I have slowly been getting with the program and started listening to some knitting podcasts. I've been reading about podcasts for a while now and so many people write about how much they really enjoy listening to them. I have been just amazed at how many podcasts there are! There are podcasts about just about anything you can imagine. I guess it's the next best thing since the blog. Seems like it's the child OF the blog. Cuz usually where there is a podcast there was a blog first. But then again, where there is a podcast, there is a blog of the show notes, so I guess it's a matter of chicken or the egg. Either way, it's a lot of fun to listen to and really entertaining.
Up until just the last few weeks I've only been able to listen to them on my computer. I've told my DH that I really wanted an ipod so that I could put my podcasts and my talking books on it and use it while knitting or choring or whatever. So much more freedom than to be hooked up to this thing. So far I don't have my ipod yet, but he did get me a new cell phone the other day that has all kinds of neat bells and whistles on it, one being the ability to play MP3's. It stores them on a removable flash card like you put in a digital camera which it totally cool, so you can buy a larger one than what came with the phone. The one that came in the phone is only 128mg, so it really doesn't hold that much. Especially if you have any photos stored in the memory also, which I do. But it holds enough that I can put about 30 minutes or so on it right now so that I have something to listen to while I'm waiting at the doctors office or whatever.
So far, I have to say that my absolute favorite podcast knitting wise is Lime and Violet. Those two women just have TOO much fun!! I can totally see myself being friends with them. They absolutely crack me up. My 2nd favorite podcast is probably Cast On. Even the yarn supplier WEBS has gotten on the podcast bandwagon with one called "READY, SET, KNIT!", and it is pretty darn good too.
What is neat about these things is that they are absolutely free to listen to. I get mine from ITUNES, but I'm pretty sure that there are several different hosts that they uplink their shows to and they are all free to subscribe to. ITUNES keeps a show archive, so whatever has been aired in the past you can listen to also. It's really simple to use, and if you have a fast connection it takes no time at all to upload an edition or a "show". I don't know about the other hosts, but on ITUNES, they have a search feature so you can type in knitting or spinning and get a great long list.
Only thing I've noticed with these podcasts is that the people who start them are kinda like us who have blogs. We all start out with great intentions I suppose and then life or circumstances get in the way. Some of the knitting/spinning podcasts haven't had any new episodes broadcast in a good while. I'll keep the ones I liked in my queue anyway just in case they get back in the program saddle and start broadcasting again. It always shows when a show has been updated.
SO.....if you haven't checked out podcasts, I say do it. And start with Lime 'n Violet. You can find their blog about their podcast with the shownotes here at: http://www.limenviolet.blogspot.com/ Seriously, any woman who refers to her lumps in her breast as "boob rocks" has got to have a MAJOR sense of humor.
OTN: Calometrics and fingerless mitts for my sister
Toodles............
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Friday, January 05, 2007
Welcome 2007
Well, another year has arrived. Yes, I am the captain of the obvious. I am one who does not make New Year's Resolutions. I figure meh! what's the point? Why set myself up for certain failure? I'm just hoping for better. Better than what? Well that would take far, far too long. Those in the teeny tiny inner circle are already bored with the details. Not that the inner circle is teeny tiny, but that there are just very few people. Anymore.
I used to know people. I used to know ALOT of people. In fact, a lot of people used to know me. Mainly because I lived in the same small town for 20 years (small town, being about 6500 pop.) and because for 18 years of the 20, I worked in the public service arena. More people probably knew who I was than I knew who they were actually. I lost all of that. I'm not over that yet.
Number one son has moved away. I really am not sure how I feel about this. He is 3 hours away now. As a mom, that is a little bit scary. But, on the other hand, as a mom, that is somewhat exciting because I hope and pray that he finally takes this time to grow up. He wasted the last three years of his life so perhaps this means that his head if finally screwed on frontwards. He did live on his own for about 2 years previously, but he was here in town and close enough to get to if I needed to. It almost feels like he is really gone gone.
Pa and I too Malia to the play yard at Burger King the other day. That little toot, I tell you one thing, she is NOT afraid of anything. It wasn't anytime before she was climbing all the way up to the top of the tower thing with the big kids. And just grinning from ear to ear.
We need it to stop raining! It has been raining it seems like for about a month at least. Poor kid, the only thing Malia wanted for Christmas was a tractor. You know, one of those battery car things? Except this thing looks like a John Deere tractor complete with front end loader and trailer to haul stuff. I don't think she has had a chance to play with it outside yet. But she sure has tore up the house with it. Kitchen table? Not a problem......right into the laundry room. She wants to help her daddy scoop up the horse poop. More power to her!
