What you talkin' about Willis?

I have always been skeptical of "organic" since it doesn't mean humane or cruelty-free. It just means no hormones, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers were used in producing the plant or animal. "Cage free" eggs doesn't mean the chickens had plenty of room to move around or could go outside. It just means the chicken wasn't confined to a cage. Most people would think that "cage free" means a chicken got to breathe fresh air and see the blue skies. It makes sense, but never occurred to me, that baby boy chicks are killed for being the wrong gender. Only HENS lay eggs. Since these chickens are bred to lay eggs, the boys are destroyed. Polyface recently sent out an email to their buying clubs about product availability. As part of the normal seasonal cycle, most chickens slow in egg production. As a result, Polyface will have fewer eggs available between now and February. What I find interesting is that this is probably when egg demand increases with all the baking going on for the holidays. What's a normal egg producer do? Keep the chickens in the dark and starve them for a few days, of course. By force molting them, the chickens will produce one final batch of eggs before they are killed.

Not Eating Good in the Hood

We shun microwave restaurants like Chili's, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, TGIFridays, etc. Why pay $10 for food we can microwave ourselves? This unofficial ban has been in place for a good 3-5 years. Tonight, we decided to give these CAFOs a second chance. I mean, they know competition is fierce and have been trying to differentiate themselves from the pack, so they deserved a second chance. We chose Applebees and wished we didn't. The menu looked fine for a meat lover, but there was not a single vegetarian dish. Not even a token hockey puck veggie burger to be found. QE got a panko crusted shrimp that looked more like chicken-fried shrimp. I ordered the cajun tilapia from the Weight Watchers menu. I figured tilapia is farm raised, but vegetarian, so at least the fish didn't eat fish meal and byproduct. Tilapia is also less harmful to the environment than farm-raised Atlantic salmon. The fish was quite good, actually. We were just surprised that a restaurant that tries for universal appeal would totally ignore vegetarians. I mean, what if a group of friends wanted to meet up and one was a vegetarian? Most likely (if the group were considerate, good friends), they would pick another place in hopes the vegetarian would be able to find something to eat. So, despite having what looks like a decent menu, Applebees lost two customers for not having anything that remotely resembled vegetarian fare.

. . .

Had to get cat food, so poor me, QE took me to Knit Happens since we were in the hood. I used my Insatiable Knitter Card and saved $27! Let's not talk about how much I spent, eh? :) I got five skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in a violet blue color, four balls of Rowan Pure Wool in baby blue, two balls of Rowan Big Wool in beige, a pair of size 5 Addi Natura, and Lantern Moon rosewood straights in size 17 for the Big Wool. The Natura are pretty darn cool. The bamboo is so smooth and slick--I like it much more than Clover, but my Clovers are still nice. The LMs are my first pair of rosewood. They feel delish. I can't wait to use them.

I am almost done with the argyle vest for piglet. Next project might be my Big Wool scarf for myself. I also ordered a baby bunting and a set of four baby blanket patterns from Morehouse Farm.

QE and I decided (actually it was his idea) that if his peeps decide not to come for Thanksgiving, we'll have a Tofurkey. I'm now hoping they all decline our invitation. In addition to not eating meat, it will mean a lot less work for me. Yes, Thanksgiving is all about me. Plus, the kid is allergic to cats. His eyes swelled up when he played with the neighbor's cat.

Spanx Me

Spanx rocks. Why didn't anyone tell me about this for my wedding? Or just share their secret, period??? Now I know why even chunky girls had smooth asses while I avoided pants for the last 5 years. I've only tried the footless pantyhose and I love it. The legs are stretchy without being constricting. The "control top" works its magic without constricting or creating muffies. I forgot I was wearing it. I am dying to try the camisole ($38!!!) and power panties but dang! must it be so darn expensive?

I am officially un-vegetarian today. I had a wild Alaskan salmon salad from Cosi. It was delish, but my stomach feels heavy. It was very good though. This is downright hilarious considering what happened last night.

QE and I were at Harris Teeter stocking up on vegetarian frozen meals for this workweek's lunches. Dad had called earlier in the day inviting us to dim sum today. We accepted until QE realized there wasn't much we could eat. I called dad back to decline the invite and explained I was so used to being vegetarian that I forgot dim sum wasn't veggie-friendly. I had told dad a few weeks ago we were going veggie and he replied, "It's good you're eating less meat. More veggies is good for you." hahaha This time, dad was still fully supportive of our vegetarianism but said "how long are you doing this for?" and "you can have fish. Fish isn't meat." BWAH! We've gone no red meat and vegetarian for Lent before, so dad thought we were in another one of our "phases". What's hilarious is that dad was trying to convince me fish wasn't meat and vegetarians eat fish. He wasn't argumentative about it at all. He just didn't see fish as meat, so it was ok to eat in his mind. Gotta love dear old dad.

Polar Bears are Drowning!!

QE hates it when I respond to weather comments with that. "Wow, it's nice out today. 75 degrees in October" --Polar bears are drowning!!!

I've been getting these intense stress headaches lately. It sometimes feel as if I'm about to black out. What's weird is that I only get them when I see, hear, or read something very troubling about animal cruelty and such. I care about many issues other than animals, but this is the only one that causes these headaches.

I know I can't become vegan, but I think I might sway that way in some aspects of my life. I think I should be aware of what I consume (food or otherwise) that may affect animals in some way. Tea and I have been on a virtual shopping binge lately where we talk a good game but don't buy. Cosmetics and skincare has been a focus and until I looked at Smashbox, I forgot about animal testing. This was a big thing about 10 years ago. Although I've always known that many of our cosmetics, shampoo, etc are tested on animals, I guess I became less aware of it. In this day and age of super technologies, is it really necessary to test products and drugs on animals? I can't tell if only brands identified with "cruelty free" or "no animal testing" are doing it or if mainstream brands that don't market this point are also not testing. Is my desire for a wrinkle-free face really worth it if animals were used in the development process? I think I would accept my raisin face to save an animal or two. Or fifty.

In knitting news, I'm almost done with my chevron scarf. I think I will give it to the SIL. My brother will get a cabled scarf. I will need a pair of mittens to match my new coat. QE wants a hat I think. I'm also working on a baby blanket for piglet. He's due November 11 and the papa pig is beyond excited.

Bees Knees

What did the girl mushroom say to the boy mushroom?

You are a fun-gi. Yep, that's still my favorite G-rated joke. :)

The flaky skin around my mouth for the past 18 months is a fungus/yeast. It's now under the control and I have no idea the cause. Burt's Bees lip balm has been a soothing salve for my lips and I have a tube stashed everywhere. I have become a Burt's Bees hoarder of sorts. Tip: Ulta has a three-tube and one tin pack for $9.99. SCORE!

One pack of balms have developed a crumbly, gunky texture. I contacted Burt to ask if it's ok to use, possible cause, etc. They asked for my address and said they would send replacements. How nice! I wasn't expecting that. I received my replacements last night. In addition to three glorious tubes of my treasures, they sent me a Head-to-Toe Essentials kit. Oh wow. What a nice surprise!!! Because of their generosity, I felt the need to give a shout out and spread the good love from Burt's Bees.

Sunday in the ER

The day started normal enough--Davis headbutting my hand hanging over the bed and Angel mountain climbing the mounds of blanket. Realizing I will not be permitted to sleep in, I gave up and greeted the day. Walnut bourbon pie washed down with coffee for breakfast (joys of not having kids! Irresponsible meals!) while reading the paper. I finally went upstairs to get dressed and noticed blood spots on our bathroom floor. That's weird...my toes don't hurt, how could I be bleeding? Nope, no bloody toes. Double and triple checking still didn't lead to any bloody toes. But my pinkie toe is clearly making bloody prints! It's everywhere I've stepped! Blood on QE's vanity. Hm. My hand? Nope. My arm? Nah. Looking around, I noticed blood on the tub's ledge. Ok, I can be ditzy and dumb, but I KNOW I have not touched the ledge! It's not me. But then who? Davis.

Our Buddy cut his paw pad. Ew. It looked bad. He wasn't dripping blood, but he was leaving bloody prints all over the floors. We confined him into our bathroom as we tried to assess the situation. In his efforts to leave, Davis stood on his hind legs and painted our walls too. It appears our boy cut his paw on a shaving razor left out. By now, QE is getting upset at the sight of all the blood in our bathroom. We quickly cleaned up all visible blood, got dressed, and took Buddy to the ER.

Our lean machine weighs in at 10 pounds 11 ounces. He weighs less than Cara, who is about 2/3 his height and length. His wound was a superficial cut that scraped his skin off. The vet took him to the back for a betadine soak. Ok, anyone who has ever met Davis knows that he does not like to be touched on his head, back, or tail. And heaven forbid we try to touch his paw! That's just asking to be bitten. So how did the vet manage to get our boy to soak his paw in a solution for 5 minutes?? The technician reported that Davis just sat there with his paw soaking. No protests, no growling, no attempts to take it out. NOT FAIR!!!

