Red

My saturday morning ramblings uncovered these gems...

2009-09-05T05:25:00.006-10:00

2006: Japanese researchers debuted a robot able to identify dozens of different wines, cheeses and hors d'oeuvres using an infrared spectrometer. Neato, right? Then at the end of the article...

"Some of the mistakes it makes would get a human sommelier fired — or worse.
When a reporter's hand was placed against the robot's taste sensor, it was identified as prosciutto. A cameraman was mistaken for bacon."

A weird article redeemed by implied canibalism.
Read the full story here.

Ok... I keep finding fun articles, so I'm gonna post some more:
No need for sugar and cream today

Curious Expeditions, so glad I found this one

Blood Falls

The Great Molasses Flood of Boston

Banana Apocolypse

for fun

2009-08-28T13:39:00.002-10:00

1 minute, 13 seconds

I'm Baack

2009-08-24T14:44:00.000-10:00

He he... and you all probally thought I'd never be back

Music, booze, dancing...

2006-12-13T06:58:00.000-10:00

Opah! Yeah, I got talked into mooching... and I didn't even sleep in the car!

Gogol was super fun! I was squished into the pit with approximately 200 people... sweaty, drunk, bouncing people. The only thing that sucked was that I couldn't really dance to Gogol while they were playing; every time I cleared out enough space to dance, people thought I was starting to mosh and pushed and shoved everyone into my little floor room. I got pretty mean at the end and knocked over this guy (he was twice my size and had the funniest expression on his face when I shoved him over). He wasn't supposed to go over like that... Sorry Dude... my friend Jacob picked him up for me. The afterparty had some sweet ethnic techno going on, I literally was dancing my pants off (I forgot my belt). This is where I wonked a kid in the head with my elbow on the dance floor... Sorry Kiddo! We had to leave early because Matt was tired and wanted food and bed. ConCon and I were so sad... we were having fun dancing and watching all the peoples. Then there was some bad driving, fighting, and general hissy fits... so we won't get into that...

Oh yeah, and Sergey has been dubbed the 'Gypsy Santa Claus', just thought you like to know...

Third Wheel... yet again

2006-12-17T18:15:00.000-10:00

Good news, I finally went to Orvis and got a nice neked soak and my back doesn't hurt quite as bad now. Bad news, I was the third wheel again (at least it wasn't for the entire time). I'm really not enjoying this third wheel sydrome that I seem to have aquired. Not that I mind being single, it's just that I think that I would like to go out with my ConCon and not have the Matt along for a change. He's nice, I have nothing against him, I just wanna spend some time without him attached to her face, or touching her, or bothering her in general. I just want to hang out with my friend for a change, not my friend and her boy.

I really think that I need to try and socialize more. This theme echos in my conversations with my friends (Yes, I may only have a few, but I do have some friends), I need to get out and stop bitching about never getting laid. They seem to think that if I went out of my house and hung around a couple of people that I would feel better and not be so sad (and that would help the getting laid thing). Problem being that when I'm with people I still feel alone and isolated (usually more than when I'm alone), I usually feel so out of place and uncomfortable around 'normal' people. I see all the bad in these freaks of nature: the consumerism, no compassion or empathy for others, the greed, and the quest for power. I don't want to be around people like this, and yet, that is all that surrounds me. Especially this time of year. I just about vomit every time I turn on the TV, all I ever see is someone trying to sell something that no one really needs but everyone thinks they want. So many people care more about how many gifts they got, or how much something costs... are they gonna fucking engrave this shit on your tombstone, the list of all the cool toys that you got? That'll be something to talk about in hell while your tush is getting roasted. I'll be in hell too, but I don't know why for yet.

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-12-19T07:24:00.000-10:00

Pretty, pretty snow... how I love thee...

