25 Things
Once, you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things. At the end, you choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.
So I’ve been tagged. Apparently, by a number of people in a short amount of time. Seemed easier to blog it, then retag, then read everyone elses randoms. You may know these things already; if so, bully for you!
1. I am unpleasant when I wake up; this lasts until I’ve got my first cup of coffee in my hand, probably extending until I’m about halfway through it. Then I consider myself as having rejoined the human race.
2. Both of my shoulders have been dislocated before. As a result, I can now swivel my elbows around to face forward with my hands on my hips. This makes it look like my arms are attached backwards. It freaks out my husband.
3. I have a strong sense of spirituality, though I am not religious. I am still defining divinity and spirituality for myself, but make no mistake: I am a sensible heathen.
4. I completely enjoy being a stay-at-home mother and wife, and all that it entails. But I am more than just my roles.
5. I love listening to Ani DiFranco on my mp3 player really loudly while I clean house.
6. I have OCD. It used to be really, really bad when it came to clutter and cleaning. Like “Matchstick Men” kind of bad. Being with John has semi-cured me of that, and I think we’ve found me a happy middle ground.
7. I am so beyond eager to move back to Fairbanks. I want to live somewhere that I can easily find like-minded people, people who parent intentionally, think liberally, seek and enjoy natural beautiful things/activities. I’d prefer this to be among mountains.
8. One of my favorite breakfasts is home-fried potatoes a la mama, scrambled eggs, toast, and extra crispy bacon. And don’t forget the coffee.
9. I’ve watched Blues Clues a million times. I prefer Steve to Joe. Joe is a wussy and I want to smack him.
10. I taught myself to knit a while back, and one can now usually find a sock on the needles in my purse when I’m out.
11. I miss writing and painting. I used to do these things regularly, and had been working on a manuscript for publication. Now I can’t seem to put together the time to devote to a piece, as I need a whole chunk of uninterrupted time to allow my medium to capture my emotion/state of mind. I will one day soon get myself back to this place to be able to do so.
12. Once lost, my trust and respect are seldom, if ever, regained.
13. I have a tremendous bug phobia. It often triggers panic attacks.
14. I used to have a sound machine that had ocean waves on it. I would listen to it as I fell asleep. I miss it, though I don’t think my husband would like it much.
15. I have two messages on my answering machine that my mother left me. I listen to them probably every other day. It hurts to be reminded that she’s gone, but it’s comforting to know that I can still hear her when I want to.
16. I still cry myself to sleep some nights about losing her. I usually tell myself that I should have stayed down there with her, by her side, once she went into the hospital. That I should have spent more time with her, period. I wonder if she knew how much I love her, look up to her, and miss her. I wish she could watch JR grow up, or be here to see her granddaughter. I worry about whether she was proud of me, or if I made her happy.
17. I will one day go to Boston to catch a game at Fenway, seated out in front of first base.
18. I took Russian in high school, and a semester of Spanish in college. Now the two get mashed together in my head if I try to think or speak in one language or the other.
19. When I read the newspaper, I am beyond meticulous about how I fold the pages. I have to read it in a certain order. I can’t stand it when people rustle the paper and fold/turn the pages all willy nilly. I know this is irrational. I am looking forward to getting the paper daily again once we move back to Fairbanks.
20. My toes are almost always painted a deep burgundy. I need to repaint them today.
21. I freak out about dirt under fingernails, or jagged nails. I always have a nail file in my purse, and I’m constantly running my nails under each other to make sure they’re clear of stuff. This used to bother my mother to no end.
22. I can’t stand hot and muggy climates. You can always add layers, but there’s only so much you can take off. I can’t stand feeling too hot. I get cranky. This is one reason why I’m content to live somewhere where it is frequently too cold to snow.
23. I cut my own hair when I have emotional crises.
24. I love checklists. I prefer to create a template for them and print them as needed. I have them for menu planning (weekly and monthly), grocery shopping (broken down by section of store), housecleaning chores, and daily to-dos.
