The surprise patterns are up at Knitty. I don't particularly like Layers but Startsky is quite pretty. I'm not such a fan of belted sweaters but I may want to make this one.
All these patterns I like- And I never seem to make any of them. Well, I'm still working on a pair of socks (that just won't end). Why does everyone like knitting socks so much? It's so boring and tedious. The stitches are so small. It takes forever.
As a break (and for immediate gratification), I knit a hat yesterday using a couple balls from my stash. I'll post a picture later...
Monday
Wednesday
[beer] EBT: Joe's Garage
It’s been a while since I’ve done any sort of Extreme Beer Tasting. Does that mean I’ve not been tasting beer? Laughably, no.
1. Circus Boy
This is Magic Hat’s Hefeweizen. I like Hefeweizen. UFO? Gimme. Sam Adam’s Hefeweizen? Lemme at it. How does this one compare? Let me take the first sip- Tastes like an ale. I don’t taste the Heffieness about it. The bottle says “Unfiltered and Unfettered. Circus Boy is cloudy by nature, like Burlington, VT itself. Rouse gently to release full flavor.” Let’s ignore the fact that calling Burlington cloudy is going to keep the tourists away (maybe that’s the plan), but ‘rouse’? ‘Rouse’? As in ‘wake up’? Oh I see, there’s a layer of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. So should I have shaken the bottle and then opened it? Is the whole idea of beer a joke to these Magic Hat people? Let me try putting the bottle to my lips and gently tilting it up and down a few times.
Yeah, that didn’t work. Not only did I look like a beer guzzling whore to all my neighbors, but now everything within a 3-foot radius of me is covered in a fine mist of Circus Boy. Let me try to pour most of it into a glass, swirl the remainder in the bottle to release the sediment (which I don’t know why I want so bad but I suspect is the missing Heffer-wizened flavor) and pour that into the glass. Okay, that worked. Now my beer looks like apple cider (they weren’t kidding when they said cloudy). But it still tastes the same.
At the top of the bottle it says “The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is nothing short of magic. Our mysterious mix of time-honored ingredients, chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith age into the secret brew we share in the rousing company of good spirits.” Wait- what? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I got wasted half way through reading it.
Cap Says: “Gus loves it.” Loves what is the pertinent question, I think.
The best part of this beer is the label- it’s yellow with a blue-curtained, old tyme circus car. Off to the side, yet within the circus car is a shadow. With white eyes. And a creepy three-fingered, claw-like hand gripping the last “y” in “Circus Boy”. That’s some creepy ass shit right there, son. He’s got- Why is he in the cage? Is he a freak? What kind of freak? Is he not in a shadow at all; is he literally black as night with white eyes (and grey under-eye circles)? I think he’s got white claws for toenails, too. There are these four white claws gripping the lip of the cart. Hello, nightmares. The only way this could be any more frightening is if the eyes were looking right at me. And if he had horns. And maybe a bloody mouth with fangs. Okay this could be a lot scarier. … I don’t know. The cart says “The Hefeweizen!” Maybe that’s who he is. Maybe he’s a hefeweizen thingie.
EBT Rating: 5 (out of 10) circus freaks.
2. H.I.P.A.
Hippie IPA? Happy IPA? Hoppy IPA? I don’t know, it doesn’t say anywhere on the bottle. It’s got a trippy picture on the label, though. A pretty woman with a big blue bubbley head of hair. With rings around it. She kind of reminds me of a Milo Minera chick.
Yup, tastes like beer. A bit bitter. Let me pour it into the glass I was just using. Fairly light. Not as light as a lager, not as dark as a red ale. Nice and amber. Amber. I wonder if that’s what the chick’s name is. She looks like an Amber. Ssssslut. I don’t generally like IPAs and this one isn’t changing my mind.
Cap says: Buy your Gal Growlers with her Flowers. Does anyone else think that that doesn’t really rhyme? Shouldn’t it say “Buy her growlers with her frowlers?” “Buy her beer, you’re in the clear.” “Get her wasted and she’ll have sex with you.”
This beer isn’t going down as easy as the first one. Must be because it’s the second one. Or maybe because it tastes like papercuts! No, like metal and socks. Wait- I don’t know, that sip tasted pretty good. It tastes like… Bleh, you know I just don’t really like IPAs. But the picture on this bottle looks really pretty.
Hey, did you know that the initials for the months of July through November spell out Jason? I can see the initials for all the months on the back of the bottle (for freshness nothchings) and July, August, September, October and November looks like JASON. Do you think that’s where the name came from? How interesting. And February through May looks like FMAM. Which probably doesn’t make as much sense. So nevermind. Huh… Two M’s, two A’s, two- no, three J’s. One F, O, N and D. Fond. I feel like I’m getting a message here. Do you ever do that? Count the letters in words? I do it all the time when I’m in the bathroom at work and need something to read. I’ll count the letters on the box of toilet-seat-covering tissues. “TO ONSERT ONE BOX, PLACE UP AND DOWN ON THE SPIKES.” Six O’s, three S’s, etc.
But I digress.
Is it normal to be this wasted after almost two beers? Probably if you drank them as fast as I did. But whoa man. Magic Hat beer fucks you up.
Jesus, I can’t wait for this beer to be over. (Notice how I’m still drinking it even though I hate it? Waste not, want not.)
EBT Rating: ***-------. Tasted better the more I drank, but that’s probably because beer tends to do that.
3. Magic Hat #9
I reviewed this beer already, it just came with the variety pack and I want to cleanse my palate before being subjected to the mystery beer. I love me some Magic Hat #9.
Cap says: Enjoy a 9 when you Dine. Well well well, isn’t Magic Hat promoting responsible drinking. [siiiip] Ahhhh, the beer is so good, why ruin it with food?
[NOTE: This is when I passed out. To be continued…]
1. Circus Boy
This is Magic Hat’s Hefeweizen. I like Hefeweizen. UFO? Gimme. Sam Adam’s Hefeweizen? Lemme at it. How does this one compare? Let me take the first sip- Tastes like an ale. I don’t taste the Heffieness about it. The bottle says “Unfiltered and Unfettered. Circus Boy is cloudy by nature, like Burlington, VT itself. Rouse gently to release full flavor.” Let’s ignore the fact that calling Burlington cloudy is going to keep the tourists away (maybe that’s the plan), but ‘rouse’? ‘Rouse’? As in ‘wake up’? Oh I see, there’s a layer of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. So should I have shaken the bottle and then opened it? Is the whole idea of beer a joke to these Magic Hat people? Let me try putting the bottle to my lips and gently tilting it up and down a few times.
Yeah, that didn’t work. Not only did I look like a beer guzzling whore to all my neighbors, but now everything within a 3-foot radius of me is covered in a fine mist of Circus Boy. Let me try to pour most of it into a glass, swirl the remainder in the bottle to release the sediment (which I don’t know why I want so bad but I suspect is the missing Heffer-wizened flavor) and pour that into the glass. Okay, that worked. Now my beer looks like apple cider (they weren’t kidding when they said cloudy). But it still tastes the same.
At the top of the bottle it says “The ancient ritual of brewing a distinctly rich and flavorful beer is nothing short of magic. Our mysterious mix of time-honored ingredients, chaotic chemistry, humble patience, and blind faith age into the secret brew we share in the rousing company of good spirits.” Wait- what? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I got wasted half way through reading it.
Cap Says: “Gus loves it.” Loves what is the pertinent question, I think.
