Cross-border blogging...(an introduction)

WARNING/AVERTISSEMENT: This is not "just another knitting blog". The fainthearted may wish to click the back button on their browser now.... but please note that this blog has the potential to foster understanding between different nations and otherwise change your life forever!!!

Beware, though, and don't believe everything you read...NOTHING is safe (or sacred...) in the 49th Dimension!!!

For some background and lots of amusing pics, click here.

Gold and Canada

Oh Golly!!!

I somehow overlooked the Queen!!! I guess I realized she was on the money, but yeah. Thanks for the lesson in politics. I now have to work on finding the Ogre a job at a high paying and evil pharmaceutical company. Woohoo!!

Speaking of gold teeth, I was scoping the fam's dental work at the birthday party. My uncle said he was hoping that it wouldn't be wasted by being disposed of upon his death. I responded with a hearty "Hell NO! I'm going to put my knee on your forehead and pull that gold out!"

Oh. Am also a fan of The Guess Who. Does that give or take away points?

wannabe or real Canajan?

Dear Holly:

you can absolutely be Canadian, I think (hey, JJ has only been here from Scotland for 15 years and he's managed... although he does still talk a bit funny, he does manage to say "truck" rather than "lorry" and "elevator" rather than "lift". It was so funny when we went to London in December when he slipped back into the Britisher stuff, thoguh...)

You're definetely along the right track, as I see it.

(a) you have ties close to the border.

(b) you love Timmy's

(c) you love Fluevogs (also Canajan!!)

(d) you're willing to use the "u" (and may I correct you if you write "color" on your blog instead of "colour"?

(e) you use Celsius. Good on ya!! And why haven't they switched, anyway? The medical field is obviously the smart field...

(f) if you have any gold, instead of silve, sell it here now. Apparertly it's going for $1,000/ounce. I tried to hold JJ down earlier this evening and extract his gold fillings, but there was nothing to be seen and he said they all fell out a long time ago and he doesn't know where they are (I suspect they're stashed, and will be conducting a search).

(g) re the government thing: frankly, if you can make any sense of these American primaries (I'm a fairly well educated person, but can't get any clue about how your system runs!) you can get the Canadian structure. Here's my prelimimary stab at "Canadian Government for Pigs"...or a "civics lesson" as you call it in the US.. but warning, there is probably a better summary here:

- in Canada, we have a Queen.



- However, the Queen does not live here. She is represented by someone called the Governor General.

- In each province (which is like a state - there are ten provinces in Canada, and also three "territories", but that is a subject for the next lesson...) she is also represented by other people called "Lieutenant Governors" (and in Canada, like in Britain, you pronounce this as "Leftenant".

- because we have a Queen, we do not have a President. Instead, the leader of the country is actually only the top person of the political party that is currently in power - called the "Prime Minister". The current Prime Minister is called Stephen wanker Harper.



(Mr. Harper is the guy on the right, in case you were wondering.).

- We have four major political parties in Canada - the Conservatives (who are in power right now for the whole country), the Liberals (who are in power right now in Ontario, the province where I live), the New Democratic Party (who were pinko commies until quite recently) and the Bloc Quebecois (a separatist French-Canadian party). In any given election, there are also other parties who show up, such as the Rhinos...



... and the Natural Law Party, also known as the Transcendental Meditation Party...



... but they don't really get too far, sadly enough.

- We do not have federal elections every 4 years. Our system is a bit different in that the federal government can actually sit for five years... unless another party forces an election more quickly because of a problem in government - if there is what is called a "vote of non-confidence" with regard to a specific policy, then we have to have an election

This means that we have more elections than you have in the US, probably. It doesn't mean necessarily that they are effective. The province I live in recently changed this system so now there are standard elections every four years - unless there is a huge problem, in which case an election can be called earlier. No one has yet figured out the rules for this, though.

- When we have elections, we do not vote for a party, but for the person representing the party. However, they do not put on the ballots which party is represented by which person - they just put down the names of the people who are running. The voter is expected to know this information when they come to vote. I'm not sure how well this works, actually.

- In Canada, like in the US, we have three levels of government: federal, provincial (state) and municipal (city). The relationship between the three is governed by the British North America Act of 1867. This Act created a division of responsibility between the federal goverments and the provincial governments (and by the way, at the time there were only four provinces!!) and then put the provincial governments in charge of municipal issues. The Act is a bit outdated, and this can cause some fights and problems.


