Caribbean Interlude

After all of the months of preparation spent on weddings, they sure go by fast! I get a guilty pleasure out of watching Bridezillas on TV, and I never understand how you could get so worked up about 4 hours of your life. Oh well. Everything went perfectly - I'll post some pictures of the actual event soon.

For our honeymoon we spent 7 days in the Caribbean. It was an interesting experience, not at all what I had expected. For instance, I never saw any of those pristine white beaches you see on the travel channel. I did see beaches where you were harassed constantly by people wanted to braid your hair (I think my longest piece of hair is about 4 inches), sell you jewelry, and take you on jet skis. I even saw a guy selling maps that I saw for free at the tourist office, and another guy offering foot massages, who ran away as soon as the police approached him.

I'm not really a beach person anyway, so I was more in awe of the rainforests. We went on a hike in St. Lucia (in my opinion, one of the most beautiful islands), and the amount of produce growing freely is amazing: mangoes, starfruit, avocados, cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, coffee, bananas, etc. I would like to issue a public service announcement that hiking in a bathing suit, towel, and watershoes through a wet, steep rainforest is not a good idea. (Hear that, girl in front of me the whole time?)


Our cruise ship was ridiculously huge. (It was bigger than the Titanic - I looked it up.) Despite my discontentment with the constant stream of black smoke and generally wastefulness going on on the ship, it was a fun experience. Good food whenever you want it, plentiful hot tubs, gym/sauna/steam room, ice rink!, and many, many deck chairs. (Our ship is the giant one, next to a "normal" sized cruise ship.)


And best of all, a new towel animal every night in your room.


I had a good time, and not to be down on cruising, but I'm not sure I'd do it again. You have to be around a large group of people wherever you go, and as I mentioned before, the whole thing seemed sort of wasteful. There was food left on everyone's plate, and we had to use paper cups for most beverages - I probably threw away 15 cups during the week, so multiply that by 3,000 or so. It's also difficult to get around on shore, and as a walking/explorer type of person, it was hard to deal with $20-one-way cab rides. If I had to do it again, I'd probably spend more time in one place, since its hard to see anything during short times at port. St. Lucia was probably the most visually stunning, and also one of the poorest countries. Barbados seemed to just be developing its tourist industry. Antigua was one of my favorites - once we passed the usual tourist shops, it seemed like a relaxed kind of place. St.Maarten is overrun with jewelry stores, and seemed the most international of all the islands we visited. We didn't see much of St.Thomas, but it seemed quite Americanized.


All in all, I like seeing as many places as possible, even if they don't end up being my favorite. So for my next vacation, maybe a lake? Rest of the pictures are here.

Books Read - October 2007

Books read in October, 2007. Whoo, lots of mysteries this month! I'm a little mysteried out for the moment, so back to regular programming in November.

25. The Merlot Murders - Ellen Crosby Murders at a winery in Virginia - surprisingly well written.

26. Tears of the Giraffe - Alexander McCall Smith Second in the Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency series. Mma Ramotswe is endearing and the setting is enchanting. Smith also has an incredible sense of humor.

26. Strawberry Shortcake Murder - Joanne Fluke Second Hannah Swenson mystery - These books make me want to open up my own bakery. I love the setting of a cookie shop in Minnesota in winter - so cozy! I also love the heroine of these books, Hannah. She's smart, real, sassy, and funny.

27. Shakespeare's Landlord - Charlaine Harris First in the Lilly Bard series. This one was a little more graphic than most cozy mysteries. But Lilly is a weightlifter, and even bitchy at times. It's great.

28. Gunpowder Green - Laura Childs Second in the Tea Shop mystery series. After reading this second book in the series, the setting started to annoy me. Most of the characters are wealthy, and most events take place at expensive parties, boutiques, and yacht clubs. It's hard to feel a connection.

Plans

I recently participated in a letter writing swap, where the them was "10 of my favorite things." It was a fun swap, particularly because I got a wonderful over-the-top package from a partner in Scotland. She sent some incredible stationary:


I looked up the designer, Papaya! I really want to buy a bunch of their stationary - except that shipping is like $9! I hate it when the shipping is outrageous - this is for paper, after all.

I'm almost done with my second striped sock. I was hoping to post pictures before I left, but that is not in the cards. Yes, I'm leaving - I'm getting married in 5 days! Then its off to the blissfully calm Caribbean. See everyone in November!

