Sunday, December 28, 2008

DisKnit: Meme Redux

KBrow is off with family, I am here in the Capital City trying to get my knitting going. So here are my answers

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yup. My name is a family name from my great grandmother, there are currently four of us with it.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Almost two weeks ago after a difficult conversation at work.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
No.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Turkey (but I don't like the concept of Lunch Meat).

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No.


6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Sure, I'm a pretty good friend.


7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Yes. I hear KBrow's complaint about it being overused, but I just find that it is sometimes the only way to make it through some things like work bureaucracy and condo politics (okay, any sort of politics, really).
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Probably not. But could be convinced of it by the right crowd, but the fact that it costs money doesn't last very long makes it less appealing than other ways to spend money to endanger yourself (whitewater rafting, downhill skiing, etc -- none of which I love but which at least take a while).

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Barbara's Shredded Oats or Frosted Shredded Wheat.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Does anyone?

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Am always a little stronger than I expect, but am basically a weakling.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Don't really have one. Favorite ice cream experience: a small hot fudge sundae at Gunther's in Sacramento.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Not sure.

15. RED OR PINK?
More often pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Not having a magic wand to clean up after myself.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My circle of friends in California.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO DO THIS?
Only if they want to.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Was wearing brown.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
peppered bacon egg sandwich from Starbucks.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Horns honking.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Leaf Green

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Lavender. Mint. Rosemary (but I'm not the most "smell" oriented person).

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Technically, Diana when I called to say I was outside with the car. For a real conversation: my mom.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
[not really sent, but my co-blogger is a fine person!)

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I will watch live sports outside if I can knit and the weather is pleasant or the company is pleasant. Watching Hockey is high school was an odd pleasure.
27. HAIR COLOR?
Light brown/blonde/red thanks to the wonders of Urban Escape's Agus
28. EYE COLOR?
Blue-gray

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Lately, Hot Chocolate.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Both
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Miracle Match, yet another underdog sports movie -- a genre that is a personal vice that I don't impose on others.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Black sweater with a dark red sweater on top
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Hmm
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs.
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
I'll echo Marzipan from KBrow, pecan pie is good.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Not really asking anyone.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
All the people I didn't ask.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Dewey the Library Cat. Really Tedious.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
It is red and upstairs.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
I went to a live play (Next to Normal at the Arena Stage)
42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Ocean waves
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
New Zealand, but since I am half-Kiwi is was full of family.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can figure out almost any bureaucratic system and get it to work for me.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Lower Marion Township, Pennsylvania

47. WHAT ARE YOU BAKING NEXT?
Maybe some cookies with Patty over New Years.
48. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR FIRST LOVER IS?
Yes.
49. WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING RIGHT NOW?
Nothing, but there is cold coffee just out of reach.
50. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
Not really expecting any.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

k-brow: memelicious II

Got this from Chelsea's blog. She expressed a desire to hear my response, and it pleases me to please Chelsea, so here it is. All may participate, if you're on my bloglines (and who isn't?) I'll read you.


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Nope. My mom had some boy names picked out, and I turned out to be a girl, and was given a name she and my dad thought was "feminine sounding."

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I think it was Friday morning, on the way to work, about something not work related.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes. I got bad grades in penmanship in school, but have been complimented on my writing's appearance by many, many co-teachers. I tend to print in D'nealian-style printing, though, as a leftie, I do make my letters in an unorthodox manner.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Pastrami, but I'm not picky. I'll happily eat bologna.


5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No kids. I'm childish enough, as it is.


6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yeah, I guess. I like to think I'm friendly and easygoing.


7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
No I don't. Or I try very hard not to. I think it's over-glorified and emphasized in our culture, in fact.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
I do.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
You know, I just might...given a jumping off place with good scenery and the presence of fun-loving accomplices.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Wheat Chex. I like good granola and a health food store cereal called Nature's Path Synergy, as well.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Not if I can avoid it.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Resiliency-wise, yes, very. Physically, in terms of muscle mass and power, not so much.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Haagen-Dasz Strawberry.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Friendliness.

15. RED OR PINK?
Both. Together.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My tendancy to dwell in my own mental hamster wheel for much of my waking time.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My family. My VA pagan circle. DisKnit as a neighbor.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO DO THIS?
Everyone!

