MWF ISO RGY 4st/in

Um, that would be Married White Female in search of "Ravens Gold" Yarn with a gauge of 4 stitches per inch.

I foolishly thought I could make a hat for my husband that was "pretty". No. "Pretty" is not manly, and while I got the polite "um, yeah, I'd wear it" the more enthusiastic response was when GB noticed that the colors I had chosen were almost Baltimore Ravens colors.

So instead of a fair isle cap with black and white and this purple
and this lovely cobalt blue
GB must have Baltimore Ravens colors, and of course the blue doesn't work for that. So now I'm on a hunt for a gold that will work. The place I ordered the other yarns (Little Knits) has a great sale on Cascade yarns, but doesn't seem to carry the gold that I'd like, and since gold isn't a color I use a lot, and I probably need a quarter of a ball for this hat, I'm not really interested in paying $9 plus shipping for the durned thing.

Don't feel bad for the blue. It's now a hat for DSS's mom. Well, it's now two-thirds of a hat for DSS's mom. And frankly, by the time you read this, it might even be a full hat, since it's here with me at work. Last year I knit her a scarf for Christmas, and I realized suddenly that I hadn't given her a Christmas gift this year. We're in each other's lives, and it's an awkward enough relationship, me being far more happily married to GB than she ever was, and having a great relationship with her kid to boot. So I try to be as friendly as I can without having to actually be friends with her, which would be way too weird and requires a much higher level of maturity than I possess. In any event, I'll try to take pictures of the hat tonight, so you can see on Monday, since it will go home with DSS tomorrow.


Oh, one more thing --

Ah, New Year's... when the whole world gets together to wish me happy anniversary...

Rambling thoughts, Rambling photos...

This is what I looked like all day yesterday.

See, they DO look alike!!!

One of the things I got for Christmas was a very cute little purse from one of my aunts. It's perfect for carrying a small knitting project, if you have one. Normally, I do, and in theory right now I have several. But as I thought about which project should go in that little bag, I realized that I was at a rare impasse where even my small projects are fairly cumbersome right now. The only exception is a pair of socks I have in my desk here at work... and frankly, they stay in my desk, so they don't really need a cute little bag of their own!

There's the Creatures of the Reef shawl for MIL, which is just one big ball of lace weight Espresso, but the pattern is many pages, and I don't want to fold and crumple it into a bag. I've also got a hat going in Pastanza, but it's fair isle, so there are many balls. Here's Aslan helping (notice the lack of hands-on assistance. No mohair in this yarn - it's a llama/wool blend.)

Clearly the only solution to not having anything for that purse is to start a new project, right?

And while we're doing cute cat pictures, here's a big mean Trevor, feeling very irrate that I wouldn't let him actually get inside the refrigerator.

I know. He's very intimidating, isn't he.

Oh! And I got a not-really-halfway-but-I'm-rounding-up decent photo of the rose necklace from DSS, penny for size of course.


And this is what I feel like when there are extra people in my house and my schedule is thrown off:

The people have spoken....

And they said I was an idiot.

Okay not really "the people"... just me.

Let me tell you about my morning.

DSS is off school this week and so we have him while GB takes some vacation time and do guy things together. It's sort of cute; GB, DSS, the cats and the dog, all sitting around scratching themselves all week. Okay, "cute" isn't really the word, but still...

The point is that with GB off work, he's been sleeping in a bit, and that means I've been sleeping in a little too, and getting dressed as quietly as I can so as not to disturb the aforementioned menfolk. It also means I'm not paying as close attention to what I'm doing when I get ready as perhaps I should, instead of focussing so much on being quiet.

In any event, I rushed out the door this morning, with plans to stop off at Safeway to get something for lunch and a cup of coffee, and notices as I was walking through the aisles that my shoes were clicking unevenly. One was making a higher pitched click than the other. This is a nerdy thing to notice, I realize, but nevertheless it's what happened.

So I'm walking down the aisles thinking "why would my left boot be clicking in a softer, deeper pitch? I wonder if the little plastic disc thingy fell off, and it's just a rubber heel on that foot? So I listen a little more as I walk, and pay a little more attention (never once actually looking at my feet, because by now I'm convinced that the whole reason everyone else in the store isn't laughing at my uneven shoes is that I haven't looked at them) and I realize that not only is the left boot clicking differently, I seem to be ever so slightly shorter - maybe half an inch - on that side. I grab my bagel chips and head to the coffee counter, where there's a line, and finally a chance to inspect my boots without drawing too much attention.

Carefully I inspect the heels:

Brown boot, heel fine, no sign of missing disc thingy.
Black boot, also fine, no sign of additional disk thingy.

Hmm.

Let me check again.

Brown boot, fine,
Black boot.....



That's right ladies and gentlemen - TWO DIFFERENT BOOTS!

Go ahead, say it. I'm an idiot. A dorky, nerdy idiot.

And while you're thinking that, let me clinch the idea in your mind by telling you about a phone conversation that transpired last night. GB called his mom to wish her Merry Christmas and let her know we got the envelopes with the money. While he was on the phone, I was starting on her Christmas gift (which we'll give to her on a visit to Texas in the next few months) which is a Creatures of the Reef shawl, as she lives near the beaches of TX. I was knitting away, casting on the 80 bazillion stitches (okay, 437, but I hate casting on more than just about anything else knitting related) and counting carefully. He handed me the phone so I could talk to her, and I was so concerned that she not see what I was doing I completely forgot to thank her for the money.

Yup. Concerned that she would SEE the shawl I was knitting for her. Through the phone.

Yeah. I know.

But that brings us to what the people have spoken about. Because it was that money that I so ungratefully received that you have spoken about, and though it was a close race, you told me to put it in my Norm Hall fund... So that's what I'm gonna do. All my spare change goes into my sheepy bank, so be converted to bills which will go into that account. All the money I earn from commission knitting or teaching (not that it's a lot, but still) will go into my Norm Hall fund, and now, so will this.

