Tales of a Biker Chick with Pointy Sticks

Showing her inhumanity again, Sarah Palin Calls in the Helicopters for Sweeping Wolf Massacre -

2009-03-20T11:48:00.003-04:00

Palin Administration Calls in the Helicopters for Sweeping Wolf Massacre - Eye On Palin - Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund

Press Release

Legality of program challenged as state personnel in helicopters aim to kill hundreds of wolves despite objections from the National Park Service

WASHINGTON − The Palin administration considerably escalated its aerial wolf killing spree this past weekend, with full details only becoming clear in the hours after the killing initiated. At least 58 wolves have been killed in the Upper Yukon/Tanana area of Alaska over the past 4 days by Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) staff, which indicates that their target of approximately 250 wolves will be easily met.

The key ingredient is the decision by the governor and her appointed Alaska Board of Game to use helicopters as part of the state's wolf killing program in this region. The Board of Game approved the use of agency helicopters and personnel at its most recent meeting, which ended March 9, 2009, but those new regulations are not yet in effect, making the current helicopter wolf killing program in the Upper Yukon/Tanana region illegal. It is on these grounds that the board now faces a law suit, filed today by Defenders of Wildlife calling for an immediate injunction on the aerial wolf killing occurring in this area

“While the media obsesses over Governor Palin’s private family life, she is getting away with illegally slaughtering large numbers of wolves from the air,” commented Defenders Action Fund president, Rodger Schlickeisen. “The governor is even encouraging the killing of wolves that reside and den mostly on federal land, which belongs to all of us, not just Alaskans. There is no biological emergency in Alaska that warrants such measures.”

The ADF&G gave the National Park Service just a few hours notice before the killing began and as of Tuesday morning, at least 58 wolves were already known to have been killed, in addition to at least 27 that had already been killed by private hunters. According to the National Park Service’s March 15 briefing statement (attached), if ADF&G is successful in reaching its goal, “this would leave one-to-two wolves per 1,000 square kilometers in the Upper Yukon Wolf Control Area, approximating the lowest known wolf population densities in Alaska.” Upon learning of the state’s plans, the Service requested a no-wolf kill buffer zone around the preserve, but the state refused, putting at risk many of the members of seven wolf packs that reside mostly within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, many of which are part of an ongoing wolf study conducted by the park, at federal taxpayer expense.

“The Palin administration has created the least scientific Board of Game in the state’s history and this board will stop at nothing to reach its arbitrary and overblown goals for moose and caribou populations. They don’t even play by their own rules!” continued Schlickeisen. “Removing such huge numbers of predators from a region will do untold damage to all the wildlife that depends on that habitat. Governor Palin is recklessly pursuing policies that could turn America’s last frontier into nothing more than a large game farm.”

During the recent spring Board of Game meeting, the board also approved a proposal to allow to the use of gas bombs to kill wolves and wolf pups in their dens. The consistently unanimous votes for unprecedented and increasingly extreme methods of killing wolves have caused many to question the make up of the board and the magnitude of their vendetta against wolves. Each of the seven members have been appointed or re-appointed by Governor Palin, who has consistently chosen her appointees from the hunting lobby, excluding all other interests from the board.

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The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (www.defendersactionfund.org) provides a powerful voice in Washington to Americans who value our conservation heritage. Through grassroots lobbying, issue advocacy and political campaigns, the Action Fund champions those laws and lawmakers that protect wildlife and wild places while working against those that do them harm.
Contact:William Lutz (202) 772-0269 Jessica Brand (202) 772-0239

I'm a Born Again American

2009-03-09T02:59:00.000-04:00

Knitting

2009-02-09T05:21:00.004-05:00

Ok, so it's been a whole long time since I posted anything about knitting, and I've been doing a bunch of it lately! So look!

Thank you Fran!

2009-02-07T11:13:00.002-05:00

Dad's are supposed to be superman

2008-11-24T14:59:00.002-05:00

One always thinks of our parents as being larger than life, even as we grow to adulthood. This year has been a telling one for the man who gave me life and who taught me how to live life to the fullest. He's always been healthy as a horse, he's survived a bout of bladder cancer a few years ago with seemingly no repurcussions, but this year has been a hard one for him and for me. This spring he had a mild heart attack and found out he had arterial blockages, and had stents put in where possible. It wasn't until fall that he said to me that he finally felt strong and healthy again, better than before his heart attack.

But this past weekend, he had a stroke, possibly brought on by a tumble he took at home last week, but a stroke nonetheless. He doesn't remember short-term anything, including the events leading up to the stroke, nor even a week or more before. He's home, thankfully, and recuperating. Still, I am concerned - maybe, hopefully, needlessly. I hope he'll return to his vital and strong self quickly.

I get to visit him in a few weeks. It's been several months, and that was a quick visit, so I'm anxious to see him and talk with him.

YES WE CAN!

2008-11-05T05:45:00.002-05:00

Watch Barack Obama in Ohio

2008-10-28T02:56:00.001-04:00

I am pissed

2008-10-24T22:01:00.002-04:00

Someone stole my Obama lawn sign today.

Opie Andy & Fonzie want to talk about the election!

2008-10-24T21:58:00.001-04:00

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Get to know Barack Obama

2008-10-10T22:23:00.002-04:00

Palin's Wolf-Killing Program Results in 14 Illegal Wolf Pup Deaths

2008-10-10T22:21:00.001-04:00

McCain's You Tube Nightmare

2008-10-07T15:07:00.000-04:00

Sarah Palin is Anti-American!

2008-10-07T15:02:00.000-04:00

Women voters must send a message: Palin isn't qualified

2008-10-07T14:46:00.003-04:00

Robyn Blumner (Tribune Editorial Salt Lake Tribune)

Women will decide this presidential election, so say the political experts. We vote in greater numbers than men and when we even marginally abandon our Democratic-leanings, Republicans win.

The big question is whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's two X chromosomes and morning-anchor mien will be the thing that drives women to the McCain-Palin ticket this November.

Palin personifies the overscripted, jab-laden, plasticized rhetoric of the modern presidential campaign. One might even say she was born to the sound bite. But you get the impression that all she's got to offer are about two lines on each issue, parroting what she's been told or what has been written for her.

In Palin's now well dissected interview with Charlie Gibson of ABC News, her answers were shallow and at times barely cogent. On Iran's nuclear ambitions, Palin said three times that she wouldn't ''second-guess'' Israel if it attacks Iran to eliminate its nuclear facilities.

This is probably the most significant national security issue the next administration will face, yet her answer was devoid of the slightest depth.

