Jewels reminded me about Baked Expectations...
Oh, I so *miss* Baked Expectations! My mom used to take me there for my birthday. We'd skip the "meal" part, and go straight to cake! (And even then couldn't finish our slices!!!)
That was back before I knew about cheesecake... I was always a picky eater, and so refused to try something as icky sounding as cheesecake... how foolish I was! But back in those days, I would get a slice of that big chocolate cake... I think it was about 8" tall (maybe taller?), and had layers, a wall of chocolate around the outside, and chocolate shavings and orange zest on top. Mmmmm....
I've told so many people down here about Baked Expectations! (They all look at me kind of funny... they don't understand.)
Next time I'm in Winnipeg, I *really* must stop in at Baked Expectations! I think I'll have cheesecake this time. *sigh*
Thanks for the happy memories Jewels!
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
WOW
It seems a bunch of blogs I read have something special on Wednesday... some wish everyone a happy hump day, and many have a WIP Wednesday. Sounds fun. :) But, I feel like being different... I think I'll have a WOW Wednesday: "Words of Wisdom". In these posts (no idea how long I'll keep doing this), I'll post little useful things I've learned. (I'd love to hear your WOWs too... the more the merrier!)
Putting the covers back on paperbacks.
Do you ever have a problem where the cover will fall off your paperback book? I'm talking about the whole cover coming off in one piece. Well, the glue holding the cover on (in most cases) is hot glue. Thus, to reattach the cover, simply iron the spine at low heat (so as not to burn the paper cover). This remelts the glue to bond with the cover. :)
Putting the covers back on paperbacks.
Do you ever have a problem where the cover will fall off your paperback book? I'm talking about the whole cover coming off in one piece. Well, the glue holding the cover on (in most cases) is hot glue. Thus, to reattach the cover, simply iron the spine at low heat (so as not to burn the paper cover). This remelts the glue to bond with the cover. :)
Happy
I'm happy. Happy is good. :) I did make some progress this morning on my h-bonds (not a lot, but I'm doing better today than I have the past several days). Kelli and I had a nice walk. :) Kelli likes my bag! (I love positive feedback!) That reminds me... I promised pictures.
Here's my small project bag:
Isn't the shimmery lining fabric neat? The lady at the fabric store commented "it's like holding an ocean in your hands," and I agree. :)
Here's my current scarf in progress:
I tried registering at Knit Picks (to enter their draw, and I'll be placing an order eventually), but their website didn't like my browser. :P At first the auto-fill seemed to be messing it up, but then when I turned off auto-fill, the register button didn't work! Dunno what's up there... maybe I'll try a different browser. (Ick!)
My tea arrived this morning. :) (Actually, it arrived yesterday, but got delivered to the apartment office, so I had to wait until today to pick it up.) I ordered SimpliciTEA green tea starter set, and a sample of berry blast tea. I'll try the berry tea tonight after I wash the teapot, and a green tea tomorrow morning.
I've decided (with Kelli's help) that my birthday party this year will be a "spoil your dinner" party... I'll make a cheesecake (it's really good, but I can't make it unless I know I'll have help to eat it!), and have tea (both bagged, and Adagio), and invite people to bring treats of their own (and mugs too... I think I only own six, including the one at work). I decided to do an early afternoon party so I didn't mess up people's valentines weekend plans. (I don't know how many will have plans, but I try pick times that I think someone will actually come.)
Here's my small project bag:
Isn't the shimmery lining fabric neat? The lady at the fabric store commented "it's like holding an ocean in your hands," and I agree. :)
Here's my current scarf in progress:
I tried registering at Knit Picks (to enter their draw, and I'll be placing an order eventually), but their website didn't like my browser. :P At first the auto-fill seemed to be messing it up, but then when I turned off auto-fill, the register button didn't work! Dunno what's up there... maybe I'll try a different browser. (Ick!)
My tea arrived this morning. :) (Actually, it arrived yesterday, but got delivered to the apartment office, so I had to wait until today to pick it up.) I ordered SimpliciTEA green tea starter set, and a sample of berry blast tea. I'll try the berry tea tonight after I wash the teapot, and a green tea tomorrow morning.
