Help! Modern technology is kicking my ass! December 26, 2006
Posted by La in Assorted Nonsense, FO.add a comment
I want to share with you the Charlie-Foxtrot that was awaiting me at 4:55 last Friday evening.
Other than that, I had a wonderful Christmas weekend. How was yours?
On Sunday we celebrated the holiday with my side of the family at my brother’s house. We had our traditional fondue supper, and followed it up with unwrapping of the presents, the traditional tore-up wrapping-paper wad throwing, and yummy chocolate fondue for dessert.
On Monday we were invited to Junior’s girlfriend’s parent’s house (who, probably in a couple of years, will be referred to as the In-Laws. You know, I’ve often wondered why the family of your spouse, or of your children’s spouses are called In-Laws. It almost sounds like a profession: “Are you in real estate?” “No, actually I’m in-law”…anyway…) for a pig roast. Cuban-style. And her entire family was there. ENTIRE! I was a little nervous at first. But about 5 minutes after we got there I felt right at home. Her family is just as boisterous, fun-loving, animated, down to earth and slightly off-kilter as my own family. Even MY in-laws had a great time, which is really saying something.
And to sooth my nerves as I wait for a reply, here’s an Effed Oh, possibly the last for Two-thousand-sucks:
Yarn: Interlacements Tiny Toes Superwash sock yarn in Turkish Carpet
Beads: Matte Burgundy, #6 glass beads, 12 strands
Pattern: TNT Beaded Scarf by Deana Van Assche
Notes: This scarf turned our beautifully, and even though I bitched about having to constantly schlep beads down the strand of yarn (I think I may have even used the “F” word…fiddly), it knit up very quickly. I enjoyed watching how the beads stacked up, and how the colors shifted from row to row. The only thing I’m kicking myself over is the fact that I actually BOUGHT the pattern. It’s so simple that I could have probably figured it out for myself and saved myself the $6, maybe. Oh well, live and learn! I now have an accurate bead count so I can make another and not spend a small fortune on beads, which I can get at the garment district of downtown Los Angeles for a fraction of the cost I paid at SAFF.
This scarf was my only Christmas knitting this year, part of a gift for Junior’s girlfriend, who just ADORES scarves. I did, however, warn Junior not to stand too close behind her as she’s thowing it over her shoulder, else he find himself knocked out on the ground. See, it’s 2 gifts in 1: A self-defense weapon camoflaged as a high fashion knitted scarf! If that doesn’t say “Welcome to the Family” I don’t know what does!
A Little Dog Tale December 18, 2006
Posted by La in Pets.Tags: Adoption, Rescue, Trixie
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Once upon a time there was a middle-aged woman who one day lost her best 4-legged friend to cancer. And even though she healed with time, the loss of her beloved companion left a small empty space in her heart. She believed that when the time was right, her angel cat would send her another companion to fill the empty spaces that his passing left. So the woman waited.
Every couple of weeks he would sent her a cat-o-gram in the form of one cat or another. They would just show up at her doorstep, rub up against her ankles, demanded pats, purr and rolley-poley her, then leave. It was obvious that these cats belonged to one neighbor or another, many of them having collars and tags, and were all obviously well-fed and groomed. It was as if her little feline angel was saying. “No, not this one, but I haven’t forgotten you. Just wait, you’ll see.” So the woman waited.
Even though the cat-o-grams stopped coming…
she waited.
Even though she constantly read when other people found new adorable companions…
she waited.
Even though the loneliness grew…
she waited.
Because that’s how strong the bond was between them.
Then one Saturday morning the woman snuck away from home to do a little covert Christmas shopping for her husband. While she was out, she decided to stop in at Petsmart to make an appointment with the groomer for her husband’s dog, who was, without going in to detail, in dire need of a bath and a good brushing.
As she walked up she noticed that they were having a pet adoption. They were all dogs from several of the local animal shelters (County dog pounds). Never being one to miss an opportunity to give pats to dogs, especially Pound Dogs, the woman starts making her rounds until she meets Chester.
