October 01, 2004
This, That and the Other
Just a short and weirdly fragmented entry today since (a) I haven’t been doing much knitting and (b) it’s been an excruciatingly ordinary week so I don’t even have an uninteresting story that I could twist and overly exaggerate into an interesting story.
Most importantly, The Claw has crawled back to the primordial slime under the rock from whence it came. However, despite the fact that I haven't knit since last Sunday and am close to breaking out in hives as a result, I’m going to behave myself for one more day since a smattering of Knorthend Knitters are coming over tomorrow for an impromptu get-together and I want to be able to unleash the full fury of my knitting hand. (Although people who know me know I will most likely just talk a blue streak, stuff my face on miniature quiches and meatballs in barbecue sauce, and not get any knitting done at’all. Incidentally, in honor of my September 27 entry, everyone will be required to eat a second brownie, even The Mysterious K. Just don't tell her I'm going to cut them really, really small.)
On the steeking front, Mentor Janine and Fellow Blogger Karen have reminded me of something very important. Before I become responsible for an army of plastic-knife-wielding, steek-cutting maniacs, the only reason I got away with cutting my pillow without sewing it is because of the very “grippy” and “clutchy” yarn I knit it from, Jamieson’s Shetland. As Karen said in her blog, unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a rubber room with your special friend Mr. Valium, know that, unlike the Shetland yarn, cotton and superwash wool do not take well to steeking and cutting.
For my Gratuitous Picture of the Day, here is a picture of The Mighty Hunter sitting proudly among the remains of two paper bags she has just disemboweled. She would like you to think she's surrounded by piles of bones and entrails so let's just play along, shall we? Altogether now, "Wow, Frankie! What a big pile of bones and entrails!"
Lastly, I will leave you with this, the funniest link I’ve seen in a long time, sent to me by none other than our Cuzzin Tom. As I wrote to him, I noticed the link said that these stuffed toys are useful for parents. But what parent, in their ever-lovin’ right mind, would give a child an (admittedly fake, cute, bright-eyed and stuffed) black death, flesh-eating, HIV, hepatitis or ebola microbe? I mean, what do you tell the kid as you hand it over that doesn't send him screaming from the room? (By the way, don't miss the knife and fork embroidered on the flesh-eating microbe. Too funny. And I just noticed the red ribbon embroidered on the HIV microbe. As the sister of a brother who died of AIDS, I say hats off to the obviously sensitive soul who designed that little dude.)
wow frankie- what a big pile of bones and entrails! you know, i don't think i've ever actually written the word 'entrails' before- a new experience here every day- thanks, ryan-
children, being the perverse little critters that they are, will *always* amaze you with what they do or don't like-a certain daughter (who lives in your neck of the woods way off there in the northwest) was absolutely frightened to death by her first 'my little pony' toy but found the horrid little troll dolls (yes, the ones with jewels in the bellybutton) enchanting- and i won't even go into the whole 'cabbage patch' thing-
stay happy and enjoy flexing 'the claw'-
Posted by: barb in texas on October 1, 2004 09:48 AMYay! I'm glad to hear The Claw is leaving you alone. We wouldn't want it to interfere with second brownie uptake tomorrow.
I'm very excited about the Knorthend Knitting tomorrow. The timing is especially good, since it will get me out of the house while my wonderful librarian husband and some of his cataloger friends are cataloging our bike club's books, an event that promises to put any non-librarian within shushing distance into a coma.
I'm still cogitating on what finger foods (and projects) to bring.
Melinda
Posted by: Melinda on October 1, 2004 09:50 AMCataloging bike club books?! Melinda, we are going to have such a waaaaay better time than your hubby. Although I did decide to cancel the male strippers because, well, what would have been in it for me?
And, Barb, I was rather startled to find myself typing "entrails," too. Not a word that comes up in conversation often. (Loved the "My Little Pony" story!"
Posted by: Ryan on October 1, 2004 10:01 AMWHAT the? Before I get off on a diatribe, "Wow, Frankie! What a big pile of bones and entrails!"
But what ARE those toy manufacturers thinking? "Let's take the scariness out of germs and make them our friends? Embrace your warm-and-fuzzy inner H.I.V.??" What will they think of next? Ok, leave me alone now. I want to go get wet and cold in the Berkshires, and look at some pretty leaves, and knit in the car. It would be so much more fun if I didn't have a rotten cold. Oh, excuse me, a warm and fuzzy common cold virus!
Posted by: Norma on October 1, 2004 10:19 AMMy, what a big pile of bones you have there Frankie.
Can I just say I was sitting at my desk, giggling madly and finally could hold back no longer. Sent it to my co-worker (he holds a world record in looking at wild, wierd and whacky webpages) and he's response?? AW!! how cute.. did you see the eyelashes on the kissing virus?? bwahaha
Posted by: anj on October 1, 2004 11:22 AMI wanted to thank you for the great post on Blogging. I am a restless blogger of late, and it is time to revamp. Your pointers are a great start.
(Oh, and before I forget... Wow, Frankie! What a big pile of bones and entrails!)
I have been pining away for some Giant Microbes for awhile... Here is another good stuffed "animal" site: http://www.wonderfarms.com/ While they are not at all scientific, they are definitely bizarre. microbes.
Posted by: Chelsea on October 1, 2004 06:48 PMThanks for the chuckles. I bookmarked the Giant Microbes site, just so I could go back later & browse among the germies.
I've been told by Knitting Goddesses Who Know All that cotton & superwash wool can be steeked with no problem as long as they've been reinforced via machine stitching or a crocheted steek method. I'd swatch the heck out of it & drink heavily before (& after) attempting, though.
I'm off to have a second brownie.
Posted by: Samina on October 2, 2004 06:09 AMI love Frankies smile! As for steeking, the thought of steeking gives me heart palpitations. But, I'm not scared of cabling anymore,thanks to your gentle encouragement. I'm up to the sleeves on Bless from The Cork Collection. Thanks, Ryan.
Posted by: Debra on October 2, 2004 10:21 AMI have a cold microbe, and I'm sending the ulcer to my brother in law, just so I can say I gave him an ulcer!
Posted by: Ali on October 4, 2004 06:10 AM