25. I am tone-deaf. Your ears would surely bleed to hear me sing. It embarrasses me, so I try to do so only when alone, with my son, or with my best friend M.
Tagging: Jen I., Amanda B., Amanda L., Jenn S., Shannon R., Chris S., Jessica B., Cara W., Becca S., Ali F., Benah P., Kiza M., Ashlee S., Trinity C., Karo S., Doug B., Matt C., MD., Rebecca G., Kelley R., Anjyla K., Tina S., Desiree E., Jenn A., Aimee A-W.
Beyond Simple Scarf
Materials:
Approximately 220 yards worsted weight yarn (240-ish with fringe)
Size K crochet hook
Ch 142.
Row 1: DC in 4th ch from hook and each across. Ch 3, turn.
Row 2: DC in each st across, including top of beg ch 3. Ch 3, turn.
Row 3-9: Repeat Row 2.
Edging: Ch 1, sc around piece, working 3 sc into each corner. Join to beg sc, finish off, weave in ends. Add fringe if desired.
What I’m up to right now
is yarn. I’m winding yarn, some of which I got yesterday.
Yesterday was awesome, by the way. We started out by taking JR to the doctor’s office to verify that his ear infection had cleared up — it has, thankfully. Then we came home, loaded up, and headed to Fairbanks. We got a flat tire just outside of Eielson, and John was luckily able to fix it fairly quickly. I guess practice makes perfect (he fixed a flat that he got two weeks ago too). Then it was a potty & food break at the golden arches in North Pole, partly because I’m 9 months pregnant and my bladder was screaming and partly because JR has come to affiliate the arches with french fries. I know they’re bad, yet I feed them to him anyway. So sue me. Deal with it.
When we got to Fairbanks, we took the tire to get repaired; turns out the sidewall was completely blown & we had to replace it. We left JR with a (non-family-member) sitter for the very first time — he was a bit unhappy about it at first, but I think mostly because he was sleepy. I cried, and spent the next hour wracked with guilt and worried about him. The woman we left him with is just awesome; I met her on a local mothering board, and am confident that she would handle just about any situation like I would, and we were (surprisingly) very comfortable leaving our son in her care. JR had a playdate with her and her almost-2-year-old son last week, and they had a blast, so we were sure that the trial run babysitting would go great. See, M is going to be watching JR when I go into labor, so we wanted to make sure that they were comfortable with each other before that day gets here, and it’s approaching fast.
John and I spent the afternoon together, alone, and when I wasn’t actively fretting over how JR was doing, I was having such a great time just being with my husband. We didn’t do anything fascinating: we got the tire replaced/mounted, went to the camera store, the yarn store, and out to eat, and I really think that that’s about it. There was a lot of just driving back and forth between places, but it was so nice to just be with him. JR was very happy to see us when we picked him up, and it sounds as though he’d had a lot of fun with M & her son. He was soooo sleepy, he barely made it out of her driveway before passing out in his carseat. Then it was off to the grocery store, then the long drive home. It was a good day.
John had to go back to work today, and I’m pretty sad about that, but I know he’s swamped there and I also know that he’ll be able to use today against time off he’ll be taking when Milla comes. I’m over 36 weeks along now, and while I’ve enjoyed the majority of this largely-complication-free pregnancy, I’m done being pregnant. I’m ready to be alone in my body again, but still a bit wary about having a squirmy newborn in my arms. I’m sure it will all be perfect, and I spend a lot of time and energy focusing my thoughts on having a wonderful natural birth, trying to will it into manifestation. I know my body knows how to give birth, and I know that my baby knows how to be born. I believe that as long as I have faith in this, utter faith, things will go smoothly.
I got my mailbox key back from G the other night, so the search for a part-time housekeeper/mother’s helper is back on in full force. I just hope that I’m able to find someone that really fits with our family and our way of life.
