I am now done EVERYTHING that was hanging over my head. All my Christmas presents (Sean's hat is finally blocked and ready), and my Structure lab final.
I wrote the final today, and 3 questions went well, the last one I could hardly even put anything down. I knew I'd have a hard time with the drill hole question, and I sure did. Oh well!
Angela also got her present today, YAY! I included some neato wool fabric for a tote, a wallet I made, and a shirt I made too. Here's pictures of the wallet and fabric:
She's going to post more pictures herself as well :)
Now I have two assignments and a Geochem lab to finish >.<
Monday, January 29, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Bah! Stupid... ignorant... asfoifnghsdf asdoi *gurgle*
This is a quote from This article about certain schools in the United States trying to restrict the showing of the Al Gore movie "An Inconvenient Truth".
"After a parent who supports the teaching of creationism and opposes sex education complained about the film, the Federal Way School Board on Tuesday placed what it labeled a moratorium on showing the film. The movie consists largely of a computer presentation by former Vice President Al Gore recounting scientists' findings. "Condoms don't belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He's not a schoolteacher," said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old. "The information that's being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is. ... The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn't in the DVD."
Brain - not - functioning - must - not - kill - idiots.
Global warming is no longer "optional" or a "theory". It's here, it's fact, and if we don't do something about it, we are going to effectively exterminate ourselves.
"After a parent who supports the teaching of creationism and opposes sex education complained about the film, the Federal Way School Board on Tuesday placed what it labeled a moratorium on showing the film. The movie consists largely of a computer presentation by former Vice President Al Gore recounting scientists' findings. "Condoms don't belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He's not a schoolteacher," said Frosty Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old. "The information that's being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is. ... The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn't in the DVD."
Hardison's e-mail to the School Board prompted board member David Larson to propose the moratorium Tuesday night."
Brain - not - functioning - must - not - kill - idiots.
Global warming is no longer "optional" or a "theory". It's here, it's fact, and if we don't do something about it, we are going to effectively exterminate ourselves.
Oh Sam la Tricoteuse I forgot to answer your comment! Mono - and allergies - and sinus infections - oh that's terrible! I understand your frustrations. For the sinuses Sudafed is a miracle worker, as is steaming (gently boil water and breathe the steam in through your nose, or even better buy a "spa facial" steamer cheap from Wallyworld). This will help get rid of future infections as well, since you want to try and avoid giving antibiotics as much as possible now she's allergic to one. This makes her susceptible to others and it's best to leave that for a worst case scenario.
For the mono, the immune system is hard up for YEARS after infection, so taking lots of vitamins helps. Seriously! I've been suffering as of late from residual fatigue and other infections from reduced immunity (they say it takes up to 5 years to get completely healthy again) so I started to take a full multi-vitamin every day. I've been doing it for about 4 days now, and I feel WAY less tired during the day, and have actually been getting and needing less sleep each night!
For the mono, the immune system is hard up for YEARS after infection, so taking lots of vitamins helps. Seriously! I've been suffering as of late from residual fatigue and other infections from reduced immunity (they say it takes up to 5 years to get completely healthy again) so I started to take a full multi-vitamin every day. I've been doing it for about 4 days now, and I feel WAY less tired during the day, and have actually been getting and needing less sleep each night!
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Many pictures
I found my camera's battery charger!!! That means that I can finally take pictures without using expensive bought batteries. So I have lots of pictures to share finally!
Heather and Chad's quilt is DONE DONE DONE. It's lovely and soft, and although I cleaned it I included instructions to toss it in the washer again as soon as they get it - I'm pretty sure Heather is allergic to cats and I know I can't get it perfect with two cats in the house! TI hink it turned out quite well. It has a few flaws, the lines didn't match perfectly across the horizontal, and I mis-cut one strip of the brown and green pine/feather pattern, meaning I had to piece it back together (since I had limited fabric amounts bought from the States). I hope they'll like it though, it's going out with a video for them to snuggle and watch :)
My Bus socks. I'm knitting socks while on the bus, since it's a fairly long ride. I actually started these in September and had to rip them out 3 times before I got it right (1st - too many stitches, 2nd - not enough ribbing, 3rd - not enough stitches for the heel flap). I'm finally at the point where I can start turning the heel on them, and then make the other!
