Thursday, April 17, 2008
And so the story goes.
I have a job now, which isn't too awful terrible. I am, however, much tired everyday. I have 3 weeks of school left until summer break, and I can't wait. I can't keep up with all this crap. Blarghh. Let this craziness end soon. And make my Middle Eastern Cultures professor stop assigning stuff.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
You know I, you know I'm not dead...
Now you know where I've been:
Buying new yarn, because adding to the stash is very important. Especially when your LYS has a 20% off of everything anniversary sale. Normally, I go in there to drool over the stuff I can't afford, and sometimes pick up a clearance item or two. Hey, college makes you poor.
But I actually was able to buy this skein of Manos del Uruguay Kettle Dyed Silk-Merino blend. I LUUURVE it. I always admired you from afar, Manos, but now you are mine. I don't even know what to do with it yet. Maybe a hat? Or a luxuriously fine tudora? We will see.
They had such a large amount of mohair on sale (this one was $3.60 after the discount) that I was able to buy this little gem. I recently found a blue-purple-dark navy ball of mohair at Tuesday Morning for around $3. I bought it just to see how it knits up. Before this, I did not care for the look or even idea of mohair, but as some yarns have surprised me (Lionbrand Boucle, for example), I have decided to be more democratic to all yarns. As it turns out, I really like the look and feel of knitting with mohair. I bought this ball because it picks up some of the colors in the Tuesday Morning ball (I'll post pics when I get the project underway). I needed another ball because I want to make a head-wrap scarfy thing. I had started it with the T.M. ball but ran waaaay short and had to frog it. I will have updates on that as it is knitted.
In other news, the dogwood outside is blooming. This is my favorite kind of tree, as well as my favorite flower. I love it. Also, the azaleas are about to burst into bloom. As you can see from the leaves, the bushes have some type of scale but I didn't have the heart to spray any pesticides for it last fall. They aren't dying or anything, after all.
See? Almost blooming, but not quite. Sorry for the blurriness, my camera decides where it wants to focus and doesn't discuss it with me sometimes.
And here it is, its back after weeks of hiatus.
This post will be a little different. I had to go to the zoo, so I took some pics of the jaguars and tigers. I should have done with the lions, but I was too lazy to walk back over to their enclosure after I thought of it. Sorry.
They are maybe a little hard to see. The black jaguar had his ears back, there were lots of kids there that day, making lots of noise. He is so beautiful, I wish I could have taken better pics of him. He looks like my roommate Dave's sister's cat. Except bigger, of course.
The tiger was pacing, as you can see. He wasn't roaring, as I have observed hungry impatient tigers in zoos to do, just pacing.
But do you see that fence behind him, on the other side of the rock wall?
This is who was in the fence. I would be pacing if I was trapped in an enclosure less that 50 yards from a delicious hamburger. I bet the smell of these gazelles drive him and his pen-mates crazy.
On to other zoo creatures. I was there to observe primates, which I was unable to do. There were too many people. I am going to try again tomorrow afternoon, my instructor said afternoons were better than mornings.
Here is a siamang. He was sitting about 4 yards from the edge of the enclosure, hoot-calling at all the people staring at him. It was so loud, I could feel the vibration in my clothing and backpack. I caught a picture of him in mid-hoot. While I'm here, I would also like to point out that he is NOT A MONKEY. Siamangs are apes, like gorillas, chimps, and orangutans. They have no tails, that is the easiest way to tell an ape from a monkey. As this guy is sitting on his tailless rump, here is a picture of a gorilla butt to clear it up.
See? No tail. By the way, that stuff on his back is hay. I don't know if his keepers were playing with him before I walked up or if he put it there, playing by himself. Either are possible.
Here is another kind of primate called a prosimian. He is a lemur from Madagascar, and no he is not dead although he looks it. The others were on a platform sleeping together, I don't know why he didn't join them. As you can see, he has a tail. He is NOT a monkey though, prosimians are kind of their own thing. Lorises and tarsiers are also prosimians, but I don't have pictures of them. Their enclosure was kind of dark. The most noticeable difference I can spot in the lemurs from monkeys is their snout. They kind of look fox-like.
