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. :)