Category Archives: entertainment

Randomly on a Tuesday

Posted by on August 30, 2011 1 comment

I like Random Tuesdays.  Because they’re random.  Like me.

I’ve been in contact with one man I suspected of being my biological father.  His name isn’t quite the right match, but his age is, as well as his location at the time of my conception.

I’ve found a few other potential bio-dads.  One was a definite ‘no’, one was deceased, and one looks like me.  The one that looks like me lives in Lugoff, South Carolina.  He hasn’t responded to me yet.  Good thing I’m persistent.

My cousin Stephan committed suicide last week at age 26.  He left behind three young sons, and a lot of loving family and friends.  We drove to Anchorage last Friday for his memorial service, but didn’t quite make it.  We stopped for brunch at Rose’s Cafe in Healy, where Mia fell on her front teeth.  She bled a bit, chipping one top front tooth and loosening the other.  We debated whether we should continue to Anchorage or turn back to Fairbanks, and decided to keep on.  We hit up Alaska Native Medical Center as soon as we got to town, and good thing.  Poor Mia had fractured both top front teeth down to the nerve, and they had to be pulled.  She’s fine now, though she pronounces a few things differently, and won’t have any lasting damage to her adult teeth or rampant love of running.

We stopped at Stephan’s wake, where the place was teeming with my extended family and lots of good food.  I saw family members I haven’t seen in years, and learned that a couple of them live up my way.  We were all exhausted from the trip down so we didn’t stay long, but I was there just long enough to give my love and sympathy to Stephan’s mother, Aucha.  My most beautiful, smartest cousin, just like me.  May G-d bless you and keep you.

The kids got to hang out with a few of their cousins, Faith, Caleb, and Victoria, as well as Aunt Jessie and Grandpa.  Mia was completely captivated by all the mountains around Anchorage, poor little mountain-deprived Interior girl that she is.  We were going to take them to Beluga Point before we left town Saturday, but opted instead to take them to Valley of the Moon Park.

That’s where I got to finally catch up with an old friend, Amanda, and finally met her beau Todd and adorable son Mason.  River had fun on the swings, JR climbed on everything in sight (and has declared it his favorite park), and Mia was so taken by Amanda and Mason that she kept talking about them on the way home.  There are many, many more friends I want to see; I’ll be back in Anchorage before too long!

It was fantastic to come home after such a short trip.  My home stays messier than I want it to be, but it’s mine.  Mine, mine, mine!  The animals gave us a great greeting, as has the laundry pile.

John has a new-to-him motorcycle this summer — a 1991 Harley Davidson Sportster.  He got it late in the season, got it fixed up, and takes it out whenever he gets a chance.  I keep pushing for him to get chaps, but possibly not for the reason he wants them.  I picked up a helmet this weekend, so I’m ready just in case I get a chance to ride with him.  Hopefully he can take a long ride this coming weekend since there probably aren’t a lot of riding days left.

I’m still knitting — I have a lot of finished projects that I haven’t pictured because the kids got hold of my camera, leaving me unable to point-and-shoot at my leisure.  That’s also why there are decidedly fewer photos here on the blog.  I have a lot of knitting projects lined up, including a shawl for Amanda (because she admired the ruffly one I was wearing at the park), hats/scarves/mittens for the kids, hats for the nursery at Fairbanks Memorial, items for the upcoming homeless youth shelter, and items for various auctions like the Toys for Tots one held in Anchorage.

I’ve been reliving some drama from 15 years ago in my dreams several nights in a row.  Rather, I should call them nightmares, more appropriately.  I’m pretty much ready for that to stop.  Though last night I dreamed I was the star in a recital, and had all manner of dance training to undergo before the big show.  It was strange.

I’ve been reading about Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, tarot, and the Torah.  When I’m not reading about spirituality, I’ve been lost in Kathy Reichs books with Margaret Atwood bringing up the rear.

My cholesterol has come down over 50 points, possibly 70, since the beginning of the year, and I’m thrilled about that.  I wasn’t sure if my approach was working.  It’s still not great, but I’m getting there.

Fibromyalgia pain comes and goes.  I feel like I’m finally on the tail end of a flare.  If I hadn’t had two root canals that need to be retouched, I’d probably feel pretty good.

I’m going to scrounge up some dinner now, then hopefully finish a sock I’ve been working on for what feels like forever.

Poetry!

Posted by on August 3, 2011 1 comment

I used to long to be a published poet.  I’ve been hoarding my writings for years, squirreling them away, waiting until I felt like I had enough for an anthology.  I decided that I want them out in the world, so they’re going up under the Creative Writings tab.  Please, check them out.  Let me know what you think of them.

Whoa.

Posted by on July 11, 2011 1 comment

Holy absentee blogger, Batman!

