Some Links for Friday

I'm back at work today, reluctantly, coughing and filling my wastebasket with tissues. It snowed for the 100th day in a row, or at least it feels like the 100th. I got what I needed to do done before lunch, so I'm catching up on some reading (AdWeek magazine, which they've been sending me for free since last fall for some reason...they also think I'm the CEO and President of the company, according to the address label.) I found out from this publication that Barry Williams, AKA Greg Brady, has a new website up, which is kind of interesting (if you're into that sort of thing, and I am): thegregbradyproject.com. This reminds me that I need to scan in that photo of Greg and me from 1995 when I saw him on his Growing Up Brady book tour.

My second link is to knitty.com, because they have posted their 3 surprise patterns for the winter issue today.

My third link is to an interview with Mary Jo Pehl on the fabulous blog The Park Bench. She talks about Cinematic Titanic, the ol' MST3K days, and the writing life.

That's all for me today. I've got one more hour to go here, and then I'm free to go home and sleep for the next two days. And do laundry.

Sick Days and Strange Things

I may not be blogging much this week because I've come down with a nasty chest cold. On top of that, it's snowing again. I know people in warm climates get colds, too, but I think it feels much worse to be sick when it's cold and snowy out.

Maybe I'm a little loopy on Robitussin (though it's the kind without the booze in it), but I keep seeing oddly humorous things today. Take this registration card that I just found on my desk for a Ch-ch-ch-chia pet, which I received in December of 2006:



First of all, how the heck did this find its way to my desk today, being a year old? Secondly, why would anyone need to register their Chia Pet? This is not a major appliance. It's not even a coffee maker. Anyway, I love how one of the choices under "Why did you purchase/receive this Chia?" is "companionship". That's sad. In my case, I got it in a blind gift exchange, and it brought me no companionship, only green furriness. Behold:



I still have the pig and some of the seeds in my junk drawer. I wonder if I should start it up again?

Monday Update

It was really really really cold here this weekend. Below zero wind chills, but at least it was sunny! Today is cold, grey, and flurrying. Is flurrying really a word? My spell check says it is, and who am I to argue with the mighty spell check?

Last night the S.O.* and I went to see Juno and celebrate the 5th anniversary of our first date, which was actually on Saturday. The movie was really good and conversation-provoking. He gave it a B+, I gave it an A.

After that, he watched the football playoffs and I watched the season finale of the best reality show on television EVER, the Amazing Race. I think this was the best season of the show ever AND the best finale in a long time. I'd been rooting for TK and Rachel for many weeks now, so I was thrilled to see them cross the finish line first. Actually, I would have been happy to see any of the final 3 win, as they were all really inspiring and deserving of a win. My S.O. is concerned that I will go through some withdrawal now without the Race to watch, but I still have Project Runway for a while. After that, I'll just have to learn to read again.

Speaking of reading, I spent much of Saturday night reading a book I got for Christmas (I requested it), Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I rarely carve out more than 5 minutes a day to read a real book, so taking a full hour to read was welcome. This book is like crack to me, as I am obsessed with the whole "local foods" movement. It's also given me spring fever, and I can't wait to start planning out this year's veggie garden, which will be bigger than last year's.

For some reason last night, I woke up at 3:30 AM and couldn't get back to sleep. This was bad because I don't think I went to sleep until Midnight in the first place, so I spent the next 2 hours trying to relax enough to sleep. I had a cup of herbal tea, I read a magazine article, listened to classical music...nothing worked. Whenever I got even close to sleeping, my nose would start running, my mate would snore, the space heater would start up (loudly), and even though I was wearing industrial-strength earplugs, I was going crazy. I finally ended up on the couch and had a very light 30 minute nap before I heard my alarm go off. I then called work and told them I'd be a few hours late, and went back to my real bed. I tried again to sleep, now with the comforting thought that I didn't have to go to work with less than 4 hours in, and I somehow fell asleep for a few more hours. It really sucked.


I finished sock #2 this weekend, and pictures will be posted soon!

* Significant Other. He prefers to remain anonymous. :)

But it's not even Valentine's Day Yet!!