He's doing ok given the circumstances. Antibiotics for the next 10 days. Skin should start healing in 3 days and fully recovery in about 2 weeks. Angel is keeping him company in their bedroom. We thought Cara's relentless stalking would cause Davis to walk more than necessary, so it's best for him to stay in his room. My poor little boy.

Jive Turkey

The weather is finally turning cold...Angel decided I needed my head warmed last night and slept on my pillow. I must say, it did feel very nice to have a warm, furry purring machine next to my ear as I dozed off.

I know it's early, but I believe early planner gets the turkey. In reviewing where to acquire our Thanksgiving turkey, I came across one farm that is selling heritage, organic, free-roaming turkeys for $135. Is that the true cost of eating responsibly? Probably. So...if that's the case, what about all those frozen bowling balls at the local grocery store? How do stores manage to sell those for $.49 or $.99 per pound? Maybe the cost is truly lower because those turkeys were raised in a CAFO eating feed consisting of questionable byproducts, hormones, and antibiotics? I can only speculate. What I do know is that our "happy" turkey last year (from Whole Foods) did taste better and was juicier. And it didn't stink when raw. It was our first happy turkey and what a difference!

I've been vegetarian for over a month now, with one break for dad's bday (sushi). I'm quite happy with my food choices. I think I might just remain primarily vegetarian with necessary breaks for Thanksgiving and such. I don't feel any different, good or bad, as a result of my changed diet. I've lost 10 pounds since my doctor visit last year, but I feel about the same. As someone ever so kindly pointed out to me, I probably lost muscle and not fat.

Davis outright rejected the rabbit I fed him and chose to go on a hunger strike for three days. He won and I am thrilled my darling boy isn't going to make me feed him rabbit. Long live the bunny! I put the remainder of the rabbit outside for our homeless neighbors. Maybe they will remember that our plot of land is a safe haven and they are always welcome to drop by.

Cara had a vet visit on Monday and weighed in at 12 pounds. She was just under 10 pounds when we adopted her seven months ago. How could she possibly gain so much weight when she is so active? I feed all the kids at the 10 lb level, so this baffles me. We no longer serve kibble with dinner and the protesters are rioting.

Sweet Bitterness

I am almost finished with the cat pattern I bought off Etsy. I need to give it a nose and mouth. It's kind of cute, but it was painful to knit. I used a plain, inexpensive cream cotton this time and forced myself to complete the project. I'm not sure why I found it so dull, but I still have the brown wool one was a WIP. So unmotivated. Currently on needles: the chevron scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in a mohair blend using Whispers; and the baby blanket/shawl from Special Knits in a white cotton. I'm dying to work with my Manos del Uruguay, but I have no idea what to make. I have enough for a shawl or throw, but it seems so wasteful. I also have Lorna's Laces Fisherman (500 yards per hank!) and have no idea how to wind it into a skein.

In an effort to be a better mom, I bought my kids raw rabbit meat. Poor bunnies! Yes, I know those cute little bunnies were raised for food, but I still feel guilty. It totally creeps me out, but I know it's part of a cat's natural diet. Overcoming my own selfish beliefs, I took the plunge and bought a pound of it on Friday. Luckily, Angel and Davis do not seem fond of it. Maybe it's the l-lysine I've been sneaking into their food (for their sneezing) they dislike. I will try to omit the med and see if they will eat the rabbit blended with their usual food tomorrow. If they don't like rabbit, then at least I know I've done my part to be a good mom. And then I will rejoice.

I don't usually talk politics and I try to continue in that vein. However, QE received a call from The Washington Post polling the "youngest male over 18 in the household". The survey was about the political candidates from both parties as well as his views on various topics. The fact that QE's opinions were recorded is hilarious because he is about as anti-politics as anyone could possibly be. Myself, I don't identify with either party. I sway differently depending on the topic/issue. That said, I saw an interview on 60 Minutes with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. I found his story interesting enough that I wanted to read his memoirs.

I went to Borders looking for Justice Thomas' book. It was not on the table situated front and center of the store as you walk in. I could not find it in New Arrivals. It was not with New Non-Fiction, nor Biographies & Memoirs, Best-Selling, or any of the other prominent displays. The online system said it could be found in the History & Politics section. Fine. I went to the section and the book was nowhere to be found. Peeved and growing ever-impatient, I asked a Borders staff member for assistance. He had no idea who Clarence Thomas was. Two reasons why the name should have been at least vaguely familiar: he's a member of the Supreme Court (helloooo!!!) and he has a newly released book out. How does a bookstore employee not know which books came out during the week? Not only that, but it's received enough buzz to warrant some sort of attention.

I finally found the book. On the bottom shelf of African-American Interest. ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME?! Yes, Justice Thomas is black. But does his book belong with the black fiction, novels and other non-fiction? Not really, in my opinion. Ted Kennedy's book (a bio, I think) was displayed prominently on one of the "important" shelves. I am fairly certain his book has been out for a while. Was Thomas' book pushed aside for racial reasons? Political reasons? Am I overly sensitive? For kicks, I looked for his book again at a different Borders. This time, it was under Non-Fiction but still on a lower shelf. It certainly took some effort to find his book. Would a memoir from a white Justice have been displayed front and center? Not sure. I just found it interesting that Justice Thomas' book was somewhat buried, as if Borders wasn't interested in selling copies. And I should probably mention that I took the only copy displayed. Why do I care? Because I hate Borders for other reasons already and this is just one more reason for me to boycott the place.

I like Barnes & Noble so much more, but it's farther from my house. Borders also lures me with their weekly coupons. So I guess my loyalty can be bought with a lower price. Ugh. I'm no better than those Wal-Mart shoppers. My saving grace is that B&N stocks so many more titles and magazines that I usually end up buying there anyway since ghetto Borders doesn't have my books in stock. When I ordered Debbie Bliss' newest book last month, I was told to expect a postcard in the mail notifying me when it arrived. I never got the notice. I did find a copy of the book on the shelf last week, though. B&N had at least four copies of the book at the two stores I checked, the same week it was released. None of the FOUR Borders I visited had any.

Goodbye Flower

Flower (with collar) was the matriarch of the Whiskers family on Meerkat Manor (Animal Planet). Last night, she died. Her death was actually in February, but I had not heard the web buzz alluding to it, so I got blindsided. Flower was a strong, experienced leader and led her family through many difficult times. She was a loving mother but laid down the law as necessary. Having kicked Mozart out of the family for getting knocked up, Flower proved to be a strong leader. Last night, Mitch (her grandson and my favorite meerkat!) brought home another tribe's pup, Axl, and Flower kindly took him in. Meerkat instinct would dictate that Flower kill this cub reeking of an enemy's stench. Flower instead accepted the pup, nursed him, and carried him when he got tired.

I know death part of the circle of life, but Flower died prematurely. Having watched meerkats over three seasons, it's hard not to get attached to the cute little critters. It's a bit comforting to know that I'm not the only one mourning her death. Viewers around the nation are crying too. How can this bunch of tiny (12-inches tall), furry warriors elicit such emotions and tug on our heartstrings as if they were our own children? It's always sad to experience death, but the loss of Flower is devastating. My heart aches. Life goes on, but it's much emptier without her.

Welcome to Sucksville, Loser!

But wait, I thought I was already in Sucksville!

I sent QE a job posting for a company that I thought is awesome (and would require relocation!) Ok, so I didn't read the description very closely, but it seemed up his alley. QE writes back it's a grunt position, hence the name calling. The benefits and perks for said company are very good, but many favor parents and the birthing of children. Why can't the rest of us get the same kind of benefits? I'm not advocating suffering for parents, but shouldn't we all get equal opportunity to duck out of work early? Soccer practice, PTA meeting, hot date, yarn sale, Goo Goo Dolls on Oprah...should the reason matter? If I take off to care for my hubby with the flu, is that less important than caring for a child with the flu? What a crock!

On a different note, QE found a George Michael import compilation CD at Barnes and Noble. It's not as extensive as Ladies and Gentlemen, but still cool. The listening station's review said as much and also noted that the US version to be released will be a 3-disc set, with the third disc containing rarities so obscure only the most diehard fans would care. Well, DUH! Here I am, George! I want it!

My dear George and his beloved blue-eyed Kenny were the secret benefactors of the John Lennon piano that has been mysteriously showing up in random locations across the US (check out the article in The Wall Street Journal). George bought the piano several years ago and recently began using it to promote peace and love. They are targeting places that have experienced violence, hatred, or sadness, such as Colombine, New Orleans, etc. Surprisingly, some towns, schools, and other venues have declined the offer to display the piano. I think it's pretty cool that this piano shows up in a field or a parking lot and people are free to touch it, play it and just be. Admire. Think. Imagine.

Random Thoughts

My meezer girls are very similar. Cara's coloring has gotten darker and without visual aids (contacts or glasses), sometimes I can't tell them apart from behind. Both also have a fascination with my closet, especially our dirty laundry. Both are shameless beggars for food. Cara's new food is Kellogg's Frosted Shredded Mini Wheats. She doesn't like multigrain waffles though.

