Monday Pick-Me-Up: Talking Cats
Talking animal videos have been done countless times, but Klaatu42 over on YouTube has made some marvelous edits of existing videos, simply adding his own dialog without having to touch the visuals at all. These are two of my favorites so far, and I’m looking forward to more. And I agree. It should have been the rug. 
Happy Monday!
February 8, 2010
Tags: funny, klaatu42, Monday Pick-Me-Up, talking cats Posted in: Monday Pick-Me-Ups 
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Wondering bullets
It’s time for another random bullet post. Just a little glimpse of the types of questions I ponder from time to time:
* Does a person with claustrophobia have the right to use
the handicap stalls in public restrooms?
* If the words ‘Cow’ and ‘Bull’ mean the female and male of a species,
what are we referring to when we apply them to the bovine realm?
* What is the difference between a frank and a wiener?
* In radio and television, what is the difference between
a station and a channel?
* If it’s incorrect to use a double negative in a sentence,
how would you correctly re-phrase “Didn’t I tell you not to do that?”
* Do sheep felt when they are out in the rain?
* Are the redesigned US coins an attempt to get collectors to
take them out of circulation and make them worth more?
* If USB stands for UNIVERSAL Serial Bus, why are there different sizes?
* How can you tell whether your gelatin comes from pork or kelp?
* Why can’t I do it all?
February 4, 2010
Tags: bullet, musing, random, wondering Posted in: Musings Comments
Knit Misadventures: Episode 24 – Where are the stars?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (36.0MB)
I’m back, and I’m on a 2 week streak!
Patterns Mentioned:
Comfy Raglan
Kumara armwarmers
Dancing at Lughnasa Gloves (Ravelry link)
Calorimetry
Re-Bag (Ravelry link)
Other Links:
Beadknitter’s Acrylic blocking tutorial (Must read!)
Library Book:
Freeform Knitting and Crochet by Jenny Dowde, ©2004 from Sally Milner Publishing
Mishaps and Lessons Learned:
Don’t use your longest circular needle when you’re only magic looping one sock.
Don’t make your plarn loops too narrow, either.
Rambling:
Minuchin the Office Kitty gets extra cuddly.
Gushing:
TELESCOPE!!
Nifty Thrifty:
Green Upgrader’s Lemon juice tips
Promo:
Podictionary
Music:
Intro/Outro – “Linus & Lucy”, from the album Guinevere by Jeff Wahl
Can you see the stars by Bree Noble
Find me:
@Betani on Twitter
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Betani on Ravelry
Knit Misadventures Podcast Group on Ravelry
NEW! Knit Misadventures on Facebook
RSS feed for both blog and podcast
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February 3, 2010
Tags: Calorimetry, Comfy Raglan, Dancing at Lughnasa gloves, Freeform Knitting and Crochet, Green Upgrader, Knit Misadventures, knitmisadventures, Knitting, Kumara arm warmers, Minuchin, podcast, Podictionary, Re-Bag, telescope Posted in: Knit Misadventures Podcast Comments
Oh, to master the mandolin
One of my goals for 101 Things in 1001 Days is to learn how to play my mandolin. It isn’t a very impressive or expensive instrument, in fact I picked it up a couple years ago on eBay for $26. I really want to learn an instrument. I took piano lessons when I was young, but my teacher stopped giving lessons. I regret not finding a new teacher, or at least continuing to practice what I was already taught. I’m not sure exactly why I chose the mandolin, specifically. It was partially an impulsive whim related to a kitchen accident I once had with a mandolin slicer. Regardless, I’m determined to learn how to play it.
The only problem is that I still haven’t found an instructional book or DVD that works for me. I’ll keep looking, though, and I might just try to play by ear.
If the mandolin doesn’t work out, though, there’s always the jewsharp.
February 2, 2010
Tags: 101 things in 1001 days, mandolin, music Posted in: 101 Things in 1001 Days Comments
Monday Pick-Me-Up: Spock Vs. Q
It’s the geeky face-off you always wanted to see…
Video from neko05
Happy Monday!