On our sputtering economy and how she would diverge from President Bush's economic policies, she said: ''We have got to make sure that we reform the oversight also of the agencies, including the quasi-government agencies like Freddie and Fannie, those things that have created an atmosphere here in America where people are fearful of losing their homes.''

Huh?

If she wanted to discuss the foreclosure crisis, Palin could have talked about an end to predatory lending practices or the need to assert regulatory authority over the investment-banking sector.

If she wanted to talk about Freddie and Fannie, Palin could have referred to them properly as ''government-sponsored enterprises'' and described the way they used lobbyists to keep their capital ratios dangerously low.

But what she said instead was nonsensically broad - just a platitude really, and a mangled one at that.

On Iraq, Palin has conflated what happened on 9/11 with going to war there. Is she really still confused about this?

What we have heard from Palin scares me. I want the first woman vice president to be up to the job regardless of her party.

I may not be a fan of anyone in Bush's inner circle, but I know that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is prepared to be vice president. I know that Bush's former EPA chief, Christine Todd Whitman, could do it. There are a number of women on the Republican bench who are able, but Sen. John McCain chose a someone who is - to put it bluntly - not smart enough.

I'm not a school snob. You don't need a Harvard or Yale degree to be qualified as vice president. Bush has an undergraduate degree from Yale and a MBA from Harvard and yet he's one of the dimmest bulbs to live in the White House. But it took Palin six years at six different schools to finally secure an undergraduate degree in journalism at the University of Idaho.

That's indicative of someone who either can't cut it in the academic world or doesn't want to. Either way it's a problem for a potential vice president.

Palin reminds me of Bush's pick of lightweight Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. Those on the ideological right, such as former Bush speechwriter David Frum and conservative activist Linda Chavez, knew that Miers didn't have the intellectual chops for the job and harangued the administration until she withdrew.

This time, there are no anti-Palin ad campaigns coming from the political right. It apparently cares more about who sits on the Supreme Court than who sits one-malignant-melanoma away from the presidency.

It is not partisan to say that a vice presidential candidate needs to understand this complex, dangerous world with nuance and depth. Palin doesn't. And it is up to women to vote her back to Alaska, where she can see Russia, but thankfully not attack it.

Betcha not all 'down-home' women love Sarah Palin By ROSANNE HEMOND

2008-10-07T14:17:00.002-04:00

Article published October 7, 2008 in the Toledo (Ohio) Blade

I CAN honestly speak from the experience of a woman who is a wife and a mother who also has been a working mother for most of her married life.

"Down home," "Joe Six pack," "hockey mom," "gotcha," "betcha," "maverick" - what nave terms used by someone seeking second seat to the most powerful person in America. I cannot begin to describe how offensive I find Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Well, yes, I can. And I shall.

First, she wants to present herself as being the consummate working mother to appeal to all women.

This offends me in so many ways. When I decided to have children I opened my arms to my babies, regardless of health, as have all the women I know. That she did not abort or give away her son with Down syndrome tells me that she is not totally self-serving, but this does not make her special; it makes her a mother.

But as a mother, I felt then and now that the first and most critical responsibility as a parent is to be there to raise that child, to make my family my priority. She understands all about special-needs children, and to some degree, so do I. The first rule of parenting is to be there. Mrs. Palin promotes herself as everyone's ideal of a mother, yet she obviously cares more about her career than her family or she would not have dragged her children into the limelight, especially her pregnant daughter. She would have done what most mothers' instincts would dictate: protect her family first and foremost.

As governor of Alaska, she can do that. She can be home and be there for her children. As a political candidate for vice president, she and her husband are continually on the road. Who is there for that baby, and who is there helping her daughter through a deeply personal situation? The teenager is there, living in the public eye.

Mrs. Palin keeps saying that her daughter is going to get married. Why? To protect whose image? The father is 18. They are just children. While I respect Barack Obama for saying that the family is off limits in the campaign, as a voter, it is not off limits to me.

I was not a hockey mom. But I've been a baseball mom and a swimming mom and a theater mom and a band mom and working mom, as well as a wife. I also was a teacher and, afterward, ran two successful businesses, one a large child-care center, and the other a travel agency. None of the above would qualify me for political office.

I will certainly give her credit. She was, let's see, in parent-teacher organizations, so was I. She was a mayor of a small town. I come from a small town, and although I have never been in politics, I am well aware of how much power that position generates, especially when it is a part-time job. She was a business owner. I'm curious about what business she owned.

Now my husband and I are one of millions of families of retirees who are worried about myriad things. We are deeply concerned about the cost of medical care. My husband and I have already lost a portion of what was his automotive pension package. Our investments are bottoming out. I live in fear that our teenage grandsons may end up going to war. I worry about my children being able to support their families and themselves.

Under previous administrations, we have had the good fortune of traveling to many parts of the world and we have friends in Europe. With the experience of extensive travel and ongoing conversation with people from other countries, I guess in the context of international communication, this means I have more experience than Mrs. Palin.

My degree is in education, hers in journalism. I suspect we are almost equals in our government preparation.

As for her being governor of Alaska, I will give her the benefit of the doubt. She may be the best governor Alaska has ever had. So that's where she should stay.

People who are responding to her social conservativism must wake up and realize this self-described maverick's hypocrisy. She can talk down to people and make them feel that she is just like their neighbor, not putting on airs, but her money is not where her "good-old girl" mouth is. She insults our intelligence with her "down home" rhetoric, but perhaps this is just her inability to communicate on a higher intellectual level.

How can anyone begin to imagine Mrs. Palin dealing with Vladimir Putin and the Russian increase in aggression? Maybe she could float a note across the Bering Strait from Alaska, saying, "Now Mr. Putin, that's not nice."

Why, considering the long history of nuclear situations, can she not be taught to pronounce "nuclear"? And all the "betchas" and "Joe Six-pack" idioms will certainly go a long way toward destroying any possibility of global acceptance of her intelligent leadership. We need a leader. We need a communicator.

We must understand that although we are voting for president, there have been too many times when the vice president has needed to take over the job. And those people who fall back on the idea that we are voting only for a president are frighteningly nave. It is a serious package deal and both candidates are equally important.

I like that she is gutsy, pretty, and presents herself well. She means well too - I think. But, electing her to a position that could result in her running a country at war, suffering the worst economic crisis since the Depression and the loss of respect from allies, and dealing with leaders of other countries is tantamount to going into an operating room and finding out that your surgeon just finished a two-month course in basic pre-med.

She has been coached, but she cannot hide her naivete and lack of knowledge. When she doesn't have an answer, she simply refuses to do so. She did this a number of times in the vice presidential debate.

