin lining I got in Basse. His going away present from the Gambia. I really like this pattern. It is done in pieces and except for the strap, none get to big, so you can carry it around and work on it. there is no shaping, and you can adjust it very easily. It is based on the Monk's Travel Satchel from Folk Bags

Next up we have my new bag. I decided I needed something a little smaller for just walking around village. The yarn was a purchased in one of the only friggin yarn stores in Ireland. They are hard to find. I think it was the Singer store actualy, which is a sewing machine store, not a yarn store! It is Celtic Aran by Tivoli colors 958 and964. I only got one skein of each, because I was going to make a hat. But I like this a lot better. Lining and zipper from Basse (zipper keeps breaking. But I took off the pully thingy and put on a keychain, so hopefully that will fix the problom.)

This we mentioned before but here is a pic of the beggining of my new Irish Diamond Shawl.

Look What I Found!

2008-05-12T09:10:00.005-07:00

When I ~~stole~~ borrowed my dad's camera, he left me 2 memory cards. One is 2 GB and that is the one I use. There was also a 16 MB one that he left, but sine I am no where near filled up with the first, I have ignored it. Well, today, while waiting for a stupid file to upload to email to this NGO I work with, I decided to look at it. So, here is the first few pics my parents took when they were in The Gambia. Enjoy.

I think this is my dad sleeping on the floor of the Dakar airport. That is really gross. I hope he burned thoes clothes...

On the way to Sera Kunda from the airport in Banjul.

Kombo is cold. I love it here.

2008-04-14T11:02:00.016-07:00

It's way hot upcountry. Luckily, Beth wanted some company comming down so I am taking a few days in Kombo. So randomness... I appologise for the spacing and stuff. BLogger is beingt stupid. Yes. It's blogger, not me

Dan, who has left us. Bastard. He is off to civilization. He better keep in touch or I will beat him!

See this? It looks like a yummy cinimon bun, doesn't it? Smells like one to.
Beth's parents came on vacation and got off the plane and gave her it. You can immagine her joy when she thought she was getting a cinimon bun...

See this? This is the box that the cinnimon bun candel came in. Yes, she got a candel that killed us because if you light it it smells delicious. Which is probobly why in the corner of the box it says "please do not eat"

Dan's last nite in Basse. We got all Tubabed out in Tom from MRC's truck...

Just a cute pic of Bubacarr and Mariama. He enjoys that walker thing more than she does...

OK, another pic of Dan. We miss him here. Dan, remember our Smallville marathon and eating game? note to my readers: eating 20 bannanas is not a good idea...

Do you have a bike helmet? The random everyday one? Like the one that Beth is wearing?

Look inside your helmet. Does it have, like Beth's, a sticker that says Warning: Not for off road use? But what if this is your "road"?

Oh. And Tamara says "Hi"

Fibre Avalibility

2008-03-22T05:06:00.002-07:00

I am trying to compile a list of fibres avaliable, both in roving and yarn. So far I have:
WOOL there are hundereds of types of sheep/wool, so each and every one is not that important. If you have comments on any specific one, or a favorite that I don't have, post it in the comments
-Peruvian Highland
-Merino
-Shetland
-Leicester
-Corriedale
-Romney
-Lincoln
-Coopworth
-Finn
-Blackwelsh

GOAT
-Mohair
-Cashmere
-Angora

ALPACA

VECUNA

LLAMA

CAMEL

YAK

QUIVUT

BUFFOLO

SILK

COTTON
-merchanised
-organic

LINEN/FLAX

BAMBOO

HEMP

SOY

SEAWEEK

So far, that is what I have. Can you add to this list? Post in the comments. Thanks!

Guess what?

2008-03-20T02:11:00.002-07:00

After a year of begging, I finaly got The Yarn Harlot's last book not to be confused with her new book. Though, looking at Amazon for those links, it appears she is comming out with another book!! That one comes out in Sep, so I probobly won't get it until I get back home in December-ish.

Also, do you remember my birthday yarn? Well, after 2+ years and 4 sweater attempts, I have decided that the yarn was not meant to be a sweater. THis is hard and painful to admit. But I have moved on (and have cast on my 3rd shawl attempt with it) and without tempting fait it looks like it is going well. Wish me luck!

Happy &^%$$ Spring

2008-03-19T11:21:00.007-07:00

I was in Basse Sunday, and you know what? It was so *&$$#%^ HOT I wanted to cry. Except if I did cry, the tears would dry up in my eyes and I would probobly get dust in them. I don't remember it being this hot so early last year.

OK, pretty picture of the cool cool river...

Today, since I am down in Kombo I went to the beach in Fajara. Croc Kate and I just walked up and down, avoiding bumpsters. Guess what we saw? ok, I know it's kind of morbid, but I didn't know we had this stuff in the ocean here

This would be a cuttlefish (or what's left of one). We saw the bones littered all up and down the water line.

And here would be a jellyfish. I always thought they needed cold water. Pretty cool. Though it does give you second thoughts about swimming...

On other news...Manda (17 last December) got married!This is her from Tobaski. Congratulations Manda! Both on your marrage and waiting so long!

Randomness

2008-02-10T11:45:00.001-07:00

New health trainees are in. Heather saw them and said "wow, they look so clean!" I said to wait a few days until they had to do their own laundry at GPI.

On other news: I am knitting Dan a Man Purse for his COS gift. Two years in the URD! We all strive to be him! He wants to call it something more masculine, but the PCV's here have unanumously voted that it is a Man Purse. I am doing a loose interpretation of the Monk's Satchel from Folk Bags. It is my favorite pattern from the book I highly recommend the series. I have made myself two, each one a little different. It is a really easy pattern, and adaptable for whatever you want to do with it. My Gambian one has a cell phone pocket on the strap, which sits right over my chest probobly one of the reasons I still have my original phone. A lot of PCV's have theirs stolen here. I hope I would notice if some stranger started fooling around near my chest. That is what Dan really liked about the bag. I like them to be bright colors. Dan wanted either "really out there funky" or "masculine". Since the "really out there funky" colors avaliable in Basse hurt my eyes, he is getting black, navy blue, and red.

I foundthis site. She has some really nice stuff. It gives me ideas.
I have made a few bags for runes, tarot cards, etc. Not as nice as this this or this. Mostly because I was experimenting with them before I left, and partly because I am not this original. But she has given me some great ideas did I say that already?. Anyway, they are great, except I have one tweak I would make. Natural fibres are great. I like using them in most instances. EXCEPT in a few instances. This would be one. Wool, cotton, etc, are good natural fibres to wear in clothes, robes, ect because they do not impede energy flow. If you use robes in Circle, they should be 100% cotton (prefferable undyed). In something like a tarot deck, you want an insulating fabric. One where the energy with have trouble flowing. Silk is a very popular one. But getting 100% silk is expensive, and out of a lot of people's pricerange. So I experimented on something else. A fooled around, tested, asked people to test, and guess what? Acrylic yarn. I used Red Heart, actualy. Cheap, easy to get, pretty colors. Not as soft and pretty and traditional as silk, but it works well. Not as well, of course, but it insulates decently. Better than wool would. And isn't that what you would want for your runes, cards, etc? When they are traveling or being stored, you wouldn't want them to pick up someone/thing elses energy. SO a bag made of an insulating fibre would be better. When I get back, I may experiment more with different kinds of acrylic yarn. And maybe get some recycled silk anyway.

I am not really sure what these are, but they are really pretty.

What Stone Are You?

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Um...How?

2008-02-05T16:54:00.001-07:00

Can you guess what this is?

Did you say the cealing? You would be correct. Except let's take a closer look...

If you can give a good reason why there are handprints on the ceiling of the Basse House, we would appreciate it.

note: the handprints showed up several months before the fan. Noone had a camera though.

additional note. we would like a good story. Not a true one. Thoes are boring.

Vacation Part 1: The Gambia

2008-02-01T05:27:00.000-07:00

This is a pic heavy post, sorry. I just got the CD of pics my parents took while they were here and in Ireland.

In November my parents came to THe Gambia for 10 days. A half-way point/25th birthday treat for me.

I picked them up from the airport, we spent the first nite in the Serekunda compound, then drove upcountry.

They liked the scenery, and their first "real" up-sountry village

The kids were a little unsure of these new white people in the coumpound

But quickly decided they liked them

We went to the river, walked around village, went to the hospital,

We worked in the peanut fields,

where I continued making my father do women's work (fetching water, working in the groundnut fields, etc, are women's work)

We fetched drinking water

And went to the lumo is Sami, where my parents saw their first "Dead Tubab Clothes" ever wonder what happens to the clothes you donate to Third World countries? They end up in the market

We killed a goat in celebration of my parents visit

And just hung out a lot

All in all, it was a good trip. Except for the malaria and the snakes...

Knitting Scouts

2007-12-05T05:47:00.000-07:00

I was perusing glittyknittykitty and saw this post, which ended up sending me here to the Cast On Podcast site. Anyway, long story short, they have all these cool badges is it wrong I want to collect all of them?

So, I have now added which ones I think I have earned to my side bar, as well as a link to the site so you can get your own! scroll down to the links, click on the badge, collect and share

My badges:
The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge

*I am in eqitorial Africa, and I still push knitting on other people! ANd knitted goods. Not just stuff like rugs, but children in my compound have hats and socks!

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One)

*Like everyone, I have used saftey pins, paper clips, etc. for stitch markers. I also made a set of them out of the "rope tree". A tree here that you peel the bark off and use it for twine or rope, very strong. Then the goat ate them when I left them lying on the bantaba.

The “Knitting Whilst Under the Influence” Badge

*I don't knit while drinking, but I am on Larium. Made the mistake of knitting after taking it, and the next morning...well, it's a good thing I don't really hallucinate on the drug. Then again, it might have been a good excuse for what happened...

The “Knitting Has Forced Me to Seek Medical Attention” Badge (Level One)

*I routineley knit holes in my finger, repeditive motion injuries, and one instance when the onkey stole my knitting bag. Still a little to painful to relate.

The “I’ve Knit Items With No Conceivable Practical Application” Badge

*Do we remember the Crack Baby Socks? Luckily, I have improved tremendiously on socks since then.

Missed the ferry...

2007-12-05T05:17:00.001-07:00

What kind of Pirate are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Morgan Adams

You are in it for the thrill, sure the pay off is great but the thing that drives you is the excitement and the chase. Though your family life isn't that great you have many friends who make up for the crappy family life.

Morgan Adams

92%

Sinbad

83%

Captain Jack Sparrow

67%

Mary Read

58%

Dread Pirate Roberts

50%

Will Turner

42%

Long John Silvers

42%

Captain James T. Hook

33%

Captain Barbosa

25%

Black Beard

17%

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are bamboo.Warm, cozy, and thoughtful, you take your time and enjoy how things feel, smell, and taste. You love the craft and beauty of traditional things, and you value the comfort and experience of knitting as much as the results. But while you are reveling in your warm cozies, don't get stuck. Warm is wonderful, but so is the whole wide world!
Take this quiz!

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Join

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And the grand total is...

2007-12-04T02:57:00.000-07:00

In the Gambia, our illustrious president, Yaya Jammeh, is an impressive guy. He took over in a coup 14 years ago, and went from being a Lt. with roughly a 6th grade education to the president of a small West African country with a doctorate. Pretty good step up, huh? You would think that would be enough for any small ~~dictator~~ president. But no, Jammeh continues to serve his people in new and interesting ways. I am not sure if you remember earlier in the year, but Jammeh announced that he can now cure AIDs. We are all thrilled that with the power of the Koran but no fomal religious of theological training and plants from the bush but no botanical or medical training he was able to wipe this deadly scourge from the country. BUt does he stop there? Deffinitly not! He has, in the last year, added asthma, hypertention, diabetes, and last month infertility and cancer!
If you are interested in the cure, all you have to do is go to Banjul on Thursdays. Great, huh? And here we all thought that it would take money, political support, and a laboratory to cure these things. Little did we know.

