byronic stuff

change is good

2008-05-28T11:32:00.003-06:00

am totally bored with blogger. please find me here on wordpress. cheers!

squee

2008-04-17T15:47:00.000-06:00

look at my gorgeous wiggly niece:

feeling the holy spirit up in here

2008-04-15T23:39:00.007-06:00

the older i get the more my inner southern baptist pops up at peculiar and unexpected moments. the first time it happened was in the front row at sting's sacred love tour performance at the rosemont in illinois on february 27, 2004. joy rose, one of sting's "back-up" singers, was going to town on "whenever i say your name." she embodied the song - literally. the lyrics, the music, the melody, the harmony... she was the vessel for some otherworldy talent, some holy inspiration.

standing at the foot of the stage, not three feet from joy, i had no control over my religious instinct. the left hand went up to the sky; a lightning rod for divinity. the eyes closed; no stimulous other than the music. the head hung down and started to shake as if to say 'no' but meaning, 'holy father, yes! you are here! i recognize your presence.'

i was mortified. i had no idea where this old-school, tent-revival, vacation-bible-school baptist came from. but there she was. jung would have a heyday analyzing my behavior in the context of the collective unconscious.

this same peculiar behavior accompanied my discovery of this on youtube - slide to 3.21 only if you absolutely must:

I'M AN AUNTIE!!! (...finally!)

2008-03-31T16:28:00.009-06:00

after 19 hours of labor, nikki had a c-section to deliver the baby. turns out 'seamus' is a girl! a beautiful wee boisterous girl named roisin (roy-SHEEN) erin hanna. a more gorgeous name has never been heard. here's delicious wee miss thing:

i think she looks like her mama. what do you think?

proud papa, brian:

exhausted mama, nikki:

what else? well, there's one more month of suspense waiting to hear from unm law school regarding a final admission decision. but, in expert legal-speak, they won't even commit to a date. lookit: "Your application for admission to the UNM School of Law is now completeand will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. We will make every effort to send you a first response by May 1." i received this on february 15. i don't know whether to be happy or sad that i haven't heard from them yet.

lastly, i'm starting weight watchers today. it is the only diet that has ever worked for me. i am currently the heaviest i have ever been and though my beloved boyfriend loves me just as i am, finding clothes is becoming a problem. i'll update this blog with my weight loss, if for no other reason than to feel i'm responsible to someone or something. so, wish me luck.

wandering readlessly

2008-03-11T11:49:00.004-06:00

for the past few months i have been unable to get truly drawn in to any of the books i have excited purchase. i start them. i get 100 pages in. then... nothing. no compelling need to continue. this is a rare occurrence for me. i've joined a number of mystery yahoo groups in the hope of being 'turned on' to a must-read author. i'll let you know how it's going.

in the meantime - or perhaps as a means to an end - i found this awesomely great website:

an online book swap. brilliant! and it's not just paperbacks. what a great way to build up your to-be-read shelf and whittle away at your never-gonna-read shelf. if you decide to join, tell them byronicwoman sent you.

i finished a project. oh yes i did!

2008-03-10T22:38:00.004-06:00

craftwise, 2006 was knitting, 2007 was artist trading cards and i've decided 2008 will be sewing. i finished my beautiful boyfriend's quilt for valentine's (see below) and i began a patchwork quilt last month. ginormous projects intimidate me and wear me out without occasional breaks for other projects.

lately i've been wanting a wee bag that i can keep my cell phone, wallet and palm pilot in so that when i change bags i don't have to go hunting for stuff. (oh, and it would be a wonderfully consistent place to put all these things so as not to lose them, as i only occasionally do.)

okay, so... in my effort to be more jody-esque, i have actually completed one of her wristlets. and i love it! it only took a couple of hours and i learned a buncha new techniques. so, here's to jody! and here's to me! woot!!

happy new year!

2008-02-19T17:03:00.012-07:00

i'm a bit late on the new year well-wishes. 2007 was a &#*@! year - buy me a cocktail and i'll tell you all about it. anyway, it took january to take stock and make sure i was still in one piece psychologically, socially and professionally. shock and awe... i'm better than ever!

when the new year rolled around i thought i would have to 'close up shop' on my business. but in the first six weeks of the year, i scored two ginormous nonprofit fundraising contracts and five wedding contracts. this will be the first year i will actually be able to make a living from my business. fantastic!!

valentine's was amazing. i actually completed a project. i made a quilt for my beautiful boyfriend:

and his mom made a delish red velvet cake for us:

because i secretly want to be jody, i have taken up patchwork quilting. i'm finding the planned randomness of patchwork very liberating.

my best friend has gotten huge with baby - who we lovingly call 'seamus' though that will never be his/her name - and i'm the one who's about to bust from excitement. 'cause i'm gonna be an auntie!!:

all my little pet girls are well. beautiful and happy. here's miss sadie's most recent bath:

out with the old (songs) and in with the new

2007-12-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

as the year is drawing to a close, i am happy to report that the tides have turned and the bad seems to be waning...

ladles and jellyspoons, i am in love. with a boy. a real boy. a flesh and blood, hair and nails boy. he blows my mind and i never ever thought this could happen. i'm overwhelmed with emotions. and they're all good for a change.

so in honor of what can only be a new chapter in my life, i am clearing my ipod's 'top 25 most played.' bring on new music. bring on new playlists. bring on new favorites. be gone ye woeful songs of yore:

gravity - john mayer
holding back the years - simply red
the air that i breathe - simply red
goodbye yellow brick road - elton john
good morning heartache - sheryl crow
the pirate's bride - sting
volcano - damien rice
a hazy shade of winter - simon & garfunkel
i can't stand the rain - the commitments
murder by numbers - the police
dream on - aerosmith
standing - anthony stewart head
ain't no sunshine - bill withers
what happens when the heart just stops - the frames
how can you mend a broken heart - al green
god bless the child - billie holiday
kathleen - josh ritter

me, in print

2007-12-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

the magazine that interviewed me a few months back, exquisite weddings by san diego magazine, finally came out about a month ago. it is much more impressive on glossy paper in a ginormously sized magazine, but you can find the article here.