During the debate, Mrs. Palin scolded Joe Biden for looking to the past. Did she miss his important comment that "past is prologue?" When we disregard the past, we are doomed to repeat it.

People must understand that if they vote for John McCain, they are voting for a ticket that could catapult an inexperienced, nave, "hockey mother" of five into the position of becoming this nation's leader.

Remember, too many people deemed the "good old boy" George Bush qualified to run this country, and look where that "down-home" guy got us.

I just don't get it.

Rosanne Hemond, of Clinton Township, Michigan, is a former teacher and a concerned constituent.

McCain's Keating problem - it's a real problem not just a made up one.

2008-10-06T12:06:00.000-04:00

Obama's ideas for a changed economy!

2008-10-01T13:35:00.002-04:00

Dear John....

2008-09-25T10:38:00.001-04:00

As you aspire to be President of the United Sates and the de facto leader of the free world, I just wanted to tell you that as President, you would be required to provide leadership on the following issues

World Peace
Nuclear deterrence
Global economy
War
Health Care
Middle East peace
Job growth
Taxes
Education
Energy
Housing
Transportation
The Supreme Court
Guantanamo
Environment
Social Security

ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Why should I have pay for their greed and avarice? Why should American taxpayers bail those guys out?

2008-09-23T11:21:00.005-04:00

I'm not a happy camper. Why does the American taxpayer have to foot the bill for their underhanded and capricious actions? We aren't the ones who blew it! They are, punish them! Dock their salaries, make them pay for their mistakes, fire them! Help the people who have been caught in the middle of the scam, who were hoodwinked by these sleazeballs. Ok, they can't keep the home, but they shouldn't have to pay for a mortgage that was coerced and underhanded!

I'm so fed up with the Bush Administration always helping out his rich cronies! I'm so disgusted that the average citizen is yet again paying for their dishonesty and greed! It's not my job to fix that. Send 'em all to prison for cripes sake!

I hope Congress pays attention!

2008-09-10T13:27:00.001-04:00

More of McSame

2008-09-09T11:06:00.002-04:00

Did McCain get illegal oil money?

2008-08-20T15:12:00.003-04:00

So how sketchy is this?

Right after John McCain switched his position on oil drilling, a bunch of top Hess Oil Company execs gave $28,500 each to help elect him.

But so did a Hess office manager and her husband who's an Amtrak track foreman. They probably didn't have that kind of money lying around, and if oil executives funneled money through them to help elect McCain, that's very illegal.

Turns out, another oil industry exec gave McCain multi-thousand dollar checks allegedly from a Taco Bell manager, an auto mechanic, and a discount studio store owner.

McCain returned $50,000, but over $450,000 in suspect money is still out there.

I signed a petition urging the U.S. Justice Department to investigate John McCain's potentially illegal contributions from the oil industry.

Can you join me in signing at the link below?http://pol.moveon.org/mccain_oil_donors/?r_by=13439-4344308-N_TJ4Wx&rc=comment_paste

Check this out

NRDC: The True and False of Oil Drilling

2008-08-05T10:21:00.000-04:00

NRDC: The True and False of Oil Drilling

The Prosecution of George W. Bush for murder

2008-08-04T09:38:00.000-04:00

Vacations should never start like this!

2008-07-29T14:36:00.006-04:00

So last week, the DH and I went on a vacation. Let me just say that I don't need vacations to start the way this one did. The first Sunday, we took the bikes down to Dover, DE for his mom's family reunion. We've been several times, it's always a fun time, and a chance to renew acquaintances with people we seldom see. It was a scorcher of a day, so we waited til late to leave, preferring to ride home after dark when it's cooler, but as we're headed north, we're seeing lightning off to the west and just know we're about to get drenched. Actually we made it most of the way home, but the last 40 miles we had to travel due west, right into the storm and baby did it ever. I couldn't see the road in front of me. We're on Rte 78, moving from the express to local lanes so we can ride slow in the far right lane. Mike is in front of me, and then suddenly, he's not... and then I see sparks and I'm screaming because he's gone down, and I can't see him, can't stop fast on the wet highway in this downpour, and I'm terrified! After what seems like an eternity, I finally get safely stopped, run back to see him up, (thankyou God thankyou), and trying dodge speeding traffic to get his bike off the roadway, but of course NO ONE WILL SLOW DOWN OR STOP!!!! Finally he flags down a car who stops traffic--whoever you are thank you so very very much for your kindness and care! He's safe, the bike is safe, and he can take inventory. He's hurt, but the 2" of water on the road has really been a blessing. Even though he slid 250', he's got minor roadrash, the bike is ride-able. We need to get off the travel lanes of the highway, so we get on the bikes, get over to the far right and flashers running, head home, going even slower than before. When we finally get home, I took him to ER to be sure he was ok, broken pinky, pulled chest muscles and a few abrasions!!! I'm so grateful!!

When we went back the scene the next day in the sunshine, we could both see how lucky he was. He was thrown into the local travel lanes when he ran over either a truck mudflap or a truck tread (Truckers, do you even realize how dangerous it is to other travellers letting those treads flap off all over the road ???? Do you even care??) - we found both along the side of the road where he fell, and we found a gouge in the curb where his forward controls slammed the cement.

I never want to see that again!

So, Tuesday, we leave for the real vacation, this time in the car, because it's supposed to be a rainy week up in Maine. It is, but not while we're out and around too much, though if we'd been on bikes, we wouldn't have seen or done as much. We went first to my sister's home in Freeport, greeted by Gus & Lily, their new 4 month old yellow lab pups...full of energy and as cute as can be! A short visit this time, we head out on Wednesday to the WatchTide B & B - Pat and Frank are wonderful Innkeepers, and the place is right out of the old days. We spent the next 3 days exploring towns like Castine, Searsport, Belfast, Mt Desert Island, enjoying the scenery, visiting lighthouses, eating in the local diners, and just enjoying ourselves and Maine. I was born and raised there and know some of the terrain, but these were places I'd never had a chance to visit, so Mike & I both had a chance to see something new. And we shared the B&B with 2 wonderful couples from the Atlanta area, the men had entered the National BoatBuilding Challenge.

On Friday, we ambled our way back to Freeport, enjoyed the ride, stopped to see some soggy lighthouses, and then met my sisters and their husbands and my dad & his partner for dinner. Good food, good company!

Saturday was the family get together, my sisters, our neice, and her 1yo son, and her fiance, our nephew, family friends, our step sister and her soon to be 1 yo daughter, and Morgan, the 9yo black lab, and Gus & Emily. It was an awesome day - full of laughter and conversation and too much food. I don't get a chance to visit like this very often, and I'm glad we were there.