I have big knitting plans when I get back. I'm feeling the urge to knit a sweater, and I'm looking at this:Cropped Cardigan with Leaf Ties from Knitty and Fitted Knits. I bought a bunch of linen/cotton yarn to make the Eyelet Chemise from Interweave, but I realized that I would probably never finish or wear it. I've never finished anything lace, and short-sleeved sweaters are sort of useless (for me at least). I'm planning to alter this somewhat, making it more fitted, longer, and possibly with ribbing. We'll see what happens.

Signing off for now . . .

New Project . . .

I have been searching and searching, and finally found my next knitting project!


Article is here. It's a scientific fact that anything oversize is funny, and anything small is cute.

Invasion

Last night I noticed that the cat was transfixed by something on the floor. She usually does this: finds a bug, chases it around and stares at it, but doesn't bother to kill it (thanks, cat.) However, last night I found that she was staring at this:

That, my friends, is a desert centipede. I hate these things even more than spiders, snakes, or possibly even scorpions. Centipedes are vicious, and instead of hiding like normal bugs, will chase you. I once witnessed one eating a bat. (For another example of their destructive power, click here - not for those with the insect hebe-jeebees.) After throwing the cat across the room, I proceeded to capture the creature under a baking pan. This turned out to be a bad idea, since I didn't have anything to slide under it to enclose the beast. So, I had to let it go and capture it again under a pot lid, the whole time going, "ah! ah!" and trying not to put my hand near its scary, scary pinchers.

Living in the desert is not for the faint of heart (this is the 3rd centipede I've had to remove from a building - as well as 2 scorpions and a bat.) In my park ranger days, I had a roommate who only lasted 2 days before quitting because she was so scared of the spider population in our house.

Does anyone know how to knit a centipede trap?

A Sock and some Goats

Ooh, look, I finished something! A Sock. . . (kind of funny, since ReluctantMango and I are knitting the same socks, without any planning or discussion :)


I also sewed a totebag to cart all of my stuff back and forth to work. (Purse, lunch, water bottles, book, sweater, etc.) I used some upholstery fabric, backed with interfacing. It was my first time using interfacing, and I'm pretty sure that its coming off of the fabric. But I'll just blame that on it being from Wal-Mart.


Speaking of Wal-Mart, the other night I drove into the parking lot, parked, and noticed a goat. There was a pickup truck parked in the lot, unattended, with a GOAT standing in the bed. (Presumably tied up - I can only hope.) So, was the guy like, "Sure, I'll bring you the goat, but I just need to pick up some Bud Light at Wal-Mart first"? What was he doing with a goat anyway? What do you do with goats? Milk them? Does he drive around with a goat in his truck in case he just really needs some cheese? Sometimes I don't understand this town.

Speaking of goats, I drive by a corral of goats every day on my way to work (and sometimes sheep, cows, and horses. I know.) Well, suddenly, one day, all of the goats were gone, replaced by a horse. What happened to them? Again, what does one do with goats? I really hope it doesn't involve massive goat slaughter.

Ok, enough of that. Apparently I'm in a goat mood.

Creepy

I really like Anthropologie catalogs - even though I've never ordered anything from them, their photography and sets are always amazing, and their clothes are inspirational. I always think I'm going to knit or sew my own version of their clothes, so I have a stack of these sitting around. I just got their newest catalog in the mail - and was immediately freaked out. Is it me, or does this model look like she's going to kill you? In every picture she looks like she's plotting evil deeds. As the other member of my household put it, she looks very "Salem Witch Trial."

Anyway. Besides being haunted by images of homicial clothing models, I may have started another sock. Accidentally. I'm digging the stripe pattern - its Regia yarn I got at Maryland Sheep & Wool back in May. The yarn was deeply discounted, and even though I didn't really like the other colors, I should have bought more. Sock yarn is like that - and you sock knitters know this - you can never have too much, even if you have more socks than you can wear, and even if you "don't really like the color." And even if you live in New Mexico and wear flip-flops 8 months of the year.


Have you seen the new CROCS? I love you, Crocs.