100 things about me

2007-10-28T12:58:00.000-06:00

i felt like i needed to change a few items from the list i created in may 2004. call me obsessive-compulsive if you must.

1. i am an only child.
2. ben and jerry's new york super fudge chunk all the way.
3. i entered the lottery for the chance to buy spice girls tickets in 2007.
4. i wish that americans valued proper spelling and grammar.
5. as a child i wanted to be in the air force.
6. and was devastated to discover that the bespectacled cannot fly planes.
7. i own books i have no intention of reading.
8. i adore irises and orchids.
9. i love my best friend, nikki, beyond sanity or reason.
10. i am a great cook.
11. others say i'm "strong and assertive."
12. my cat’s have theatre-inspired names.
13. i thrive on change and spontaneity.
14. i am a sucker for a lost cause.
15. jung is my guru.
16. i've had a handful of really perfect days in my 33 years.
17. i've never been in love.
18. but i've loved someone so much it hurt.
19. hamlet is more than a minor preoccupation.
20. i'm taller than i think i am.
21. performing on stage terrifies me.
22. i do it anyway.
23. i'd rather be dancing than doing just about anything else.
24. i've got curves.
25. i'm getting okay with that.
26. i love shoes.
27. i am the queen of all fag hags.
28. people tend to think they’ve known me longer than they have.
29. my mom and dad did a great job.
30. if i could lighten my skin tone, i would.
31. i have never watched a porn.
32. i believe in past lives.
33. i don’t think i was anyone famous in a past life.
34. i would be a drag queen faster than you can say “honey!”
35. i’m an anglophile.
36. i was engaged but never married.
37. my mom tells me i don’t have a boyfriend because i’m intimidating.
38. i’m uber-touchy-feely.
39. i’m proud of my b.a. in english.
40. i've been told i’m an elitist.
41. this should probably bother me more than it does.
42. i have broken two bones: my cheekbone and my ankle.
43. my dog is named after a beatles song.
44. receiving mail in the mailbox is still a singular joy.
45. i want to be the lead in a stage production of the philadelphia story.
46. …and hedda gabler.
47. …and miss julie.
48. …and hedwig and the angry inch.
49. kissing rocks!
50. i desperately miss the grandfather i didn’t know.
51. i don’t miss the one i did.
52. i have the final episode of quantum leap on video cassette.
53. i love english mystery novels.
54. my birthday often gets forgotten in the chaos of the holiday season.
55. i take things too seriously.
56. i am scared rigid by new social situations.
57. the telephone is my arch nemesis.
58. i don’t know what i will do if nik dies first.
59. i want to be paid to travel.
60. …and write.
61. …and to take photos.
62. i am uncomfortable with compliments.
63. the first time i was called an “earth mother” i was 13 years old.
64. i wish men would see me as a woman instead of a personal therapist.
65. i have wanted to be liz since 1989.
66. i am thoroughly aware that this is not healthy.
67. i cry easily.
68. i prefer drama to comedy.
69. i am a bit paranoid.
70. my #1 pet peeve is the question, “is that your real name?!”
71. my #2 pet peeve is being treated like a “girl.”
72. i was blonde as a child.
73. my inner victorian speaks louder to me than most other influences.
74. i am frightened to death of having my own children.
75. i am never as happy as i am in ireland. with nik.
76. i fantasize about marrying an englishman and living a life of leisure, book-reading and stimulating conversation in an ivy-covered cottage in the middle of an english meadow freckled with idly grazing horses. seriously.
77. i despise liars.
78. i love movies.
79. i am deeply proud of my new mexico heritage.
80. this is a new development.
81. i don’t look in my mind’s eye the way i look in the mirror.
82. i long to own an airstream.
83. honesty has gotten me in trouble more than once.
84. i could eat every meal every day for the rest of my life at eastern tandoori in galway and be completely content.
85. i would shrivel up and die without pg tips tea.
86. i want to be harry potter.
87. i love big words.
88. “fall recklessly in love” is on my life “to do list.”
89. if i was a star trek character, i’d be counselor deanna troi.
90. call me an elitist, but i actually love shakespeare.
91. i would pay infinite amounts of money to see dame judi dench on stage.
92. i am profoundly obsessed with ‘twin peaks.’
93. i have every intention of owning a tea house and b&b with nik one day.
94. i wish i knew what my happiness looks like.
95. blue sky cherry vanilla crème soda will always win out over coca-cola in my fridge.
96. i believe there is profound meaning in dreams.
97. …and synchronicities.
98. i like chivalry.
99. bell peppers make me want to cut my tongue out.
100. ‘do i contradict myself? very well then i contradict myself. i am large. i contain multitudes.’ (thank you, uncle walt.)

thank you, mr. colbert

2007-10-21T09:48:00.000-06:00

i hope every single one of you watched meet the press this morning. if not, you need to find a copy of it or hope it's on www.mtp.msnbc.com. tim russert interviewed stephen colbert - humorist and presidential candidate in south carolina. it was a freaking riot! the funniest thing i've seen in months and a great reprieve from candidate debates to salute the absurdity of the upcoming election. completely straight-faced, these two created a piece of theatre that touched on the superficiality of our most "important" election issues. better than any rehearsed satire or well-written editorial! please please go find this interview.

a coupla things

2007-10-14T18:12:00.000-06:00

we're back from hawaii. mom, dad and i had a great time! check out pictures here. (i'm sure i'll have stories to tell eventually.)

just checked in with adriana's blog and she and her husband - as the band the endless - are asking for dreams. what a cool project. i urge everyone to participate.