The Dementors are cautiously freaked out by the fact that I have been dressing better and wearing more makeup. I am now bored out of my mind now that my incurred cost submission to DCAA has been submitted. Ahead of schedule too. :)

I think I will lobby to make allergies protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I cannot do yard work without suffering. If other bogus frou frou issues can be protected, then allergies should too. Allergy sufferers unite! In addition, I think my hiring a gardener should be a FSA-covered claim.

Our patio is completed. The people next door reported that our lovely neighbors help themselves to our patio during the day. Apparently these neighbors think we spent big bucks for their pleasure and while away the afternoons sunning themselves on our patio. WE haven't even been on our patio yet and they act as if they own it! It's so nice that the deer enjoy our patio. Someone should, right? Next on our list is to plant deer-friendly shrubs and flowers for their enjoyment. I think it will only be a matter of days before they find our chrysanthemums and start deadheading the blooms.

Ode to Halo 3

Halo 3 comes out in exactly a week. Why would someone like me know this? Because I have a tormentor who is giddy and excited about this dreadful game. Did you really think I was going to praise the game??? :)

Why Halo sucks:

1. It steals my husband from me
2. It is supposedly more fun online (darn Xbox Live!)
3. Who creates a game where you can walk in one direction while looking in another????
4. The alien bad guys make scary noises when you kill them
5. It turns my husband into a video gaming addict, including crazy bugged out eyeballs

When Can I Be Right?

Once again, QE is right--females my age can't avoid Baby Fever. At least I can't. I still do not want my own child, but I can't help longing for certain aspects of what a baby represents. Specifically, I loooove looking at baby clothes. Darn my brother for having a son! I want to look at girl clothes! It's probably a good thing our little piglet will be a boy. He's saving me big bucks! Don't get me wrong--all baby clothes are cute. And so tiny! But it seems girl clothes are especially adorable.

My other feverish symptom is the need to cuddle and cradle and coo. QE is very concerned. I say I don't want a baby, but my behavior clearly says otherwise. Cara is kind enough to let me cradle her every night. Ok, so she usually squeaks and tries to wiggle her way out, but she tolerates it for a few seconds. Last night, we went through the same drill and I gave her bits of pita to appease her. Sure enough, it did! I got to cradle Cara while feeding her bits of pita. I fed Cara as if she was my baby. QE was in total disbelief and reminded me that there is no way I would get away with it with Angel or Davis.

New Me

It's a good thing I don't like shopping. I would hate to imagine the destruction I could cause to our bank account if I did! We went clothes shopping for me yesterday. Got a two pairs of pants and two knit tops at Ann Taylor. The pants were buy one get one 50% off, so the total damage was about $178. Not too bad, I suppose. AT Loft was a lost cause. AT's quality isn't great, but Loft looks like Wal-Mart compared to AT. I like Loft, but $88 for a pair of unlined pants? The good news was that I dropped a size in Ann Taylor. They must have made their vanity sizing even more vain. I've noticed I lost a few pounds, but I don't think it's been a full size. Maybe I have lost weight.

Bloomingdale's turned out to be a treasure trove. As much as I love the clothes at Bloomingdale's, I try to avoid it because the prices are so high. Yes, people in my income bracket do, and probably SHOULD, shop there, but I am cheap. I can afford it but don't want to. As a fat girl, it's important to buy nice clothes that drape well with quality workmanship. Anyway, I thought I should clean up my work image a bit after wearing cotton skirts and sandals all summer. Bloomingdale's had a pre-sale of sorts. I still don't quite understand what went on except that I walked out with $390+ worth of clothes for about $250. Black Calvin Klein sheath dress; Anne Klein skirt; AK dress shirt; and Jones New York sweaters. QE picked out everything except the dress. All of my selections were busts. :) There was this gorgeous (in my opinion--QE hated it) Ralph Lauren sweater for $150. As a knitter, I can appreciate the intricate design despite it being cotton. I just couldn't bring myself to spend $150 on it though. I will keep an eye out for it and pounce if/when it drops to about $75.

Being (or is it going?) vegetarian has been ok so far. It's made me very conscious and aware of what I put into my body. Honestly, the thought of eating meat kind of grosses me out now. It's like I'm afraid of eating meat again knowing it's a dead animal's flesh. Irrational and weird. I still miss steak at Chipotle, but it's more for the texture I think. Eating meat makes life so much easier though. Having to find good, wholesome vegetarian food is difficult. Eating out means ordering the same stuff sans meat or settling for some half-ass vegetarian fare as if I am a second-class citizen. I think I am eating less processed food though, so that's good. I'm not vegan, so eggs are still in my diet. For kicks, I compared Polyface's pastured eggs with Trader Joe's cage free eggs. Polyface's eggs definitely taste better, although I think TJ's is a step up from non-cage free eggs (cage free and non are both considered conventional eggs).

I finished Marion Nestle's book, What to Eat. She makes some very good points about the US food industry. Companies constantly try to "improve" and add (perceived) value to foods so they can charge more and encourage us to eat more. (There are about 3900 calories available daily for every person; and yet most of us shouldn't consume more than 2000 calories per day.) Case in point: EggBeaters and other egg products. Most are just egg whites with some emulsifier (and water!!!) so they cook up like regular scrambled eggs. I caught on to this scam years ago and have been buying whole eggs and tossing yolks. A dozen of conventional eggs is about $1; a carton of EggBeaters is about $3(?).

Marriage Over

Well, my love affair with Google is officially over. While I will keep my blog and gmail accounts, I will stop singing the praises of Google. After taking forever to upload my chicken video (12MB), it took over an hour to then "update" it to my blog. I gave up around 12:45am. Blogger limits video files to 100MB--I'd hate to see how long an "upload" would take after the data transfer is complete!

Polyface Farms

"farm of many faces"
Doesn't that sum up their philosophy? How many farms acknowledge that animals have faces? Sure the farmers see animals, but do they really SEE the animals they raise? Polyface Farms was profiled in "The Omnivore's Dilemma" as a place where pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics were unnecessary as part of normal operations. The cynic in me thought 'yeah right. It can't really be like that in real life. The author's weeklong experience there was just to show it's possible.'

QE and I visited Polyface today. I saw first-hand how it's really done, and Michael Pollan captured exactly what really happens. It's not tourist-friendly like a vineyard. The "sales office" is little more than a hut or shed (no AC!). There's no picnic area or restrooms. The latrines were quite clean though. Walking through tall grass and weeds, we first met the broiler chickens. There were lots of pens with lots of chickens in each. The pens were like an upside-down playpen for babies. Each pen had chickens in similar age/size. It was kind of stinky. If open-air pens in a field stink, what must chicken feed houses smell like? Don't think I want to know the answer.

Next, we walked into the woods where the piggies were. Mr. Salatin (owner) was giving a tour to some Virginia Tech students, so I didn't get a great view of the pigs. They were huge! Piggies are not the cute Wilbur or Babe size pigs--these pigs were the size of--well, large enough for me to never want to piss off a pig. They were also loud when they yelled at each other. What was really cool was that the piggies all had their curly tails, unlike production pigs. No need to dock tails when they are happy and not distressed. Happy pigs = pigs that don't suckle or chew another pig's tail.

We moved on to visit the cows. As we drove on to the farm, we saw the cows and a few greeted us. I was excited to finally meet them. As we walked into the pasture, the calves were intrigued by us, but not enough to allow us to get too close. Most of the herd was chilling under a tent. Cows like to lounge in the shade during the hottest part of the day. We saw cows resting under trees on other farms, so I knew the tents weren't weird. Polyface sets up a tent in a new plot of land daily and that's where the cows hang out. They didn't look too happy by a human's standard, with all those bugs flying around, the hot and humid air, and having to share the shade with other cows. But the cows seemed happy. When Polyface says visitors are free to roam the farm, they weren't kidding. We were in the cow pasture with the cows! No barriers between us and the moo moos.

Our visit to the egg-laying hens was most amusing. Chickens are loud. And they really cluck! As we approached the Eggmobile (all animals get moved daily to new land in a rotation), the welcoming committee came to greet us (in the video). They weren't just moseying along--they were running towards us. For a brief moment, we panicked at the thought of getting pecked and chased by chickens. Luckily for us, they were very friendly and just wanted to say hi. Inside the Eggmobile, there are little cubbies for chickens to hang out, just like in cartoons.

A few hours of walking around and meeting everyone was tiring. I have no idea how the farm manages to do real work. We bought some really good looking meats and eggs. The eggs are ungraded, but some gave "large" a whole new meaning. Speaking with one of the employees, I learned that even "cage-free" eggs aren't much different than conventional eggs. Just because they are cage-free doesn't mean the hens get to roam around or eat a nutritious diet. Polyface's eggs are called pastured eggs. Their hens get to go where they please, eat grass, peck at dirt and just be a happy chicken. In fact, we saw a few hens who dug trenches in the ground to relax and dusted theirs feather with dirt. Production birds who roll around on the ground would be rolling in poop.