The best part of this beer is the label- it’s yellow with a blue-curtained, old tyme circus car. Off to the side, yet within the circus car is a shadow. With white eyes. And a creepy three-fingered, claw-like hand gripping the last “y” in “Circus Boy”. That’s some creepy ass shit right there, son. He’s got- Why is he in the cage? Is he a freak? What kind of freak? Is he not in a shadow at all; is he literally black as night with white eyes (and grey under-eye circles)? I think he’s got white claws for toenails, too. There are these four white claws gripping the lip of the cart. Hello, nightmares. The only way this could be any more frightening is if the eyes were looking right at me. And if he had horns. And maybe a bloody mouth with fangs. Okay this could be a lot scarier. … I don’t know. The cart says “The Hefeweizen!” Maybe that’s who he is. Maybe he’s a hefeweizen thingie.
EBT Rating: 5 (out of 10) circus freaks.
2. H.I.P.A.
Hippie IPA? Happy IPA? Hoppy IPA? I don’t know, it doesn’t say anywhere on the bottle. It’s got a trippy picture on the label, though. A pretty woman with a big blue bubbley head of hair. With rings around it. She kind of reminds me of a Milo Minera chick.
Yup, tastes like beer. A bit bitter. Let me pour it into the glass I was just using. Fairly light. Not as light as a lager, not as dark as a red ale. Nice and amber. Amber. I wonder if that’s what the chick’s name is. She looks like an Amber. Ssssslut. I don’t generally like IPAs and this one isn’t changing my mind.
Cap says: Buy your Gal Growlers with her Flowers. Does anyone else think that that doesn’t really rhyme? Shouldn’t it say “Buy her growlers with her frowlers?” “Buy her beer, you’re in the clear.” “Get her wasted and she’ll have sex with you.”
This beer isn’t going down as easy as the first one. Must be because it’s the second one. Or maybe because it tastes like papercuts! No, like metal and socks. Wait- I don’t know, that sip tasted pretty good. It tastes like… Bleh, you know I just don’t really like IPAs. But the picture on this bottle looks really pretty.
Hey, did you know that the initials for the months of July through November spell out Jason? I can see the initials for all the months on the back of the bottle (for freshness nothchings) and July, August, September, October and November looks like JASON. Do you think that’s where the name came from? How interesting. And February through May looks like FMAM. Which probably doesn’t make as much sense. So nevermind. Huh… Two M’s, two A’s, two- no, three J’s. One F, O, N and D. Fond. I feel like I’m getting a message here. Do you ever do that? Count the letters in words? I do it all the time when I’m in the bathroom at work and need something to read. I’ll count the letters on the box of toilet-seat-covering tissues. “TO ONSERT ONE BOX, PLACE UP AND DOWN ON THE SPIKES.” Six O’s, three S’s, etc.
But I digress.
Is it normal to be this wasted after almost two beers? Probably if you drank them as fast as I did. But whoa man. Magic Hat beer fucks you up.
Jesus, I can’t wait for this beer to be over. (Notice how I’m still drinking it even though I hate it? Waste not, want not.)
EBT Rating: ***-------. Tasted better the more I drank, but that’s probably because beer tends to do that.
3. Magic Hat #9
I reviewed this beer already, it just came with the variety pack and I want to cleanse my palate before being subjected to the mystery beer. I love me some Magic Hat #9.
Cap says: Enjoy a 9 when you Dine. Well well well, isn’t Magic Hat promoting responsible drinking. [siiiip] Ahhhh, the beer is so good, why ruin it with food?
[NOTE: This is when I passed out. To be continued…]
[knitting] D&G Fall 2006 Ready-to-Wear Collection
Check it out. Time to start getting ideas for next Fall/Winter. I need to stock up on white / off-white / cream / ecru yarn, apparently.
I see lots of pom-poms, cables and bobbles. Some lace, too. Chunky knits. The hats are mostly big, floppy beret/newsboys.
I like the sweater on the left and the hat on the right. The hat rocks. I saw a knit and braided scarf in the most recent Patterworks catalog. Attach to a hat and voila.
The scarf on the left is fun (even though she looks like she's about to start crying). It almost looks crocheted. I wish there were detail shots of the leg warmers and bag on the right, but this is as close as I can get. I don't ever wear leg warmers but those are pretty.
This shrug is kind of weird, I just like the sleeves, which reminds me of namaste.
And now for detail shots...
Lots of knit flowers (with pom-poms and furry bits) were used as embelishments. Nice- those are easy to make. I also like how a chunky boring stockinette scarf can be subtly glammed up with crystals. The white yarn with clear crystals is very cool.
Some pantas on the runway (worn opposite to how most people are wearing them). That would be a fast, easy knit. And knit suspenders, anyone? I like these, I admit it. I like how flat the cable is. If I were going to wear suspenders, I'd wear these.
I see lots of pom-poms, cables and bobbles. Some lace, too. Chunky knits. The hats are mostly big, floppy beret/newsboys.
I like the sweater on the left and the hat on the right. The hat rocks. I saw a knit and braided scarf in the most recent Patterworks catalog. Attach to a hat and voila.
The scarf on the left is fun (even though she looks like she's about to start crying). It almost looks crocheted. I wish there were detail shots of the leg warmers and bag on the right, but this is as close as I can get. I don't ever wear leg warmers but those are pretty.
This shrug is kind of weird, I just like the sleeves, which reminds me of namaste.
And now for detail shots...
Lots of knit flowers (with pom-poms and furry bits) were used as embelishments. Nice- those are easy to make. I also like how a chunky boring stockinette scarf can be subtly glammed up with crystals. The white yarn with clear crystals is very cool.
Some pantas on the runway (worn opposite to how most people are wearing them). That would be a fast, easy knit. And knit suspenders, anyone? I like these, I admit it. I like how flat the cable is. If I were going to wear suspenders, I'd wear these.
Tuesday
[amy] A wedding, a hike and a pair of socks
Whatta weekend. Fer real. I was out Friday (due to an incident involving the cops Thursday night) and spent the day on car issues. Saturday I went to Dollar's sister's wedding. That was cool. I hung out at the wedding with a girl named Katie. I know Katie from various parties and she's Crazy. The wedding itself was at 11am and by noon, we were back at my place, making a pit stop before the reception. Let me tell you, noon is PRIME TIME drinking time. One drink and you're feeling tipsy. I don't know how I didn't know this before. Of course, then you're wasted by 4, passed out by 6 and hungover by 9.
The wedding was lovely. I got to dance to a slow song with Dollar (the first time we've danced together) and meet all his family. I mean, ALL his family. He kept saying, "That's my cousin. That's my uncle. Aunt. Cousin. Cousin. Uncle. Aunt. Grandmother. Cousin..." Too. Many. People. While Dollar and his brother were busy doing groomsman things, Katie and I were working on consuming enough of the weak drinks to get a buzz on. I could see Dollar watching me, thinking in his head about what a bad influence Katie is. He was basically waiting for Katie to climb up onto a table, start gyrating around and getting me to do the same.
Saturday night and Sunday were chill-out times. We watched 40-Year-Old Virgin and more episodes of Battlestar Galactica (Season 1). I've totally got him hooked on this show now. Monday was a holiday and we spent the day running errands and going for a walk up Gile Mt. It was c-c-cold and I wasn't dressed properly. Also, the trail was completely iced over. I think if we go up again any time soon, we're going to need crampons.
I was also able to get a lot of knitting done. I finished the blue mohair beaded shrug! I’m pretty stoked about that. And I picked up a pair of socks that I started ages ago. I’ve been working on the heel flaps and hope to finish them in a couple weeks. I want the needles back to try and make fair isle socks, which I hope will help me find a naturally loose fair isle tension.
All in all, the weekend was splendiferous.
