April 29th in NYC

Yeah...I know this is way old news! But I'm trying to catch up on some old posts I wanted to do. Thought I'd share a fun picture from the NYC march that I did with some CodePink ladies...I designed that banner! (And helped color a lot of it in.) I'm standing right behind "pink":


Sally (the one in the pink wig, there) & I traveled down to NYC on the Fung Wah bus (such a good bus system between the 2 cities!), and arrived around 10:30 in Chinatown. We wandered towards Union Square (I think -- I'm so bad with place names in NYC!) and dawdled a bit here & there. When we arrived at the march there were so many people; it was unbelievable! We didn't have any trouble spotting several CodePink groups, though, as they were all decked out in their brightest shades! :) We joined up with a few (and several people from our delegation). Somehow, Sarah and I managed to locate each other, which rocked, even though it was for an unfortuately short amount of time! But still -- it's always tons of fun to protest with that girl! :)

The march started, and for about half of it, I was signless & bannerless...we couldn't for the life of us locate the women who had brought the banner down! But out of the blue, like an angel, Trish arrived carrying it! We unfurled it & were quite a hit, between our banner (which even Medea, one of the CP founders, appreciated!) and Sally's hot pink wig! The march was great fun. It's always fantastic to be surrounded by so many like-minded people. There was quite a happy & playful atmosphere.

When the march was done (I believe we arrived in Washington Square, but again, don't quote me on that...), Sally & I were exhausted and starving, so we headed to nearby Chinatown for some yummy dim sum.


When we were done, we decided to race to catch the 4 o'clock bus back (which we barely made; it was quite the adventure!), because we just couldn't wait to get back home & sleep. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see a single New York friend (I had contacted several about getting together, but we didn't manage to meet up!), but it all worked out, because I've planned to make another visit (or 2) specifically to visit them. It'll make things easier on everyone, that way.

Anyway, that's all for now. I've got several other things to catch everyone up on, but I'll leave off here for now. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Knitting Rules! AUTHOR: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
	TITLE: Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage AUTHOR: Heather Rogers
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

green tea

I have to say, this is quite the momentous occassion: there might actually be a green tea out there that I like! And it's all thanks to Viv. It's called Mighty Leaf, and it's just amazing. I never thought to look for more upscale teas in search of a cup that appealed to me! I'm sitting at my desk on a cold, rainy day and drinking a warm cup of this yummy tea....mmm.


Viv sent me this fantastic package last weekend, composed of a variety package of the tea, a fantastic mix CD (based on her travels around the world!), and a beautiful Thai shoulder bag (Viv, you know my weakness for bags! heehee). The picture's not great, but here's the gist of what arrived in the mail:



(I am also very partial to the vibrantly-colored tissue paper -- nice job with that!)

The bag has a fantastic history behind it, too. Viv writes:

I've been meaning to send you this bag for the past year now. I bought it in Thailand and carried it back with me to Australia, when my friend Michele brought it to California and sent it by mail to New York -- and now I am sending it to you in Boston. It has indeed traveled a long way!

I just adore it. I can't wait to start using it when the weather warms up & the sun comes out!

(To Viv: Thanks again, hon. I really appreciated the effort that went into such a great gift. Particularly the card that made me want to cry -- I can't see how you think I am an inspiration, when you are the one going off to med school! I constantly wish I had the motivation to go back to grad school, and here you are doing it. I can't wait to watch what a success you make out of it!)

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Knitting Rules! AUTHOR: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
	TITLE: Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage AUTHOR: Heather Rogers
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

i'm done!

Yay! I finished Collapse just a minute ago. Whew. Wow. I...don't even know what to say. I feel like I just ran a marathon. A marathon that took many weeks.

I was half disappointed that the reader wasn't thanked for undertaking and successfully completing such a long journey at the end of the book. I honestly expected my good friend Jared to wish me good-bye and good luck as he concluded. I mean, I've spent the past month getting to know his ideas very intimately, if you know what I mean.

...No, I don't even know what I mean, haha. But, gosh. I don't even know what to say! I really enjoyed the book in that I learned so much -- there were several in-depth studies -- about societies that I've always been kind of curious about, such as the Easter Islanders, the Mayans, and the cliff-dwelling Native Americans. I even learned many things I didn't know about Japan's history, and that of Montana! And I have been brought very much up to speed on many environmental issues that I didn't know a thing about before picking up this book. So, all in all, a very successful (if long) read.

