Wow! -- This sucks!!


I just looked at the number of subscribers that I have to my blog.  I had no idea!
As a result of my perceived lack of public interest in my blog/podcast, I let it wane.
I repeat, I suck. 
Well, now that I have a laptop and no excuse for not working on this thing, here I go again.

Rather than babble, I'll just jump right in!
What the heck have I been doing?

Uhh...


Gaining weight!
LOL
Aren't we lucky to live in the land of milk and honey?
Good grief.  I think I've gained and gotten comfortable with another 5 lbs.

My job became ridiculously stressful for about a year and a half.  I was so exhausted after work that I would grab take-out, come home and go to sleep.  It's no wonder where the weight came from.  Needless to say, my health suffered and my doctor fussed.
Then,  I start hearing all these things about how stress can cause weight gain.  What the heck -- can I catch a break?!  So I've started watching my caloric intake, drinking more water and watching my stress levels.
Exercising -- well, not yet -- but I'm thinking about it


Decluttering
Well, not much has happened in my continuous quest to declutter.  I got rid of all that acrylic yarn only to gain a new member of the family - a new brother-in-law.   My regular listeners/readers will recall my (unprofessional) stance that acrylic yarn makes the best afghans for gift giving.  They are incredibly durable, come in the most fun colors and are machine washable.  Well, my new BIL wants one in 3 shades of blue -- so I'm probably off to the craft store to pick up about 9 super skeins. 

I just thought of something else, I unloaded a bicycle -- that should count for something.
It was an old Huffy that I'd had in my basement for years.  I've since bought a great Raleigh that is probably 15lbs lighter,  fits my long legs better, and I just look generally cuter on when I bother to ride it.

I did shed a bunch of clothes from my closet -- I just had a bunch of stuff that I didn't wear any longer.
So why was I keeping it?  Heck if I know!  I culled a 40 gallon bag full of stuff that was in really good shape and donated it to charity.  Hopefully they will make someone feel like they found a good deal.


Cluttering

Appliances--  No -- you can't blame the weight gain on this.  If anything, the weight gain was probably minimized since I have been cooking more frequently and getting take-out LESS frequently since the purchase.
Anyway,  I purchased the Cuisinart 600 Electronic Pressure cooker.  Folks, you have got to check this thing out.
Except for the fact that I like collecting stuff, I don't know why it caught my eye.  But after reading more about it, I knew I had to have it.  We all know something about pressure cookers -- right? Mom or grandma had one.
Typically what we remember is that we were told to stay away from it because it was "dangerous and could explode!"
I remember that it was this huge, ugly, stained, heavy pot with a locking lid, a whistling jiggler and it was scary.
Well, not this beautiful electric one -- OMG!  This thing is great.  First off, it's a counter-top model. 
It couldn't be easier to figure out and I feel completely safe using it.  The first couple times I used it, I didn't have enough liquid in the inner cooking pot.  Well, it shut off.  First I was annoyed -- then I realized that it was operator-error.  Unlike my moms old stove-top model, this thing has at least three safety features the keep me from blowing up the kitchen or wrecking a meal.  If the pressure goes too high it turns off.  The temperature is electronically controlled.  If the moisture content gets too low --it turns off.  When you set it to cook with pressure, you set the number of minutes you want it to cook.  I love it. 
Here are some things that I have cooked so far;
Bratwursts  -- nothing fancy just a local brand).  I put 5 of them onto a wire rack that came with and fits inside the inner cooking pot.  I sprinkled them with some dried garlic, some finely ground black pepper  and I poured about a 1/2 cup of beer into the bottom of the cooking pot.
The brats were ABOVE the beer line.  I set the pot to high pressure, locked the lid and hit start.
Those delecious sausages cooked to perfection in about 8 minutes.
BUT!! of course they weren't browned -- right?  That's whats so freakin' cool about this particular pressure cooker.
It has settings for browing, simmering etc..  I simply used my silicone coated tongs, lifted the wire rack out and dumped out some of the beer.  This left the brats on the floor of the cooker to brown for a couple minutes.
I turned each one once and they were beautiful.   I don't like it when my hot dogs or brats split during cooking.  They dry out.  So piercing them to check for doneness doesn't appeal to me. 
With the pressure cooker, there was no concern about doneness.  I love this thing!
Dang! -- I kinda want a brat now.   Yummy -- a lovely hot brat on a super fresh deli roll with some honey or spicy mustard.  See? as a result of that craving this entry may get a lot shorter. (sigh)