On other news:
I got some wool in Ireland. A very nice red. 1 KG of aran weight yarn. Now, the big question is, what to do with it? Do I know an Aran Sweater? Do I knot something out of Knitting Ganseys which I got in the mail yesterday? Do I knit a new shawl? I CAN'T DECIDE!!??!! Any ideas, comments, questions will be greatly appreciated.

Mid-Term

2007-12-03T09:26:00.001-07:00

Well, I have been in The Gambia for over a year now. A new crop of AgFo traniees are in country. The mosquitoes are buzzing, and I am rejuvinated from my holiday.

On November 1 I came down to Kombo to pick up my Dad and Shea. THeir plane landed on November 2. We stayed in my host family's Sarakunda compound. Um...eww. Really. They have roaches. It was gross. All the people are great, I love them, but I will most likely be staying at teh Stodge in the furutre. The wife there (actualy, Ansu's brother's wife) wanted me to marry her son. Seriously wanted me to marry him. I told my dad this, that she would want to negotiate, etc, and he needed to let her down without offending her. So that night they talk a little about it. Does my dad let her down? No. She thinks that when we come back after 10 days in village that they will seriously negotiate for me. Crap.

We get to village, after a long day. Tire blows, so we are stuck in Kaur for a while. There a soldier tried to get my dad to sponcer him in school.
In Diabugu we just motly hung around. I took them to Monday clinic, Tuesday trek, the river, and just mostly chilled. It drove my dad crazy. He hates sitting. He needs to fiddle, to putter, all that stuff. But I wanted to REST, and SHea wasn't feeling well(we later discovered she had malaria). The family killed a goat, which I bought. After 10 uneventful days, we were ready to come back and go to Ireland. I gave Ansu a lot of money to pay for gas to take us down and drop us at teh airport. Last minute, he puts us on a gele. SO PISSED. He used less than half of what I gave him for that gele. We will be having a chat when I get back. Then we get to Sarakunda, and Rodrigo calls (the Santa Coloma guy in Diabugu). He is in Kombo and wanted to know if we were there yet. Apparently, he had told ANsu to bring me and my parents down in the Santa Coloma car so he could use it to get back to village. I never heard about that either. We will be having a second chat.
My dad finaly broke it to the mother that I would not be, no way, marrying her son. She was pissed. She felt like he had led her on before (he did, but he didn't see it that way). Finaly he got it through her head that I wasn't that great a catch. Owe a lot of money for school, need more money for school, PC/TG doesn't pay, etc. She still was upset, but whatever.

Ireland was awsome! COLD!! SO VERY VERY COLD!! The higest it got was 12C (53F), the coldest was 3C (37F), but teh average was 6C (42F). We went to Newgrange not as great as we thought and Dowth much cooler than we thought. Knowth was closed. We went to other monuments, stone circles, etc. Just drove around. Went and saw Jannet Farrar and Gavin Bone (very nice. Got some decent gossip. Much fun. Great people), met up with Barbara. After 5 minutes of meeting her, she said I could marry her son. He's 16, so we have to wait. But, I come back to the Gambia with a fiance, who at 16 thinks fighting is fun, so will defend my honor and all that. I told Oshen I was only keeping him until I could trade up. He seemed ok with that. Poor kid. His sister just died of liver cancer, and he and his mother are taking it hard. Of course, who wouldn't. But they made time to show us around and stuff. Very nice people.
Ireland, though, for those who are curious has an inverse relationship between sheep and yarn. It was SO FRIGGIN HARD to find yarn!! I finaly got some at the woolen mills in Clair. Even they said they had a hard time getting it. I found a store in Bray, but it was closed. Finaly, I got to one in Blackrock (I think) called This Is Knit. I highly recommend it! Nice poeple, nice selection for such a small store, nice prices.
All in all, it was a great birthday present. I don't actualy remember what we did on the 19th (all the days kind of blended), but I do remember that this year, I did not fall off the well!!. SO it was a good day. Wow, my standards for a good birthday have really dropped. No catastrophes, no personal injuries, and I am happy.

In Dublin my plane broke, so we were delayed comming back, and I missed my connecting flight in Brussels. The people at Aer Lingus were very helpful. Couldn't get me on a plane until Saturday (this was Thursday) so I got 2 nights and meals comped in Brussels. Awsome! Only problom was no money, no books, and tv was in french. So I knit alot. Working on the Irish Hiking Scarf, a personal favorite. I also have a new camera, one that works, so will hopefully be able to take and post pics now.

It must be spring

2007-09-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

I met my frist bumpster of the season today. I was walking to the office, and I pass a boy, who says to me "Hey, sexy lady. Do you want to kiss me?" My responce was, instead of the punch in the face, "no. you are ugly. go away."

He didn't. In the middle of the season, when you shoot them down, they leave. Plenty more tourists to whore themselves out to. But at the beginning and end, when pickings are slim, they are persistent. He followed me all the way to the PC office. I had my headphones on and ignored him, so unfortunetly don't have a list of his attempts to pick me up.

I got the clear to leave, so tomorrow will go to site. Probobly won't be back until after Ireland!

Quarter Life Crisis

2007-09-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was all set to go back to my happy little village. The 2 day trip? Whatever. My house was at the end of it. As you can tell, I am still in the hell that is Kombo (after about 5 days, it is hell). Why? Well, I had a stomache ache Wensday. By that evening, the pain in my side was so bad, I couldn't breath. Now, I usualy have a large tolerance for pain. I tore my ACL and meniscus in high school. After 2 days finaly went to the doctors and when they asked if I would like anything for the pain my responce of "yes please" freaked my mother out so much she...well, freaked out. So when I say that this hurt, you can immagine. I dragged myself to the med office and layed on the couch until someone came in. I cried. It hurt. The doctor said he thought it was my glabladder. Most people ask "what the hell is a glabladder? What does it do?" But in my family, galbladder means...not good. My mother had her's out after years of probloms. No big, right? She's in her 50's. Bodies wear dowm. My older brother had his galbladder out when he was 25. How old am I going to be in November? 25. I couldn't knit for several days, which isn't helping my bad mood probobly should take this oppertunity to appologise to anyone I snapped at in the last week or so. Larium, Kombo, pain = not a good combination. I wonder what I am going to do when I can't blame the larium anymore? I should post some of the Larium Hiku's that were in the last newsletter if the author will let me. You probobly won't understand, but for me, they are HILARIOUS. SO I have been lying around reading cheesy romance novels. I have read all the Nora Robers/JD Robb (my favorites) so have finaly surcumbed to the harliquine, or whatever they are called. I can't beleive I just admited to that.
I want to be back before Rammadan starts, so hopefully will leave tomorrow or Wensday.

Weather

2007-09-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

In November I am going to Ireland. My halfway mark/birthday trip. I am excited. Except I just looked at temeratures for November. Dublin low 4, high 10. Valentia low 7, high 12. Mullingar low 4, high 10. Cork low 4, high 11. So the averages around teh country range from 4 to 12. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?? THIRTY NINE DEGREES FAREINHEIGHT FOR A LOW!! FIFTY THREE FOR A HIGH!!! We have a low here, in the middle of the cold season that probobly doesn't drop to far below seventy. I will be going from temperatures in the 80's (which we consider cold. Who would have thought? But after a hot season where the temps get into the 120+'s, 80 is frigin freesing) to the 50's!!
I have no clothes for this anymore. I wear really light skirts. To hot to wear anything else. I wear tanktops. I do have a sweater and a light jacket. They are fine for here...oy, what was I thinking? I know I will have a great time. I may come back to Africa with a few fingers lost to frostbite, but I will have a great time.

Lists. Because there is little else to do in the rainy season...

2007-09-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

Reasons I will not reacclimate well to American life
1. I poop in a hole in the ground
2. I threaten to beat small children
3. I think bodily functions are an appropriate dinner conversation
4. I have no problom eating things I cannot identify
5. I eat with my hands
6. I have had breast milk squirted on me
7. I have been pooped, peed and vomited on
8. I don't consider #6 and 7 to be that big of a deal
9. I use words like "Inshallah" and "Basimilie"
10. Diarreah is more an anoyance than a problom
11. A crying child causes laughter
12. I spend more time in greeting than in actual conversation
13. When a man says anything to me, I assume he wants sex. Double if I don't know this man
14. I no longer have a problom with parents refering to their children as "it"

Only in Africa
-can paining your house eat away at your skin
-will vultures circle while you hang your laundry
-do you have to make it clear when you hire someone that you want the job done correctly
-can the phrase "you don't hit your wife?" be followed by "that is bad"
-is being hit by a donkey whip a legitimate concern while riding your bike
-can a simple pimple/paper cut/blister turn into a large oozing...thing...
-is buying meat a special occasion
-can a man hit on you while being treated for an STD, then be surprised when you shoot him down
-can a horse/cow/donkey falling down a well not be that strange
-can you get a marriage proposal from the man's wife

Who'd Have Thought...

2007-07-08T14:58:00.000-07:00

The other day I was going to Banjul (did some shopping, got 3 new skirts so the two that are ripped can be retierd. Was stalked by some crazy guy for a couple of blocks, same old). Anyway, we were taking the inland road, and we passed by this compound of some sort. It had broken razor wire, nothing to make it stand out. Until we got to the sign. Guess what it said? "Central State Prison". I have seen high schools in America with better/more security than this place. If we were in America, it would freak me out. But here, I actualy kind of like it. The idea that the Gambia is so safe, that the prison is that run down.

On another note, someone mentioned that I had a lot of knitting projects going. Two comments on that: 1)I had more in the States and 2)I have nothing but time here!

Computers

2007-07-02T03:41:00.000-07:00

OK, realise that I get to a computer maybe once every 3 months. In thoes three months, stuff happens, but it may not make it on my blog because:
-I have forgotten it
-I didn't think of it as I was sitting in frount of the computer
-the post get's eaten
-I didn't feel like writing it

So, please don't be offended if something is not here, if you are not mentioned, etc. If you are important, you got/get letters in the mail. I like letter's better than e-mail, so really, that is more a guage of what is happening that is memorable and importnat, and who is importnat.

Yes, there is knitting...

2007-07-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

I am actualy knitting in Africa. People here say it is to hot (and it is), but it also keeps me sane(ish).
I have knit:
-2 pairs of socks
-a small mat
-washcloths
-lace beaded bracelets

I am in the middle of:
-a pair of socks
-a jacket
-the Kimono shawl from Folk Shawls (I think I am going to frog this though)
-the Irish Diamond Shawl from Folk Shalws (ran out of yarn, though, so am waiting for people back home to find it and send me more)
-a larger mat

I would like to knit:
-a sweater
-the Sampler Shawl from Folk Shawls
Unfortunetly, this last pattern I didn't bring. I thought I did. I brought the yarn for it. But I guess the pattern didn't get xeroxed. The book is living at someone elses house, who has yet to reply to any letters. So if anyone has that pattern, and can scan it in and e-mail it to me, or xerox it and send it to me, I would be very grateful.

I wish I had brought the book with me. But when I left I thought "book that I love + Africa = not a good idea". Ah well.

Hey, Tubob...

2007-06-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

I really think that the next person who yells that at me is going to get pegged in the back of the head with the largest rock I can find!!

