It might be Kinky, guv'nor

:: Kinky Friedman Official Site ::

Governor 2006

I've only read one of his books and I wasn't terribly impressed with it. But I'm also not terribly impressed with the people who are running the state of Texas. Maybe it's time Texans voted a real person into authority instead of a professional politician. Serious or not, Kinky Friedman can't possibly make a bigger mess than we've got already.

I'd sign the petition to get him on the ballot and I'd vote for him. Absolute worst case scenario, a vote for him would qualify as a 'none of the above' vote.

Who be gone

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Eccleston quits Doctor Who role

Epilogue Artist - Kimbearly Hunt : "Innocence"

Instructions for my scraf

This is the set of instuctions for the scarf I'm making . . .

Cast on 70.

Knit 5 rows.

On the 6th row, knit 1, * wrap yarn 3 times around needle, knit 1. * Repeat to end. The yarn is wrapped around the right hand needle.

On the 7th row, knit 1, * drop wrapped yarn, knit 1. * Repeat to end. Pull to tighten stitches as you go along.

Knit 4 rows.

Repeat pattern starting with the 6th row until the scarf is as long as you'd like.

To finish, end with knit 4 rows. Use the next row to bind off.

Add a fringe.

. . . Obviously I haven't gotten all the way to the end so my scarf doesn't have a fringe yet, but it will.

Knitting a scarf

I know I've been going on and on about knitting socks, but I've decided to get back into the knitting swing of things by making a very simple scarf. I think I'm going to give this to my XMIL (former mother-in-law) as a Christmas gift since she and the XFIL (former father-in-law) are living with the Daughter Who Isn't Mine.

Happy Easter

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Breeding success for rare kakapo

B. C.

Wizard of Id

FoxTrot

Hey, Best Friend, DON'T LOOK!

Not that I expect her to listen to me. It's my own fault for making Christmas gifts this early in the year, but I finished another Christmas ornament and this one is for her.

And confusion shall reign

Ha, I've managed to confuse someone with my familial connections. How can I have a granddaughter if the Prodigal Son is an only child and childless himself? Well, you see . . .

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away there lived an Ogre, to whom I was married, who had a Daughter Who Isn't Mine who is half-sister to my only child, the Prodigal Son. Well, one day I left the Ogre, but the Daughter Who Isn't Mine decided she wanted to keep being the Daughter who just happened not to be mine. So this Daughter Who Isn't Mine grew up to have a daughter of her own. Well, can you imagine how tiring it is to say the Daughter of the Daughter Who Isn't Mine every time you want to talk about the Daughter of the Daughter Who Isn't Mine? Being of a practical and lazy bent, I shortened her name to Granddaughter.

So, you see, my family consists of me, the Daughter Who Isn't Mine, the Prodigal Son, and the Granddaughter.

And that is how an only child can be a brother and an uncle, and how I can be a grandmother.

Finished another one

I just finished another Christmas ornament. I ran out of DMC 644 while I was stitching it so it took me longer to finish than it should have.

Which way did he Gogh?

The grandfather who moved to Yugoslavia . . . U. Gogh.

The brother who accidentally bleached all his clothes white . . . Hue Gogh.

The really obnoxious brother who wouldn't leave . . . Please Gogh.

The brother who ate prunes . . . Gotta Gogh.

The uncle who worked at a convenience store . . . Stop N Gogh.

His dizzy aunt . . . Verti Gogh.

His domineering aunt . . . Vira Gogh.

The cousin who moved to Illinois . . . Chica Gogh.

His magician uncle . . . Wherediddy Gogh.

The cousin who lived in Mexico . . . Amee Gogh.

And his Filipino cousin . . . Grin Gogh.

The nephew who drove a stage coach . . . Wells Far Gogh.

The uncle who was constipated . . . Cant Gogh.

The aunt who loved ballroom dancing . . . Tan Gogh.

The uncle who was an ornithologist . . . Flamin Gogh.

His nephew, the Freudian psychoanalyst . . . E. Gogh.

The cousin who loved tropical fruits . . . Man Gogh.

The aunt who taught about the power of positive thinking . . . Whey Too Gogh.

His bouncy young nephew . . . Poe Gogh.

His disco loving sister . . . Go Gogh.

The neice who travels the U.S. in a van . . . Winnie Bay Gogh.

You are Neopolitan Icecream!

Your Icecream Flavour is...Neopolitan!

You aren't satisfied with just one flavor. They say variety is the spice of life and this shines through in your Ice cream of choice! Just don't eat all the chocolate and leave the strawberry and vanilla behind!

What is your Icecream Flavour?

Find out at Go Quiz


Neopolitan is good, but ICE CREAM is two words.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | T rex fossil has 'soft tissues'

B.C.

. . . as opposed to preaching to the choir.

Yahoo! News - Bush Role in Schiavo Case Bothers 'Right'

B.C.

And two by two they came . . .