The wedding was lovely. I got to dance to a slow song with Dollar (the first time we've danced together) and meet all his family. I mean, ALL his family. He kept saying, "That's my cousin. That's my uncle. Aunt. Cousin. Cousin. Uncle. Aunt. Grandmother. Cousin..." Too. Many. People. While Dollar and his brother were busy doing groomsman things, Katie and I were working on consuming enough of the weak drinks to get a buzz on. I could see Dollar watching me, thinking in his head about what a bad influence Katie is. He was basically waiting for Katie to climb up onto a table, start gyrating around and getting me to do the same.
Saturday night and Sunday were chill-out times. We watched 40-Year-Old Virgin and more episodes of Battlestar Galactica (Season 1). I've totally got him hooked on this show now. Monday was a holiday and we spent the day running errands and going for a walk up Gile Mt. It was c-c-cold and I wasn't dressed properly. Also, the trail was completely iced over. I think if we go up again any time soon, we're going to need crampons.
I was also able to get a lot of knitting done. I finished the blue mohair beaded shrug! I’m pretty stoked about that. And I picked up a pair of socks that I started ages ago. I’ve been working on the heel flaps and hope to finish them in a couple weeks. I want the needles back to try and make fair isle socks, which I hope will help me find a naturally loose fair isle tension.
All in all, the weekend was splendiferous.
[amy] Corn
AMY: We need to get some corn.
DOLLAR: Uh... Is this a trick?
AMY: Don't you have any?
DOLLAR: I got rid of all mine.
AMY: WHAT? When?
DOLLAR: Right after we started going out.
AMY: Great! Perfect! Now what are we gonna do?
DOLLAR: Rent some, I guess.
[AMY goes to the video store while DOLLAR stays at home to work]
AMY: Hello, I'd like to open an account.
VIDEO GUY: Oh, I remember you from the White River video store.
AMY: Oh. Okay.
VIDEO GUY: Your cousin rents here.
AMY: Really.
VIDEO GUY: And your mom.
AMY: Uh...
VIDEO GUY: Your mom rents a lot of movies here.
AMY: Yeah.
VIDEO GUY: Let’s make sure your account is up to date.
AMY: Yeah.
[Later]
VIDEO GUY: Okay, you're all set.
AMY: Super. Could *ahem* Can I be let into the you-know-what room?
VIDEO GUY: They're actually right there. [points]
AMY: Okay.
[Flipping through dirty, dirty movie titles. More people enter the store. AMY grabs one and brings it to the front (cutting off an old couple on the way).]
AMY: [throws picture at VIDEO GUY like a frisbee]
VIDEO GUY: [discreetly puts picture under the counter, retrieves a black unmarked dvd case, rings it in.] That'll be five dollars.
AMY: [hands VIDEO GUY five dollar bill]
VIDEO GUY: Thank you.
AMY: Thanks. [Leaves]
[Back at home, in the driveway, AMY tucks the movie into the back of her pants and goes inside.]
DOLLAR: [Looks up expectantly]
AMY: [Shows hands] I couldn't do it.
DOLLAR: What?
AMY: [Takes off coat] There were too many people there.
DOLLAR: WHAT?!
AMY: It was freaking me out, all right?
DOLLAR: That doesn't seem like you. To chicken out.
AMY: HEY! My mother rents from there!
DOLLAR: I can't-
AMY: Just kidding! AHH haha HAH hahHA- [pulling movie out and thrusts it into DOLLAR's face]- hhhah HAHAhahh HAHAh hAHH!!
DOLLAR: [heaves sigh of relief]
AMY: It's called "I [made tender yet passionate love to] my High School Teacher. Eight."
DOLLAR: That's messed up.
AMY: Tell me about it. I just wanted to grab one and get out of there. But seriously though, my mom rents from there.
[Later, watching the movie.]
AMY: So how is he her high school teacher?
DOLLAR: I don't know, but this is the worst corn I've ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot.
AMY: The whole set is creepy.
DOLLAR: Really, corn can be so much better than this.
AMY: It's like not even a set; it's a bare white room with a mattress on the floor.
DOLLAR: The only thing on the wall is a thermostat... Aaaand she's about to hit her head on it.
AMY: The dude is gross... Ew!
DOLLAR: You can tell she's just there to get her crack money and get out.
AMY: Is she passed out? ... No, okay, she's awake. Whew. I thought it was roofie time. She's just bored.
DOLLAR: Hahahah hahah haha- This is so bad- Hahahah hahha hahaha.
AMY: Hahahahah- Ew, did you just see that? Hahahha hahah hah.
DOLLAR: Skank.
AMY: Where's- There's no plot. This is kind of sad. You know what, I can't watch it anymore.
DOLLAR: Okay. [Turns movie off] Don't worry. I'll get us some better stuff to watch.
AMY: Something with a plot.
DOLLAR: No, I know exactly what you're talking about. There's this one production company that specializes in unoffensive corn you can watch with your girlfriend-
AMY: Okay I don't care that you know so much about this stuff, I'll just trust you to pick something out.
DOLLAR: Uh... Is this a trick?
AMY: Don't you have any?
DOLLAR: I got rid of all mine.
AMY: WHAT? When?
DOLLAR: Right after we started going out.
AMY: Great! Perfect! Now what are we gonna do?
DOLLAR: Rent some, I guess.
[AMY goes to the video store while DOLLAR stays at home to work]
AMY: Hello, I'd like to open an account.
VIDEO GUY: Oh, I remember you from the White River video store.
AMY: Oh. Okay.
VIDEO GUY: Your cousin rents here.
AMY: Really.
VIDEO GUY: And your mom.
AMY: Uh...
VIDEO GUY: Your mom rents a lot of movies here.
AMY: Yeah.
VIDEO GUY: Let’s make sure your account is up to date.
AMY: Yeah.
[Later]
VIDEO GUY: Okay, you're all set.
AMY: Super. Could *ahem* Can I be let into the you-know-what room?
VIDEO GUY: They're actually right there. [points]
AMY: Okay.
[Flipping through dirty, dirty movie titles. More people enter the store. AMY grabs one and brings it to the front (cutting off an old couple on the way).]
AMY: [throws picture at VIDEO GUY like a frisbee]
VIDEO GUY: [discreetly puts picture under the counter, retrieves a black unmarked dvd case, rings it in.] That'll be five dollars.
AMY: [hands VIDEO GUY five dollar bill]
VIDEO GUY: Thank you.
AMY: Thanks. [Leaves]
[Back at home, in the driveway, AMY tucks the movie into the back of her pants and goes inside.]
DOLLAR: [Looks up expectantly]
AMY: [Shows hands] I couldn't do it.
DOLLAR: What?
AMY: [Takes off coat] There were too many people there.
DOLLAR: WHAT?!
AMY: It was freaking me out, all right?
DOLLAR: That doesn't seem like you. To chicken out.
AMY: HEY! My mother rents from there!
DOLLAR: I can't-
AMY: Just kidding! AHH haha HAH hahHA- [pulling movie out and thrusts it into DOLLAR's face]- hhhah HAHAhahh HAHAh hAHH!!
DOLLAR: [heaves sigh of relief]
AMY: It's called "I [made tender yet passionate love to] my High School Teacher. Eight."
DOLLAR: That's messed up.
AMY: Tell me about it. I just wanted to grab one and get out of there. But seriously though, my mom rents from there.
[Later, watching the movie.]
AMY: So how is he her high school teacher?
DOLLAR: I don't know, but this is the worst corn I've ever seen in my life. And I've seen a lot.
AMY: The whole set is creepy.
DOLLAR: Really, corn can be so much better than this.
AMY: It's like not even a set; it's a bare white room with a mattress on the floor.
DOLLAR: The only thing on the wall is a thermostat... Aaaand she's about to hit her head on it.