Trip from Hell or How I will never have to worry about karma again
The plan: Leave Diabugu on the morning gele Thursday with Amanda, go to Basse, meet up with Beth H. and Minty (she named her dog Minty. Kids come up and say "Tubob, give me minty" and she pulls out the dog. The Gambians get scared and run screaming. It is THE BEST!!). Find a gele to Bansang, then one to Jonjonbury, then one to Wassu. Go to Beth J.'s house. Spend the nite. Leave for Kombo Friday morning. Get to Kombo, pizza (or any food that is not rice), showers, beach.
The Reality: Thursday morning, get gele from Diabugu. It was not the usual gele. It was scary. We thought it would break down. Amanda got stepped on by the aprentice when he was climbing up to the roof. Get to Basse, cross the river, walk to the car park. Meet Beth and Minty. Start asking for geles. One driver says that he is going to Wassu and will take us to Wassu. He says he is leaving "now". Half hour later we leave the car park, circle a little, go back. An hour later... We finaly get out of Basse TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER. During these two and a half hours we ask the driver, the apprentice and EVERYONE involved in the car when we are leaving, because we need to go to Wassu, and are the SURE they will be going all the way to Wassu? Always a Yes, always a "I'll take you to Wassu". We finaly get out of Basse, go through Bansang. Get to Jonjonbury...and are told to get out. They are not going to Wassu. And EVERYONE who we had asked SEVERAL TIMES if they were going there said "I never said that. You should have checked with me. I can't be responcible for what someone else said". Whatever. We cross the river, get a cab across the island. He drops us off NOT AT THE FERRY. A boat guy comes and says he will take us across for D30!! We say no, it is D2 to get across!! He says "yes, but now there are no passangers. You want to go now, it is D30. You want to wait?" We say yes, we will wait for passangers. Luckily, Beth saw the ferry, so we ran to it and crossed. Found a gele who was going to Wassu. The driver had no idea the village we wanted (it is a little before Wassu). That made us a little nervous, but we were tierd and it was there. Then another gele passes. And Adam is in it! Direct ride to Kombo. We call Beth J and change our mind about going to her house. We will take this new gele to Kombo, picking her up on the way. We tell the boy we changed our minds and go. HE GOES TO THE COPS!!! We basicaly have to pay bribes around to get out of there to go to Kombo. OMG!!! Get to Barra, and the Immigration guys are totaly jerks to us. Want our passports. We don't have them, we are Peace Corps. NO! They WANT out passports! Beth calls Alpha (the guy supposidly in charge of our "saftey and security", unless of course we are drinking or women, then it is our fault). Whatever, we get that taken care of, eventualy get on the ferry, cross. Come out, and this guy says D200 for a towntrip!! NO! It is D150! Finaly get one guy, and a second follows us to the car, trying to get money from us, "whatever is in your heart" he says. Listen guy, we have been traveling ALL DAY, and you are the last in a long line of people who have tried to rip us off. What is in my heart is a smack upside your head. (I don't travel well, if you haven't noticed). Finaly get to the Stodge around 8pm, having left Diabugu at 6am. Shower, pizza, internet, bed. So far, no beach. To tierd.

Chaco e-mailed. I will try and find a camera that is compatable with these computers and send them a pic. If the sole comming off is because of the glue (they just switched) then they will send me a new pair. Chaco is good people!! EVERYONE SHOULD BUY A PAIR!! They are comfy. They are strong. The company is really great! Everyone I have ever had any contact with has been helpful and amazing. Go to Chaco's homepage and check them out! They loook a little expensive at first, but they are TOTALY worth EVERY PENNY!!!

Myth (my hero) sent me a couple CD's from a band called Emerald Rose. She saw them at the Maryland Fairy Festival, where she was on the Entertainment Committee (I think. Don't have her letter in frount of me). She went to their table to get a CD for me, and when she told them that she was going to send it to a PCV in The Gambia, they gave her a second CD for free! They are really good CD's. I think they are in second for my favorite band (Inkubus/Sukkubus is still my favorite).

I was going to rank people's letters, but writing me should be out of love, and not some sense of competition. But I would like to let the world know that Myth is the best correspondent that anyone could hope to ever have! She writes great, long, informative letters. If that weren't enough (and it would be), she also sends me stuff. Sarah finds the greatest cards ever, and get's random people to send me cards as well. Just a shout out to them.

I got word that my Dad and Shea are going to come in November, and then we are going to Ireland!! They wanted to stay and do sight-seeing here, but there is nothing to really site see. So I get to go to Europe, and eat food, and it will be wonderful!!!

Africa Killed My Chaco's!!

2007-06-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yes. Africa is hard. Where to begin over my last 3 months? Umm...let's see...
The rains are here. It is really nice now, everything is green. I would have pictures to send, but I have no batteries for my camera. My dad has posted pics from my last memory card, not sure where yet.

The storms are a little scary though. The wind can be vicious. It blew my ceeling off!! It is now being held up with Gorilla tape and nails. Yay!!

Even with the rains it is still hot. My thermometer exploded! I am saving it.
The sole came off my Chaco's. Rodney thinks they might have melted. Tamara is going home this month, and will take them and mail them to Chaco so they can be resoled.

When time has passed and my trip to Kombo this time is a little less painful, I will post about it. At least I know I am working off ANY karma from EVER!!

IST

2007-04-29T08:33:00.000-07:00

That means "In Service Training" for thoes of you not in the know. I came down to Kombo on Monday, and Tuesday through Saturday we were busy busy. Beekeeping, tree grafting, animal stuff. Good food though. I have been pretty happy up in Diabugu. I am glad that IST came. The last couple of weeks I have been in a funk. A bit homesick I guess. It is strange how that works. I like village. I like my host family. I like what I do. I don't want to leave (yet). But I get homesick sometimes. So comming to Kombo was a nice little change. Shook me up a bit, got me out of the funk I was in. My dad sent me some CD's and a diskman on mail run. That is going to be nice. Except I am now out of AA batteries! Go figure. I need to go and first see if they are even in stock at Kariba, and then if they are in my price range. Batteries are expensive here.
I am still hanging out at the hospital, going on trek. I like it. And we just got a new volunteer in a close village. She replaced a previous volunteer who just COSed. Chris, if you read this EMAIL ME!!! I have questions about A.D.'s solar pannel and the wireing for the woman's kaffo She seems like a nice girl.
We had 2 babies in the last month in my compound, both boys. Which created a new game when the first was born: "Steal the Baby". You tell either Slayman (the first's older brother, about 2ish) or Jenna (the second's older sister, a little older than Slayman) that you are going to take the baby. Then you try and take the baby. They scream and cry, and sometimes hit. It is funny. Jenna's mom will hand me the baby and tell me to take him to my house. Then she will laugh and laugh as Jenna get's mad. Later I will pick Jenna up and throw her in the air, and all is forgiven until the next time. Much fun is had by all.
They are building a Senior Secondary school in village. Construction people are up from Kombo. They keep asking me if I have a husband, if I want a husband, if I love them because they love me. None of them even know my name. I get that all the time in Basse, but I didn't in village. Maybe that is what threw me into the funk. Babucarr, who is 3, tells them that he is my husband, and they should leave me alone. He's a great kid. Most of the kids under 10 are great in village.
I am going to try and go back tomorrow, assuming I wake up early enough. Until then, a list of people who I love because they have written me letters:

Sarah

Katie

Ingrid

Myth

Dad

St. Joseph's School

Orphee

I know I am missing one woman from Tucson, but I can't remember her name right nowsorry. You sent me yarn. You are one of my hero's!!

These are the people who have sent me more than one letter since my last post. If you are not on the list, either your letter was delayed which means send more. Statistically, if you send me 100 letters, and only 10% get through, I still get 10 letters!, or it came on mail run this last time and I wasn't there to get itwhich means I will get it when I get back, and send you a reply next mail run or it means you are a lazy selfish person and haven't sent me any is the guilt working? No? let me try again send me a letter!! Just tell me what you did today!!! Anything!!!
Then again, I do keep getting letters about how it snowed in Tucson and how cold it is in the States. It is 110+F out in village. The URD is HOTTT!!

Well, until next time. Unless you write me letters, then I will write back and you get more infor and updates than here.

Three Month Challenge? What 3 month challenge?

2007-02-24T03:44:00.000-07:00

I am down in Kombo, before my 3 month challenge is over. Why? Because I am breaking the rules? Becaues I throw caution to the wind? No. Becasue I am scared of Barbara. just kidding. I love Barbara. The Med Unit said "Come get your flu shot or else". And I am always scared that people will follow through on their or else. So I got a ride in the ambulance, and 11 hours later was down in Kombo. That was Wensday. I was going to leave yesterday, but Allyson is ETing, so I wanted to say bye to her. I will miss her, but I do understand.

Diabugu is awsome. I mostly work at the hospital. THe people there are great, and I get to traumatize small children all day (and just think of how bad it would be if I actualy stuck them with needles, instead of handiling the paperwork?). My family is great. HUGE. In the compound there are...4 brothers, I think. And their wives. And their children. And their sons wives, and their children. And random people who showed up for Tobaski and haven't left.

I am out in the bush, but I like it. At nite sometimes I can hear the hyenas. Since I am in a large villige, and in the middle of the village, I am not afraid of them at all. There is a donkey pen that is next door to my house (litteraly. We share a fence). Um...a well in our compound, which is cool, and a tap that turns on once a day for drinking water. And mosquitoes that live in our latrines. That is anoying.

Oh, and the horse. Tamara doesn't beleive me, but this horse has bad plans for me. It is young, and i ma sure it is just waiting until it is bigger than I am. It climbs on my porch and stands in frount of my door and stares at me. Or walks by while I am on the bantaba and stares at me. It wants to hurt me. I am sure of this. And it is not a Larium paranoia!! The larium makes my hair fall out, not be paranoid.

Speaking of fear...just a cute story and I needed a segue...In Diabugu right now, there are Spanish doctors visiting. They come once a year. The other day they came by my compound to speak to my host father about something. Anyway, Mohamadou, my host fathers first wifes youngest son (he's maybe 2ish) came out of the hallway in the house and saw two of them sitting in the room. He FREAKED OUT. The tubobs terrified him. He starts crying and screaming. For me!! "Aggggg!!!! Manda!! Manda!!" So I had to go and recue him from the scary tubobs. It was funny. I am still laughing about it.

OMG I MUST HAVE THIS!!!

2006-12-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

Being in West Africa, the birthplace (hehe...) of zombies...I must have something that this is knitted into!!! I MUST!!! Someone who love me!!! Print it out, and hopefully I can get some yarn, or make me something!!!
http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/samhain06/iheartzombies.htm

And this is awsome to. I NEED it, but not as bad!!
http://www.theanticraft.com/archive/samhain06/silvanus.htm

Tomorrow early, we head out to the bush. Where I will be living. I am excited. I went to the only "craft" store in the country. It was sad. They had really low quality yarn (I hope that I will never be desperate enough to need to buy it), and only two sizzes in needles, both straights. Sigh. But it is ok. Sarah, my hero, sent me two balls of Red Heart. She and I have a special relationship with Red Heart.

The End Of The Yarn?

2006-12-09T02:47:00.000-07:00

Being my last day with internet, I decided to try and catch up a little on my blogs. THen I noticed Knitty had a new issue up. Gabby says she will print it out and mail it to me, but still...anyway, I saw the link to the article about how the "fad" of knitting is dying...let me tell you, nothing could be farther from the truth in Peace Corps-The Gambia. Many of the volunteers knit, and many more want to learn. We are trying to coordinate a URD Stitch 'N Bitch (kind of complicated when you are spread over 50 km). Stephanie told me last nite she saw some cloth with balls of yarn printed on it. If she finds it again, she is getting it for me.

The only problom here is the lack of supplies. There is yarn, but it is cheap acrylic, and doesn't come in many colors. Getting needles is very hard. Books and patterns is impossible. So we depend on the kindness of strangers (hence Gabby and her printer). But you have all the PC people who knit, and are in a place for 2 years where they can't buy books. So of course the sales drop off. Just wait until I get back to the States!

FInally

2006-12-09T02:17:00.000-07:00

I am finally a real live Peace Corps Volunteer. Yesterday was the swearing in. We went down to the Ambasadors house, but he wasn't there. It was nice though. I want to be an Ambasador when I grow up. Posh house.

Tomorrow, I head up to Diabugu for my PC adventure. Two years. It's a nice site, and I am looking forward to it. My family is Sarahule, so I have to learn a new language, but one of my "brothers" speaks English, so it shouldn't be to bad. I am looking forward to going.

Africa - The First 2 months

2006-11-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

Since I didn't bring my camera cable, you will have to wait for pictures. Sorry.