2007-09-18T07:28:00.001-06:00

yesterday, just before 1pm, my mom was in a car accident that killed a motorcyclist. i'm home in las cruces. mom was in shock yesterday. and this morning dad and i are fearful of what is going to happen when she wakes up. unfortunately, she is named in this morning's paper next to a fairly gruesome photo. there were no citations or charges given at the site, but the newspaper reports the case is pending review by the dona ana county district attorney.

please keep your thoughts and prayers with us and the family of the motorcyclist.

ch-ch-ch-changes

2007-09-09T16:47:00.000-06:00

much has happened since i last posted about the goings-on in my life.

my dad had to send our family dog of 15 years to doggy-heaven. she was an amazing lhasa apso named aiofe and we got her the day i got back from my first trip to ireland. phone calls that involve my dad crying tear me up in a way that nothing else can.

i started a full-time substitute teacher position at freedom high school - albuquerque's 'alternative' high school. the kids are great - there are 188. the staff is great - there are 11 of us. but i'm meant to be teaching government and economics. i am neither knowledgeable about nor interest in either subject, more's the pity for my students. but we muddle through together.

an old friend has re-established contact. (hi, ollie!) it's nice to have him back.

i was made - against my protestations - treasurer of albuquerque theatre guild. for which i am already chairperson of the unity committee.

brian and i started a new theatre-in-the-making workshop - radio booksalive! it's interesting to bring our workshop process to radio theatre.

lizard's first novella and demo cd were released.

my sadie-dog turned one year old. pictures will doubtless follow.

nikki got pregnant. which means... I'M GONNA BE AN AUNTIE!!!

and i've decided to apply for law school. for those of you that want to respond "WTF?!," i've already heard this from a good half a dozen people. trust me, it's not that big a stretch of the imagination. i take the lsat on 29 september. then...

off to hawaii for two weeks. this is the vacation mom, dad and i had planned when i broke my ankle and had to have a metal plate put in. i'm being very cautious about my physical well-being as i don't intend to work myself up to a let-down again.

change is good.

hand me my switch

2007-08-29T20:50:00.000-06:00

ever have losing streaks that last for weeks and effect not only yourself but everything - and, alas, everyone - you touch? i'm having that kind of losing streak.

i'm okay with fouling up my own life, but bringing someone along with me just tears me apart. this week i botched it big time with someone. the kind of botch that affects one of the most special events of someone's life. i did it. there's no one else to blame. i own my responsibility in the situation, but that doesn't make it better for me or anyone else.

and my biggest problem with this situation is that, while i'm able to forgive others almost instantly, i hold grudges against myself. as though i don't deserve forgiveness. and how can i expect forgiveness from others if i can't find it in myself.

at present i feel like i suck very large, very stinky eggs. i submitted an apology to joeapology in the hopes that externalizing my self-flagellation will help me move past it. send me good vibes if you've got them to spare.

satan, indeed!

2007-08-15T19:42:00.000-06:00

is anyone else out there as tickled as i am by the delicious irony that ray wise, leland palmer of twin peaks, will be playing the devil in the new series reaper.

oh yeah... by the way... i'm applying for law school.

oh judi, my judi

2007-08-02T09:38:00.000-06:00

any horoscope that includes dame judi dench is well worth posting. but the fact that this is my horoscope and the story is freaking awesome is just icing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your astrological omens are similar to those experienced by Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench back in February 2002. At that time, she was moved to make a dramatic revelation to film mogul Harvey Weinstein. In the midst of a party, she pulled down her pants to reveal her naked ass, revealing a temporary lipstick tattoo that read "I love Harvey Weinstein." I'm guessing you might be inspired to unveil a comparable surprise in the coming days, Sagittarius. At the very least, I expect you'll find some intriguing ways to express your affection and demonstrate your ardor.

old friends

2007-07-24T21:06:00.000-06:00

after a great many years of radio silence, we (mom, dad and i) heard from a childhood friend of mine. unfortunately, his father passed and that is what took him back to las cruces. fortunately, mom and dad were able to spend a couple of weeks helping him go through his dad's stuff, hold a garage sale, etc. he is, of course, an artist (in new york). it's amazing how even as children artistic types are attracted to artistic types. anyway... i thought someone out in cyberland might get a kick out of this photo of he and me in the late seventies. god we were cute!!

squee!

2007-07-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

sixteen hours until DEATHLY HALLOWS!!!

springfield, here i come!