So thanks to you, I am now $50 closer to having a Norman Hall wheel. Not that I'm smart enough to deserve one, but who am I to argue with the people?

I love my mother-in-law. I mean, I know you aren't supposed to. You're supposed to think she's some evil wench who never thinks you're enough for her son. But mine is adorably sweet. We got her Christmas gifts yesterday, which included a DVD copy of our wedding and a $50 bill for each of us, along with a note saying she wished she could be there to shop with us!

Only trouble is I'm a little bit shopped out. I know, I'm as surprised by that as you are. Nevertheless, there you have it. I have no need for yarn for sometime (in fact, I hereby invoke a "no more yarn purchases until Maryland Sheep and Wool" diet) and so I'm stuck trying to decide what to do with my money. That's where you come in:

What do I do with MILs gift?
	Put it towards a swift
	Put it towards a blocking board
	Be responsible and pay bills
	Put it into my Norman Hall Spinning Wheel fund
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Did she do it?

Remember the scarf you saw pictures of last week? The one that looked like this

Friday morning at about 3am?
As of about 6 pm it looked like this

(three guesses what fiber is in the pink wool blend yarn)

And as of 10pm Friday night, it looked like this:


WHEW! She loved it, and looked adorable in the set, and even just bought a pink coat that they match perfectly!

GB bought me pajamas that had these on the pants:

and I was wearing them when we got a visit from a Christmas elf! It was Christmas morning, GB had gone to pick up DSS from his mom's and I was finishing last minute wrapping. I was feeling a little blue that the two gifts we'd ordered for my mother weeks before hadn't come yet, and was wrapping a tiny "IOU" gift for her. There was a knock at the door. When I opened it, someone wearing a USPS jacket handed me a box and turned and ran back to his mail truck before I could even say "Thank you." It was NOT my usual mailman, and I don't think I've ever seen him before. It wasn't until I'd closed the door that I realized that I'd just had mail hand-delivered on Christmas day... An elf, maybe?


And speaking of GB, here he is, with his son, and my grandmother, at my parents house.


DSS got a keyboard for Christmas, and here he is with my mother, trying to figure out how it works:


And the requisite shot of the Christmas tree, with my blurry brother in the background:


I got a lovely top from one grandmother, an adorable purse from my aunt, and lots of great books, but the highlight was a little family of gifts. This family, actually:

That's a Fricke ball winder from my illustrious brother, a drumcarder from my parents (delivered by my own personal Santa, Shelia's husband who was nearby on business, drove it to my parent's house, and called my father a nerd ((it's okay - he is)) all sitting nicely on a "fiber station" from GB (with a shot of the screwdriver that put it together). You can even see Fiona looking on in awe. Yes, technically it's a wine rack, but it's where my drumcarder and ballwinder will live, and with some minor adjustments, a lot of my knitting/spinning books will live on it too, with a drawer for tools. I love all three, and I'm so exciting, and I wish I was home playing with them right now!

If you were to nail me down to one gift only, it would be what I'm wearing today (again) - a necklace from my DSS with a pendant of a rose, which I'm told he earned by selling so well in his school fundraiser... of course, it hasn't been off my body long enough to take a picture of it (and I'll spare you a close up on my chest) so I'll try to get a good shot later this week if it photographs the details with all the shine...

Excerpt from "The Holy Bible"Book of Luke
Chapter 2
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet the words repeat,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had roll'd along th' unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bow'd my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

'Til ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
~Longfellow


~~~~~~~~~

Last year, DSS was 11. He went to his father and said "Daddy, I know I'm too old to believe in Santa Claus, but I'm gonna do it for a little longer, okay?" You can't get much sweeter than that.

It was the first year that GB and I lived together, DSS and I were still adjusting to our "someone else will take up GB's time" weekends. So Christmas was a little chaotic. He wanted to spend it with him mom, he wanted to spend it with his dad, I wanted to spend it with my family... We decided that DSS would spend Christmas Eve with his mom, wake up there, and then GB would pick him up and take him to my grandparents, my own family tradition. Later in the evening we would have a smaller Christmas at my parents where my brother (who is a minister and works most Christmas Days) could join us. Sort of a Maryland tour of Christmases (Christmai?).

In the chaos of the tour, one of DSS's gifts got left behind at our house. Must have fallen out of arms as we were caring things around. In any event, when we finally got back to the house at the end of the night, DSS walked in and saw it on the couch. It was one we'd signed "from Santa."

"What's this?" he asked.

"Um... looks like a gift for you... but who's it from?"

"Says Santa"

"Hmmm... maybe Santa wasn't sure of your plans - cuz we were in so many different places today. Maybe he just wanted to be sure you got a gift everywhere, since you were so good."

He opened it. Inside was a small toy he'd seen when we were out, and had thought was fun. He sat on the couch, an unreadable expression on his face. My stomach sank - I knew we'd been busted. His determination to believe in Santa had been blown because we couldn't take one final sweep.

Feeling a little queasy and disappointed, I started down the hall... but what I heard behind me made tears come to my eyes.

It was DSS, quietly singing to himself, "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake..."

I might post more later, but right now breathing is taking a great deal of concentration, since I got suddenly and violently ill last night (and yet I'm at work. I deserved that damn bonus!)

Rent was amazing - loved it and cried through the whole thing, and then erased any chance that my husband wouldn't realize what a little music geek I am by trying to explain word painting and how very brilliant Jonathon Larson was in the car on the way home (that is, I was explaining in the car on the way home, not how very brilliant Jonathon Larson was in the car... he would have been very creepy, but not unwelcome, in the car. Oh, how I love a good dangling participle). GB's gift (that I mentioned yesterday but couldn't give you details) was a pair of socks - the first thing I've ever given him that I knit, because of the curse. They were (oh, come on, you know what's coming) Alpaca and he loved them. I just forgot to take pictures.

I did remember to take pictures of Caroline's gifts. The mittens, which were finished around 3 this morning, because I couldn't lie flat so was sitting up on the couch and felt I should be productive. Need a little trimming of ends, but everything is woven in. There's also the shot of the hat with the mittens, and that little blob above the hat is the scarf-to-be. It will be stripes of the white (which is white Cha-Cha double stranded with the pink Yukon) and plain pink. I sure hope she likes them - I think they're darn cute, myself.




