We survived the "squall" yesterday pretty much unscathed. We lost power, and had a small branch come down, but that was it. I took a picture of one of the candles with both cameras: my regular one (above) and my phone's camera, here. Quite a difference, huh? I'm not sure how long the power was out, because we left about an hour into it for John & SIL C's birthday dinner.

For the weekend, I'd pretty much like a do-over. Saturday was really rough, and was basically a wash. Note to self: you really have to eat breakfast,and within an hour of waking, miniumum. Not doing so will make you cranky and moody and unpleasant to be around. And when you do finally eat (about 5 hours after you get up), you'll feel somewhat better, but still be anxious and have a headache.

I did manage to get some matchboxes covered and bundled up. pedal_pushers  suggested I combine the twine I planned to use with buttons, and I think she was exactly right. Another picture (overhead) in my photostream, here.

While I worked on these, I watched some of Buffy, season 6, starting with Once More with Feeling (the musical, if you're not a fan). I still have "Walk through the Fire" stuck in my head.

Totally random observation: when you watched these episodes, did it bother you that of all the people that lived in that house, only Buffy had to go get a job? Willow and Tara lived there, rent-free, and never appeared to pony up for groceries or anything. (Yes, I know -- it's TV, and doesn't have to make sense.) My folks helped out quite a lot when I was in college, but I still had to get a job, even when living at home, even if it was part-time. Tara had been cut off from her family, so they weren't sending her $. Maybe Willow's mom gave her $ for living expenses, so why not contribute that to the bills?


Back to reality. Apologies for the terrible quality, but none of us brought a real camera to dinner. (Bad blogger!)

We've always celebrated birthays in pairs, by going out to dinner as a family, with the birthday people taking turns picking the restaurant. My dad & brother were both born in January, and my mom & I in August. Christie (a June baby) came along, and for years got her own dinner, then I married John - another June baby - and now they share.

This year's dinner didn't really turn out as expected. John wanted to go to a restaurant he liked, and we were all for it, but we picked a location that was very different from the one he'd been to. It was loud and almost impossible to hear anyone at the table, which was one of those stupid circular booths that no one over 21 should have to sit at. Most of us were pleased with the food, though, and the cake was excellent.

Of course, we brought the cake in with us. SIL C, who has a small cake (cookies, cupcakes, etc.) business, made John's cake. (I flaked on doing anything for her (last year I got pie), but she was fine with that -- she's seen enough cakes this week.) It's a one-layer round Rice Crispy treat (John's favorite snack). She made the Superman shield as well. No candles, no singing, just the way John likes it. (None of us like singing when it's done by restaurant staff.)

It's finally here! Cass (left) says "Hi." Earlier this week, John gave me a combined birthday and anniversary present of a new camera. I can't get over how this camera has 8 Megapixels and a microprocessor (shoots DVD-quality video), yet is 2/3 the size of our old (now John's) camera. Cass very much liked the box. I haven't figured it all out yet, but this pic was taken in very low light with the macro setting on.

Speaking of birthdays, I can't say "Thank you" enough! My MIL, goddaughter,* and friend morgaine723 sent birthday cards that all arrived on or just prior to the big day. lilfish sent an ecard that had me laughing out loud. I also got packages from a couple of Fabric Addicts Anonymous ladies - one all the way from Portugal! fullfaun, in addition to giving up her Sunday to help me paint last week, brought me a sewing-themed set of nesting boxes, each stuffed with a little goodie. That plus the IH Contest made for a way-better-than-expected celebration.

*She's really becoming an adult. I think this was the first event-specific thing she's sent me on her own. And, she made it herself.


Oh, and speaking of birthdays again: Happy Birthday to fullfaun!

This set of booties isn't as wee as the preemie sets. In fact, they almost look like toddler slippers instead of booties. The trick with knitting baby things - a trick I know but apparently ignored - is (unless the pattern is written for chunky yarn) bigger yarn/needles = bigger booties. I really wanted to knit with this yarn, so I used the smallest needle size I could get away with. I could be wrong -- some babies have bigger feet, and feet grow pretty quickly, right?