Icarus Shawl and Mittens

2006-12-21T06:38:00.000-10:00

Well, Icarus found a great new home. I'm so happy to give it to someone that I know will appreciate it, and because that means that I can start something new! Until I get some good pics of the new owner, these will have to suffice:

I also get to do a custom pair of flap mittens (or 'glittens' as we've been calling them). I've made a ton of stuff and love to design and reconfigure patterns, so I'm super excited! Plus, they're gonna be pumpkin orange... so bright and happy they will be!

Vesowich Shviant

2006-12-25T14:19:00.000-10:00

or Merry Christmas in Polish. I'm not really one for the holidays, but since it is Christmas I'll go ahead and say it.

The holiday went pretty well, no big excitement or anything. I am continued to be amazed that, even in a large crowd, I tend to sit in the corner and watch everybody. My mum kept telling me to go into the kitchen because that's were all the 'young people' were, but they all knew each other well and didn't really want to talk to the stranger who looked so different from them. Everyone else pretty much stuck to bland pleasantries, and to ask me weird questions (like if I washed my hair and if my lip piercing got in the way). Praise the Gods for wine!

I got to talk to some family, which was nice, except for my bro, Mike. He always likes to antagonize me and tries to get me all riled up... and he likes Bush... and is against most of what I stand for in this crazy world. I hate the fact that there are so many members of my family that are so different from me, and cannot accept that I have different (more humanitarian) views on this world. Most of them are so brutal in their thinking, and if they would take the time to put themselves in other people's shoes, they would realize why I am the way I am. I try to voice my opinions, but they will not listen, even though I do listen to theirs. I try and tell myself that they haven't had my experiences and education and friends, that they are angry and afraid and strike out from that... it doesn't help. They still say hurtful things about people and cultures that they know nothing about, and they don't understand why I defend the people that they bash in their ignorance. It's sad to say, but my way of showing love to that part of my family is just to put up with it and try and ignore their hatefilled words.

And on a different note...
This is something that I never thought I'd see...

that would be an eagle attacking a fox... I bet that magpie is glad that it's the fox! Nature never ceases to amaze me, and I will never forget that She controls it all and that She will hurt those who have hurt Her.

Why yes, my relatives are harpies, couldn't you tell?

2006-12-27T05:34:00.000-10:00

And they are... mean nasties that fly down and steal your essence... Okay, not all of them, and probably not most of them (my family is pretty small and far apart), but the ones who are surely take the cake.
Here's the scoop: I called a 'loved one' on Christmas, pretty normal stuff - weather and how its supposed to be for the next couple of days. I started to talk about the IRS and a sly comment about Bush slipped out... oops. She went off on a tangent, all I told her was that I couldn't say anything nice about Bush and the nicest thing that I could say to her about that hate filled man was that he is not a very good christian. She asked me if I liked Clinton better (as she phrased it 'that man, who had SEX in the OVAL OFFICE, the WHITE HOUSE!)... hmmm... uh yeah lady... I think that he was better than Bush, 'course that doesn't really say too much about either one of them. Grr.... then she went on about immigrants. I pointed out that our relatives were once immigrants and they were hated and not really welcomed into the country (oh but that's when the country was young, she replies, so it was ok for our people to come in illegally). I pointed out that immigrants are an important part of our country, and politicians are the ones who are making this such a big deal because our economy is slipping.

This had to have been one of the most infuriating conversations that I have ever had... Oh yeah, the whole time during this conversation I kept telling her that I really don't want to fight with her, that we are so different in thinking that we will never agree and that their is no point in angering each other. She kept going on until I kept repeating myself over her until she finally shut her hate-hole. I should have told her my views on sex, abortion and drugs... that woulda been cool, and she would probably have a heart-attack on the phone and I would have felt terrible. Or I could have sent her a picture of me with all the tattoos and piercings possible showing... that would piss her off (by the way, this woman told me that if my tattoos or piercings were visible, that she did not want me to walk next to her... because people might think that I'm with her).