This guy is a Talapoin Monkey, part of a group called the Old World Monkeys. They are basically monkeys from the African and Eurasian continent. They, of course, have tails.
These guys are Spider Monkeys, from the New World Monkeys. New World Monkeys are from the Americas. New World Monkeys also have tails, but some have prehensile tails. None of the Old World Monkeys have this. A prehensile tail can be used as a sort of fifth arm. When you see a monkey hanging onto ropes or branches with his tail, then you know for sure that he is a New World Monkey.
Although I am trying to get into the Primate Enrichment program next semester to work with some primates doing mentally stimulating activities, zoos generally make me feel bad. These guys are probably not that happy. For example, this is the female gorilla with her new baby. You can kind of see her baby between her legs, the baby's arm is around her as well. The mother kept moving around, trying to get out of sight of the enormous crowd. In this picture, she has her arms folded where her hands are on her shoulders. This is something you would do to try to block out unwanted attention. She is doing the same thing. It made me profoundly sad. One mother near me told her children "look, they are hugging!" No lady, they are not hugging, the gorilla mom is miserable and trying to hide.
On the other hand, without zoos people (most importantly, children) would not develop an empathy for these creatures. Seeing them helps them connect, and ultimately helps them care more about what happens to animals in the wild. In addition, many of these creatures are likely one day to become extinct, and locking them in zoos may keep them safe from our destructiveness, as backwards as that sounds. I believe that many zoos have a long way to go in terms of suitable enclosures, but people are working on things like that right now. Thats why I want to join the primate enrichment program. It basically involves thinking of things for the animals to do so they aren't bored or inactive. They are intelligent creatures, and need stimulus just like people do.
Another thing that gets me is the insensity of some of the people (adults) at the zoo. I overheard several unpleasant comments, including an older man's claim that the guy below would "make a good pair of boots." Dammit, people.
So please take your kids to the zoo, but be sensitive about what you say. Even if you are kidding, your children are listening.
Buying new yarn, because adding to the stash is very important. Especially when your LYS has a 20% off of everything anniversary sale. Normally, I go in there to drool over the stuff I can't afford, and sometimes pick up a clearance item or two. Hey, college makes you poor.
But I actually was able to buy this skein of Manos del Uruguay Kettle Dyed Silk-Merino blend. I LUUURVE it. I always admired you from afar, Manos, but now you are mine. I don't even know what to do with it yet. Maybe a hat? Or a luxuriously fine tudora? We will see.
They had such a large amount of mohair on sale (this one was $3.60 after the discount) that I was able to buy this little gem. I recently found a blue-purple-dark navy ball of mohair at Tuesday Morning for around $3. I bought it just to see how it knits up. Before this, I did not care for the look or even idea of mohair, but as some yarns have surprised me (Lionbrand Boucle, for example), I have decided to be more democratic to all yarns. As it turns out, I really like the look and feel of knitting with mohair. I bought this ball because it picks up some of the colors in the Tuesday Morning ball (I'll post pics when I get the project underway). I needed another ball because I want to make a head-wrap scarfy thing. I had started it with the T.M. ball but ran waaaay short and had to frog it. I will have updates on that as it is knitted.
In other news, the dogwood outside is blooming. This is my favorite kind of tree, as well as my favorite flower. I love it. Also, the azaleas are about to burst into bloom. As you can see from the leaves, the bushes have some type of scale but I didn't have the heart to spray any pesticides for it last fall. They aren't dying or anything, after all.
See? Almost blooming, but not quite. Sorry for the blurriness, my camera decides where it wants to focus and doesn't discuss it with me sometimes.
And here it is, its back after weeks of hiatus.
This post will be a little different. I had to go to the zoo, so I took some pics of the jaguars and tigers. I should have done with the lions, but I was too lazy to walk back over to their enclosure after I thought of it. Sorry.
They are maybe a little hard to see. The black jaguar had his ears back, there were lots of kids there that day, making lots of noise. He is so beautiful, I wish I could have taken better pics of him. He looks like my roommate Dave's sister's cat. Except bigger, of course.
The tiger was pacing, as you can see. He wasn't roaring, as I have observed hungry impatient tigers in zoos to do, just pacing.