I’ve sort of been writing.  Elsewhere.  Stuff more for me and less for public consumption.  I just haven’t been writing enough, which is likely why I feel… congested? emotionally.  Time for a cathartic dump.

I’ve been exhausted, aching, and/or ill, for what seems like for.ev.er.  I have depression/anxiety/panic issues, and fibromyalgia, and chronic back pain from an ancient injury.  Those are all the basics that are with me on an almost daily basis.  I’ve had in increase in migraines (complete with aura, awesome), a resurgence of insomnia, an uptick in panic attack intensity and frequency, and some unexplained diffuse lymphadenopathy which hit me like a freight train.  And this has all just been my shit.  Each of the kids has had their own (typical, uneventful, unremarkable, viral) illness, and John has had his fair share of ickies.

So through all this shit, a lot of things have taken a back burner.  This blog was one.  My spinning.  My painting.  My knitting too, on occasion. Reading, some writing, most frivolous/fun things.

I’ve spent more time primping and preening.  I figure if I feel like absolute shit, I will at least look good.  Hot, even.

I listen to more music than before. [Side note: each of the kids has a distinct musical preference. JR = bluegrass/jam bands, classic rock. Mia = '80s hair, metal, industrial.  River = r&b and hip hop.  These are usually incompatible genres, often leading to musical chaos and at least one disappointed child.  Thank goodness for Pandora.]

I text more, play Words with Friends, nurse an ever-teething baby.

River’s not really a baby anymore.  He’s 26+ lbs of adventure, charm, and mischief.  He turned ONE YEAR OLD on July 3.  My Itty Bitty Baby Boy is ONE.  It’s amazing, and kind of heartbreaking.  (He got cake.  He loved it.  He took his first steps just days before that.)

I’ve reconnected with some really great people.  My friends and my music have really gotten me through some crappy times these last few months.  Thank you.

My lymph nodes are all starting to calm down, finally.  My spleen still hurts, but it too is on the mend.  I have medication for the panic attacks and insomnia.  Now that I’m getting at least 4 hours of sleep a night and am in less pain, I’m starting to feel like things are looking up.

Maybe I’ll get over this mental block I have about sharing certain things and y’all might see some more posts.

Pictures soon, promise!

In summation…

Posted by on February 15, 2011 1 comment

Randomly, on another Tuesday:

  • I miss Melinda.  I’m talking to my little brother Michael again.  I’m talking to my sisters again.  I miss mama.  Loss is lonely, and each one exacerbates the others.
  • The flights down to Texas weren’t too bad.  Long, but not bad.
  • San Antonio was extremely warm the first several days, then cooled off to something tolerable for this Eskimo.
  • The kids had heaping tons of fun with Mimi, Popo, Aunt B, Uncle Schim, and cousins Matthew/Chewy, Nolan, and Colin.
  • They also had a great time with Uncle Lawrence, Aunt Susan, Brennan, and Uncle Ables.
  • Fun was also had at Chuck E Cheese’s with Uncle Alex, Aunt Kimberly, Adriana, Pops, Kyle, and Camden, Aunt Tasha, and cousins Morgan, Trent, and Natalie.
  • Miss Sally liked being chased by the kids, though she tried to pretend otherwise.  Lucky adored Milla.
  • Camilla is “kah-MEE-lah”.  We call her Milla (MEE-yah).  I’ve also written it as Mi’a.  She calls herself Illa/Iya/I’a (pronounced EE-yah).  Aunt B noted that it’s spelled/pronounced like tortilla.  I think this is going to stick with my poor girl forever now.
  • I got a tattoo by Jedidia Reid, owner of Element Tattoo Studio in San Antonio.  I LOVE it.
  • There will be a ton of photos uploaded in the coming weeks.
  • I hated the trip up to Chicago more than words can capture.
  • I loved being in Aurora/Chicago with Aunt Cara, Uncle Mike, and cousins Maddie, Ryan, and Tori.
  • The wind and humidity there make their winter just as cold and unforgiving as ours.
  • They have so much snow that I’m jealous.
  • I didn’t think I could be jealous of precipitation.  I am.
  • The trip back to Fairbanks was long, but nowhere near as bad as the one to O’Hare.
  • We picked up some kind of icky flu-ish/cold-ish bug that has us all feverish, with deep, racking coughs.
  • That hasn’t diminished the pleasure of being back home.
  • We all miss our friends, family, and travels.
  • We wish y’all were closer, and that we could see you more often.  Preferably through teleportation.
  • I’m trying to put the house back together, and will update with more details and pictures when I can.