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
We don't wear shoes indoors in Hawaii. The last shoes I wore was last night's black Dansko Mary Jane clogs, worn against the possibility of puddle wading.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Oatmeal, with honey and peanut butter mixed in.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
NPR's Sound and Spirit. Water running in the Nuuanu streambed. Some birds cheeping.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue-violet.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
In this order: Eau de horse barn; leather, horse, and hay. Fresh mint. Fresh cut grass. Roses. Nag Champa incense. Lavender. Burning sage. The sheepy smell of some yarns and rovings. Eau de crayon box. Playdoh. Cloves.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Opal, who was making me laugh inappropriately, as I waited in the Hee Hing valet parking line.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Yes, I do, though we've never met. I love her blog.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Um...I don't like watching sports that much. I do confess a love of televised bicycle racing commentary with Phil Liggett, a la Tour de France. I like to watch equestrian events, thought they are rarely on tv. I love to watch dog agility.

27. HAIR COLOR?
Naturally: medium brown going grey, with a big shock of white on top.
Currently: bright red. I like it. This, too, shall pass...

28. EYE COLOR?
Grey-green.

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Not usually. I have contacts, but I mostly just wear them for snorkeling, so I can see the fishies clearly.

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Oh, everything is fair game. Usually in the spicy-savory zone. The cuisine of south India is perhaps my favorite locale. Think fiery curries with a distinct lemony tang, fish, and yummy puffy breads.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
I like scary but not gruesome. I prefer Hitchcock-style, or ghostly. Violence, gore, slasher, not at all. I do like a happy ending, as well.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
"Blood Diamond" Excellent but harrowing to watch.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Tan, orange and brown. A promo shirt for this film, which is directed by the friend of a friend.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Depends on who from.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Gelato, whenever I can get it. Marzipan, whenever I can get it.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
Hoping that DisKnit responds, and all other readers of this blog.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
You know who you are.

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"Duma Key" by Stephen King. Weirdness.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I don't use one, but I still have one, "Oklahoma State University Food and Fiber Systems Literacy Program" advertising a curriculum I piloted for the good ag ed folk back in the day.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
The tivo'd finale of The Amazing Race.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
The soft rippling of a sunny stream.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
The Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Since home keeps moving, my perspective keeps changing. Right now, I feel so very far from home, though I am in my home. I guess, globally, as opposed to philosophically, the island of Java is as far, culturally and geographically, as I have ever been.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I can fix some things that leave my spouse baffled. I can go into a trance state with no problem whatsoever. Sometimes this is a problem.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Columbia, South Carolina

47. WHAT ARE YOU BAKING NEXT?
Anise biscotti dipped in dark chocolate for the NRN cookie exchange.

48. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR FIRST LOVER IS?
In a big southern city, running a brew pub and no doubt telling the same damn jokes he always told.

49. WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING RIGHT NOW?
Some cold coffee I pirated from P.

50. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
All and sundry.

k-brow: FO pic and a lot of rain

I'd promised y'all a pic of my completed Minimalist cardigan, completed in October, stitched up together over Thanksgiving weekend, and worn daily since. Here we go:

This is an easy knit. About 8 skeins of Cashmerino Aran, bought on sale at Little Knits, for the amazing price of $4.39 per skein, making it the cheapest luxury ever. I don't know why it took so long to finish, except for the fact that one can only do moss stitch for so many hours at a stretch. The color is hard to photograph; I call it "clover green". My mom had a shaker knit cardi in this color when I was growing up. I borrowed it a lot as a teenager, and she handed it down to me when I was in college. I wore it all the time, and finally sent it on to Goodwill, back in the mid 90's, in a pretty beat up condition. I think, unconsciously, I was trying to replace that sweater in my wardrobe; an easy, cozy, utilitarian piece, in that oh-so-comforting color. Minimalist Cardigan = WIN!!!