February 1, 2010
Tags: funny, geeky, Monday Pick-Me-Up, Spock Vs. Q, Star Trek Posted in: Monday Pick-Me-Ups Comments
A dream arriving via UPS
With our tight budget the last couple years, I’ve looked elsewhere for my ‘mad money’ while our paychecks covered the bills. I’d taken to participating in a number of paid survey sites, and I’ve stuck with the few that have consistently paid off. (Aside: if any of you would like a referral, let me know. You have to REALLY like taking surveys and such, though, because you will be taking alot of them!) I recently cashed in my points from one of them for a $50 amazon certificate. And now, I am anxiously waiting for something I’ve wanted since I was a little girl…
It’s only a beginner’s model, but it has gotten good reviews. I’ll need to save up for better eyepieces, but I’ll be fine with the ones that are included for a while. I have wanted a telescope for as long as I can remember. So much that I put it on my 101 Things in 1001 Days list. Come Monday, I can mark it as completed!
January 29, 2010
Tags: 101 things in 1001 days, telescope Posted in: 101 Things in 1001 Days Comments
Featured EtsyBlogger: NICO Designs
It’s time to check out this month’s Featured EtsyBlogger, NICO Designs!
Over at her shop, I began drooling over this bag:
Next at her blog, I was quite taken with her tutorial for a bulletin board circle:
Show her the love! She’s a real sewing genius 
January 28, 2010
Tags: Etsy, EtsyBloggers, featured blogger, NICO Designs Posted in: Featured EtsyBlogger Comments
The unforgivable paper invoice
A few months ago, the library got two copies of a rather… large invoice. Below is one of those copies.
This is very easily half a ream of paper. You might be thinking that this must be one enormous bill! The amount that must be paid must be frightening! Well, it is frightening, but not in the way you might be thinking. This enormous invoice that must have cost a great deal to ship was just to tell us that our last payment was short by…
…a whopping $26.75. Methinks that if this vendor went paperless, perhaps they could afford to give us a little discount on their services.
January 28, 2010
Tags: paper, wasteful Posted in: Green Living, Library Life Comments
Knit Misadventures: Episode 23 – I’m a Designer
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:40 — 30.8MB)
Ah, these are the days when we become human barometers! Good thing we have knitting to keep us distracted!
Patterns Mentioned:
Norfolk Ramblers
Bella’s Mittens
3-hour Sweater (Ravelry mods I’m using)
Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth (for Snuggles Project)
Dancing at Lughnasa Gloves – (Ravelry link)
Ardelle Hat
Geese in Flight Shawl
Library Book:
Teach Yourself Visually Crocheting
Mishaps and Lessons Learned:
Knitting and Intersections don’t mix!
Rambling:
Not much going on this week. Trying deep breathing exercises.
Gushing:
Dean Martin!
Nifty Thrifty:
Turtle wax for scratched CDs and DVDs
Promo:
Short Cummings: Happily Domesticated
Music:
Intro/Outro – “Linus & Lucy”, from the album Guinevere by Jeff Wahl
Mother’s Mandolin by Up Stairs (from Music Alley)
Find me:
@Betani on Twitter
Betani on Plurk
Betani on Etsy
Betani on Ravelry
Knit Misadventures Podcast Group on Ravelry
NEW! Knit Misadventures on Facebook
RSS feed for both blog and podcast
RSS feed for podcast only
Add to iTunes
January 27, 2010
Tags: 3-hour Sweater, Ardelle hat, Bella's Mittens, Dancing at Lughnasa gloves, Geese in Flight Shawl, Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth, Knit Misadventures, knitmisadventures, Knitting, Norfolk Ramblers, podcast Posted in: Knit Misadventures Podcast Comments
Scratching the off-season gardening itch
I got an Aerogardenâ„¢ for Christmas. I’ve wanted one of these ever since they were invented! At last, now I can satisfy my gardening cravings year round! MUAHAHAHAHAA!!!
*Ahem* Er… yes.
It came with the basic herb kit. Everything sprouted except for the Italian basil, which I deemed a dud after three weeks of nothing. I had gotten some coriander seeds in a promotional mailing, so I threw a few into the empty basil plug, and viola! The coriander sprang up in three days and is quickly catching up with all the others!
As much as I am enjoying the kit that came with the Aerogardenâ„¢, though, I’m even more excited for the next growing season, when I’ll be getting one of the Master Gardener kits. I’ve already been drooling over the seed catalogs for weeks, and I’m dying to try growing something that just doesn’t work on my balcony.
Do you have an indoor gardening setup of some kind? What do you grow, or what would you love to try growing this year?
January 26, 2010
Tags: Aerogarden, Gardening, herbs Posted in: Gardening Comments
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