Adrienne's Villa

Alright world, get with it

Because I am masochistic, I read the newspapers where I live.  Especially when it snows and I need a crossword puzzle, some sudoku and comics.  Especially when they are free. :)  Enter The Baltimore Examiner.  I was reading the letters to the editor and one letter noticed an interesting juxtaposition (take that, SAT!) between one article discussing a $23 million cut in the budget for Baltimore City Schools, and the end of JHU's Knowledge for the World 8-year campaign which raised almost $4 billion.  Why, questioned the letter writer, can't the state just take money from JHU and fund the schools even though JHU is a private institution.  Maybe because we have a doofus for a governor?  And a criminal for a mayor?  Perhaps?  That's okay, though, because we'll just "cross our fingers"  and hope that the government will bail them out.  Good strategy, Marty.

To end on a lighter note, Autstin, TX warned motorists of an impending zombie attack!

What a day!

So, it's snowing.  That means I worked from home today.  And did laundry.  I also went to the orthodontist and found out that my bottom teeth are good, and the left half of my upper teeth are good, but the right half needs to be pushed out.  This means more Invisalign.  Yay.  I'll now in 6 weeks how much longer I have the metal in.  I tried to go to the yarn store to stimulate the local economy, but they were closed.  Then I was about to turn onto my road to go home when I realized that I didn't get the little elastics put back on my brackets, so I went back to the orthodontist.  And now, I just finished the Jeopardy! test.  I didn't do horribly, but I won't hold my breath waiting for my audition time either.  Stupid history questions. That's why I keep Jeff around, to tell me who the president was during the War of 1812.  He keeps me around because I know that Vivaldi wrote the four seasons and 'Jupiter' is the name of a Beethoven symphony. I'm going to bed.

The ganders can't take it

In the spirit of hilarity, I got this for a female engineer at work for Christmas.  Granted, calendars showcasing chicks in bikinis are not allowed at work and I wasn't expecting her to display it proudly, but a couple of guys in the office have gotten 'creeped out' by it.  One of the creeped guys told me it was hilarious and that I should give it to her - this was all before I had actually bought it.  The calendar is not on the wall, it is sitting in her inbox on her desk, most likely covered by more important things.  I offered to cut out paper shirts for those without, but that wouldn't stop the creeped out feeling.

Thoughts?

They grow up so fast

Cruising around Facebook today, I found a link to the website of my friend's band Stellate, which used to be Helios, which had some people from Waterproof Feet.  Is this the same girl who drove me to school my senior year and introduced me to 1) country music and 2) Ben Folds five 'Song for the Dumped'?  She is one and the same.  I was going to make her a crocheted hat for her birthday, but I don't have any yarn that matches her particular shade of pink (the blonde is natural btw).  Damn, now I have to break down and finally buy something from iTunes.

Not bad, all considered

You guys probably know that I have this little voice in the back of my head saying that Obama is a socialist and some redneck is going to try to kill him, etc, etc., but the man can give a good speech.  I am very glad that all of this lame duck nonsense is over with, and I hope that all the crazies in DC stay warm today.  Best of luck to our new administration.

good stuff

Bent objects and orchestra humor

News all around

First of all, congrats to Denise on the newest addition to her family.  Next, if you're watching tv and see the Jeopardy! commercial telling you to sign up for the test to be on the show (the regular test, not the kid test), my friend Sarah is the chickie in the suit and blue shirt that says "We all took it!", "Yikes!" and "Now!".  She's a contestant on the Feb 10th episode.  The only things that she would say about it is that she didn't embarrass herself and Alex talks about drinking more than you'd think. 

Note to the universe, specifically the truck driver going from I-95 to Rte 100E around 7:15 this morning:  if you are driving in a cloverleaf exit/entrance ramp and you are trying to get off the ramp and I'm trying to get on, you do not have right of way.  I'm decelerating and you are accelerating, but you do not get to run me over or even think of honking.  It's called a yield sign, and courtesy.