Since sneaky, greedy people are trying to make small fortunes with hidden copyrights on internet images (money grubbing rat bastards), I'll take a photo of my pressure cooker and post it. 



    


Oh  - I have to tell you about one other thing that I cooked in it -- freakin' split green peas with ham.  WOW! 
They cooked to perfection in less than 20 minutes.   I eyeballed the whole thing -- no recipe.   Do some research on this puppy.  Obviously the device saves time and energy (electricity).  And for the summer months, it allows you to cook real food real fast without heating up the entire kitchen.
Oh --one more thing before I forget --I made boneless pork ribs in it -- yep -- you heard me -- BBQ pork ribs. 
I browned them  just like the brats.  Then I doused them with barbeque sauce and returned them to the pot to simmer and get all sticky and crisp-ity with sauce.  Whew!  I'm getting hungry.
Anyway, they sell this thing at your local kitchen/appliance stores for $149.  The BF managed to get one when they were onsale for $99 -- PLUS he got an additional 20% off that!  Lucky duck!


Projects

Knitting -- I can't wait to knit the Somewhat Cowl!
http://knitandtonic.typepad.com/knitandtonic/2005/12/the_somewhat_co.html
In case that link doesn't work -- just do an Internet search on "Somewhat Cowl".  There are several folks out there who have made them an posted images of their finished projects.
I was just hunting around for something to create from this silky wool that I'd purchased and I found the Somewhat Cowl on the Internet.  I was so excited about it that I actually bought the pattern. 
As soon as I figure out WHERE I put the yarn, I'll start it.

More Knitting --   Okay -- really,  I have collected some more crafty crap and some more yarn -- but it was only the good stuff.
As for yarn, I've knitted a flat purse and felted it. Ive been trying to carry my lunch to work more often so I decided to knit something that could hold maybe a sandwich, a yogurt and a can of soda or a bottle of juice.  I didn't use a pattern and suprisingly, it turned out great!
Did I ever mention how much I love electiric lime green?   OMG combine that with black?  I'm in heaven.
It's actually neck-n-neck with  my passion for purple.   

Sewing
The BF and I went to a company formal and I made my dress for the occassion.    I guess I might as well take some snaps of it since we didn't take a single photo while we were there.  He wore a very sexy stylish tuxedo.
I gave him a swatch of the fabric I'd picked for my dress and he got a matching vest -- he looked quite HOT!
My dress came out great -- It wasn't the one I wanted to make but it worked out.
I used a pretty purple satin.  I'll add a few snaps of that too.





Finishing it up

Okay, before I turn this into a "thing" I'd better wrap it up.  I tend to bite off more than I can chew -- or rather more than I'm willing to chew.  If I keep this short, I won't freak myself out with an unreasonable goal of a HUGE entry for next time. 

I felt the need for a day off today -- so I think I'll treat myself to a cup of english tea -- milk, sugar and bitter black tea.  Then maybe some brats??

Soon
Justlinda Online

Decluttering
Yes I did!  I did get some stuff done while I was on haitus.  I sorted through the Scrapbooking Cabinet and I found duplicates of SEVERAL things -- rubber stamps and other scrapbooking tools.  It's not as bad as I thought it was but is sure adds some light to my earlier "issues" with collecting crap.
Anyway, it worked out. I got to share some of my dupes by gifting them to an acquaintence.  The very sweet woman gave me an impromptu gift -- I found a "thank you stamp" -- which said a lot more than that and was a duplicate in my collection.
So, I wrapped it in a square of aida cloth, wrapped that in a square of a favorite rectangle of silk fabric and topped it all with some curling ribbon.   Everything except that curling ribbon can be used in her scrapbooking.  I felt good about that.
Oooh! And lemme tell you what I am doing in the scrapbooking cabinet. I organized the rubber stamps by theme and labled each box. 
I also have some tools
Anyway, I'm still working on that scrapbooking cabinet