The best part of the conversation is when she pulled out the age card (I've had more experiences and that makes me right) on me, I think that it is really funny when you back an older person into a corner of logic and they have to use the age card to get out... well, I've been around longer so you'll learn... yeah, had I stuck around you old lady, I would have learned to hate anyone that isn't white, republican, Lutheran, or anyone else that you have decided to hate. If your age made you that bitter to all those people maybe you should look at the one thing in common there old woman... yourself. The only reason you hate those who are different than you is because you hate yourself so much, and so you must throw that feeling on others that you fear.

I thank the Fates for my parents divorce and therefore less exposure to the vile woman mentioned above. I found love, peace, empathy, and the want to care for others through my mother, and only through her guidance was I able to destroy the hate and apathy that others tried to instill in my. Thank you mum, great job! Thank you for trying to instill real values and morals into my head.

New Year, Same Ole Shit

2007-01-02T07:38:00.000-10:00

Yup, shit...
Somehow, my mum gets some of the weirdest, cutest pictures. This was up in an Alaskan backyard. Hehheheheh... now I really know why mum wanted me to go play outside all the time... 'you'll meet kids your age' she used to say... I didn't believe her back then either.

And some funny shit from the Asylum Street Spankers... go on... click on the link... I know you wanna...

Bendy Dolls!!!

2007-01-05T13:30:00.000-10:00

I found this book in a second-hand store in Ridgeway a couple of days before christmas. The title is "The Seven Dwarves Sneewittchens", I don't know what Sneewittchens is... so if you know, please enlighten me. All the pictures are super neato keen, like the cover below...

I finished some cute little dolls for Etsy. Their names are Anna, Rowan, and the third one doesn't have one yet. It seems that the green one is the favorite of all the people who have seen her.

I do knit... I really do...

2007-01-30T07:45:00.000-10:00

I know that I've been bitching lately, too much for my tastes, O Imaginary Brothers. So I thought that I would cheer my ass up a little and show some finished stuff that is going into my store.
Handspun, hand dyed merino scarf and beanie set, light blue and green.

Handspun, hand dyed merino scarf and beanie set, red.

There is more, I just haven't added it to the store yet. I have some felt pins to put up, but the pictures were terrible, so I'll get those up later.

And a fuzzy memory of the day, 'cuz Matt made me think of it last night ; )
My father lost his front two teeth as a child and had falsies. He would take them out and pretend to bite my fingers off. I would laugh and laugh... it still makes me smile to think that any of my fingers were small enough to fit into the 'front tooth void'.

Grump, Grump, Grumpy

2007-02-12T08:32:00.000-10:00

That's what I've been lately... and I'm very tired of it. I've also been very manicy, which isn't really fun. Nor is hearing from your father and having him tell you (basically) that you need to get off your ass and do something.... and while your at it, Get A JOB!

And all I want to do is lay in bed and sleep, or do crazy amounts of crafting. I finished a quilt top yesterday, it was for a queen/full bed, but ended up a bit smaller than I wanted (70 x 76 inches). It looks really cool, now all I need is some batting and muslin for the back. Because I didn't have enough of either at home (and it was Sunday and HL was closed), I started on another one... this one is flannel and will be more baby-sized because of the prints and colors. I would give a sneak peak at one, or both, but I am a little too lazy to get out the camera and lay out the tops... at least I'm honest, eh?

I have a lovely date for Valentine's day, my friend ConCon. She calls me her 'hetrosexual lifemate', I guess that means I'm her friend. This way she doesn't have to feel bad and tell a partner that she is hanging out with different one and no one feels bad. This way, my friends won't feel bad that I spent Valentine's day alone. I don't see why anyone cares if I am alone, it's just one more day that I've spent by myself, and I like me (except for when I hate myself, or
rotting at a stupid job).

This is S Dali... I like it. I wonder how long it took them to get everyone positioned right.

Stuff has been done...

2007-02-21T15:20:00.000-10:00

Yes. I have actually accomplished some things over the last couple of days... knitting, sewing, and some recycling...

First off... knitting:
I finished John's blanket. YES!!! I could have actually made it a bit longer, but after some 70+ inches of short-rows every eight rows.... sigh... yeah, I'm pretty surprised that it didn't get thrown into a corner or screamed at more often. I did really well with the pattern, it's from knitty.com - a slight adaptation of Lizard Ridge.