~~~~~~


'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.

The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
'cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
but I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.

Out on my lawn, I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both dad and the boys.

And though I was tired,my brain was a bit thick,
I knew in a moment,it must be Saint Nick.

But what I heard then left me perplexed-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I had expected

"move,Ashford; move,Lopi; move,Addie and Clover
Move,Reynolds; move,Starmore; move, Fraylic--move over"

"Paton, don't circle round; stand in line.
Come now, you sheep wool work just fine!

I know this is hard semi, it's just your first year,
I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."

I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight woolly sheep on my lawn all a'grazing.

And then,in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned round, Saint Nick, I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe
And his clothes were handknit from above to below.

A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.

His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace,
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable,
And suddenly on one I spied a small label.

SC was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
and I asked "Hey Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied "Ho-ho-ho, yes I did,
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself for I'd thought up a plan,.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two;
For the first time I thought I'd really get through.

He put heels on the stockings and toes in some socks
While I sat back drinking Scotch on the rocks!!

So quickly like magic, his needles they flew,
That he was all finished by quarter to two.

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon
"Next year start your knitting sometime around June!"

Author Unknown

Unfortunately $500 only goes so far, and I really am trying not to spend ALL of it... So, nope, just the 8 verses of the song. But feel free to sing it ad nauseum nonetheless, lifting your egg nogg high.

I'm getting one of my Christmas gifts early this year... tonight, as a matter of fact...

(drum roll, please)



(thank you)

TICKETS TO RENT!!!! This is one of my favorite shows, based on my favorite opera, and GB and I wen to see it on one of our first dates (I say "one of" because it was at that time period where we were "just friends" exclusively ... we were a little slow on defining things...)

Because he's giving me something early, he'll get something early too... but I can't tell you until he gets it tonight, because he might read this...

Still knitting Caroline's mittens and scarf. The hat is done, and I have no fear that the mittens will be done. The scarf is making me a little nervous, but I think it's still doable. It would have been 100% doable if I hadn't wasted time last night.

I changed the pattern. This isn't a surprise, since I don't follow patterns - I see them as suggestions, not rules (interestingly enough, I cook the same way). And I thought I was being SO smart to take notes as to what I did, seeing as I had a whole other mitten to knit. I neglected to note two things - how many stitches I cast on, and which size I'm making.

Yup. I'm an idiot.

I guessed the cast on, got to the section where I'd cleverly notated my changes, and convinced myself it was wrong. Ripped that out, started again (with a different cast on number) and then got stuck in the same spot. Third time's the charm, I went back to the original cast-on number, got to the sticking point, and stared at it for three hours.

This morning, I picked it up, figured out with one glance what I'd done wrong (started with a cast on amount of one size, didn't want to widen as much as the pattern suggests, so altered an increase row - this is what I noted - and then picked up with the next size down) and was able to get about halfway up the mitten.

If AC would ever go home today, I'd be able to knit the rest of it here. But Nooo... he has to be all responsible and good-employee-ish and he's doing his work. Jerk.

And because of the show, I can't knit tonight (maybe the scarf? It is a balcony seat... HA. You know damn well I'll drop a ball of yarn over the edge accidentally...) so that leaves me with tomorrow and Saturday morning to do the scarf.

I have this vague feeling I should be more stressed out about this.

I'll shoot for pictures tomorrow (you'll love the mittens, they really are adorable)

The eighth thing my Christmas bonus got me for is goodies from Adagio


Mittens and Gloves


Knitting on the Edge


FIIII-BERRRLYYYY KARMA!


the new Golding Spindle


another sweater of Cascade


a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~

Today's bonus gift was subsidized by Steph and a lovely RAOK of a gift certificate. I bought several tea samples and the coolest teapot EVER which is pictured there - the tea pours out the bottom. That's really the best way to describe it, but there's a little video on their website here.

I met a new group of knitters last night, which was really nice. They ooed and ahhhed over the mittens for Caroline (well, one mitten. The first mitten I made I guessed wrong on which size to make, and since you can't really tell until it's seemed up how it fits, it wasn't until then I realized it was really more of a sleeping bag than mitten.) Pictures? Heck no. Forgot to take them. But I will do my best to get some before they're given away. I spent the knitting group ripping out the oversized mitten (a mohair blend double stranded with an eyelash. It was like a little Christmas miracle that we didn't see "The Nightmare (three days) Before Christmas: the sequel"). Since the one that fit took under three hours, I figure I can knit that tonight, and that leaves me Thursday and Friday to knit the scarf.

What afghan? (denial ain't just some river someplace...)

And for those of you in need of a last minute gift for that dirty old man in your life, consider this. Let's all say it together.

Ew.

The seventh thing my Christmas bonus got me for is
Mittens and Gloves

Knitting on the Edge


FIIII-BERRRLYYYY KARMA!


the new Golding Spindle


another sweater of Cascade


a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~

I'm making this bonus go pretty far - combining it with my varsity shopping skills, and a few gift certificates here and there.... It's been really nice for that past few days being able to say "hmmm... can I afford to get that?" and have the answer be an exuberhant YES!