But do you see that fence behind him, on the other side of the rock wall?
This is who was in the fence. I would be pacing if I was trapped in an enclosure less that 50 yards from a delicious hamburger. I bet the smell of these gazelles drive him and his pen-mates crazy.
On to other zoo creatures. I was there to observe primates, which I was unable to do. There were too many people. I am going to try again tomorrow afternoon, my instructor said afternoons were better than mornings.
Here is a siamang. He was sitting about 4 yards from the edge of the enclosure, hoot-calling at all the people staring at him. It was so loud, I could feel the vibration in my clothing and backpack. I caught a picture of him in mid-hoot. While I'm here, I would also like to point out that he is NOT A MONKEY. Siamangs are apes, like gorillas, chimps, and orangutans. They have no tails, that is the easiest way to tell an ape from a monkey. As this guy is sitting on his tailless rump, here is a picture of a gorilla butt to clear it up.
See? No tail. By the way, that stuff on his back is hay. I don't know if his keepers were playing with him before I walked up or if he put it there, playing by himself. Either are possible.
Here is another kind of primate called a prosimian. He is a lemur from Madagascar, and no he is not dead although he looks it. The others were on a platform sleeping together, I don't know why he didn't join them. As you can see, he has a tail. He is NOT a monkey though, prosimians are kind of their own thing. Lorises and tarsiers are also prosimians, but I don't have pictures of them. Their enclosure was kind of dark. The most noticeable difference I can spot in the lemurs from monkeys is their snout. They kind of look fox-like.
This guy is a Talapoin Monkey, part of a group called the Old World Monkeys. They are basically monkeys from the African and Eurasian continent. They, of course, have tails.
These guys are Spider Monkeys, from the New World Monkeys. New World Monkeys are from the Americas. New World Monkeys also have tails, but some have prehensile tails. None of the Old World Monkeys have this. A prehensile tail can be used as a sort of fifth arm. When you see a monkey hanging onto ropes or branches with his tail, then you know for sure that he is a New World Monkey.
Although I am trying to get into the Primate Enrichment program next semester to work with some primates doing mentally stimulating activities, zoos generally make me feel bad. These guys are probably not that happy. For example, this is the female gorilla with her new baby. You can kind of see her baby between her legs, the baby's arm is around her as well. The mother kept moving around, trying to get out of sight of the enormous crowd. In this picture, she has her arms folded where her hands are on her shoulders. This is something you would do to try to block out unwanted attention. She is doing the same thing. It made me profoundly sad. One mother near me told her children "look, they are hugging!" No lady, they are not hugging, the gorilla mom is miserable and trying to hide.
On the other hand, without zoos people (most importantly, children) would not develop an empathy for these creatures. Seeing them helps them connect, and ultimately helps them care more about what happens to animals in the wild. In addition, many of these creatures are likely one day to become extinct, and locking them in zoos may keep them safe from our destructiveness, as backwards as that sounds. I believe that many zoos have a long way to go in terms of suitable enclosures, but people are working on things like that right now. Thats why I want to join the primate enrichment program. It basically involves thinking of things for the animals to do so they aren't bored or inactive. They are intelligent creatures, and need stimulus just like people do.
Another thing that gets me is the insensity of some of the people (adults) at the zoo. I overheard several unpleasant comments, including an older man's claim that the guy below would "make a good pair of boots." Dammit, people.
So please take your kids to the zoo, but be sensitive about what you say. Even if you are kidding, your children are listening.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sadness envelopes me.
No cats today. I don't feel like uploading--besides, I don't think anyone has taken any new pictures. I am pretty sure I haven't. Sylvia's 80s birthday party went off fine, it was great loads of fun. We have plenty of pictures, I plan to post them up soon. She was dressed in a purple prom looking dress with a blonde wig with a chunk taken out of the back. Her theme, of course, was Caroline from Sixteen Candles (Jake Ryan's girlfriend). I just cut up a sweater, attached some safety pins (by some I mean a whole package) and made my hair huge and sparkly and my makeup ridiculous. It was great fun, everyone looked great. We had over 4 inches of snow on Friday (for the first time in years!) but it was mostly gone by Saturday evening. The party went off without a hitch.