First...someone corrected my greeting in the previous post. Every person who has read it has a different way of saying it. Here, it is originaly Arabic, but has been Gambianized. So, we don't say it like the Saudi's do or the...whoever. It is interesting how language changes. Or dialects. Like, I ahve been learning Mandinka, but I just got back from my site, Diabugu, and the Mandinka they speak there is completley different that what I know. Not that it matters much. They are Sara hule, so I will be learning a completley different language.

Anyway, I am back in Kombo for 10 days I think. Finish up training and shop. My house, which isn't completed yet, is empty. So I need a bed, furniture, everything.
My flashlights got demagnatized so I also have to buy a new one. Sigh.
Really, I could give a long list of things that have gone wrong, but in the end, I love it here. Yes, there are days when I want to throw in the towel, when I want to cry and scream and go home. But I really like it here. The peopel are great, I am (going to be) doing good work. So even if you get a letter that says "I have been sick and want to come home" don't be surprised if the next one is "I had the best day today".

In training village (we go to a village that is in our language group, and live with a family, and learn there to help up culturize and get better with language), we got Gambian names. I was named Manifa Jammeh. Named after my younger "sister". She's awsome. A total firecracker. Reminds me a lot of my neice, Domonique. My host fater had 2 wives, with a total of 16 kids. Big family.

I am going to be out in the bush in a place called Diabugu. It is in URD. The villafe is Sara hule, so I have to learn a new language. But it is ok. The family is really nice, and HUGE. The compuound is huge. The village has 160 compounds, a hospital. It's great. And my "brother" who is a nurse speaks English, which is even better.

Salaamaleekum

2006-10-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Now, you reply, "Maleekum Salaa"...assuming I spelled that correctly. Not that it matters, since there is no organized spelling here.
I am safe in Africa. We are staying at a place called the Gambia Pastoral Institute near Banjul. It is a Catholic missionary place, I think. But we are safe, have electriciy most of the time, and running water.
I am learning a language called Mandinka, which is an oral language. There is also a group learning Woolof and Pulaar. Both of thoes are oral to. The only "written" forms of them are Peace Corps books. On October 6, we go to our training villages, whcih have no running water or electricity. THe point of a training village is to emerce us in the language and culture with help there. In the village there are 4 of us, plus a LCH (Language and Culture Helper). There, we can make the mistakes that would get us in trouble in our real villages.
We are busy every day, and since it is after 9pm here, and I still have to walk from the Peace Corps office back to GPI, I am not going to go into it. MAyve later when I am not exhausted and have more time (need to be back before they lock the gates at 10pm).

Arrrr me mateys...

2006-09-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

Happy National Talk Like A Pirate Day!! I am busy packing, so the talking won't be happening. I leave Sunday...sigh...to much to do, not enough time!!

Incase I don't get a chance to update again before I go (and I am going to try to get my dad to update this with my letters and stuff, so check back eventualy)
I can be snail mailed at
Cerridwen Johnson, PCV
US Peace Corps
PO Box 582
Banjul, The Gambia, West Africa

Tears...

2006-09-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

Only...not nearly enough days left. I am packing, which sucks. BUt I did find a box of my old photo projects from school, which is kinda cool. I was a bit of an ecclectic photographer. I liked doing things...well, not what my teacher expected from a high school student. Anyway, a couple that the teacher understood, and I like...
One of my cat Poncho. He was such a photogenic cat. I miss him. But I did a whole series on him. All of the pics came out great.

I don't remember this woman's name, but I met her at a festival. She was very nice.

We also went to Lake Patagoina. I love that lake, so on Sunday my dad and I went for my last visit for a while. The dam was overflowing, and it was a lot of fun. Pics of that when I find what file my dad put them in.

Yesterday was my last day of work. It was sad. I didn't think I would find it so hard to leave SAAF. George gave me a card that everyone signed. It made me cry. If you ever wonder what kind of a differnece you made in the world, get a going away card. There was barley enough room for people to sign. And one of my costomers came by and gave me a card to. It was a nice last day.

Finished with the decresing on the socks, so hopefully will finish the socks soon. about 8 inches on the foot to go, and 10 days to do it...

Saturday Sky...second to last I think...

2006-09-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

It stormed Wensday nite/THursday morning. And is supposed to again this weekend. But you can't tell it from the sky!

I leave in 2 weeks. 6am on the 24th! I will get next weeks in, then no promises after that!!

Socks...

2006-09-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

So, um...issues...

I turned the heel. Except I turned the heel on both socks. I should have picked up the gusset on the first sock before I turend the heel on the second. So, now I am in a position where I can't really pick up the gusset stitches on either...kinda stuck...any ideas?

Itinerary!!

2006-08-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

OK, so from 25-27 September, I will be in Philadelphia for my staging event. I leave Tucson on 24 September at 6am, layover in CHicago from 1130-1240, and arrive in Pilly 4pm!!

Getting close!

Spetember Primary

2006-08-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

I just got my sample ballot for the upcoming primary. Now, I am a registered democrat, but when I flipped it to the replublican, here is what there was...

Pima County's motto for the County Clerk should be "Anyone but Noland". After September 11, 2001, she made the anouncment that any military reservist who is called up to active duty will be automaticaly fired. She refused to let one woman take the day off to take her daughter to the airport when she went to basic training. She refused to let another woman see her son off when he went to Iraq. She refused to let another woman off to go to her daughters weding. She won't let my dad have the day off to take me to the airport when I leave for the Peace Corps. She routinely yells and threatens and berates her employees, IN PUBLIC. She has, on several occasions, ordered the people in her office to BREAK FEDERAL LAW. And something even more telling...one woman is a life long republican. She is the kind of woman who thinks that the republican party can do no wrong. Some people in the office once had her convinced we were going to nuke the middle east, and her reaction was "if President Bush thinks that is a good idea, then I will support him 100%". She has since left the republican party and will never vote for them again. WHy? Becasue if they would keep Noland as a member, then there is something wrong with the party, and she can no longer in good consious support them. She will support them when they say that we need to torture people in Gitmo. She will support them when they say we need to nuke civilian targets. But she will not support them becasue of a little county clerk position!! That tells you how bad this woman is!! So, if you are in Pima County, vote ANYONE BUT NOLAND

I don't care what you say...

2006-08-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

Pluto is a planet. Period. That is all.

The end of an era...

2006-08-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday, I took my Saturday Sky pictures Yes, Katie, this is a mostly weekley thing. The Satruday Sky ring is a bunch of blogs that put pics of their sky every Saturday. It's fun, and tried to upload them to my laptop with my cable. Now I remember why I put it in a box. My computer doesn't like it. It kept freezing when I pluged the cable in, and I finaly gave up and shut the computer down. Then I watched Chronicles of Narnia which is a really good movie, and went to turn my laptop back on...black screen with one line: Opperating System Not Found". Crap. I haven't tried again. I don't know what I am going to tell my dad. He will freak out. The fact that the computer is really old. THe fact that it is a Compaq. The fact that it picked up a serious drug problom when I was at COttey we used to joke that our computers would go out into the suite at night and smoke meth together. Everyone's computers would mess up in Co-Thom. None of this will matter to him. He will yell about how I am leaving in 5 weeks, and now he will have to fix the computer, when he doesn't. He will yell about how the plastic on the cover is broken, when it has been like that for a while, in fact, the crack first appeared when I took it back after he had borrowed it. But he won't care or listen. Crap. I wonder if I can go 5 weeks without him knowing my computer is crapped out, and just use his? We'll find out. GOod thing he doesn't read my blog.

So, here is the Saturday Sky pics that caused all the probloms...

Saturday, before all this happened, I went to Howard's and got some yarn.

I have had the teal and blue for a while. I picked up the pink Saturday. They will be another Monk's Travel Satchel. THe teal will be the strap, the blue the bag and the pink the trim. I watnted something that would jump, and with the subdued blue, the pink will do that I think. I was thinking of doing the strap in a rib pattern, so it would stretch width, not length. But then decided I didn't want to do that. So instead, I am doing it in the seed stitch (I like the texture of seed stitch), but in a much smaller guage than it calls for. So a denser stitch will keep it from stretching to much.

On Sunday, I frogged the jacket.

Does anyone even remember the jacket anymore? Well, if you remember, for my birthday, I wanted all this yarn, and my loving family got it for me. So I cast on for a jacket that I wanted to make. THen after finishing more than half of it, reality struck me. When, exactly, did I think I would use an ankle length 100% wool jacket? What was I smoking when I came up with that plan? Especialy going to Africa? So it has been frogged, and I am going to make a shawl. I still love the yarn, and want to make something special with it. I just have to find the shawl pattern that is worthy of the yarn. I like squares and rectangles for shawls. I have never made a circular shawl, and there are some nice ones out there...any ideas?

My First Sweater!

2006-08-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

I knit the cutest little sweater for baby Josephine!

It is the first sweater I have ever knit. It wasn't perfect, but it is nice. The buttons are little ducks!! So cute!! Unfortunetly, the pictures didn't come out well, so you will have to use your imagination.

The blanket...well, after taking everyone's opinion's into account which was a resounding "No" to the fringe, I decided to not add any fringe. My dad mailed it for me on Thursday or Friday. But today it was returned for insafficiant postage. Which is stupid, since he weighed it. Whatever. It will go out Monday. ANd I will either add the sweater and booties to the box, or just throw them into another one. We'll see what I decide to do.

There is also a cute set of little booties. Yellow with white tie. Unfortunetly...camera issues. But I was able to take my Saturday Sky pics...

Daisy blanket = finished kind of

2006-08-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

I finished the embroiderey of the Daisey Blanket last nite. Which is good, because the baby was born on Sunday!! Sooooo excited. Mum called me an hour after the birth, from her hospital bed, to let me know that Josephine Marie had come into the world, so I could "stop worrying". I wasn't worrying!! She had mentioned that the doctor said she might come late, and I was curious!! She ended up comming a bit early.

I need to decide if I am going to put fringe on it. Wash it. Put in in the mail. Well, get the new addy daddy's in the Army and they recently were transfered to Texas

Saturday Sky

2006-07-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's late. The pictures were taken yesterday, I just didn't get a chance to upload them...

It has been raining alot!! I am so excited. Except now, it is still raining, and the desert can't abosrb anymore. The Santa Cruz is running, and other washes are full. Sabino Canyon is flooded. But it is raining!!!

Lists...