Distractions from Knitting




Isn't this beautiful?  It's gonna take a while to complete, but it will be worth the time and effort.
I'm taking a break from knitting and I work on this daily.
Do you cross-stitch?  If you haven't tried it -- grab a small basic project and see if you like it.
I recommend a pattern or project that might produce a decoration for a childs room.  Those patterns
normally have large areas of solid colors and they stitch up fast. I also recommend that you start with a stamped-cross stitch project.
This pattern is a "counted" cross stitch pattern -- in other words, I have to count to determine where the stitches/colors are added.  Since the cloth that came in the kit is black, I find that putting a sheet of white paper helps me see the holes in the aida cloth for counting and stitching.
Oh -- and just so you know, this pattern was on sale -- 50% off at Hobby Lobby -- that makes it nicer.

Catcha next time
JustLindaOnline

 I'm tired and I can't wake-up!!
I don't know why I'm so tired but I am. I feel worn out. So here it is 12 noon and I'm drinking coffee :o Unfortunately it's not my own roast -- but it's tasty. I tried drinking black tea -- it was good but then I went back to sleep. Uggh! I hate sleeping in late -- I know that I can't stay up late so if I wake up late and go to bed early -I feel like my day is shot!
Did I mention that I am holiday'd out already?  I've decided that I'm not decorating the usual artificial tree, decorating or cooking a big meal or any of that stuff.  I did buy a few gifts -- (son, best friend, boyfriend), but I am not going to wear myself out with all that other stuff typically associated with the holiday. Nope!  It's been a really rough, tiring year and this is one that I can skip!  I'll make up for it next year.
What's interesing is that I didn't put the chafing dishes away from Thanksgiving.
Well, they get to sit unused until the New Years Feast IF I decide to cook one and then they will be stored away again.


Crafty crap/What's on my needles

Since none of my sisters listen to my podcast, I can leak you that I'm working hard to catch up on afghans which are due to our new family additions -- which are not so new anymore.  Whenever my sibs have a new baby or get married etc, I make it a point to create an individual crocheted afghan for that person. 
Family gets to pick the colors and I get to create a design from granny squares with different color arrangements.
I love creating them but I seem to have fallen behind (big surprise).  I have three afghans that are past due.
My sibs have beautiful babies, but it seemed that all of them were exepecting a new addition at the same time about 2 years ago.
How did I deal with that kind of pressure? I panicked and didn't crochet anything! TA-DA.
Anyway, I have one sis who wants every afghan in pink and green, and another who wants them all in pink and yellow.  Get it yet? -- LOTSA girls.
All of the rest of the afghans were for boys -- done and gone.
I love creating them and even if the basic colors are sometimes  the same,  I work to ensure that each one is done in a different pattern, style shade or texture of yarn.
(side note: this really works out -- I'm doing laundry now. You regular listeners know that my recording studio is in the basement -- not too far from the washer dryer.  So there is not way that I could record right now. But I can BLOG. HA!)

Anyway, I'm working on my third pink and green afghan oh, and yup!  -- the colors are associated with my sisters sorority.
It's her choice for her baby girls.  I won't call out the name -- but some of you probably know which one it is
No guessing -- I won't say!   Anyway, I just completed all the squares for that afghan.
I will start on the next set. No way am I going to be able to get them delivered by christmas -- but I might be able to get them there just after the new year.