AMY: The dude is gross... Ew!
DOLLAR: You can tell she's just there to get her crack money and get out.
AMY: Is she passed out? ... No, okay, she's awake. Whew. I thought it was roofie time. She's just bored.
DOLLAR: Hahahah hahah haha- This is so bad- Hahahah hahha hahaha.
AMY: Hahahahah- Ew, did you just see that? Hahahha hahah hah.
DOLLAR: Skank.
AMY: Where's- There's no plot. This is kind of sad. You know what, I can't watch it anymore.
DOLLAR: Okay. [Turns movie off] Don't worry. I'll get us some better stuff to watch.
AMY: Something with a plot.
DOLLAR: No, I know exactly what you're talking about. There's this one production company that specializes in unoffensive corn you can watch with your girlfriend-
AMY: Okay I don't care that you know so much about this stuff, I'll just trust you to pick something out.
Thursday
[amy] Exercise: For the brain and for the body
The first week in March I’m participating in a Dance Dance Revolution Brain Scanning Experiment. I assume the PhD-ish cats at Dartmouth know what they’re doing. I’m gonna get my brain scanned on a Sunday (wheee!), play DDR for 30-45 minutes after work Monday through Friday, then get my brain scanned again on Saturday. Why am I doing this? For the greater good of science. Hahahah- no. I’ve never played DDR before (part of the requirement) and from what I hear it’s buckets of fun. And good exercise. Plus, there’s money and free t-shirt in it for me, so…
Speaking of exercise, I’m ready to start hiking again. I’ve not been skiing or anything this winter, so I’m ready for fresh air and sweat. I think Dollar and I are going to go up Gile Mt this coming Monday (it’s a three-day weekend) as an easy first hike. I told him that Saturdays from here on out are going to be hiking days, which means we’re going to have to get up and leave before 10 am. I said he can sleep in the car on the way to whatever hike we’re going to and he said that he’s going to hold me to that. I keep telling him how great it’s going to be: “Last summer, after I came down from Lafayette, I was hallucinating, man. Hallucinating. It was awesome.” He said that it was exhaustion after an aggressive five-hour non-stop hike that made everything look all swirly, but whatever. The point is: I was tripping out.
Speaking of exercise, I’m ready to start hiking again. I’ve not been skiing or anything this winter, so I’m ready for fresh air and sweat. I think Dollar and I are going to go up Gile Mt this coming Monday (it’s a three-day weekend) as an easy first hike. I told him that Saturdays from here on out are going to be hiking days, which means we’re going to have to get up and leave before 10 am. I said he can sleep in the car on the way to whatever hike we’re going to and he said that he’s going to hold me to that. I keep telling him how great it’s going to be: “Last summer, after I came down from Lafayette, I was hallucinating, man. Hallucinating. It was awesome.” He said that it was exhaustion after an aggressive five-hour non-stop hike that made everything look all swirly, but whatever. The point is: I was tripping out.
Wednesday
[cooking] Ice Cream and Pizza Dough
How to tell quality Ice Cream without tasting it: Take it to the produce section and weigh it. Brilliant!
Perfect pizza dough. Sounds like a lot of work, but you get 6 pizzas out of it. I've added American Pie and The Bread Baker's Apprectice to my Amazon Cook Books wish list. With King Arthur Flour right down the road, I've really got to learn how to bake stuff. May if there's a class on a weekend, I can get Dollar to come with me...
Perfect pizza dough. Sounds like a lot of work, but you get 6 pizzas out of it. I've added American Pie and The Bread Baker's Apprectice to my Amazon Cook Books wish list. With King Arthur Flour right down the road, I've really got to learn how to bake stuff. May if there's a class on a weekend, I can get Dollar to come with me...
Monday
[amy] Re-arrangements
Well. Well. Well. How did the early Valentine's Day go? How was the movie and dinner? There was no movie. Nothing's playing right now that we wanted to see anyway. The dinner also didn't go according to plan. We re-arranged the deal on who was going to make dinner after Dollar said "Uh..." when I asked him what he was going to cook. In the end, he said he'd make raspberry turnovers and I said I'd make pesto pizza. At the grocery store, I grabbed some pizza dough and asked Dollar if he needed phyllo dough. He stared at me blankly and asked, "What's that?" I demanded to know how he was going to make the raspberry turnovers and he scurried off. He came back with a box of frozen Pepperidge Farm Raspberry Turnovers. I looked from the box to him back to the box to him. He was smiling so weakly and helplessly that I had to deactivate my mega-bitch mode. He enthused that he grew up eating these turnovers and that they're "sooooo good!" Fine. Fine. But now I've made it my personal mission to teach this joker how to cook something. And that something is going to be raspberry turnovers.
We also re-arranged the furniture in my living room. Couches got moved and speakers finally got hung up. Then we watched Deadlist Catch. Note to self: Never eat king crab legs again (too many men die every year trying to get them).
On Saturday night I went to see Lyrics Born at Dartmouth. The show was off the hook. I liked Rousseau, J-Live and Lyrics Born (of course). What surprised me the most was Mike Relm. He was LB's DJ for the evening but performed his own set- which was amazing! Multi-media live mash-ups! This guy can scratch and he had video playing all the while. I was very, very, very impressed and totally forgot to get a cd before I left.
Which reminds me, as I was leaving, a couple cops were standing around the hallway and asked me to start their car for them (to warm it up) since I was clearly on my way out. I asked, "What- Your police car?" They said yeah. I said, "If I start your car, I'm going to take it for a spin around the Green." The assured me that I wouldn't. I said, "Whatever," and left. Those crazy, lazy cops.
We also re-arranged the furniture in my living room. Couches got moved and speakers finally got hung up. Then we watched Deadlist Catch. Note to self: Never eat king crab legs again (too many men die every year trying to get them).
On Saturday night I went to see Lyrics Born at Dartmouth. The show was off the hook. I liked Rousseau, J-Live and Lyrics Born (of course). What surprised me the most was Mike Relm. He was LB's DJ for the evening but performed his own set- which was amazing! Multi-media live mash-ups! This guy can scratch and he had video playing all the while. I was very, very, very impressed and totally forgot to get a cd before I left.
Which reminds me, as I was leaving, a couple cops were standing around the hallway and asked me to start their car for them (to warm it up) since I was clearly on my way out. I asked, "What- Your police car?" They said yeah. I said, "If I start your car, I'm going to take it for a spin around the Green." The assured me that I wouldn't. I said, "Whatever," and left. Those crazy, lazy cops.
Saturday
[knitting] Stuff
I'm wireless, baby! I have to take baby steps: first comes internet, then comes wireless, then comes AI taking over the human race.
I took of picture of all the knitting I've done since the last time I posted a picture (minus all the Christmas knitting):
Clockwise from the top, it's a blue uber-bulky scarf I made for myself using leftover yarn from my stash; a brown fairisle hat (using the flower motif from Handknit Holidays); a couple of pantas; hat & mittens that I never sent to Ram; and everything is sitting on my finished Kiri shawl. I need to weave in ends, block, etc etc etc.
I took of picture of all the knitting I've done since the last time I posted a picture (minus all the Christmas knitting):
Clockwise from the top, it's a blue uber-bulky scarf I made for myself using leftover yarn from my stash; a brown fairisle hat (using the flower motif from Handknit Holidays); a couple of pantas; hat & mittens that I never sent to Ram; and everything is sitting on my finished Kiri shawl. I need to weave in ends, block, etc etc etc.