I did come up with an idea this morning, and I'm documenting it here, so don't everyone run out and patent it at once. Coffee dispensers at gas stations. I don't want to run inside and wait in line for just coffee if I could have paid for the gas at the pump. And I don't want 86 bazillion gas-station-paper-coffee-cups in my car. So I figure they have a little dispenser right by the pump, and I could use my own cup, or pay an additional charge to use one of theirs, and they charge me by the amount of coffee dispensed while I was pumping. It can be added right to the tab there. Yes? (okay, so I had to walk across a sloppy wet cold parking lot this morning. What can I say, inspiration strikes in unusual places)

When I got home in the bitter cold last night, I opened the door and was nearly flattened by two cats. Trevor is rambunctious. I'm used to him pushing the rules. Aslan, however, is normally immaculately mannered. I'm pretty sure some feline-currency exchanged hands (paws?) at some point to cause enough distraction for both cats to rush the door at once. It was about ten degrees out, and Aslan's no fool, so he didn't even make it to the second step before turning around and going back in. Trevor is obscenely stubborn (okay, he might have inherited that from me) and ran off into the dark. Oscar was literally bouncing off the door to his bedroom where he is locked during the days inside, and so I went and put him on his leash. He immediately went outside, found Trevor and herded him back into the house. It wasn't quite the crouching down low thing that Austrailian Shepherds do, but it was definitely herding. Both cats were reprimanded, for my own benefit, certainly not theirs. They are cats, after all, and guilt means to them what talent does to Anne Heche.

When GB came home, Aslan stood out the counter yelling at him. Normally a greeting is given, and then we can all go about our lives, but this time Aslan would not give up, just kept yelling. Finally, GB went over, looked him in the eye and said "I know you went outside."

Aslan stopped yelling, turned around and walked away with that "Well, fine then." attitude that every cat co-habitator knows well.

Well, fine then, indeed.

The sixth thing my Christmas bonus got for me is Knitting on the Edge


FIIII-BERRRLYYYY KARMA!


the new Golding Spindle


another sweater of Cascade


a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~

...Oh, and a cracked windshield. But that probably didn't come from the bonus, so it's hardly worth mentioning. Except that I love that State Farm will send someone out to my work, fix it without even bothering me, and not need a deductable or anything. This will be my third windshield with Norman, who cracks windshields in cold weather like most folks get chapped lips. The weather dropped from 45 - 55 degrees last week to 8 (count'em - 8) this morning so I should have known the windshield would be a casulty.

GB is home from his business trip, and should be home for a while. At least a week, anyway. And I knit a mitten for Caroline this weekend, but it seems really huge, so now I have to decide if I want to frog it and start over. Looks like there will be enough yarn to do a cute scarf to go with the mittens and hat, so I'll probably bring that to work and do that once the mittens are done - don't want to start before because since measurement doesn't matter for the scarf, I can just knit up all the last bits of yarn. I'd have pictures of the hat and huge mitten (which fits GB with room to spare, and Caroline is a wee bit smaller) but the battery in the camera is charging up. Maybe later this week.

I'm looking forward to getting Knitting on the Edge. I got a good chance to look through it when I stayed at Bess's last fall, and I think it's just what I'll need to solidify the design I have in mind for the green Cascade 220. I have a little version sketched out, and I can see the entire sweater completely done, except for the neck and collar. What I think I'd like to do is in Knitting on the Edge, but I'll need to see how it would work to decide if that's what I'll actually do. It will be my most complex design yet, and I already have the name chosen for it (hey, cart, get back behind that horse!) so I'm really looking forward to starting it. You know, in my spare time.

The fifth thing my Christmas bonus got for me is FIIII-BERRRLYYYY KARMA!


the new Golding Spindle


another sweater of Cascade


a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~~

I decided a significant portion of my bonus would go to the annual Knitter's Review Heifer Project Drive. Once I figure out how much tax came out of the bonus, I'll know exactly how much I'm giving, but it will be at least 20% of what I got. I've got it pretty good. Even if it's hard (and it is) to part with money that should logically be going to pay off bills, this is a better thing. Heifer teaches people how to survive, how to use what they're given to make a better life. This is the least I can do. I hope you'll do a little something too. Check out the organization, it's a really good thing, and you can buy portions of gifts as well, so you don't have to sell your first born to feel like you're doing some good. (one year, my family got a donation made in our name by good friends of ours as a holiday gift - this could be a fantastic gift for those people at work you have to buy for but don't know what to get....)

And I know the karma's already kicking in for me. Why do I say this? Because I discovered this morning that I can go at least 85 miles with the idiot light on before my car is officially out of gas. I learned this - stupidly, since both my brother and husband are in another state, so I would have been pretty well stranded - because work is 37 miles one way. The idiot light came on just before I got home Wednesday. I drove to and from work yesterday with it on. And then headed out this morning, thinking I'd go to the cheap gas station about halfway there. About 15 miles from the cheap gas station, dear little Norman started choking. I was able to pull off the highway and coast into a gas station at the next exit.

They even had coffee.

This, my friends, is what I mean by karma.

The fourth thing my Christmas bonus got for me is the new Golding Spindle


another sweater of Cascade


a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~

Now, before I pluck myself bald, will you do me a favor? It won't take long...

Cast on 24 stitches a knit a few rows so there's a little base. Then:
"Slip 1, P15, P2tog, Turn
Slip 1, K8, K2tog, Turn
Slip 1, P9, P2tog, turn
Continue in this manner, always working 1 more st on each row before decreasing, until all sts are worked."

Ignore that your decreases won't be symmetrical.

How many stitches are on the needle now????

Edited to add a moment of zen:

These are from a dear friend on Knitters Review who wisely has not given me the address of the farm that this baby and Wizard (the "cross-dresser") live on, to protect them from alpaca-napping. If you see me wearing an alpaca suit and driving our Expedition, I'm not heading there. Honest.

Could you just die for that baby, or what?

Sing along, now!

The third thing my Christmas bonus got for me is another sweater of Cascade


a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~

First things first, to whomever invented pesto, I salute you.