I know, I know. But Craftzine.com blog posted this adorable link to free Easter egg knitting patterns, and I just had to share!

To see all her free stuff on one page, go here: http://littlecottonrabbits.typepad.co.uk/free_knitting_patterns/

Workout Avoidance

I just saw this great video, which pretty much sums up why I haven't been to the gym this week, and what a weenie I am for not "just doing it". Ha!

Knitting Class and Nightmares

Tonight is (hopefully) my first knitting class. I am still short a few students, as far as I know, but I found out that last night's class was also short and they let the class go on anyway, so I'm hopeful. I'm also nervous. I had a nightmare about teaching where I got everything backwards! I don't know why I'm so nervous, as I've taught people before, but not in such a formal setting. I also had a nightmare about the show Night Rider, where I was the Michael Night character and, instead of a car called Kit, I had a dog. I guess you really can't analyze my dreams.

I've been updating my Ravelry site again, and it's becoming addictive. I wish I'd been better in the past of documenting what I made, but that's just not my style. I have made so many things and given them away without taking a picture or anything. I have a knitting journal which has never been used. I couldn't even begin to list my stash on Ravelry...I wouldn't know where to start!

Mondays

I'm not feeling to great today, as I have another migraine. That's the second one in three days. I used to only get migraines a few times a year, but now I'm getting them monthly, sometimes twice a month or more. Ugh. I'm also feeling a little down...could it be SAD? At least it's a sunny day here, which are few and far between, but with zero degree wind chills, it's not likely I'll be soaking up the sun. Wow, that would make a really good Cheryl Crow song.

There's some question whether I'll have enough people to have my knitting class, which is scheduled to start tomorrow. I'm a little worried about it. To make things worse, I read an article today talking about how knitting classes are dying off:

"I teach all the knitting classes at Make," Rupp said, "and it's really dropped off because everyone knows how. People have kind of mastered it, and they want the next thing. It's crazy how many people want to learn to use a sewing machine."

I can't imagine that everyone who wanted to learn to knit has already learned. At the shop, people still come in saying they'd like to learn how to knit or crochet, so I know it's not a completely dead "trend".

I finished up some new jewelry over the weekend, and I'll post pictures as soon as the death metal concert in my head stops. I've also been updating my Ravelry page with older projects, if anyone's interested.

Why We Write

The writer's strike has really taken a toll on my television viewing habits, but it has spawned a lot of blogs about writing. I'm really enjoying this one: whywewriteseries.wordpress.com . From the site:

WHY WE WRITE is a series of essays by prominent - and not so prominent - TV and Film writers… and by people like you: writers and those who hope someday to call themselves writers.

http://whywewriteseries.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/why-we-write-number-14-iris-yamashita/

This recent entry inspired me. It's written by Iris Yamashita who wrote "Letters from Iwo Jima". Enjoy!

Writer's Block Solutions Part 2

Ken Levine has posted part 2 of his solutions to Writer's Block, written by sitcom writers from series such as Mary Tyler Moore, Frasier, and Murphy Brown.

Also, I've added some personal links to the sidebar under "My Other Stuff". I don't update the My Space or Facebook stuff very often, as there are only so many hours in my day, and I'm just starting out on Ravelry.

Awesome Classified Ad

You must check this out: Advertising as Punishment in Des Moines. That'll teach 'im!

Here's more on the story: Mom Sells Rule-Breaking Son's Car.

Now that's what I call responsible parenting.

Writer's Blog on "Writer's Block", plus an Indie Film

Ken Levine has written for some awesome sitcoms: MASH, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons, Dharma & Greg, Wings, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Becker. His blog is a great read, especially while this whole strike is going on. Today's post is about writer's block, and he's asked several other excellent writers what they do to cure it. Here's the link: http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2008/01/overcoming-writers-block.html

My sister sent me a link to this film on You Tube. I haven't watched it yet, but it's by some indie filmmakers who financed it themselves, and as I have some experience in that area, I have a soft spot for them. Here it is:



*update* It turns out that I think I've worked with the guy who plays the lead's roommate in a community theater production many years ago in Kansas City. Small world!