I used Lion brand Homespun in praire and sierra, almost four skeins of each. And yes, I am a yarn snob and hate, hate, hate acrylic yarn... but this stuff isn't the epitome of all evils, it is soft... and washable.

Next... sewing, of which I have no pictures, mainly because I hate taking pics of myself. Especially when one considers that I made two pairs of undies and a pair of shorts. Yup, you're welcome O Imaginary Brothers, I truely have spaired your eyesight.

Ahh... and then... I thought of this last night as I was laying in bed...
ok... it probally doesn't look like much. Just some little notepads, the covers are recycled cookbook pages, inside are 20 unlined sheets of paper. Hand-bound by my sewing machine. Super duper cute, I love little notepads and have them stuffed everywhere. These are approximately 4 x 5 1/2 inches, five in each set for $8.99, $1.99 for S & H. To purchase go to my etsy shop

Plus, at the shop there is a ton of sewing patterns and other neato oddities. Soon there will be some sewing guides, knitting patterns and some old embroidery transfers from the 40's, 50's and 60's. I may add some beanies and sweaters for Pullip and Blythe sized dolls, but it is almost spring...

That's about it, I've been working on a beautiful shawl in merino for myself from the Victorian Lace Today book. It's gonna be HUGE... it's the spiderweb shawl in full hexagon... the six foot across one that uses some 1700 yards of lace weight yarn. Yeah! Back to knitting!

Crochet

2007-02-27T14:47:00.000-10:00

I just can't seem to stop crocheting. It's too much fun, of course my carp-my-in-tunnels is acting up really bad, and it makes my elbows ache (weird) but I still have found the joy in it. I'm mainly sticking to single crochet at the moment because I really wanna make one of those market baskets. Here's my first attempt at winging a pattern, the shaping is off - I'm going for more of a rounded basket - but it's still a nicely shaped basket thingy. I'm not sure if I'll keep it, sell it, or give it away... hrm... guess I'll figure it out somehow ; )

The second picture is the first crocheted object that I've finished (other than huge sc blankets). The pattern is from CrochetMe. It was simple enough, I just changed around the stitch count so that I could use my hand spun hemp and used her principle and shaping for the bottom. Now I'ma little sorry that I used that yarn and not the flax yarn first, only because the hemp is sooooooooooo soft and it would have made a nice hat or something... The sucky thing is that really good quality hemp top can be hard to find. I got this hemp top from The Yarn Tree, it's staple length is only about four or five inches long, so it's easy enough to spin, although it was a little weird to spin at first because the fibers slide so easily against each other.

Not much else going on, I think my flu-y thing has pretty much cleared up. I just have a runny nose and an odd taste in my mouth, (it's like I've been licking a burnt battery) of course that could be because of the massive amount of hot tea I've been drinking.

Yarn p0rn

2007-03-04T11:31:00.000-10:00

Yeah! I love dyeing up this stuff. It's 100% merino and soooooooooooo soft! And since I've been in a violet mood I dyed up two skeins of violet. So, without further ado, I present to you Violet 1 and 2:To purchase, simply go to my Etsy shop.

Busy as a Frickin' Bee

2007-03-20T10:26:00.000-10:00

Yup, I thought that I'd never be this busy! It's great, on Sunday I had one appointment to model, and now I have about 12 over the next 2-3 weeks! I've been booking people right and left... I love the fact that I'm actually getting to work a job that I enjoy doing. I've been needing the money reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaalllly badly, so it's perfect timing too!

I put a pair of knitting needles that I made on etsy. They were super fun to make. And turned out so pretty! Check 'em out... buy them... I know you want to....
And the next pic is mainly for the benefit of Rachel. Here is the sock I was talking about the other night, my sad, sad sock. I won't go into it too much, but her mate-to-be was lost (along with the needles). So, I'm thinking of frogging the mate-less sock and re-knitting the pattern with the blue and green and knitting the toes and heels with the purple and grey. Hrm... or I might just sell the blue and green, it is Lorna's Laces, so nice and soft.... I just don't know... So, O Imaginary Brothers and Sisters, help me out... drop me a line and lemme know what to do with my precarious sock situation.