    • And lastly:

  • Bubbles are awesome.  (recorded in summer 2010)

Random on a Tuesday

Posted by on January 25, 2011 1 comment
  • My youngest sister, Melinda, died at 25 on January 14, 2011.
  • We drove to Anchorage for a small memorial service for her, held on Friday, January 21, 2011.
  • It’s got me mourning my mother all over again.
  • The kids got to play with Grandpa, cousins Faith, Caleb, and Vicky, Aunts Jessie, Tasha, & Sandee, and Uncle Darrell.
  • We took family photos at my parents’ house, courtesy of Sandee Rice Photography.
  • Back at the hotel, we took the kids down to the swimming pool.  They had a blast.
  • The chlorine in the pool did crazy tightening things to the dreads forming at the back of my head.
  • Bouncing Bears is the coolest place to get kids worn out before a long road trip.
  • The living room floor is the greatest place to roll around after many long hours cooped up in car seats.
  • The wolf and the orca share the same animal spirit in Yup’ik lore.  These are the two animals I debated between in trying to identify the animal essence of my youngest child River.  JR is a polar bear.  Camilla is a lynx/mountain lion/fox.
  • I’ve spun 4 oz of a pinkish-purplish wool/alpaca batt by Bohoknitterchic Spins into 400+ yards of a fingering weight single.  Melinda loved pink.  I’m going to knit a shawl out of this yarn.
  • I’m knee-deep in laundry that needs to be done before we leave Thursday night on vacation.
  • I get a kitten after we get back.  It will go nicely with the litter box and cat food I got from John for Christmas.
  • I’m planning on getting tattooed in San Antonio and Chicago during the next couple of weeks.
  • I’ll be starting a Little Acorn Learning curriculum for JR and Camilla after our trip.  I’m excited.
  • I definitely need to get back to daily workouts.  They’ve fallen by the wayside with a marked increase in fibro pain.
  • I nearly forgot how comfortable Vans are until I bought a new pair the other day.
  • I am very clearly doing anything possible to avoid laundry and packing.
  • I have to start all that now, before Thursday gets here.

Sigh.

New Pattern! — Columnar socks

Posted by on January 6, 2011 No comments

Now available — Columnar!

I designed these primarily to showcase the beauty of hand-painted artisan yarn. I believe I’ve accomplished this in an easy way, while lending visual interest, slight texture, and a simple counter-spell for pooling.

Columnar. Shown here in Titania colorway on Adorn Sock by Three Irish Girls.

These socks are worked in the round from the cuff down. This pattern assumes you have a basic familiarity with sock construction, though will be easy enough for beginners. This is written for use with Magic Loop, though please use whichever method of small diameter in-the-round knitting you prefer. Three sizes are available, and more can be achieved through gauge modification.

You may purchase this pattern for $5.00 via Ravelry. You do not need to be a member of Ravelry to use the link below.

Toy Talk

Posted by on March 24, 2009 No comments

I got JR a new toy last Friday. It’s a Thomas the Train Water Tower Figure 8 train set, and we’ve set it up on a coffee table in his room upstairs. He LOVES it. We first saw this in the children’s book section of Barnes & Noble in Fairbanks, and as much as he loves the set-up there at B&N, I couldn’t resist getting him a set of his own. I’m excited about getting him more train pieces, and I just love watching him walk his train around the track!

Thomas the Train Water Tower Figure 8 Train Set

Thomas the Train Water Tower Figure 8 Train Set

I’m thinking of getting him this train set for his birthday. MikeBToys does fantastic work. I bought a few handmade trucks from him, and they are some of JR’s favorites. Doesn’t this set look fantastic?

A few faves

Posted by on March 4, 2009 No comments

Burt’s Bees Milk & Honey lotion

Super creamy, with no offensive ingredients, leaves my skin feeling super silky soft and hydrated, with a wonderful but not too heavy scent.

Denali Dreams handmade soap in Kodiak Brown (patchouli blend)

This soap is just luscious.  I first found this at Denali National Park last July when my sister-in-law and her family came up for a visit.  I love this stuff!

Silverhook dark roast

Roasted in Anchorage, Alaska, this is an organic coffee that I just adore.  We brew it rich and strong and it kickstarts our days.

James Avery silver jewelry

My modest collection started when my mother-in-law gave me a small pendant a couple years ago.  I’ve enjoyed adding special pieces to it since then.  We added two more prominent pieces on our last trip to Texas — our wedding bands.

Doc Martens

Yep, I’m kickin’ it old style.  I love my Docs.  I want a pair of Doc Marten Mary Janes, as well as a pair of 20-eyelet boots.

ShiBuiKnits Sock Yarn

This stuff is soft, squishy, and a pleasure to knit with.  I’ve made a pair of socks for John that came out comfortably warm and even stood up to an accidental wash and dry cycle.  There are other, truly decadent sock yarns that I love to use, but for a workhorse sock for John, I think this is the winner (for now).