After dinner at my mom's last night (guess what I had?) I stopped off at PetSmart where they very quickly and friendly-ly (?) exchanged the dog coat for another, dispite the fact that I can only assume the receipt has been eaten. I'd show you a picture of him modeling it (and pretend that it was a piece of cake to get it on him alone, and not that I wished I'd had elephant-sized tranquelizers for the proceedure) but GB has the camera with him on his business trip, so if the poor coat survives the week with Oscar, you'll see pictures next week. I like the style and shaping much better, as it's sort of like a horse blanket shape, with velcro at the chest, and a strap around his "waist", but my favorite aspect is that there's a slot at his shoulder blades where there's room to slip the hook for his collar through. This means the jacket covers his shoulders higher than it would have if it had to make room for the collar but most importantly, I won't find the jacket balled up under the house somewhere. It may not stay all the way on, but it will at least still be attached when I get home.

It looks something like this, but with a much cuter dog, and green with blue, instead of blue with plaid:

That's not the exact coat, but it's the closest on the website. I like his better - it's (as I said) higher on the neck and shoulders, and fits him just right.

In other news, the actual bonus arrived in today's check, so that's lovely. I have one more gift to buy GB, and another gift for DSS, and then it's just knitting every waking moment for the next ten days.

The first thing my Christmas bonus gave to me was a letter expressing their thanks...