Scientific American: Elephants Found Capable of Vocal Mimicry

Epilogue Artist - Katy Rewston : Moonlit Meeting

Scientific American: Astronomers See Light from Extrasolar Planets

79(R) HCR 71 - The Shrubbery Bill

79R5137 MMS-D

By: Bonnen

H.C.R. No. 71


CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Texas has customarily recognized a variety of official symbols as tangible representations of the state's culture and natural history; and

WHEREAS, Like the bluebonnet and the pecan tree, Texas purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) is indigenous to the Lone Star State and a treasured part of the Texas landscape; also known as cenizo, Texas silverleaf, barometer bush, and Texas ranger, the plant grows naturally on the Edwards Plateau and the South Texas Plains; and

WHEREAS, This hardy evergreen was first described by Jean Louis Berlandier, a botanist who collected specimens of Texas flora in the late 1820s and early 1830s; bearing silvery gray to green foliage, the shrub bursts into color year-round soon after a rain, with blossoms varying from purple to lavender, pink, blue, and white; and

WHEREAS, Native Americans brewed a pleasant herbal tea from Texas purple sage and used it to treat chills and fever; the shrub also provides forage for cattle, protection for birds, and a nesting place for songbirds, including the state bird of Texas, the mockingbird; in addition, the plant serves a multitude of design
functions, working well as an ornamental shrub or as a hedge, screen, windbreak, or foundation planting; and

WHEREAS, Texas purple sage has been described as a plant that "can face droughts, freezes, high winds, salt spray, hungry deer, and blazing heat and keep right on performing beautifully," and such fortitude is a quality highly admired in the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, In view of this plant's important role in the ecology of Texas and its usefulness to the people of this land from ancient to modern times, it is altogether fitting that the Texas purple sage be appropriately recognized; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate Texas purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) as the official State Native Shrub of Texas.

Things must really be going well in the state of Texas if nothing better needs to be addressed by state lawmakers than making the purple sage the official state shrub. I'm so glad to be living is such times.

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Quiz: Know your roadsigns?

I scored six out of ten, but I'm not a UK driver so I think I did rather well. A couple of the signs were very easy to guess the meaning of and a couple were completely incomprehensible.

It was kinda fun. I dare you to take the test, Best Friend!

lumpen

From Dictionary.com/Word of the Day:

lumpen \LUHM-puhn; LUM-puhn\, adjective:
1. Of or relating to dispossessed and displaced individuals, especially those who have lost social status.
2. Common; vulgar.

noun; plural lumpen, also lumpens:
A member the underclass, especially the lowest social stratum.

Lumpen is from German Lumpenproletariat, "degraded stratum of the proletariat," from Lump, "a contemptible person" (from Lumpen, "rags") + Proletariat, "proletariat," from French.

Epilogue Artist - Michelle McIntyre : Dragon Nest

Epilogue Artist - Michael Waters

His leaf dragons are wonderful. Here's a sample of one - Black Twinberry Leaf Dragon.

I'm rather fond of this avian - kestrel fanned tail hawk.

In general, I'm not really fond of his angels, but I did like this one - Archangel Uriel.

Epilogue Artist - michael Carnahan : Monday Morning

I can relate to this feeling.

Vernal Equinox, and other stuff

'Tis the first day of Spring, the Vernal Equinox. I don't know what it's like outside since I've been in my office since before seven this morning and my little cubby has no windows, so I can only hope that today is as glorious as Saturday and Sunday were. It's actually a good thing there are no windows because if today is as glorious as this weekend was, I would be hard pressed to be even remotely productive today.

In other news, (smirk) I've finished another Christmas ornament. This one I made for my step-daughter. I've only made one other for her, years and years ago, of an angel. I don't know if she still has that one. I hope she likes this one.

The cable (TV and internet connection) went out Saturday night during a thunderstorm. It was still out yesterday morning when I got up. I called the cable people and a repairman eventually showed up and fixed the problem. While it was out, I watched the first two discs of La Femme Nikita: The Complete Second Season. It was fun to watch. I don't know what it is about this show that I like so much, but I couldn't get enough of it while it was on the telly and I'm still grooving to it now on DVD. Of course, I have both the first AND second season DVDs.

I watched Dragons on Animal Planet last night. It was very well done and quite 'scientific' in its speculation about how dragons would have been built, how they could fly, how they could breathe fire and so on. I enjoyed it tremendously and I highly recommend it. If you missed it, it's going to be on again next Saturday.

Couch potato day

I've spent the whole day sitting on the sofa, cross stitching and watching movies. It was glorious.

I just finished watching King Arthur. I still think the film would have done much better had it been called Artorius Rex instead of King Arthur. I must admit that I liked it even better on this my third viewing than I did on my previous two.

In America was a lovely little film. One of those good things happen to good people kind of films.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from Beyond Borders, but political commentary disguised as a romance film was not it. I didn't particularly care for it, not because of its political message but because the romance part that I was supposed to buy into just didn't work for me. This was basically one of those movie of the week films starring Jane Seymour you see on the Lifetime network.

After having watched two Clive Owen movies in one day, I can now say that he doesn't do a thing for me. I still think he's kind of wooden, that he holds back something from his performances. Ioan Gruffudd, on the other hand, seems to be comfortable inhabiting the skin of the character he plays.

