Things have been fairly routine around here, nothing too exciting, not too hectic either. I’ve been mostly working on the apartment (still haven’t painted the bathroom) and finishing up some school stuff. It’s quieting down at work though, so that’s kind of nice after the past few months. I’ll be AWOL this weekend as my BF arrives from England for the summer! We’re spending next week out at camp helping for school groups. So here is a little meme to tide my blogging buddies over with:

• One book you’re currently reading: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
• One book that changed your life: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
• One book you’d want on a deserted island: whichever book I am currently reading when I get stranded on the island.
• One book you’ve read more than once: I rarely do this, but I would like to read The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger again.
• One book you’ve never been able to finish: War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
• One book that made you laugh: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
• One book that made you cry: (just one!? I cry a lot while reading) Lucky by Alice Sebold
• One book you keep rereading: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (used to have it memorized too!)
• One book you’ve been meaning to read: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
• One book you believe everyone should read: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Ruth had this on her blog and I was tempted to see what kind of questions I would get. I didn’t get to pick the questions, Ruth did. If you want me to interview you, there are instructions at the bottom of the post.

1. You’ve had a lot of experience (for a youngster), what first got you interested in publishing?
In high school I was the head editor of our annual yearbook. Our school was small enough that when you were interested in something, the teachers let you run with it. I ended up getting to practically run the course and teach my peers. I loved that we worked together to create a lovely finished product. I liked every aspect from writing, editing, and group brainstorming, to design, photography, and page layout.

2. What is your dream job, and why?
I would love to work at a large book publishing house in the editorial division. I was an intern at Random House Children’s Books UK and just totally in awe of it all. I loved working on books, authors mail, sorting and organizing submissions, and the access to hundreds upon thousands of amazing books. My other dream job (on the opposite end of the scale) would be to move to a small town on Vancouver Island and open up a local bookstore. I would love the quiet bustle of a small town, and again… books!

3. Is there someplace you’ve never been to that you’re really, really hoping to go to someday?
I definitely want to see the world. I want to travel all over Europe and see the small towns, to the popular cities. I’d love to see Italy, France, Wales, and Ireland especially. On a totally separate continent, I’d love to go to New Zealand; not only was The Lord of the Rings filmed there and it’s absolutely gorgeous, but I do have some family living there.

4. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I will be nearly 31. Wow. Um I think I want to be married by then. 31 is also the age deadline for a lot of working Visas around the world, so I want to have seen a lot of the world. I don’t know where I see myself. I can barely picture the next one or two years, let alone ten! Maybe/probably have one baby already and lots of fur-babies (both feline and canine)!

5. You’ve designed a few items, what medium would you most like to design in? (fabric, knitwear, jewelry)
I think I prefer web design. I just love organizing content. It’s a great feeling, the accomplishment, and something to show for it. Knitting items are fun, but for the most part I’m impatient and get frustrated easily.

Hehe thanks Ruth! That was really fun.

For those of you who might want to be interviewed, here are the directions:

• Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
• I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
• You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
• You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
• When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

• Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.
• Hope that you remember the details.
• Tag 5 others. (Nope! Can’t make me)

Yay! How excited are we that we’re home to snuggle Henry! While the goodbyes are always difficult, I know that I’ll see my BF in the summer. And for now, the easiest way to not cry, is to snuggle Henry (and of course he doesn’t mind if I cry into his fur).

Anyway, in case you didn’t get it, this is Henry in a bag. He loves how they crinkle and he jumps at them with glee. It’s odd that he doesn’t like being under blankets but he adores plastic bags!

Happy Whiskers on Wednesday. Consider joining us if you enjoy blogging about your cat!

• Go to your Sixth Picture Folder then pick your Sixth Picture.
• Hope that you remember the details.
• Tag 5 others. (Nope! Can’t make me)

Okay so I have a special way of arranging my photos, so I kinda just made it work. Anyway, this is from sometime in November of this year. My sister went to the opera and she loves wearing vintage dresses so she wanted me to take some photos for her.

Of course, her cat Sassafrass needed to be in some of the photos. This is one of the goofing around shots, don’t worry we got some really nice ones!

Grab a cuppa something warm and settle in by the dying fire with me and Henry. Here is the big news…

Friday it snowed a little in the morning. Nothing stuck downtown (it melted as soon as it touched anything) but we have a bit of a dusting last the day at home. Here is the photo from 5pm when I got home:

Tonight it started snowing in earnest! It’s a good thing my parents are already in Palm Springs. … But you don’t think they’ll cancel my flight for Monday do you?

Next item of business… knitting. On Thursday night I went knitting. We met up at the house of one of the members of The Vancouver Knitting Meetup. Very fun, nice and cosy — small group. But the good thing about a small group is that they can help you make decisions. Such as tassels, which we think work:

Third item of business… WiiFit. It is fun when played in a group. The first person stepped on and was registering their Mii, and the WiiFit got all upset when we switched people on it. “Your weight has changed drastically! Would you like to continue?” We were just hopping on and off, hula hooping, running, doing yoga and aerobics. It was hilarious but I don’t know if it would be quite as much fun alone. Here are some choice photos of the night.

