Swine flu numbers in Australia jumped by nearly 800 yesterday! I can also report that my “degrees of swine flu separation” is now ONE, as someone I know was diagnosed yesterday as well. (He didn’t have it when we saw him last, so it’s unlikely that the cold the Snook and I both have is related.)

Ooh, remember that fake Mars trip/experiment I posted about a few months ago? Tomorrow they’ll be freed after living together in a small confined space for 105 days. The scientists put them through all sorts of tests to induce sleep deprivation and stress. That’s so cool! Next they have to send 100 people to Antarctica like in Red Mars.

Laser Portraits – that just might be the most awesome site on the Internet. I know for a fact my sister, brother, and I all have similar school pictures in my Mom’s basement somewhere…

Carnivals, Festivals, and Fairs of Missouri. Gorgeous pictures, and one of the things that I really miss the most about the Midwest.

I did not know that Rainn Wilson was one of aliens in Galaxy Quest. Huh.

Jewish American Girl Doll Eats Bagels Sans Schmear. That title just cracked me up. (The word “schmear” always reminds me of Sandy Cohen from The O.C.)

Chippendale Road Gardening
On Sunday, after I finished my last knitting class I headed out to help with the neighbourhood road garden working bee. Michael was successful at getting a $1000 grant from the council for more plants and supplies, so a couple weeks ago he put out a call for volunteers. There were six already helping when I got there. We planted some more trees, established a fourth community compost bin, and spread out lucerne mulch around the plantings on Myrtle Street. Snookums was too sick to help – he caught my cold – but he cooked a big pot of kangaroo chili and cornbread to feed the troops. (And there was much rejoicing.) It was a fun day. I got to meet several more cool folks from the neighbourhood, including James (who used to live in Chippo but now just works here). As I wasn’t quite well enough to do the heavy labor, I got the fun task of documenting what was going on.

Cross-posted to Life in Chippendale.

Knitters Guild Meeting and Workshop
Well, I survived the July Knitters Guild meeting and our first “Knit Wits” workshop at the Library. The meeting was also a semi-surprise Presidential visit, and we had several other visitors from other groups as well. Miss Fee gave a fantastic presentation on “Colour and Knitting” that was very well received. (We’re hoping to have the slides up on the Guild site soon.) Afterwards, twenty newbies turned up for the knitting lesson. We had all ages, from a 4-year-old boy on up to grandmothers. Everyone at least managed some garter stitch, with several ladies progressing to casting on and off, purling, and even ribbing. There are photos up on our Guild page. Thanks to everyone who came along and helped out!

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister Amy, who joins me in the 30’s today. And just to show what dorks we are now, her preferred birthday gift? A couple domain names for her forthcoming baking business.

Beer Geek Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes. Oooh, that sounds good. (Link courtesy of gadgetgirl.)