Friday the 13th

2007-04-13T15:16:00.000-10:00

It's always been a good day for me.

I've been wanting an octopus on my wrist for a while now, and hopefully, it will happen soon. I think I have a deal worked out with the artist, I just have to wait for some feedback on some body butter that I made. So this is the little guy I'm thinking of adding to my arm, a blue ringed octopus. I wonder what life is like for an octopus...

Stinking Busy!

2007-04-18T05:39:00.000-10:00

I really have to stop eating meat. I've already made the decision to become a vegetarian again (not that hard because I only ate meat once or twice a week anyhow), but I didn't want to waste the meat in my freezer. So I've been trying to use it up, only I smell now. Really badly. Now, others don't seem to notice - I have super-sonic smelling - but my smell has changed drastically, and not in a good way. This red meat is oozing out of my pores and it's driving me crazy, I feel like running around the block and trying to speed up the process. Should I go and find a sauna and stink up the place? Grr.... This really sucks, if I could walk away from myself for a week, I would.

On another note, some of my gal pals and I are having a talk about menstruation and alternative feminine products. It's gonna be a fun time, and I'm in charge of putting together some make-your-own-pad kits and sewing together a sample. Even though I have a ton of things that I need to do and that need to get done, I think its extremely important for women and girls to know and hear about alternatives to corporate products. At our pre-meeting meeting, we all lamented that none of use had much experience with the Keeper or the DivaCup and that none of us were gonna bleed in time to try it out. Here's a flyer for those who are close enough to attend.
I wanna try the Divacup but I also want to get a pair of LunaPanties at the same time, and I really cannot afford both at the moment. I currently use a sea sponge tampon and I love them! Really comfy and I love the fact that I just need the one all day long, just wash it out and re-insert. Just be careful when you sneeze on those super-heavy days! But the Divacup lasts about ten years, for a one-time $35 investment, the sponges are $8 for two and last about 4 - 6 months. That's a huge saving on something that half the population needs (or will need) to use! Some people think that this is disgusting, all I have to say is that this is your body and menstruation is not the most disgusting thing your body can and will do. 'They' have been telling us that menstruation is shameful and should be hidden at all costs. This is something that you will have to deal with for forty years or so; get used to it, understand your body a bit better and embrace that blood - that's what makes us women. Embrace your womanhood and don't be afraid of it! In my mind, it's better than a hysterectomy.

Please note: I'm not a doctor, I'm just a person who doesn't like corporations in the most private of my crannies. Obviously, these products may not be for everybody, but they are a great alternative to sticking chemical-filled bleached wads of cotton up my vagina.

Beware: Budgetary Lapses & Retail Therapy

2007-04-23T05:48:00.000-10:00

First off, this pattern from Future Girl. When I first saw her octo on her blog, I prayed to the Divine Creatures above for her to make a pattern for all to enjoy... then she did! Without further ado, I present Dr. Gus Octo... there will be others... I feel the need for an army of octo minions! *evil tenting of fingers* Bwahha ahaha aha ha! Then, I found this from Etsy seller serineery and I HAD to buy it... budget be damned!
I also bit the bullet and finally purchased some lunapanties and a divacup. Grr... I had to do it, my sponges need to be replaced soon, and I've wanted to try a menstrual cup since the moment I heard about them. I could have made some washable pads, I made a couple of samples for the class I'm helping with, but I've never really liked disposable pads all that much (yucky, sticky plastic!) so they'll probably end up being used overnight or for whenever I can't wear my cup. I think I'll like the washable pads better than disposable ones, mainly because I think that they will be more comfortable (hmm... flannel vs plastic... sitting on a plastic mattress for a couple of hours... no thank you Mr. Corporate Man!).

