I lost my cell phone in Mexico (and it was used by some stranger for a week).

My computer crashed Thursday - the hard drive broke while listening to iTunes. Back it up, kids.

My car wouldn’t start when I was out of town for the 4th.

What is going on? Did I piss off the technology gods?

I made it through security easily at O’Hare on my way to Mexico. Not even as much as a pause or a bag check from the security folks. Since it wasn’t a problem, I didn’t think twice about bringing my knitting on the plane on the way BACK to the U.S. I mean, they’re sock needles. Circular sock needles, even. Smaller than a pen! Not those big long pointy sticks.

Stupid me. I got the “No Pass.” Huh? He searches my bag and takes out the sock on the needles and says “No Pass.” For some reason I cannot explain, I got angry. I said “But it’s the same size as a pen! I was able to take them to Mexico just fine!” You get the idea. “No Pass.” I should have asked for his supervisor! Do they take pens from people??? And stupid me had a second circular needle still in the package in the bag. Took that too. He even tried to take my plastic stitch holder and that’s when I got really angry. Luckily he showed that one to his friend and he nodded that was ok. ??????? *deep breath* I don’t understand why it made me so upset that he took $10 worth of Knit Picks knitting needles. Principle! Principle I tell you!

It gets me all riled up just thinking about it. Once I even brought the TSA announcement with me to the airport that says knitting needles are ok to take on the plane. I guess I got complacent.

I still haven’t bought replacement needles.

I’m still sulking (it’s been three weeks since I’ve even looked at it). The first time I’ve picked up knitting in months and I’m foiled!

Hepatica

Bloodroot

Skunk Cabbage

Mayapples

Trout Lily

Whole album Click Here.

I also put some silliness up on youtube:

More Here.

And a trip up north wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Superdawg!

Some make cookies, but I like to make my own holiday cards. In past years, I’ve even cut the paper! This year, Paper Source made it easy! I bought 2 packs of 20 green folded cards, one pack of 20 blue folded cards, a bunch of off-white flat cards, and matching envelopes. If you haven’t seen the rainbow of colors that Paper Source offers, you are really missing out. We even used Paper Source envelopes for our wedding invitations and thank-you cards. I just really wish they used recycled paper.

I think this year’s rubber stamps were made by Hero Arts. There is a stamp store in Galena, IL called Ink & Stamp with Sue that I love to visit. I went there in September this year and picked out my stamps for the holidays.

From the Simply Green blog on December 17, 2007.

You can also do a search for yarn ornaments on Flickr and see what comes up!

Like these:
Mini Mitten Ornaments
Mini Sock
Felted Tiny Peppermint Tree - genius
Mini Sweaters

So, it’s going to warm up again, right? I guess not. I forgot how much you have to check weather.com and the thermometer in Chicago. I’ll just be going about my day and then “Oh crap, it’s snowing. Hard. I don’t have any boots. Or a snow scraper. Please don’t let the windshield washer fluid run out” OR “Shoot, it’s raining AND freezing, I don’t have my raincoat AND down vest or parka.” Or then I wear a sweater to work at a school and it’s so f-ing hot inside I’m sweating all day long, but it’s freezing and windy outside. Geez Louise preparing for the weather in Chicago takes effort. I guess I had gleefully forgotten. But the schools in California were very cold and damp in the winter. So there.

Can I just get a little bit of sun, here? That would be nice, thanks.

I know this picture is a month or so old, but I thought it was pretty. And happy.

Helping Sarah start her scarf inspired me to start a new project. I know it’s been a sad while since I posted any knitting. Finally, Sarah, proof to your friends that this is, in fact, sometimes a knitting blog :) The Ravelry site has also been mucho inspirational. It is so much more than I imagined it would be. It’s linked to Flickr, by golly! The internet at it’s finest, let me tell you. I even entered my circular needles into the needle organizer the other night. I have grand plans of taking pictures of my yarn for the “stash” section. I think that may inspire other new projects. There is no way I can detail all the amazing features of Ravelry. In fact, I don’t have to, you can click here to watch the video tour!

In honor of this occasion, I quote the song “Get’cha Head in the Game” from the movie High School Musical:

I gotta
Get my, get my head in the game
You gotta
Get’cha, get’cha, get’cha, get’cha head in the game
(repeat 3x)

Click Here for the whole album.