I’ve been in craft mode lately, so I’m winding yarn that I’ve had in my stash for a while, and if I get that done, I’ll start on the yumminess I got yesterday (which includes Malabrigo worsted and sock yarns). I’m about to put the boy down for a nap, restart the diaper laundry, then chill out perhaps with a mug of Silverhook dark roast (roasted in Anchorage, by the way, and totally delicious).
Gotta love a giveaway!
So check out these awesome toys in this Natural Kids & Toys giveaway! http://ourdayourjourney.blogspot.com/2009/01/natural-kids-toys-free-giveaway.html
You’ve got to check out her Etsy store too — such beautiful stuff! I imagine that some of this may show up in JR’s toy box soon!
History Made
So excited, so amazed, so thrilled, watching my son say “Look! President!”
I wish…
…that there were more liberal, like-minded, intuitive-parenting, hippie-types in my sleepy little town.
A Village Dying
My mother was born and raised in Emmonak, Alaska. It is a tiny village at the mouth of the Yukon River by the Bering Sea. Its people are noble, humble, cultured people. And they’re starving and freezing.
http://www.thedutchharborfisherman.com/news/story/4512
All while Sarah Palin bitches about being trashed in the media, instead of doing her goddamn job. I would say they’re in a state of emergency. She’s bordering on impeachment, in my opinion.
If you can, please help the City of Emmonak.
Preschool Activities for Everyone!
Filed under: JR, crafting, education, entertainment, parenting, products
This sweet, amazing woman blogs about activities for you and your preschooler! She always has great, fun-filled learning activities that I’ve certainly enjoyed doing with my son. Her name is Allie, and her blog is No Time for Flash Cards. Check her out, and have some fun with your kidlets!
Simplicity Socks
Materials:
Approximately 400-450 yards fingering weight yarn
Size 1 double-point needles, set of 4
Size 2 double-point needles, set of 4
Sewing needle of some sort (I’m using a dull-point tapestry/embroidery needle that my sock yarn fits through)
Super Simple Socks (I suggest making at least 2):
Cuff:
With smaller DPNs, cast on 64 stitches over 3 needles (20-24-20). Work K2-P2 ribbing for 1.5″ to 2″, depending on your preference.
Leg:
Switching to larger DPNs, work in stockinette stitch until entire piece measures 7-8″.
Heel:
Transfer your stitches to have a total of 32 stitches on each of 2 needles. Turn your work so the wrong side (purl side) is facing you.
1: Purl across.
2: *Sl 1 st purl-wise, k1* across.
3: Sl 1 st purl-wise, p across.
Repeat rows 2-3 for a total of 28 rows.
Turning the heel:
1: Sl 1 st purl-wise, k 17, k2tog, k1.
2: Sl 1, p 5, p2tog, p1.
3: Sl 1, k 6, k2tog, k1.
4: Sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p1.
5: Sl 1, k 8, k2tog, k1.
6: Sl 1, p 9, p2tog, p1.
Continue in this manner, working one additional stitch before decreasing, until all stitches have been worked. You will have 18 sts remaining. End with knitting across all sts.
Gusset:
Pick up 16 sts across side of heel. Knit 32 stitches from leg. Pick up 16 sts across other side of heel. Knit 9 stitches from first needle, and transfer remaining 9 sts to next needle. (25 sts on needle 1 – 32 sts on needle 2 – 25 sts on needle 3).
1: Needle 1: Knit across to last 3 sts; k2tog, k1. Needle 2: Knit across. Needle 3: Knit 1, ssk, knit across.
2: Knit all stitches.
Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until a total of 64 stitches remain (16-32-16).
Foot:
Knit evenly until you have worked 5.25″ from picked-up stitches at gusset.
Toe:
1: Needle 1: Knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. Needle 2: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. Needle 3: K1, k2tog, k across.
2: Knit all stitches.
Repeat these two rounds until a total of 16 stitches remain (4-8-4). Knit 4 stitches from needle 1 onto needle 3. Graft stitches together.
Hahahaha
Seriously, it's -45* outside.
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