Friday
[amy] Knitting and an early Valentine's Day
Heyo. This week has gone by fast. Happy Friday. The knitting blogmosphere is gearing up for the Knitting Olympics. I didn't think it was going to be such a big deal but a million people have signed up and it even made the news. What kind of idea is this, anyway? Make something challenging in 16 days? Are you knitters on crack? No? Well you will be by day 14. And speed. And caffeine.
I didn't sign up because I have too many unfinished objects I want to finish (yet I didn't join the UFOlympics) and I'm still burnt out from Christmas knitting. Seriously, people broke their fingers knitting gifts this year, why would they want to stress themselves out again? Maybe some people want/need the pressure. Not me. I don't want to cry over my knitting. I've read horror stories of mistakes made, ripping that had to be done, buckets and buckets of tears. No thank you.
So this weekend I want to make some slippers and maybe block my shawl. Knit something, anyway. I made 1.6 pantas while I was down in DC last week- I'd like to finish the 2nd one.
Valentine's Day is Tuesday but Dollar's going to see a concert that night. That's right, he made OTHER plans. I don't mind, but I like giving him the occasional hard time about it- "Oh that's right, you're not going to be around. I guess I'll cancel the clowns and see if I can't get my deposit back." Instead, we're going to make Sunday Valentine's Day and do something. But what...
AMY: So we should do something on Sunday.
DOLLAR: What?
AMY: I don't know.
DOLLAR: Uh...
AMY: Um...
DOLLAR: Hmm...
AMY: You want me to cook?
DOLLAR: Don't you want to go out? I feel like you cook all the time.
AMY: Hey, why don't YOU cook?
DOLLAR: Uh...
AMY: Not a good idea?
DOLLAR: Well, I'll... I guess... No, I can make something.
AMY: ...
DOLLAR: It's okay, I can make something.
AMY: It doesn't have to be anything complicated. Make whatever YOU feel comfortable cooking.
DOLLAR: ... I can make something.
AMY: O-kay. So we should do something else during the day.
DOLLAR: Like what?
AMY: Uh...
DOLLAR: Um...
AMY: A movie?
DOLLAR: Yeah!
AMY: Should we go see a movie?
DOLLAR: That's a good idea!
AMY: Okay, we'll see a movie, then go grocery shopping, then go back to my place and you can cook.
DOLLAR: That sounds good.
AMY: See, that wasn't so hard. Movie and dinner; it's a good plan. That must be why people do it all the time.
DOLLAR: Yeah.
AMY: What movie should we see?
DOLLAR: Uh...
AMY: Let's just decide on Sunday.
I didn't sign up because I have too many unfinished objects I want to finish (yet I didn't join the UFOlympics) and I'm still burnt out from Christmas knitting. Seriously, people broke their fingers knitting gifts this year, why would they want to stress themselves out again? Maybe some people want/need the pressure. Not me. I don't want to cry over my knitting. I've read horror stories of mistakes made, ripping that had to be done, buckets and buckets of tears. No thank you.
So this weekend I want to make some slippers and maybe block my shawl. Knit something, anyway. I made 1.6 pantas while I was down in DC last week- I'd like to finish the 2nd one.
Valentine's Day is Tuesday but Dollar's going to see a concert that night. That's right, he made OTHER plans. I don't mind, but I like giving him the occasional hard time about it- "Oh that's right, you're not going to be around. I guess I'll cancel the clowns and see if I can't get my deposit back." Instead, we're going to make Sunday Valentine's Day and do something. But what...
AMY: So we should do something on Sunday.
DOLLAR: What?
AMY: I don't know.
DOLLAR: Uh...
AMY: Um...
DOLLAR: Hmm...
AMY: You want me to cook?
DOLLAR: Don't you want to go out? I feel like you cook all the time.
AMY: Hey, why don't YOU cook?
DOLLAR: Uh...
AMY: Not a good idea?
DOLLAR: Well, I'll... I guess... No, I can make something.
AMY: ...
DOLLAR: It's okay, I can make something.
AMY: It doesn't have to be anything complicated. Make whatever YOU feel comfortable cooking.
DOLLAR: ... I can make something.
AMY: O-kay. So we should do something else during the day.
DOLLAR: Like what?
AMY: Uh...
DOLLAR: Um...
AMY: A movie?
DOLLAR: Yeah!
AMY: Should we go see a movie?
DOLLAR: That's a good idea!
AMY: Okay, we'll see a movie, then go grocery shopping, then go back to my place and you can cook.
DOLLAR: That sounds good.
AMY: See, that wasn't so hard. Movie and dinner; it's a good plan. That must be why people do it all the time.
DOLLAR: Yeah.
AMY: What movie should we see?
DOLLAR: Uh...
AMY: Let's just decide on Sunday.
Tuesday
[amy] Travel, not yarn, Magic
It's been a week since my last post. I was down in DC all last week for a conference. The talks were interesting and I had a good time. I meant to take pictures and see/do lots of touristy things, but the all-day meetings and talks wore me out. I spent my nights watching tv in my hotel room bed. I don't have network or cable tv at home, so I like watching it all (reruns, commercials, movie previews, etc).
I ended up buying some Chinese plastic raffia while I was down there. I remember a raffia project from my sister's Simple Crochet book and these balls were only 0.85 cents each. Who knows how many yards there are. Does this break my "No buying yarn in 2006" rule? I'm not sure. I say "no" purely because I've decided to keep them. I considered giving them to my sister and forcing her to give them back to me. In the end, I think "yarn" is the keyword. This is plastic. It's not... Look, it just doesn't count.
The weekend was spent with Dollar, playing Magic over and over and over again. I told him that Magic is going to destroy our relationship. I don't think he believes me but take this for example: We played about 8-10 games on Saturday, ALL of which I lost. That's okay, I don't mind losing. Sunday morning, I get up early and make a new white deck. Dollar gets up, we play, and I get my ass handed to me. I lost hardcore- no land, no creatures, nothing. I was slaughtered. What do I do? Cry. That's right- I started crying like a little girl. I tried to hold it in, but I was all hormonal and couldn't help it. So Dollar's like, "Hey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I say, "Sorry? You're sorry? I don't want you to feel sorry for me, I want you to say that we never have to play Magic again and that we can take the cards out back and burn them!" Yes, Magic will destroy us.
I also watched Crash. I was really impressed with the movie, though I thought it was heavy-handed at times. I understand it's about racism, but there was a lot of "I'm not Mexican, I'm Puerto Rican!" "I'm not Arab, I'm Turkish!!" "Chinaman? Chinaman? I'm THAI!!!" I'm rolling my eyes, like, whatever. Let's just call everybody "people" and be done with it. But there were lots of unexpected events that I didn't see coming. It's nice being surprised by a movie.
I ended up buying some Chinese plastic raffia while I was down there. I remember a raffia project from my sister's Simple Crochet book and these balls were only 0.85 cents each. Who knows how many yards there are. Does this break my "No buying yarn in 2006" rule? I'm not sure. I say "no" purely because I've decided to keep them. I considered giving them to my sister and forcing her to give them back to me. In the end, I think "yarn" is the keyword. This is plastic. It's not... Look, it just doesn't count.
The weekend was spent with Dollar, playing Magic over and over and over again. I told him that Magic is going to destroy our relationship. I don't think he believes me but take this for example: We played about 8-10 games on Saturday, ALL of which I lost. That's okay, I don't mind losing. Sunday morning, I get up early and make a new white deck. Dollar gets up, we play, and I get my ass handed to me. I lost hardcore- no land, no creatures, nothing. I was slaughtered. What do I do? Cry. That's right- I started crying like a little girl. I tried to hold it in, but I was all hormonal and couldn't help it. So Dollar's like, "Hey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I say, "Sorry? You're sorry? I don't want you to feel sorry for me, I want you to say that we never have to play Magic again and that we can take the cards out back and burn them!" Yes, Magic will destroy us.