It was very cool to see a small farm make a difference in the lives of their animals. We can't save the world, but we can share our passion with others. After seeing the happy animals, I feel less guilty about eating another living creature's flesh. I've been going vegetarian the past week, and frankly I don't really miss the meat. I don't feel the need to eat meat. It's just more convenient since it's everywhere. Having to think about the source of my food has made me think twice about meals. Is organic lettuce from CA really necessary? The fuel burned to ship me that bag of lettuce cost much more than the $3 I spent for that organic spinach. Did me forgoing meat all week really save a chicken or cow's life? Doubtful. But imagine what would happen if 10,000 people chose "happy" animal meat or became vegetarian.

Unfit Mother

I've always been fairly honest and vocal about how just because women have the ability to conceive doesn't mean they should become mothers. I think I fall into the "shouldn't" category. Case in point: Davis and Cara are still facing off daily. A simple look (ok, staredown) from Cara will cause Davis to go into fits and scream. Sometimes she goes away, sometimes it leads to a full confrontation. His screams sounds like a woman getting beaten up. Horrible and scary. Last night, they were at it again as we were fixing a late dinner, this time on the stairs. I got fed up with both of them and smacked both on their side/butt. Davis was shocked and started to sneeze (he sneezes when he's under significant stress). Cara retreated to her room, none worse for the wear.

As dinner was cooking, Davis was in his corner of the kitchen watching. I go over to make up with him and make sure he's ok. He avoids my eye contact and retreats to the sofa, ignoring me. My little boy was mad at me! I hurt his feelings and he was scared of me! I go over to the sofa and try petting him again. This time, he allows me to pet him but still won't look at me. We made up by the end of the night, but I learned a lesson for sure. Animals do have feelings, at least those with whom we share our lives.

Last night's face-off wasn't any worse than any of their other fights, but I was fed up with it. Was I wrong to smack them? I don't know. Did they realize they shouldn't fight? Not sure. Will I smack them again if necessary? Probably. Don't get me wrong, I've never smacked any of the kids until last night. I don't think parents should hit their kids (human or otherwise) on a regular basis as a means of punishment. But sometimes, I think a good smack (just one) is enough to remind them who is boss and that their behavior will not be tolerated. That is obviously frowned upon in this day and age and strangers will not hesitate to report "child abuse". I think that is why kids are more out of control now than say 15 years ago. Good thing I won't be a mother to a human child...I would probably get carted off to jail or the kid would get taken into Child Protective Services or something.

Very Good Porn

For the record, I do not have an addiction. QE is my enabler and pusher.

Knit Happens had a super crazy, better than eating, better than sex, better than dark chocolate sale. The sale was so good, I would eagerly wear a thong bikini if it was a prerequisite. Yeah, it was that good. They were supposed to open at 10:30 and we arrived at 10:20, anticipating a long line. As we approached the store, I was relieved and a bit shocked there wasn't a line! Turns out the store was already open! Apparently there was a large crowd waiting, so the staff decided to open early. OH WOW

To make room for the fall yarns, many in-stock yarns were 70% off. Others were 30% off. This was not a bait sale where only the crappy colors or yarns were 70% off. Many were delicious, gorgeous yarns at yes-I-WILL-knock-you-over-if-you-are-in-my-way prices. Surprisingly, everyone was very polite and courteous despite it being very crowded. Go figure. Knitters must be nicer than the general public. Maybe more Metro riders and idiots on the roads should take up knitting. Imagine how nice the world would be!!!

Ok, so my pile doesn't look very large, but I assure you it is. It was two shopping bags of yarn. Think department store shopping bags at Christmas. Those kind of bags. Some women had four or more bags overflowing with yarn. My dad was amazed at my loot. In typical dad fashion, he picks up whatever was on top and goes "this one ball costs ten dollars?" When I told him I got it on sale for 70% off, he relaxed a bit and enjoyed touching and seeing everything. Surprisingly, he didn't say anything about how much I bought. Dad knows I am an avid knitter and I will use the yarn eventually, so it's not a waste of money. See, even Dad supports Stash!!! :)

Here's what I got:

4 - ggh Solitaire in gray (merino/acrylic/poly blend)
4 - ggh Solitaire in chocolate brown
2 - Lorna's Laces Fisherman (the cream/beige next to the gray)
4 - Manos del Uruguay (the peachy tan)
2 - Shepherd Colour 4 Me in white
4 - Jaeger Roma in cane (buff)
4 - Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk dk in ivory
2 - Araucania Pomaire in blue
4 - Laines du Nord Korall in off white

I know that most of what I got is rather neutral in color. Well, I've got enough wacky colors I bought because it was on sale that I don't want to stress over what to make in a non-traditional color.

Here's why I have the best husband in the world (yep, definitely better than yours! LOL) In addition to going into the store with me (it overwhelmed him, between the crowds and the noise--we really did sound like hens clucking), QE was my helper and actually scoped out yarns he thought I would like. He chose the DB Alpaca Silk in baby blue. I decided it was too confining and wanted the cream, which was on the top shelf in the back. Good ol' QE reached up there for me, to the envy of other women. After 30 minutes, I was done and checked out to the tune of $60ish. I was feeling great. I got awesome loot that didn't require me to settle on colors or yarn. As we walked out, QE said he was disappointed in me. All the hype about the sale and I walked out with one measly bag of yarn. After some trash talking, QE convinced me to go back in and look around some more. He coaxed me back in (poor me!), then took my bag and went off to wander elsewhere and would come back in 20 minutes. I went back in for round two.

I scrutinized everything, opened my mind and tried to break free from my yarn comfort zone. Thanks to QE, round two resulted in some really cool yarns that are quickly becoming favorites. All told, I spent a bit over $100 for the yarn above. Not too bad, considering full price would have been well over $350.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGEL!

Our little princess turned 10 today. She is officially our geezer meezer and we love her more than ever. It seems only like yesterday we adopted her at the age of 3. After wishing her a happy birthday at 5:00 AM, I gave all the kids kibble instead of the "yucky" canned they snub. Angel was overjoyed. Today MUST be a special day afterall! Mom never gives us kibble first!

As you can see in the photos, we got Angel a birthday cake and some balloons. QE said one of the balloons in my final selection pool was "too babyish. Angel is a big girl!" hahahaha He chose the Sleeping Beauty Disney Princess "because it's heart-shaped". And it's quite appropriate since Angel is our Sleeping Beauty Princess.

Grandpa made the trip to see his favorite girl and brought hand-made shrimp dumplings for lunch. Gotta love Dad! He wished Angel a happy birthday and was all googly moogly wishy washy with her. Blech. :) He even asked why we didn't get Angel candles for her cake! And I thought I was nutty for getting her a cake! None of the kids ate much cake. It was virtually all ice cream with maybe a quarter-inch of cake. Ok, it's Maggie Moos, so I expect lots of ice cream, but a bit more cake would have been nice. The cake wasn't very sweet and nicely decorated.

Overall I think Angel had a nice day. The balloons scared Cara, so what could be better than that, right? We've been through a lot with Angel. And through it all, I think we've learned to be loving, caring, and well-trained parents. She knows we love her a lot and she is very special to us.

Happy Birthday, my little best friend!

Big Bucks for Trouble

The "queen of mean" Leona Helmsley passed away recently and left $12M to her dog, Trouble. Many people are outraged that ensuring the care and lifestyle of a dog took precedence over the poor and needy, and over two of her grandchildren. Oh the horrors. Miss Mean gave money to two of her grandkids, but purposely excluded the other two (all from her late son).

My question is, since when are we entitled to the assets of our relatives? Sure, it would be nice if that rich uncle or miserly grandmother remembered us in their will. But do we have any "right" to that money? Since when did ol' Dad's money "belong" to us? Regardless of how someone acquired their wealth, THEY were the ones who earned it. Why should I be entitled to the fruits of their work? I won't have to face such issues since my family is far from wealthy and I certainly don't expect even a piece of china or heirloom necklace from anyone. Inheritances are gifts, and nobody owes me a gift. Ever.

Back to little Miss Trouble then...I personally think she deserves the money. I mean, who was by Leona's side every waking moment? Her grandchildren? Nephews and nieces? Personal assistant? Attorney? Trouble saw Leona's face without makeup and kissed her good morning anyway. She was the loyal companion through the good and the bad. Surely she misses her mom and was devoted to her, even if humans called her mom the queen of mean. Trouble's love for Leona was unconditional. If it helps her cope with losing her mom, then I say let Trouble maintain her extravagant lifestyle.

Corn is Evil

I started reading The Omnivore's Dilemma this weekend. I am not quite halfway finished, but what I've read so far is rather startling. Maybe this is one of those Chicken Little books, or maybe it's got a conspiracy slant like Michael Moore. The author won a James Beard award, so he must have it at least sort of right, yes?