2007-07-18T07:51:00.000-06:00

lookit, i done got simpsonized, yessir!

java baby

2007-07-17T09:24:00.000-06:00

it seems that everytime sadie gets her morning cup of coffee and makes her way to the 'junk room,' the coffee has disappeared. i suppose 10 month olds don't really need java anyway.

harry predictions

2007-07-16T09:26:00.000-06:00

okay... so i love the harry potter books. and i always have ideas about the next book that i don't document, then when i say 'i knew that was going to happen' people look at me incredulously. so, this time around, i'm going to document what i think will happen:

1. the prophecy from 'order of the phoenix' will be about neville, not harry - thereby putting neville's life in danger.
2. harry will end up with ginny.
3. the death from the end of 'half-blood prince' will be a hoax.
4. snape will turn out to be an extraordinary force of goodness and righteousness.

can't wait until midnight friday!!!

doggie, day 16

2007-05-16T09:08:00.000-06:00

now that she is 98% recovered from the ocky beast, kennel cough, sadie has suddenly become an 8 month old puppy.

she chases dame maggie around the house entirely unafraid of kitty claws. (maggie doesn't mind. in fact, she thinks it's a riot.) she's chasing invisible kitties around the back yard. and yesterday she was dragging her doggie-bed around my bedroom. this morning i discovered the zipper-pull on the doggie-bed is missing. i think she ate the zipper-pull. that can't be good.

the new-found energy is very exciting. i had two screws out of my ankle a week ago today and it seems that sadie and i are on the same 'getting better' curve. by the time she's 100%, i'll be able to take her on walks and to the dog park up the road. ooooh, she will love the dog park.

me, in print

2007-05-15T12:15:00.000-06:00

OMIGOD!!!! i am riding on a wave of adrenaline. i just got finished with a phone interview with the editor of the new publication exquisite weddings. the magazine's inaugural edition will feature new mexico destination weddings and she interviewed me for the meat of the article!! me! dig that!

she said she is only interviewing two new mexico wedding coordinators and that she chose me as one of them because my business appeals to her high-end demographic and because my website has that 'wow-factor' her subscribers will be looking for.

we spent an hour talking about new mexico venues and traditions and music and food. let me tell you, as much as i love this state, i could have talked with her for hours. she said my input to the article is 'invaluable.'

too much fun! i could do this every single day.

and now i get to go spend the afternoon with anna at tea and shopping. what a super-great day!

ugh

2007-05-08T18:44:00.000-06:00

tomorrow i have surgery to remove two of the six screws from my franken-ankle. unfortunately, it is only local anesthetic and a sedative. when i saw the doctor two weeks ago, he let me know that the screws are coming out of soft-tissue as well as bone, ergo i will still be able to feel the procedure. what?! no no no. poop! i'll let ya'll know what it feels like.

doggie, day 6

2007-05-05T07:57:00.000-06:00

first things first: unnamed doggie has been divined the name 'sadie.' she looks like a sadie and it's got the beatles seal of approval, as it were. so... ladles and jellyspoons, i give you sadie:

sadie has mastered 'sit.' but for some reason the concept that you potty outside seems to have gone right over her head. thankfully, i own rugs, not carpeting. as soon as this 'wicked-cute' (thanks, scott) baby has mastered potty-training, the rugs go to the rug-cleaner for a serious disinfecting.

things are still pretty quiet around here, sadie-wise. she barked once yesterday. just once. 'bark.' that was it. but the bark came when someone passed too close to the house, which is encouraging. i love my neighborhood, but in recent months there has been a good deal of violent crime 4 blocks this way or 5 blocks that way. good to know that sadie is beginning to feel territorial.

unfortunately, she has developed a pretty ocky case of kennel cough. this morning, she won't come inside. it's cooler outside, maybe that's why. i can't get her to eat, which is tremendously inconvenient as i've been stashing her antibiotics in her food. it's heart-breaking to see such a joyful dog under the weather.

on the upside, her lethargy is giving the cats an opportunity to approach the baby-dog without her giving chase. this has resulted in the re-appearance of dame maggie which is wonderful because i've missed her something fierce these past number of days.

so, yeah... the clark family zoo is calming down and almost ready for visitors.

doggie, day 1

2007-05-01T13:28:00.002-06:00

yesterday.

picked up unnamed doggie from ahanm.

went crazy at petsmart. bought a kong - which unnamed doggie won't play with. and a fuzzy toy - which unnamed doggie also won't play with.

came home and rested.

packed up in car and went off to tech rehearsal for the tempest. unnamed doggie has been so sweet with me that i knew she'd be okay with the kids. i did worry that the "lightening" and "thunder" might freak her out. much to my elation, unnamed doggie layed quietly at my feet stage left - while i did some preliminary stage managing - and watched the play with fascination and intent. not a word.

come to think of it... not a word, period. no sound out of unnamed doggie. nothing.

the cats are not amused. elsinore didn't think we needed a cat; she definitely thinks we don't need a dog. dame maggie is put off by all the fuss and is wedged under my bed. unnamed doggie is scared to death of elsinore. seems that you can be the alpha bitch even if you're not a dog.

everyone settled in to sleep around 11pm watching a fairly interesting american experience on the mormons - elsinore on my head on the pillow, unnamed doggie next to the bed and maggie sacked out under the bed with an eye on unnamed doggie.

and they call it puppy love

2007-04-30T13:36:00.000-06:00

well, it's been a busy morning for me and this nameless girl.

she is an 8 month old medium breed mutt from albuquerque humane association of new mexico where she was given a name i'm not fond of. so now, as we are getting to know one another we are testing out some names.

any name suggestions are welcome. we are toying with sadie, sofie and rory at present.

see... she's smiling at you. a smiling dog surely deserves a good name.

it's hard work being adopted into a new family. naps are requisite.

thanking you in advance,
b & (?)

aw, squish

2007-04-26T09:29:00.000-06:00

feeling the need to mitigate the quasi-existential ramblings of last night. with a picture of... dame maggie. everybody now... awwwwwww.