Um.... I have not yet located the rest of that black cotton yarn -- that's problematic. I am nearly done with the sleeves -- in fact, I think I'm ready to start shaping and binding-off the last few stitches... but I'm not sure that I have enough for my turtle neck collar.  I would just feel better if I found that last box of yarn.   
I'm tempted to start a version of that mission falls sweater with some of my cheaper wool-ease... just so that I can work through some of the yarn.
Holy fuzz and strings!  As I dug-out some fabric in the back room I found MORE yarn! So I started binning and boxing again.  This is ridiculous! And until I make my way through some of this stuff -- to make WHATEVAH, no way can I let myself buy the mission falls wool needed to make the turtle neck in the mission falls Recollection Booklet.  Whaaaaaaaa!
I should just jump into all that crap in the backroom and see just how bad it gets.  NOT!!


ANTI-Decluttering

Guess who got the final installment of Nicki Epsteins "edge" books? Meeeeeeeeee!
OMG! It's very nice.  I'll review it in the podcast cuz I want to say more about it  than I'm willing to type (BCEG).


Decluttering and Minimizing
Ta Da!
I cut out and basted my first few pairs of slacks with my Bonfit Patterner -- see how long it takes me to get to doing things?
The cool part is that I got to go through a LOT of fabric that was stacked up in the cabinet-o-fabric and in the back room of the basement.  Sadly-- but there is soooo much more.
(Side Note: Wow -- I kinda like this blogging -- it's actually a little easier than talking -- the editing certainly is
I have got about 4 pair of comfy slacks -- back darts, side zippers and no pockets and they are EXTRA long!!
Whoo-hoo!  Why do I make such a big deal about that? Well when your legs are as long as mine, it's something you learn to appreciate.  In fact, my height is the reason I started sewing as a kid (12).
The clothes that were long enough were too big or too "grown up" and the ones that fit were too short--  sleeves or inseam.
I a no longer worried about what looks too grown up.  I just hate purchasing slacks that don't fit correctly or that cost too much. A major nationwide department store is really good about carrying "tall" slacks -- but it's hard to catch the right color in stock and I have never cottoned (yes I said it -- "cottoned") to ordering clothes from catalogs.

I thought I might add a new entry to my declutering -- "What I threw away".  Anyone who has had to deal with a large scale decluttering job knows that there are just some things that have to go to the garbage- - not recycled (though that should count too) not re-purposed, not donated - but sent to the garbage.
Its' one of the fastest ways to get rid of "stuff" --but not always the best.  The stuff I'm talking about pitching is stuff that definitely needs to be pitched and mostly it will be little innocuous stuff. Hmmm... for this first week. I'm gonna list it on the show -- cuz it just sounds so dumb. --lol.
You'll see as soon as I get the show posted and I'll list it all.


Closing comments
Okay -- even though I say I wouldn't do product placement stuff-- the coffee I'm drinking is called Royal Winter by Gevalia (do you think they'll mind the ad?)
 

I don't recommend any other pre-roasted coffee over roasting your own -- but this one is tasty when stored and brewed correctly.



What I wish I was doing
knitting on one of my knitting machines and working quickly through all this yarn.
Painting the walls on the first floor of my home.
Walking in the park with the pooch.
Someone go do those things for me?
For you podcast listeners -- just music this week.

L

Episode008 Weekend Quickie!
This is just what it sounds like -- okay not really (smiling).  I felt the need to get an episode out this weekend. Although this one is mostly music and less of my carrying-on, I think you'll enjoy it.
 You guys can enjoy some of my favorite tunes while you knit and enjoy whats left of your weekend.
 Thanks to Podsafemusicnetwork.com for the great tunes.
Justlindaonline

So many things to gripe and laugh about, so little time!
It seems like there is so little time for anything!
Here are the show notes for this weeks podcast.
Missed you guys!

JustLindaOnline

P.S. One of my cats needs a bath.  If I survive giving her one, I'll talk with ya in a couple weeks!

This is more like ANTI-Decluttering Blog/Podcast (can I call it that?)

Where to shop on the internet???
Where have you shopped? Did you have a good experience? A bad one?
I want to learn and let everyone else know what your online shopping experience was like.
Where did you enjoy shopping? 
Where you would never shop again?
Let's praise 'em  or bust 'em out!!
Send me an email -- If you want me to mention your name, blog or location, say so specifically.