Holiday Musings

It was a good long and rowdy holiday this year. I took off all last week and the Friday before, because I had vacation time that I hadn't used and, well, I could so gosh darnit I did. Here are a few snippits from my recent doings:

• If you are parking your car in long-term parking at the airport at holiday time, park near the lower-numbered shuttle stops.  This way you are much more likely to get on a shuttle that actually has room. (Okay, this one was from Thanksgiving, but whatever.)
• My mom thinks, and I agree, that instead of going to Christmas Eve service at one church with some old church friends and then going to dinner with them all afterwards, we should just go to dinner and then go to my parents' regular church at 11 pm.  The minister isn't all that great, and he said that something "just isn't kosher" during the sermon.  That, the overall depressing sermon and the screaming children all indicate that this plan will be a good possibility next year.
• I have heard for years that "this year is going to be a small Christmas" and this year that actually came true, which was fantastic.  I don't need a whole lot more stuff and it's easier to take back with me on the plane.  This year I got a new digital camera and jewelry box/cabinet from my parents, a big picture of Jake Beagle from Jeff and Guitar Hero II from Jeff's parents.  GH2 will live at Jeff's house because that's where the Wii is, but the game is still mine.
• Is it possible to have all the coughing sneezing contagious children in a separate section of the plane with a germ-proof sound-proof barrier?  It's quite gross when it's going on right behind you, and you can tell the precious child is not covering his mouth when hacking. Ew.
• A garment steamer like this one works great for softening up things crocheted/knitted with acrylic yarn.  I had made a scarf to donate to WWII vets at VA hospitals, and the pattern had the stitches too small so it felt like cardboard.  Now it's got a little drape to it.  This is a great tip if you know your parents have one of these and they didn't know, so they won't miss it when you sneak it into your luggage.
• I owe Annie 2-3 birthday presents and one Christmas present.  I'm keeping track, girl, so I'll make up for it.
• Andy Weber, who was in my homeroom in high school, is the new GM of the Oneota Tigers, a Single A farm team for Detroit.  How cool is that? We never really hung out way back when, but our parents have become good friends and they were over at the house for Xmas Dinner.  Hopefully I can get Jeff to go with me to a game when they play the Aberdeen Ironbirds in July. 
• The Atlanta Thrashers are frustrating to watch.  Some of the things I yelled at the game on Friday were: "You just passed it to the other team!", "Don't just stand there behind the goal, do something!", "Who was that pass supposed to go to?" and "Crap!!"  There was one part of the game where they had the 'kiss cam' on the big screen, so if they got a shot of you and your honey you were supposed to kiss.  They zoomed in on a chick and a guy, but the chick was at the game with the dude on the OTHER side of her, so the guy said "I love you" to his beer and took a swig.  Awesome.  Chik-fil-a people also dropped parachuting cows from the rafters.

Well, I didn't get to see my friends back home and I'm at work again, but the vacation was nice.  Especially when a handsome man picks you up from the airport and brings the beagle along in the Jeep so you get doggie smooches all the way home. 

Who loves Roadside Assistance?

I do! I do! Somehow they even found me on the proving grounds since the chickie took down my number wrong.  Go me for locking my keys in my car, although I believe they fell out of my coat pocket.  Ford Dude got Xmas cookies as a thank you. :)

And, for all of my fellow crocheters, this is for you (gotten from ravelry, of course):

CROCHETERS’ NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

~ Author Unknown ~
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
There was unfinished crocheting not under the tree,
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care
‘Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep-he was no help at all.
And the sweater for him was 6 sizes too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my hook to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how far I still had to go.
When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,
I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired-my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St Nick.
Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed
For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

“Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!
Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!
Lopi, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.
Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard as it’s just your first year
But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer.”
I peered over the sill. What I saw was amazing:
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.
As I turned around, St Nick I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were hand crocheted from above to below.
A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back.
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran crochet sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:
“S.C.” in duplicate on the cuff.
So I asked, “Hey, Nick, did YOU crochet all this stuff?”

He proudly replied, “Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to crochet when I was just a kid.”
He was chubby and plump, a well dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.
He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap
Where I had laid my crochet hook and yarn for a cap.

He began then to crochet, first one cap then 2-
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,
While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his hooks they flew,
Good Grief! He was finished by two!
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.
I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,
“Next year, start your crocheting sometime around JUNE!”

Ah, the lyrics at last!

The Almighty Guru was browsing around and saw my mention of my elementary school performance of 'The Nutcracker', and was kind enough to send me an email telling me that he had found the lyrics to the songs and posted them here.  I had totally forgotten about the 'Chinese Tea' song.  I feel better now, don't you?

On a 'Bah, Humbug!' note, Comcast is cancelling shows on Frederick's public tv station, including 'Making Friends,' which is the best show ever.  It's a show taped at the animal shelter showcasing pets available for adoption, and the doggie part gives me the warm fuzzies.  Stupid Comcast.

Tonight I am going to a Cookie Exchange with my knit/crochet group.  I think Jeff's mom and I made 13-14 dozen cookies for this thing.  That's what happens when you make 36 bags of 4 cookies plus some for the Sherwood household.  This means that tomorrow will bring tons o' cookies to the jobsite. :)