My lovely candy-cane socks from Angela. However, I'm a little unhappy with what I did with them. Angela had the beads strung on this white wool initially, but the pattern says that they should be on the same yarn as that for the body of the socks. Therefore, I went with the pattern and strung them on the red yarn, so that the white will peek through (hence the reason I took the picture this way). What do you think? Should I do the beading with the white yarn or leave it? Should the white yarn peek through regardless of what colour I use to knit the beaded portion? If it's not apparent in the above photo, those gaps are actually holes where the knitting underneath shows through, it's not knit in like it is in most honeycomb mitten patterns.
Two more pictures can be seen at the locations given below, but as they are (belated) Christmas presents I'm providing them as links instead of in the post.
Don't click Sean!
Don't click Angela!
Heather and Chad's quilt is DONE DONE DONE. It's lovely and soft, and although I cleaned it I included instructions to toss it in the washer again as soon as they get it - I'm pretty sure Heather is allergic to cats and I know I can't get it perfect with two cats in the house! TI hink it turned out quite well. It has a few flaws, the lines didn't match perfectly across the horizontal, and I mis-cut one strip of the brown and green pine/feather pattern, meaning I had to piece it back together (since I had limited fabric amounts bought from the States). I hope they'll like it though, it's going out with a video for them to snuggle and watch :)
My Bus socks. I'm knitting socks while on the bus, since it's a fairly long ride. I actually started these in September and had to rip them out 3 times before I got it right (1st - too many stitches, 2nd - not enough ribbing, 3rd - not enough stitches for the heel flap). I'm finally at the point where I can start turning the heel on them, and then make the other!
My lovely candy-cane socks from Angela. However, I'm a little unhappy with what I did with them. Angela had the beads strung on this white wool initially, but the pattern says that they should be on the same yarn as that for the body of the socks. Therefore, I went with the pattern and strung them on the red yarn, so that the white will peek through (hence the reason I took the picture this way). What do you think? Should I do the beading with the white yarn or leave it? Should the white yarn peek through regardless of what colour I use to knit the beaded portion? If it's not apparent in the above photo, those gaps are actually holes where the knitting underneath shows through, it's not knit in like it is in most honeycomb mitten patterns.
Two more pictures can be seen at the locations given below, but as they are (belated) Christmas presents I'm providing them as links instead of in the post.
Don't click Sean!
Don't click Angela!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
6 weird things and other stuff
I got tagged by Dorothee:
THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
1. I organize my books by series, author, size, and subject on my bookshelves.
2. I write my class notes in two different colours, and a different set of colours for each class. For example, my Geochemistry class is written in dark blue and highlighted with orange. I use Staedtler pens, since they have awesome life, colours, and fine lines.
3. I don't like staying in bed for long after I first wake up, it makes me feel guilty and lazy (even if I'm still tired). I think this is because I come from a family of exceptionally early risers, and my Dad is often up at 6 even on weekends.
4. I must read at least a chapter of a book every night before bed, because I'll have trouble falling asleep otherwise. I need to read something that I've read before, so that it's easier for me to put the book down and not keep reading!
5. I hum, whistle, or sing a great deal of the time, particularly when I'm around my sister. I also do it at work, once I feel comfortable in the environment, and also walking between classes or to the bus stop. This sometimes makes people look at me funny.
6. I have trouble sleeping without some weight on me, like a comforter or a quilt. I think this is because I have a LOT of nightmares, both now and as a kid, and when I would wake up from them I'd only feel safe if I had a comforter (sheets weren't good enough) covering me. I am a big fan of the "Far Side" cartoon which involves a boy completely hiding under the covers of the bed, surrounded by monsters. He is breathing through a snorkel, and the caption is "The monster snorkel allows your child to breathe comfortably without exposing any body parts".
Bonus! 7. I get the heebie-jeebies/shivers from the following things: the squeaking sound of snow when it's extremely cold, touching velvet or velveteen, cutting styrofoam, and eating those freeze-dried marshmallows (ew!) in some kids cereals. However, I do NOT get them from fingernails on a blackboard. Go figure.