Happy Knitting

Linda

DECLUTTERING - Paper Sewing Patterns
Lutterloh  http://www.lutterlohsystem.com/
Bonfit Patterner  http://www.patterners.com/index.htm

Fabric Adjustments -- OH THE PAIN!!!

Plans for the reclaimed space???

KNITTING

How I Fed My Stash
Soy Silk!!
1824 Cotton


Current Knitting Project 
White Cotton Jacket to complete the Twin-Set.

Completed Knitting Project  
Matching Jacket for the Anne Norling Dropped-Stitch Blue Tank Top

The "I Gotta do it Make this!" Project



http://www.missionfalls.com/patterns.php
The Multi-colored Turtle Neck Sweater  on the cover of the Recollection Pattern booklet.
1824 Wool  Mission Falls -- Oooh! So cute! 


BlogSpot Of the Week  http://www.claudiasblog.net/
Check out the Crinkle Sweater - gotta do something like this.

AudioBook  "Undead and Unwed" Mary Janice Davidson
Hilarious, fun listen.  

RANTING
 -- NO MORE BELLYS!!!

 The "Reality Bites" -- No way can I get an episode out every week.

This weeks Music  PodsafemusicNetwork.com
Organized Funk (V8)- Nice rage
I Know You Like This Style - Overnite
The Time (Instrumental)-  Steffen Coonan

Here is a quick pic of the Ann Norling Blue tank top that I still have to block and assemble (figure the odds that I will actually block this thing).Those two skeins are all I was able to acquire to attempt to work up a bolero or a REALLY short jacket to match the tank top. I'll spend some time on that effort this weekend. Since I have mastered the stitch pattern, incorporating it into the sleeves of some jacket pattern should be easy.I'm envisioning a short jacket (hem stops just below bust line) with 3/4 length sleeves.Then ...<< MORE >>

Finally here is a pic of the tank top from my white cotton twinset. I am a bit rusty with the camera but you can see that it's a pretty simple garment. Hopefully I have enough of the other yarn (will take a pic of that oen and add it) to finish the matching jacket.<< MORE >>

Guess who is blogging?? MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Okay, I have finally located a place for blogging -- I had it the whole time but it took me this long to locate it and get ta' bloggin!

Check it out!

Decluttering And Cleaning

Here's my problem -- Too much freakin Fabric -- I'm stuck.   I have whittled my fabric down to two of the cabinets that I described in my podcast
(JustLindaOnline knitting).  I really need some more clothes for work but I don't freaking feel like sewing!!??
Uggh!  Well, should I be sewing rather than podcasting.... maybe -- but why can't I do both (bceg)

   Knitting Tools-- What do you use? What is taking up space in your stash?
I am having a heck of a time figuring where and how to store some of my knitting needles.  The ones that are in kits or cases are great and easy to keep up with. But the ones that are stored in vases or jars are a problem -- inevitably I knock them over!  I have about 4 different pots or vases that I use to store some tall aluminum, plastic and extra large plastic needles.  Of course I have some zip around cases -- I LUV those but even they are now full.  Perhaps the answer is to get rid of some of my needles... NOT!
Well, I'm sure I don't need to buy any more cases, and the vases and ... wait... I just got the answer to my question... I will keep only one of the vases - it's more like a bucket -- short and squat. What I'll do is fill it with beads or rocks or sand or something... right? and then I can just KEEP it on the floor!!?? That way, the fill will keep even the tall needles in place (fill) and it is a good size for keeping it on the floor...somewhere...
I just thought of one more problem... the floor may not work. My little doggy my decide to hike his little leg up on it. Yuck! Well, we'll see.  I may have to try this one anyway and just keep my eye on the doggy. 


   Cleaning- Can you get it done without using paper towels?