I also watched Crash. I was really impressed with the movie, though I thought it was heavy-handed at times. I understand it's about racism, but there was a lot of "I'm not Mexican, I'm Puerto Rican!" "I'm not Arab, I'm Turkish!!" "Chinaman? Chinaman? I'm THAI!!!" I'm rolling my eyes, like, whatever. Let's just call everybody "people" and be done with it. But there were lots of unexpected events that I didn't see coming. It's nice being surprised by a movie.
Sunday
[games] Magic: The Gathering (Redux)
I pulled out some of my old Magic decks this weekend. I haven't played in a long time and Dollar expressed an interest. I brought my stuff over to his place and let Adam use my blue and red deck while Dollar used his own green and white deck. Now at one point, when Dollar wasn't getting any land and therefore wasn't a threat, I directed all my attacks toward Adam. He had a 2/2 creature out and I played an instant to give it -2/-2, which means that that creature DIES. Here's what happened:
AMY: And I'll play this instant and give your troll -2/-2.
ADAM: [shrugs] Okay.
AMY: So it dies.
ADAM: No it doesn't. That's just affecting it's attack and defense, so it's defense is zero now.
AMY: Yeah, which means it's dead.
ADAM: No it's not. It's just at zero.
AMY: ...
I let it slide, but on the inside I was like, "MEGA-BITCH: ACTIVATED!" I thought that if you brought a creature's defense down to zero (or less), that creature dies. In fact, I am right: "The second number is its toughness; if it receives that much damage in a single turn, it is destroyed, and sent to the graveyard." I spent the rest of the game trying to slaughter Adam and Dollar. Adam even left the game early, I think because I was taking all the fun out of it.
So here's the dilemma: I play as hard and as carefully as I can, whatever game I'm playing. I'm not a sore loser (I think) and will always want to play again. But if I'm so serious about it, is that ruining it for the other players? It's just a friendly game, not the World Championship of whatever game it is. Take this for example:
Angela game over to play Balloon cup. She plays a card that hurts my chances of winning a specific race and I sit, thinking about what I should do next. Angela takes my lack of playing as a sign that it's her turn and plays another card. What I should have said was: "Excuse me, friend. You just played a card and now it is my turn. I apologize for taking so long." What I did was screech: "What are you doing? It's my turn!"
Amy needs to take a chill pill. I think my problem is that I'm more focused on winning than enjoying the game. But I think winning is important, so I want to play right. Which makes me act/sound/behave like a nit-picky bitch. So... So what should I do? Take a valium before every game I play? And when someone asks, "What's the rule about this?", I'll just say, "Whatever man, just, like, do whatever you feel is right." No! There are rules for a reason! AGGH I'm getting stressed out just thinking about it!
I will admit that before the Magic game started and I was looking through my cards, I probably shouldn't have laughed maniacally and said, "You guys are dead. I'm going to kill you guys dead. Dead dead dead. Give up now, it's over."
AMY: And I'll play this instant and give your troll -2/-2.
ADAM: [shrugs] Okay.
AMY: So it dies.
ADAM: No it doesn't. That's just affecting it's attack and defense, so it's defense is zero now.
AMY: Yeah, which means it's dead.
ADAM: No it's not. It's just at zero.
AMY: ...
I let it slide, but on the inside I was like, "MEGA-BITCH: ACTIVATED!" I thought that if you brought a creature's defense down to zero (or less), that creature dies. In fact, I am right: "The second number is its toughness; if it receives that much damage in a single turn, it is destroyed, and sent to the graveyard." I spent the rest of the game trying to slaughter Adam and Dollar. Adam even left the game early, I think because I was taking all the fun out of it.
So here's the dilemma: I play as hard and as carefully as I can, whatever game I'm playing. I'm not a sore loser (I think) and will always want to play again. But if I'm so serious about it, is that ruining it for the other players? It's just a friendly game, not the World Championship of whatever game it is. Take this for example:
Angela game over to play Balloon cup. She plays a card that hurts my chances of winning a specific race and I sit, thinking about what I should do next. Angela takes my lack of playing as a sign that it's her turn and plays another card. What I should have said was: "Excuse me, friend. You just played a card and now it is my turn. I apologize for taking so long." What I did was screech: "What are you doing? It's my turn!"
Amy needs to take a chill pill. I think my problem is that I'm more focused on winning than enjoying the game. But I think winning is important, so I want to play right. Which makes me act/sound/behave like a nit-picky bitch. So... So what should I do? Take a valium before every game I play? And when someone asks, "What's the rule about this?", I'll just say, "Whatever man, just, like, do whatever you feel is right." No! There are rules for a reason! AGGH I'm getting stressed out just thinking about it!
I will admit that before the Magic game started and I was looking through my cards, I probably shouldn't have laughed maniacally and said, "You guys are dead. I'm going to kill you guys dead. Dead dead dead. Give up now, it's over."
Saturday
[knitting] Stash Bust 2006
I've got so much yarn, it's not funny. I've been thinking of issuing a strict stash-busting challenge unto myself: NO BUYING YARN IN 2006.
Crazy? Perhaps. But I think this will help me save money and finish unfinished projects. I'm hoping that by the time I use up all my yarn, I'll find other things around the house to knit with (old clothes or plastic shopping bags cut into long strips). I know I've got enough yarn for at least 3 sweaters and dozens of smaller projects- I'm not worried. Yet.
Crazy? Perhaps. But I think this will help me save money and finish unfinished projects. I'm hoping that by the time I use up all my yarn, I'll find other things around the house to knit with (old clothes or plastic shopping bags cut into long strips). I know I've got enough yarn for at least 3 sweaters and dozens of smaller projects- I'm not worried. Yet.
Thursday
[knitting] See Eunny Knit!
I can't stand this girl - everything she knits is amazing. That vest? So cute. Floral felted bag? Beautiful. Butterfly? Breath taking.
That vest, though, makes me want to do one. She wrote an incredibly comprehensive series on steek. Here's a bit:
* * *
Why bother with a steek in the first place?
To quote, uh, myself: "In practice, setting, knitting, and slicing a steek is just a handy way to knit an entire sweater in the round by creating a bridge of waste stitches wherever a separation would be, i.e. between front and back for an armhole, or between the right and left sides of the neck, or all the way up the front of a cardigan.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. On the left is a stylized image of a pullover body. As you can see, the body could be knitted as a tube up to the armpits, but the front and back would have to be worked back and forth, as would each side of the neck. On the right, you see what a steek allows you to do - by filling in all those openings with a bridge of waste stitches, the entire garment may be knit as a tube, in the round, with all your armscye and neck shapings done in the sweater body.
Why should we care about knitting in the round? For a variety of reasons, stranded colorwork is easier and faster in the round: the knit stitch is quicker to form than the purl stitch; the pattern is always visible, allowing the knitter to read his work; seams are minimized or eliminated altogether. Production knitters favored the method for its speed and ease - as do hobby knitters now.
* * *
See how the vest knitted up before cutting?
This might be a fun, fast, cheap way to introduce myself to steeking (although I may want to make a cat sweater for Gatsu first as a practice practice one).
That vest, though, makes me want to do one. She wrote an incredibly comprehensive series on steek. Here's a bit:
* * *
Why bother with a steek in the first place?
To quote, uh, myself: "In practice, setting, knitting, and slicing a steek is just a handy way to knit an entire sweater in the round by creating a bridge of waste stitches wherever a separation would be, i.e. between front and back for an armhole, or between the right and left sides of the neck, or all the way up the front of a cardigan.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. On the left is a stylized image of a pullover body. As you can see, the body could be knitted as a tube up to the armpits, but the front and back would have to be worked back and forth, as would each side of the neck. On the right, you see what a steek allows you to do - by filling in all those openings with a bridge of waste stitches, the entire garment may be knit as a tube, in the round, with all your armscye and neck shapings done in the sweater body.