And, speaking of menstruation and alternitive products! For anyone in my area, here's the flyer for the class that I mentioned above...
It's at Mesa State College (MSC) in the Krey-Ziegel room (in the same building as the bookstore and cafe) and should be filled with tons of good info so that you can make your own choice about your own body and vagina. A great way to inform yourself and break free from the corporations that think more about money than OUR bodies and health!

Yea! My cup is here... and my period!

2007-04-28T06:29:00.000-10:00

Wow, Devine Providence, you are great! I got my menstruation shirt on Thursday, I started my period yesterday morning, and then my DivaCup arrived in the mail in the afternoon! And the girls and I thought that no one would be able to try a cup before our menstrual class on Monday...
I have to say that I do like it. It is tricky to get inserted properly, but that is just a practice thing. I think that I will end up trimming the stem a bit so the thing may be more comfy whenever I sit or for riding a bike. Overall I think this thing is AWESOME! I was a little afraid when I first saw it in person, it seemed a bit big and stiff. What I found was that the silicone is soft and pretty darn flexy, and that it doesn't sit in your vagina with the top of the cup round. Your vagina molds it into an elipitical shape when the cup pops open (and the popping open isn't as dramatic as it sounds). This is definately NOT for people who can't stick their fingers inside themselves, or for people who don't want to touch their own blood. I don't mind and actually like the fact that the blood is in a cup and I can see the color, texture and viscosity of my menstrual blood (and the DivaCup has little tickmarks for 1/4 and 1/2 ozs, cool).

Way too cool of a product... I can't believe that it took so long for me to hear about this cup thing!

Misc... boozing around and knitting

2007-05-14T11:05:00.000-10:00

Supermadchen, I think I fixed the comment thing, please let me know when you comment again!

Crazy craziness... nah, not really. I've just been too busy to blog... I actually went out, several times this weekend! Being poor, it's hard to drop twenty or thirty bucks in a bar... on booze... that I pee out... but I got to kidnap one of my friends (she usually has to drag me out, so it was a good change of pace). Plus, the big bro is in town, so mischief was emminate. It was a great weekend!

And now for something completely different...
Some may recognize this, the Spiderweb Shawl from Victorian Lace Today... ug... glad I'm done, it only took me seven or eight months to finish. Unfortunately, I did make a mistake (due to lost stitch markers) that I didn't notice until it was bound off (some 2400 stitches) and I refuse to fix it at this point. I've shown it to several people, and the mistake is noticable in this particular state, but when I wear it no one notices. I need to figure out what color I want to dye it... white and I don't agree. Help me out a bit and suggest a color!

Why don't people say goodbye?

2007-05-22T17:31:00.000-10:00

Two of my friends left town today to go to Europe for five weeks, I'm leaving for at least a couple of months and going to Illinois and then to Hawaii. They were both aware that I was leaving and when they were leaving, neither of them said goodbye to me before they left. No call, no email, no visit, nada. I even stopped by the house today so that I could say goodbye. I thought that I meant more to them than that. I really don't know what to feel right now.

Something that makes me smile... a baby tapir

Tattoo!!!

2007-06-01T07:23:00.000-10:00

My Octo is here!!! Well, on my arm, and only part of it 'cus Ryan didn't have enough time to do the tentacles before I left.He finished it well, so that it doesn't look incomplete without the tentacles. It was hard to photograph because I just put some aquaphor on it. I'll take another picture once it has peeled and healed.

13 Days and Counting

2007-09-05T09:27:00.000-10:00

In less than two weeks I'll be in Hawaii, crazy! I hope that my plane doesn't crash into the ocean, that would suck monkey butt. I'm nervous and scared and excited, which makes my stomach upset and my sleep habits really weird (try going to bed at 6:30 am, or not at all!).

Here's something that makes me happy, my sweetie Alex. (He's the one that died not too long ago.) I miss him dearly, but he made the bad times good, and I have nothing but love and thanks for my little fur baby.