Albuquerque

By some creative scheduling I was able to get a 4-day weekend this past week - and consequently, finally able to drive up to Albuquerque for a much needed city fix. I live in a town so remote no one has ever heard of Trader Joe's, and the only coffee shop closes at 2pm. It's also pretty hard to find a piece of art that does not have a windblown Native American accompanied by a wolf on it.

I went to visit a college friend, who was my host as I attempted to do everything that is not possible where I live. This included:
- Eating shrimp etouffe at Copeland's (a Cajun restaurant)
- Consignment shopping (Calvin Klein jeans for $17.50, hello!)
- Sushi eating at a really cool sushi bar with floating boats that brought you your food!


- Coffee ice cream with white chocolate chips at Coldstone
- A visit to not one, but TWO Jackalopes (my new favorite store that sells international folk art type things - I got a couple bowls from India.)


- A leisurely breakfast bagel at Einstein's
- A trip around old town


- Food shopping at Trader Joe's (Apparently its illegal to sell alcohol before noon on a Sunday in New Mexico. The wine section was roped off, and people were just hovering around waiting for it to open. Must. Get. Wine. I totally was the first one in.)

One of the things I enjoyed most about Albuquerque was that twice I directly encountered progressive thinking. I hate, hate, hate plastic shopping bags. I try to bring my own bags whenever I can, but on many occasions I have been sighed at by cashiers who are just so annoyed that I am slowing them up with my canvas bags. (Sometimes I'll re-bag right in front of them, I bet they hate me for that too.) At the consignment shop I visited, Buffalo Exchange, you have the option of getting a token instead of bag. You drop your token in a little box, and 5 cents is donated to the charity of your choice. Wow! At Trader Joe's I was entered into a drawing to win free groceries because I brought my own bags. Imagine, actually being REWARDED for trying to help the environment! It's quite a change from my "secret recycling program" at work. (Yeah, I almost got in trouble for recycling.)

I can't wait to go back to Albuquerque!

New Look

You may have noticed the blog has a new look - everyone else has a cool banner on their blog, so I have to have one too, right? I must have been in a blue mood today. I'm not sure if I'll stick with this design, but it will suffice for now.

Not too much new to report in the knitting department. I finished one of my Jaywalkers - and I have a conundrum. The sock "fits," but only after much grumbling and swearing as I pull it over my heel. I'm afraid I'll pull so hard the yarn breaks. I'm not in the mental state to completely re-do this one, so what if I just knit the second one on size larger needles? Would it be weird to have two socks that are slightly different sizes? Or will I be glad that at least one fits correctly?

I've finished around 6 or 7 inches of Orangina. I have to knit 14 inches in pattern, and then - oh yeah, the back. Dammit. So I still have 21 inches to go. Don't expect this one any time soon.

Since I'm not too motivated with these 2 projects, I probably should start something else. I have this white yarn that's been laying around for a couple years.


It's not too much - about 550 yards. I'm thinking some sort of shrug/very small cardigan. Can it be done?? Anyone have any ideas? (And I already thought of the One Skein Wonder. I like the concept of this pattern, but the finished products look like they're eating their wearers. Ahhh! My shoulders!!)

And finally, I did a little bit of sewing. I made this strapless top - my favorite part is the zipper, which of course you can't see because its in the back. I used an invisible zipper, and it really is invisible! Wow I have a lot of freckles.

My Favorite Things

Since not much is going on in my world crafting-wise, here are some bits of randomness:

Feasting on Asphalt: In my opinion, one of the best television shows every made. It's like watching a painting, plus I have a crush on Alton Brown. The combination of filming, photography, music, location, and crew are brilliant. When I saw that there was a second season coming out this summer, I was SO excited. Watch it! On Food Network Saturday nights.

Tea: I love tea, especially loose-leaf black teas. The best online sites are Adagio, Dragonwater, and Stash. Look at them and drool. Know anymore? Hook me up.

iShopIndian: When I lived in Delaware, there was a great South Asian grocery store - pounds and pounds of Basmati, instant Indian dinners, breads, produce, and really good Samosas. There isn't an Indian restaurant within at least 150 miles of me now, let alone any non-Mexican grocery. I haven't actually ordered from this site yet, but they seem to have a really good selection, and free shipping over $69.

Not Martha and Design Sponge: Daily reading for inspiration.

Ladislao Loera: One of my new favorite artists. One day my entire house will be filled with Mexican Folk Art.