I have pictures, I'll post them tonight!

Oh yea, knitting! I made hats for Rog and Brian, and socks for sister Gail, and started hats for Sarah & Madyson. And I have pictures of the FOs

And now I'm back to the ol' grindstone!

Hope!

2008-07-28T20:30:00.000-04:00

Greenwash of the Week: Flex Fuel Vehicles - you have it all wrong Bill O'Reilly

2008-07-19T09:45:00.001-04:00

Whose gonna get the big bucks?

2008-07-17T06:09:00.002-04:00

So guess who's going to make BIG bucks when American Anheuser Busch is purchased by a foreign company...

Washington Wire - WSJ.com : McCains to Profit on Anheuser, InBev Deal

... AND who's not going to pay much into the economy for that huge profit? None other than the war mongering McCain family!

And how come no one is talking about it? Why isn't the media asking McCain about it? Oh, I get it, because it's corporate America controlling his purse strings?

Wednesday is Ride to Work Day!

2008-07-14T13:35:00.001-04:00

Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm: A story with a raffle at the end

2008-07-13T18:11:00.004-04:00

Sandy sent me to a link on Friday. I was so touched by Sue's aunt's & uncle's generosity and compassion and willingness to do the extra, no matter what the cost, and by her's as well. I know we all can't save the world, we can only do the best that we individually can, but I believe that each time we step outside our comfort zone and do that one thing extra to help, we are making an enormous contribution to making this a better place to live. So I'm pssing this along. I hope you'll take a minute to see what I mean.

Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm: A story with a raffle at the end

I donated stash to the raffle.

Knitters for Obama

2008-07-09T05:46:00.002-04:00

If you're voting for a real change this year, if you're a knitter on Ravelry, if you want to support Barack Obama with a chance to get some really cool stuff, you really need to join Knitters for Barack Obama!! There's some really cool stuff and every $5 you donate at Knitters for Obama gives you a chance at one of 43 different yummy, crafty prizes!!

BAD Blogger! BAD, BAD Blogger!!

2008-06-27T10:08:00.003-04:00

...but it's summer!! My bike wants to GO GO GO and you know I'm there!!

And I have 10 knitting projects in progress, including 2 pairs of socks, some test socks, 2 state squares for the "Knitter's for Obama" Fund Raiser Afghan, a baby blanket, 3 charity hats, and a pinafore!!

Last weekend, DH, Ralph & I rode up to Laconia, NH and hooked up with my brother-in-law for the last weekend of the 85th Annual Laconia Bike Week & Rally. Great ride, lots of fun, a huge # of bikes, and a pretty standard amount of rain for this time of year. We dodged it going up, rode maybe 50 total miles in it on the way home, but intermittently, so we could dry out in between. Only one storm was bad, and we'd already stopped at a rest stop to gear up so we watched it high & dry from inside.

Next month, we head to ME for a weeklong visit with 2 of 4 sisters and the father unit whose doing his annual or semi-annual? trek to the native land. We're in the planning a 4 day excursion up into Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, maybe riding the Cat over to Yarmouth, NS and riding north from there. Not definite yet.

I have a new kitty who I rescued from the Randolph Animal Pound and who has decided to live in the basement. She and L'il Bit are not communicating well. She's a timid little 1-2 yo tortoise shell who is quite loving but who is quite content being isolated from the other cat althought she is very friendly and loving when us humans go down there for a visit. I'm trying to ease her into upstairs living, but not very successfully yet. I haven't really taken any good pictures of her yet. A weekend project perhaps!

Oh yea! I do have a whole bunch of pictures from DH's 50th birthday party which I will have to post soon. And we have 10 point & shoot cameras that need developing so there will be even more! It was a nice party at the Legacy by Arthur Hills (this is a GREAT place to have cater your event - the staff is totally awesome!). It was preceded by a nice ride out to the Hudson Leather sale - the dude was happy, he had a chance to visit with many old friends and family members some of whom we've not seen in many years!

Just got my yarn from the current Scout's sock club. Love it! I'll have to do something with it right away!!!

That's it! Or as my pal Nobody says

LATE!

WWKIP

2008-06-13T15:51:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow is World-Wide-Knit-in-Public Day! Where will you be knitting? If you are in the U.S. and in New Jersey and near Morristown, come to the Green!

United States, New Jersey, Morristown

Hosted by: Knot Just Knitting Meetup

Location: The Green, Morristown, New Jersey

Time: 2-4 PM

Date: June 14, 2008
How to get there: Link for directions and parking:

http://morristown-nj.org/directions.html

Please bring:Chair, Knitting or crocheting and sunscreen.

This KIP is not knitting exclusive

If there is heavy rain we won't be there.

There are restaurants and a coffee shop around the green

that have bathrooms for patrons to use.

There are pay-to-use bathrooms available nearby

KNIT IN PUBLIC

McCain, just like Bush and that's too scary!!

2008-06-12T10:18:00.001-04:00

Today is the 27th Anniversary of my 29th Birthday

2008-04-22T16:16:00.003-04:00

Ok, so how the heck did that happen? Not that it's a problem, but years have gone by and I don't know where they went. I really don't feel this old! Guess that's a good thing!

Riding, not knitting!

2008-04-20T07:51:00.006-04:00

How in the world does time get away from me like this! I can't believe it's been 2 wks since my last post.

No knitting this weekend!

My bud Jenn who lives in Wildwood Crest was supposed to come visit for the weekend. She and I chatted, she'd been doing too much for too many weekends and needed to be home, something I fully understand. At around the same time she talked to me about this, another couple of friends decided they were taking a ride down to Wildwood for the day on Friday. I tagged along, and since Jenn & I hadn't had much of a chance to visit, when they left, I stayed with Jenn. We had our visit and she had a chance to be in her home. It was good to hang out with my friend again!

The ride down was spectacular! Not much traffic, gorgeous blue skies and bright sunshine, not too hot, not too cold, and lots of clear open road. I had a great ride down, and had a great visit with my friend. Mike rode down on Saturday morning, he Jenn & I had lunch at Tucker's. Good food, lots of bikers and bikes. Then we rode back up to Denville.

It was a great ride, but I was tired!

Ocean Toes finished finally!

2008-03-30T18:42:00.002-04:00

So I've been working on "Ocean Toes" by Cat Bordhi, from her New Pathways for Socknitters, Book One. Chock full of new ways to knit socks, this particular one using the Cedar Architecture. No gusset, no flap in the traditional manner, just a series of increases and decreases. This pattern did the increases in an orderly manner, but in theory one could increase anywhere at anytime in the heel process. Interesting ideas! She's remarkable. How in the world does that woman's mind work that she would come up with all these different ways to knit socks!