Now, the title for my blog is what I feel like writing about. Since transferring from a community college to UALR last semester, I have been fairly happy. Before that, I was always busy, always broke, and mostly alone. I was also pretty depressed. Of course, moving down here I am really, extremely near my best friend. Whenever I want someone to talk to, or knit with, or anything else, she is right here. So, I have been pretty happy.
However, today I was in the grips of some kind of black despair. I don't know what triggered it. When it happens, it is like someone rolling you up in a black curtain. Your insides ache, you are extremely sad if you are lucky, but don't care about anything if you are not lucky. I was the kind that was sad, luckily for me, or I would probably still be in it. I heard a commercial on the radio when coming back from taking Sylvia's notebook to her at work. It was an ad for people with diabetic neuropathy to take part in a pain medication test. My father died in 2001 from complications from Type I diabetes. The last 3 or 4 years of his life were in constant pain from the neuropathy in his legs. This is when the diabetes causes the myelin sheath over your nerves to break down. You literally have naked nerves in your legs. At least, thats how it was explained to me. When he was alive, there was no pain medication for it. Somehow, hearing that commercial set off something in me. As I was driving to school, I began sobbing. It was strange, because I haven't cried about anything for a long time, except when I saw "Gaza Strip" last week. Then later, after I got out of school, I was still feeling pretty sad. I called my mom to ask her about my car insurance, because her friend is our insurance person. She began talking about something involving work, just venting like she often does. She does janitorial work, makes less than this physically demanding work should allow, and has no benefits: vacation, medical, dental, 401K, nothing. Again, I just lost it. She asked me what was wrong, she probably thought I was off my rocker. I explained to her how angry I was at how she was treated, how she is so tired, has no prospect of retirement, etc etc. She agreed with me, but told me not to worry about it. OF COURSE I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT. She is my mother, you take care of your parents because you love them, and they took care of you. Sometimes I am so scared that I will not make enough money to take care of her when she can't work anymore. It's probably one of my biggest worries.
So, sorry for such a downer post. Next time I will post about the fabulous 80s party. I'm still sad, but Sylvie and I browsed some knit magazines at Barnes and Noble then did karaoke for 2 hours. I feel a little better.
Now, the title for my blog is what I feel like writing about. Since transferring from a community college to UALR last semester, I have been fairly happy. Before that, I was always busy, always broke, and mostly alone. I was also pretty depressed. Of course, moving down here I am really, extremely near my best friend. Whenever I want someone to talk to, or knit with, or anything else, she is right here. So, I have been pretty happy.
However, today I was in the grips of some kind of black despair. I don't know what triggered it. When it happens, it is like someone rolling you up in a black curtain. Your insides ache, you are extremely sad if you are lucky, but don't care about anything if you are not lucky. I was the kind that was sad, luckily for me, or I would probably still be in it. I heard a commercial on the radio when coming back from taking Sylvia's notebook to her at work. It was an ad for people with diabetic neuropathy to take part in a pain medication test. My father died in 2001 from complications from Type I diabetes. The last 3 or 4 years of his life were in constant pain from the neuropathy in his legs. This is when the diabetes causes the myelin sheath over your nerves to break down. You literally have naked nerves in your legs. At least, thats how it was explained to me. When he was alive, there was no pain medication for it. Somehow, hearing that commercial set off something in me. As I was driving to school, I began sobbing. It was strange, because I haven't cried about anything for a long time, except when I saw "Gaza Strip" last week. Then later, after I got out of school, I was still feeling pretty sad. I called my mom to ask her about my car insurance, because her friend is our insurance person. She began talking about something involving work, just venting like she often does. She does janitorial work, makes less than this physically demanding work should allow, and has no benefits: vacation, medical, dental, 401K, nothing. Again, I just lost it. She asked me what was wrong, she probably thought I was off my rocker. I explained to her how angry I was at how she was treated, how she is so tired, has no prospect of retirement, etc etc. She agreed with me, but told me not to worry about it. OF COURSE I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT. She is my mother, you take care of your parents because you love them, and they took care of you. Sometimes I am so scared that I will not make enough money to take care of her when she can't work anymore. It's probably one of my biggest worries.