Why should we care about knitting in the round? For a variety of reasons, stranded colorwork is easier and faster in the round: the knit stitch is quicker to form than the purl stitch; the pattern is always visible, allowing the knitter to read his work; seams are minimized or eliminated altogether. Production knitters favored the method for its speed and ease - as do hobby knitters now.
* * *
See how the vest knitted up before cutting?
This might be a fun, fast, cheap way to introduce myself to steeking (although I may want to make a cat sweater for Gatsu first as a practice practice one).
Tuesday
[boardgames] uvGamingClub = Fun and Easy
I ordered a couple games from Game Surplus: Balloon Cup and Shadows over Camelot. I used to order all my games online from Funagain, but I just learned that the games at Game Surplus are cheaper than at Funagain and shipping costs are lower. I got the two games and changed my shipping from standard to 3-Day (it was less than a dollar more) and it STILL came to less than just the two games at Funagain (without shipping costs even added). Here's a list of board game stores that I'm bargain hunting through- gotta find the best deal.
Anyway, I've played Balloon Cup before and it's my favorite two-player game. Odin's Ravens can be kind of boring, Lost Cities never grabbed me. Carcassonne: The Castle is good but long, involved and not too portable. Balloon Cup is perfect.
Shadows over Camelot has gotten really good reviews at Boardgame Geek. The description sounds interesting and it can play up to 7 people.
Which brings me to the 2nd meeting of the uvGamingClub- We played Citadels. There were 8 people at my place this past Saturday. I have only 6 chairs in my entire apartment. I sat (or rather, bounced) on my exercise ball at one corner of the table and someone else got to sit (reign?) in a plush armchair (throne?) I pushed from the living room into the dining room. I gotta get some folding chairs. Next month I'm going to have 4 gaming dates, to reduce the number of players- two Thursday nights (smaller group), two Saturday afternoons (larger group).
I like these designated gaming times. It's very casual- and I don't cook! I like to go out of my way and cook something nice Book Club as a reward for people who finished the book. Besides that, a good meal begets good conversation. For the gaming club, it's pretty much: Fend for yourselves. People can walk to the convenience store next door for soda/snacks or down to Big Fatty's for BBQ.
Anyway, I've played Balloon Cup before and it's my favorite two-player game. Odin's Ravens can be kind of boring, Lost Cities never grabbed me. Carcassonne: The Castle is good but long, involved and not too portable. Balloon Cup is perfect.
Shadows over Camelot has gotten really good reviews at Boardgame Geek. The description sounds interesting and it can play up to 7 people.
Which brings me to the 2nd meeting of the uvGamingClub- We played Citadels. There were 8 people at my place this past Saturday. I have only 6 chairs in my entire apartment. I sat (or rather, bounced) on my exercise ball at one corner of the table and someone else got to sit (reign?) in a plush armchair (throne?) I pushed from the living room into the dining room. I gotta get some folding chairs. Next month I'm going to have 4 gaming dates, to reduce the number of players- two Thursday nights (smaller group), two Saturday afternoons (larger group).
I like these designated gaming times. It's very casual- and I don't cook! I like to go out of my way and cook something nice Book Club as a reward for people who finished the book. Besides that, a good meal begets good conversation. For the gaming club, it's pretty much: Fend for yourselves. People can walk to the convenience store next door for soda/snacks or down to Big Fatty's for BBQ.
Thursday
[knitting] Girls, okay? Guys, gay?
Check out this article on a men's knitting night in NYC.
A lot of male Farkers appear to be sexually insecure.
There's also a reference to "shocker mittens" at Craftster. Took me a while to get it...
A lot of male Farkers appear to be sexually insecure.
There's also a reference to "shocker mittens" at Craftster. Took me a while to get it...
Wednesday
[misc] Local Link Dump
[amy] On Weeks and Weekends
During the week, Boyfriend can't get to my place until after midnight. Instead of waiting up for him, I go to bed at my normal time and get up when he arrives. I used to wake up when he pulled into my driveway but I've become such a sound sleeper (or has he become such a stealthy driver?) that now I don't wake up until he's standing over my bed, staring down at me like a murderer. I feel bad that every time he comes over late, we have to go through:
AMY: [startled awake by a malevolent presence]
BOYFRIEND: It's okay, it's me.
AMY: [doesn't understand, starts to whimper and breath heavy, paralyzed by fear]
BOYFRIEND: Hey, it's okay, it's me. It's me. [reaches down toward AMY]
AMY: [kicks foot out directly into BOYFRIEND's groin]
BOYFRIEND: OH! [drops to floor]
AMY: Sweetie? Is that you?
I went to visit Boyfriend at his workplace last Thursday night. His work kind of relates to mine, so I kept a sharp eye out to see if any top secrety secrets were posted around on the walls, but no such luck. Those cunning mapping devils! Actually, work-related espionage was merely item number two on my agenda- I was bringing supper and some extra guacamole and salsa left-over from Book Club. My main mission was to get all of Boyfriend's co-workers to fall in love with me. Well it worked. I heard the next day from him that all his co-workers were raving about the salsa (and asking after the recipe) and now he has become quite popular at work. [sigh] This is just too easy. I cook for him, stock my fridge with the drinks he likes, bring him supper, give him massages, keep my mouth shut when he tells me to, change the oil in his truck, clip his toe nails- He's the puppet and I'm the puppet-master. ... Wait a minute. How do all these favors factor into my goal of dominating his life? ... Dang it! Back to the drawing board.
--------------------------------------------
Saturday was a good day. The first meeting of the uvGamingClub met at my place. It was Dollar, Jason, Ken, Nik and myself. We played Bang! Nik was the only one who hadn't been to my place before and I felt bad when he came to my door, asking where to park since the driveway was full. I recall saying, "I dunno, man. Like, wherever. Maybe on the street. Um... Maybe around the corner, like, along Route 14. You'll probably be all right on the street there, though. I mean, hopefully." Could I have been any LESS helpful? A different group of people are showing up at my place this Saturday for a different game.
Saturday night I went to the Kronos Quartet with Boyfriend. What a great show. They got the oddest sounds to come from their violins, viola and cello. All I really wanted to hear was the suite from Requiem for a Dream. It was amazing. All I could think was, "Wow. They really are amazing musicians. This sounds amazing." And after loving these songs from a CD for so long, to hear it LIVE was moving. It was like someone turned on a faucet in each eye. I honestly couldn't help crying; water was just streaming out of my eyes. Which was so emotionally draining that I fell asleep during the last 15 minutes of the performance. I couldn't help that either.
Sunday was brunch at Gusanoz and lazing about. Monday was a holiday and I pretty much lazed about all day again. I'm getting closer to finishing the Kiri shawl. I'm only 5 or 6 rows (i.e. 5 or 6 HOURS) away from being done.
AMY: [startled awake by a malevolent presence]
BOYFRIEND: It's okay, it's me.
AMY: [doesn't understand, starts to whimper and breath heavy, paralyzed by fear]
BOYFRIEND: Hey, it's okay, it's me. It's me. [reaches down toward AMY]
AMY: [kicks foot out directly into BOYFRIEND's groin]
BOYFRIEND: OH! [drops to floor]
AMY: Sweetie? Is that you?