I am not by any stretch an environmentalist.  I recycle when it is convenient but I am not religious about it.
I try not to buy things that are over packaged and I always tell them at the drive-thru that I don't need a separate drink tray -- that should count for something -- right??
Now that I think of it, there is no reason that I couldn't recycle my newspapers -- hmmm. 
Anyway, I digress. I wanted to talk about paper towels.  I am obviously not the most consciencous person out there. But it bugs me to think of pitching all that paper towel out every single day.  I don't keep it in the house i prefer to use rags.  I could rewash them and reuse them and not add to our landfills.
Okay -- what is the half-life for a papertowel vice a cotton rag? heck if I know -- but the rags won't cost me as much and I won't have to keep going to the store to get them over and over -- right?
Well, being the way that I am, I have to have a way to keep the rags in a usable fashion -- separated by function adn "cootie quotient" --  kitchen ones, bathroom ones, dusting ones, quick clean-up ones, foody clean-up ones, pet ones. See,  I would completely freak out if I thought for a second that the pet ones or the bathroom ones had gotten mixed up with the kitchen clean-up ones. YUCK!
Washing machine or now -- I would be completely freaked out.
Perhaps I could dye them into separate colors?? Hmm??? And obviously wash them separately and keep them in separate boxes or baskets around the house where they will be used?
Anyone got any other ideas? If you do - especially if you do the rag-thing vice using paper towels, please send them to me and I will mention them in the next podcast and or add them to the blog.
JLO




Rant 
Cell Phones   
(this gets ugly fast)
If you' re sophisticated enough to have and use a cell phone, you should be smart enough to know that you don't need to freakin' YELL into the damnable  thing to be heard!  Three points and then I'm off my soapbox on this one...

1. Even if you have the tinest  phone --  unless you have a cheap piece of &hyt phone, I guarantee you that your phone has a very powerful mic!!  You don't need to yell into it to be heard. 

2. No one is impressed that you have one and have someone to talk to. 
Even some of the freakin homeless have cell phones!!!  Cool-points are no longer awarded for walking around talking into a cell phone. Knock it off!


3. One last thing, be a real friend and hip your friends (and family) when they are speaking too loudly in public and ask them to do the same thing for you.  Please do this when you are with them and if you can hear from the other end of the line that they are yelling.
Why did I take off on this one?

Last week I was in a movie theater lobby.
This "female" (note my intentional avoidance of the terms "lady" or "woman") walked into the lobby in
fuck-me heels,  lots of bling, a ton of makeup, perfume and an expensive handbag. Ok -- she looked great. But that first impression lasted for about 3 seconds. She was literally YELLING into her cell phone about the exciting evening that she was going to have that night.  Everyone in the building knew what this cow was going to wear during some upcoming and how HOT she wanted to look.  GRRR!
What a stupid hag!  She continued to laugh and speak very loudly into her phone despite the fact that nearly everyone in the lobby was shooting her dirty looks and shaking their heads.
I imagine that if she actually processed any of the stares, glances and dirty looks, she probably figured that her observes were filled with envy at her exciting life. 
In  actuality we just wanted her to shut-up!
Businesses!!!???? Where the heck are you in these situation. If you don't want to create cell-free areas, at least hang up some signs which remind patrons to keep their voices down when conversing.  And when they get loud -- walk your butts out there, get their attention and ask them to lower their voices!


Knitting

Wow -- it took a while to get here - huh?
I just finished my latest tank top. Ya know for months I thought that this thing was purple -- NOT!
I took a sample of it to a local yarn shop to see fi they had any more and as i removed the project from the bag -- it was Cornflower Blue!  I still love the color -- obviously I liked it when I bought it there. But I guess my recollection was screwing with me in sync with the lighting in my house.  Anyway, I went to get more yarn because I decided that I want a matching jacket or bolero.
I found out that the yarn is being discontinued (sob! sob!)  It's that always the way? -- First it was the Ford Bronco, then the Toyota Tercel -- now it's butterfly yarn #3. I'm starting to take this personally.
Anyway, I had about 1/3 a skein left from the tank top project and they had two full skeins in the store.
I MIGHT be able to squeeze a 3/4 sleeved bolero out of what I have left.
I really want to wear them to work and I don't think that I can wear the tank top alone and still look professional.
Anyway, in order to console myself, I purchased about 14 skeins of the Butterfly #3 in black. (sniffle) I'm almost feeling beter (bceg)  I'm envisioning a skirt and matching jacket -- which I should be able to mix and match with the cornflower blue tank and bolero -- huh huh huh? feelin' me?  yeah!