Yarn: Paton's SWS (Soy Wool Stripes)*
Needles: US5 (not shown)
Pattern: Saartje's Booties (link to PDF in sidebar)

Seriously, if I'm going to keep knitting for peoples' babies, I might need to get a couple of appropriately-sized dolls.

In honor of my upcoming birthday (#42), I'm announcing the second annual birthday contest to help out Interim House. This is actually the third round, but after the first was over, I shifted the contest to my birthday.

Edited Paragraph Details about this contest follow. Details about IH are included in the first contest post, but I recommend that you read this post first, because it explains more about why I'm supporting IH.

It's simple! Between now and noon (ET) on August 8th, send a package to Interim House, including - please - a postcard from your area, then send me an email telling me that you sent a package. Please include a picture (or a link to one) of the assembled goods (and who referred you, if that's the case (you can't refer yourself)). My (spam-proofed) email ends with @gmail.com and starts with crazycatladymel (just switch the order and pop 'em together).

Please, please, please spread the word! Don't think of it as lowering your chances of winning. If you're meant to win, you will! To sweeten the pot: If someone enters and says you referred them (and you entered too), I'll put your name into the basket twice. Feel free to grab the button (you can even use my bandwidth) and link to this post*. I'll do up to 4 referral points per person, so you could have up to five chances to win. Of course, you need to enter yourself for this to work! Absolutely EVERYONE qualifies, no matter where you live or if you won last time.

Sometime after noon on the 8th, I'll put all the names into a basket (including the referral dups) and draw the winning name. I'll be working on the prize between now and then, and will post updates. Guaranteed: a tote bag of my design. (Updated: I'll make 2 totes. The grand prize winner will get their choice, and more, and a runner-up will get the second tote. Some of my totes are in Flickr, with the "bag" tag.)

They're always happy to get partial balls of yarn, and feel free to include them; however, for this contest, if sending yarn please consider sending complete skeins**. An assortment of accessories and tools would also qualify. Please send what you feel led to; however, if you need ideas, I'd consider sending things like circular needles, darning needles, etc. Everyone seems to be working on shawls, blankets or felted bags right now. For the latter, zippered lingerie bags would be a great addition.

A great thing that more than one person has done in the past is to put a kit together, with everything needed for a project: yarn, needles and pattern. Most of the women that come into the program start out as beginners, but some of them progress really quickly, so they can use virtually any kind of project (cotton washcloths, felted bags, lace shawls). If you're a sale-watcher, watch for clearance items like tape measures or yarn. If you're a knitter/crocheter, then you KNOW what to get (anything!).

Send stuff to:
Kathy Duffy, Social Worker
Interim House Inc.
333 W. Upsal St.
Philadelphia PA 19119

ETA: You can keep track of updates via this link, or looking for "IH_Contest" in the tag list on my side bar. I'll post about developments, update about prizes, etc.

*You can take this string of code and paste it in your LJ or blog:
<p align="center"><a href="http://crazycatladymel.livejournal.com/269166.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://home.comcast.net/~crazycatladymel/IH_contest_button.gif"></a></p>

**Please do not send ratty or stinky old yarn. It's totally fine to send on a style of yarn that you have in your stash but don't care to knit with (e.g. fun fur or acrylic for yarn snobs), but not cool to send crap that no one should have to knit with. (This has never been a problem. I'm just trying to cover all the potential bases.)

On Wikipedia, enter your birth month and day only, and it gives you lists of important things that day signifies. Find three events in history, two birthdays, and one holiday celebrated on your birthday.

August 8th not the most memorable day in history...

events
1876 - Thomas Edison receives a patent for his mimeograph.
1976 - Boston, by the rock band Boston is released. It will become the #1 best-selling debut album in history.
1973 - U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew goes on television to denounce accusations he had taken kickbacks while governor of Maryland.

birthdays
1921 - Esther Williams, American actress and swimmer
1953 - Don Most, American actor (Happy Days)

holiday
Taiwan: Father's Day. (In Mandarin, Ba Ba means father and 8-8, or August 8)

Technically, it isn't Heather's birthday anymore, but here are a couple of pics of us in different costumes (at my wedding):


She's a really good sport, yes? We didn't have a lot of the glass clinking, etc. demanding kisses, but for this one, John wasn't available.