2006-07-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

The "welcome to The Gambia" book I have has a couple of lists for me. One is a list of what will be in the medical kit they will give me...I know some of the stuff I will have to change out because I am allergic to latex. Some of the things on the packing list I have, or know I will change or something. But if anyone has any ideas of stuff to add to the medical kit, or stuff to add to the packing list, or any advice espeicaly if Mike Sheppard reads this. So awsome that someone who was in The Gambia last year commented!!! The list is in text, my coments are italixs. So, any ideas, comments, suggestions, etc will be greatly appreciated

Medical Kit Contents
-Ace bandages
-Acetaminopen 325 m (Tylenol)
-American Red Cross First Aid & Saftey Handbook
-Antacid tablets (Di-Gel)
-Antibiotic ointement (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B)
-Antifungal cream (clotrimazole)
-Antimicrobal skin cleanser (Hibiclens)
-Baby powder (Johnson's)
-Band-Aids will probobly take some of my own to be on teh safe side for non-latex
-Butterfly closures
-Cepacol lozenges
-Ciprofloxacin 500 m
-Condoms ???? um....ok, besides the obvious, which I don't do and have no plans to do in Africa, I know that they can be used to keep water out of your M-16. BUt since I won't have a M-16....????
-Dental floss (waxed and unwaxed)
-Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg ( Benadryl)
-Erythromycin 25 mg
-Hydrocrotisone cream
-Ibuprofen 400mg
-Insect repellent
-Latex gloves (one pair) will replace with non-latex gloves
-Lip balm (aloe vera)
-Multivitamins
-Oral rehydration salts
-Pepto-Bismol chewable tablets
-Pseudoephedrine HCL 60 mg (Sudafed)
-Scissors
-Soap (dial)
-Sterile gauze pads
-Sucrets loznges
-Sunscreen (SPF 30) wow. I haven't seen SPF 30 in years...that will be replaced with my SPF 50. Or maybe my SPF 75. I don't think you can find 30 in Tucson...maybe I will send it home as a curiousity for people to see...
-Tetahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
-Thermometer
-Tweezers

Packing Lists
Genreal Clothing
-Lightweight, waterproof jacket
-T-Shirts
-Sweatshirt or sweater
-One or two bathing suits
-Bandanas or handkercheifs
-Hat I have one wide brimed from COlumbia, and I like that brand, so will probobly get a second one too
-Jeans are jeans really a good idea? I was wondering about the humidity and chaffing...
-Lightweight cotton pants
-Lightweight long shorts except on my kayak, and not even all the time then, I don't wear shorts...do you think they they are really a good idea? Or capri pants would be better?
-At least one dressy outfit for official PEace Corps functions and outings in the capital

For Women
-Several good bras, including sports bras
-plenty of sturdy cotton underwear
-a variety of casual and dressier dresses
-capri pants

Shoes
-Durable shoes for work I went to Summit Hut today and got fitted, found a boot that is mesh and leather, so it will dry easier, by Merrell
-Sturdy Sandals also found a pair of Chaco's that I liked. I heard that they give a discount to PCV's, so will check out their website
-All purpose shoes for walking, hiking and biking

Personal Hygine and Toiletry Items
-3 month supply of perscriptions
-good sissors
-skin lotion
-two pairs of eyeglasses
-lip balm (if you have a favorite brand)
-a small supply of femine products
-favorite brands of shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste, deoderant I don't have a favorite brand, so will take enough to get me by until I find out where to buy whatevery they have
-Makeup I don't wear makeup, so won't even worry about this
-towels
-sheets

Kitchen
-Packaged mixes, eg. sauces, salad dressings, soups, soft drinks I am not sure what to take...I don't drink soda...probobly a lot of garlic which I put in everything, and maybe some other spices that I am used to but probolby won't find, like chili powdwer. ANy other ideas...
-good can opener
-measuring cups and spoons
-rubber spatula
-plastic freezer bags
-small plastic food containers

Miscellaneous
-Shortwave radio
-inexpensive, durable, water-resistant watch with extera batteries
-swis army knife or leatherman will drop by the base probolby
-reliable alarm clock and extera batteries
-biking gear such as padded shorts, gloves, toe clips, water bottle and cage
-small or medium size daypack without frams
-camera (35 mm are best for travel) I know they say 35, but I like my digital
-film and extera bateries batteries, yes. And 2 extera memory cards I think
-pictures of your home, family, and friends
-magazines and catalogs with pictures of clothes you might want to have copied...clothes have never been a big thing for me, so prooblby not
-world maps and travel guides
-a supply of good pens
-journals or diaries
-Tape, CD or MP3 player and music and speakersI am thinking both. A CD player with copies of my cd's and an MP3 player. Either way, will need to get them
-plastic sturdy water bottles
-Stamps
-Games
-art supplies yes, this will be yarn. And needles. And maybe one or two pattern books and copies of others
-softball glove (Peace Corps/Senegal has an annual tournament with other WEst African countries)
-Combination padlocks
-Duct tape
-good flashlight or headlamp
-phone card for international calls

Mesa Adventure or: My visit to the Yarn Harlot

2006-07-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, The Yarn Harlot was in Mesa, AZ on her book tour. So, I got off work early and drive up there. I assumed 2.5 hours would be enough, but didn't factor in cross town traffic. I also got lost when I got to Mesa, so I got there about 6:30, and the talk started at 6. I hate Phoenix, and my hatred is spilling over onto the suburbs of it. Afterwards, noone would let me over to get the exit that would take me to I-10, and I missed the Florence exit (need to take someone with me in the future to watch for exits while I try not to be killed by other drivers), and the next way to go south was in Globe, an hour out of my way. So m drive home was 3.5 hours. It's ok, though. She started a little late, and I was there for the rest of the talk. It was great!!

I was sitting behind a stand of yarn. On teh side I was looking at all nite was some really nice, expensive wool. Wish I could have afforded it.

She showed the sweater that she made for the Knitting Olympics. Very nice.

I used my dad's camera, since he has the ability to take 15 second vidios as well as stills. Unfortunetly, I have no idea how to load the vidios on my blog, if I could. I might be able to e-mail them if anyone wants. She is hilarious!!

It was a great day, finding out where/when I am leaving with the Peace Corps, and meeting Stephanie!! She knew me!!! She recognised my name when she signed my book!! And took my picture (which is on her blog!!! She took a pic of me holding the traveling sock!!! And put it on her blog!!!!)

Peace Corps Update

2006-07-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I got my invitation today.

The Gambia. 20 September (less than 2 months away...exactly 8 weeks...). Environmental. Wow!! SOOOO EXCITED!!! SO much to do!!!

Knitting...yes, I knit...what? Socks!!!

2006-07-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't really do a lot of knitting on the vacation. I can't knit in the car, and we did a lot of driving.

This is the original sock for my step-dad. It fit's me, and since it will now be mine, I need to decreese for the toe. I will get around to that. I might rip back a little before then though. Not sure yet. It is Fortissima colori 75% superwash wool, 25% polyamide

This is the new socks. I am being smart, and doing 2 socks on 2 circs. It is...I am not sure where the ball band is right now. It is wool superwash blend.

Lake Havasu

2006-07-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

Lake Havasu was hot. Like, 120 F. Sweat just pouring off me. It was kinda gross. Also, we kayak, and Havasu isn't really a lake for kayaks. There were a lot of motor boats and jet skis (I've never actualy been on a boat with a motor, unless you count ferries. One going down the Rhein and one crossing from Ireland to Wales).

At Lake Havasu is the London Bridge. It was moved there in 1974 I think.

It was too hot. We got to our campsite, in a state park there, and set up. THen we put on our vests and floated in teh waves near the shore. That was nice. Even though the water was warm.

It was to hot to sleep in the tents, so I pulled my pad and slept on the picknic table for a bit. Then was ficiously attacked by a bug or something (my dad thinks it was a kissing bug), so moved into the car. Whatever bit me, when I got home and took a hot shower, the skin sluffed off my bottom lip. It was gross.

The next morning, we got up at dawn and went to a wild life refuge and kayaked that. Really the only place we could paddle.

Do you know what this is?

There was a sandbar that we got out and fooled around on. THere were these huge masses of giant fish. As big as your arm. We weren't sure if they were mating or sturing up the bottom looking for food. Then I got out of my boat and was walking aorund in the water, about up to my knees, and I was swarmed!!! I think they were stirring up the bottom, and when I was walking around, they were trying to see if I was edible. That is a bunch of the fish, thrashing about and trying to flip my boat.

Well, that was the end of my vacation. Tomorrow, we will return you to your regularly scheduled knitting content.

Saturday Sky

2006-07-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

This is today's sky, here in Tucson, AZ. It is only 106 F out. Thanks for the clouds. Since I have no idea what the heat index is...I can't say that for you my dad says that the heat index is something that noone cares about except during the summer monsoons, so we really don't pay attention. Though on the news last nite, I heard something about it being 140, if that means anything to anyone

And from last Saturday, Lake Havasu. It was 120 F there. We didn't stay on the water long.

Jerome and Casa Grand

2006-07-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

We went to Jerome. It is a mining city that is built on the side of the mountain where the mines are. The mines dried out in the 60's, and were closed in '64 I think. Then Jerome was basicaly a gost town, until they turned to tourism. And that is what Jerome does now. When we were there walking down the street, I stopped in frount of the police station. Some sixth sense told me there was something interesting around. My dad was about half a block up the street (he didn't stop when I did), and stopped when he realised I had, turned around, and pointed up. On the second floor of the police station was a yarn store. But they were closed. Dad said "well, I guess like birds have a bit of iron ore in their noses to always find north, knitters have a bit of wool in their's to always find yarn".

The reason we went to Jerome was because my great grandfater did the supply wagon a couple times a week there from Prescott the winding roads were bad enough in a car. I can't imagine doing it in a mule drawn wagon. He was there during the earthquake (probobly the landslide of '37). HE was sitting in his wagon, and saw the sherrifs office collapse and get barried. He watched teh sherrif crawl out the second floor window. Then he turned around and went back to Prescott, and quit his job. So we wanted to find the old jailN34'45.044/W112'06.882. Here it is. This is across the street from where it originaly was.

Then to Casa Grande. The ruins N32'59.653/W112'32.246 there are really cool. They weren't just a village like all the others. The Great House is actualy an observatory.

Tooozigoooot!!!

2006-07-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

N34'46.133/W112'01.601

Knitting help!!

2006-07-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Ha, you all forgot that this was a knitting blog, didn't you? You were distracted by all the cool pics from all the cool national parks. Don't worry, we will get back to thoes soon. We still have Jerome, Casa Grande, Tuzigoot (!!! Say it aloud!! It is soooo much fun!! TOOOOZIGOOOOT!!! Hehe. You have to smile!), Lake Havasu...it was quite a nice couple of trips. Except for the 120 F in Lake Havasu. And the bug bite on my bottom lip where all the skin sluffed off. That is painful. But other than that, nice trips.

Back to the knitting question...
My step-dad wants argyle socks. He has wanted some since I starte knitting. The Yarn Harlot appears to have begun something argyle. And Moth Heaven has some cool color schemes remember the comment about the day glow pink socks for my step-dad? This could be my oppertunity
The only probloms are: 1)I have never done inarsia, 2)I don't know what colors to do it in and 3)I still haven't finished the other pair(s) of socks for him. Did get a good 3 inches done on his 8 inch cuff (he wants 8 inch cuff...in ribbing...to go along with his 12 inch fool...men...) at the ER last week though.
I think the fact that I am seeing argyle on other blogs is a sign that it is time for me to do it, finaly. So, I need advice on colors, and any advice you choose to give me on inarsia. The advice on finishing...well, we all know my non-monogomous knitting...I don't think advice there will work.

SEcond knitting help: remmeber the birthday yarn?
I have decided that unless I move to Siberia, there is no way I will ever need a full leangth wool coat (this is of course after I finished the back, one of the sides and half done with the other side). I am not happy with it anyway. So I need something else to turn that yarn into. I love it. With a passion. It is pretty, feels nice, is wool, feels nice, great color...I love that yarn. I was thinking a shawl for myself, but can't decide on a pattern. Any advice? On a shawl pattern, or something else to do with the yarn. I have a lot of it, so more than one thing is possible.

Vacation: Day Two - The Grand Canyon

2006-07-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

We go up with the sun, and left the KAO campsite

never stay at a KOA!!! We got there and got our campsite, and it was really expensive. For what they charged, we could have gotten a motel room. We went to the assigned campsite, and there were people in it!! My dad went back to the office and told them there was already people in the campsite. So they assigned us to one that was a third the size of the previous one!! For the same price!! That one was infested with ants. When I went to the office to ask them for ant killer, they told me "it doesn't work, but you can waste your money". Everything I said to them was replied with "you can waste your money". When I told them I was horribly allergic to ants and would wind up in the hospital, they told me that I was welcome to "waste my money". So I told them we needed another campsite. THey assigned us a number, and from the otherside of the office, someone said "that's my campsite!" So we got the one next to him. Four campsites, expensive place, rude people, who have no consideration for the health and welfare of their costomers. I sent a complaint to KOA, who said they would reply in 48 hours...it has been a week, and nothing. So, keep yourself happy, NEVER stay at a KOA!! End public service anouncement

Anyway, we went to the Grand Canyon, stopping at the National Geographic Visitors Center N35'58.470/W112'07.606 and looked around. It had some cool pictures and history of the Grand Canyon. They had a replica of the wooden boat that Powell used when he explored the Grand Canyon (I saw a cool special on it on PBS. Hehe, a lot of the trip was "hey, I saw **** on Arizona Highways/PBS"). Then we went to the National Forrest and were at Mather Point N36'03.686/W112'06.492 which is the first place you can see the Canyon

See the rocks? See the shiny on the rocks? People threw down money, and it covered the rocks and everything.

