Author: Kris

  • With my spear and magic helmet!

    Pregnant With Meaning: A Reproductive Reading of What’s Opera, Doc?. The Snook and I had a good chuckle over that one. (Actually, I kind of lost it at “A white liquid drips onto the rabbit.” OH. MY. GOURD.)

  • Swiss Army Knife

    Oh, sweet! I got a special birthday present in the mail tonight from Ma and Pa Snook: an awesome PINK Swiss Army Knife! I love it love it love it. (The Snook has had a blue one for ever, and I’ve always been jealous.) While I was exclaiming over how cool it was, I turned the packet over in my hand.

    Me: “Your Mum wrote something on the back… ‘Will be confiscated at airport by–‘ I can’t read the last bit…”
    Snook: (has a quick look) “Bastards.”
    Me: “HA!”

    So thank you, thank you Bev and Pup!

  • Luminare Socks

    Oh neat! Bex designed a sock pattern for The Knittery, and it’s now available for download on their site for free! Well done, Bex. 🙂

  • Crampiness.

    Last night I had arranged to meet up and practice with one of the other girls in my class. I bought a swim cap, which made for some comical fun in the changing room as I tried to get the thing on my head. (I’d never used one before.) A nice lifeguard allowed us to borrow kickboards, and he even gave us a private half-lane to use. I managed sixteen half-lengths of the pool, which was a pretty good first workout. I started off using the kickboard, but eventually I tried a few lengths without it (just doing the crawl). It would feel natural for a second or two, but every time I came up for air it would start to feel awkward and complicated again. (I actually feel like I pulled a muscle on the right side of my neck while whipping my head up trying to get air.) I spent some time observing the “proper” swimmers in the fast lanes too, watching how they barely lifted their head and how effortless they made it look. I think I just need more practice. The Snook gave me the great idea to practice my breathing just standing in the pool, so I might try that next time.

    HOWEVER – I had a big problem. Cramping. At various times during the half-hour, I got cramps in both feet and both calves. It KILLED. I’ve been doing some googling, and according to this page it’s a fairly common complaint. I did notice that it seemed to ease when I went slower, so I guess taking it easy and allowing my ankle to relax is key.

  • Easter Show Rant

    Knitabulous has posted a righteous rant about the bad displays and poor judging (my own jumper excepted, of course) at this year’s Easter Show. I think she’s spot-on.

  • What’s a cookie?

    Over on AskMeFi, somehow asks: “How do you define a cookie?” It’s not as easy as you’d think. I definitely agree that they have to be sweet (a bacon cookie is an awesome thing to contemplate, but it’s definitely not traditional), and I don’t think “bars” or “squares” should count.

  • Job News

    When it rains, it pours. One of the companies has made me an offer. Now I’m just waiting to hear on the other one.

  • HIGHLY COMMENDED!

    Holy crap! Some of the girls over on Ravelry went to the Easter Show’s “Arts Preview Night” tonight, and they reported back that my Road to Golden won a Highly Commended Award! That’s so awesome! My first official knitting ribbon. Of course, now I can’t sniff that my work is unappreciated in its own time. It’s a trade-off.

    Update: The awesome Ailsa took lots of photos, and there are a couple of Road to Golden in there. [1, 2] I’m stoked that it got displayed on a mannequin instead of being stretched all to hell on fishing line. But this is weird: is my jumper holding hands with the one next to it??

    Update later: The official results are now up!

  • No news.

    No news. Job decisions are still pending. I think I’m getting another ulcer.