I've decided (with Kelli's help) that my birthday party this year will be a "spoil your dinner" party... I'll make a cheesecake (it's really good, but I can't make it unless I know I'll have help to eat it!), and have tea (both bagged, and Adagio), and invite people to bring treats of their own (and mugs too... I think I only own six, including the one at work). I decided to do an early afternoon party so I didn't mess up people's valentines weekend plans. (I don't know how many will have plans, but I try pick times that I think someone will actually come.)
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Crochet Update
My scarf is now at 53". (I'm sorry if I mess up the snow scheduled for Wednesday night through Thursday... I wouldn't mind a few days off myself.)
My project bag is now lined. :)
I'll post photos of both tomorrow... I've taken pictures, but I prefer to use my other computer for that.
One problem I'm having now... my WIP is my scarf, which doesn't fit in my project bag, which was designed for socks-in-progress. Hmmm... looks like I'll have to figure out my sock problems... and make a second, larger project bag. :) (Note to self... need wool for large felted project bag... the question is, how much stash do I need to use before I can get said wool?) I think I'd like to do a felted brown sugar bag. I've been meaning to make Josie's bag for a while. I'll get several colours, so that I can stripe the rows. :) I'm thinking Knit Picks yarn... I'd prefer a sport weight yarn, but their Wool of the Andes is such a nice price...
Hmmm... I think two pairs of felted slippers (assuming I have more than one pair worth of yarn, which I suspect I do), two pairs of socks, and my sockapalooza socks are sufficient stash reduction to justify the yarn for a larger project bag. I'm doing not too bad at working with my stash yarn... and all of those projects should fit in my small project bag. Hmmm... maybe I should make myself take my afghan out of limbo, and work on that in the evenings... it really is a nice afghan, just not a good carry-along project. I've been a little hesitant, because my crochet has loosened *considerably* from when I started it, so my gauge is going to be quite different... probably much closer to the correct size, but still different from what I've started.
Oops... past my bedtime. G'night!
My project bag is now lined. :)
I'll post photos of both tomorrow... I've taken pictures, but I prefer to use my other computer for that.
One problem I'm having now... my WIP is my scarf, which doesn't fit in my project bag, which was designed for socks-in-progress. Hmmm... looks like I'll have to figure out my sock problems... and make a second, larger project bag. :) (Note to self... need wool for large felted project bag... the question is, how much stash do I need to use before I can get said wool?) I think I'd like to do a felted brown sugar bag. I've been meaning to make Josie's bag for a while. I'll get several colours, so that I can stripe the rows. :) I'm thinking Knit Picks yarn... I'd prefer a sport weight yarn, but their Wool of the Andes is such a nice price...
Hmmm... I think two pairs of felted slippers (assuming I have more than one pair worth of yarn, which I suspect I do), two pairs of socks, and my sockapalooza socks are sufficient stash reduction to justify the yarn for a larger project bag. I'm doing not too bad at working with my stash yarn... and all of those projects should fit in my small project bag. Hmmm... maybe I should make myself take my afghan out of limbo, and work on that in the evenings... it really is a nice afghan, just not a good carry-along project. I've been a little hesitant, because my crochet has loosened *considerably* from when I started it, so my gauge is going to be quite different... probably much closer to the correct size, but still different from what I've started.
Oops... past my bedtime. G'night!
Something New
Thanks to NPR, I learned a new word today... I'd heard it before, but didn't know what it meant. My word of the day is "Jerrymandering" (no, I haven't looked up the spelling), and it's another term for "redistricting". Apparently some politician named Jerry decided to redistrict so that he (or his party?) would do better in the election, and the convoluted boundaries resembled a salamander to one news reporter. This news reporter coined the term Jerrymandering, by combining Jerry and salamander.
Electoral districts change occasionally in Canada, but only rarely. I think really the only time they change is to adjust for changing population. Now, occasionally this is done in such a way to screw a candidate (such as in the last election), but, I believe, that mostly it isn't. From the sounds of the NPR broadcast, politicians in the US frequently screw with the boundaries so as to get the results they want. Bizarre. I don't know why I'm surprised, given how back-stabbing US politicians tend to be. (At least, that's how they appear from their smear-campaign commercials.)
NPR was on this topic because Arnold wants to mess with how districts are set... likely so he can get more moderates in, to push forward his agenda. At least, this was the opinion of the interviewee.