So, sorry for such a downer post. Next time I will post about the fabulous 80s party. I'm still sad, but Sylvie and I browsed some knit magazines at Barnes and Noble then did karaoke for 2 hours. I feel a little better.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Cats On Tuesday
Finally, Cats On Tuesday is back. I had such a lot of pictures that I never got to use, I had to narrow it down. Everyone in the house takes these pictures, especially of Ditto. She is so funny, its hard to catch her in the action sometimes. This picture illustrates what we all love best about Ditto:
She is goofy, and kind of fat. And her poor tail is too short. Nathan took this picture while we were all at school/work. The next is her in the computer chair. I took it (you can see my badly in need of polish toe). She thinks this chair is hers. When Sylvia's bf Dave (the roommate who downloaded the NIN) sits in the chair, or comes near it when she is sitting in it, she starts yowling and meowing. And believe me, her meows sound more like "mrEOWrrr" than a normal cat meow. Like a Siamese with a sore throat. Pretty annoying.
Its hard to catch Stubbles doing anything but sleep. Sylvia took this picture of Stubbles behind the entertainment cabinet. Stubbles likes hidey-holes.
She also likes boxes, as I have pointed out before.
Sometimes Ditto jumps into the box, but she always jumps right back out. She is pretty interested in what Stubbles does in the boxes, though.
Recently Nathan brought home a black star-shaped balloon. It has held its air a pretty long time, its still up right now. It is Ditto's favorite toy. She plays with it about once an hour. Earlier today she was pulling it around the house with the string in her mouth, trying to take it into the cat/craft storage/sunroom with her. Here is when she first got to play with it.
The funny thing about cameras and cat eyes is the reflection of the flash. We all agree this is about the creepiest picture we have seen.
Of course, sometimes you get lucky and the photographic opportunities present themselves. As I was posting this, I turned around and saw this on the floor. I quickly disconnect the camera from the cable, and snapped some pictures. Gold.
Isn't she funny?
Ahhh...thats relaxed.
Walking in a Wint...oh...Nevermind.
This beauticiousness is what greeted me at 7:30 a.m., while heading to school. We here in central Arkansas don't get much winter weather, so this was a pleasant surprise. It was kind of surprising that school wasn't canceled, but then again it was just snow. The funny part is, Sunday the weather was super nice and it got up to 75 degrees F. And then this. Heres the back yard from the top of the steps going up to the patio.
It was so pretty. I had time to walk around and take pictures while my car warmed up. I took a picture looking out over west Little Rock, the view from our patio. Gorgeous, huh?
Well, when I got home around 5 p.m., it was 40 degrees F. The snow was gone, everything was just wet. Here is the same shot, in the afternoon. See what a difference a day makes?
It looks as though the snow had never been. Here is all the proof: nasty wetness.
It is supposed to be in the 60s tomorrow. And then, they are calling for snow again on Friday. Craziness.
On a note NOT related to weather, Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) has created a new "halo". If you go to the website, you can download for free "Ghosts I-IV". I think. My roommate downloaded it today, I am listening to it now. It kicks total ass. All is instrumental, it is all brilliant. Reznor is supposed to release the rest of the CD in stores sometime in April, it will be a 2 disc set. Roommate says it will be about $10. If thats not a deal, I don't know what is.
Monday, March 3, 2008
duh duhlicious
I made a trifle! I haven't made one in a few years, and so forgot how delicious they are. Basically, mine is layered with cake, pudding, fruit, and whipped cream. Sometimes I forgo the fruit completely and just make chocolate layers. This one, however, was just fruit. I also tried pistachio pudding instead of my norm, vanilla pudding. I thought it was especially delicious.
In addition to that, I made cupcakes earlier this week. I am on some kind of dessert kick, I guess. The cupcakes were especially delicious thanks to the fact that they were lemon. You may think, "uhh, yick" but thats what one of my roommates said and he ended up loving them.