The second thing my Christmas bonus gave to me was a sweater's worth of Cascade


and a letter expressing their thanks...

~~~~~

Can I make a comment? I saw The Terminal this weekend. Very cute movie, I though Tom Hanks was excellent... but it got me thinking.

Was there anything good about the Catherine Zeta-Jones character? I mean other than that she looked like Catherine Zeta-Jones? She was having an affair with a married man, she was scatter-brained, she wasn't particularly personable...

I see over and over again these movies that have bland looking guys (who do at least have some redeaming qualities) falling instantly madly head over heels in love with some amazingly beautiful woman of no substance whatsoever. We then see these men do amazing, kind, generous, sweet things for these women, swear their undying love and behave with such nobility... all for the pretty face (well, and a bod like Catherine Zeta-Jones, I'm no idiot, it ain't all about the face)

Is it any wonder that women are so confused right now? Why so many teenagers will do anything to make themselves beautiful and nothing to make themselves cultural and well rounded? All we have to do is be as gorgeous as Angelina Jolie and we get... Billy Bob Thornton? Is that really a fair trade?

I'm too Sexy for my dog coat

Oscar has very short hair and spends his days outside, so I decided he needed a dog coat. I do have superwash wool to make him one, but the gift-afghan won't let me, so we bought him a relatively inexpensive fleece coat at PetSmart this weekend. That in itself was a challenge, as apparently Oscar's physique is not standard for doggies. We didn't have him with us, so were instead watched by shocked and slack-jawed PetSmart employees as we held various dog coats up, and discussed whether or not they would fit. The comment that got the most snickers was GB's saying "Do you think they have any D-cup sizes?" as Oscar is a bit bustier than the average dog. My favorite coat was the bomber jacket (faux leather) but it wouldn't hold up to a day in the yard, and $50 was more than I wanted to spend anyway. We found a cute little fleece coat that looked like it would fit, and was under $20. So the only challenge then was to get it on the dog. He put his front legs right through the arm holes with no problem. All attempts to seal the velcro up the back were then taken as attempts to cuddle. I was very helpful during the process, accepting the task of not just "stand back and laugh until tears are running down your face" but also "take pictures":



The final result looks like a kid in pajamas that don't quite fit, and takes him approximately 15 seconds (after finishing his chew toy) to wriggle around on his back, undo the velcro, and step out of the coat.



The coat was obviously made for the world's largest dachshund, as it was snug in the chest area (obviously only a "C-cup") but huge in the neck, and long on the body. I can't imagine what the dog would look like that is slightly smaller around the chest than Oscar, with a thicker neck, and longer body. Well, I probably can, but I think it would cause nightmares.

So it's back to the store for that one. The coat I plan on making for him will be a blanket with straps holding it on, I think, allowing for a little more flexibility. He enjoys spending the days outside, keeping our yard safe from viscious attack squirrels. And fortunately the weather has been unseasonably warm, so I'm not concerned with leaving him out in 50 degree weather... if it drops to around freezing during the day, I want him better protected than nature made him, so we'll have to figure something out soon!

Thanks for all the sweet comments about the bonus - it was quite exciting and flattering. I've already decided how I'm going to spend it (depending on how much tax gets taken out) but GB is in Vegas for work and took the camera, so in lieu of any personal pictures, I decided I'd use the rest of the week showing you pictures of my purchases-to-be. So stay tuned - a different purchase each day!

Repeat after me: GULP

Gulp.

I just got home, opened the mail, and there was a letter from work:

Dear Amie,
Thank you for your efforts, your contribution of our company and the many little "extra" things you do that help make our business better.

There is no doubt that our business is made better due to your fine work.

It is my pleasure to inform you that your paycheck of December 15 will contain a holiday bonus in the amount of $500.00. Please accept it as our way of saying thank you for a job well done.

Sincerely,
.... it was at this point my eyes were too blurry to even see who signed it (I found out later it was one of my very cool bosses that I like.)

$500.00

For some of you, that may not be that much. For me, it's enough that I burst into tears upon reading. That's more than a week's pay.

Gulp again.

You may say I'm a dreamer...

Or you could just call me insane.

Years ago my family decided that we would do drawings for Christmas gifts, rather than having to shop for gifts for the whole clan. One of the gifts my mini family drew is for my youngest cousin. I feel particularly fond of her, as she's turned into an amazingly beautiful young woman of... 13?... and I have memories of her first ballet recitals, which she specifically wanted me to come to, since I was a dancer in a former life. I like when I draw one of the two girl cousins for the Christmas gifts.

And so I went out last night and bought this.

No. Caroline doesn't knit.

But I do. And she does like pink. So there's PLENTY of time to do a mitten and hat set, right? And if there's enough yarn left over, maybe a scarf, too?

This is where the you calling me insane part comes in. To be fair, I'm figuring on bulky yarn like that (it's just over a stitch an inch) a hat will take an hour or two. And mittens won't be much longer than that. And they're small projects, so I can take them along with me - the afghan no longer goes anywhere but to the other end of the couch.

And as proof that the universe doesn't think I'm insane (either that or the universe is encouraging it), I stopped off at the grocery store to get a salad last night, and found this.

Clear Fruit is one of my all time favorite drinks, particularly the peach flavor. There were three bottles left in the little fridgey thing, and I literally stubbed my toe on it heading for the salad bar. I thought they'd stopped making these - I haven't seen them in years.

The universe is rewarding me for being highly motivated in the fiber-gift-giving process. It's the only explanation.

(oh, and for the many questions regarding my wrist - it's better! I was given a new monitor at work, which means I can set things at a different angle, and I've played with keyboard placements, and I haven't been in pain since last Friday! YAY! Again, proof that the universe wants me to knit more!)

Aslan gets a lot of attention on the blog, being as he's a big fiber snob and all. But Trevor didn't fall too far from the yarn tree either, he's just a little more "salt of the earth". As proof, I offer this picture, Trevor snuggled up with the afghan yarn:

That green "mattress" thing he's sitting on is actually a lap desk. You know, the little things with the solid top and padded bottom? Both Trevor and Aslan have figured out how to flip it over so they can sleep on the padded side.

While Trevor was being adorable there, this was going on in my lap:

It's the first commission stocking, the one that they'd like by Christmas. I think it'll happen without too much trouble. I've put myself on a schedule (even though it freaks me out a little how comfortable schedules make me feel. My mind may come up with loopy perspectives on life, but schedule me down to the minute, let me make lists, and I'm happy as a clam. Which as we all know, are wildly happy creatures. Ecstatic at all times, the clam. It's almost embarrassing how happy they are.) Anyway, the schedule is to finish the leg of the stocking in the mornings before work this week (that pretty much leaves me with tomorrow, but it's also just one more section, with Christmas trees). Saturday and Sunday I work on the actual foot. Then next week I'll do finishing - glueing ends in so that the floats won't catch toys and gifts that go inside, trimming, tightening, and fixing the mistakes (I hope I didn't just blow anyone's mind that I'm not perfect. If so, please erase that comment from your memory and continue to admire my brilliant perfection). Then next weekend I'll crochet up the leg. That should have it to the family with nearly a week before Christmas! Here's a wrinkled version of what I've got so far (the sides want to curl, and it doens't want to sit flat on a fluffy afghan):