Anyway, here are some pictures:

On my needles

2008-02-18T15:55:00.006-05:00

A co-worker's DM-I-L has breast cancer. I offered to knit some caps, I knew, based on what she told me about her chemo, that she would lose her hair, and quickly, and it's still winter here. But she said no, she was going to buy her MIL a wig, and I left it at that. Last week, she asked if she could take me up on my offer. I of course said yes, and I've knitted 2 hats, and have another on needles. The brown is soft boucle from Hobby Lobby, the green, well it's mystery yarn. I don't know the manufacturer, but it's similar to Lion's Homespun and about as soft. The third is a cornsilk/cotton blend, white blue & green variegated. I'm doing a turban style for this one.Three more are waiting in the wings, 2 simple caps, one with a rib, both in Berroco Chinchilla, one red, one black, and finally the third I think will be a cable or lace one.

YES WE CAN!

2008-02-18T15:05:00.000-05:00

Sleep peacefully my sweet handsome boy

2008-02-12T20:39:00.003-05:00

You know, once in a lifetime you get to share the world with a special one. Don't get me wrong, I love my kitties, every one of them who have come to my life.

But this handsome boy was different. He was a lover and he demanded that you love him back. So I did, every day I loved him with all my heart. All he wanted was to make me happy. And he did! He followed me around, he came when I called, and he loved me, everyday and everyway he could. He'd sit on my shoulders, and give me kisses and hugs. we went for rides in the car, and in the end, he just never let me know there was anything wrong, until it was way to late to do anything.

Saturday, he started vomiting incessantly, every time he moved practically. But on Sunday & Monday, he seemed better, and I thought he got into something or he wasn't tolerating his new food, but he was even eating plain chicken and drinking water with no upset. This morning, though it was back and I zoomed him over to the vet for an emergency checkup. He was horribly dehydrated from the vomiting. An Xray though showed the real problem. There was something in his large bowel. They would do an ultrasound at noon and see exactly what it was. It was cancer, and it had already grown so much that it had invaded the tissue outside his intestines.

So tonight, Mike & I spent about 45 minutes with my best boy, he had been hydrated, and was looking more like the sweet kitty that I knew, he sat on my shoulder, in my lap around my neck, in Mikes arms, and then finally in my arms, we talked, I scolded him for not letting me know he was sick - gently and not seriously, and he loved me for the last time. And then, the vet did her magic and my sweet man was asleep forever.

My heart is broken and I am so very very sad.

Rest in peace Monster. I am the lucky one to have had you in my life for all these years.

They Will Not Go Quietly

They will not go quietly, the cats that shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know their spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think we hear a meowing at the door.
Or step back when we drop a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place the food dish used to be,
And sometimes, coming home at night, we miss them terribly.
And although time may bring new friends and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts belongs to them
...and always will.
-Linda Barnes

edited by my best pal Patty - thank you!

How cool is this!

2008-02-10T14:44:00.000-05:00

Saturday Night Flats

2008-02-04T10:36:00.000-05:00

So, Saturday night, my pal Mara is coming home from vacation and I am picking her up at Newark International. No problem, we do that for each other, she calls, they've landed, no gate, and still has to go thru customs, plenty of time to get to the airport, and I head out in my car. I'm 3 miles or so away - Rte 78 at Hillside for those who know the area - and I get a flat. It's close to 9, and I'm NOT changing this tire myself, so I call AAA, it's going to be at least an hour, I call my pal and tell her what's going on, call the hubby (sick and in bed at home) and then, start winding some Lorna's Laces for my Ocean Toes KAL, since silly me, I didn't bring the current socks with me. These two great AAA rescuers show up about 50 minutes later, and quicker than you can think, change the tire put the donut on, and zoom, I'm on my way to the airport, a call to Mara to find out where she is.

So we're in the car, Mara, her mom and me, suitcases squished in around the flat tire in the trunk, and headed home, I'm travelling below the speed limit - 50-ish to be precise, when BAM... we hit a pothole - no a POTCHASM on Rte 24W right next to the Short Hills Mall. I think crap, say "we'll be ok" and sure as s*** floppity floppity... Yea, a flat - the frikkin donut! We're screwed, and AAA must now tow my car because silly me, I forgot to bring the extra extra spare!

But they can only carry 2 people, there are 3 of us PLUS luggage, so I must call the hubby to get up out of the sickbed, bring the truck down the road and rescue us. He's not happy, I'm really ticked since this is the 3rd tire in less than a month that the NJ roads have killed and I get to pay for it all! I am thinking I should contact NJDOT to see what recourse I have - though I already know the answer.

UPDATE: Not only did the donut rim get bent, the tire on the same side was damaged had to be replaced. So it's not just 2 tires and a donut, it's 3 tires 2 rims and a donut ($1000.00+), since the beginning of the year!!!!

Fix the FRIKKIN ROADS!

FIX THE FRIKKIN ROADS!!

FIX THE DAMN FRIKKIN ROADS!!!!

Oy am I in trouble! Cathy tagged me...

2008-01-27T21:25:00.000-05:00

So I've been tagged by my pal Cathy for 7 Random Facts Meme!! I hope I do this right, and I hope I know enough 7s to make it right!!! ACK!

Here are the rules, and they must be posted on your blog:

Link to the person’s blog who tagged you (see above).
List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!

Let the fun begin.

My first known ancestor was either the assassinator of King Charles or at the very least was a member of the hit squad.
My great great great great grandmother Martha Carrier was hanged at the Salem Witch trials
I have only sisters and my husband has only brothers AND we're both the oldest child
Easter & my birthday have been the same day 3 times, when I was 10, 21. and 32 but not at all since then.
I am left handed but only for writing, and cutting with scissors. I do everything else, right-handed, including knitting.
My feet are always too cold when I go to bed, but always too warm when I wake up.
I love flowers and gardens but I don't grow anything well.

NOW... do I know 7 people with blogs who I can tag!

My commuter pals Patty aka chrome horse knitter and
Karen aka ChooChoo Knits
Chappy glad your knee is better and you're back online!
and my pal Colin aka Knitman who knits wonderful socks and has the cutest pooches!
Kim over there in PA, hope you join in this silliness!
And a new biker/knitter friend Nobody
and a college knitter from my town, Manda

Now, that was pretty silly! But fun too!

Socks for my sister redux

2008-01-22T10:19:00.001-05:00

Ok, so I had to take out the shortrow heels I did. I started the increase incorrectly, so it wasn't seated evenly across the row. What a pain, I probably should have just yanked all the stitches back to the first decrease row but I was trying to save time. Wraps and double wraps and dropped stitches, but I finally got tinked back to the last decrease row. I will be more careful this time!