But, would I recommend it to others? That's a good question. I can't say that I necessarily would, as at times it did seem to drag on. But for someone who is interested in learning a lot (a lot!) about past & current environmental & societal impacts, I say go for it. Mr. Diamond writes very well, in laymen's terms. He states his case very clearly, and draws some interesting parallels. Perhaps he could have done it in under 500 pages, but then I might not know nearly as much as I now know about Australia's history and current agricultural issues. And I have to say, I'm glad I learned what I did.

At the same time, I'm glad to be done. It'll be nice to pick up something new (and much lighter!). :)

blah

Ahhh, my 125-emails-strong inbox is overwhelming me...I try to stay on top of those things, but you know how it goes. It's a never-ending battle. I refuse to move anything out of my inbox until I've dealt with it, which often leaves me feeling a bit behind when I open Gmail to see several pages worth of "to do list"...sigh.

My finances are also in pretty dire straits right now. I refused to let myself even check my money situation yesterday so I could enjoy my birthday, but from now till the end of this month I need to buckle down & get into Savings Mode. I hope I can manage. I hate worrying about money, but sometimes it seems like that's all I ever do. Sigh.

And the rain! Bah. Well, at least yesterday was a gorgeous day -- that's when it counted, to me. But still: it's so gross out. Sigh.

But, despite all that, I'm actually not in a terrible mood (even though it may sound that way!). I think yesterday really bolstered me. And reminded me of how lucky I am, 25 years in. I am going to force myself to look back on my recent entries on those days when I need a pick-me-up in the future....

For now, I suppose, back to work. I want to write more but today things just aren't happening. It's one of those sluggish, dreary days for me. But not necessarily in a bad way. Just...I want to take a nap. Heh.

mmm

Ah, I'm so content. I love the sound of birds singing in the morning again. Yesterday was beautiful, and a wonderful day (although the weather went downhill fast -- what happened?). I had a lovely lunch with Danny and a relaxing day (although it went by way too quickly!), and then a fantastic party. I spoke with my mom in the morning, and my dad sang me Happy Birthday (oooh should I not say that? will he be sued by the people who own the rights to that song?? heh) in the evening. I spoke with both of my sisters, and heard from sooo many of my friends!

Can I just reiterate that I have wonderful people in my life? Wonderful.

(I have lots more to write, but I can't do that now. I think I'll try doing it in installments throughout the day. Keep an eye out for more! xoxo)

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Knitting Rules! AUTHOR: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage AUTHOR: Heather Rogers
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

oh my god

Wow. Why I am so lucky to have such amazing, wonderful, beautiful friends? Viv & Toni, your gifts these last 2 days have made me want to cry from how much they have meant to me -- both their thoughtfulness and their sweetness and just how incredibly happy I am to have friends like you!! You guys are the best -- all of you, really. I am so glad I have been able to surround myself with people who make me truly happy in life. I learn so much from the people I love, most especially how to be a better person. You all inspire me -- my friends & family & loved ones. Thank you.

(Viv, I just got your awesome package, which prompted me to write this entry. I will definitely write more about how awesome you are, but right now I'm just about to get on a bus to CT (birthday party for Dan's sister), so I might not have time to write until tomorrow or early next week. But I love you bunches!)

SP8 survey

Wow, what the hell happened -- it's Friday already?! And I haven't even posted about last weekend...I'll do that soon. Maybe. :)

For now, this post will probably only be interesting to one person...and I have no idea who that person is! I'm talking about my Secret Pal 8, and I was supposed to fill this out by the end of the week. As usual, I left it till the last minute (what a surprise).

Anyway, here goes:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
   I find I really like natural fibers, but I'm always willing to give a good man-made one a shot! It really depends on the project for me -- and I almost always try to stick to the yarn the pattern calls for, if I can help it. I know, BORING! But I've had too many problems crop up when I try to choose my own yarn.
   



2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
   A pink Ashland Sky tall "Stick Sack".
   



3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
   Ummm...advanced beginner? I don't know. I have been knitting since I was 15, but for years the only things I would attempt were scarves. Since I branched out a bit more several years ago, I have knitted socks, sweaters, toys, pillows, washcloths, baby blankets, baby clothes, bags, even checkerboards -- but nothing all too "advanced". Hopefully that'll give you an idea....
   



4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
   Yes -- it can be found here here. It's not nearly comprehensive, but all of the things listed on it are things I'm interested in.
   



5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
   vanilla
   



6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
   Do I ever! I'll eat almost anything (save for white chocolate & coconut) that has sugar in it! Wow, I couldn't even begin to pinpoint a favorite candy, but I should say I do love chocolate & peanut butter, and things like Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Peeps, stuff like that. (Is that even a cohesive genre? Hehe.) I'll add more if I think of anything! I should keep a list for times when questions like this pop up!
   