Note the time. I had an evil migraine last night. My drugs have worn off, and I can't take anything except Excedrine for hours. John's called in for me, and I'm going back to bed.

I hope you have a great day (and are feeling better).

So sorry I missed it! Hope it rocked!!

Happy Birthday!!!! Hope the day is as wonderful as you are.

Happy, Happy Birthday, moiracoon. Hope it was wonderful!

I went to my Goddaughter's 18th birthday party tonight (today is the big day). I was one of two parent-types (the other being her father). Here she is (far left), pictured with one of her friends. I didn't stay long - it wasn't my scene - but I was honored to be included. I needed to give her hugs and some cash (when you're 18, that's all you want, right?).

Poor thing, since she doesn't have a license yet, she couldn't do any of the things today that she should be allowed to do (get a tattoo, buy cigarettes) - she has to get a state ID, and I hear it's a pain. I told her I was fine about the cigs (won't help her buy them), but would go with her to get a tat, and even get one myself. She wants a memorial tattoo for her uncle, I've wanted one for my mom for years.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes (and the get well ones, too)! It was a strange birthday, but I've got no complaints.

I think by Thursday I'll be better. I actually called in sick today - I was sick all night and woozy this AM. I don't know if it was food poisoning or 'flu. Not really enough puking for food poisoning, but it could still have been a reaction of some kind.

Tomorrow is the day, but it was more convenient to take Monday off of work, and John already had it off, so here we are. I'm not sure of the exact schedule, but a trip to IKEA is in order, then later tonight, my family is gathering for dinner at a local restaurant (I haven't picked it yet, but I'm leaning toward Red Lobster... chain, yes, but love those biscuits!).

Here's a pic of that shop I was talking about on Saturday. Turns out there are 2 of them, both local (I went to the one in Rochester). I'd been in the other one, ages ago, but was not as taken with it as I was of this one. I got my niece & nephew these kiddy chopsticks (Fish Sticks/Zoo Sticks) - they're like giant tweezers - and was originally leaning towards picking a Chinese restaurant for tonight so they could try them out, even though I'm not in the mood for Chinese food, but my SIL assured me they'd be just as happy eating french fries with the chopsticks as anything. (I also got one for John and one for me, b/c they're hysterical.) I'm SO going back!


Yesterday, I managed to drag myself downstairs a couple of times to check email and post a couple of things, but basically had a migraine most of the day. It woke me up at 4 AM, so I was able to take some meds which prevented it from becoming full-blown, but pretty much made me useless. I napped off & on all day, watched CSI (John got me season 2 on DVD as part of the treasure chest), and ate cake for dinner.

Have you checked out Swap-bot yet? I joined several swaps recently, while my first one still hasn't arrived! But they're smaller-scale, more low key, so I think it will be okay. There's a handmade envelope swap, "What's in a purse," the CD swap I mentioned earlier, etc., etc. I am now not allowed (self-imposed restriction) to join anymore swaps until the majority of these are past (most of them are due in August). In addition, over in my sidebar is my "Swap List" - stuff I'm willing to trade and what I'm looking for in exchange.

Happy Monday, y'all!

I have so much to post about, but I've had a long day and want to collapse for a little while. I'll come back with more later, but in brief:

1. John declared that my birthday* started yesterday. He has the weekend and Monday off, and I do too, so it's all me, all the time. When I came home, my presents were in a treasure chest that I got him for Christmas last year - all buried under a pile of gold pirate dubloons (fake) and confetti poppers.

2. We drove around today, getting a few things I needed to get at Sephora, then on to Rochester, where we went to the farmer's market and got some corn for us and fresh veggies for dad. Etc., etc., except that I found the COOLEST store! I'm going back (didn't want to make John wait too long for me). I almost don't want to tell people about it (Jen), because there are birthdays coming up, and Christmas. But I'll have the URL later. I think it was called Catching Fireflies.