Boy number 2 and 3 had an interesting and adventuresome holiday break. One they won't soon forget to say the least. We shall see how soon this life lesson lasts.
So, I'm wondering if any of you who are experienced with hot flashes and all the miserable events that go with it have any nuggets of wisdom to pass along about how to live through the torture? I'm dying. And my family if turning into human popsickles. My poor husband who is usually a human heater is even freezing. It's rediculous. I think it's time for a medication adjustment.
I used to know people. I used to know ALOT of people. In fact, a lot of people used to know me. Mainly because I lived in the same small town for 20 years (small town, being about 6500 pop.) and because for 18 years of the 20, I worked in the public service arena. More people probably knew who I was than I knew who they were actually. I lost all of that. I'm not over that yet.
Number one son has moved away. I really am not sure how I feel about this. He is 3 hours away now. As a mom, that is a little bit scary. But, on the other hand, as a mom, that is somewhat exciting because I hope and pray that he finally takes this time to grow up. He wasted the last three years of his life so perhaps this means that his head if finally screwed on frontwards. He did live on his own for about 2 years previously, but he was here in town and close enough to get to if I needed to. It almost feels like he is really gone gone.
Pa and I too Malia to the play yard at Burger King the other day. That little toot, I tell you one thing, she is NOT afraid of anything. It wasn't anytime before she was climbing all the way up to the top of the tower thing with the big kids. And just grinning from ear to ear.
We need it to stop raining! It has been raining it seems like for about a month at least. Poor kid, the only thing Malia wanted for Christmas was a tractor. You know, one of those battery car things? Except this thing looks like a John Deere tractor complete with front end loader and trailer to haul stuff. I don't think she has had a chance to play with it outside yet. But she sure has tore up the house with it. Kitchen table? Not a problem......right into the laundry room. She wants to help her daddy scoop up the horse poop. More power to her!
Boy number 2 and 3 had an interesting and adventuresome holiday break. One they won't soon forget to say the least. We shall see how soon this life lesson lasts.
So, I'm wondering if any of you who are experienced with hot flashes and all the miserable events that go with it have any nuggets of wisdom to pass along about how to live through the torture? I'm dying. And my family if turning into human popsickles. My poor husband who is usually a human heater is even freezing. It's rediculous. I think it's time for a medication adjustment.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Christmas Eve gift!
There is a very strange tradition in my family. Why we have it I don't know. I know even less about how it got started or what it really is all about. But here is the deal....
We all have to be very careful when we answer the phone if Mom or Dad call. If they call and we just say "Hello" we are busted cuz the deal is the first person who says "Christmas Eve Gift!" to the other family member has to gift that other person. So the trick is to remember to answer the phone with "Christmas Eve Gift" or to call them first and to try to catch them off guard. As they are getting older, it's getting alot easier hehehe! All the years past that my dad has nailed me he has just laughed and laughed and laughed like I made his whole holiday season. To this day, if I don't call him and at least try to catch him, I think he would be very disappointed. Isn't it funny the things we do that over the years we just keep on doing and we forget why but the tradition carries on and on? I wonder how many of you who read my blog also have those odd little quirky family traditions? I'd love to hear them?
Another one we do got started at those HUGE family holiday dinners. You know the ones.......mountains of dishes and pots and pans. The kind that would keep the dishwashers in the kitchen forever. This was during the pre-automatic dishwasher days. As dinner winds down and everyone is enjoying coffee and dessert, all of the sudden you will start to notice a subtle silence begin to creep into and around the room. Upon closer inspection, you will notice that people have one finger laid along side of thier nose. In our family, a finger laid along side of the nose after a big family meal, protects said person from KP duty. The last person(s) to give the "finger" does the dishes! So it really pays to stay on your toes around our bunch.....at least until the table is cleared.
I hope all of you have a joyous holiday, however you choose to celebrate the season. May you have peace in your heart, love in your life and warmth in your hearth. I hope you all got all your projects done!
We all have to be very careful when we answer the phone if Mom or Dad call. If they call and we just say "Hello" we are busted cuz the deal is the first person who says "Christmas Eve Gift!" to the other family member has to gift that other person. So the trick is to remember to answer the phone with "Christmas Eve Gift" or to call them first and to try to catch them off guard. As they are getting older, it's getting alot easier hehehe! All the years past that my dad has nailed me he has just laughed and laughed and laughed like I made his whole holiday season. To this day, if I don't call him and at least try to catch him, I think he would be very disappointed. Isn't it funny the things we do that over the years we just keep on doing and we forget why but the tradition carries on and on? I wonder how many of you who read my blog also have those odd little quirky family traditions? I'd love to hear them?
