Jack's First Day of School

Jack's First Day
Originally uploaded by kckellner.

Good luck Jack in your first day of school! You are going to do great!

Got to Pay to Play

On Saturday we took my parents out to Spirit Mountain Casino - none of us had ever been and despite the bit of smoke, it was really nice inside. While my dad and Josh gambled, Mom and I drove to the coast. She bought us me two more glass floats for the living room window, which is on its way to being filled up! While we were out sightseeing, Dad and Josh played the slots and Josh cleaned up - $300.00. Smart guy that he is, he stopped while ahead and fought the urge to try his hand at the craps table, instead opting to add it to the new camera fund. The buffet at Spirit Mountain was really good, so once the cholesterol levels get down to normal again, we'll be headed back to try out lady luck again.

It was a buzy weekend, since next up was the Portland Polish Festival . Too bad I didn't remember the camera - lots of great costumes, and of ciourse food, a tribute to Pope Paul II, and lots of polka dancing. I am not sure how folks manage to polka after potato pancakes, perogies, keilbasa, and stuffed cabbage rolls! Josh even found the name of an accordian teacher here in town (what better place to find one)-we'll have to see if she can teach something other than polkas though!

Melo Says Hi

Melo
Originally uploaded by kckellner.

I really, really [heart] Flickr. Now I will be able to get around to posting pictures of the sweater (otherwise known as a blanket) I am working on for my SP.

I [heart] Flickr

IMG_7240
Originally uploaded by kckellner.

Well, while Josh tries to convince me that some other on-line photo place-a-ma-gig is better, I am sold on Flickr. This is so cool - and easy to use. Its like a Mac program for PC users who really think like Mac users. (Those of us who used to use Macs but who have gone to the dark side for the sake of ease, Diablo and cheaper, faster machines know *exactly* what I mean.

Can you hear the Taiko drums?

This was one of those weeks where work really tried to get in the way of enjoying a social life. Besides that, work just sucked given my favorite person in my group, Clarence, left the firm. He's going to a really great opportunity, but our group right now is really at lose ends (as ever), and I have absolute -0- motivation for work. He is trully one of the best people, so its a wonder he lasted so long at the viper pit. Just as Clarence's mantra at the end was "Frankly my dear, I don't give a day," for now I'll rely on "Afterall, tomorrow is another [billable] day" given its year end and September has overall lacked a significant incentive to work for me.

But aside all that yuckiness at work this week, we tried two new restaurants that absoluytely rocked. First one was Wong's King , a place Heather's foodies raved about and it was very yummy. (The reviews seem mixed, but we liked it.) Definitely the nicest restaurant decor for Chinese food that I've seen in Portland, and the cleanest (i.e., no MSG) Chinese food we've had in PDX. Lots of cool stuff on the menu, too: apple pear soup to start, and red bean sweet soup for dessert. Josh and I can't wait to go back for the dim sum. As an added dinner bonus, we debated the finer points of Godzilla v. Gamara. Colin and Josh could not agree, and either way Pichacu could kick both their butts. Thursday was Rob's birthday (Happy Birthday Rob!) so we went out to Axteca and enjoyed some excellent mango margaritas, followed by a trip to Everday Music (think Powells for CDs). Funny, nobody was fighting me for the new Yanni or Sarah Brightman cds. Then on Friday we checked out Montego Bay , a very authentic Jamacian restaurant -- the service was laid back, mon, but excellent and the food was awesome and just enough spice and curry mix. They had a Jamacian version of sweet tea that was lime flavored, and the Blue Mountain coffee is a must (it comes all fixed up already - sweet and creamy). We then went to see the PDX Taiko Drums with Jeff and Melanie. I'd never been to see any Taiko drummers and it was very cool (and loud). Its kind of like dancing and drum playing all in one, and they had an African drumming troupe as a guest. I imagine that it would be very therpautic to play these drums, especially the 14+ foot tall one.

Oh, and random, but my newest favorite quote is: "Buy land -- they've stopped making it." From Josh, via Mark Twain on investments.

Secret Pal Goodness

A favorite site of mine, Marmalade , had a post about this Secret Pal (SP) group. It is a secret santa deal - everyone who opts in gets a pal to spoil, and someone gets you. (In high school, we had 'secret sticklers' for the field hockey team and I loved it--it was so much fun to put stuff together!) This Secret Pal group is for folks who crochet and knit. It sounds like great fun, and I am enjoying meeting new people who love to craft.