brain spew

2007-04-25T21:41:00.000-06:00

okay, so... typically the songs playing in my head are whatever i've most recently heard on the radio or a hook from a catchy commercial.

but for the past coupla weeks my earworms have been sondheim. not nice lyrical musicals like 'sound of music' or 'grease.' nope. stephen sondheim. complex music. symbolic lyrics. obsessive characters. always obsessive characters.

and i'm wandering around the house humming:

cinderella:
he's a very smart prince
he's a prince who prepares
knowing this time i'd run from him
he spread pitch on the stairs
i was caught unawares
and i thought, well, he cares

and

clara:
some say happiness
comes and goes
then this happiness
is a kind of happiness
no one really knows
i'd only heard what love was
i thought it was what kindness became
i thought where there was love there was shame

i sometimes think that what pops out of the subconscious in quiet moments speaks volumes about what is on one's mind. in which case, i'm learning volumes about what may be causing the restlessness i've been suffering the past few weeks.

ever the optimist

2007-04-06T09:18:00.000-06:00

i began walking on my moon-boot on wednesday. my list of things to do as soon as i was back on my feet:

trim back the plants in the front yard
plant veggies in the garden
re-organize the now dad-organized kitchen
organize my craft closet
cook for myself
attend to an nm wedding professionals luncheon meeting

*****

hubris or hybris (greek ὕβρις), according to its modern usage, is exaggerated self pride or self-confidence, often resulting in fatal retribution.

i'm a hobby knitter...

2007-04-06T09:16:00.000-06:00

this is a SERIOUS KNITTER!! i can't imagine ever loving a hobby or a hometown this much. thankfully.

outside/inside warning: ocky picture below

2007-03-27T13:50:00.000-06:00

last week i had my first post-op appointment. it was the first time i saw the incision from the surgery. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!! i had no idea that they would cut open a 7" incision! and i have 12 staples. and they hurt! i have to admit i nearly passed out when they unwrapped the ankle. dad, in his infinite desire for knowledge and pictoral evidence, brought his camera. dig it:

so... why did they cut such a big hole? to put in a plate, four small permanent screws (three in red circle) and two ginormous removable screws (one in the blue circle and one out of the picture just above the first).

in 6 weeks they will cut me open again to take out the ginormous screws. lucky me.

how many members...

2007-03-26T11:38:00.000-06:00

of your zodiac sign does it take to change a light bulb?

Aries: Just one. You want to make something of it?

Taurus: One, but just try to convince them that the burned-out bulb is useless and should be thrown away.

Gemini: Two, but the job never gets done; they just keep discussing who is supposed to do it and how it's supposed to be done!

Cancer: Just one. But it takes a therapist three years to help them through the grieving process for the burned-out bulb.

Leo: Leos don't change light bulbs, although sometimes their agent will get a Virgo in to do the job for them while they're out.

Virgo: Approximately 1,000,000 with an error of one millionth.

Libra: Umm, two. Or maybe one. No, on second thought, make that two. Is that ok with you?

Scorpio: That information is strictly secret and shared only with the Enlightened Ones in the Star Chamber of the Ancient Hierarchical Order.

Sagittarius: the sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb!?

Capricorn: I don't waste my time with these childish jokes!

Aquarius: Well, you have to remember that everything is energy, so....

Pisces: Light bulb? What light bulb?

god speed

2007-03-18T11:20:00.000-06:00

in a bizarre and truly unfortunate turn of events, my 28 year old cousin died yesterday in her sleep - the coroner's inquest is pending - at my aunt and uncle's house in lubbock, texas. she was deeply deeply troubled and had been from birth. she leaves behind two beautiful boys who were already being raised by her parents - i wrote briefly about one of them on an older blog.

because our trip to hawaii had to be cancelled, my mom is able to spend this traumatic time with her baby brother. for that, i am happy to have broken myself.

they shoot horses, don't they?

2007-03-16T11:04:00.001-06:00

pain. oh, god... so much pain. i haven't made it past my bed and the bathroom yet, but when i do, i'm going to scan in the picture of the SIX screws now residing in my left ankle. and the pain meds... they don't work. just to spite me, they don't work. am trying to knit through the pain. working on the idea that if i concentrate on something as hard as i have to concentrate on sock-knitting that i'll no longer focus on the pain. anyone got any other suggestions? because i'm open to anything at this point.

be careful what you wish for...

2007-03-13T08:21:00.000-06:00

so... yesterday morning i was bemoaning going to hawaii with a cast and crutches. well, ladles and jellyspoons, one must be careful what one wishes for, mustn't one?

i saw the specialist yesterday about my ankle. turns out the er doctor completely ignored the radiologist's notes about my x-ray and sort of under-diagnosed my fractured fibula. he said i would need a cast and be on my merry way. oh, no... not me.

in the spirit of never doing anything half-assed, i fractured the fibula at and angle and seem to have torn the ligaments that would have held it in proper alignment - as the bits of bone are displaced from one another by about a millimeter. what does this mean? immediate surgery. tomorrow. surgery tomorrow! i hate surgery! and this surgery is going to leave me with bits of stuff in my body. namely: plates and a screw. yep... i'm going to be permenantly screwed.

oh... and... no hawaii for me! instead - three weeks in bed.

spring break, indeed.