So, Holly - is this enough info to pass the citizenship requirements? (JJ managed to pass without studying! But then he is also a British subject, which makes life a bit easier when you're in Canada, sadly enough). It's harder and harder to get into Canada these days, mind you, so act promptly. :-) I would sponsor you, but we'd have to be related or married... a problem since you're married to the Ogre. Plus I'd have to guarantee you $100/month, which would cut into my yarn spending... but if you work out the other wrinkles, I'd consider that!

Cheers,

Kristina

Oh, I think this can work!

Dear Kristina!!

I think I can be Canadian! With your pointers and my family's already close proximity to the border and love of Timmy's I really think this could be a go!

(a) I can start throwing u's into things. Not a problem here. I already spell grey the non Murcan way, because well, it looks prettier.

(b) Learn Celsius? I have to work on my Fahrenheit! I have been using Celsius since 1982 when I was told that we were switching. I've been holding my breath ever since. It's a good thing I work in the medical field (when I work.)

(c) Our dollar is weak, so we praise how clever your Canadian currency is. I'm thinking of selling some silver up there soon.

(d) Yeah, the whole government thing. That will take some getting used to. But I'm used to posting edu-ma-cational propagada around the house "for the Pigs." So, if we go North, we'll just have the Learn Your Prime Ministers! Poster instead of the Learn Your Presidents! Poster.

You know, I took French in high school, so I can ask where the bibliotecha is. That may be all I've got, but it's something.

I think the family could pull this off. Now, I just have to work on the Ogre...

Canajan, eh?

Holly, for what it's worth I designate you as an honorary Canajan. However, in order to pass the official test, you'll have to know a few things:

(a) it's coloUr, not color. And any -or ending, you should probably stick in a "u" before just to be safe. If you're called on it, you can just pretend to be British.

(b) you will have to learn celsius temperatures. We have been metric here since 1976. The only reason I put fahrenheit on my blog is because I look it up on the internet because I'm trying to be American-friendly.

(c) you will have to adjust to paying a lot more for has than you do now.

(d) if you want the list of the Canadian prime ministers, just contact me before the test.


And - here's another example of our upcoming Toronto underground - Museum station!



This is the subway station I had to use when going to law school (when I couldn't rollerblade there!) - and let me tell you, it was far more grim then.

And - you can tell the Ogre that pretty much everyone in Canada speaks English. Certainly, pretty much everyone in Montreal speaks English. As for Toronto... anglophone central. I can teach you all the French you need to know. I managed to get by in Paris speaking only French to everyone but JJ and his son... and funnily enough, I got this weird feedback from almost everyone that "are you from Ireland"? In french!!! Imagine... a greek-canadian with a bunch of scoto-brits in France being asked by French people in French, "Are you irish?". Sigh.

It's a weird thing - you've never heard my voice. Most new people I meet here ask me if I'm from down east, meaning Atlantic Canada, meaning a quasi-irish accent. This has happened from the time I came to Toronto... well before I was involved with the corrupt Scottish/Irish JJ. I really don't get it. My first language was Greek, my second (at 3 or so) English and I never met an honest-to-god Irish person until my 20s when I moved to Toronto. Nor have I ever been to the east coast of Canada.

You know what? I've never met you either, but I imagine that you and I both sound the same when we talk. It's the 49th dimesion, after all :-). I should actually get you to phone me and test this theory...

I love that you want to be Canajan. It's still the best identity in North America, I think, despite all my bitching. :-)


Cheers,

Kristina

Newfoundland Rocks! I had no Idea

Dear Kristina!

Thank you so much for the good information! I had no idea that you poor Canadians went through the same mess and the info about Newfoundland.

I am sort of a slouch when it comes to, oh, you know, geography, and such. Like when I told the Ogre I wanted to move to Montreal. I went on, and on about all the cool features of the city. Ok, it was during a blizzard, and I was really impressed with the whole underground city thing!

You brilliant Canadians! Oh, your public transit and how you deal with the Great White North!!


The Ogre, being the Ogre, had to break my heart and say "You know they speak French there, right?"

I speak flawless French! I mean, I speak flawless Spanish! Ok, I speak flawless English. Uh, I speak American English in such a manner that I sound like I live in Canada!!! Can I please, please be Canadian?

more daylight!

Dear Holly:

Yes, we too go through the confusion, fatigue and ridiculousness caused by Daylight Savings Time. I suspect that our reliance on this stupid principle from the south has more to do with TV schedules than everyone else, frankly. Why the hell else create a situation where we have to live in the dark all winter.

And they wonder why most suicides happen in winter??? Hello!!!