We then went to the Watchtower N36'02.646/W111'49.572 which was really cool.

Except for the narrow winding stairs. I am a klutz. Thinking back, going to a giant crack in the ground probobly wasn't the best vacation spot...

Vacation: Day One Cont. cont. - Painted Desert

2006-07-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

this is the second post of the day. If you haven't read the one about the Petrified Forest, then scroll down. We went to the Petrified Forest before the Painted Desert. But apperently, blogger will only let me have a certain number of pics in a post

Then off to the Painted Desert N35'03.786/W109'48.160 (at the part of the state we were in, they are in the same park. The Forest was on the south side, and the Desert was on the north.)

Where we found a geocache (that's my GPS. It is waterproof, and my dad made a wrist thingy for it.)

In the Painted Desert, there were the Puerco Ruins N34'58.543/W109'47.645

The rest was just beutiful...and there was a double rainbow

We then made it to Flaggstaff, where we camped at a KOA NEVER camp at a KOA!! Horrible place, expensive, horrible staff.

We slept in pup tents. It wouldn't have been so bad, except someone kicked the rock that was pulling out the sie of my tent...well, when you are claustrophobic, and the walls really are falling in on you...not a very good nites sleep. But the next day: The Grand Canyon!! WHich made the horrible KOA nite woth it.

Vacation: Day One cont. - Petrified Forest

2006-07-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

Back on the road after Walnut Canyon. We were heading to the Petrified ForestN34'48.911/W109'51.936

First though, we stopped at the Navajo County Court House and Jail N34'54.185/W110'09.466. The visitor's center for the area was there.

They had the old jail there, built in 1898, and last used in 1976. Very small and cramped. It was cool.

Then back on the road...

We got to the Petrified Forest, and walked through a "forest"N34'48.961/W109'51.991 with trails

Ok, I think blogger only lets me have a certain number of pictures, so the Painted Desert will have it's own post

Vacation: Day One - Walnut Canyon

2006-07-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Our first stop was Walnut Canyon National Park N35'10.305/W111'30.561. I collect waypoints for places I have been. I have some cool ones, so don't be surprised if you see lat/long scattered throughout these posts. We ended up getting a National Park Pass. So very worth it!!

My dad at the entrence

From the top...see the clif dwelling across the canyon?

The cliff dwellings play a part in the story here...My dad and I go to clif dwellings when we can. They're cool. Well, whenever my dad and I go to a cliff delling, just the two of us, it rains. ALways. Walnut Canyon was no different but if someone goes with us, it is hot. When we went to Montezuma's Castle, we all froze overnite, and burned at the dwellings and well.

SOme of the cliff dwellings N35'10.105/W111'30.638. Notice how small they are. One of the signs said the people who lived there averaged 5'4" for the men. My dad is nearly 6', and I am 5'10". I couldn't imagine living where I couldn't stand up.

Later, The Petrified FOrrest and The Painted Desert

Afghans for Angels

2006-07-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

I want to thank Connie for this link Afghans for Angels. Quite some time ago, my sister ok, in my comvoluted familial structure, she is actualy my older brothers ex-wife. We have the malarial view of family. Once you are infected with us, you are stuck with us forever. You might go into remission, but eventualy, it will flare up again lost her 3rd son. She was 8 months pregnant, and had a horrible time with the pregnancy. Labor with her first 2 boys was 6 and 4 hours. But she had to go through labor with Andreu, even though they knew he would be stillborn. It was hard on everyone. I think if we had known about this charity, it would have made things easier. I had about half finished a blanket I had been making for him. I think now that I should have cast it off and given it to Cassie anyway. But instead I gave it to Shea so she could finish, and she gave it to some family that came through her neo-natal nursary in Minn. Cassie hasn't really dealt with the loss of her 3rd son. I think that not giving her the blanket (even though she was the one who said to finish it and give it to a charaty) was a mistake.

Thank you Connie for this link. It is one that I will be knitting for, and I hope everyone makes at least one blanket for it. It won't make the pain go away, but it might help ease it a little, and elp deal.

Saturday Sky...on Wensday

2006-07-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

I just joined the Saturday Sky Ring. Now, since I won't be here Saturday (my dad and I are going up to Lake Havasu), I am going to post a sky picture. It's an oldy but a goodie.

Silverbell Lake

Randomness...

2006-07-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

I went on vacation this past week. My dad and I toured the northern half of the state. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunetly, I can't find the cable for my camera, and my dad's computer isn't working, so I can't update pictures just yet. Hopefully soon. Though, Saturday we are going to the Northeastern part of the state (mostly Lake Havasu), so maybe not until I get back from there.

Connie asked where she can get the pattern for the Irish Diamond Shawl. I got it from Folk Shawls. Some of the patterns can be found online, though I would highly recomend getting the book. It is a great resource, and has some great patterns.

If you look at my sidebar, you will see a section for knitting for charaties. If you have a favorite charaty, let me know so I can post it. Thanks!! The list will grow as I find more links, and people send me their favorites.

Now, off to my mothers house. Apparently, I have become the responcible one in the family. Well, at least one of my brothers stepped up and helped while I was on vacation.

A River In Egypt...

2006-07-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how knitters can live in denial for so long? The socks that I was making, the ones that I couldn't talk about because they were a present...well, in no universe would they have fit the recipient. I was making socks for my step-dad for Father's Day (please, don't talk about the maor denial when I cast on the socks while he was in surgery the Monday before...6 days to finish a pair of socks. And I didn't even cast on both. One sock on two circs...see what I am talking about?). The socks fit me. I realised this when I tried them on (curiosity. Really. I swear!! It wasn't that I liked the colors. Honest), and they fit me around the cuff. I am using the fact that I can wear the same shoes and socks as my dad as my ecuse for continueing to knit them after I realised this. My dad and I both wear size 9 shoes. My step-dad? Well, his foot is actualy a foot. Seriously, 12 inches!! I turned the heel. I was half way down the foot. I ran out of yarn on that skein. It wasn't until then I realised that I was living in a houseboat, happily floating down De Nial!!

I took my step-dad to Purl's on Monday, for their day of honoring Joann's and Michael's 40% off cupon, and he picked out a brand and a color he liked (he only wanted to look at wool. That kinda surprised me, but something to keep in mind later). I measured his foot, he told me how long he wanted the cuff. And on my new Addi Turbo's, I have 2 socks cast on (100 stitches on size 3 needles) and am about an inch and a half down the cuff. I am going to lunch with him and my mother and my neice and some other friends tomorrow. At which point I will slip the socks on, and make sure they will be big enough. No denial this time!! No surprise either, which is a little upsetting. But that is ok. I have his measurements, so I can make him another pair later and surprise him. And it will be even more of a surprise then too.

I think I will keep the first pair. Finish them, and wear them myself. I like the colors and woolyness. I will post pics when I get a chance. I am at work now, and Saturday early, my dad and I are going on a tour of Northern Arizona. We are going to the Grand Canyon, Jerome, the Petrified FOrrest, Metior Crater, the London Bridge...and whatever else catches our fancy. I am excited.

and for people who are wondering why my dad doesn't have a pair of socks...well, my dad is great. He supports my habit more than anyone. He buys me yarn, keeps his eyes open for yarn and needles at thrift stores, gives me money and sends me to my SnB when I have had a bad day. But, when I knit him things, even things he asks for, he looks at them, says "nice" and it ends up in the back of a drawer somewhere. Despite this, he has asked for a smaller version of my Monks Travel Satchel, and I will probobly make it for him. My step-dad on the other hand...he is more like Shea. I can knit him anything, and he will wear it. I could knit him a pair of bright day-glo pink socks made out of painfull-to-wear acrylic, and he would wear them. More than that, he wear them with sandles and shorts so he could stop strangers on the street and say "look at my socks. My daughter made them for me." I could finish the ones that will be to small, and he would carry them around in his pocket, just so he could show them to people. SHea is the same way. I know the Irish Diamond Shawl wasn't the greatest. It weighs a ton, and has many blaring mistakes in in. But she wears it. She e-mails me about how she loves it because she can cuddel under it and read a book. She takes it to her Scottish Dance group ad showes it off. My neices are like that too. Though, they are 2 and 7. If I knit them something, they love it. I love knitting for people like that.

hyperbolic space concept, through knitting

2006-06-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

I always said knitters were smarter than normal people...and here I am proved right! ^_^
Pretty cool, huh?

I am back housesitting, so the last 3 hanks of the handpainted yarn will have to wait until I am home again. Sorry.

Pics!!!

2006-06-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

The bag that I made. The strap and the black is Manos del Uruguay. The Green and Yellow are Rio de...something...Both are 100% wool. My dad lined it (did a quickie job, need to redo it) with a duck canvas. I didn't take into account stretch, so there is a knot in the strap making it shorter. As you can see by the carbiners, the bag gets used a lot.

My NEW YARN!!! A gift from Ingrid She just got a knitting blog. Head on over and say hi and tell her she is awsome and should show me the yarn she kept from the bag

The Fiesta. I know you already saw the picture, but that was from the website, not mine.

Fresas

Cosecha yes, I know you saw it in the last post, but again, that was off the internet, not my yarn. And really, who is going to be board with more pics of yarn?

OK, the post is getting finiky, and I can't upload the last 3 pics. I will try again in a new post.

Yarn Fairy

2006-06-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

I went over to Ingrid's house tonight. She had a Star Trek marathon. It was a lot of fun. What made it even better is Ingrid played Yarn Fairy. She works at Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, and they have a slothing bank. It was the last day of school, and she took some of the girls down to the clothing bank, and one of the women who work there handed her a bag, said "here Ingrid, you knit". Someone donated a bag full of yarn. Ingrid called me and said it was mostly wool, and she had gone through and picked out what she wanted, so I could have the rest. I figured that it would be ok stuff. But guess what it was? Hand Painted Yarn. As in the stuff everyone is raving about, but is so out of my price rangeI love how on the website, the stuff is a third of what it is in the store...not just one or two hanks...SIX!! Did you hear me? SIX

Handspun Kettle Dyed Pure Wool : HH10 Cosecha
(As Chris said, it looks like fall. Holloween)

The website says that this is 135 yards/100 grams

Handpainted kettle Dyed 100% pure wool : HN01 Fiesta (it looks like a fiesta. The name says it all)
The website says that Fiesta is 260 yards/100 grams. Though, it also says the HNB code is 120 yards/100 grams. That is for a bulky, which this deffinitly is no. So we will go with the 260 measurement

The rest of these, the website doesn't have. I will take pics of them as soon as I get around to it.
Handpainted Sock Pure Wool : Winter (it is purple and blue and green) no code, but as sock yarn, I will assume enough for at least one sock. Anyone get sock yarn from them before? I can't find it on their site

Handpainted Kettle Dyed 100% wool: PA24 Arcoiris Fuerte (yellows, blues, pinks, reds...very nice) I can't find a PA code. I will assume that this is 100 grams though. It seems the same weight as the HH yarns, so it is probobly the same yardage, like the NB and HN codes

Handspun Handpainted pure wool : HH03 Cardenal (light pink to burgandy) since this has the same HH code on it as Cosecha, I am assuming it is 135 yards/100 grams

Handpainted novelty Yarn : Fresas NB03 (reds, and crinkly) the NB code is what the Fiesta is under. So I will assume that this is 260 yards/100 grams, as are the rest of the NB codes

I have no idea what to do with it all. I am thinking socks with the sock yarn (inventive, I know). I like the fiesta, and would like to turn them into socks as well, but I am not sure how that will work. I think I might try felting some of it, but not sure what. Since I only have one hank of each, I am not really sure what I can do with it. And since I am not sure about yardage (anyone have any experience with handpaintedyarn?), I can't really be sure.
Any ideas would be helpful, and greatly appreciated.
Now, off to bed!! It's late, and way past my bedtime. Look what 6 hanks of 100% wool do to me!

