August 2006 Archives

Thirteen Famous Carlsons My surname is Carlson (nope, didn't change it after getting married) and it comes from Sweden. I've never been deeply in touch with my Swedish ancestry. In my childhood the only Swedish people I knew about were Mrs. Olson from the Folger's coffee commercials and the Swedish Chef on The Muppet Show. I thought the name was not very common as no one else in our community had this last name. Turns out it is a fairly common name in Sweden. Without further ado, here's a list of noted and famous Carlsons that I am aware of. Strangely, those in politics that I have heard of are conservative. I break that mold. Perhaps I should run for office so that there is at least one liberal Carlson? Edward Carlson, artist and designer of the Space Needle in Seattle Chester F. Carlson, inventor of the Xerox copier Tucker Carlson, conservative pundit Lori Marie Carlson, author. She used to go by Lori M. Carlson, which is the name I go by. My middle name is Mae, hers is Marie, which is my sister's middle name. Lisa Carlson, author. (This is also my sister's name.) Jeff Carlson, author. (This is also my older brother's name.) John Carlson, local radio personality in Seattle. He also once ran for governor—is a well-known conservative. Christy Carlson Romano, teen actress Fritz Carlson, mathematician best known for Carlson's theorem. Interestingly, I have a cousin named Fritz via my dad's sister. His surname isn't Carlson, however. Kelly Carlson, actress on Nip/Tuck. Carl Carlson, fictional character on The Simpsons Frank Carlson, former governor of and senator from Kansas. Yes, he's a conservative. A.J. Carlson, noted physiologist.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I still crochet with size 10 thread! This one is Andrea from Simple Elegance by Patricia Kristoffersen. The dusty rose thread is by Flora. The beige is from DMC. It measures about 15 inches in diameter at its widest point. I made it two colors because I didn't have enough of one solid color, plus I think the bi-color makes it more stunning. I am into making two-colored doilies lately.

On my hook now is a doily that isn't a PK design! I shall post it as soon as it's completed, which shouldn't take too long since it is only 14 rounds.

Assorted cat pictures taken today.
They all appear to have a guilty or conspiring look; perhaps it is that they didn't care to pose for the camera.

Tranquility

Monday Memories: Did I ever tell you about my second surgery? I awoke this morning realizing that one year ago today, at this time I was laying in a hospital bed feeling very anxious. My anxiety was over the impending surgery I was about to have. The first operation for my ileostomy on May 18th had a serious complication: my intestine kinked and I couldn't expel any of my waste. My body had almost shut down entirely 10 days previously, and I sustained additional injuries at my local hospital over the course of a weekend: a collapsed lung and severe dehydration since I was not given any intravenous fluids. When I was transferred to the hospital where I had the original ileostomy surgery they had to fix the collapsed lung and give me two units of blood. I was so dehydrated that my blood pressure was dangerously low and my heart rate was tachycardic. Not the best conditions in which to operate, so for 10 days they gave me food through my veins. Because of the intravenous feedings my blood sugar became diabetic so I was also given periodic doses of insulin. Much of those 10 days are lost in my lack of memories. A combination of narcotics and the severity of my condition turned off my short-term memory. By the time the day of my surgery came, my memory was functional enough to be aware that a huge hurricane was approaching Louisianna. It was like background noise in my mind. I heard about it on the news, Pooky would update me about it, but it was distant. Foremost on my mind were the kittens, getting well again, having to delay going back to school, Pooky not falling apart, and so on. That morning my surgeon came in and I was almost crawling the walls. I asked for a dose of Atavan to sedate my nerves. He complied and I had to wait for that...the waiting was difficult for me. Usually I am not wound-up before surgery, but for this one I was beside myself. The time came and I was taken in to the OR and the anesthesiologist prepared my epidural. After that was over I was put out by the "milk of amnesia". There is this drug that looks like milk that it put into a syringe and as soon as the plunger is depressed it works instantly. Then the nightmare came. When I was roused from the operation I was instantly sat upright (remember, my gut had been opened up wide and so I was slit like a gutted fish) being told by the nurses that the epidural hadn't worked and they needed to remove the catheter. My body had just been stapled back together and to be moved like this—is not something I recommend. I was laid back down and given a dose of the Dilaudid, which did very little for me since I had spent the previous three months receiving frequent doses of it to control the pain I was having from the complications. I had become "immune" to the drug and required a much higher dose, which wasn't feasible without stopping my breathing. So I lied there, crying, screaming, wishing I was out of pain or consciousness. It was late at night by the time I was taken to my room, and I asked if I could be given a sedative to help me sleep. I was given another dose of Atavan and it helped. Only I did wake up from the pain. I recall asking Pooky to stay the night with me. There was no way I could be alone feeling that birds of prey were pecking away at my gut. He slept in the bed next to me. It comforted me to know he was there. The next day I got up and walked around the unit floor. I had to if I wanted more sedative for sleep. I was already in so much pain that I reasoned moving wouldn't make a difference either way. The second surgery will always be a tipping point in my mind. So much of the course of my life was detoured as a result. I am getting back on track, slowly but surely. Links to other Monday Memories

