Happy 9/9/09!

Today is the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009! From the standpoint of the numbers, this is a memorable event, and some people on Twitter found this nice site to explain it. Today is (according to numerologists) associated with forgiveness, compassion and success. Actually, I could use plenty of that today for all the errands I have that need to get done.

I haven't heard back from the dentist, and, providing I understood him correctly, I should have had new front teeth by now, but haven't heard a word. So, I'm going to drop by there and let him have my new phone number, and ask what's happening in a polite, friendly way.

I'm also waiting for my package from Knit Picks, which has a good chance of arriving today. I ordered yarn for Holly's socks for Christmas, and a whole set of Options Zephyr needles. I am so excited about this that I can't tell you!

So, you can see that this will be a short post. Well, I'm going to try to keep it short. I keep finding more and more things I want to write about today, though.

Another thing I found to post about is a post on the Knitting Daily blog about knitters who are pickers or throwers. It includes a quick tutorial on both methods, and I plan to put a link to the page in my side bar, so you can find it there in the future.

Someone in the comments said that figures 1 and 2 are reversed, and it looks like they are, so check it for yourself.

I really have to get going if I hope to finish my errands today!

There's a new Leverage on tonight and Ghost Rider will be on FX! And Jake 2.0 will be on SyFy's daytime rotation tomorrow!

Have a great 9/9/09!

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!

Today, Children of Earth is on BBC in America! It's already started, so tune in now to see as much as possible!

Holly and I went out yesterday instead of Saturday, and, as usual had a great time! We stopped at Michaels, but what I wanted to go to get was sold out. However, they did have some new yarn that was so beautiful that I couldn't resist buying a couple of skeins.

I never should have looked at the viral knitting stuff on Saturday, but I'm glad I did! When I bought the yarn, I planned to make a baktus, which you can see here if you're on Ravelry. The photos of various ones that have been made are really worth looking at. The actual pattern is available, free, here. Yesterday, when I was telling Holly about this, I said you should increase/decrease every other row, but the pattern actually says every fourth row.

I didn't knit very far on this before I realized that the yarn was much too heavy to do this pattern effectively, due to the fact that part of it would have to be tied, and it's just too thick. So, I changed my mind, and I'm making a Wrap Thingie instead. The link leads you to the pattern.

I'm hoping that I may have enough yarn left over to make a matching hat. If not, I'll have to buy some more. I suspect that I'll write my own pattern for the hat, and I haven't decided how I want it to look.

If you're reading this and it's still Labor Day, go watch Children of Earth!

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Addition:

Oh, Holly was telling me about the Central Park Hoodie yesterday, and how much she liked it. I was telling her, in turn, about a Cardigan for Arwen, which I like a lot better (scroll down to see it). Of course, that doesn't mean that I wouldn't want to make it longer and add pockets, but I still like it better. One of the things I like about it is that the cables are the same on both sides. You can find the pattern for it here. I like it so much that I'm adding a link for it in my sidebar. And if you like that, check out the Rogue Sweater, which I'm also putting in my sidebar. If you belong to Ravelry, you can also see it here.

Viral Knits

The term "viral knits" is a new one to me. Viral knits are the ones that suddenly everyone is knitting, and the ones that get knit over and over again.

For me, the only ones that have been viral are some of the ones that I've written for myself. Those include:

The Simple Triangular Shawl, which is a good pattern for new knitters to use to learn to design their own triangular shawls, as well as a simple pattern for experienced knitters for the times when you want to keep your hands busy, but want to actually devote your attention to the scenery going past the bus you're on or that brand new DVD you just got, and still turn out a work of art in any weight yarn!

Wimple and Hood, which is a great pattern for making Christmas presents. It can be made in any weight yarn, fits anyone, and is something most people don't have, but would love! My granddaughter says that whenever she wears one of hers, somebody tries to buy it from her! What could be better than that?

Long, Short, and Easy Mitts, which is a pattern similar to the one shown on the "Viral Knits" post for the mitts. This pattern, however, can be knit in just about any weight yarn, and, if you follow the instructions, you'll get mitts that really fit. And, as if that wasn't good enough, you can make these to match a hood or wimple for a really super Christmas present!

And for you non-knitters out there, I have a shawl and an afghan also available in my Etsy shop.

I think I discovered a whole new kind of viral knit project. I've been using leftover sock yarn to knit a bag for a very small Christmas present I plan to buy (or possibly make) for someone. I'm only on the first one, but it feels addictive already.

I hope you guys are having a great Labor Day weekend!

Quiet Start to Labor Day Weekend

Well, it's been a quiet day at home for the beginning of the Labor Day Weekend, here.

I have been suffering from an aggravated case of my usual post nasal drip for the last couple of weeks. I've been wading up the past few nights and not sleeping well because I'm basically drowning! I'm reluctant to go to a doctor, but becoming resigned to the necessity, so I spent part of today trying to find one over the internet. I found a doctor very nearby with good references, but too late to call. I'll have to make an appointment on Tuesday, when office hours are more likely.

I plan to see Holly tomorrow, and that's always fun. She just called to tell me that she got out of work early today and is still getting paid for the whole day, so she's got almost four days off! And Monday is Robin's regular day off, so they'll be able to do something together. She's a happy camper at the moment!

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Yesterday, I ordered more raw materials for Christmas presents, and a set of Zephyr needles from Knit Picks. They're currently in the mail. I love Knit Picks!

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Eureka has been on SyFy all day today! It's been fun!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Aromatherapy

Even if you're not interested in fiberarts, you have to read this blog post about a combination of crochet and aromatherapy. It's very funny!

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On the subject of the California fires, this is the best article I've seen, with the best photos, including one taken from satellite! The satellite photo with the location markings is the only one so far that actually gives me an idea of where the fire actually is.

I'm a little concerned about this because of the photos that have been posted by friends and internet acquaintances, which seem to show the fire as very close to the location where the photo was taken. The people I actually know insist that the fire isn't nearby, but that the air quality is unbelievably bad.

The photos give you a good overview of the devastation, but if you're having a hard time looking at them, don't read the article. The details will have you in tears.

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I wish I had somethign funny to follow that up with, but I don't at the moment.

But you can watch a new episode of Leverage tonight to improve your mood.

I have a pile of library books to return and more to pick up today, so I need to get going and do it.

Have a great day, everybody!

September Is Here!

In these uncertain days, I happened to find a chart to help you diagnose what kind of flu you might have, should such an unhappy circumstance happen. This could be very important information, so pay attention and read the information!

And it's obviously Silly September.

Here is a video I found through Twitter.

I also got this as an email today:

Propose this in 2009: START A BILL TO PLACE ALL POLITICIANS ON SOCIAL SECURITY

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SOCIAL SECURITY:

(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years.

Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it

You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.

In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.

For all practical purposes their plan works like this:

When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments...

For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7, 800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275, 000...00 during the last years of their lives.

This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries.

Younger Dignitarieswho retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives.

Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA!!! ZILCH!!!

This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds;

"OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"!

From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer), We ca n expect to get an average of
$1,000 per monthafter retirement..

Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.

That change would be to

Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen.. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us

Then sit back.....

And see how fast they would fix it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve.


How many people can YOU send this to?

Better yet......

How many peopleWILL you send this to ?

Almost everybody I can send it to will have already seen it, but I thought maybe you'd be interested.

Oh, and September is also National Sewing Month!

Enjoy the new episode of Warehouse 13 tonight!