They look terrific!!

Sock's for my Sister

2008-01-13T10:18:00.000-05:00

For a long time, I've wanted to knit socks for my sisters. I have 4 of them, they are all younger than me. This is the year. Here's the first pair, for Elisabeth, who turns the big 50 this month.

They are Elfine Socks, and I'm using Socks that Rock. The yarn really lets the pattern pop, and after I charted it, it became easy enough to commit mostly to memory with an occasional peek. I think though that I need a smaller needle to get better sizing. I will continue as I'm pretty sure these will fit her.

Christmas photos

2008-01-05T17:02:00.001-05:00

I am so very slow getting these pictures online. I have nearly 100, but won't put them all here. They are on my flickr site.

Here are Nikkie and Kira showing off their new hats.

...and Cody opening up and showing hi s mom his gifts at home

...and a couple of shots of the family Christmas.

That's my greatest gift, holiday fun with my family!
I hope you had wonderful holidays too!

Jason Taylor Has a New Defensive Strategy

2007-12-28T05:28:00.000-05:00

Holiday knitting in progress

2007-12-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

I've been knitting! Hats and socks and wrist warmers and I think the next will be the Belle Cardigan sweater from the Fall 07 Interweave. Karen made it in a weekend, and it looks fabulous on her. I see Mike's mom in it.

I love and hate holiday knitting! It really gets me motivated, but I always put myself under pressure, and when I knit like that I make beaucoups mistakes, which means lots of frogging . Today, knitting on Alec's cap my circular needles separated from the cable. ACK!! 10 stitches fell off, but I gathered them up and put everything on a set of DPNs . I've not pictured anything except Cody's socks and Nik's hat.

Weather alert, snow in the forecast for the whole day tomorrow! I am not a winter person, but I really love to watch it snow, and especially this time of year! Predictions are for around 6" out where I live, and slushy rain in NYC where I will be working. But the weather dudes are hedging their bets, saying if the storm tracks differently than they are expecting now, accumulations could change radically! Fun commuting!!!

PAY IT FORWARD

2007-12-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

Last week Karen posted about Pay It Forward. This has been making its way around the blogs follow the links backwards, it's amazing!) and I know it will be so much fun! Karen offered to make a gift for the first three people that commented on her post if they promised to do the same.

Sign me up!

In turn I'd like to make something for you!

Here are the rules:
I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this pay it forward exchange.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Comment away and I'll get crafting! Help me pass it on. Comment. Inspire. Create. Pay it Forward.

Who's in?

The Yarnaholics Thought of the Day #5

2007-11-21T11:22:00.000-05:00

My stash is so big I don't know what's there anymore. I will organize, log, and donate or sell yarns I know I will never use.

The Yarnaholics Thought of the Day #2

2007-11-15T11:53:00.000-05:00

I can only knit one project at a time. I have a long line of projects in the queue. I have the exact perfect yarn for each of those projects. I am going to enjoy finding the perfect yarn for that project AND I am really going to enjoy rediscovering all my yarn!

It's finished

2007-11-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

I forgot in yesterday's frenzy to mention that I'd finished the baby sweater that took me forever and a day! It was fussy right up to the end, but it's finished, and the gifters are very happy with the results, and hopefully the giftees mommy will be too!!

Here are some pics

It came out nice, tho the collar seems to want to do it's own thing, still it fit the big bear just fine!

I guess I'm just not a faithful blogger

2007-11-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

I don't know what happens to the time! I plan to add a post, but life gets in the way...

So this weekend we, my 4 sisters and I met in Sarasota to surprise my dad on his 80th birthday. It was a blast!! We are scattered around the US, 2 in Maine, me in NJ, another near Sacramento, CA, and another in Clearwater. Actually we've been planning since May, and had as much fun planning as doing! Thanks to Dad's partner, we actually pull it off!

So on Friday, CA and I fly together from Atlanta to Tampa and Clearwater picks us up at the airport (after zooming right past us at the curb ) and we [over]eat Mexican and talk and plot and laugh and zonk out and get up in the morning and can't get out of Clearwater cuz there's an IronMan competition that's got every highway closed, so we drive around in ever widening circles til we finally get to 275 and head south to Sarasota. Now, I've brought very summery type clothes and I'm not happy cuz the evening are more chilly than I expect and I look like a freakin toooorist so I want to buy something a bit more appropriate so Clearwater zooms into Burlington Coat Factory in Sarasota, and I try on 3 outfits, find a pair of shoes choose a black skirt and a cute top and then we go over to the grocery next door to grab balloons for all 5 of us and the guy there is about as slow as a turtle stuck in the ice... and he can't figure out how to tie the ribbons to the balloons, and he can't talk and blow up balloons at the same time, and finally I have to say "I'm sorry, but I'M IN A HURRY!!" cuz I know MAINEs are waiting for me at the shopping center outside the complex where Dad lives and so he blows balloons and I tie ribbon and FINALLY I get back in the car and whooosh we are all at the proscribed location and then we drive to the little guest parking area and go up and ring the bell and yell SURPRISE and oh man!!!

He jumped up and back 2 feet and hollers "what the hell..." and "how did you get here" or something like that. I have a picture that Clearwater snapped just as he opened the door... but I'll be nice and not put it up here. Suffice it to say it was a total surprise.

So we go out to lunch at Phillippi Creek and dinner at Ophelia's and have so much fun!

The rest of the Saturday and the Sunday morning go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast, we are all visiting and talking and laughing and just having too much fun, cuz we don't get together like this but once in a blue moon, and it's just going so fast and then Clearwater, CA and I are driving back to Tampa and then CA and I are on the plane leaving and we spend our last few moments together at Hartfield Int'l airport and then suddenly I'm on the plane headed to Newark and wow what fun but why does it have to go so fast!

Thank goodness I have pictures! And thank goodness the others have pictures! It was like a movie in triple speed! What fun!!

October STR kit!!

2007-10-26T11:47:00.000-04:00

My Socks That Rock kit came late yesterday. In a word - GORGEOUS! I want to cast it on RIGHT NOW!! Ok, so I won't give away the surprise yet for those of you who haven't received your kits, but the yarn color is GORGEOUS and the pattern is a lovely lace ditty designed by the Yarnharlot. It's just terrific! These are gonna MINE MINE MINE!!!

It's been gray and rainy here for a few days and my attitude seems to be following the weather. It's going to get worse before it gets better, lots of rain tonight and tomorrow. I hope it's sunny on Sunday (that's what the forecase says for now!) so I can go get some wind in my face. This is the pits.