Click here for the Monday Memories code
View More Monday Memories Participants

when the world is mine your death shall be quick and painless

My Secret Pal designed for me a Baby Stewie as she knows how smitten I am with him! I am totally adore my Stewie! He shall have a place of honor on my desk. Smee will just have to sleep around Stewie!

Now my Secret Pal says she is new to thread, but I wouldn't have known! The doily she made has even stitches and excellent tension. Hopefully I can encourage her to move on to Patricia Kristoffersen doilies? My new doily will be used during the holidays, the only time of year I use any of my doilies. With the five wonder-beasties it isn't practical to keep the doilies on display.

Now, to imagine conquering the world with Stewie!

I've been curious for ages now about the local Sunshine Hill Garlic Festival and yesterday evening we sated that curiosity by attending and spending.

We had our dinner of garlicky goodness. I had a garlic filled hot dog, then for dessert bought a sample of garlic ice cream. It's not gross! It kind of reminds me a bit of a garlic alfredo sauce and shrimp scampi sauce. The cream of the ice cream blends well with the garlic, so it's like eating food only without the noodles or shrimp. It's not something you could eat a large serving of, I'm sure. I also bought a stick of deep-fried garlic. It had a salty batter and it was actually very good.

Somehow we bought a bottle of garlic seasoning for mushrooms, and I got my sister some garlic stuffed green olives soaked in chardonnay. I'm hoping she'll like them. I ate free samples of picked garlic. Pickled garlic is wonderful.

Ending our binge was a whole loaf of garlic bread. My tongue and mouth still feels assaulted by garlic. But it's a good assault.

Now I am curious to attend other local garlic festivals. I see there is one in June out on the ocean where people dress as garlic bulbs and dance. It touts over 80 vendors. Imagine all of the food! Yes, I know what I'll be wanting to do next year: visit as many garlic fests as our budget and time allow.

This doily from Patricia Kristoffersen's Simple Elegance is called Alysia. It is made from Flora size 20 thread in a color called blue lavender. It's looks like a shade of lilac. It measures about 10.5 inches in diameter at the widest point.

I was tagged by Amy the Black, so now I must participate or hang my head in shame! I will tag five of you to share in the joy!

1. I often have dreams in which deceased people ask me to locate them in the waking world. They tell me their name and when they lived and died. Not a lot of information to go by.
2. I salt foods most people wouldn't think of salting.
3. I know my period is about to start whenever I have an insane craving for Entenmann's chocolate covered donuts.
4. I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never-never-never let you forget you're a man, 'cause I'm a woman!
5. I have the uncanny ability to jinx things.