2007-03-11T19:06:00.000-06:00

it was a gorgeous day today. sunshine and sixty-something degrees. i had a bowl of cereal on the front porch and basked in the morning sun. i was excited to prune back my front yard to prepare for the new growth that is beginning to appear.

i was feeling optimistic enough to begin cleaning house. i got the kitchen mostly clean and on the way out the front door to trash some stale cereal, i lost my footing house and... wait for it... broke my ankle. I BROKE MY FREAKING ANKLE!!!

the only bone i've ever broken in my life was my cheekbone. no cast needed. no crutches. no real inconvenience other than a black and blue face. a broken ankle? quite the opposite. crutches suck baboon ass. you can't carry anything. you aren't stable enough to stand to do anything. you can't vacuum, you can't sweep. i'm not enjoying this. and i'm in pain.

and the best part? the very best part? i leave a week from tomorrow for a much needed vacation. in hawaii. hawaii with a cast. freaking hawaii with a cast!! i'm so bummed i can't even find the words. ugh.

hostess this, babies!

2007-02-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

there are some of us that don't do things half-way. what do we do? we jump in feet first. to this end, i am hostessing an atc swap over at swap-bot (click on the image to warp over there):

i know most of my friends are fiber-artists, but maybe you'll take this opportunity to dip a toe into the atc world.

cool craft... again

2007-02-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

i've been suffering with an atrocious head & chest cold. i finally felt well enough today to clean house a bit and put up my craft table in the living room. and i returned to a craft (art?) i began toying with a year ago - and then promptly put in the craft cupboard for 12 months.

thanks to the discovery of swap-bot and further swaps at atcards, i have rediscovered the fun of atcs (artist trading cards).

dig it, the first cards for swap. these are for a swap through atcards called 'honoring the goddess.'

this is 'brigid.'

this is 'rhiannon.'

this is 'parvati.'

all hail st. brigid

2007-02-02T16:31:00.001-07:00

in honor of second annual brigid in cyberspace (silent) poetry reading, i give you this:

When You Are Old

by WB Yeats

WHEN you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face among a crowd of stars.

digging this with great muchitude

2007-01-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Joe Apology

go. use. move on.

mystery boys

2007-01-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

i am a mystery junkie. i love mystery novels, mystery films, mystery series, mystery stories... if it's mysterious, i love it!

the most exciting part of all the new crime/mystery programs coming to life on american television? all the lovely, lanky geek-boys.

cases in point:

dr. spencer reid on criminal minds

dr. nigel townsend on crossing jordan

drs. zach addy & jack hodgins on bones

greg sanders on csi

(and that's just off the top of my head)

case closed.

p.s. dear god, if you see fit, please let every crime/mystery program on american television adopt the formula of including a geek-boy in their cast. it tickles us geek-girls pink to see our counterparts so lovingly portrayed.

golden globe revelation

2007-01-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

holy crap! my dad does look exactly like clint eastwood! and - apparently - i look just like my dad. what does that mean for me as i grow older?!

someone pass me the moisturizer!!!

a bit of advice?

2007-01-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

one of my the best gifts i got this christmas was a subscription to interweave knits from the moma and the papa. i received my first edition in the mail yesterday. och, but there are some gorgeous patterns. i'm thinking of attempting my first sweater. so, i query:

what kind of pattern should i begin with? cardie? pullover? raglan?

any advice is much appreciated.

holidays

2007-01-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

ah... the holidays were amazing. i took two weeks off from my life. i went home to las cruces for 2 weeks and did very very little thinking about albuquerque. it was relaxing and reviving and perfect.

i can't wait to post about my christmas haul and my new year's resolutions and my secret pal box and... and... and...

i'm so excited about 2007. i hope everyone else is, as well.

things i'm adoring at present

2006-12-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

1. hugh laurie's lisp.
2. the sproingy ornament nik gave me last year.
3. being my own boss.
4. being snowed in.
5. getting birthday cards in the mail.
6. naan.
7. netflix dvds of british tv series.

i love my city

2006-12-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

we are snowed into albuquerque. all the out-bound interstates are closed, as is the airport. nothing to do but cuddle up on the couch with the kitties and watch a movie. so...

i just finished 'little miss sunshine.' i imagine that the writer made the hoover family albuquerqueans because there is something phenomenally humorous about the word 'albuquerque.' but, whether intended or not, this family is extraordinarily albuquerquean. case in point: the pageant scene. or, rather, the pageant scene. if you're from here or have visited for any length of time, you totally know what i mean.

december rocks!

2006-12-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

wow... things have been busy around here. early last week i got a box from my sp9. so much great stuff!!! (more on that later.) friday was my birthday, celebrated with a lovely holiday open house at my place and a fierce, alcohol-fueled game of trivial pursuit. and i spent every waking hour this weekend on the job for my last event of 2006 - the smith-kuhfahl wedding.

i'm sick and i'm tired. but, damn, am i happy!

oh, the pretty mens

2006-12-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

here in albuquerque the sun is shining bright and the highs are in the region of 34 degrees. if that doesn't mess with one's head, nothing will. i have all the extraneous rooms closed off (read: every room except the livingroom and my bedroom) as my home is a testiment to 1950's architectural engineering. this beasty in the livingroom

is meant to warm the entire house - around corners, down halls, two or three doors away. between the temperatures in town and the beasty's inefficiency, there has been a goodly amount of 'hybernating' under the blankets on the couch watching dvds and under the blankets in the bedroom attempting to sleep.

i've watched all my christmas movies and i've moved on to television series that need catching up on. i am on the final dvd of 'lost: season 2.' you know, there is not a single unattractive man on this program. last season i was absolutely enamoured of sawyer. this season, my affection - and, i must say, lust - have turned to locke. i'll be interested to see what next season brings, though i'll wait until the entire series is on dvd to find out.