ETA: I tag Angela and Elizabeth to do this meme. I'm not doing six people, because I don't feel I know the blog owners of the blogs I read well enough to tag them for a meme :)
To answer a comment I got about my being in Winterpeg and my new degree pursuits:
I didn't get my Geology degree at Lakehead because of a combination of transfer credit problems and me getting mono, which forced me to quit for one semester. Since I was "stuck" there for another year, I decided to get an English degree, since I was considering going into Education afterwards and teaching High School.
In my first year there, I met my fiance Sean. He lived in Winnipeg for a number of years and his family lives there, so when I was applying to various Education faculties I applied to U of M too, since we thought living in Winnipeg might be nice for awhile. I got into education there, but in the summer realised I'd like to continue in Geology (and I had very high marks in it), so I switched to Geology and am finishing my degree in that. It is an Honours degree, with a thesis. I will be done at the end of next school year, and will then have 3 degrees: B.A. English, Honours B.Sc. General, and Honours B.Sc. Geological Sciences.
Now, I need to either get back to cleaning the apartment (the bedroom is clean, that just leaves the kitchen, bathroom, and living room...), finishing the quilt, or going out to buy the beer I need to make Guiness Beef Stew.
THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
1. I organize my books by series, author, size, and subject on my bookshelves.
2. I write my class notes in two different colours, and a different set of colours for each class. For example, my Geochemistry class is written in dark blue and highlighted with orange. I use Staedtler pens, since they have awesome life, colours, and fine lines.
3. I don't like staying in bed for long after I first wake up, it makes me feel guilty and lazy (even if I'm still tired). I think this is because I come from a family of exceptionally early risers, and my Dad is often up at 6 even on weekends.
4. I must read at least a chapter of a book every night before bed, because I'll have trouble falling asleep otherwise. I need to read something that I've read before, so that it's easier for me to put the book down and not keep reading!
5. I hum, whistle, or sing a great deal of the time, particularly when I'm around my sister. I also do it at work, once I feel comfortable in the environment, and also walking between classes or to the bus stop. This sometimes makes people look at me funny.
6. I have trouble sleeping without some weight on me, like a comforter or a quilt. I think this is because I have a LOT of nightmares, both now and as a kid, and when I would wake up from them I'd only feel safe if I had a comforter (sheets weren't good enough) covering me. I am a big fan of the "Far Side" cartoon which involves a boy completely hiding under the covers of the bed, surrounded by monsters. He is breathing through a snorkel, and the caption is "The monster snorkel allows your child to breathe comfortably without exposing any body parts".
Bonus! 7. I get the heebie-jeebies/shivers from the following things: the squeaking sound of snow when it's extremely cold, touching velvet or velveteen, cutting styrofoam, and eating those freeze-dried marshmallows (ew!) in some kids cereals. However, I do NOT get them from fingernails on a blackboard. Go figure.
ETA: I tag Angela and Elizabeth to do this meme. I'm not doing six people, because I don't feel I know the blog owners of the blogs I read well enough to tag them for a meme :)
To answer a comment I got about my being in Winterpeg and my new degree pursuits:
I didn't get my Geology degree at Lakehead because of a combination of transfer credit problems and me getting mono, which forced me to quit for one semester. Since I was "stuck" there for another year, I decided to get an English degree, since I was considering going into Education afterwards and teaching High School.
In my first year there, I met my fiance Sean. He lived in Winnipeg for a number of years and his family lives there, so when I was applying to various Education faculties I applied to U of M too, since we thought living in Winnipeg might be nice for awhile. I got into education there, but in the summer realised I'd like to continue in Geology (and I had very high marks in it), so I switched to Geology and am finishing my degree in that. It is an Honours degree, with a thesis. I will be done at the end of next school year, and will then have 3 degrees: B.A. English, Honours B.Sc. General, and Honours B.Sc. Geological Sciences.
Now, I need to either get back to cleaning the apartment (the bedroom is clean, that just leaves the kitchen, bathroom, and living room...), finishing the quilt, or going out to buy the beer I need to make Guiness Beef Stew.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Pet peeves
So, as noted in yesterday's post, it's been fairly cold here in Winnipeg. This (along with my very full schedule that starts and ends my days in Wallace building on campus) means that I leave my coat at my carrell, and take the tunnels to get to my two classes in Tier (all the way across campus).