Have you seen that funny cat video? The cat wants owner dude to wake up and feed him, uses all sorts of tactics to wake him, finally wacks him on the head with a bat then acts as if he's been asleep the whole time. My cats do that to me in the middle of the night. Come sit on me and knit their paws in me til I wake up and talk to them. One at a time, not together. The video is funny, not so funny at 3 AM!

Sheep Over pictures

2007-10-20T10:54:00.000-04:00

HSUS Chimpanality Quiz!

2007-10-14T20:03:00.001-04:00

HSUS MySpace Page Take the Quiz!

Sheep Over!

2007-10-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

I'm going to Sheep Over. Don't you just love that name!? Knit Wit Knits has an annual "retreat", an overnight, where we get to knit and learn something new and hang out with pals! This year, we're knitting some squares, playing a fun game and some other unknown things AND learning needle felting. Ok, so not new to everyone, but certainly new to me. I've not ventured much into the felting arena, at least not intentionally! This should be fun! We staying at Das Dutch Village Inn. Doesn't it look like a fun place? There's a whole complex called Das Dutch Village, shops and restaurant and such. Oh and we're going shopping at the yarn shop too on Saturday -shhh don't tell the husband!! But THE best part of all of this is seeing my friends again. It's always such a treat. We have so much fun and I missed the last visit in the spring! Really looking forward to it! I'll post a few pics when I get home.

The second part of the weekend, I'll be in Toledo, visiting with my family. Can't wait! We don't get there very often, and grandkids grow so so fast! I'm taking Nik and Renee out to dinner Saturday night to celebrate their birthdays! Pics later!

What? I can't listen to music I've purchased?

2007-10-06T15:07:00.000-04:00

The lead attorney for Sony BMG announced publically that copying music you legally purchased for your own use is illegal.

Song BMG has gone on record, stating that “When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song. Making ‘a copy’ of a purchased song is just a nice way of saying ’steals just one copy.’”

"WHAT?! If I buy a CD, she’s saying I cannot save it to my own computer, and then listen to the CD in my car? Or… I can’t listen to it on my iPod? All of these items were purchased legally, including the CD. So why in the name of everything I hold precious can I NOT listen to MY OWN MUSIC?"

"The music industry has gone too far. It is allegedly hurting financially so much due to file sharing that it is now making it nearly impossible for people to legally listen to their own music. Album sales have decreased dramatically. Yes, that’s true. However, telling me I cannot listen to the music I BUY from you in any way I want is not going to help your bottom line, Sony. All that is going to do is ensure I don’t purchase ANY music from you ever again."

"Stop the insanity."

Thank you Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome for stating my thoughts exactly!

Chris Live Tech Support Video Help Add to iTunes

That didn't last long!

2007-10-05T11:48:00.000-04:00

Thank you Kate Gilbert and thank you Knitty! I'm going to knit it exactly as Kate did.

Stuck in a slumb

2007-10-04T12:44:00.000-04:00

Has this happened to you? I love knitting. I have several projects on needles, I have one that I really need to finish, and I have that I thought I really wanted to work on, but truthfully, I just don't feel like knitting. I don't know why, but I know that I'm not going to push myself right now. I'll fix the shoulders of the baby sweater this weekend, and hopefully that will get me out of this weird place!

Weather in our area has been perfect! Summertime days and cool but not cold nights. Great riding weather! Maybe that's what I need. A ride, something to blow out the cobwebs, change the attitude.

Maybe we'll ride out to the Chatterbox tonight.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-09-29T22:53:00.001-04:00

I'M IN!!

2007-09-27T10:15:00.000-04:00

RAVELRY!

How cool is that? Just been poking around, added a couple of friends, a pattern, a couple of groups. It's amazing to me that there are so many people involved in knitting and crocheting that we could support so massive an online community.

The best for me so far is checking out other people's thoughts on yarns and patterns. But I'm really just getting started.

Are you there?

ACK! Where did it go???

2007-09-26T13:59:00.000-04:00

I lost 6 months. I know they're around here somewhere. Yesterday it was March, and now it's the end of September?? When did that happen??? Ok, I've been riding a lot, I have 7200+ miles on that less than a year old motorcycle! Ok, I'll admit I know I'm getting older and more forgetful, but somehow, somewhere, the summer has disappeared! If anyone knows where I put it, please let me know!

Have you ever knitted a project made a mistake, then made it a pattern change (repeated the mistake so it matched) only to find out that the pattern change is really still a mistake and you're gonna have to frog anyway, and now not just once but several times? I did it. And I did it on a baby sweater that should have been done last month. (NOT my fault, I misplaced that month). So this weekend I'm frogging and finishing up the baby sweater. It's sized for 3-6months, so I don't think the little chickie will have outgrown it yet, but I'd best hurry. Here's what the pattern looks like. It's cute, a picot edge (too fussy), and will be a nice gift once I pull out the ooops and finish those parts correctly.

I didn't finish

2007-03-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

...but I'm getting there! I finished the back last Sunday and have knitted the 2 front pieces during my commuting this week. Yea I haven't been knitting on it as much as I said I would. But it's getting there! I didn't know the yarn would change colors the way it has, and I'm really liking it. Think the mom will too? Kaela, are you looking?

I have a picture of Mike on his new Bobber! See? Nice huh? Sounds as good as it looks - he did some nice upgrades, a power comander, a thunderheader, true 2 into 1 pipes, forward controls and um... darn it, I forget! He's also changed the turn signals since this picture. They are now on the triple tree and not the same style.

He's out on it now, gone to a meeting and then I presume they will ride.

If it gets just a little teeny weeny bit warmer - it's 49 right now - so if it makes it to 55, then I'll roll mine out too! It's not too encouraging tho, the sun has decided to hide behind the clouds and the temp is not cooperating one little bit.

We'll see.

I Have a Cold

2007-03-04T10:08:00.000-05:00

Beware, whine content...

I have had this annoying head cold for 4 days. I'm not sick. I'm MISERABLE! My sinuses feel like someone used them for a balloon, I can't lie down comfortably, I can't sit up comfortably, I can only breathe thru my mouth and I want it to GO AWAY!

Ok, I'm done for now...

I didn't knit yesterday, just didn't feel like it, although I prepared everything to do so. Today, I already have tools, lap blanket and various sundries ready. I'm using the Moss Stitch Jacket pattern. I love moss stitch especially for baby things, easy to knit, looks great and gives a bit more structure. And I love this Debbie Bliss book - Baby Style (NAYY) - I use it over and over again. I have lots of other baby books, several of them authored by Bliss, but I seem to always come back to this book. It has a wide variety of patterns, and a wide variety of styles and techniques. I love her simplicity!