3. Dropped veggies off at Dad's, and helped him snap the green beans. I don't eat them, but I don't mind snapping them. He'll put them in the crockpot with bacon and chicken broth and cook them forever. It's a very southern food - my mammaw got him hooked on them. Also, he gave me my birthday card and a check, which I will probably spend at Ikea (new ironing board and maybe a craft table?).

4. John is making stew for dinner. I'm going to rest until then.

*The big day is actually Tuesday. But this is just one more example of John making me feel extra special.

August 8* is just a little over a week away. Just reminding you.

*IH Contest deadline (& my birthday)

Speaking of my birthday... I went to visit my brother & his family this AM. On the piano in their front room was the coolest tote bag I think I've ever seen. I commented on it, and my niece spilled the beans: it's for ME. My SIL made it and has been stuffing it with fun goodies for me.

And it's looking like my dad won't be in the hospital this time. Wow. (ETA: There is nothing like bad Chinese take-out in a hospital cafeteria to make a birthday special! That was 2 years ago. Last year, I think he was home, but figured since he'd given me $ the week before he didn't need to call ON my birthday.)

Part of me wants to throw a party, but there aren't that many local people who still speak to me. And, you know, I'm tired. But some kind of celebration will happen. Oh, yes. And margaritas will be consumed, at least by me.

I got an early (about 3 weeks) birthday present yesterday! (It had probably been in the mailbox since Tues. or Wed, but I got it yesterday.) tvini sent me some way cool sushi and geisha fabrics! I want to use them for something really special and cool. Not sure what, yet, but they're really neat, and it was very nice to get a surprise like that! Thanks a bunch, tvini!

I'm one of those people that still loves birthdays... call me a geek. Last birthday was #40, and instead of being a significant event, it was pretty much ignored by almost everyone (not John, and I got a couple of phone calls). I'm not whining about it, okay? It was what it was. I survived. But I'm trying to think of ways to make the next one special. Nothing wrong with taking matters into my own hands!

I've promised myself (and John): no more swaps for the summer. I've signed up for several in the last year, and they've been a blast, but the costs add up. So the package I mailed on Friday is the last one until fall. I was just reading about an August birthday swap (for knitters). Oh! Must join. I went straight over and started my reply to sign up. And then I stopped myself and read the details. Just in time! $50 package value. Oh. Not for me right now! I'm so glad I noticed that before I finished! It's a perfectly reasonable requirement, known in advance, but it's out of my price range right now.

Three close friends & my goddaughter* all have birthdays in August, plus one of my new nephews shares my birthday, so I'm sure I'll be exchanging cards and/or gifts with them.

Finally, I get to the point!
Anyone else have an August birthday and want to exchange cards? Not just knitting, not just crafting. Anyone at all. If you want to play, email me with the following:
•Birthday (year not necessary, unless it's significant or you don't mind sharing)
•Name
•Mailing addy

I'll send back my info. I will very likely also send a small trinket that I make, or something, but there is no obligation to respond in kind.

*by no huge coincidence, all are on LJ: fullfaun, saltnlt552, moiracoon & t3ars43v3r. Did I miss anyone?

Also: I'll be announcing this early in July - another Interim House contest. The name for a prize package will be drawn from anyone who sends them a supply package by August 8 (my birthday). Still okay to shop your stash OR shop the LYS or craft store.

Happy birthday to my dear husband, John. Sorry you have to work today, babe!

Just got back from the combined birthday dinner for John & my SIL, Christie. Her birthday is tomorrow, is John's is next Monday (6/12).

( restaurant )

( cake )

( prezzies )

I have pics of everything, (ETA: pics done!) but must go watch cartoons with my husband. They had Justice League DVD sets on sale, so he got the first season. I promised to watch 3 eps tonight. They also had the Superman TV series (original, w/ George Reeves) for $15 off ($20 each instead of $35), so he used his birthday money from my fam for those (he'll get my gifts nearer his birthday*).

*I caved and gave him the crocheted Katamari ages ago (link to the Etsy shop where I bought it).