Hah! You've been tagged!
1. Sara
2. Ro
3. Patent Princess
4. Anna
5. Goof Girl

Thirteen Mondegreens A mondegreen is mishearing song lyrics or spoken words as something else, often hearing them in a humorous way. Pooky and I are always mishearing each other which has made for some interesting conversation! Below are 13 of my own mondegreens for your enjoyment. If you'd like to see other people's mondegreens, visit The Archive of Misheard Lyrics. Like everyone else, I thought Jimi Hendrix was saying "Excuse me while I kiss this guy." He is really singing "Excuse me while I kiss the sky." I always thought the Go-Gos were singing, "Alex I'll see you," but it's really "Our lips are sealed." From Blinded by the Light, I thought the lyrics were "Revved up like a douche another roller in the night. " It's really "Revved up like a deuce another runner in the night." I told my sister I was learning to play a song called "Thought of Christmas." She thought I had said "Pots to piss in." I don't recally my original words, but a friend thought I had said, "Whip me, beat me, make me itch." It's hard to imagine what my actual words had been! The Motel's song, Only the Lonely sounds like she is singing "Only the lonely get laid" but it's really "Only the lonely can play" I thought in Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf Simon Le Bon sings, "I am not German," but the actual lyric is "High blood drumming on your skin its so tight." When I first heard The Smith's song How Soon is Now? I thought Morrissey was crooning, "I am the sun and the air." I also thought Morrissey was singing "let me get my hands on your memory glands" when he was actually singing "mammary glands" in Handsome Devil I thought Queen was singing "Miss Miller" in Bohemian Rhapsody, when it is really "Bismillah" In Pink Floyd's Brain Damage I thought the lyric was "And every day the paper boy brings ma" when it is really "And every day the paper boy brings more" I thought Annie Lennox was singing in Sweet Dreams, "Sweet dreams are made of this / Who have a mind to disagree" but it's really "Sweet dreams are made of this / Who am I to disagree?" Despite I had the lyrics with the cassette, I thought in the k.d. land song What Better Said she sings, "Hoping for the dance of blindness" when it's really "Hoping for the depths of blindess" and then I thought she was singing in the chorus, "What better said / What better heard / Say this love is so deserved" but it is actually "What better said / What better heard / Say this love is so observed" Bonus: I always thought George Harrison was singing, "My sweet love" but it's actually "My sweet Lord"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Perfect Cheeseburger

I love this doily design so much I made it again but this time in Olympus size 40 thread, light lavender. I'm not sure what the diameter is, but I'll guess it's between 9 and 10 inches. The real challenge of this doily is the blocking. I don't like the blocking process at all—it's too much like sewing the seams of a sweater.

I'm not sure what I'll do with this version of Memorable from Simply Delightful Doilies. Originally I thought it would be my Puyallup Fair entry, but since my version of Tala turned out so well, that will be my doily hopeful. Perhaps this doily will find its way to someone's home?

My SP7 pal, Mary (Surly Girly, formerly of Indie Rock Librarian), sent me her reveal package this week. Although it was late, it was well worth being patient about it. She made me a lovely purple turtleneck sweater! I fits divinely! I know I'll be using it a lot this winter (heck, maybe even next week since to me it is always freakin' cold!)

Included were some lovely Shrone-style notecards, some smell-good Green Tea body care products, a kitty wallet, fun things like magnets, plush kitty, make my own sheep kit, and assorted stickers. I still am in awe of the sweater! Of course the cats have tried to claim it for their own, mostly because I think they want to put their fur on it, but I have kept them back! They aren't going to get their paws on this warm, purply-purple sweater!

Thank you so much, Mary! I love everything you sent!

I can't think of a witty caption. If you've got one, share it in the comments!

Thirteen Bird Names: Spot the Fake Birds If you are a bird watcher and enthusiast, then you known that titmice and boobies are not fictitious, though they should be PG-13 rated. I thought I'd try my hand at making up some, and of course season the list with real ones. Can you spot the fake birds? double breasted boobie Lucifer hummingbird crack-shelled nuthatch rosy nippled titmouse golden-fronted woodpecker tree mangling sapsucker Dean's martin, a.k.a. Steve's martin Clarke's nutcracker Cod swallow ruby throated screech owl bushtit North American split-tail saltmarsh sharped-tailed sparrow Will the fake birds please stand up? double breasted boobie, crack-shelled nuthatch, rosy nippled titmouse, tree mangling sapsucker, Dean's martin a.k.a. Steve's martin, Cod swallow (this was a play on codswallow, a British slang term), ruby throated screech owl, and North Americal split tail

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

My bright and shiny aura!
My aura was imaged using this camera system

A couple of months ago I came upon a show in the Sci-Fi channel that presented three different paranormal oddities and you had to guess which one was true. This is where I first saw the new aura photography invented by a man in Idaho.