Hippo birdie two ewe!

I can't believe I let yesterday drift by without wishing the Best Friend's hubby, "Happy Birthday!" I was thinking about it all day Thursday and then just completely spaced yesterday. I blame it on the wonderful weather and being so relaxed and content.

Any which way, HIPPO BIRDIE TWO EWE!

Epilogue Artists - Sam Hogg : If Heaven was

Lunch with a friend

I had lunch with the Other Friend today in a lovely little bistro called The Local. I had a pastrami sandwich and some iced mocha. We talked about Lost and cross stitching and our cats. She has four as well, but hers are all girls.

Lunch with the Other Friend was a nice break in what was a really lovely day today. Sunshine, soft breeze, cool. Opened the windows at home and gave the house a good airing. Finished another ornament. Watched Shark Tales.

Just an absolutely perfect day. It was so good, I wish I could bottle it and share it with people.

On government

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive." -- Thomas Jefferson

CNN.com - Sci-fi and fantasy author Norton dies - Mar 17, 2005

A legend has passed into myth.

I read about the red sox

Giggle.

I read the instructions for making the first pair of socks in the book and I wound up confusing myself no end. I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to go from 24 stitches on the needle to 12 stitches without ever doing a decrease. After some foul words and a hefty swig of tea, it finally dawned on me that 12 was the number of stitches I was supposed to purl before turning. After that bit was cleared up, the rest of the pattern seemed simple enough.

I think once I finish with the Christmas ornaments I'm going to pick up a skein of cheap yarn to practice making a - as in one - sock with just to see if I can put into practice what I think I know to do.

It's Karen's birthday!

Karen, from Tati's Weblog, is celebrating her birthday today so let's embarrass her by singing the birthday song at the top of our lungs!

Here we go . . .

Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, kind Karen!
Happy birthday to you!

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Female chromosome has X factor

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Lab fireball 'may be black hole'

OK, I give up. Why are we trying to create a black hole in a lab in New York?

B.C.

Shrimp cocktail, anyone . . . ?

Yahoo! News - California Judge Sentences Scott Peterson to Die

Yahoo! News - Jury Finds Robert Blake Not Guilty of Murder

Yahoo! News - Shun Da Vinci Code, Cardinal Tells Catholics

"The role of women in the Church is a primary one, starting from Mary, the mother of God."

If the role of women in the Church is a primary one, why are there no women in charge?

Oh, and since when does God have a mother?

Yahoo! News - Is Gender-Based Pricing Fair?

Now, what is the likelihood we can get some US politicians to jump on this band wagon?

Yahoo! News - Sex Doll Sparks Bomb Alert at Postoffice

I'm not going to say anything . . . snicker . . .

Why is everyone fascinated . . .

. . . with what happened in 1955? Other than the porno 'bots trawling for email addresses, most of my hits come from people who've done a search on "what happened in 1955" and wind up here. Strange.

Future knitting craftiness

The two knitting books I ordered are finally here. I don't know what possessed me but I've decided to try my hand at knitting socks. Just from a quick glance through the book - and that without my reading glasses on - knitting socks may be a painful experience. Oh, but what wonderfully colorful gifts they would make.

And the scarves! I've already found one I'd like to make for myself. And since I now have family living in colder parts, knitting everyone scarves will make wonderful prezzies as well.

I'm just such a happy camper. Now all I have to do is find someplace decent to order yarn from so I can knit all these socks and scarves. The local Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby just aren't going to cut it for yarn supply.

Epilogue Artist - Piotr Cieslinski : Loki's Payback

Peace on earth

This ornament is for my nephew J. The pattern was included in the 2002 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments issue. It was designed by Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams, Inc. I stitched the lettering in DMC 498 instead of white as the pattern called for since white lettering on a white background would have been invisible.

You might have noticed . . .

. . . a new option on my menu - A Stitch in Time. This is a new blog I've created - and as such is still very much a work in progress - where I intend to post information and pictures about my crafty endeavors. A Stitch in Time will eventually replace The Sewing Room at Glynn Garthold just as the Library here replaced the Library there.

Epilogue Artist - Sarah Taylor : Dragon Wheel

I guess it's becoming obvious that I'm fond of dragons, huh?

AIM Terms of Service

"Although you or the owner of the Content retain ownership of all right, title and interest in Content that you post to any AIM Product, AOL owns all right, title and interest in any compilation, collective work or other derivative work created by AOL using or incorporating this Content. In addition, by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy. You waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the Content or to be compensated for any such uses."

Do you really want AOL to own and use anything you transmit using AIM? AOL counters that this only applies to public forums, but where, specifically, in their AIM Terms of Service does it state this?

nimiety

from Dictionary.com/Word of the Day:

nimiety \nih-MY-uh-tee\, noun:
The state of being too much; excess.

Nimiety is from Late Latin nimietas, from Latin nimius, "very much, too much," from nimis, "excessively."

B.C.

Gearing up for baseball season . . .

Epilogue Artist - Dominik Broniek : Angel

BBC NEWS | Health | Key to severe skin disease found