A couple of patterns

I found this link on Craftzine to this most-excellent free daisy stitch hand warmer pattern from The Purl Bee. I love fingerless gloves! Why have I never done anything with daisy stitch before??

Also on Craftzine: I am taken aback by this crocheted Elvis doll pattern. It looks insanely intricate! I wish I could crochet better...

Rainy days and Mondays

It's rainy and grey and yucky here, but at least it's not freezing cold and snowing. My sinuses started acting up over the weekend, and I'm trying to prevent a sinus infection. I've been pretty good this season so far, with no infections and very few sinus-related headaches, so I think I can beat it. I usually don't take Sudafed or any decongestants for fear of rebound headaches, but instead opt for steam and my Neti Pot. This whole thing is really odd to me, as I haven't really had any cold symptoms other than some sneezing, and it feels more like seasonal allergies, which can't be possible. Where is this coming from?

I started running again this weekend. I haven' t been running regularly since October of 2006, when I was training for the Des Moines Marathon. I had just run 19 miles, my longest distance ever, and I started having foot pain. After a CAT scan and other tests, it turned out to be some kind of muscle strain. Not a very glamorous injury, unfortunately, but I still couldn't run without pain, so I volunteered at the race instead, along with the stress fracture victims. Before the marathon, I had only run one race - the 2005 Des Moines Half Marathon, so I was still relatively new to running, and I probably bit off more than I could chew. I've now scaled down my ambitions, and my new goal for the year is to finish a 5 or 10k, which I think is much more do-able.

The Caucus/Bowl Game Aftermath

I live in Iowa, and therefore the Caucuses, along with all the canditates, are all I've heard about for weeks. I did not caucus last night, as I am a registered Independent, and only registered Republicans and Democrats get to do it, however, I was rootin' for Obama. Last night was also the BIG GAME, as my Kansas Jayhawks were playing in the Orange Bowl. Everyone said they'd lose, but they won. They finished their record-breaking season with 12 wins and one loss. Last night was obviously a night for the underdogs.

I got the night off from my other job yesterday, so I asked the boyfriend to take me out to eat. We went to one of the more popular restaurants in town, only to find it nearly empty. I took this as a good sign that there would be a huge turnout at the caucuses, and I was right. We went straight home and flipped back and forth between the caucus returns and the Big Game the rest of the night while I knitted sock #2 and the boyfriend drank four cans of Guinness. I only point out that he drank four cans because I gave him crap about it, as each can was 14.9 ounces. What can I say? He loves his Guinness. I'm one to talk, actually, as I once drank an entire bottle of Arbor Mist in one short evening, not realizing until it was too late that there's actually a lot of alcohol in that stuff. Just because it tastes like Kool Aid does not mean it IS Kool Aid.

As for the Orange Bowl game, it was really huge for the Jayhawks. KU Football has been pretty lackluster for many years. While I was attending, the school spent beaucoup bucks on a renovation of Memorial Stadium, adding box seats for the big-money boosters, a new scoreboard with Jumbo Tron, and fixing up the rest of it. I lived across the street from the stadium soon after the renovations, and as I walked my dog around the complex, I'd wonder if all that work was really worth it. It took quite a few years, including a new coach and some team rebuilding, but, by God, they did it. Never in my lifetime did I think I'd see a successful KU Football team, and here they are. Well done, men, and Rock Chalk.

Human Tetris

This is mesmerizing.



(Discovered via Pop Candy)

How to deal with stress

Today was an extremely stressful day at work, with more problems than solutions. I know tomorrow will also be a difficult one, so I took one hour off this evening to do yoga and relaxation techniques. I've been practicing yoga for about 11 years now, and if I go too long between even a short practice, my body starts creaking like a rusty door hinge. If you've never done yoga before, I'd recommend trying it out this year. Here's a free class for beginners at YogaToday.com to get you started:



Here's to a more relaxed and flexible new year!

Happy New Year!

In keeping with two of my Resolutions, I've uploaded pictures to Flickr AND updated this blog. Here's our house guest Mr. Beau, taken last night.