(p.s. i will hang, draw and quarter any soul who attempts to spoil a single second of season three for me.)

it's official

2006-11-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

it is now christmas-time. my tree is up, it's snowing, my birthday is only a coupla weeks away and i'm partaking in the annual watching of 'white christmas.' i cannot tell you how big a crush i have on danny kaye.

this afternoon i'm off to find a copy of 'love actually' to purchase - about the only other christmas movie i am driven to watch each year.

tra la la.

tra la la!

2006-11-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

i've been remiss in not posting a big fat 'thank you' to my secret pal.

i was at a conference last week and didn't return home until wednesday afternoon. while i was gone, my parents had moved into my house because my mom was scheduled for a handful of major surgeries. the tuesday i was gone she went under the knife and the day i got back from conference, dad and i began running around taking care of mom and other business. and we've only now slowed down.

when we finally came home wednesday night to sleep, i discovered that a box had arrived in my absence. oh, the joy! a box to open! something to enjoy in the midst of chaos! fun fun fun!! included in the box were:

1. lovely lovely pirouline-esque, dark chocolate filled and dipped 'nestle's crunch' deliciousness. (not pictured as i gobbled it up immediately.)

2. flying star farms plum chopotle jelly. i can't wait to try this on chicken or pork chops. num num num!

3. the cutest vintage kellog's note card set. it'll be fun to send friends written notes - mostly because, who expects to find a letter in the mailbox these days?

4. a rocking ikea ice tray that makes cubes to fit in water bottles. let's see... i live in the desert and i have two high-energy jobs, what do i need? cold bottled water!! oh, yeah!

5. two balls of black cotton yarn and two skeins of white tencel wool yarn. nice light yarns for use in the - everybody now - desert!

thanks so much sp9. i needed a pick me up and you certainly filled the bill. i hope you receive(d) extraordinary goodies from your sp9 in the spirit of good karma!!

whoa!

2006-11-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

i just got back from the annual international conference for association of bridal consultants at the broadmoor in colorado springs. man, alive! what an amazing experience!! my mind is absolutely reeling from all the information. i'm going to have to sit down with all my notes and hand-outs this weekend or i'm afraid i will lose the info forever.

one of the highlights was the presentation by and booksigning with this piece of man-candy:

oh... so freaking beautiful

the incomparable preston bailey!!

done. and done.

2006-11-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

i voted. i'm very proud of me as i am not the most disciplined voter. yay, me! however, there is one thing i need to say:

PAPER BALLOTS BITE MY LEFT PINKY TOE!!!

which bureaucratic mental giant decided it would be simpler or better to have an entire state vote on ballots that look like an sat exam? isn't this anti-evolution? argh!! i want my ballot machine's back. they make me feel like a super hero.

kickin' it witchy style!

2006-10-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

or perhaps i should say, cookin' it witchy style. tomorrow is samhain, celtic new year. which means today is halloween and new year's eve. so i'm flexing my feminine muscles by cooking and baking. it feels so good. here's the shepherd's pie before it got 'shepherded.'

shepherd's pie... mmmmm...

and for the finished product. with some homemade soda bread. delish!!!

shepherd's pie and soda bread... mmm...

and dame maggie wants me to add that i couldn't have made this lovely spread without her supervision.

the baby cat

get well soon

2006-10-27T15:31:00.000-06:00

my beautiful gramma hasn't been feeling top notch these past few months.

gramma

so i knit her a washcloth a few weeks back. i got it in the mail to her yesterday and can't wait to hear how she likes it. it's no fun to be 222 miles away from the gramma, but it's fun to make stuff for her.

gramma-cloth

lookit!!

2006-10-23T15:19:00.000-06:00

we're famous!! i've said how cute heather is, now there's photographic evidence. good times!

soooo busy

2006-10-19T22:53:00.000-06:00

a coupla people have asked me for the pattern for the fingerless mittens. and sp9 requires posting. thing is... i'm swamped. the good kinda swamped, but swamped none the less. so, it'll have to wait another few days. sorry. and thanks. and... yay... someone reads my blog!!!

hoo-ray!!

2006-10-10T23:02:00.000-06:00

so, during my annual autumn watching of the entire twin peaks series - don't ask unless you really want the answer - i designed fingerless mittens. yup, me... i designed something. my first something. my very very first something. i'm so proud of me.

i finished the first one this morning and wore it around the house until i had to run away to teach teenagers. now i have to figure out how to successfully reverse it and then i'll share the pattern and a photo with you.

oh, you will like it. yes, you will.

my knitting shame

2006-10-09T17:03:00.000-06:00

okay... here it is... *gulp*

i don't enjoy making socks.

i feel as though i have betrayed some sort of sisterhood by admitting this, but it is true. i simply don't enjoy making socks. i'm thankful to socktoberfest for teaching me this. it's not that i can't do it. i'm pretty freaking good at it, but i find it to be no fun at all.

love me anyway?

now... i have this gorgeous koigu i intended for socks, but i've no idea what to make with it. i am officially taking suggestions. thanks muchly.

still on overwhelm

2006-10-09T11:08:00.000-06:00

oh, the colors!

we had a blast in taos! what a great road trip! as a knitting newby, i was completely overwhelmed by the yarns and the roving and the spinning and the felting and the weaving and the knitting and the crocheting and the shearing and the...

whew! i'll blog a bit about taos later. for now...

pictures!

mine
jody's

taos! woot!

