Life in general

Seems I need this… I’ve been in dark, wintry, sleepy, depressed hibernation mode lately.

Check out the project blog for more info on this–the goal is to write 100 lists of 100 things.

1. Meditate.
2. Call good friends.
3. Really share myself with friends.
4. Take a long, hot bath.
5. Go to the sauna.
6. Do some fun exercise like racquetball or swimming.
7. Pet the kitties.
8. Go for a long walk.
9. Take leisurely photographs, without worry about the outcome.
10. Do Soul Collage. So nurturing!

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What’s really making my day today, though, is how well Barack Obama is doing in the primaries.  Huzzah!

91% Mike Gravel
90% Dennis Kucinich
87% Barack Obama
85% John Edwards
84% Joe Biden
83% Chris Dodd
81% Hillary Clinton
73% Bill Richardson
37% Rudy Giuliani
26% John McCain
25% Ron Paul
21% Mitt Romney
18% Mike Huckabee
18% Tom Tancredo
9% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

Hoping all my readers had a wonderful holiday season!

Here is what it generally looks like in the Pacific Northwest for Christmas:

We actually had a tiny snowfall on Christmas day, which hasn’t happened in years. It didn’t stick. They keep forecasting more snow for today, but I haven’t seen any yet.

On my lack of blogging, I just haven’t had much to say lately. And I took to heart Tartx’s idea of “Blogging without Obligation.” That’s my new motto. So, when I’m too busy or can’t think of something to say, I just won’t. Don’t.

Click the logo to learn more.

I have been super busy lately, finishing up some Xmas gifts, working on creative career plans (and all the resistance that comes up therein), and so on. I spent a week in early December with my friend’s brand-new baby, which was exciting and overwhelming all at once. But how could you not fall in love with such an adorable face! And those cutie-patootie feet!

Awww…

I took part in Knit the Classics‘ Holiday Swap and received this fantastic loot from Heather in Colorado:

I’m going to make “Convertible Gloves” with the yarn.

We went to an “Orphan Christmas” for folks not doing family stuff on Christmas Day. The best part was — I could eat everything there!! I’m allergic to dairy and eggs, so normal holiday fare is problematic. This potluck was at my friend’s house who has the same dietary restrictions as me, plus she can’t eat gluten.

The dairy-, egg-, and gluten-free menu included:

• Prime Rib
• Turkey
• Stir-fried cauliflower
• Braised brussel sprouts
• Vegan Quinoa bread from the Flying Apron Bakery
• Polenta Stuffing
• Squash
• Sweet and white potatoes
• Fruit Salad
• Vegan, gluten-free chocolate chip cookie bars (I made these by substituting flour from my favorite recipe in the How It All Vegan cookbook.)
• Rum-Soaked Pear Cake from the Flying Apron Bakery
• Some rockin’ Glögg that knocked my socks off

All the food was so fantastic and yummy! Yay!

I am getting a sewing machine for my Christmas present, so that will be a new project to take up my time! I get to pick it out myself. Does anyone have any suggestions for a first-time sewing machine? I’ve never sewn before.

Happy New Year 2008!

Hi blog folks! Yes, I’m back from my grand European adventure… sadly… (Sigh). It’s a bit rough to be back, especially when I’ve been getting over the cold I caught in Amsterdam… and now I’m looking at the weather forecast:

Today Rain Likely Hi 57°F

Tonight RainLo 51°F

Saturday RainHi 54°F

Saturday Night Showers Likely Lo 43°F

Veteran’s Day RainHi 50°F

Sunday Night RainLo 42°F

Monday RainHi 51°F

Monday Night RainLo 49°F

Tuesday RainHi 53°F

Ugh. We’re not on the French Riviera anymore, Toto!

The trip summary in numbers:

• Duration: 3 months (for me); 2 months (for Jeff)
• Distance driven in our leased Peugeot: over 8000 km
• Number of countries visited: 7 (France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland, Monaco, Andorra — even though my French grandmother hardly considers those last two countries)
• Number of photos taken: over 13,000!
• Knitting projects completed: 2.5

I’m still sorting and slowly uploading trip photos to my Flickr.

While I was gone I got my invitation to Ravelry, and I’m really excited to explore that as a venue for keeping track of projects and yarn stash (username Jennhx, but there’s nothing posted yet). I’ve got many, many knitting projects I want to embark upon… as always… but I’ve also got a friend’s birth to attend and then a job to seek! Onward!

After a month of intense travel, it feels great to be home again! Between May 27 to June 27, I was only home for nine days. My trips included Arizona to visit my sister & nieces, North Carolina to visit my paternal grandmother and aunt, and a few days in Portland! Trains, planes, and automobiles, as Jeff said. I scarcely knew where home was anymore, and poor Jasmine gave me the cold shoulder when I returned finally.

So we’re settling back into a routine again, although it won’t last long… I leave for my big three-month France visit on August 1. As the country most visited by tourists, France gets as many visitors as it has permanent residents (about 60 million).

For tomorrow Jeff and I are planning an Independence from Junk Day — we are sorting junk in our garage and apartment! I’m actually excited to go through stuff. Travel makes you realize how much (or how little) of your stuff you actually need. Give me one or two suitcases and camera bag, and I’m good! I’ve been feeling the pressure of all this junk and am ready to release some of it. And hopefully we can make a few bucks having a garage sale on the weekend. If you too are feeling like your stuff owns you, joins us in making July 4th (or sometime this week) an Independence from Junk Day!

Finally, I’m also still sorting through the many photos I took on my June trips, but in the meantime here are some interesting links.

Click photo for really silly cat photos.

Check out what your American accent is like here (I’m the Midland or neutral one I guess, although some other stuff I’ve seen shows I do have the Pacific Northwest accent in a few things).

Oh, sad country… see this map of the places that have NOT adopted the metric system.

A fascinating collection of old pictures, themed for topics like “Lincoln’s assassination,” “Gold Rush,” etc.

One massive photo of San Francisco in ruin after the earthquake and fire, 1906 — it’s clickable and you can zoom way in.

The latest good cause - save the Tree Octopus! Very cleverly done.

Incredible, lightweight, wind-powered, kinetic sculptures.

¡ʇno sıɥʇ ʞɔǝɥɔ Check out how to make upside down text.

Here is a truly fascinating YouTube video about the web… It scares me a little bit, even though the web is deeply ingrained in my lifestyle already…

This was back in April, but in case you missed it, this woman was doing a marathon while knitting.