We have had continuing hard rains here, off and on since Thursday's debacle. Yesterday started off heavily overcast and humid. I took the dogs out, mid-afternoon and noticed that the Pali had become invisible, covered over in white mist. There'd been a tornado watch on Kauai all day. I realized something BIG was headed our way, once more. Gave the dogs their constitutional, and hastily ran a few errands and got home about 2 minutes before the gale force winds and rains hit Nu'uanu. We had to close windows all along one side of the house, due to hard, hard winds and rain. It was crazy, and pretty much the same white-out howling wetness of Thursday for an hour or so. Then, a lessening, a settling into a soft steady rain for the duration of the evening.

I even went out, meeting up with Acornbud, Opal and her mom Maureen, Jen and her husband, and Angela, for dinner at the fancy and oh-so-yummy Hee Hing restaurant on Kapahulu. Too much food, all day, really. I have a love-hate relationship with holiday food. A little goes a long way, and I had gone a long way already, as I'd made eggs for breakfast, and P had brought home lo mein for lunch. At least today, I'm starting out with oatmeal...

Today seems nice. Washed clean. More rain in the forecast this week, but we've gotten off easily here in Nu'uanu. I think it's the vertical pitch and basic rockiness of our land, everything just flows down around us. As long as the tree roots hold the boulders in place, Chez Nuuanu Estate is safe, except for the usual problems of standing water under the house, and the ever-present mold and dampness of EVERYTHING. Poor Kai and the other folk in other parts of our island have not been so spared. I hope last night's rains didn't hit her a double whammy, just after she'd cleaned out from the first wave.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

k-brow: seasonally affected

As usual, around this time of year, my own seasonal affective disorder and the chaos of being with children all day, as we approach the bratty Christmas season combine to create a severe case of the "Fuckits." Term coined by my sister, who knows the names of all the worst maladies that afflict our family. Today, Oahu got hit with the mother of all rainstorms. We were treated to a few claps of thunder, but also high winds and annoying power outages. What we were NOT treated to, were school closures. So I had to drive the 8 miles into Kailua, on the Pali Highway, which was a brown river in places, only to arrive at school, and have the lights be off. Our windows had to be open because otherwise it's pitch black, and we endured hours n' hours of howling wind, blowing rain and fairly dark conditions. Let me tell you, the novelty wore off, very quickly. The rain wore off around 2pm, just as school let out, and was back on again by 4:30. I beat it home right after the kids left, being in no mood to concern myself with teacherly things for one more minute. Fuckit.

I am riding out the seasonal affected time of year reasonably well, this year, though my fuse is definitely shorter. Sleep, St. John's Wort, supplements and tonics are keeping me alive until winter break, starting next Friday. The shorter days of light are grinding me down, but once off work, I can at least spend more time outside, and hopefully we'll get some decent sunshine and beach time over that break. Something that's been working well, was my decision to go off coffee; an annual experiment that begins when it starts tasting nasty to me, and ends when I decide I need it again. It's been 3 weeks now, and I'm doing more or less okay with green tea in the mornings. I haven't been pure (I'm not about pure) as I've had the occasional Starbuck's offering, but have been impressed at how much I've enjoyed those infrequent treats, now that I'm off the morning Joe.

Meanwhile, here's my "recipe" for warding off a cold. You have to take it at the first sign that something may be coming on:

I grate a 2 inch piece of ginger, crush 2 cloves of garlic, juice a lemon (but I used a lime this time because it's what I had) 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper. Infuse in about 2 cups of boiling water, and add honey. Sounds nasty, but it hits the spot if you're feeling sniffly or scratchy.

All the leaves and blossoms are gone from our plumeria tree. Sad, because I love the fragrance of the waxy white blossoms, but the barebonesbranches do create a striking image against the sky. Like black coral. In this land of almost-constant green, the sudden deciduousness of a tree is strangely disturbing. On one level, I find myself longing for dormant brown and grey woods where the only green is the occasional splash of holly or pine. Here it's the opposite, with only the plumeria providing the winter starkness.


Poor Cricket is seasonally affected, as well, as he is suffering an ear infection, which requires flushing of the ear on a frequent basis with a warmed solution. He doesn't mind it too much, but the flush contains gentian violet, and it stains like crazy, so we have to do it outside, so he can shake his head afterwards and fling the purple droplets everywhere.


Only another week (punctuated by parties and festivities which I am only marginally excited about) until I get 3 weeks off. My sis is coming to visit, and hanging out with her always cheers me.