As I said, mornings are for the stocking, because evenings are for the afghan. Despite the fact that I'm only halfway through the colors, each row gets longer than the last, and I'm not entirely convinced that the afghan will ever end. Ever. But still I insist on spending hours every evening knitting my fingers to the bone in an attempt to get this done. Christmas Eve I will give up and go to my first back up plan, which is knitting a mini-version and claiming it shrank in the wash.

Happy Birthday, David!

(otherwise titled, Payback's a Bitch)

Here's the birthday song for my brother. I feel a need to point out that quality singing is neither expected nor encouraged on the annual birthday song. Yes, I should have pointed out that my brother is a phenomenol musician on the day you heard his song. It's true, but I didn't mention it. As for me, well, quality singing is neither expected nor encouraged. And here's the proof of that:

Anyone who doubts that singing requires practice to keep up lung power and pitch control can kiss my ass.

(oh, and shout out to Anj who suggested I continue the numbered/Chorus Line theme...)

I felt I needed to offer proof that there is actually an afghan, instead of lumps of yarn.

What you previously saw as this

is really far more accurately depicted as this

except that it should turn out much more square looking when it's not wrapped around three circular needles. Plus, it will have much more color to it, as you might recall from this


I suppose the fact that I worked on it last night means I haven't given up hope yet as previously thought. Or it could mean I'm just completely delusional. Tough call. In any event, NO WRIST PAIN! YAY! I changed a few things about my keyboard set up at work, and I think with diligence I can keep the pain at bay.

As I mentioned at some point this week, my Annapolis knitting guild's holiday party is tonight, so I'm bringing a cheesy-nutty-thing that I haven't actually tried yet, but the recipe looked interesting. Here's what it looks like, with the lid still sealed tight on the strawberry jam.

Hopefully, they'll all think I'm amazingly brilliant for bringing it. So far I've managed to distract them with my knitting prowess, if we're actually expected to communicate sans fiber, they may discover what a dork I really am. If the cheesy-nutty-thing doesn't work, emergency back up plan A is to scream "look yarn!" and run. Emergency back up plan B is to fake alien possession. I think we're all hoping it won't come to that.

And anyone who wants to buy me tickets to Rent next week at the Hippodrome is welcome to do so. GB and I saw it about six years ago... Fantastic show...

Tune in around 4pm (Eastern) for David's birthday song. I promised I'd put it up, but I'll have to be alone in the station for that to happen. I may be a glutton for punishment but I really feel AC and I have shared enough.

I'm trying very hard not to acknowledge in any way that my boss was on my computer for about an hour this morning and so I've done significantly less typing today than other days. I choose instead to believe that I am HEALED!

My wrist doesn't hurt AT ALL right now.

It was a very small Knit Knite last night, which was nice (and convenient, as Borders was slammed) since we got to actually talk to each other a little more completely than we do in large groups which tend to break off into smaller ones. I got a good three or four inches knit on my grandmother's scarf (the red mohair), maybe more, and I'm starting to feel like there's hope that I'll finish it in time. I only did a few more rows on the commission stocking. By 10 pm my wrist was protesting pretty quickly, so I ended up just putting that away for the night. I've got about five rows left of the santa section, a section of Christmas trees (that's about 25 rows) and then the foot part. I did two sections in one day last weekend, so if I get the two sections done this week, I think I can finish the foot part this weekend, and have it to them well in time for Christmas. I have now put this in cyber-print, which means something horrible will go wrong, but I laugh in the face of fate, because even with something wrong, I've still got another week beyond that for Christmas. Plus, they said they understood if I couldn't finish it by Christmas, as the recipient is three, and probably won't even notice it because he'll be tossing wrapping paper in the air with reckless abandon.

I've given up hope for the afghan. I do have someone mailing me a 60" needle, on inter-needle-ary loan, which should give me a second (are we still only on second? Maybe third or fourth) wind on it, but I'm not thinking it will be done. I'm oddly okay with that. I think it's denial of some kind. We'll see if I end up hyperventilating and trying to sculpt paper towels into fine art to compensate on Christmas morning...

I think I knit maybe three rounds of the afghan, about four rows of the commission stocking, maybe spun about a yarn of the wool from my secret pal. Partly because I was feeling down and mopey and uninspired, and partly because I wanted to really rest my wrist. I'm 100% convinced it's typing the causes the problem, and not anything fiber related. Unfortunately, I can't just stop typing because of work. But my wrist didn't hurt at all this weekend, so I'll be spending this week playing with keyboard angles to figure out how to get the pain away for good. I've always preferred it slightly tilted up, but today we'll try it flat and see where that gets us.

Tonight is Knit Knite (Borders in Columbia at 7pm, come on by and see us!) so I'll have a fun evening out... I have yet to decide which project will come along with me to that. I rarely get much knitting done at these things - sort of a sensory overload tends to render me incapable of the most simple stitches. But maybe the mohair garter stitch scarf will come along...

Wednesday is the Christmas party for my Annapolis Guild. I said I'd bring a cheesey cracker thing, since we were taking volunteers right about the time I saw a great recipe on someone's blog for that. Of course, I procrastinated on writing the recipe down, and now have to go hunt for it so I can make it tomorrow night.

Thursday is the office Christmas party, and I'm having very mixed feelings. I don't really want to go badly enough for it to be worth the four hours in the car (it's down in McLean VA, so about 2 hours one way). Yes, they said they'd put me up in a hotel, which is very flattering, and makes me want to go slightly more (or at least it makes me feel guilty about not wanting to go) but that means finding someone to watch the animals, since GB is out of town again. It's too cold to just leave Oscar out overnight now, though he still spends most days outside, but I don't know how well he'd respond to having someone else come along and put him to bed, even if he does like my dad. Plus, my dad might be having a medical proceedure that day, so a) he wouldn't be able to take care of Oscar anyway and b) I'm not convinced I'd want to be out of town and mostly unreachable when that's going on. Another plus for going is that my home is right near train tracks. As is the train headlights shine into the bedroom window, and we've had to reshelve things because the house shakes so much when the trains go by. For someone who doesn't sleep well anyway, this is not conducive to a sound sleep. So the night in the hotel would almost definitely be quieter. So I'm pretty unsure what will happen there.

I also have to break free at lunch sometime this week or next and try to get some Christmas shopping done. No one seems able to tell me what DSS wants for Christmas except in the most vague of ways. What kind of twelve-year-old boy can't think of a Christmas list? And it's not just me, my parents and grandparents and brother will want to buy him something as well, and I'm seriously considering telling them he has a new yarn fixation and they should just buy him tons of that. (of course, whatever he doesn't like I'd be willing to find homes for). I have a small gift for GB, a medium gift for GB, and a large gift for GB. I'd like to get another small, but I'm not sure if I'll end up doing that. And we all pitched in to get my Dad a new guitar, but now have no idea what to get my mother... a drum set?

As you can tell, I'm fairly mellow and mopey today anyway. Have a migraine, and did starting Saturday and all day yesterday. Probably not the best time to make any decisions, so could someone please just come over and live my life for a few weeks? Just till after Christmas, and then I'm sure I'll be fine.

Oh, and make sure you check back Wednesday afternoon. I promised my brother that my pennance for putting him singing up on my blog would be putting his birthday song from me up as well. So I should probably start picking the song and writing it, huh?

Misha Louise

March 5, 1990 - December 5, 2003

I miss you every minute of every day.