So once I get the laundry started, and take out Sunday dinner from the freezer, I'm going to my knitting corner with a cup of tea, and I won't come out til I finish! (ok, maybe a little break here and there) My goal is to finish this sweater before I go to bed tonight. Think I can do it?

March madness is on its way. I mean NCAA basketball. Truthfully, I don't watch basketball at all anymore, tho I'm still a hard and true Celtic's fan, but when March Madness comes around, I get the fever. I guess it means spring is here, or winter is just about over, I don't know. Whatever it is, I make up the just-for-fun office pool, set my brackets, watch the games, or listen to them, and check out all the scenarios. I always root for the Connecticut Huskies, or if they don't make the cut, Duke and Gonzaga (don't you just love that name?). I really have a blast with it! One of these days, I might get tickets to the semis or finals even.

Oh yea, I have a picture of the socks I knit for my wonderful mother-in-law, Connie. They were to be Christmas socks, but I didn't finish them til the middle of January. I gave them to her the last time we visited, I hope they fit her. I used Socks that Rock in Pink Granite and a pattern from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks (NAYY) and did my first afterthought heel. It's a great pattern, one of the chevron patterns.

Ok, I've run out of things to say right now and I want to knit!

How many days did I last?

2007-03-03T20:30:00.000-05:00

Not many. I have purchased yarn. Mostly some sock yarn, which other people say doesn't count in this knit from stash challenge, but alas, I've also purchased some yummy worsted weight yarn called Rhythm from JoJoLand which I'm using for a baby sweater for my neice. And I have picked up some soft acrylic boucle for baby blankets in navy and white. Not bad, but not good.

Today was a beautiful spring day just as I was thinking winter was going to last forever. DH & I hopped on the bikes and took a quick ride, cut short as a front blasted into the area. The temperature was nearly 60 when we started, but 1.5 hours later the clouds raced in and the temp dropped 15 degrees! That's chilly without chaps, so we high-tailed it home, dodging raindrops all the way. The sun returned, but it stayed cool, so that was it for now. Still it felt great to get in the wind!

Tonight, my plans are to sit in front of the TV and knit on the baby sweater, or one of the circular baby blankets Im working on. DH is "woodshopping" - a big jewelry box that he designed just for me!

My Maine weekend

2007-01-15T15:14:00.000-05:00

I knitted these for my best pal Becky's daughter, Mikaela, who is having a baby boy sometime around February 21st. I got an invite to her shower a week or so ago, whipped open my Sock Wizard plugged in my gauge and needle size etc., and voila, a basic baby sock. Quick knit, and she loved it! I'm doing the matching sweater before baby arrives in Feb.

It was great to be with her family again. Becky died in 2003 of breast cancer and I miss her a lot. It was really wonderful to be with her sisters and their children for the afternoon.

Then in the evening, my 2 Maine sisters Elisabeth & Gail and husbands Roger & John respectively, and my neice Sarah, her SO Brian and his daughter Madyson, and my nephew Alan and I all gathered for a fun evening of food and laughter and football. I don't get up there as often I have in the past, so it was good to see all of them for a bit. Sarah, too, is pregnant, due in early June. Lots of excitement.

The funniest part of the weekend was my trip up. Somehow, even though I've done the drive a few bazillion times in the past, I decided that I should take Rte 495 East off the Mass Pike, rather than the usual 495 North. The result was I ended up near Cape Cod, and more than 60 miles out of my way! YIKES!!! I should have arrived around 10:30PM instead, I didn't get there til after midnight. Pretty silly, huh?

The ride home was uneventful, despite the early snow and freezing rain and heavy fog.

My gluttony

2007-01-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

All over my knitting lists hand knitters are speaking of yarn diets and knitting from stash and such. I have taken the pledge, not counting my STR club, which I simply could not pass up. I read handknitbyafailedfeminist blog today and chuckled. I'm guessing I could easily cover my kingsize waterbed, and perhaps go to 2 layers of all the sock yarn I've been hoarding. Not intentionally hoarding, lovingly gathering, with the fullest intention of knitting each and every gorgeous skein. And then I get distracted, off to another project, ooh there's a new kit on Whenever, and then I go to a festival or fair and ooooh look at that yummy yarn, and... well you know how it is, and how it goes and suddenly, as I take stock, I realize just how gluttonous I have been. I confess, despite my best intentions, I am a confirmed yarn pig!! I have it everywhere -- all over my house, and crammed under my desk in my office. YIKES!

2007 is my year of destashing, trimming down and thinning out. I've started this project more than a dozen times. The truth is, I don't even know what I have anymore, and any list that I started is long since outdated and obsolete. I'll let you know of my progress and I'll post pictures as I get more organized.

Yarn Focus Challenge 2007

2007-01-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I'm a confirmed yarn-aholic. My New Year's resolution included the promise to knit from my stash, not to purchase new yarn following the guidelines of the Yarn Focus Challenge for 2007 and once I figure out how to put a picture and link on this blog, I'll keep count of how many days I've gone without purchasing yarn!

My current projects include socks for my DMil, and several baby sets. My neice is pregnant and my best pal's daughter is too, AND I have a nearly completed set for a friend in Texas. I will picture them all and post here.

I must have been VERY good this year!

2006-12-27T15:22:00.000-05:00

Ooooooh did I get the best Christmas gift! Can you say 2007 Harley FXDC?

My DH and I gave each other new bikes this holiday. We decided it was probably now or never, and since we got a great deal from Legends Harley and since Santa knew we'd both been very very good...

DH got the street bob, but added forward controls and a few other "upgrades" so his is still at the shop.

2005-11-04T16:35:00.000-05:00

...or what I did for work today!

Ooops!!! Did I say that? Ok, it's what I did on my lunchhour today. Everyone has a blog. So, it's my turn. I have such a great deal to say you know! But I like the idea of journaling, and since my friends and family often wonder what's going on in my life, and since I'm not great at picking up the phone on a regular basis, I'll do what really comes naturally.. sit at the keyboard and type.

My life revolves around my "new" husband Mike, my family, including 3 awesome grandkids, my cats, my knitting, and my work.

Mike & I have been together for a long time ... 8 years this December. Last Christmas, he really surprised me -- he popped the question. I said yes. We were married on August 13 this year. We had fun planning, tho there were several times during that period when Mike would look me in the eyes and say "you have 'x' months (days, hours) to be bezerk, then I want my Susan back" but I think all in all, it wasn't so bad, and the wedding itself was a blast.

...ok, I have to finish my work day. More later