It's much too quiet ...

when he isn't here.

Victory

I am beginning to feel like a knitter. This is my first finished object from a pattern -- other than simple scarves -- that looks like it is supposed to look. It's the ballband dishcloth from "Mason-Dixon Knitting." I definitely plan on doing more from the book. I've promised sweet mom some handknits, sweet spouse a blanket for his truck (already in progress) and sweet child a camouflage scarf. I have got to get busy.

P.S. Didn't see a reason to start another blog for knitting. That would mean 2 blogs to neglect ;). So for now, expect knitting content thrown in with other random thoughts.

For one day

Sunday's Parade magazine asked the question: If you had one day with someone who’s gone, who would it be and what would you do? I've been thinking about that a lot, although I knew my answer from the start. My paternal grandparents were always a team and were always the center of our family's universe. What I wouldn't give for one day with them. What would we do? That's an easy one, too. Some of my best memories are fishing with my Granny and Papa. They were marathon fishers ;). A packed cooler -- my grandmother never wanted anyone to go hungry -- and loaded tackle box or several -- my grandfather made his own sinkers -- and we were set. I miss them every day.

9/11/2001

There are many things I can say about this date in 2001. Life before, life after. Feelings after hearing the news. Fears for loved ones. The way it brought me back to the career I had always planned. The way my gut twists when I see the videos and the photos to this day. I was not in Washington or New York.

Maybe I should just say: I remember.

"Snakes on a Plane"

We went to see "SoaP" Saturday night. It got a thumbs up from me and a thumbs down from the spouse. I think secretly he liked it and just didn't want to admit it -- that and he didn't want to have snake nightmares.

Oh and if you are a parent of a small child, use common sense. The 6- or 7-year-old girl in the third row was a little below the age-limit for this movie -- by about 10 years or so. What is wrong with some people?

Full disclosure: I'll watch Samuel L. Jackson in just about anything, I totally bought into the hype, and I wasn't expecting an art film. ;) It was pure B-grade entertainment.

Does it mean...

I'm getting old if my latest obsessions are knitting and tea. I'm not to the point I'm knitting doilies in my rocking chair, but I can see it from here. I wouldn't mind a spinning wheel and a herd of Alpacas either.

It's never good when you ..

Come home from the grocery store to find your basset hound treading water in the backyard.

More Net psychology

Locus of Control Test Results

Internal Locus (49%) Individual believes that their life is defined more by their decisions and internal drive. External Locus (51%) Individual believes that their life is defined more by genetics, environment, fate, or other external factors.

Take Free Locus of Control Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

Another quiz

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (48%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (46%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?(word test)
personality tests by similarminds.com

From the WTF Department:

Because I own R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It," iTunes has selected especially for me: Paris Hilton's "Stars Are Blind" and Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man."

Truth in advertising

"Open with almost confidence" reads the subject line on the latest Nigerian scam to hit my inbox.

Because that's the way I roll

My Target purchases tonight:
Purple acrylic wine glasses, a mini Wine Cube Cabernet/Shiraz 2004, a mechanical pencil (in purple, of course) with extra lead for work, and two small plastic chimpanzees (a mother and baby) for my desk. Oh yeah, I rock!

INTP - the Architect You scored 9% I to E, 42% N to S, 95% F to T, and 52% J to P!

You are more introverted than extroverted. You are more intuitive than observant, you are more thinking based than feeling based, and you prefer to go with the flow rather than have a routine. The single word to describe your type is the Architect, which belongs to the larger group of rationals. You wish to sculpt the world around you. Others often find you arrogant, yet you have no desire to direct others, only to inform them. You must know the structure of things, and have a voracious appetite for knowledge. You are very rational in everything you do, and probably consider yourself smarter than most. As a romantic partner, you can be playful with great energy to get things started, but not quite as good on follow through. You may have a tendency to hurt the more emotional types unintentionally by not sharing your own reactions and feelings as you can get swept up in your own ideas and projects. You want to be appreciated for your ability to respond quickly and to fix problems creatively. You need plenty of time to yourself - therefore your parnter must respect your need for independence and originality. Your group summary: Rationals (NT) Your type summary: INTP

Link: unpretentious2 on The LONG Scientific Personality Test written by Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

A copy-editing geek

Dash You scored 23% Sociability and 47% Sophistication!

There's no denying that you have a certain flair. You don't mind being around others, especially your little brother, the hyphen, but you rarely emerge except when needed. You respond well to those who know how to treat you, but have only contempt for those who don't--you tend to embarass them every chance you get. Your only enemy is the colon--he will sometimes try to move in on your turf.

Link: The Which Punctuation Mark Are You Test written by Gazda on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

50-book challenge

No. 17 is The Best Awful by Carrie Fisher. And it wasn't, but it could have been better. This sequel to Postcards from the Edge (which was a mediocre movie, but a pretty good book) has humor and a wit, but it could have used more of Doris Mann. The mother with issues only had a bit part this go-around. I also thought the ending wrapped up a little too neat. Currently reading: Wicked by Gregory MacGuire.

A little behind in my book blogging (and reading)

Perhaps starting the 50-book challenge in March wasn't such a good idea. Unless I read 2 books a week through the end of the year, I am not going to make it. But the good news is reading has become a habit again -- a lost love found. So here is what I thought of numbers 14, 15 and 16.

No. 14 - "When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?" by George Carlin. I love Carlin's standup and most of this was more of the same, including a lot I had already heard on his television appearances. He did seem to try for more shock value in this book, some of which I could have done without. I really don't need any Jon Benet jokes, George.

No. 15 - "Hawke's Harbor" by S.E. Hinton. I devoured Hinton's books when I was a kid and still count "The Outsiders" as on of my all-time favorites. When I saw this one in a airport shop, it was a no-brainer. Thanks to time waiting on a plane and in a plane, I was able to finish it in 2 days. It's a little different subject matter than what fans are used to, but the style is definitely the same. It's a little quirky and could have been filled out some. But the characters was likeable and it was an easy read.

No. 16 - "Fire Sale" by Sara Paretsky. V.I. Warshawski is back on the case. This one may not be her best and it's a little predictable in places, but it's a good story told well over all. Paretsky is always a good choice for me when I'm looking for a little brain candy with a twist and this story fits the bill. And it doesn't hurt that all these novels have a strong, independent and intelligent female character to lead the way.

Overheard at the airport

"This one has a vibrator, too. You should get one." - 50-ish woman showing her new cell phone to her 50-ish female traveling companions.

Today's thought

Nothing brings out the dysfunctional in my family quite like a funeral.

Treasures from India and Egypt

My dad arrived, bearing gifts -- enough beautiful silk to make a sari, a silver anklet with scarabs, camels, cartouches, Nefertiti and Tut, and intricately embroidered clothes.

Katrina's lesson learned

Rita is on her way. Galveston Calls for Voluntary Evacuations - Yahoo! News: "Buses were to begin running Wednesday for people who can't leave on their own, taking them to shelters about 100 miles north in Huntsville." This isn't Galveston's first rodeo, 105 years ago this month the 1900 hurricane killed 8,000 people. If you read the survivor's stories, you will find many similarities with the New Orleans experience -- escapes to rooftops and attics. I expect most will leave when Rita moves a little closer.