In order to "see" the aura, you place your hands on two sensor pads. The camera, along with a computer, interpret your bio-electric field and assign colors based upon the energy signal. It's interesting to me how science is finally catching up to what the ancient sages already knew. That we give off "vibes" (vibrations, which pertains to energy waves of light). I'd have to think that only those scientists who live under a rock would deny the presence of the aura, considering that various means have been invented to detect it.

My person belief is that seeing the aura was something that humans used to be able to do quite readily and easily, but the doubters and skeptics got a strong hold on popular thinking and convinced most people that the aura doesn't exist. In order to see it once again we have to make a machine do it! Well, hopefully we'll realize what we've lost by ditching our "paranormal" abilities on the side of the road out in a desert. Psychic talents are not paranormal, they are totally normal. What is abnormal is the fact we ever doubted them to begin with. My personal rant is over.

What the colors mean

I was hoping my aura would be in the blue, purple, and pinks spectrum of colors. I am green and yellow with twinges of orange. Yuck! I hate these colors! I have never liked them. However, these colors mean good things. The green is healing, teaching, and the yellow is intellect and cheerful. The bit of orange/red shows I have a layer of frustration about me.

Pooky's aura was all violet, but with bits of blue and red. The violet means he is spiritual and mysterious. His aura is the one I wanted. Perhaps it explains why I was drawn to him—I like his colors and perhaps I subconsciously enjoy looking at them.

For our $25 per picture we received a free 10 minute aura interpretation. The reader was very wise, and I knew she could see auras. She said to me that I am a highly organized person and that I use this for security, but to also hide from people. I have a lot of chatter in my head, she described it—my mind is always thinking, racing, and the thoughts seldom stop. She said I was an old soul who felt out of place in this modern time, that I'd much rather be back in the gentler days. She told me I am looking for something, that I am restless inside. She spoke about my frustration layer and what is the cause—she was dead on that I am frustrated with people in general because of their lack of logic and tendency for drama. However, she spoke about my abundance of compassion and how I need to temper my giving of it. I give my compassion too freely.

Pooky's violet means he's mysterious, spiritual, and protective. He got a longer interpretive reading than I did. He was given some insight on how to better communicate with people at work, since his aura is such a powerhouse, he tends to come on with a lot of energy.

Our reader said that our auras compliment each other, which is why we get along, but that we both need to work on getting out of our heads and into our hearts and the rest of our bodies.

Over all, I think the reading was a great value considering how much information was packed into a short time. It was just an insightful as having a therapist give insight and advice, and more accurate in a lot of ways.

As we were waiting for Pooky's reading, I saw a sign that said you can be filmed with your pets. I wonder how my aura would look if I were to pose with Smee? Would it be obvious how much we share the love with each other?

Fun at the Ren-Faire

Pooky and I went to the local Ren-Faire over the weekend with my sister and her husband. Pooky and I had never been to a historical re-enactment type faire before. It was open to fantasy, too, so there were elves, fairies, vikings, cave people, and Goth rockers.

I got suckered into the Aura Photography booth and had my aura photographed. I'll be posting about it separately. I had Pooky get his aura photographed, too. Each picture came with a 10 minute reading, and the reader was very insightful! I'm sure she could see auras without the aid of a camera. She could tell things about us that would indicate she could see them.

The jousting was of course staged, but still they have to be able to be rough and tumble. While sitting in the stands I looked across the way and saw someone I recognized! I was certain it was a lady whose handfasting I had performed in May. So after the joust ended, I went over and sure enough, it was her! She was dressed up and looked mighty fine, like a real person come to life from the past. She plays a harp and does Medieval music.