Apparently most of what we eat is corn-based, one way or another. HFCS, sorbitol, meat, eggs, cereals...corn was part of the food production. There's the delish corn on the cob type of corn and what is called grade 2 corn...this is corn that is used in food processing and animal feed. It is cheap and farmers will plant more when corn prices drop. It seems counterintuitive to the laws of supply and demand, except that the farmer needs $x for a year's crop, and if prices are low, he will need to produce more corn to take home the same amount of money. Obviously the increased corn production will further suppress prices and the government pays farmers to make up the difference. According to the book, the US has a 10 BILLION bushel surplus. What to do with all this corn? Find ways to consume it, of course. Hence the ethanol push. And feeding it to animals. Cows are one of the biggest corn eaters. Minor detail though: cows don't eat corn--they eat grass. Their bodies were built to eat grass. Corn makes cows sick. To offset the cow's natural inability to eat and digest corn, the feedlots mix 75% corn with fat, proteins, and hormones. The cows still get tummyaches and other more serious issues, which are treated with antibiotics. The USDA says livestock can't be given antibiotics unless the animal is sick. Well, when a cow is sick because of its food supply, then doesn't it seem obvious to stop feeding cows corn? Nope. Corn is the cheapest feed, so cows must eat it. One vet said that cows can't live on corn for more than about 150 days; coincidentally, the cows don't have to, because they usually get slaughtered right around the 150th day. This makes me wonder about Chipotle's antibiotic stance on their meats...I checked out the websites of several beef producers. Yes, they are much better than most beef processing, I'm sure. But they all say the cows eat corn, so they cows must get treated with antibiotics, right? One of the producers doesn't ship their cows off until 14 months of age, so the cow gets grass for all but two months of his/her life. Not long enough get sick, perhaps? Oh, apparently the cows we eat today are killed at about 14-16 months of age. Back in the 1950s, I think it was at 2-3 years of age; and back in our grandparents' day, it was 4-5 years, when cows were solely grass-fed.

Momma cows birth a calf and they hang out together for about six months before the calf is taken away and weaned. Apparently that's not natural because the author reported that weaning day is a tense day on a ranch (momma cows stay on ranches and eat grass; they are basically baby factories). The calf cries for his/her mother and momma cow moans for the calf. When the calf is six months old, he is shipped to a feedlot and taught to eat corn. Until that point, the calf drinks mom's milk and grazes on grass. Unfortunately calves can't stay with their moms because she usually gets inseminated again two months after she births.

I've sort of digressed about why corn is evil. BTW, I don't really think corn is evil. Just the people who manipulate our soil, ecology, and environment. Here's something that really shocked me: corn requires fossil fuels to grow. So what's with the push for ethanol then?! Corn requires fertilizers in the form of nitrogen to grow, which requires oil to produce. The really weird thing is that farms used to mean a few cows, horses, chickens, plant crops, maybe a few fruit trees. The animal manure is used to fertilize the crops, which in turn feeds the animals and humans. It was like a mini-ecosystem. With the introduction of hybrid seeds (not to be confused with GMO seeds), farmers could plant corn more densely, which required chemical fertilizers. Corn was more lucrative, so farmers kept allocating more land to corn and eliminating livestock and other crops. They used to rotate between corn and soybeans since the legume puts nitrogen back in the soil. Now, some farmers plant only corn on the land year after year.

I can't help but wonder if the changes in technology, food production, and food processing is affecting us as humans. I mean, we are consuming foods that were produced using "unnatural" raw materials or processes. Salmon, chickens, cows, pigs...they are all fed corn. Corn from many producers using different seeds--some hybrids, some GMOs. As a result of carnivores (salmon) eating corn, farmers must feed the fish additional fats and chemicals to maximize production. How do we know these hormones, antibiotics, vitamins, etc aren't being transferred to us? Chickens fed corn are then processed and chicken litter (their bedding, feces, and scraps of their feed) are fed to cows who are in effect consuming corn. Theoretically, cow manure produced at these feedlots can be spread on crops, except they are essentially toxic waste that would burn the plants. Runoff from the manure contaminate bodies of water, causing fish and amphibians to develop abnormal sex organs and body parts. Lovely! What should be black gold is instead toxic. Don't get me wrong--we eat what is available to us. But at the same time, most of us have no idea what we are really eating. The fact that corn requires a lot of fossil fuels to produce is alarming. One cow is equivalent to a barrel of oil between growing the food it consumes, the antibiotics, and other resources necessary to raise a cow.

I bought another book today, What to Eat. I can't wait to see what other eye-opening things I learn. Why stop the spending spree now, right? I also bought a Nintendo DS in red. Woot!

Pictures of You

Random pics that summarize my life the past few weeks. The red bag was much bigger prior to felting. I was all excited about having a mini-tote bag. We had friends over the other night. Like me, she is allergic to cats. After meeting Angel, she is now open to eventually adopting a "petite faced girl with small ears" like Angel. :)

Stash is Good

Ok, so the formatting is a bit off, but here's a glimpse of my stash. I am proud (or is it ashamed???) to admit that I have more yarn tucked away elsewhere, like the basket in the family room that holds patterns and needles. Oh, and I have scraps and leftover yarn from projects in various little shopping tote bags. Don't let the rectangle basket fool you...there's a lot of yarn in there, mostly my "precious" yarn that is too "expensive" or "too good" to be used for my silly projects. What am I saving it for? No idea. I have a divine bit of Debbie Bliss pure silk in turquoise that I can't figure out what to do with--it was quite expensive for the tiny bit I got, so it's not enough to make anything except a hankie. I used some to make Mrs. Tea's "something blue" anklet for her wedding day. Yup, that's all the action the yarn's got in the 6-12 months that I've had it.

Here's a "tour" of my yarn, based solely on recollection...
Square basket, from front to back, left to right:
100% Australian wool in baby blue I bought online from Knit Happens, GGH Sublime yarn from KH, same Aussie wool in pink (I didn't know if my brother was having a girl or boy at the time); Nature Wool in cream, Classic Elite MarLa (this was the yarn that turned out to be four strands...each color you see is a strand of yarn), another GGH Sublime, Lamb's Pride aran (wool and mohair); Lamb's Pride bulky (green) and aran (pink), a soy and wool blend by Patons I think, MarLa in another color; more Lamb's Pride in aran and bulky. Can you tell Lamb's Pride was on sale??

In the rectangle basket, there is the DB Pure Silk, Rowan Baby Soft, Morehouse Farm merino wool in lavender and cream, Knit Picks wool sock yarn in a minty green, a lush alpaca sock weight in a moss green, a few Debbie Bliss Cathay in navy blue (leftover from my first picovoli sweater), a superwash merino in charcoal gray by GGH I think (leftover from my second picovoli), furry/frilly yarn in Bear Cub (South West Trading Co?), that's all I remember, but there's much more. The pictures are actually out of date now...I have since acquired more yarn (it's an addiction, sue me!).

As I mentioned in a previous post, I knitted a hooded sweater for piglet using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran. Poor me, I have a full skein and a half left. :) I am currently knitting my varigated red tote bag using Nature Wool. I bought these yarns prior to a job interview. Got there too early and needed to kill some time. tee hee!

Oh! I ordered a knitting bag and purse from divaknitting.com late last week and got my order on Monday. She's fantabulous...great prices, prompt shipping. The Diva is also a blogger and was published in the most recent issue of Knitty. Congratulations Cheryl! Anyway, my bag is Namaste's Executive Knitting Bag. It's roomy but still a manageable size. It's also great as an interview bag, when I need to stash a padfolio, makeup, extra pantyhose, etc. I also got a sheep tape measure. Very cute. I will take pictures and post later.

Anxiety of the week: I know it's early, but seasoned traveling knitters said we're basically at the mercy of the TSA dweebs on the dangerousness of our needles. WTF!!! TSA's site said knitting needles are allowed. Done! Stick with the policies, eh??? Nope, these travelers said bamboo or plastic is preferable to metal and would reduce the chances of confiscation or rejection. Obviously circulars would be the way to go given the cramp space and all. But they expect me to ditch my beloved Addis??? Please say it ain't so! I have one pair of Clover bamboo circulars and as much as I love my Clovers, nothing beats the smooth joints of Addi needles. Clover has great straight and double pointeds, but for circs, it's Addi or nothing. We can now add knitting needles to my list of separation anxieties. Angel, Davis, Cara, Addi. :)

Baby Fever

I am at my prime child-bearing age as are most of our friends. QE always had this theory that women are on the prowl for a husband around age 30 since that's when baby fever kicks in. According to him, even women who didn't want children in their 20s hanker for the pitter patter of little feet in their early 30s. He thinks our hormones and instincts kick in and it is beyond our control.

As most of you know, QE and I don't want human children. Ever. We have three furry children and that is plenty of pitter patter (and hisses!) for us. Allow me to digress for a moment... When people ask if we have any children, I always respond that we have three cats for children. Most are usually surprised and taken aback that we would refer to our cats as our children. Are we crazy? Do people with human children take offense to that because we are equating our cats with their kids? Whatever. I have three kids. Kids I don't need to put into a car seat, butts I don't need to wipe, and beings I don't need to drag with me shopping.