Featured book
Knitting Over The Edge -Nicky Epstein
KNitters, and wanna be knitters,  trust me, you want this -- go and get it.
Very cool -- Nicky -- you've done it again.  You have given us a huge number of motifs, and edges for sweaters, skirts, tank tops scarves, handbags and afghans.  Just as in Knitting On The Edge, this book will live on my coffee table. Ahhh...


Featured Magazine
I noticed something, the last twinset tank that I finished (white cotton)  was actually published in a Tahki booklet dated 2003.
But the pattern was publised in Knit-N-Style in 2006. WTF?
Well as I see it, that gives me lots of permission to go back through my old patterns and talk to them as if they were current.  Are you  fortunate enough to have a local yarn store that has a cache of individual published patterns?  Are they all that way? Like sewing patterns?  In any case, I love it!



Blog of the Week

http://www.danceswithyarn.com/
Jeanie, thanks for the feedback and for sharing your blog.
Girrrrrl you are good with that digital camera!  I really like the pics of fireworks and your project progress.
I have really got to get on the stick and break out my camera.
Yeah! ya' know I love that cheap yarn too!  As for the that pic of the spider -- good photo'g work but yuck. (smile)
I love the school spirit sweater and I'm gonna have to hit you about about that Sexy Knitters Club -- very hot!
Knitters and readers, make sure that you click on her "about me" link. 
Direct to you from me Jeanie, I don't have the piercings but --you and and I sync up  alot! 
(re: 15 16 20 25 30 37 51 52  73 77  90 99)
J' you seem very cool -- keep in touch!


Website of the Week
I was searching for a bolero or shrug pattern and look what I found??
Knittingonthenet.com
Lots of patterns here and the site just feels welcoming and genuine. 
Plus right off the bat I found a shrug pattern Freeeeeeeeeeeee! 
I love free stuff and there is lots of it here.

Audio Book of the Week - Listen and knit
This is a new feature.  Check Every week I will feature a new book available at audible.com -- if you aren't sure that you are into recorded books, wait until audible.com is featuring a "free" book and give them a try.
I'm big on listening to recorded books while crafting driving or cleaning.
I've found that Audible.com provides consistent customer support and a great selection of audio books.
I've been a satisfied audible.com customer for over 5 years and I've had up to 4 accounts at one time.  
I've been  happy with their services and I think that you will be too. One of the many perks at audible.com is that you can listen to the books on your pc, burn them to disk or download them.  You can download your purchased books as you need to (computer crash, HD problems etc.) --  long after your initial purchase.  They keep a list of your purchases!  They do of course limit is the number of times you can burn the books to disk. 
Here is my latest listen, and review;

Wicked: The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West by Gregory Maguire
 "Wicked" got some pretty bad reviews but I'm about an hour into the story and I like it so far.  The author could stand to have little more inflection in his reading but, I'm so interested in the subject matter that I can listen past that .   I want to know the story of that weirdo witch as Gregory Maguire sees it.  Fair warning, even though most of us read, heard or watched "The Wizard Of Oz" as children, "Wicked..." is not  I repeat NOT appropriate for children. I've already heard some sections of it and they are farily sexual nature.  Let me put it like this, according to Mr Maguire,  the Wicked Witch Of the West had a mom who was more than just a little promiscuous.  This is an interesting adult listening -- but not for kids.

Laughing and Loving Life
This is my friend Joycee -- she is such a sweetheart and OMG can that woman laugh.
We recorded this outside so please pardon the wind noice. You can just hear my friend Dale and I in the background.
I know this woman personally -- and even after playing this same joke over and over I still laugh out loud when she laughs.  I won't always be able to get her to share a joke but I'm gonna snag parts of her laugh -- she's hilarious.
Joycee's laughter is funnier than the joke!
On this one she even shared a "snort". 
Joycee and The Monk Joke

Enjoy

JustLinda