Another one we do got started at those HUGE family holiday dinners. You know the ones.......mountains of dishes and pots and pans. The kind that would keep the dishwashers in the kitchen forever. This was during the pre-automatic dishwasher days. As dinner winds down and everyone is enjoying coffee and dessert, all of the sudden you will start to notice a subtle silence begin to creep into and around the room. Upon closer inspection, you will notice that people have one finger laid along side of thier nose. In our family, a finger laid along side of the nose after a big family meal, protects said person from KP duty. The last person(s) to give the "finger" does the dishes! So it really pays to stay on your toes around our bunch.....at least until the table is cleared.
I hope all of you have a joyous holiday, however you choose to celebrate the season. May you have peace in your heart, love in your life and warmth in your hearth. I hope you all got all your projects done!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Two Year Anniversary
Today marks the two year anniversay of the fire that took the lives of my husband's daughters. I am very happy to say that this year he seems to be doing much better emotionally. I know he is hurting, if he wasn't still hurting, he wouldn't be normal. But at least he still isn't nearly catatonic like he was last year this time. We took flowers out to where the trailer was. You can't even tell there once sat a house there. The only vague sign is that it looks like someone dug a hole with a back hoe and pushed everything off into it and then covered it up again.
On our way home we stopped by the home of one of the girls little friends. Tony spoke with her mom for quite some time and learned quite a bit of good info. Apparently there is still an open, investigation ongoing about the fire. She told him that the FBI came out and interviewed her about the incident. Since the mother of the girls is gone with the wind, every agency has issued warrents for her now. Go figure. It's about time! I KNEW the scene was wrong. Tony KNEW the scene was wrong. Both of us have been in EMS/FIRE and LAW ENFORCEMENT too long not to recognize the signs of a suspicious scene. It actually gives Tony some measure of peace knowing that finally, FINALLY someone is listening to him. We are going to go Wednesday and talk with the county coroner again for an update. Since we've elected a new sheriff now, maybe he'll push this thing a little harder. I know him from way back and he is a real good guy. He used to be a state police investigator and he was sharp as a tack.
On our way home we stopped by the home of one of the girls little friends. Tony spoke with her mom for quite some time and learned quite a bit of good info. Apparently there is still an open, investigation ongoing about the fire. She told him that the FBI came out and interviewed her about the incident. Since the mother of the girls is gone with the wind, every agency has issued warrents for her now. Go figure. It's about time! I KNEW the scene was wrong. Tony KNEW the scene was wrong. Both of us have been in EMS/FIRE and LAW ENFORCEMENT too long not to recognize the signs of a suspicious scene. It actually gives Tony some measure of peace knowing that finally, FINALLY someone is listening to him. We are going to go Wednesday and talk with the county coroner again for an update. Since we've elected a new sheriff now, maybe he'll push this thing a little harder. I know him from way back and he is a real good guy. He used to be a state police investigator and he was sharp as a tack.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
December the Two
I am The. Worst. Blogger. EVER!
I didn't used to be, but something happened. Somehow, somewhere, something got really out of whack. I dunno, I think when the ship hit the sand here at home, I lost my UUMMPPFFFF or something. I am going to do better. I have to. For ME.
So, here I am, at the beginning of December, yet again wondering what in the world I am going to get the kids for Christmas. Why is it the older they get, the harder it is to buy for them? I suppose we could go the simple route and give them gift cards or money. But that seems kinda cheesy to me. I'm sure they would love it, but dang, that kinda makes the old tree look a little barren and Charlie Brown-ish. And let's face it, I don't need any more reasons to not enjoy this season.
I used to love Christmas. Once upon a time. But that was long, long ago and far away. Before. When I actually had a FAMILY. Now, it's just hard. I'm still not speaking to my brother....or rather, he isn't speaking to me. So that eliminates 5 people right there that I have right here close. Plus, any time it's "family time", I have to deal with Mom. I'd rather have a mammogram or a pap smear than have to deal with the trauma/drama that is a constant side dish with Mom. I feel so sorry for Dad. He really IS a saint in my book. She likes my brother better anyway cuz he puts up with her particular brand of BS so, if things go like they did for Thanksgiving, I won't have to worry about it. She went to his house and I didn't hear hide nor hair or a single peep from any of them. Too bad. I'm a fabulous cook and they are missing out on enjoying the day with us. I am bummed for the kiddos though.....the nieces and nephew. I'll mail their gifts I suppose. How stupid is that since they are only 20 minutes away?? Oh well, if my brother wasn't such a jerk........