So, for the benefit of my super SP, here's my responses to the SP questionnaire:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I must admit, I have become a bit of a yarn snob - yarn need not be expensive, but I don't like most full-on acrylic or any Red Heart yarns I've come across. That said, I am a sucker for fun fur and have found a bunch of Lion Brand yarns that are a lot of fun!! SO it may just be a Red Heart ban . . .

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I wish I could crochet - took a lesson at Michael's, but could not get the hang of it. It makes no sense with just one needle. I would love to learn how to crochet - there are such cool patterns for crocheted flowers.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

No real allergies, but strongly dislike smoke and smoke-smelly things. Love pets!

4. How long have you been knitting?

I learned in high school when I made the ugliest vest known to man, dropped off the knitting kick til a few years ago and I am currently obsessed . . . it might have to do with a very cool knit shop which recently opened up nearby.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Why yes I do right here .


6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I don't care for very heavily scented things - generally I like lavender, citrus, and green tea for scented items. Definitely no vanilla - its just never quite right and too sweet!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

More than one!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I also quilt, and with the change in seasons quilting will start to compete with knitting for my spare time, along with rubberstamping (card making). I also like to make soaps and try other crafty projects.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

All sorts - my husband has greatly improved my musical taste. In no particular order, I like (yes, I can admit it!) Yanni, blue grass (Alison Krauss, Nickell Creek), Earth Wind & Fire, Engima, Bollywood soundtracks (Monsoon Wedding is the best), anything that winds up on my Yahoo list. . . I love to try new music out.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Favorite color is like a deep red (like Burgundy or wine) or a rustish orange - no pastels. I tend to like fall and jewel colors.


11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Wonderful husband and most bestest puppy princess in the world.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know):


Get a job I love, or at this point, even like!! Have a kid (or possibly, kids. Have a wonderful life with Josh. And go back to Tahiti . . . definitely, go back to Tahiti . . . more than once.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Right now, Trendsetter Dune, Cascade 220(great for felting), Trendsetter Aura - anything that is soft and doesn't split!!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Not a big angora fan - I like the finished product, just don't like knitting with it! Also, Red Heart - too scratchy and doesn't feel soft and fun to work with.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

yes, I am late to the fashion game, but ponchos, fingerless gloves, purses or things with beads.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Whatever I am knitting right now - life is too short to use unfun yarns, needles or patterns.

17. What are you knitting right now?

A small beaded bag from an older Interweave pattern. I saw the finished product up in a yarn shop in Seattle, then delved into Ebay to track it down. If I finish that, I get to start on a sweater (yikes - my first). Plus, a secret something or other for my SP.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

See # 15.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Generally circular since its such handy storage for a work in progress!

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

yes, yes, and yes. I recently found some great old plastic needles in a antique/junk store. They are from England, material is sort of a stiff jelly bracelet and I love them.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Not yet - I have the Red Cross Army Sock reproduction kit but have not yet braved this genre!

22. How did you learn to knit?

From a one-on-one class. My mom doesn't knit, so she figures I get it from my maternal grandmother whom I unfortunately never got to meet.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a year old. With my fun fur obsession, I started a sweater, but I may just resign myself and start over . . . we'll see.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Polar bears (the real ones, not animated!)

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas/Hanukkah - in that order.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

I think its more covet unfortunately than collect - I already have too much stuff, but can't seem to say no to more crafty bits.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None - but here's hoping.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I think I'd like to get Nicky Epstein's newest book, Knitting Over the Edge. I have her book on flowers and I love the roses on the cover of the book.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??

I've been on a pattern kick lately (since its cheaper than yarn and I don't feel bad when the yarn is lying around for weeks/months before being used!).

ETA: 30. What are your foot measurements, and what kind of socks do you like?

Yikes - that will take a bit.

Yada Yada Yada

There's just not been a whole lot going on lately that I feel like blogging about. The parents are moving back east, and I think between all the pictures of Katrina and reading Into The Void, its just been kinda blah--and really, considering just how lucky Josh and I are in the scheme of things, it'd be childish and selfish to whine about our lives when all those poor folks down in LA and MS have just lost everything. I may hate my job, but for now, I have one, it pays the bills, and I have a great house (notwithstanding unfinished floors and permanent hole in the bathroom wall), a wonderful dog who gives the best pupple snuggles ever, and the bestest hubby in the world.

So, I'll chalk it up to being the in between season - too warm to be fall, too early to get really excited by the holiday season (explaining why all the halloween decorations, which I generally adored, are bugging the $*&% out of me at Michael's and Joann's). Plus, I miss Erica. She wasn't here for near long enough!!

Today was Jack's first day of school - yikes!!! I remember him being in diapers - now school!! I hope Jenn took pictures!