knitting quandry...

I've bought yarn at different places on clearance in quantities of only one skein. I have several of these random skeins floating around in my big 'ol knitting box. I want to use said yarn... but have no patterns of interest. Don't want to make more mittens. Don't want to make a hat. Don't really want to make a scarf. Don't want to make a baby thing.

Don't know what to make.

**frustrated sigh**

Bec, do you have any ideas? Know anyone who does? Anyone out there?

........Bueller?........... Bueller?......

Literary commentary...

Ok, so I know the book Ticket Home has been on my "currently reading" list forever. I had it on there before I actually started reading it, to be honest - and then it did take me while to finish. It was a good book - interesting storyline which takes place during WW2 - identical twin brothers, a pretty girl, trains, conflict (both personal and war related), history, etc. The battle explinations and sequences were long and drawn out, but justified.
The author's website: James Michael Pratt

...Now to a new book: Girl With the Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier. It was recommended to me by my friend Alisa. Actually, what she said was "...this is the next book you need to read." She's not the only one who recommended it, either. A woman I work with loved it, and when I was talking to my mom about buying it at Barnes & Noble, some guy overheard me stumbling on the artists' name (Vermeer) and said that he'd read it... but that it's not a guy book. I've already started it and like it so far. There's a movie, too - which I'd wanted to see - but I'm glad to read it first.

Gilbert and Sullivan

Well, I did it. Auditioned for a G&S company nearby. Took mom to the audition with me, for moral support and directions. Got there and was the youngest by probably 10 years, although most likely 20 on average. The audition itself seemed to go fairly well. I was the only one who did not know the score, which made me feel somewhat stupid, but I sang something else and it was fine, although the piano was tremendously loud. Then I did a reading with this man and that was fine. Then the director asked me questions. Don't ask me questions during a deer-in-the-headlights moment. My IQ bottoms out and I can't think. Well, as mom says, I was not there to be personally articulate. We'll see what comes of it. I hope the second audition date brings about more people, (younger??) since there were few there. More on this as it develops....

(...and maybe we'll get a dumping of snow and no work Wednesday??? stay tuned.....)

Inside the actor's studio

During the surprise 7 inches of snow today I did much channel-surfing, stumbling on Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio, which I find fascinating. At the end of each show, James Lipton asks the celeb du jour a series of questions (can't remember who originated these... someone French?) and I thought that I would post them here and see if anyone cares to share their own answers. I will, too.

What is your favorite word? home
What is your least favorite word? lard
What turns you on? creativity, friends
What turns you off? stress
What sound/noise do you love? ocean/beach sounds
What sound/noise do you hate? overabundance of noise
What is your favorite curse word? damn, blast
What profession other than your own would you like to participate in? actor, photographer
What profession wouldn't you like to participate in? cleaning really disgusting things (large animal poop, really nasty bathrooms)
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you at the pearly gates? "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"

Give it a try! It's not as easy as it looks!

good thing it's not real....

One of the links on this site is the Hollywood Stock Exchange. It's a game - no actual money changes hands. When you sign up, you get $2mil H-dollars. You buy stock for the actors you like - Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, etc. (there are moviebonds, too, but I don't do that). If you lose it all, they'll give you more. So I started sometime in college and did ok, but lost some. I bought people I liked and when finally some of them made me lose tremendously (like George Clooney!), I sold. But I don't do it that often, so it's not a big deal to me.
A long time ago, while reading about the making of Star Wars Episode 2 (which I never saw), they talked about Hayden Christenson (sp). I happened to go to hsx a short while after that and bought 20,000 shares of his stock, (normally I buy 2000, but it was a deal - $5.67 a share.) knowing the movie would be popular. Then, I forgot about the website for months - maybe a year. I checked in again and couldn't believe my eyes. The stock skyrocketed. Overjoyed, I bought little bits of other people I liked, at all various prices.
Just checked my stocks today. I had a down day - net worth down $18,467. But, net worth total: $4,221,372.85, with over $3.6mil invested. And that cheapie Hayden? Now worth $87.05/share... an increase of 1,434%. (on the flip side, Julia's lost me 61% since I bought.... v.bad, but how can you sell her?) Good thing I don't take real $$ risks like this!!!!

ice, snow and cold.... and NO SCHOOL!

So, this morning, the Presidential parents left in the car for Florida... in the midst of an arctic blizzard. Luckily, it was slow going, but they are safely out of the snowy area now. It's so cold... dangerously cold, but really beautiful! And the best was the phone call at 5:15am that there wouldn't be any school today! **wild cheering**And on my busiest day! :) Too bad they won't just call it a week!

Sheep in a Jeep

Got a great book the other day titled Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw. I thought it was an appropriate thing to keep in my baby! (note: that shiny one in the snow looks like mine!)

Oh - another thing of interest - it thundered today during a very quick blizzard! Wierd weather... go figure!

Random Poetry for Wednesday

The Red Wheelbarrow

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens

-William Carlos Williams

Back again....

So I'm back. The retreat was interesting. The main speaker, Denny Henderson, was good - contemporary and thought-provoking. The band was great too. It was a little wierd being there, though, since most people seem to have been going to Tuscarora forever, or so it seems. Whatever. I went, I saw, I learned, that was good, and I'll probably not go back. Oh - one last thing - there was a concert Saturday night of this fellow Gordon alum.... surprising but good. I have the CD.

happy weekending!

In a little bit, I'm off for the weekend. It's a "young adult" retreat... we'll see how it goes. After several retreat experiences in High School I am wary...

but anyway.... HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all! Here's to hoping that 2004 is happier, more peaceful, more healthy and great for adventure, good memories and fun. (anyone got any good ideas for resolutions? I haven't made any yet...) :)