Who was all sorts of friendly and adorable. He met all her criteria too: Under 2 years old; submissive male; happy, carefree, friendly personality, all so that he could more easily integrate with the rest of the family which included 1 dumb dominant male dog and 1 crotchety old female cat. Oh, yeah, he had to be short-haired and small too.
So the woman snapped his picture with her digital camera and rushed home to show her husband and take him (who, like a petulant child, dragged his feet as long as he could), and his dog back with her so that they could meet this wonderful dog. Unfortunately (for the woman, but not for Chester), by the time they returned he had already been adopted.
A bit crestfallen, but not thwarted, the woman started looking around at the other dogs. As she was scanning the cages, a bit of movement in the very back caught her eye. She looked up, and staring her right in the eyes as if to say ‘yup, you’re gonna be my new person’, ears perked up in attention, wagging it’s sweepy tail with all it’s might, was a bit of wee blond fluff. It was love at first sight, and again, she was the one who was chosen.
~~~~~~~
Okay, so the story format is a little corny, a little twee, but that’s how it happened. That’s how I got the best Christmas present I could have ever wished for, and I got her a week early. And you who are scoffing at the whole “kismet” feeling of the story check this out:
~~Petsmart usually hold their pet adoptions on Sundays, not Saturdays. This was a special engagement, including a shelter that they don’t usually include, which just so happens to be the shelter that Trixie was from.
~~The groomer we used to take Saber to very recently stopped grooming dogs on the weekends, forcing me to reluctantly find another groomer.
~~I didn’t even know there WAS a Petsmart so close to me until 2 weeks ago when I went to the newly revamped Whitwood Mall now known as “Whitwood Town Center” in search of a Cost Plus World Market and some Turkish Delights, and just happened to see it as I passed.
~~I’ve been having serious pussy envy, namely Marlow and Mayhem. Okay, that really doesn’t have much to do with Kismet, I just thought I’d throw it in.
So, ready to meet the new poochie? She’s 6 month old; part Pomeranian, part who the hell knows; and totally devoted.
And did I mention adorable? How about well-behaved, smart, laid-back and loving?
I named her Trixie; she’s petite, blonde, and spunky, taking only so much shit off the big dumb drool factory. Now he’s her protector.
You know, I never DID get to Mervyns to get the DH’s Christmas present.
Public Service Announcement December 5, 2006
Posted by La in Assorted Nonsense, Shout Out.add a comment
As I peruse aisle upon endless aisle of toys in my favorite stores, shopping for that perfect present for the little angels in my life, I have come across an alarming discovery: Elmos as far as the eye can see, Elmos that walk, Elmos that talk; Elmos that dance, Elmos that prance; Elmos that giggle, Elmos that wiggle, and oh-my-fucking-gawd Elmos that sparkle and sing…loudly and badly. I have to scratch my head and wonder, why in the world do we have all these Elmos? Where’s Grover and Oscar and Cookie Monster and Beeker and Harold? The marketing people claim that it’s because Elmo’s the most popular toy and they’re in such high demand. Ha! I say. I’ve got my own theory.
The reason we’re being so inundated with Elmos is because all of the other muppets have vanished! Yes, my friends, muppets are on the verge of extinction. You wanna know why?
So, I encourage, no, I implore you to put the novelty yarn down and slowly back away. Release the inner yarn purist by embracing the wool. You want fuzzy yarn? Try mohair or brushed alpaca. You want textured yarn? Try boucle or wool tweed. You want fun? Try variegated yarn, CSI or color working fair isle. You want easy care? Try superwash or hell, there are even some passable ACK!rylics out there. Whatever you do just say no to fun fur and eyelash yarn.
Help preserve the muppets for future generations. Yoink this button and take up the fight!
ETA The creator of this wonderful button has stepped forward: Felicia from Isis Rising. Pop on over and giver her props!
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of public service announcements, I’d like to point out that BLOG is NOT spelled C-O-L-U-M-N.
Thank you. This has been a public service announcement. We now return you to our regularly scheduled blog.
[cue annoying legal disclaimer announcer voice-over voice]
(The writer of this post is a complete and utter dumbass, else she would have remembered who she got that button from and linked them. If you’re the originator of this button, please let her know so that she can edit this post to include a link to you.)
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