So That Happened

Speaking of Nieces...

...yes, they're as cute as ever. 

And now for the bonus photo:

Here's one of my favorites of Niece #2 with me.  Look at those chubby baby legs!  Aw.

A Brief Knitting Update

It has been some time since I last wrote about knitting, but that is because I've been working on the same project for just over one month: the size 4 version of Girlfriend's Swing Coat for Niece #1.  You may recall that I made the same coat for my younger niece earlier this year, so naturally I thought making it the second time around would take even less time because I had worked out all of the kinks, but due to some glitches on my part (all of which I'll go into detail about when I post photos), I'm happy to report that I'm one blocking session away from being done!  PHEW. 

Do you know what the end of this project means?  It means that I can finally get started on making something for myself - yay!  Don't get me wrong - I love making things for my nieces - but I'd like to get started on one of the many projects I have my eyes on in the queue.  The question is, which one do I pick up?  Something small and quick like Wendy's Le Slouch but in stockinette?  The Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts?  The Drop-Stitch Lace Tank or the Airy Wrap-Around Lace Sweater from Fitted Knits?  Or do I get started on a big project like the Alexander McQueen-esque long cabled coat from the Holiday 2006 edition of Vogue Knitting?  Decisions, decisions.

I Turn My Camera On: A List Update

Remember my list of coveted things?  Well, I picked up one of the items yesterday:

The Nikon D80

Okay, okay - so I originally had a Canon on my list.  I changed my mind.  After months of toying around with my sister's camera (also a D80), I concluded that only that camera would soothe the savage photography-loving beast.  After about thirty minutes of internal deliberations (namely, 'Are you really going to pay that much for a camera?!'), the D80 is now mine, all MINE, and I am LOVING it.  Mwahahaha!

I can't wait to see how my various pictures of Mr. Bear and/or food will turn out.

In other list-y news, I missed Sir Ian McKellen in London earlier this year (sniff), but now the gods have smiled upon me and are now bringing King Lear to Los Angeles!  It is imperative that I see this.  I am NOT kidding.

Finally?  I still want world peace and a pony.

Dear Weather,

Please stop being hot.  That is all.

Thank you.

I'm Excited About The Simpsons Movie, But Really...

...it's all about Ralph Wiggum in the 20th Century Fox logo.

How Do I Love Thee, Discovery Channel? Let Me Count The Ways.

1. Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs is one of the best hosts on TV.  He not only is game for really any job out there (from putting his arm shoulder-deep into a horse to artificially inseminate it to scrubbing poo-filled waste treatment plant containers clean), he handles each gig with great aplomb and is respectful to everyone.  He's TV-savvy without being TV-smarmy and condescending, plus he's totally dreamy - a real man's man.  Sigh.
2. Man vs. Wild's Bear Grylls is...wow, just WOW.  I love watching him try to pull himself out of quicksand or scale down cliffs without any ropes.  Okay, it was hard watching him squeeze the water out of elephant dung and snack on boiled sheep's eyeball, but tt helps that he also brings the eye candy, too.  No joke - he takes off his shirt if not all of his clothes at least once in every episode.  To which I say, yes, please, and thank you.
3. Do you know who's awesome?  Survivorman, that's who.  Les Stroud does the same things Bear does, only he's alone in the wilderness or the tundra or wherever he may be (Bear has a camera crew) and shoots all of his own video, making for some very creative cinematography.  His 'Lost at Sea' episode was one of the creepiest things I've seen on TV.  Eek!  I'm so glad the new season starts next month.
4. Mythbusters!  My brother-in-law got me into it and now I'm hooked.  Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman blow things up and get to play with some of the biggest toys around.  What could be better than that?  I send Entertainment Weekly a shake of my fist for not including the Mythbusters team in their 'Men of Discovery Channel' EW Hot 100 list.
5. The best game show around now is Cash Cab.  Contestants think they're just hailing a cab in New York, but the cab they've just scored is actually a game show on wheels!  Your host (and driver) Ben Bailey quizzes the players for the duration of their ride - the longer the ride, the more money you can win - and contestants can call a friend or even ask someone on the street for help.  It's terrific! 
6. Deadliest Catch rules, y'all.  Each season is thrilling, inspiring, sad and beyond moving.  You cheer whenever the crabbers pull up a full pot of opilio crabs or Alaskan kings, and you cry with them when the Bering Sea shows its brute strength and takes down one of their own.  My personal favorite?  The Northwestern with the Hansen family.
7. Two words: Shark Week.  Need I say more?

I Know Exactly How You Feel, Chewie

You and me, we're like this.  :: insert eye-to-eye hand gesture thing ::

(Photo taken by me on 7/5/07.)

RIP

Heather Burcham passed away this weekend. 

You may not know her by name, but you will know her by her actions: she worked to make the HPV vaccine mandatory for pre-teen girls so as to prevent them from developing cervical cancer, the disease which took her young life (she was only 31) after four years.

It makes me furious knowing that legislators around the country are blocking a vaccine that could PREVENT CERVICAL CANCER because they believe this could encourage sexual activity amongst teenagers.  Hello?  It could keep your daughters/nieces/neighbors from DEVELOPING CANCER.  How could anyone be against that? 

A Spoiler-Free Post On Harry Potter

So!  I was really amused by how much my online traffic and communication decreased this past weekend.  I reckon it was because almost everyone I know was locked in their homes reading the last Harry Potter book.  First thing: DON'T TELL ME HOW IT ENDS.  I have only read the first book and have kept myself happily spoiler-free all this time even with my internet addiction.

Since I need to catch up on my Potter readin', I am fixing to buy this box set from Amazon.  Isn't it nice?  All seven books in hardcover and with their own clever trunk to boot! 

For those who have read the whole series and finished the last book, what did you think of it?  Were you satisfied with the ending?  It bears repeating that I'd like any comments on this to be spoiler-free.  Thanks!

Aw.

RIP, Tammy Faye Messner.

May you, your eyelashes and your turbans be at peace.