I went to visit Boyfriend at his workplace last Thursday night. His work kind of relates to mine, so I kept a sharp eye out to see if any top secrety secrets were posted around on the walls, but no such luck. Those cunning mapping devils! Actually, work-related espionage was merely item number two on my agenda- I was bringing supper and some extra guacamole and salsa left-over from Book Club. My main mission was to get all of Boyfriend's co-workers to fall in love with me. Well it worked. I heard the next day from him that all his co-workers were raving about the salsa (and asking after the recipe) and now he has become quite popular at work. [sigh] This is just too easy. I cook for him, stock my fridge with the drinks he likes, bring him supper, give him massages, keep my mouth shut when he tells me to, change the oil in his truck, clip his toe nails- He's the puppet and I'm the puppet-master. ... Wait a minute. How do all these favors factor into my goal of dominating his life? ... Dang it! Back to the drawing board.
--------------------------------------------
Saturday was a good day. The first meeting of the uvGamingClub met at my place. It was Dollar, Jason, Ken, Nik and myself. We played Bang! Nik was the only one who hadn't been to my place before and I felt bad when he came to my door, asking where to park since the driveway was full. I recall saying, "I dunno, man. Like, wherever. Maybe on the street. Um... Maybe around the corner, like, along Route 14. You'll probably be all right on the street there, though. I mean, hopefully." Could I have been any LESS helpful? A different group of people are showing up at my place this Saturday for a different game.
Saturday night I went to the Kronos Quartet with Boyfriend. What a great show. They got the oddest sounds to come from their violins, viola and cello. All I really wanted to hear was the suite from Requiem for a Dream. It was amazing. All I could think was, "Wow. They really are amazing musicians. This sounds amazing." And after loving these songs from a CD for so long, to hear it LIVE was moving. It was like someone turned on a faucet in each eye. I honestly couldn't help crying; water was just streaming out of my eyes. Which was so emotionally draining that I fell asleep during the last 15 minutes of the performance. I couldn't help that either.
Sunday was brunch at Gusanoz and lazing about. Monday was a holiday and I pretty much lazed about all day again. I'm getting closer to finishing the Kiri shawl. I'm only 5 or 6 rows (i.e. 5 or 6 HOURS) away from being done.
Friday
[books] The Library
Last night I started putting my home Library in order. I already had some books shelved together- Literature/Fiction, Children/Young Adult, Graphic Novels- all arranged by author. Pretty much everything else was shoved/piled in no particular order (Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Religion, Philosophy, Non-Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Poetry, Reference, Text Books). I also have too many knitting/crochet books for the little nook where I've been shelving them in my living room. And I've been trying to hold back from going on a cookbook binge.
The nice thing about sorting through the stacks was finding books I wanted but didn't know I had. What a surprise. I was like, "Hey, I've been wanting this book... I have it!"
I like having books because they come in handy. I had a dinner at my place a while ago and the subject of the earth's magnetic polarity flip-flopping was brought up. I got my Earth Science book and found the answer. Some geography question was brought up and I got my Atlas. The question of "sushi-grade" tuna was brought up and I pulled my Gourmet magazine that had a blurb on the subject. There isn't a question you have that a book can't answer.
I wanted something to read while the votes come in for next month's Book Club and chose Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani- One of the "I didn't know I had this!" books I found. So far it's only meh. I didn't realize it's 3rd in the Big Stone Gap series, so there seem to be lots of references to things that have happened in past books (and may explain why characters behave/act a certain way that doesn't make complete sense to me). Anyway, it's Lite reading.
P.S. I need more bookshelves.
The nice thing about sorting through the stacks was finding books I wanted but didn't know I had. What a surprise. I was like, "Hey, I've been wanting this book... I have it!"
I like having books because they come in handy. I had a dinner at my place a while ago and the subject of the earth's magnetic polarity flip-flopping was brought up. I got my Earth Science book and found the answer. Some geography question was brought up and I got my Atlas. The question of "sushi-grade" tuna was brought up and I pulled my Gourmet magazine that had a blurb on the subject. There isn't a question you have that a book can't answer.
I wanted something to read while the votes come in for next month's Book Club and chose Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani- One of the "I didn't know I had this!" books I found. So far it's only meh. I didn't realize it's 3rd in the Big Stone Gap series, so there seem to be lots of references to things that have happened in past books (and may explain why characters behave/act a certain way that doesn't make complete sense to me). Anyway, it's Lite reading.
P.S. I need more bookshelves.
Tuesday
[amy] Double Standard
[ring ring]
AMY: Hello? Hey Guy. Uh [looking at BOYFRIEND], not much, you? Yeah. Um [looking at BOYFRIEND], I don’t know. Maybe. Yeah. Actually I’m kind of in the middle of something. I’ll talk to you later. Okay, bye.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: That was Guy.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: He was wondering if I wanted to grab some supper.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: He’s a fun guy to hang out with. I feel bad that all the girls in the Upper Valley hate him because he’s such a philanderer.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: I’m- Are you- I thought that- I mean- What-
BOYFRIEND: I’m okay.
AMY: Are you sure? Because I would be jealous if you were going to have supper with another girl. Okay, pretend you’re getting a call.
BOYFRIEND: [holding hand to ear like a telephone] Hello, uh, Kate. Yes. Let’s have supper. Okay. Bye. [puts hand down]
AMY: Who was that?
BOYFRIEND: Kate.
AMY: Who’s Kate?
BOYFRIEND: A friend.
AMY: You’re going to have supper with her?
BOYFRIEND: Um, yes?
AMY: Where?
BOYFRIEND: Out.
AMY: Where?
BOYFRIEND: My place.
AMY: What? I thought you just said-
BOYFRIEND: Yeah, we’re eating at my place.
AMY: Well… How long have you known her?
BOYFRIEND: A long time.
AMY: O-kay. Well, when are you going to eat?
BOYFRIEND: Tonight. I don’t know.
AMY:
BOYFRIEND:
AMY:
BOYFRIEND: Are you mad?
AMY: Well this girl calls you out of nowhere and you’re going-
BOYFRIEND: Okay, the phone call wasn’t real. Okay? It was my hand.
AMY: Whatever.
AMY: Hello? Hey Guy. Uh [looking at BOYFRIEND], not much, you? Yeah. Um [looking at BOYFRIEND], I don’t know. Maybe. Yeah. Actually I’m kind of in the middle of something. I’ll talk to you later. Okay, bye.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: That was Guy.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: He was wondering if I wanted to grab some supper.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: He’s a fun guy to hang out with. I feel bad that all the girls in the Upper Valley hate him because he’s such a philanderer.
BOYFRIEND:
AMY: I’m- Are you- I thought that- I mean- What-
BOYFRIEND: I’m okay.
AMY: Are you sure? Because I would be jealous if you were going to have supper with another girl. Okay, pretend you’re getting a call.
BOYFRIEND: [holding hand to ear like a telephone] Hello, uh, Kate. Yes. Let’s have supper. Okay. Bye. [puts hand down]
AMY: Who was that?
BOYFRIEND: Kate.
AMY: Who’s Kate?
BOYFRIEND: A friend.
AMY: You’re going to have supper with her?
BOYFRIEND: Um, yes?
AMY: Where?
BOYFRIEND: Out.
AMY: Where?
BOYFRIEND: My place.
AMY: What? I thought you just said-
BOYFRIEND: Yeah, we’re eating at my place.
AMY: Well… How long have you known her?
BOYFRIEND: A long time.
AMY: O-kay. Well, when are you going to eat?
BOYFRIEND: Tonight. I don’t know.
AMY:
BOYFRIEND:
AMY:
BOYFRIEND: Are you mad?
AMY: Well this girl calls you out of nowhere and you’re going-
BOYFRIEND: Okay, the phone call wasn’t real. Okay? It was my hand.
AMY: Whatever.
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