Lip balms

I have no less than a dozen lip balms at any given time, and am compelled to always have one on me.  It’s either in my jeans pocket or in my purse, but I have to have at least one.  I go get another if I don’t have one.  I hate having dry, chapped lips.  I’ve made my own lip balm too, though I gave most of it away for Christmas.  It was good stuff; I’ll have to make more.

Water bottles

I always have to have one of these with me too.  I drink anywhere from half a gallon to a gallon of water a day, and my water bottles have become like grown-up lovies for me.  If I don’t have one, I feel like I’m missing an appendage.  My favorite one at the moment is my purple one from Ozark Trail.  I had wanted to buy a Sigg the last trip to Texas, but forgot.

Sunflowers

Bright and beautiful, these flowers light up my world.  Mama knew this, and would often get me sunflower-adorned things.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore

Sarcastic, witty, satirical, irreverant, and absolutely hilarious.  This has to be my favorite book ever.  I lost my copy, so I’ll have to get another one just so I can re-read it again soon.  If you know me, and appreciate my sense of humor, then I am sure you’ll love this book too.

Baby Update, crafts, JR, and such.

Posted by on February 5, 2009 2 comments

I am 16 days away from my due date.  I am as big as a house, and uncomfortable all the time.  I am ready to get this child out of me.  She is not yet ready to come out though.  So be it.  She knows when she’s supposed to be here.  I do not.  I will wait.

JR knows that something is changing with me.  He constantly wants to be climbing on me, and I just can’t deal with it.  I just want personal space.  Poor little guy is in for a major shock when he suddenly finds himself sharing mommy and daddy.  I hope he handles it well.  I think he’s going through another growth spurt; he’s eating constantly. He’ll get to play with another little boy this Friday when we go to town; we’re going to have M watch him for a little while so that JR can get used to her and her son L.  Hopefully he’ll have a good time and get comfortable with them.

We have almost everything we need for Milla’s arrival, except that I still need to sew together the ring sling and prep all of her diapers.  My BFF Melanie is set to come up the last week of the month (also when John is having his sinus surgery).  It’ll be great not only to hang out with her, but to have her help with the kids while John is out of commission.  Besides, I don’t think I could handle having anyone else around the first month or two that Milla is here.  If it were anyone else, I would feel like I would have to play hostess, whether that’s the case or not. I’m just not going to do that, so I’m glad that it’s just Melanie and John who’ll be around after baby comes.

As for my crafting, I’ve got socks for John on the needles using my pattern.  I’m using this beautiful ShiBui Knits Sock yarn that I picked up last weekend at INUA Wool Shoppe.  Isn’t that the cushiest looking yarn?  I know I’ll be getting more.

I’ve decided that I want to make myself a snazzy, stripey sweater with my 1200+ yards of Patons that are back in my stash using this pattern.  It’s not exactly what I want, so I will probably heavily modify it as I go.  I have several other socks planned too, so you should just keep an eye out for me on Ravelry to see what I’m up to.

Let’s see… what else.  Oh, I’m going to go insane if I have to watch The Wizard of Oz one more time this week.  It’s JR’s new favorite movie.  It was cute, the first dozen times.  Now I want to rip all the stuffing out of the Scarecrow, then pull the Lion’s tail.  We’ll see who has a heart now, Tin Man.

Hanks and Skanks

Posted by on February 2, 2009 1 comment

My awesome husband and I jokingly refer to skeins of yarn as “skanks.”  We talk about them in terms of how “skanky” a yarn may or may not be.  It’s been the backdrop of much silliness and such.  We’re dorks like that.

This past weekend, the aforementioned awesome hubby bought me an early birthday gift: a yarn winder.  I was absolutely delighted.  I spent Saturday night winding approximately 4000 yards of yarn.  Some of it was in a tangled heap that, without the winder, was going to be tossed out.  Some of it started out as projects that were doomed to failure, then left to sit (and get tangled with other yarns).  Some of it was new.  Almost all of it is wool.  Much of it is leftovers of other projects, and now I must find a pattern I like enough to let me incorporate the many colors together.  I’m thinking a stripey vest or such.

Some of it is new sock yarn, destined to become a brilliant pair of black merino socks for my hubby.  It’s squishy and beautiful and if it knits up as well as it feels like it can, it may become my go-to sock yarn.  (It’s ShiBuiKnits Sock Yarn in charcoal, for those of you who may be curious about these things.)  I also wound a gorgeous cake of Malabrigo sock yarn in “Stonechat” for myself, and can’t wait to get it on the needles.

Anyway, all the talk of yarn had hubby wondering the difference between hanks and skeins.  I told him that skanks have already been balled.

Thus endeth the potty humor for the moment.

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