The tunnels are theoretically a wonderful idea. They keep you warm and make sure you don't have to haul all your winter stuff with you. They are also longer than outside, which could be an upside or a downside. However, a few are narrow, and all of them are full between classes. This brings me to my pet peeves - which I should note don't only include the tunnels but also hallways, malls, and aisles. Basically any pedestrian through-way.
1) People that just kind of mosey their way through, walking at a fairly slow pace, not paying attention and usually listening to their iPods. MOVE buster! I have 12 minutes of ground to cover in my 10 minute break between class, and you're just making me late. Get off to the side so other people can pass you (to be fair, if they're mosey-ing off to the side I don't care, because I can get past).
2) People that stop in doorways/middle of hallways/corners to chat with their 5 other friends. They make it so no one else get past or through, and I had no less than 3 people stop dead directly in front of me because they saw a friend passing the other way. Each time I nearly ran into them, because they'd been moving so fast and stopped so abruptly.
If cars drove like this we'd all be dead! Obey traffic laws in hallways!
The tunnels are theoretically a wonderful idea. They keep you warm and make sure you don't have to haul all your winter stuff with you. They are also longer than outside, which could be an upside or a downside. However, a few are narrow, and all of them are full between classes. This brings me to my pet peeves - which I should note don't only include the tunnels but also hallways, malls, and aisles. Basically any pedestrian through-way.
1) People that just kind of mosey their way through, walking at a fairly slow pace, not paying attention and usually listening to their iPods. MOVE buster! I have 12 minutes of ground to cover in my 10 minute break between class, and you're just making me late. Get off to the side so other people can pass you (to be fair, if they're mosey-ing off to the side I don't care, because I can get past).
2) People that stop in doorways/middle of hallways/corners to chat with their 5 other friends. They make it so no one else get past or through, and I had no less than 3 people stop dead directly in front of me because they saw a friend passing the other way. Each time I nearly ran into them, because they'd been moving so fast and stopped so abruptly.
If cars drove like this we'd all be dead! Obey traffic laws in hallways!
Monday, January 15, 2007
I've been busy. I got lots of nice new clothes while shopping with Jenny, "citified" myself as requested by Sean (and desired by both myself and my Mom as well). I really needed to get myself out of the polo-shirt rut.
I finished everyone's Christmas present except the quilt, which I'll be working on like mad in the next few days now that I've finally got the right thread. Angela's needs to be mailed out right away (I'm soooooo sorry I haven't gotten to it yet!!!), and I still have to get the presents to Sean's parents.
This past weekend was spent with my honey in Dryden, trying to squeeze in some quality time with him (and my family) before we're apart for a month while he's away finishing his degree. The worst part is no cuddles! I also miss having him there next to me at night. He keeps me warm :D and when I have nightmares (I seem to have quite a number of nightmares, more than most of my friends) I'm not too scared to sleep for an hour at 3am :P
The weather has been bone-chillingly cold here in Winterpeg, no surprise. It was so cold today (tho really only -25C, with a windchill warning) that I heard a strange noise behind me the whole time I was walking to the bus this evening. It was a "popping" sound. I suddenly figured out what it was - I had an empty water bottle in the outside pocket of my backpack, that still had a few drops clinging to the sides. The water inside was freezing, and since the cap was on so tight a vacuum was being created inside, crushing the bottle. Pretty neat!
I finished everyone's Christmas present except the quilt, which I'll be working on like mad in the next few days now that I've finally got the right thread. Angela's needs to be mailed out right away (I'm soooooo sorry I haven't gotten to it yet!!!), and I still have to get the presents to Sean's parents.
