Saturday, February 21, 2009

Getting to know you

Got this in the mail -thought it would be more fun to blog!

1. What time did you get up this morning?
4:30 am - Hey - its the only quiet time I get
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Hotel for Dogs - and I enjoyed it
4. What is your favorite TV show?
LOST
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Yogurt with walnuts
6. What is your middle name?
Kay
7. What food do you dislike?
Broccoli
8. What is your favorite CD?
Hmmm - dont really have a favorite
9. What kind of car do you drive?
Subaru Forester
10. Favorite sandwich?
Grilled Cheese
11. What characteristic do you despise?
Contempt
12. Favorite item of clothing?
My jeans
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Hawaii or Australia - but honestly I just love traveling
14. Favorite brand of clothing
Does shoes count? If so - Prada
15. Where would you retire to?
Hawaii
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
Two years ago when I had a princess themed birthday
17. Favorite sport to watch?
Marathons
18. Furthest place you are sending this?
No idea
19. Person you expect to send it back first?
Well since I am blogging this doesnt really apply
20. When is your birthday?
Shhhhhh
21. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Morning all the way
22. What is your shoe size?
9
23. Pets?
One obnoxious little weiner dog - but we love him
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
None really
25. What did you want to be when you were little?
A doctor or a teacher
26. How are you today?
Can't complain - I have family, friends, yarn, a job I love and a good outlook on life
27. What is your favorite candy?
See's Candy
28. What is your favorite flower?
Lilac or Lavender
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
March 17th - I get to go to visit Cape Canaveral
30. What is your favorite pastime?
Besides family, knitting and spinning
31. What are you listening to right now?
My son make siren noises
32. What was the last thing you ate
A grilled cheese sandwiches
33. Do you wish on stars?
Yep
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
I hate to limit myself to a single color
35. How is the weather right now?
Cold, we are expecting 4 inches of snow tomorrow
36. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
No one
37. Favorite soft drink?
Dont drink them much but lately on a Root Beer kick
38. Favorite restaurant?
Right now it would be Spanky's the new wings place we just discovered -yumm PB&J wings
39. Real hair color?
Mouse Brown
40. What was your favorite toy as a child?
The avocado green kitchen set my dad made us, and Barbie
41. Summer or winter?
Summer
42. Hugs or kisses?
Both
43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate
44. Coffee or tea?
Coffee Coffee Coffeee
45. Do you want your friends to email you back?
Sure why not! Also would love to see it on other blogs
46. When was the last time you cried?
Probably not too long ago but dont remember exactly
47. What is under your bed?
books, hot wheels and a container holding my gym clothes
48. What did you do last night?
We went to the movies and saw Hotel For Dogs while having dinner.
49. What are you afraid of?
Not doing my best at work
50. Salty or sweet?
Sweet, then salty
51. How many keys on your key ring?
3
52. How many years at your current job?
3 years
53. Favorite day of the week?
Saturday
54. How many towns have you lived in?
San Diego, CA
Lakeside, CA
La Mesa, CA
El Cajon, CA
Brattleboro, Vermont
Marlboro, Vermont
Vermont South, Victoria, Australia
Methuen, MA
55. Do you make friends easily?
No - I am shy at first.
56. How many people will you send this to?
Putting it on the blog
57. How many will respond?
Who cares, it was fun filling it out!

Thanks Pam! This was fun

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Australian Bushfires

As I have mentioned, I learned to knit when I was 15 for a role in a school play. While my acting career thus ended, my knitting took off. What I really haven't talked about is who taught me to knit and where I was at this time in my life.
When I was 15 I had the opportunity to be a high school exchange student. I lived for a year with a wonderful family in Melbourne, Australia. It was an amazing experience that changed my life and influenced how I see the world. I believe it made me a much more tolerant, open minded person with better ability to adapt to situations. Anyways, while living in Australia one of my classes was drama and we performed "A Doll's House" and I played a character that had to knit onstage. My host mother taught me how to knit and I made this truly awful "thing" that barely resembled something knit but worked for the stage. But from there something clicked and my next project was a sweater that turned out perfect. I may not have this enjoyable hobby now if it hadn't been for my time in Australia.
Now I am watching the news and watching the beautiful state of Victoria under bushfire seige. I have communicated with my host sister and found out all are safe in my family but others are not so lucky. Having been through the fires in San Diego in 2003 I can understand the devastation. Its also hard to be so far away and not be able to do much to help. But I know there is one thing I can do and that is donate to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire fund. This will then help the victims of the fire restart their lives. Just click the link and donate.  Its that simple. I did. Then if you are a fiberholic like me go visit Serendipity's blog and read about the raffle she has going to raise money for the bushfires. You just forward her your receipt from donating and you will be entered in the raffle. The prizes are getting crazy good including lots of Wollmeise and even the not yet released new Yarnissima pattern. I love what Serendipity is doing to bring more awareness to the need for funds to help Australia. Its also heartwarming to watch what happens when crafters come together for a cause. Fiber seems to make for nice people. Even if you are not a fiberholic consider $5 or $10 towards this cause. At the current exchange rate you can donate $10 australian for about the price of a fast food lunch. Isn't that worth it? 

Friday, February 13, 2009

Bad Blogger

Yes I have been a bad blogger. Its just been so very busy! My new job (well, same company just a promotion so new responsibilities) is taking up a lot of my time. I have a lot to learn to be up to speed so it has taken more hours in the office than I would like somedays but I know it will settle down once I get my rhythm. I am so glad today is a Friday. Its technically my day off but I have to catch up on a training class that I have to get done. At least I can do it from home. 

I have also been taking advantage of the cold weather to get some knitting done. I come home from work and we stay inside so I can knit. I finished my La Digetessa finally - the color definitely competes with the pattern but I still like them alot. Very bright and fun. So the best part is that as I was finishing my son asked for a pair of socks. So off I went to Ravelry and then the LYS to find a nice toe up boy pattern because after knitting La Digetessa I much prefer the look of a toe up pattern. Did I find one? Of course not. I was shocked. There were very few boy socks and none were toe up. So what does a resourceful mom do? Yep - I made one up. I have one sock done and the pattern is roughly written down. 
I am going to knit the second to test the pattern, then pretty it up and probably put it out on Ravelry. I am thinking I want to give it some size options first. But I see a nice little niche here in the knitting world. And I have a happy little boy - he loves the first sock and wants the mate finished. I should have that done this weekend. Then he wants his hat - I promised him a Fake Isle made with the glow in the dark yarn - so that gets cast on next. 
I have a really cute picture of the young one so I am posting it here - oh and a pic of La Digetessa. Told you they were bright!