Oppertunity knocks

2006-06-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

Guess what? Guess! Can't? OK, I'll tell you: The Yarn Harlot is comming to AZ!!! She just updated her tour page and will be comming to Mesa in July (that is a suburb of Phoenix, which is about an hour and a half north of Tucson)!! I am SOOOOO excited!!!

On another note...I spilled soda on my sock. And in my bag. Let me start from the beginning...I don't drink soda. Not usualy. But I am housesitting, and you know how it is in a bed that isn't yours. So, I decided to take some soda to work today, because I figured the caffeen and sugar would keep me up. The soda leaked out of my bottle into my bag. It soaked the back, my spiral that has patterns copied into it. Got on my sock. Soaked my bag...sigh. So, I have to wash the sock and the bag (carefully, the sock is wool, though it is superwash, but still on the needles. The back is 100% wool. Not superwash), and on top of it all, the soda gave me a stomache ache and a head ache. Now I remember why I don't drink soda. It also got on my new Buck Rogers book that my dad found for me. It is really good. An "autobiography" of Buck Rogers! It follows the comic storyline(which is one of my more favorite. Though the RAM one is good too). Luckily, it only got the corner of the pages wet, so the book is ok. I would cry if it wasn't. Especialy since my other Buck Rogers book that I have been waiting for has yet to come in. I think my dad found this one for me to distract me from the LACK OF MY BOOK!!! um...incase you are wondering where this comes from...I am a little bit of a Buck Rogers fan...atic. The radio shows, the comics, the tv series, both of them...the books, all the differnet storylines...Buck Rogers is cool!

KIP, books, other randomness...

2006-06-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

I had a doctor's appointment this morning horrible experience, we will never speak of it again , and the receptionist saw my bag (the one I have yet to post pics about. I will, I promise. Really. But I am housesitting, so no promises that I will remember when I get home where my digital camera is. Ingy, remind me, or someone else can), and loved it. Then I pulled out the sock, and everyone was impressed. It makes me feel special when they are impressed by my sock. It is one sock on two circular needles. Not good circs though. I wanted to get some Addi's on Monday. Purl's is supposed to be honoring Joann's coupons on Mondays this June/summer (?), so I figured I could get some coupons and get some addi's in a price range I can afford. But I couldn't find any Joann's coupons (of course, when I need them, they are never around.), which ended up working out, because I found a couple books instead. I got Loser, by the author of Maniac Magee, and my dad should send off the box today. My cousin is in Lousinianna. Not the greatest move, in my opinion. I miss the girl. She just turned 13, I think. Or is she still 12? Eh, at least I know she isn't 10 anymore it's hard thinking of her growing up. I remember when I spent Rodeo Vacation at her house. She was a bit over a year. I slept in the bed and she she slept in the crib in the room with me. Every morning at 2am or so she would throw stuffed animals at me until I woke up and brought her in bed with me, then we would sleep.. Well, I sent her off a box of some stuff. Books, some other things. Maniac Magee was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. Also, I sent Johnny Tremain, another favorite. Umm...some of the Lemmony Snickett books...I was going to send her some Artimis Fowl books. I have the first 2, and picked up the third with Loser, but I decided I want to read the third, and since I am not sure where the first is, I will send her all three when I finish the third.
Anyway, that is where my addi money went. And seriously, though I really want some better needles for socks, I am happy buying books for my cousin.

This weekend, I was supposed to have a training seminar at SAAF, but it was cancled due to lack of signups. Sigh...I was looking forward to it. Second time it has been canceled. But, Saturday Purl's is having a sale, and Ingy is having a Star Trek Marathon. So I don't have to miss the sale or be late and tierd for Ingy's thing.
So it all works out I guess. More time to work on socks.

I am listening to the BritKnitCast (I wanted to copy a link, but I am on a different computer, and it isn't giving me links...wierd...anyway, if you are interested, on my sidebar, click to Rain's blog, Frog In Knots. Then from there you can get the link. It is on her blog entry for June 16). Not exactly what I thought Rain would sound like. I guess I expected her to sound like my aunt's husband's family, and the people around there. But logicaly, I should realise that they are from totaly different parts of the country. Like expecting me to sound like someone from Brooklyn or something. Well, loved the show, and loved hearing Rain talk about her designing!

Gusset...

2006-06-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

SInce turning the heel has always been easy, I had to find something difficult. The gusset. I hate picking up stitches. And knitting the gusset...eww. Worst part of knitting. Wish I could have more trouble with the heel, and less with the gusset. Am I the only one who has trouble with this?

Turning a heel...

2006-06-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

I am half way through turning the heel on the first sock in a set they are for a present for someone, so don't ask any details until then are giften. Then I will post pics of them and give the yarn and all. And I really like the yarn too. You should use it, and though it is only the third heel I have turned, it is really easy. I don't understand why everyone says that turning the heel is so hard. In the previous socks, turning the heel was the only thing I did right. Well, after the last couple days, good to know something is going right!!

Giving blood tomorrow, so I shouldn't get all excited yet. Last time, they had a traniee do it, and do a bad job. Then the bandage they gave me wasn't latex free. Bad rash over my arm and elbow for far to long!!

25 Years...

2006-06-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Today, there was a lunchon at SAAF. Afterwards, my boss came in and took over the shop so I could go in the conferance room and look. They had put up a timeline of AIDS. It stretches all around the room. And it is a pretty big room. It is kinda depressing. I want to cry. There was so much stuff even before 1982 (the year I was born). I would walk along, reading, and look at the date. I would think, "wow, I was 10 years old when this happened. I was 12 when this happeend." I was 13 or 14 when AZT was approved by the FDA. That is rediculous. There were fliers from action groups on how to stem the flow of AIDS. You know what one of them said? Make it illigal for foreign homosexuals to enter the US. WTF?!?

What is even scarier? AIDS has been around longer than I have, and we are really no closer to a cure than we were in 1982. Hopefully, that will change soon.

Socks...

2006-06-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Since noone loves me enough to knit me socks, I have finaly had to attempt it again. we all remember the crack baby goat socks So, I am knitting my socks, and my dad and I were at the park today with some friends, and Lisa from Gypsy Caravan fame had the personal mister. Dad dared her to put the hose up her nose and turn it on. I said if she would, I would knit her some socks (she had been eyeing the ones I am making). So she did!! I think dad took a pic. If so, I will post it later (it was funny!!). She wants some purple verigated socks. So I am looking for some self-striping with mostly shades of purple. So I went to Knit Picks to look at what they have. It will be a little bit until I can get some, since my first student loan payment is due. But I can look and plan...
I found this. Cool, huh? I really like "Forrest" (green being my favorite color), but "Crayons" is nice too. This is nice too. I really like the way the colors blend. "Jig", "Tap" and "Ballet" are my favorites here. I am not sure about this. I think "Carnival" might be nice, but would like to see how the colors knit up. Same here. I like them all, and am kinda thinking of "Rocky Mountain" for Lisa's socks.

KNITTING!!!RAIN!!!!

2006-06-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

OK, I was totaly going to post about knitting, but then I looked outside, and it is RAINING!!!! It rained yesterday to. Almost HALF AN INCH!!! How totaly awsome is that?!? Tuesday there was a little rain, but it was mostly wind, and missed central Tucson, bypassing us to the west and going north to slam Phoenix with a huge dust storm. But it is raining!!!! The day they announce that water prices will be riased 5% in August, and go up an additional 5% every year until 2011. Sigh...Water is nice. I want to live somewhere where water isn't worth its weight in gold.

Anyway, on to the knitting...
Check out The New York Times Style section and read Grandma's Tea Cozy Goes Downtown. It's a slide show that pops up. Cool, huh?

I am knitting a new pair of socks. I borrowed Andrea's Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles book. I have decided to do them one at a time. Mostly because they will be in a larger size, and I want to make sure I have enough yarn. Half way down the cuff of the first sock, I think I have figured out what I did wrong with the last pair. You know when you knit in the round, you have the needles closest to you, and the cable of the needle is farther away from you? Well, when you knit on two circs, you have the needles closest to you, and the needles farther away from you. I am knitting with the needles farther away. I think that makes the cuff be knit inside out. Then, after I pick up after the heel, I try and correct, so half the sock is knit inside out, and half is knit right side out. we will see what happens. Maybe I can correct on the cuff....should be interesting.

Check this out...

2006-06-05T15:29:00.000-07:00

Go to this website or this one or even this site. The point is really, get involved. Get informed. Don't agree with me. That's fine. But have a good reason for not agreeing. Be intelligent in your opinions.

ANd if you really want, check out here and here

World Wide Knit In Public Day

2006-06-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

For anyone in Tucson, Arizona, we are going to meet at Park Place Mall at the Food Court near the Play Area around 2ish for World Wide Knit In Public Day. So, if you are in town, drop by!!

Knitting? What knitting?

2006-05-28T15:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know. The last several post have had little or nothing to do with knitting. And since this is a knitting blog, I can understand your confusion. And guess what? This post is going to follow in the same vein. Sorry. I will post some pics of my knitting soon, though. So bear with me.

But, what I have been up to...
Well...um...I have been keeping a pretty close eye on the news. The Romero Fire was mostly contained, and we were happy. Then the wind kicked up, and it has flared again. I think it is nearing 1000 acres burned. Not sure of the exact number though.
The Clark Fire near Pina Blanca Lake is getting pretty big. As is the 103 Fire in the Hauchuca Mountains. Sigh. To many fires. To little rain. It keeps threateing to rain. Then doesn't. And despite what you have heard, I am NOT the only person in Tucson who stands in their yarn yelling "TEASE!!" at the sky. Mostly there has been a lot of wind. Dust storms. Sigh...

Gas is gawd-awful expensive, so we haven't really been able to go up to any of the lakes up near Phoenix. And with the fires, we haven't wanted to go down to the lakes south of Tucson. And with so many dust storms, driving on the highways is kinda dangerous.

Knitting...well, mostly I have been working on the baby blanket. And my dad has been on me to knit some for the couch, so I have been working on some log cabin blankets for the couch with left overs.

That's about it. Hope everything is going well for everyone else.

Le Sigh...

2006-05-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Questions 1-3 passed. Granted, not by a huge margin, but they all passed. Hey, KGUN9, in what universe is a 60-40 split on a vote a "sweeping landslide victory"?

I am reading The Yarn Harlot's blog, and she is talking about the flooding of her basement. And on the news, they are showing pictures of the East Coast under water (one anchor said that the pictures were reminicint of Katrina.). I am not nieve enough to think the entier East Coast is flooding, since I remember a couple summers ago when a friend from New Jersey called asking why I was still at home, and did I need money to evacuate, since the news said that Tucson was buring (yes, we had a lot of smoke, but the fire never got past the Foothills), and I understand how the news exaggerates.
But, the sight of all that water ignoring the destruction, of course makes me a little jelous...
You see...so far this year, we have had less than half an inch of rain. The news at 11 today, before I came to work, said ".41". POINT FOUR ONE INCHES!!! Our average by this time is a little over 3 inches. Our yearly average is suuposed to be around 7, but I can't remember the last time we actualy hit that. We rain twice a year: the summer monsoons and the winter monsoons. We are the people who, when we hear of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, or in California, we are happy, becuase that means we will be getting rain in a week or two. This last hurricane season? Nothing. Nada. Katrina, Rita, Wilma, whatever other storms there were...not a friggin drop. We need rain. Badly.
Nature sucks sometimes. Yes, you can scroll down, and see all the beutiful pics of the desert. But then you think of the people in Toronto and along the East Coast who are being flooded, and the areas who desperatly need rain are bone dry. TOTALY NOT FAIR. HEY, Nature!! Listen up!! Stop raining on the East Coast. They have had enough. Now, come WEST. Keep comming. You will hit the Oklahoma/Texas/New Mexico stretch. I know it is boring, and like a bad episode of teh Twilight ZOne (driving to school in MO, I would fall asleep, wake up 2 hours later, and it looked like we hadn't moved more than a mile), but keep going. Now, when you see funky shapped plants, thoes are called "cactus". Ignore the Joshua Trees, you are to far North. Keep comming South, until you see cactus who's siloettes look like people. Now, drop the rain. The East Coasters will thank you, and we will start sacrificing sheep or something to you. After all, isn't that what they do in Englad to make the sun go away? really great story...I'll tell it someday

SAPC Update

2006-05-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Souther Arizona Paddler's Club finaly updated their website. this is from the last clean-up. We just did another one a couple weeks ago. If you are curious, I am the forehead behind the pink shirt. My dad is the head and sholder next to me (between the pink shirt and the yellow shirt).