Not everyone who attended the faire was in costume. Some were in modern clothes. Which makes me wonder if in 500 to 1000 years if there won't be "2000 Faires" in which people dress like us and marvel at the antiquated technology like cell phones and laptop computers.

Wings were put on just about everything—dogs, children, and women. I suppose having wings is a cheerful thing, only trying to fly with them wouldn't be wise. Men wore tights, which is probably the only venue in which most men will publicly be seen wearing them.

The pirates had also a large presence at the Faire. A couple of Jack Sparrows were roaming around. Many other assorted pirates were plundering about.

A bridge troll caused a traffic jam, and an ogre clomped through the faire to make sure everyone had a good scare.

I think it would be cool to dress up. I'm torn between having a costume as a noble lady, or going as a sorceress. I'm sure I'll settle for something totally Shrone. Whatever I dress up as, I'll have to have a magical element to my character, 'cause I'm all for magic!

Thirteen Things I Want to Crochet within the next year The lament of any avid crocheter is that there are too many patterns and too little time. Here are 13 projects I'd like to make within the next year. If I make half of them, I'll feel accomplished. Amelia Halter top Doys doily Haley doily Crinoline Lady handkerchiefs Cutaway Coat Romantic Cardigan Leaf-shaped doily This doily Hopefully an Aran sweater from Crocheted Aran Sweaters or More Crocheted Aran Sweaters (I don't yet own either book) a piece of self-designed Irish crocheted lace (maybe like this!) All of the Patricia Kristoffersen doilies I haven't yet made in the set of pattern books I own Maybe a tablecloth in thread (which would take all year) Crochet a Sock Monkey or Booby Pillow

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Who would use this device and what was its purpose? Answer: A bloodletting device used by a physican circa 1850-1860s. Interestingly, bloodletting wasn't considered bad medicine until about 1900! Bonus: The medical term for bloodletting is phlebotomy

Here's my hope of hopes for taking a blue ribbon at this year's Puyallup Fair. It's the Tala doily from Doilies With a Twist. I made it using size 40 Olympus thread in 3 different colors: light purple variegated, dark purple variegated, and dark purple. It measures about 10 inches in diameter at its widest points.

My spirals are my weakest in not being uniform and regular, but hopefully over all it will not detract from the rest of the uniformity. Much will depend upon the judge's eye, too, and what kind of competition I'm up against. A complex and challenging design doesn't necessarily win the blue ribbon.

In about a month I'll know how I've been judged. Until then I shall try not to think too much about it, otherwise I'll get to the point of where I can't sleep soundly! LOL!

I found a possible error in the instructions for the Tala doily in Patricia Kristoffersen's Doilies With a Twist pattern book. My interpretation of the Decrease stitch as written in the stitch guide would come out looking like the image on the right of the above photo. However, the stitch that is shown in the pattern book example doesn't match up. What matches up is the stitch I've done on the left, which is to go through both loops and work the treble crochet as normal.

Please click on the link to "read more". This week's list has some formatting issues so you'll need to scroll down to view it.

My Secret Pal 8, Anon E. Muss, recently sent me a second surprise package. Inside were two books that I loved to read from my childhood. The Serendipity series of books was one of my favorites (and still is). Even sweeter is the iTunes gift card. Now what 80's music should I download so I can wax nostalgic?

Smee insisted on being in the photo. He must think of himself as proper desk decor.

This doily is called Lavish and is from Masterpiece Doilies by Patricia Kristoffersen. It is made using size 20 Coats Opera thread in wood violet and sage greeen. It measures about 9 inches in diameter.

It was sent to my Doily Swap partner at Crochetville.

You are under the spell of my awesome mind powers!
You will become my willing thrall!
Give all tuna to me!

What do you think is inside of this bottle?
I'll give you two hints: it's not an animal or mineral
Answer: A pickle. As seen at an antique medical exhibit. The pickle fills the entire bottle, too. I have no idea how they got the pickle inside of the bottle. Supposedly, drinking the pickle juice was thought to be "good for what ails you." Click on the image to see it larger and you can make out some pickle bumps.