Electoral districts change occasionally in Canada, but only rarely. I think really the only time they change is to adjust for changing population. Now, occasionally this is done in such a way to screw a candidate (such as in the last election), but, I believe, that mostly it isn't. From the sounds of the NPR broadcast, politicians in the US frequently screw with the boundaries so as to get the results they want. Bizarre. I don't know why I'm surprised, given how back-stabbing US politicians tend to be. (At least, that's how they appear from their smear-campaign commercials.)
NPR was on this topic because Arnold wants to mess with how districts are set... likely so he can get more moderates in, to push forward his agenda. At least, this was the opinion of the interviewee.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Ugh.
Blech. I was sick this morning... I'm not sure why, but my tummy told me I had better stay in bed. Except for occasionally checking my e-mail, I did so until 5:00, when a telemarketer called. I figured I should probably get up so that I can sleep tonight.
I had to wash dishes before I could eat dinner... I had started my dishes last night, but there was a big pile of them (again). I washed last night for over an hour, then stopped because I was tired, and the water was getting little "floaties" that wanted to stick to the dishes. (Yech.) I got most of it done last night, but didn't do the pots. That meant I had no pots to cook dinner tonight. :( Oh well... at least it didn't take as long today. After washing dishes, I heated up some stew from the freezer. There's nothing like stew when you're feeling under the weather. (My stew has big chunks of beef, wild rice, and portabella mushroom chunks in broth. It's like a beef version of chicken soup. Mmmm....)
So now, except for feeling tired and having a bit of the shivers, I'm happy. I'm going to veg in front of the TV for a bit, then have a bath and go to bed. (I'd skip the bath, but after getting out of the shower I realized that I had forgotten to use soap. I had washed my hair, but forgot everything else. I'm going to make a great absent-minded professor.)
Nothing much to report crochet-wise... my scarf is longer. I'll post a picture soon, but I'm too lazy today. I sewed the button on my bag, but still need to do the lining. (Photo of that later too.) I have yet to start my sockapalooza pal's socks... I want to figure out my gauge problems first, and I'm thinking of mailing her a sample of the yarn to see if it's okay... it's not as soft as I was hoping, and after getting dark blue, I'm worried that maybe she'd rather have light blue. *sigh*
Oh... and thanks, Natalie, for your comment. Before I moved here, I thought the two countries were pretty similar too... but I really noticed the difference after I moved. Its a lot of little things, rather than something you can easily put your finger on. Part of the problem is that the boarder is really only porous in only one direction... lots of American stuff goes north, but very little Canadian stuff goes south. One example: junk food. The chocolate down here tastes like wax to me, and I can't get any of my favourite Canadian stuff. I would probably also be better off in one of the nothern, "blue" states, than down here. The US is not one big homogenous country. (And neither is Canada.) But then, even in the north, there would still be things I miss. A lot of it is a problem with me... I'm the type that gets homesick.
I had to wash dishes before I could eat dinner... I had started my dishes last night, but there was a big pile of them (again). I washed last night for over an hour, then stopped because I was tired, and the water was getting little "floaties" that wanted to stick to the dishes. (Yech.) I got most of it done last night, but didn't do the pots. That meant I had no pots to cook dinner tonight. :( Oh well... at least it didn't take as long today. After washing dishes, I heated up some stew from the freezer. There's nothing like stew when you're feeling under the weather. (My stew has big chunks of beef, wild rice, and portabella mushroom chunks in broth. It's like a beef version of chicken soup. Mmmm....)
So now, except for feeling tired and having a bit of the shivers, I'm happy. I'm going to veg in front of the TV for a bit, then have a bath and go to bed. (I'd skip the bath, but after getting out of the shower I realized that I had forgotten to use soap. I had washed my hair, but forgot everything else. I'm going to make a great absent-minded professor.)