Sylvia and I were at my favorite store, Williams Sonoma. I love this place so much I want to live there. They had recipe cards all over the place, and Sylvia picked them up. I looked at them and saw the recipe for "mini lemon curd cupcakes". Well, I don't have mini cupcake pans and papers, so they are regular size. It also called for $12 Sprinkles lemon cupcake mix. I said screw that and picked up $1.50 Duncan Hines Moist lemon cake mix. I also got buttercream frosting, and after a few minutes of searching found the elusive lemon curd. The lemon curd is actually squirted into the cupcake after it has baked and cooled. You just put in a teaspoon, but it adds a great little zing. They were delicious.
I'll try to do Cats on Tuesday tomorrow, I have quite a few goofy cat pics saved up.
Friday, February 29, 2008
FOs all over the place!
I finally finished the kitty hat for my niece. I made the pompoms huge, but I know she will absolutely love it. I used LionBrand Watercolors, in Waterlily. Its very pretty, a fluffy purple wool blend interspersed with pretty pastel threads here and there.
I have been knitting away. I have finished 3 washcloths, but have yet to weave in the ends. They are sugars n cream and peaches n cream yarn. I don't remember which is which, but I like them all. I still have two colors I haven't done yet.
The purple one is done in a pattern called "Idiots Dishcloth". Its weird, because you knit the whole thing sideways, so it looks diamond shaped on your needles. I found it here. The next two are just a simple basketweave. I liked it the best, so I did it twice. I wanted to do the ballband dishcloth, but couldn't remember what it was called. And so then I noticed a day or two after I finished these three I had queued it on Ravelry. So, its pretty appropriate that my first dishcloth was the Idiot's dishcloth. I will do ballband next time.
I have also managed to make a patch, but I still need to get the iron on backing before its finished. Thats on the shopping list for tomorrow. I have started a toe-up sock, I like the toe up. I tried to do the Baudelaire by Monkey A., but I don't like the way the lace pattern is working out. I will probably frog it and do cables instead, I LOVE cables. 
I have made 2 more tudoras, one for my mom and one for my sister. I love the tudora pattern, I need to make one for myself. I am getting rather fast at knitting them. Here is the one for my mom, as modeled by Sylvie:
The yarn is simply "Homespun" by Lionbrand yarn. The colorway is baroque. I liked it okay, I thought the color would be great for my mom. However, as I was knitting I realized, this color is beautiful! Isn't that funny how you can fall in love with a color as you're knitting it?
Speaking of beautiful color, I love the colors of "Vanna's Choice." Not that any yarns I have been using are fancy (except the hand dyed $22 sock yarn as seen above), but I think they are very nice. This is my sister Jamie's tudora in Vanna's Choice "Rose". My camera didn't quite do it justice, its a little more dusky than this. If you click on it, you can probably see the cute bone-heart button I got at Hancock's. I love it.
I had to model because Sylvie, my usual model, was eating with coworkers tonight. I like it, and probably have enough yarn left to make another, along with another button. My sis and I could be twinkies, ha. But I really love the silvery-blue Vanna's Choice, and its on sale everywhere, so I could just make one in that color for myself :)
On to school stuff. I watched several movies from our Middle Eastern Film Festival last week. They were all so good. Some were excessively sad, like "Turtles Can Fly". Its a Kurdish movie. "Gaza Strip" was the saddest, its about the stuff happening to the Palestinians in Gaza. Its terrible. I kept crying. Its heard to believe the Israelis (Jewish) are doing this kind of stuff (shooting off tanks into crowds of children and shooting at kids playing in "forbidden" areas) to the Palestinians (Muslim). Especially since they began this genocide in 1948, just a few years after the Germans did the same thing to them. They may not be putting people in work and death camps, but they are trapping people in ghettos where they are denied basic needs. I can't understand why the U.N. stands for this; supports it even. The Israelis are also breaking the rules set by the U.N. at the formation of Israel, that there would be no more settlements. They are settling and pushing out the former inhabitants (Palestinians) more and more all the time. Its disgusting and inhumane.
Well, I better watch my mouth before I get thrown in Gitmo. There were other good movies, like The Syrian Bride, The Children of Ibdaa, and West Bank Story. West Bank Story is hilarious, and in English, and on YouTube. Look it up and watch it, its only 20 minutes long. Hilarious. Sadly, I missed the Yemen movies, I was too lazy to drive to school that day. My professor has done extensive archeaological work there. Its a lovely place. Also I missed The Battle of Algiers, which was made in 1966. Its a big classic, you can find it at Barnes and Noble. It was cancelled because of the shooting.