Ok, so here's the deal. We don't want human kids ever. But I am nesting in the worst way. Sort of. I am nesting for a baby. My terms and conditions: a baby that does not require me to birth; a baby whose diapers I don't have to change; a baby that won't require me to wake up at night; and finally, a baby that will not grow into a kid. I would also require a daytime nanny and a serious push present. Forget those cheesy rings from Kays or Shaws or Jared. Nope, it will definitely cost QE if he requires me to give birth. (Hahahahaha!!!) Given these parameters, I am looking to adopt a baby with a nanny that I can Return to Sender when it reaches 2-3 years old. Oh, and it must be a girl. Ok, I kid. What I'm really looking for is a baby to borrow. To snuggle, smell their clean, just-bathed baby smell, and change her into multiple outfits like a doll, and give her to someone else when she emits any bodily waste.

We met up with some friends who are about to marry. QE told them I was nesting, I described my requirements, and we finally told them we weren't having kids ever. The guy says it's too bad, and that it's always the ones who would make the best parents that choose not to have kids. It's flattering, I suppose, that he thinks we'd make good parents. But there was also a sense of disappointment and a hint of "WTF is wrong with you crazy people?! It's unnatural not to want children." Oh well.

So what brought on this nesting? Not sure really. QE's cousins seem to spawn babies left and right out of wedlock and insufficient means of supporting themselves as it is. My brother and his wife are due in November. With four weddings to attend this year, we'll probably see these couples have a baby within the next 2-5 years. Knitting baby clothes for my brother's piglet is fun. The clothes are so tiny! I finished a hoodie sweater today. It's supposed to be for 3-6 months and it is so tiny!!! Trips to Target involve visits to the baby section and me scoping out cute clothes and toys. It's so wonderful they live in another country because otherwise I would be buying a lot of toys. LOVE those Fisher-Price toys! Push a button and lights come on. Turn the tiger's head and he roars. Press the pig and he oinks. Sigh...baby toys are so much fun. There was one where if you lift the chicken, there are eggs and a chick in the nest!

I guess I am nesting in a superficial way. But it's enough to amuse and concern QE. No, I am absolutely confident I do not want a human child of my own. But it doesn't mean I don't want to play with cute babies. That first year is so amazing. They transform from a helpless little bald sleeping lump to a brave and active baby on the move and anxious to conquer the world. Those tiny "rat teeth" start showing up, those fat thighs become chubby legs with dimpled feet. I am not fooled by those sleepless nights, those exploding diapers, or living in one big biohazard when baby decides to put everything in her mouth. No thanks. I guess we are good parents in that we are responsible enough to know that we do not want human children. Hankering for a baby is not a good reason to bring a human into this world.

Besides, would my human child snuggle up next to me each time I cry like Angel and Davis do? Would the kid lay (ok, pass out) on the filing cabinet enjoying the air conditioning when I am using the computer like Cara? And would the kid greet me at the door when I come home from work? Don't get me wrong--I know there are a lot of great things about seeing my spawn present her first "I Love Mommy" drawing, or the first time she learns to write her name. And because she's my spawn, she will be smart!! (tee hee) My kids will never go off to college or get straight As. But, my kids do afford us some freedom from diaper bags or a finding a babysitter for the day. And that suits me just fine. So please let me nest and coo over a sweet smelling baby without asking why I don't want a human child. mmm, baby smell...and those tiny fingers! Those petite peas for toes! AHEM!--I meant to say don't tell me I would make a great mom. Duh. I know that. Just ask Angel, Davis and Cara. They will tell you I spoil them rotten but still discipline them as necessary. Those pink gums and later rat teeth! How am I supposed to resist little rat teeth!? Is there anything cuter?! Yes, there is...long eyelashes and chubby cheeks.

Mr. T's Wisdom

"I pity the fool..." was one of Mr. T's famous lines. And fools are aplenty. NPR reported that the housing bubble burst and rising interest rates are causing many people to lose their homes. In fact, the number of people who will lose their homes to forclosure will exceed the number who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina. What a staggering statistic. However, only one group deserves sympathy in my opinion.

Many households enjoyed the low interest rates and soaring home values of the past 5+ years. We were all moving up in the world! Unfortunately, many families did not spend their money wisely and now must face the consequences. Many more households bought their first home. In principle, that's a wonderful thing. The American Dream is coming true for more people! However, many of those buyers had no business buying a home beyond their means and now face foreclosure. If I recall correctly, NPR noted there was one woman who worked at Wal-Mart making $10 or $15 an hour who bought a $700K+ home with no money down. She never made a single mortgage payment. YES, the shady lender shouldn't have made the loan. BUT, shouldn't that woman also be accountable for knowing there is no way she can afford such a home?

To make matters worse, there are all those flippers out there--investors who let greed rule their hearts and mind. Those same jackasses are now stuck with vacant properties and are unable to unload it without taking a loss. To that I say HA! You f'ers deserve it. The investors pumped up the home prices and priced out a lot of legitimate home buyers who just wanted to buy a house. How fair is that? Hard working families can't afford a modest home because properties were overvalued.

Now there's an idiot bitch who wants the government to bail people out of their troubles. She wants to help people avoid foreclosure. That's wonderful, really. She better be using her own money and not the taxpayers'. Why should the government rescue people who made wrong choices? Should we all expect government bail outs for our failures? What if an entrepreneur is about to lose his business? Or how about if I took three vacations and bought two cars over the summer and now can't pay my credit card bills? Will the government help me too? Where is the accountability? When will people take responsibilities for their actions and decisions? Yes, people can be down on their luck and lose their jobs etc. Absolutely we should help those people. But those who willfully engaged in practices or entered into contracts they knew were risky is reckless and they should learn their lesson.

Lesson in Microeconomics

I love all things associated with knitting. Why do tote bags need to cost so much just because it's classified as a "knitting" bag??? No matter. My current system (or lack thereof) works for me. My needles and patterns and books are a different story. I have at least one set of needles in all sizes from 0-15. QE picked out several baskets for all my loot a year or so ago and I argued against it, saying I didn't need multiple baskets. Well, I have managed to use all of the baskets and bought one more, larger than the previous ones. I hate it when he's right. Needle cases and "pattern organizers" cost a fortune. A case can cost between $20-$80 or more. Do companies think knitters are rich? That cost is not an object? Hellooooo!!!! There's an opportunity cost involved! Every dollar spent on "luxury" items is a dollar not spent on yarn. Besides, nobody will see my beautiful needle case since I wouldn't carry 20+ sets of needles with me.

The past weekend was a tax holiday on school supplies. I bought a 1-1/2 inch binder ($1.49) and a 50-pack of page protectors ($1.99?). I sorted and filed all of my patterns in the binder. Bam! Done for less than five bucks. That's $40+ I "saved" and can spend on yarn. Lovely.

Ugly Greek Eager Beaver

Two posts in one day...can it be???

I tried to upload some photos that have been on my camera for a while (too long) after finishing the work I brought home--trying to keep the Dementors away, you know--only to find that plugging in the USB caused a power overload on our computer. Weird, right? Not really if you have an eager beaver in the house who gnaws and chews through everything. Yup. Cara chewed through our camera's USB cable. We knew about it, but didn't think it actually damaged the cable. Upon further inspection, it appears that our little beaver managed to break a few wires within the cable. Hey, I tried to share pictures. It's Cara's fault. You can call and complain to her at 800-Bite-Mee.

We went out for dinner. We rarely eat at home on the weekends, so it's no big event or anything. We decided to try a new restaurant. It's a mom and pop type of place that we've driven by many times since moving to our house. It looks like a diner and served Greek, Italian and American fare that is very well-priced. I ordered the moussaka, which is eggplant, potatoes and ground beef with a white bechamel sauce. It came with a salad and a side of vegetables for $9.45. Not bad, right?

Got the greek salad. Not too bad...very little feta, so it's tolerable. As I was picking through the lettuce to ensure no chunks of feta, I come across something else that was white. A white hair coated in salad dressing. Ew. I ate all of two bites before finding it. Whatever. It's a diner...we lowered our expectations the moment we walked in. BUT, a waitress bussing the table behind us (she wasn't our server) saw me make my glorious discovery, examine the specimen and push my salad away. Did she do anything? Nope. She didn't proactively take away my salad nor tell our waiter about my problem. See, regardless of the type of restaurant, I would expect that the restaurant's staff would attend to all the guests' needs, even if we weren't their table. I guess that's asking for too much. I would have tipped her in addition to our waiter if she took care of me. Oh well, her loss.

My entree came. The moussaka looked good enough. The vegetable of the day was green beans. Wow. I swear those were canned green beans tossed with some oil and bits of cooked tomatoes. I had not seen such drab looking green beans since my elementary school days. QE's grandmother's dreadful Thanksgiving green bean casserole looks fresh from the farmer's market compared to the dead beans sitting on my plate. The color is only what I imagine would be in a diaper after feeding a kid nothing but pea puree for a week.

The moussaka tasted good. I couldn't figure out what the white layer on top was. Mashed potatoes like on shepherd's pie? No, it's not. A dough crust? No...oh right! Bechamel sauce! Wait...isn't that supposed to be creamy and saucy? That's the base you use to make mac and cheese from scratch. This is soft but solid...there's no oozing or dripping here. What the heck. It's a diner owned, or at least run by, Greeks and they can't get a freakin' Greek entree right? We purposely focused on the Greek items thinking it would be the kitchen's specialties. Maybe dinner isn't their thing. We will give it one more try, either breakfast or lunch. We want to support small, local businesses, but for $25 including tax and tip, we're better off eating at Chipotle and pocketing the other $12.