Nothing much to report crochet-wise... my scarf is longer. I'll post a picture soon, but I'm too lazy today. I sewed the button on my bag, but still need to do the lining. (Photo of that later too.) I have yet to start my sockapalooza pal's socks... I want to figure out my gauge problems first, and I'm thinking of mailing her a sample of the yarn to see if it's okay... it's not as soft as I was hoping, and after getting dark blue, I'm worried that maybe she'd rather have light blue. *sigh*
Oh... and thanks, Natalie, for your comment. Before I moved here, I thought the two countries were pretty similar too... but I really noticed the difference after I moved. Its a lot of little things, rather than something you can easily put your finger on. Part of the problem is that the boarder is really only porous in only one direction... lots of American stuff goes north, but very little Canadian stuff goes south. One example: junk food. The chocolate down here tastes like wax to me, and I can't get any of my favourite Canadian stuff. I would probably also be better off in one of the nothern, "blue" states, than down here. The US is not one big homogenous country. (And neither is Canada.) But then, even in the north, there would still be things I miss. A lot of it is a problem with me... I'm the type that gets homesick.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Living in the USA
In response to Kenneth's comment:
Yeah, I know that O'Reilly isn't America. And that there's dorks in Canada too. (Not that I'm necessarily calling O'Reilly a dork... I've never actually watched his show, so I can't really comment on him.) I have met lots of nice Americans while living here. I have also met Americans who seem "normal", but then will make a comment I find totally offensive, underscoring the difference between my beliefs, and what appears to be some common American views. Likewise, many Americans would consider my views completely offensive... not all, but there are certainly a lot down here in the religious, red south.
I am an Alien here, in "legal speak". I do feel alien... I am a minority here, although not a visible one. Although I can tolerate living here, I do not enjoy it. I find it depressing. Skin colour is generally not an issue where I'm from, but it is here. I am an athiest, and I was told by a Jewish roommate not to say that too loudly.
I'm sorry, I'm going to stop here. I have much more I can say, but this topic makes me unhappy and homesick.
Update: scarf magic is at 26 inches and counting... and the precipitation is very definitely liquid. I hope you had a nice evening, Kelli!
Yeah, I know that O'Reilly isn't America. And that there's dorks in Canada too. (Not that I'm necessarily calling O'Reilly a dork... I've never actually watched his show, so I can't really comment on him.) I have met lots of nice Americans while living here. I have also met Americans who seem "normal", but then will make a comment I find totally offensive, underscoring the difference between my beliefs, and what appears to be some common American views. Likewise, many Americans would consider my views completely offensive... not all, but there are certainly a lot down here in the religious, red south.
I am an Alien here, in "legal speak". I do feel alien... I am a minority here, although not a visible one. Although I can tolerate living here, I do not enjoy it. I find it depressing. Skin colour is generally not an issue where I'm from, but it is here. I am an athiest, and I was told by a Jewish roommate not to say that too loudly.
I'm sorry, I'm going to stop here. I have much more I can say, but this topic makes me unhappy and homesick.
Update: scarf magic is at 26 inches and counting... and the precipitation is very definitely liquid. I hope you had a nice evening, Kelli!
Saturday, January 29, 2005
In the news...
I found this quote in a CBC article:
I don't read the Globe and Mail, so I can't comment there. However, given how far right the US is, yeah, I guess anything Canadian would appear far left, but I think of it more as "normal". So Canadian health care is socialist... what's wrong with that? I do believe that the individual has a responsibility to society... and making society healthier is also going to have positive feedback on individuals.
This is just one of the reasons why I can't live in the USA. I have fundamentally different beliefs. *sigh*
...back to my scarf. (Now at 15.5" of magic...)
In the past, O'Reilly has called the CBC radically to the left, the Globe and Mail a "far-left newspaper," and Canadian health care "socialist."
I don't read the Globe and Mail, so I can't comment there. However, given how far right the US is, yeah, I guess anything Canadian would appear far left, but I think of it more as "normal". So Canadian health care is socialist... what's wrong with that? I do believe that the individual has a responsibility to society... and making society healthier is also going to have positive feedback on individuals.
This is just one of the reasons why I can't live in the USA. I have fundamentally different beliefs. *sigh*
...back to my scarf. (Now at 15.5" of magic...)
Scarf magic returns
I had a hot chocolate, popped in "Monsoon Wedding", and brought my scarf length up to 11 inches. Looking outside, the roads look clear although wet, and there doesn't appear to be much frozen precipitation on the ground (about the same as when I came in), and basically nothing in the sky. Scarf magic returns! :)
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