Well now I need to look up some info on a presentation I have to give next week. I have to expound on the different theories of what triggered bipedalism in humans. Pretty easy, but I need to find some good pics.
I have been knitting away. I have finished 3 washcloths, but have yet to weave in the ends. They are sugars n cream and peaches n cream yarn. I don't remember which is which, but I like them all. I still have two colors I haven't done yet.
The purple one is done in a pattern called "Idiots Dishcloth". Its weird, because you knit the whole thing sideways, so it looks diamond shaped on your needles. I found it here. The next two are just a simple basketweave. I liked it the best, so I did it twice. I wanted to do the ballband dishcloth, but couldn't remember what it was called. And so then I noticed a day or two after I finished these three I had queued it on Ravelry. So, its pretty appropriate that my first dishcloth was the Idiot's dishcloth. I will do ballband next time.
I have also managed to make a patch, but I still need to get the iron on backing before its finished. Thats on the shopping list for tomorrow. I have started a toe-up sock, I like the toe up. I tried to do the Baudelaire by Monkey A., but I don't like the way the lace pattern is working out. I will probably frog it and do cables instead, I LOVE cables. 
I have made 2 more tudoras, one for my mom and one for my sister. I love the tudora pattern, I need to make one for myself. I am getting rather fast at knitting them. Here is the one for my mom, as modeled by Sylvie:
The yarn is simply "Homespun" by Lionbrand yarn. The colorway is baroque. I liked it okay, I thought the color would be great for my mom. However, as I was knitting I realized, this color is beautiful! Isn't that funny how you can fall in love with a color as you're knitting it?
Speaking of beautiful color, I love the colors of "Vanna's Choice." Not that any yarns I have been using are fancy (except the hand dyed $22 sock yarn as seen above), but I think they are very nice. This is my sister Jamie's tudora in Vanna's Choice "Rose". My camera didn't quite do it justice, its a little more dusky than this. If you click on it, you can probably see the cute bone-heart button I got at Hancock's. I love it.
I had to model because Sylvie, my usual model, was eating with coworkers tonight. I like it, and probably have enough yarn left to make another, along with another button. My sis and I could be twinkies, ha. But I really love the silvery-blue Vanna's Choice, and its on sale everywhere, so I could just make one in that color for myself :)
On to school stuff. I watched several movies from our Middle Eastern Film Festival last week. They were all so good. Some were excessively sad, like "Turtles Can Fly". Its a Kurdish movie. "Gaza Strip" was the saddest, its about the stuff happening to the Palestinians in Gaza. Its terrible. I kept crying. Its heard to believe the Israelis (Jewish) are doing this kind of stuff (shooting off tanks into crowds of children and shooting at kids playing in "forbidden" areas) to the Palestinians (Muslim). Especially since they began this genocide in 1948, just a few years after the Germans did the same thing to them. They may not be putting people in work and death camps, but they are trapping people in ghettos where they are denied basic needs. I can't understand why the U.N. stands for this; supports it even. The Israelis are also breaking the rules set by the U.N. at the formation of Israel, that there would be no more settlements. They are settling and pushing out the former inhabitants (Palestinians) more and more all the time. Its disgusting and inhumane.
Well, I better watch my mouth before I get thrown in Gitmo. There were other good movies, like The Syrian Bride, The Children of Ibdaa, and West Bank Story. West Bank Story is hilarious, and in English, and on YouTube. Look it up and watch it, its only 20 minutes long. Hilarious. Sadly, I missed the Yemen movies, I was too lazy to drive to school that day. My professor has done extensive archeaological work there. Its a lovely place. Also I missed The Battle of Algiers, which was made in 1966. Its a big classic, you can find it at Barnes and Noble. It was cancelled because of the shooting.
Well now I need to look up some info on a presentation I have to give next week. I have to expound on the different theories of what triggered bipedalism in humans. Pretty easy, but I need to find some good pics.
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