THis last one, I got some guys arrested, had their fishing permits taken, and their equipment confiscated. We clean up the lake twice a year. As Sarah and I were paddling by the shore, cleaning up, this guy and his son were fishing. And they threw their empty cans in the lake, right in frount of us. So, when the Forrest Service pontoon boat came by to take our trash bags and give us new ones, I told them. They went racing over (well, racing as fast as a pontoon boat can) and caught the guys. A lot of the paddler's were not thrilled, since they were comming over to give up their full bags. Then when they heard what happened, they were cool.
My dad got asked what he was doing, and he replied to some people fishing "community service". He told them that a "couple months ago, some jet ski's tried to run over my kid. So, since I did demolition in Desert Storm, I got some snorkle gear, some explosives and got 13 jet ski's and 9 speed boats before the Forrest Service caught me. My punishment is cleaning up the lake. Didn't you wonder why there were no more jet ski's on the lake?" actualy, the SAPC worked hard to get jet ski's and above water exhaust speed boats(I think that is what they are called. The really big ones that shouldn't be on such a small lake anyway) banned. We were very happy when it passed. He actualy got some people beleiving him. The president of the SAPC laughed when he heard.

But it's a dry heat...

2006-05-09T16:51:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my dad, Lisa (a member of our coven) and I went to the Gypsy Caravan up at Usery Park in Mesa. Near enough to Phoenix to be...ewww. It was HOTT. It hasn't hit 100 here yet (bets for the Icebreak are mostly for this weekend though), but there it did quite some time ago. But it is ok, because we were smack in the middle of DESERT. The most beutiful scenery in the world. Now, I am totaly partial to Sunset Point out at Gates Pass (here in Tucson), but Usery Park is pretty to. So, Issue 1 of pics of the park. Lisa, the pics of you in compromising positions will be kept under lock and key until someone has paid high enough for them. Tell Tim opening bid is 1 skein of wool.

THis is Lisa, standing next to a barrel cactus. Lisa is about 5'4ish I think.

Here is a cute little baby Saguaro Cactus. It is about waist high on me. So that means it is probobly around my age.

Another Saguaro. That is my dad. He is leaning on a cactus that is roughly his age.

And here is a cactus that is older than he is. Pushing 100 probobly.

This is Lisa taking pictures, trying to be all artistic. actualy, she did take a few good ones There are a couple large Saguaros, and an Ocatillo. The saguaro in the frount had a cactus wren nesting in it.

Now, the mountains up there are not as pretty as the ones here in the Tucson Valley, but they are still nice.

THis is a cholla cactus. Most people call them Jumping Cactus.

Hehe, that's Lisa to. She nearly killed me when I took that ^_^

Hehe, Where's Waldo for the Sonoran Desert!

THat is a Palo Verde in bloom. In case you are curious, "palo verde" means "green tree", which, coincidently, it is. The bark is green, and that is what the tree uses for photosynthisis.

A Saguaro in bloom. Sort of. WHen they bloom, that is the New Year for the Tohotom O'Ohdam (I totaly spelled that wrong.)

Dear Tucson City Council,

2006-05-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

First, let me say that, overall, I think you are doing a pretty great job running Tucson. We've elected you to a thankless job, one that very few people would envy. Managing a town that has all the probloms we do, and one that is fast approaching a million residents, totaly unprepared...well, I think there is little to really complaign about. And your attempts to handle the water probloms we have, with the record breaking drought that we are currently in (granted, this drought is nearly as old as I am, but nevertheless), the anceint pipes, and the less said about the Colorado River Project, the better. But you handle these probloms, especialy with the deck stacked against you, with widsom and a managable level of corruption.
But I want to let you know, that on 16 May, I will be voting a resounding "HELL NO" along with the majority of the population of Tucson. I am writing this so you don't think we are all unfeeling wretches. After all, you would think that the Regional Trasnsportation Plan and the Psychiatric Care Facilities election would meet with approval. The idea of more beds at the Psychiatric Hospital at Kino, and fixing the streets and making public transportation actualy able to transport the public...well, they are both great ideas. Here is the problom: noone on the City Council has been able to talk about these elections with a straight face. Why? Because twice we have voted for an increas in sales tax to go towarrd Kino, and both times that money has gone elseware. And since then, Kino has been taken over by a private firm. Now, if you can explain to me 1)why our tax money was stolen from a population that really needs it and 2)why a private corporation that can totaly afford to take care of this on their own needs our tax dollars, then I might change my vote. As for the Transportation plan...well, again, I don't beleive you when you say that you will actualy do what you say. And the people who will be hurt by this are the poorest of the poor. The people who need public transportation, and who a half cent sales tax increase will really hurt.
Tell you what...we will compromise. DO what you say you will do. Add the 50 psychiatric beds to Kino and build the outpatient psychiatric hospital. Fix the streets and make the buses actualy useable. Then, we will vote to increase the sales tax to pay for it, after it is done. Is that a good deal? OK then.

Sincerely,
A Lifelong Tucson Resident

Adventures in...washclothes!!! (You heard me right!!!)

2006-05-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

I am updating from work. We have been kinda busy today. But, there is down time, so I figure, why not?

I got the Mason-Dixie Knitting Book. And The Yarn Harlot was right!! It makes you want to knit washcloths!! So I am. You know, I should totaly check out their blog one of these days...

I got some Duck Cloth for my bag. Nice and strong, water resistant, a little expensive (and I think I might need more). So I was sewing it in...and broke the needle on the sewing machine. I have no idea how to change the needle. It is my dad's machine, and I have only learned how to use it in the last year or so. I have finaly figured out how to thread the thing without having to call my dad every time. And you know what? I still fell a little wierd every time I use it. I guess that comes from my childhood when I was told that "sewing is man's work". My older brother informed me of that, as well as doing dishes being man's work, when we were kids and my dad was teaching him to sew and I wanted to learn to. I might ask my dad if he would take apart what I have done, and see if he can re-do it better, and use what I have, so I don't have to go and buy more. That bag has cost...well, we won't mention the exact cost yet. Can you guess? The entier thing is 100% wool. Maybe after pics people will guess. Probobly not though. When I sat down and figured it out, it blew me away. Ah, the delusions you can entertain when you buy your yarn a couple hanks at a time.

THis weekend we are going up to the Gypsy Caravan in Phoenix. It is supposed to be some huge Pagan gathering. No idea, none of us has ever been, so we will see. Gonna be hot though. I think Phoenix has broken 100 already. Sigh...and I have this plan to take the wool and restart the Sampler Shawl again. We'll see. WHo knows, maybe I will just take lots and lots of cotton and make washclothes all weekend!!

The End is Near!

2006-05-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished the extention of the strap on my bag. It is really funky looking, but I love it. I need to make some finishing touches. I need to put a lining in it. I want something to stabalize the bag, but not sure what to use. My dad says to use "heave duck canvas". No idea what that is (I know what canvas is, of course, but duck canvas? I am sure that if I walk into JoAnn's, someone will help me), but the "heavy" part is kinda turning me off. I don't want the bag to be heavy. It is 100% wool, so it is a little weighty, though not to bad. But if I put in heavy canvas, then it will be even heavier, and when I put stuff in it... And since my purse/bag was stolen THursday (a bag I got in Dublin, Ireland. Keli got us all lost, and we found this great little shop. I loved that bag), this will most likely be my new major bag. Even though the colors...well, I will leave it until it is compeltley finished with all the last touches, then I will post pictures, and you can all see it. It isn't exactly what I wanted. I had to improvise, but I like how things changed on it. It is crazy, and unique...a lot like I am.

The shawl is still on hiatus. The blanket I am going to focus on for a bit.

Time Out.

2006-04-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

I have frogged the Sampler Shawl several times. One of these days, I should really introduce myself to life lines. But, I am going to do what any ~~friggin' anoyed~~ intelligent person would do. I am putting it away for a bit. I know I wanted it done Wensday when Shea get's here, or by the time she leaves, but with the stupid mistakes I am making forgetting a yarn over, or knitting 1 and passing a slipped stitche over when I should have knit 2 together, I think some time apart will let us both cool down. So, off to my bag. Nannette had a good idea. Put in some small scraps of leather to stabalize the bottom of the bag before I put the lining in. I think I will try it. Not like my dad doesn't have enough leather scraps lying around.

Birthday thingy...

2006-04-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

Now, I am really not a fan of my birthday (something always goes wrong, or I get dissapointed...Oh well...), but this looked fun, and some of the stuff is interesting.

Got this from The Knitting Libran

Do a Wikipedia search of your birthdate, minus the year; list three interesting events, three people who were born, and three people who died on that day.

Events
1. 461 - St. Hilarius becomes Pope. no idea who this was, don't really care. I just love the name
2. 1863 - American Civil War: Union President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the military cemetery dedication ceremony in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. what is even more interesting about this is that the Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in history, yet when it was first done, the papers called it horrible and a discrace to America. SHows what they know!
3.1978 - Jim Jones leads members of his Peoples Temple cult in mass murder-suicide. The bodies of 914 people, including 276 children, were found in Jonestown,Guyana in South America.

Births
1. 1600 - King Charles I of England (d. 1649)
2. 1831 - James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States (d. 1881)
3. 1917 - Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (d. 1984)

Deaths
1. 1773 - James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster, Irish politician (b. 1722)
2. 1798 - Wolfe Tone, Irish republican (b. 1763)
3. 1918 - Joseph Fielding Smith, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (b. 1838)

Because I'm cool like that...

Ravelry

Woolly Thoughts

Ribbed for her pleasure!

Dear Santa...

Support

And the clock ticks on...

Time sure flies...

Information

Funk

Where Were You?

Anyone know about this?

Just once

Solstice Fun

Holiday Fun

In Defence of Arizona

Holy Crap! You're Alive!!

Depressing Knitting Books

Mailrun

Dear Peace Corps...what a week...

Roots Tour 2008

Randomness. Now in technicolor

Pattern

Why yes, I do knit...

Look What I Found!

Kombo is cold. I love it here.

Fibre Avalibility

Guess what?

Happy &*^%$$* Spring

Randomness

Um...How?

Vacation Part 1: The Gambia

Knitting Scouts

Missed the ferry...

And the grand total is...

Mid-Term

It must be spring

Quarter Life Crisis

Weather

Lists. Because there is little else to do in the rainy season...

Who'd Have Thought...

Computers

Yes, there is knitting...

Hey, Tubob...

Africa Killed My Chaco's!!

IST

Three Month Challenge? What 3 month challenge?

OMG I MUST HAVE THIS!!!

The End Of The Yarn?

FInally

Africa - The First 2 months

Salaamaleekum

Arrrr me mateys...

Tears...

Saturday Sky...second to last I think...

Socks...

Itinerary!!

Spetember Primary

I don't care what you say...

The end of an era...

My First Sweater!

Daisy blanket = finished kind of

Saturday Sky

Lists...

Mesa Adventure or: My visit to the Yarn Harlot

Peace Corps Update

Knitting...yes, I knit...what? Socks!!!

Lake Havasu

Saturday Sky

Jerome and Casa Grand

Tooozigoooot!!!

Knitting help!!

Vacation: Day Two - The Grand Canyon

Vacation: Day One Cont. cont. - Painted Desert

Vacation: Day One cont. - Petrified Forest

Vacation: Day One - Walnut Canyon

Afghans for Angels

Saturday Sky...on Wensday

Randomness...

A River In Egypt...

Happy &^%$$ Spring