2006-10-05T09:37:00.000-06:00

going to taos for the taos wool festival tomorrow. travelling up there with jody, a friend from stitch n bitch who actually lives in maryland. and before we hit the road, we're picking up nicol from the airport. she is a friend of jody's from a previous secret pal thingy and she's flying in from las vegas for this road trip. too much fun!!

i've never been to a wool/knitty festival before. i don't know what to expect, but with these two sister-friends in tow, it can't help but be a blast. and i think we'll bump into a whole crew of knitters from albuquerque.

sp9 questions

2006-10-04T15:28:00.000-06:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

i enjoy knitting with veriegated yarns. cotton, bamboo and wool make me happy. i find acrylic yarns very upsetting.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

i have some antique suitcases stacked in my living room. my needles are sorta thrown in there with everything else.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

i've been knitting for about nine months. i taught myself from books - god bless the library right across the street from my house - and i consider myself an advanced beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

sure do. but it is so large it might frighten a secret pal.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

vanilla and amber. also, heady eastern scents like sandalwood, cumin, coriander, curry, etc.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

i love dark chocolate. any cadbury's chocolates. and red vines.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

paper arts, multi-media art, sewing, decoupage. i don't spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

old-school jazz (sarah vaughan, lena horne, etc.), sting, u2, folk rock, acoustic/classical guitar, alternative, classical... just no country or rap (unless it's french or middle eastern.)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

green will always be my fave. but i'm going through a red phase at the moment. i can cope with anything except pink and yellow.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

i'm single and i have two cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

all of the above.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

bags, throws, shrugs...

13. What are you knitting right now?

some washclothes for christmas presents, a sock, a soon-to-be-felted bag.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

shoot, who doesn't?!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

i like circular aluminum.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

a who and a what?

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

a few months old. i was working on a shawl that i think i'm going to frog and turn into something else.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

bring me halloween!! (and dia de los muertos - which coincides with halloween. how lucky am i?)

19. Is there anything that you collect?

peacock feathers, irises, dragonflys, china tea cups and saucers, tea pots, handmade pottery

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

i would love to work with some manos. books: knit 2 together, yarn harlot, socks soar on two circular needles, stitch n bitch nation.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

cabling bewilders me.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

i'm learning. i'm a us size 9.5.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

december 15

fourteen yarns

2006-09-07T15:58:00.000-06:00

indulged in these fourteen yarns for a throw i found in a library book. i based the color scheme on the 'sari yarn' (top row, second from the left). it just captured my heart with its richness and indian flavor.

it is meant to be put together completely randomly. the plan is to keep it random within fourteen rows, that way i can make sure i'm using the same amount of everything. i'll post pics when it's done.

fourteen yarns

stitch n bitch bags

2006-09-04T15:43:00.000-06:00

i made these from the pattern in stitch n bitch. i picked up the fabric from hobby lobby. i loved all three as fabrics, but once they were bags i fell in love with the brown corduroy & paisley.

stitch n bitch bags

unearned confidence

2006-08-28T14:49:00.000-06:00

after my two - count 'em two - felting victories, i decided i was a knitting pro and moved on to a fairly difficult pattern. while the result is a gorgeous little handbag, alas, it isn't sound enough to take out of the house.

front:

purse front

back:

purse back

felting 102

2006-08-28T14:43:00.000-06:00

having followed directions pretty darn well with the felted tea cozy, i decided to take on some really cute slippers. boy, i had no idea why i was doing what i was doing in regards to the pattern. but, sure enough...

before felting:

slippers - before

after felting:

slippers - after

felting 101

2006-08-28T13:51:00.001-06:00

this is my first foray into knitted felting - truthfully, this is also my first foray into following a knitting pattern. that is, knitting with wool on large needles, then washing it in hot water to shrink it and create a felt fabric item. the yarn for this came from frogging an wrap i hated knitted in my all time favorite wool. (the colors remind me of the ocean.) and will probably be making a number of things out of this wool.

before felting:

tea cozy - before

after felting:

tea cozy - after

ikea plus

2006-08-28T13:45:00.000-06:00

i bought this great cd holder at ikea, but knew that unfinished wood would drive me batty. i can't tell you how much i enjoyed doing these a few years ago. now, if i could just organize the cds within.

decoupage, woot!

byronic stuff

change is good

squee

feeling the holy spirit up in here

I'M AN AUNTIE!!! (...finally!)

wandering readlessly

i finished a project. oh yes i did!

happy new year!

out with the old (songs) and in with the new

me, in print

100 things about me

thank you, mr. colbert

a coupla things

ch-ch-ch-changes

hand me my switch

satan, indeed!

oh judi, my judi

old friends

squee!

springfield, here i come!

java baby

harry predictions

doggie, day 16

me, in print

ugh

doggie, day 6

doggie, day 1

and they call it puppy love

aw, squish

brain spew

ever the optimist

i'm a hobby knitter...

outside/inside *warning: ocky picture below*

how many members...

god speed

they shoot horses, don't they?

be careful what you wish for...

spring break, indeed.

hostess this, babies!

cool craft... again

all hail st. brigid

digging this with great muchitude

mystery boys

golden globe revelation

a bit of advice?

holidays

things i'm adoring at present

i love my city

december rocks!

oh, the pretty mens

it's official

tra la la!

whoa!

done. and done.

kickin' it witchy style!

get well soon

lookit!!

soooo busy

hoo-ray!!

my knitting shame

still on overwhelm

taos! woot!

sp9 questions

fourteen yarns

stitch n bitch bags

unearned confidence

felting 102

felting 101

ikea plus

outside/inside warning: ocky picture below