Fourth item of business. I chose The Flying Troutmans to start reading. I’m hoping that it’s short enough that I can finish it before Monday and choose a new book at the airport, or just take one of my TBR paperbacks.

Now, off to do some laundry, maybe pack, and definitely finish my Take-Home Exam which is due… um… Monday… hehe.

Your result for What Spice Are You Test…

You are Oregano!

10% Habanero, 20% Sage, 20% Thyme, 10% Ginger, 10% Garlic, 0% Curry, 0% Cinnamon and 30% Oregano!

Take What Spice Are You Test at HelloQuizzy

Beth tagged me for this one! Thanks Beth!

Found this meme on Julia’s blog! Have you:

Gone on a blind date? No
Skipped school? Yes
Watched someone die? CSI…
Been to Canada? All my life, baby!
Been to Mexico? Yes. Recently for my dad’s birthday.
Been to Florida? Yes. We swam with the dolphins in the Florida Keys.
Been on a plane? Yes. Often.
Been lost? Yes – my dad left me in the video store when I was a kid.
Been on the opposite side of the country? Across the world to Japan!
Been to the capital of your country? Not yet (it’s on my list!)
Swam in the ocean or waded? Living on the West Coast!
Cried yourself to sleep? Yes
Played cops and robber? Yes
Recently colored with crayons? Well, do markers count? I prefer them, they don’t snap in half or require sharpening. Did I mention I babysit my neighbours?
Sang Karaoke? Yep, in Japan
Read the rest of this entry »

It is a list of knitting techniques, you are supposed to bold the ones you have tried, italicise the ones you want to try and leave the rest in plain text. I’m kinda OCD… so I reordered the list, grouping like-items together. All the skills are together, types of yarn, FOs, etc.

Over a year ago (May 2007), I did a similar one but with colours. Let’s see how I’ve improved (if any)!

Garter stitch
Stockinette stitch
Moebius band knitting
Drop stitch patterns
Slip stitch patterns
Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Graffiti knitting
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Knitting with dpns
Continental knitting
American/English knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Knitting smocking
Buttonholes
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Intarsia
Dying yarn
Dying with plant colors
Steeks
Knitting art
Darning
Jewellery
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Felting
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting backwards
Machine knitting
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows

Knitting with metal wire
Knitting with silk
Knitting with camel yarn
Knitting with soy yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with dog/cat hair (I’m collecting Henry’s hair)
Knitting with cotton
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Knitting with wool
Knitting with linen
Knitting with alpaca
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Knitting with cashmere
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn

Sweater
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Baby items
Afghan
Scarf
I-cord
Shawl
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
Slippers (my dad still says they’re the best he’s ever had)
Holiday related knitting
Bobbles
Knitted flowers (well, crochet)
Purses/bags
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Rug
Stuffed Toys
Gloves
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Hair accessories
Knitting for preemies

Publishing a knitting book
Participating in a KAL (Fearless Knitting KAL, I quit)
Participate in an exchange
Teaching a child/teenager to knit
Knitting to make money
Teaching a male how to knit
Knitting for a living
Writing a pattern
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Knitting in public
Olympic knitting

The things I have done are in BOLD!

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (indoor)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I’m a vegetarian)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

What about YOU?

Instructions:

1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put the artist after a dash following the song name.
5. Put any comments in brackets.
6. Tag some lucky people to spread the disease.

• How would you describe yourself? Maneater by Nelly Furtado (damn straight!)
• How do you feel today? Born Frustrated by Rancid
• What is your life’s purpose? You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse
• What is your motto? Maybe Memories by The Used
• What do you think about very often? Apologise by Timbaland feat. One Republic
• What is your life story? Take a Bow by Leona Lewis01
• What do you want to be when you grow up? No Feelings by the Sex Pistols
• What will you dance to at your wedding? All The Way by The Jacksons (uh oh!)
• What will they play at your funeral? The Great Escape by We Are Scientists (ironic)
• What is your hobby/interest? Homesick at Space Camp by Fall Out Boy
• If you could do anything right now, what would it be? Johnny Be Good by Buddy Holly
• What do you want most of all? The Zephyr Song by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• What is your greatest fear? Megalomaniac by Incubus (good answer!)
• What is your darkest secret? Raoul by The Automatic (I’m hiding him in my garage!)
  
• What is your favorite thing in the world? Soul Man by Sam & Dave
• If you could have one wish, what would you wish for? I Wanna Have Your Babies by Natasha Bedingfield (oh geez….)
• What is your theme song? Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
• The next time you hear this song (aside from now, that is), you must dance: There You Go by Pink
• What will you post this as? Good People by Jack Johnson

[NOTE: I have a lot of classical/soundtrack music for when I'm studying... so I skipped when I got to one. I don't think it'd be fun to see "Concerto grosso Op. 10 No. 10 (Alexander Feast) - 1. Overture" by George Friedrick Handel for an answer.]

Let me know if you’re playing along!