7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
   I'm always interested in new projects & ideas, but I have to say I sadly rarely do many DIY crafts. I do love to cook & bake, though, if that counts. And I am just now learning to spin; I plan to get a spinning wheel very soon. (I'll probably write more on that within the next few weeks.)
   



8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
   Hmm. I hate to go with this answer because I know it's a cop-out, but I really do like a little bit of everything. Some of my favorites ARE listed in my profile (and my MySpace page!), but I would totally love to hear a CD of stuff that my SP8 likes! If they are so inclined. I really like being introduced to new music!
   



9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
   Pink & blue are my favorites (any shade of each, really). But, like my musical tastes, I'm really pretty open to everything...if someone else likes it, I'll probably find it at the very least interesting, if not downright cool! Oh, purple shades & green shades are also fun to knit in...
   



10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
    My living situation is me & my boyfriend, and we (sadly) have no pets. We wanted a cat, but there's a whole conundrum where the guy who owns our apartment would let us, but the condo association wouldn't. Sigh...in any case, that's a no. :)
    



11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
    I wear scarves all winter (thanks to the Boston temperatures!) and hats occasionally, but I have yet to find one I love wearing (that's a life goal of mine)! I am more partial to gloves than mittens (I like having the digital dexterity), and I never, ever wear ponchos. I have disliked that craze from the start, but that's just me -- I've seen plenty of beautifully-knitted ponchos that really flatter other people. They're just not for me.
    



12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
    Hmm. I don't think I have one, yet! I do enjoy doing sweaters & tops if I find a pattern I really like, but those are few & far between, sadly!
    



13. What are you knitting right now?
    A baby blanket, a baby hat, a flower-shaped washcloth, and I'm about to start some socks, I think.
    



14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
    Definitely.
    



15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
    Definitely bamboo/wood, seconded by aluminum, and then plastic (I have several of each, though, so I can clearly make do with any!). I prefer straights & dpns to circulars, although I've again got all kinds. I really am open to whatever someone is willing to send my way! :)
    



16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
    No, unfortunately!
    



17. How did you learn to knit?
    From my mother, 10 years ago. She has a chest full of yarn, my friend asked what was inside, I told her, she said "would you mom teach us to knit?", and the rest was history. (Techniques & other such extras that I needed to learn, I subsequently taught myself from books and/or the internet.)
    



18. How old is your oldest UFO?
    Oooh...I don't even know if there is one. I'm one of those people the Yarn Harlot hates, mostly because I have a small apartment and not much room for a huge stash (not to mention that I'm anal and like to finish what I've started!). So um yeah except for the stuff that's OTN (I'd say the blanket is oldest, at a few weeks), I can't say I have any UFOs. (For those non-knitter readers who are actually reading this, a UFO is an UnFinished Object.)
    



19. What is your favorite holiday?
    I guess Christmas. Also Easter, because of the springtime motif and of course the candy...
    



20. Is there anything that you collect?
    Not that I can think of. Do books count? I definitely hang onto those, and love to buy more! Even though half of the ones I own, I haven't yet gotten around to reading...!
    



21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
    Yes! Definitely Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (it's on my Amazon wish list), because I want to attempt the hourglass sweater. Otherwise, I tend to like funky, somewhat "trendy" books in the vein of Debbie Stoller's Stitch N Bitch, because those are the kinds of patterns I gravitate to.
    



22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
    Well, embroidery, if that counts. And to crochet. And I'd love a more comprehensive sock book or more good sock patterns -- I really don't knit enough of those. As far as knitting skills go, though, I either don't want to learn anything new at the moment, or I just don't know some skill out there exists that I'd want to learn!
    



23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
    Haha see above...I wouldn't consider myself one because I've only knit a few pairs in my lifetime, but people seemed to like them. It's been quite a while, though... And my foot measurements are...um...I wish I knew. And of course I can't find my tape measure anywhere, grr. I'll have to get back to you on that one. (Clearly I've never knit socks for myself...)
    



24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
    05/08
    

p.s. I figured out the Mystery of the Package! Whoo! :) (And thanks, Marshie!)

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Knitting Rules! AUTHOR: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
	TITLE: Collapse AUTHOR: Jared Diamond
	TITLE: Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage AUTHOR: Heather Rogers
	TITLE: The Art of Interactive Design AUTHOR: Chris Crawford

baby carrot, my ass!

...Enough said.

(More coming soon, I promise!)