Funeral Potatoes and Wedding Spaghetti

I bought five balls of Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran yarn at a cost of $42 for a hooded baby sweater. Ouch. It's really nice though. Smooth but not silky or limp. Thick but not chunky. So nice to knit. I was very relieved to learn that knitting needles are allowed on flights. QE called me a nerd for worrying about it.

We went to a flea market today. Very cool. Lots of treasures to be had. Too bad we didn't buy a single thing. We are too practical to buy things we don't need and don't see the point of buying goodies for the sake of collecting. We looked hard for something to buy...anything. No luck. Maybe next time.

The heels of most of my work shoes squeak. Is it a coincidence that all the shoes are from Ann Taylor? Don't know. Some are new this season too. It drives me crazy!!!

I've decided that we will host a small party for Princess Angel's 10th birthday. It's not every day a girl turns 10, you know. I think we will go with an Oreo ice cream cake from Maggie Moo's. She loves Oreos and enjoys sharing my ice cream. I think she will enjoy her cake. :) I hope to find a few party hats for the occasion. How does one put a party hat on a cat and keep it there???

What else is new...ah yes. Work will now be called the Dementors. It's not reference to any one person, but the general office. There are a few (only a very few) that are tolerable. The office truly sucks the life out of me. IG helpfully added that the office is very cold, which further supports the name Dementors. I can't figure out if we work in a very inefficient and wasteful building or if the menopausal hags in our office crank up the AC to alleviate their hot flashes. Either way, it's intolerable.

Our patio, deck and fence will be built in the next few weeks. I am so excited.

Davis is sweeter and needier than ever. QE kissed, hugged, and headbutted me as Buddy watched, his paws kneading the sofa. The moment QE left me, my sweet boy came to cuddle with me. I seem to also belong to Cara. She gets pissy when Davis is on my lap. Nevermind that she has no interest in snuggling with me, but nobody else is supposed to either. As a result, I am the usual venue for their fights. Nothing like being fought over and being the battleground, eh?

Knitting Cats

I miss knitting. Nothing lifts the spirits like picking up needles and yarn. My least favorite part of knitting is finding an interesting pattern AND the yarn/needles required. It seems I don't buy sufficient quantities when building my stash, so the 1 or 2 skeins I have are not enough. Gyah. But it's so expensive to buy all the delicious yarn without a project in mind! And of course, if I have four skeins, the project requires 6. I can't bring myself to knit a toy or doll using luxury yarn. Oh the cost! Oh the waste! Ah, such is the angst of a cheapskate knitter.

The kitties are doing well. Davis loves to snuggle on my projects if I am knitting. Cara is responding to her name when it suits her. She even knows "Okie" is her. Cara-Okie purrs for me and is starting to let me hold her. Angel has trained her daddy to brush her every night. She sits on the side of the tub and cries, whines, and begs until daddy brushes her to her satisfaction. If he stops before she's ready, she will let him know. Hilarious. Angel turns 10 on September 1. I still have not planned her birthday party. What a terrible mom!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was so good I am reading it again. All the tiny nuances and details that seemed insignificant the first time are so glaringly obvious now!

Pot(ter) Head

I did not camp out until 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning to get my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I did, however reserve my copy at Borders in advance and picked it up Saturday morning. The store opened one hour early in anticipation of the demand. It was a good thing I ordered a copy because they did not have a single copy available unless it was reserved. I think this didn't necessarily mean they sold out, but were saving all copies for pre-orders and releasing any excess to the general public. How nice, yes?

I agonized about going Friday night in hopes of getting the 3-foot poster Borders had "while supplies last" but decided it wasn't worth it to spend several hours in a confined store infested with kids of all ages. I'm sure most of the kids were fine, but there are always a handful of mongrels who would run, scream and otherwise forget stores were not playgrounds. So instead, we picked up my book the following morning. And there were still posters available! Yay! They probably had about 50 left, so us early birds got the goods!

I finished the book in about 12 hours including breaks and distractions such as eating and the loo. :) Oh wow. The book was so much better than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams. There were quite a few deaths, as expected. This book was definitely for a more mature audience, as Ms. Rowling had noted that she expected her audience to have grown up with Harry. Hallows explained so much about the previous books, even when we thought each book had wrapped up nicely. I think I will read it again just for kicks, now that I know how the story ends.

Hopefully Idaho Girl got the book over the weekend so we can be Potterheads together and dish about the book. I never properly introduced him, so here goes. Yes, HIM. IG is a guy at work and we are the sole pathetic souls trapped in our windowless prison cells. Everyone else at work has a window office except us, even though there are at least two vacant window offices available. IG is Idaho Girl because he's cool like that. hahahaha Actually, his friend is away for the summer and let him use her car. Her license plate is Idaho Girl and that's what I've been calling him since. :)

Speechless

On a Washington Post chat--couldn't have said it better myself:

There's no call for anyone to be cruel to animals, but there's a higher duty to care for our fellow man first. : Difference: animals are largely helpless in where and how they end up in bad situations. Man, who has free will, is often directly responsible for where they end up. Sure, someone may be born dirt poor and into an abusive family, but there comes in the factor which make humans superior: free will and the ability to reason. I'd rather help animals.

Idaho Girl

Ok, I am lame and crazy according to the cheeriest person I know. Idaho Girl (link to come) thinks I'm nuts for already planning our kitties' arrangements when we visit piglet later this year. The thing is, I am already having separation anxiety. I KNOW they will manage and live through the drama. But what if I can't handle being apart from them??? Sure, we are getting them the largest cages ("suites") available, but they are still cages. What if the cages brings back bad memories for Davis and Cara? My sensitive boy is neurotic and paranoid enough as it is. Additional stress and trauma will probably result in an upper respiratory infection.

On a different note, Davis spent much of the night claiming me as his very own. QE decided to be funny and started headbutting me and laying on my shoulder/chest the way Davis does. Our buddy had big eyes as he watched. "What are you doing to my mom, Dad? She's mine!" After QE left, Davis promptly came over to snuggle on me. He was doing circles around me on the sofa and would lay down if I even thought of picking up my knitting.

Before It's Too Late

And laughter is my soul's release
But we're not smiling anymore
Can't we try to win this peace
'Cause we're never gonna win
Never gonna win this war
(Can't Let It Go)

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
(Iris)

You've been hiding in the shadows 
Have you forgotten how we used to dream
(Become)

Cause all the dreams you never thought you'd lose 
Got tossed along the way 
...
Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far 
(Name)

Well, I didn't intend for this post to sound so darn depressing, but sometimes I guess happy things can make you reflect on "the worst of times" and be thankful for your many blessings. I definitely have much to be thankful for. It's easy to forget that when I'm caught up in the rat race known as life. And who knew John Rzeznik had such eloquence in his lyrics? (well, I did, but probably not many others) I thought it was time for the severely under-appreciated Goo Goo Dolls to get recognized for their music. After all, they were the inspiration for my blog title.

I received a wonderful phone call today. Maybe I'm not the idiot quasimodo that deserves to be stuck in a prison cell after all. I don't think the call will release me, but it's still nice to know someone thinks I have potential and talent. Like the Goos, I may underappreciated, but it doesn't mean we don't kick ass! :) Rock and Roll!!!

A Spicy Affair

We had Chipotle for lunch. It was so good, I still can't stop thinking about it. Pathetic, but true. We decided to live on the wild side and got a side of chips and guac. Those chips are so darn good. Thick but lime and salt crusted. Quite different from Baja Fresh, which has very good chips that are thin. Both are great, just in different ways. Baja's guac wins most of the time though. It would be the clear winner if it nixed the tomatoes. Chipotle's guac is infested with cilantro and, this time at least, a bit on the mushy/slimy side.

In other news, it appears my brother and his wife have finally come to their senses and decided to birth their baby "at home" instead of her home country. Not sure why they finally came to that conclusion, but I am thrilled. It makes so much more sense (to me at least) and now we can go visit piglet! Who will care for our kids when we are gone??? It might be a few days, possibly up to a week. My poor little kitties will think I abandoned them. We might take them to a pet resort, but I have to say, their facilities aren't quite up to par in my book. Even the most expensive luxurious suite is still a glorified cage. I wonder if I could rent out the entire cat wing for our kitties. Unlikely. This would be a great opportunity for the amigos to bond with Cara, if that's ever possible. Maybe Cara can have her own suite next to the amigos. As much as I love Angel and Davis, I had no idea it was possible to squeeze more love out for Cara. But golly gee, if only those stubborn furry heads realized just how much I love them.

Sweet Reunion

QE turned on our cute Mac Mini Saturday morning and...nothing happened. The power was on but nobody was home. Oh dear...not again. Our Sony Vaio died about a year ago and the Mini was our replacement that was supposed to save us from most woes. I'm not much of a computer junkie and don't use a computer at home for more than surfing the web. But I felt this sense of loss and emptiness inside. I felt lonely and abandoned. I missed my Mini!