If anyone doubted Aslan is a fiber snob, I offer you this proof. My KR Secret Pal ROCKED by ended a long and miserable day for me with the fiber you see on the top right, the spinning-wheel-stationary from the KR Boutique on the bottom right, two pots of scrumptious lotion, which is tucked under the yarn-Aslan of Lorna's laces that cat-Aslan is making friends with (yes, he's actually licking it - he never damages, only loves). This, my friends, is what we call a good secret pal.

Christmas is just 22 knitting days away.

Know how I know?

Because I no longer have the slightest insterest in the unfinished Christmas gifts in my piles of knitting. I'm thinking about the 2005 knitting list now, with stars in my eyes and a quiver in my heart.

Nevermind that the 2005 list does not need lengthening. I've got TKGA Masters Level 1 to get started on. I've got daydreams of a fairisle sweater. I've got that bluebird yarn I've spun and a vest to design and make from that. I've got 2004 Christmas gifts that I'll probably be working on well into 2005.

But nevermind all that.

All I want to know is should I put cables up the legs of the next socks I knit. I'm thinking I might be happy with them plain. I might be happy with cables up the sides. I might be happy with a full-blown aran cabled pattern all over the little puppies. I could be happy with many of these options.

I just don't know which one.

Thoughts?

I'm rendered even more incapable of making a decision by the phonecall I just got. Seems the powers that be at my company want me at the holiday party so badly that they have offered to put me up in a hotel room rather than have me not come (it's on a Thursday night nearer to the main office, which means a two hour drive when my husband is out of town, which puts me driving late - way past my bedtime). I told them I'd have to look into pet care for the evening, but I'm really blown away by the offer. "You're part of the family - we want you there." was the response. Holy cow. If only I liked the actual job part of my job I could see me sticking around here for a while...

Oh, and it's Anj's birthday today, and she's darling and lovely and adorable and deserves nothing but the best, so go tell her that, okay?

The birthday celebration continues! (as well it should!) Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes to me and to Aslan, who's head is completely swollen now with everyone praising him. He got to do everything he wanted yesterday (let's face it, he's a cat in my house, life isn't exactly hard) and I left him this morning with one of his cat toys (he asked nicely, still having impeccable manners) which I usually leave marinating in dried catnip leaves from our own plant. When last I saw him, he was bravely defending it from Trevor, who had his own toy. As any fool knows, the catnip is always zippier on the other side of the livingroom.

I also got in the mail another little birthday gift to myself, which took a month to arrive.

It looks a bit ominous there, but at least the shot shows the curls in the ceramic wool. Here's a better shot, with another little cutie thrown in for scale (he was actually inspecting it for food or explosives, but doesn't "for scale" sound impressive?)

It's a sheepy bank, and a large one, in which all my spare change will go. When it's full, I'll empty it out and buy a Norman Hall spinning wheel! (okay, I'll empty it four or five hundred times before I can buy a Norman Hall spinning wheel, but it's the thought that counts.)

And since you had several Aslan pics yesterday, and one Trevor shot today, it's only fair that Oscar get in on the action. I took this shot a few days ago, because he had apparently been playing Cowboys and Indians while I was at work. Check out his war paint!


You know, it just occurred to me that I never got birthday cake. A good husband would've gotten me baklava, don't you think???

The Story of Aslan

In 2002, I lived near Buffalo NY and worked at a radio station doing the morning show. I lived on the top floor of a crochety old house, with neighbors in the bottom floor. My birthday happened to fall on Thanksgiving weekend, so my parents flew me down to Baltimore for the weekend. I flew back up on Sunday, December 1st, and ended up driving home from the Buffalo airport in one of the many blizzards of the year. The drive took about three hours longer than I expected, and by the time I was close, there was two feet of snow on the ground. Trusty Norman was quite cranky, and I was no chipper Princess myself. A car ahead of me kicked a rock back, and it cracked my windsheild all the way across.

Exausted, but pushing forward, I called my friend who was babysitting for my two cats Misha and Trevor while I was away to tell him I was close. He was a cat lover as well, and both my two liked him a lot, so I knew he'd want to know if he needed to go back out into the blizzard to check on them again that night.

"Great! Glad to hear you're safe," said Al. "oh, by the way, your neighbors cat was asking to come in, but they weren't answering the door. I let her into your hallway, and put out some of your guys food and water for her."

"Okay, great. Um. Al? My neighbors don't have a cat."

"Yeah, the sweet little white one."

"Nope."

"Oh. Well, then there's a strange cat in your house. Um. Sorry?"

Hmm.

I got home, trudged through the snow, which was nearing three feet in depth by now, and stumbled up the stairs. As I rounded the bend, dark eyes glowed back at me, and a tiny, shivering cat peered out, clearly asking if I could be trusted... and quickly deciding I could. A timid squeak was uttered, and almost immediately the hall echoed with the sound of purrs... It was bittter cold, even inside the hallway (which was probably around 40 degrees F, compared to the 10 degrees outside), but I couldn't let this strange creature into my house when s/he might have deadly parasites. I refilled his food and water, and brought out a blanket and cat bed.

I woke the next morning, checked the food in the bowl in the hall, and went into work, announcing that I'd found a cat, and please call the radio station if you're missing one. No one called.

I called the pound, and told them that I didn't want to give the cat to them if he was going to end up being killed - adult cats are adopted out quite rarely - but if anyone called looking for him, they could contact me. I continued the announcements on the air. One woman did call the station and say she was missing her cat Rosie -the little sweet white girl that Al had found was actually an orange male, but an orange so pale he was almost pink.

Hoping against hope, I picked up the little cat, and nearly dropped him again in shock. This cat hadn't just wandered off before the storm. He should have been between eight and ten pounds, and was closer to three, ribs sticking out painfully through his scraggly hair. His feet, which had been declawed, were bloody and raw. He drooled massively, but offered no resistance when I checked his mouth for wounds and found none. I took him to the woman's face, and watched her face drop when she opened her door. This wasn't her Rosie.

But something had to be done.

I went to the pound and said "whoever lost him either doesn't want him back, or doesn't deserve him. What can I do to make this cat officially mine so they can't come and let this happen to him again?" They knew me from my radio show (celebrity is a good thing) and were able to bend a few rules for me. He still had to be taken into "solitary confinement" where he would be given a vet check and watched for parasites. But I could come visit him as often as I wanted - and I did. It broke my heart to take him to the pound and leave him there - it goes against every fiber of my being. But I was back every day, and he grew to know my footsteps on the stairs at the pound. I had resisted giving him a name until I knew he would be mine, but had been toying around with two, one of which was "Dickens" in honor of the season and the book A Christmas Carroll. But one of the women at the pound said "We just love that little cat of yours, he looks just like a lion," and I knew the other name would be his, the one that I thought would give this sweet, timid little thing some strength and courage, the name of the great and terrible lion from The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Aslan brought a balence to my house I never thought was possible. He left Misha alone, but gave Trevor someone else to play with. He always cuddled when I needed him, but didn't mind hanging out alone either. He had charm, and wit, and character, and an intuition that was almost creepy. When Misha died, less than a year later, he left me alone when I wasn't ready to see any cats. And the second I needed to feel that fur, he crawled into my lap and cried with me. He will stand up to a pitbull who isn't listening to me, and will defend my husband when Trevor gets fiesty.

He was lost, and found me on December 1, 2002. I was lost, and he found me again and again since then. Happy, happy "re-birthday" Aslan.