This past weekend was spent with my honey in Dryden, trying to squeeze in some quality time with him (and my family) before we're apart for a month while he's away finishing his degree. The worst part is no cuddles! I also miss having him there next to me at night. He keeps me warm :D and when I have nightmares (I seem to have quite a number of nightmares, more than most of my friends) I'm not too scared to sleep for an hour at 3am :P
The weather has been bone-chillingly cold here in Winterpeg, no surprise. It was so cold today (tho really only -25C, with a windchill warning) that I heard a strange noise behind me the whole time I was walking to the bus this evening. It was a "popping" sound. I suddenly figured out what it was - I had an empty water bottle in the outside pocket of my backpack, that still had a few drops clinging to the sides. The water inside was freezing, and since the cap was on so tight a vacuum was being created inside, crushing the bottle. Pretty neat!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
All those who bake - take heed. I am looking for a recipe that seems to be impossible to find. I'd like a recipe for gingerbread cookies that has the following qualities:
-Very light-coloured when baked. Almost more like a sugar cookie in colour
-Light flavour - can have lots of ginger
-Little to no molasses - this is the flavour I don't like in gingerbread much
-Soft texture after baking, almost chewy
-Thick and don't spread
You see, the best gingerbread I've ever had in my life is in the form of gingerbread men from a little bakery in Kenora, Ontario. It's changed names a few times, but it's at the bottom of the hill on the street which houses the Knox United Church. The Music Festival was held here every year, and a treat between piano pieces was to go to the bakery for a snack. I have never been able to duplicate these cookies anywhere, ever. As a note to Angela, they have almost the same texture and colour as those wonderful nutmeg sugar cookies of yours when they're just barely cool out of the oven. Not crisp at all, just soft and chewy.
I'd be much obliged if anyone could give me any ideas for this!
I have also discovered I have a positive addiction to Genmaicha green tea, probably from having it at sushi restaurants. We have some at home, but I just can't make it taste the same as when I'm out. I'm trying to figure out a new way to steep it at home that will work better than just dumping the loose tea in my little pot and drinking around the leaves and rice :)
-Very light-coloured when baked. Almost more like a sugar cookie in colour
-Light flavour - can have lots of ginger
-Little to no molasses - this is the flavour I don't like in gingerbread much
-Soft texture after baking, almost chewy
-Thick and don't spread
You see, the best gingerbread I've ever had in my life is in the form of gingerbread men from a little bakery in Kenora, Ontario. It's changed names a few times, but it's at the bottom of the hill on the street which houses the Knox United Church. The Music Festival was held here every year, and a treat between piano pieces was to go to the bakery for a snack. I have never been able to duplicate these cookies anywhere, ever. As a note to Angela, they have almost the same texture and colour as those wonderful nutmeg sugar cookies of yours when they're just barely cool out of the oven. Not crisp at all, just soft and chewy.
I'd be much obliged if anyone could give me any ideas for this!
I have also discovered I have a positive addiction to Genmaicha green tea, probably from having it at sushi restaurants. We have some at home, but I just can't make it taste the same as when I'm out. I'm trying to figure out a new way to steep it at home that will work better than just dumping the loose tea in my little pot and drinking around the leaves and rice :)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Hi all, this is just a quick post for now. Trying to spend every last waking moment with Sean before he goes back to school. First of all I put it on comment moderation so that I can eliminate anonymous and all the other evil posters who have been making posting on this blog frustrating. From now on, I'm just ignoring them!
Christmas was pretty good, although I'm still working on finishing presents for 4 people (darned stomach flu). I some cute jammies, money, LUSH, and a sock kit from Angela I love! It's the Chocolate Covered Cherries socks, but as Angela "wasn't sold on the idea" they're candy cane socks instead. Red beads and white wool, with a little hint of variegated red underneath the beaded cuff. Although Ang, I mean to ask, did you mean for the white to be the main body of the sock, or the red yarn? I figured white since you strung the beads on white, but wasn't sure :D
Today is major house cleaning, tomorrow is Sean leaving :( and Jenny keeping me company :D and Thursday/Friday Night/Saturday is WIUGC, Western Inter-University Geology Conference. So at least I can keep myself busy.
Christmas was pretty good, although I'm still working on finishing presents for 4 people (darned stomach flu). I some cute jammies, money, LUSH, and a sock kit from Angela I love! It's the Chocolate Covered Cherries socks, but as Angela "wasn't sold on the idea" they're candy cane socks instead. Red beads and white wool, with a little hint of variegated red underneath the beaded cuff. Although Ang, I mean to ask, did you mean for the white to be the main body of the sock, or the red yarn? I figured white since you strung the beads on white, but wasn't sure :D
Today is major house cleaning, tomorrow is Sean leaving :( and Jenny keeping me company :D and Thursday/Friday Night/Saturday is WIUGC, Western Inter-University Geology Conference. So at least I can keep myself busy.
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