We packed up our precious bundle and visited the Apple Store only to find that you need to make an appointment to see the doctors at the Genius Bar. WTF!!! We drove all the way out only to be told by a crewcutted mullet wearing man (yup, he had a crew cut and a thick mullet reminiscent of Billy Ray Cyrus in the 80s) that we had to make an appointment. We were sad. We were convinced our Mini died and we lost everything on our hard drive. We made our appointment for this afternoon and braced ourselves for the bad news. Like a miracle worker, our Genius waved his magic fairy wand and voila! Our Mini was back with everything intact.

I LOVE APPLE.

In addition to healing our Mini, he didn't ask for proof of purchase, date of purchase or anything else. I was expecting to show Genius birth certificates, drivers licenses, blood tests and list our addresses for the last 10 years. Nope. No documentation was required.

In other news...well, in hooking our Mini back up, QE noticed that various electronic and computer wires have been chewed through by the one and only, eager beaver Cara. We went to Knit Happens yesterday to take advantage of their storewide 15% discount. I bought some cute buttons, another pair of turbo addis, and two skeins of yarn. Yum.

My Personal Porn

Mrs. Tea bought me yarn on her vacation/trip to visit Mr. Tea's family! YAY!!! She sent me a pic from her cell phone and I just have to say, it was so beautiful. Sure, the yarn is pretty, but the thought and gesture of Mrs. Tea thinking of me and feeding my personal porn stash of yarn was quite touching and even more beautiful than the item itself. sniff... She totally made my day. Possibly my weekend. Thank you Mrs. Tea!

Independence Day

July 4 is just another day on the calendar. But Independence Day is important and special, as it mark's our great nation's independence from British rule. Of course, most of us know that the Declaration of Independence was not signed by everyone on this date, but it's the day we choose to celebrate.

QE and I planned on watching a movie only to find it with limited showings and a victim of getting phased out for crap like Die Hard. We started our day at Starbucks (triple short americano!) and then went to Target. We migrated south to our "dream" shopping center and went to Borders and Michael's. I found Sugar n Cream yarn in 12-14 oz skeins for $5.99!!! The standard size is 2-2.5 oz for $1.49. What's interesting is that I found similar skeins in Beach Ball Blue at AC Moore, but with Bernat labels ($9.99). Could SnC (Lily) and Bernat be the same company? I think so, since that varigated blue was exclusive to Lily I thought. Whatever. I scored big hunks of yarn for a super awesome price!

Knit Happens is closing their online store. I'm not surprised. They are having a 15% discount storewide at their physical store beginning tomorrow. I just bought another pair of turbo addi in size 9 last week. This just means I need to go back and buy more! I have to say, I experimented and diversified my needle collection with a pair of Clover bamboo circulars and...well, they suck compared to addis. The joint is not even close to being as smooth as my beloved turbos. I still love bamboo straights and dpns though.

In other news, Davis took it upon himself to hop on the back of the sofa and headbutt my head. Sigh...he loves me. Angel slept by my legs as Davis gazed lovingly at me while I knitted. Cara slept on the leather chair for the most part and would occasionally stare at Davis. Which of course upset him even though she wasn't technically doing anything.

Violent Weekend

Ok, maybe not really, but I have a sore spot (not a visible bruise) on my forehead from Davis hitting me. He was agitated with Cara (shocker!) and despite the come-hither looks, he took his anger out on me. On Friday, I had to move Cara from her room to their bathroom and then back so the "hired help" could service her room. I got a nice two-inch scratch as a result on my belly.

In other news, I finished my second picovoli sweater. It was knit using a superwash merino, which is finer than the Debbie Bliss Cathay called for in the pattern. It turned out quite nice when I knitted one size up.

I am ready to work on a sleep sack for my brother's piglet, but it turns out I don't have any yarn with weight called for in the pattern, or I didn't have enough of it. Instead, I decided to start with a baby blanket using Classic Elite's MarL La in what I thought was a varigated red/wine color. Turns out it's actually four strands of yarn in different colors! Very cool. Knitting it on 15s.

Here Todai, Gone Tomorrow

We took dad to www.todai.com for Father's Day. He suggested we go on Saturday in hopes of avoiding the Father's Day crush (he and I are so alike, it's funny!) Our experience confirms that I am not a buffet kind of girl. I don't like to fight for food, and I definitely don't stand a chance against Koreans and Taiwanese! Those peeps are buffet gurus and are not ashamed to take every last bit of . Having first experienced Todai in Las Vegas, QE and I loved the place. Lots of good food and very bountiful. We went to the one in Fairfax when it first opened and were disgusted with the service. Dad wanted to go, so we gave it another try.

The sushi was good, if we managed to get any. Thick fish, good rice. There must have been at least 12 plates for nigiri sushi, but only one or two had fish both times I went up. The maki (rolls) section wasn't any better. There was a modest line for sashimi--2 varieties of tuna, salmon, and red snapper. Very small pieces of fish, but it's a buffet, so that's to be expected. The kicker was that the sashimi wasn't put out on a platter but sliced to order. It would have been fine except the slicer (I wouldn't call him a chef) was so blatantly stalling in hopes of slowing down the line to possibly deter people(?). After every two people, he needed to pause and get more fish from the fridge. Nevermind that there were already three chunks of each already out. And boy, did he walk ever-so-slowly to the fridge. Then, he needed to adjust his gloves, wipe the boards, or just take a break. After every customer. No joke. Dad and I fumed over Todai's cheapness. If serving sashimi causes a huge loss, then don't serve it at all. By stalling, it only pisses people like us off. But surely a buffet excluding drinks that cost $27.95 could afford serving fish costing $4/lb wholesale, no? I saw a lobster and jumbo shrimp serving schedule that alternates between the two items every half hour. Gee, no wonder people swarm the station! What's really funny is that Todai is supposedly a sushi and seafood buffet. I guess it's a seafood buffet if dishes like fake crabmeat counts as seafood.

It's Not You, It's Me

Having cleaned the cats' rooms over the weekend, I noticed how lucky those kitties are. Nevermind that I never cleaned my own room growing up, but here I am, cleaning the cats' rooms. The fact that they have a bedroom as "theirs" is crazy to most people. And then there's all their toys. Many children, especially in other countries, only hope to be as fortunate as our cats! In light of this revelation, I wonder if I am contributing to the environmental crisis. I think all Americans are, by default. The US is one of the largest consumers of energy and other resources. Compound that to us being one of the worst polluters and...there ya go.

What I find embarassing is that our president would like to have a summit of sorts with various countries and develop a plan to reduce pollution. That's great, really. However, my issue is that he is trying to limit India and China's pollution output. Sure, saving the environment is a gloabal issue, but who are we to impose limits and rules on other countries when we had our industrial revolution 100 years ago? Why do we have the right to limit other nations' industrial revolution?

Hippie Chick

As the resident food police, Cara inspects everything we eat and is always interested in trying whatever we have. The girl has some odd tastes, including an affinity for egg and turkey bacon sandwiches, chocolate biscotti, and Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. Yup, the weirdo likes whole-grain cereal. QE was snacking on a sample of Kashi we received through the mail and Cara was hounding him for a taste. She took a sample from his hand, enjoyed the cereal, and went back for more. I don't pretend to understand.

In other news, I started another picovoli sweater. This time in a gray superwash wool. It seems to be lighter and thinner than the Debbie Bliss Cathay. Should be perfect for summer, don't you think?

The whole Michael Vick dogfighting scandal has me really bummed out. I guess everyone knows dog fights exist, but most of us are probably in denial or mentally block it out. I was in the latter group. I don't care if an athlete or celebrity decides to shoot up drugs or engages in illegal activities. It's disappointing, sure, that they chose to use their wealth on such destructive behavior. But whatever. However, when animals are involved, that's a different story. Yes the dogs are mean and vicious. But it's not their fault. They were trained and taught to be killers. In addition to getting critically or fatally injured during a fight, there are innocent victims who were used as bait, namely cats, puppies, and who knows what other animals. Can you imagine being born only to get ripped apart? This poor baby animal has no idea what is going on. And the fighters themselves are injured in each match. If they are lucky (if you can call it that), they won't get killed by their owner for losing.

I know I am naive for thinking such cruelty does not exist on a daily basis. But maybe I know and try not to think about it. A few weeks ago, CNN had an article about how a cat was found with an arrow shot through his head at close range. The case only reinforces my belief that humans are evil. I would rather see all these evil people kill each other. Really. I don't understand why it's ok to be mean and abusive to animals but heaven forbid we smack a kid for misbehaving. Maybe if parents did a better job raising kids and installing morals and values (do they still exist???), we wouldn't have jerks like Vick running around profitting from animal cruelty. Maybe we would improve as a society if parents disciplined their kids. What I find really interesting is how well-educated people are concerned about the environment but continue to breed and place additional burdens on our already over-taxed planet. Oh right. They recycle their plastic water bottles, so they are doing their share.