I REALLY wish I could be with my sister in California. I need some time with her. Badly. We don't connect often enough to suit either one of us. She works incredible hours with her job at the hospital AND her private practice. She is always SO tired that she goes to bed with the chickens. The two hour time difference makes it tough to hook up sometimes. (And just last year she was worried to death that when she opened up her private practice that she wouldn't have any clients.....) I am SO proud of her.
On the fiber front.....I have actually knit the whole FRONT (or back depending on how you look at it) of my very first sweater! The pattern is ever so simple, but I couldn't have picked a dinky-er yarn to knit with the first time out! During the summer when my LYS was having such a fantastic sale, I got a whole gob of Rowen Silky Wool and Silky Tweed for a dollar a skein! So, when it's all said and done, I'll have about 10 bucks in yarn in a whole sweater. It's going to be pretty I think....two tone charcoal and cinnamon. I need to take a picture to post just to prove that I really did it.
I did set it aside for now though. I've signed up for the Socks For Soldiers project and been working on a pair of socks for it. Plain Jane black socks that have a leg length of 12". They are gonna take a while so I figured I'd best get crackin'. I love hand knit socks, but damn I hate that tiny yarn!! Takes 10 forevers to get anywhere. But it's for a good cause. Wish me luck......I'll need it!
I didn't used to be, but something happened. Somehow, somewhere, something got really out of whack. I dunno, I think when the ship hit the sand here at home, I lost my UUMMPPFFFF or something. I am going to do better. I have to. For ME.
So, here I am, at the beginning of December, yet again wondering what in the world I am going to get the kids for Christmas. Why is it the older they get, the harder it is to buy for them? I suppose we could go the simple route and give them gift cards or money. But that seems kinda cheesy to me. I'm sure they would love it, but dang, that kinda makes the old tree look a little barren and Charlie Brown-ish. And let's face it, I don't need any more reasons to not enjoy this season.
I used to love Christmas. Once upon a time. But that was long, long ago and far away. Before. When I actually had a FAMILY. Now, it's just hard. I'm still not speaking to my brother....or rather, he isn't speaking to me. So that eliminates 5 people right there that I have right here close. Plus, any time it's "family time", I have to deal with Mom. I'd rather have a mammogram or a pap smear than have to deal with the trauma/drama that is a constant side dish with Mom. I feel so sorry for Dad. He really IS a saint in my book. She likes my brother better anyway cuz he puts up with her particular brand of BS so, if things go like they did for Thanksgiving, I won't have to worry about it. She went to his house and I didn't hear hide nor hair or a single peep from any of them. Too bad. I'm a fabulous cook and they are missing out on enjoying the day with us. I am bummed for the kiddos though.....the nieces and nephew. I'll mail their gifts I suppose. How stupid is that since they are only 20 minutes away?? Oh well, if my brother wasn't such a jerk........
I REALLY wish I could be with my sister in California. I need some time with her. Badly. We don't connect often enough to suit either one of us. She works incredible hours with her job at the hospital AND her private practice. She is always SO tired that she goes to bed with the chickens. The two hour time difference makes it tough to hook up sometimes. (And just last year she was worried to death that when she opened up her private practice that she wouldn't have any clients.....) I am SO proud of her.
On the fiber front.....I have actually knit the whole FRONT (or back depending on how you look at it) of my very first sweater! The pattern is ever so simple, but I couldn't have picked a dinky-er yarn to knit with the first time out! During the summer when my LYS was having such a fantastic sale, I got a whole gob of Rowen Silky Wool and Silky Tweed for a dollar a skein! So, when it's all said and done, I'll have about 10 bucks in yarn in a whole sweater. It's going to be pretty I think....two tone charcoal and cinnamon. I need to take a picture to post just to prove that I really did it.
I did set it aside for now though. I've signed up for the Socks For Soldiers project and been working on a pair of socks for it. Plain Jane black socks that have a leg length of 12". They are gonna take a while so I figured I'd best get crackin'. I love hand knit socks, but damn I hate that tiny yarn!! Takes 10 forevers to get anywhere. But it's for a good cause. Wish me luck......I'll need it!
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