So, I've taken advantage of the sleepness to reblock old knitting projects:



...ride back and forth on the subway to finish this scarf (because I promised myself I would only knit it in public):



...eat nourishing and healthy foods:



(this is the French name, by the way. It's "Oreo Loaded" in English. I prefer the French name - gotta love living in a bilingual country!!!)

... and drinking Tim Horton's finest by the litre.

So, those are my tips to you, my friend to the south... although I do agree with your theory - one little Canadian glitch though, in Newfoundland they are already half an hour off the time (that is, their time zone is 1/2 hour removed from that of Eastern Canada! When it is 8:00 in Halifax it is 8:30 in St Johns. And you think America is the butt of all the jokes?!? LOL).

And - just start gearing up now, as next year I think they're changing the time by two hours, no?

Sigh.

Take it easy,

Kristina

Time Change?

Dear Kristina,

I have a question. Do you in the Great White North go through the mind numbing confusion caused by Daylight Savings Time? Sure, I could totally google this question, but I thought it would be nice to get a Canadian point of view on this whole thing.

Because like wanting to give you Alaska, I have some thoughts about these sorts of things. These thoughts may not always make sense, but really, does having this much sunlight this early in the year make sense? My pagan sensibilities say no.

So here is my proposal, just set the whole clocks forward a half hour, split the difference and call it good. The whole bleeding whole already thinks were a bunch of morons, so what harm is another half hour going to do?

Really. I think it could work.

Sadly, It's Not Me...

Dearest Friend in the North,

Nope, Max Brooks is Mel Brooks' son and I am just Holly Bee. Although we both are privy to the truth about zombies and that does make us fighters on the same team.

I have to keep a close eye on my Pigs though...they may have the virus. Will keep you posted.

As for candy, you really hit the mother load. Oh, and I think Daniel Craig has a private email address because of his ultimate loveliness.

are you really called Max Brooks, by any chance?

Hi Holly:

I made a lunchtime sojourn to Pages bookshop today. Saw this there - have you been holding out on me, woman?! Are you a famous published author and not sharing that info with me?!?!

What am I blatting on about, you ask? This, of course:



The book even has a cool website.

It has to be your work... !!

Anyway, I didn't buy it because I want a complimentary signed copy. I did, however, buy this for $2:



Right up our alley, eh? But buying a book about Murcan candy made me crave some of the good old fashioned Canajan variety.

Imagine my delight when I saw this NEW type of candy at the counter:

Caramilk Deluxe comes neatly packaged and it contains four small pieces. Each piece is filled with a blend of caramel and dark chocolate, all wrapped in the signature Cadbury milk chocolate.

Swoon.
Hey - check out this old ad for Caramilk, by the way. Should I send to Daniel Craig



and tell him it's me?!

no Daniel?!?!?!?

Such bad, bad news, Holly. The Ogre is worthy of his name.

Shall resend link immediately I get to work (it's not on my home computer in order to avoid similar recriminations from Shrek JJ. Did I tell you that JJ's voice sounds like Shrek's? Coincidence? I think not... it must be one of those weird 49th dimension things. We are both married/shacked to Ogres.)

If he finds it again, BLAME CANADA!!! I'm sure you're familiar with the South Park ditty, but just in case not...

Sheila: Times have changed
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse!
Sharon: Should we blame the government?
Liane: Or blame society?
Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
Sheila: No, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their beady little eyes
And flapping heads so full of lies
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: We need to form a full assault
Everyone: It's Canada's fault!
Sharon: Don't blame me
For my son Stan
He saw the damn cartoon
And now he's off to join the Klan!
Liane: And my boy Eric once
Had my picture on his shelf
But now when I see him he tells me to fuck myself!
Sheila: Well, blame Canada
Everyone: Blame Canada
Sheila: It seems that everything's gone wrong
Since Canada came along
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Copy Guy: They're not even a real country anyway
Ms. McCormick: My son could've been a doctor or a lawyer rich and true,
Instead he burned up like a piggy on the barbecue
Everyone: Should we blame the matches?
Should we blame the fire?
Or the doctors who allowed him to expire?
Sheila: heck no!
Everyone: Blame Canada
Blame Canada
Sheila: With all their hockey hullabaloo
Liane: And that bitch Anne Murray too
Everyone: Blame Canada
Shame on Canada
For...
The smut we must stop
The trash we must bash
The Laughter and fun
Must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before somebody thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!!

Sorry for the hardship. Will try to rectify immediately.

Stay strong... we DC lusters shall prevail!!!

I Am Legend! Ok, Accused of Stalking...

I don't mean to bring up He who must not be named again, but it's sort of your fault...

I was accused of stalking Daniel Craig by the Ogre!!!

He caught me watching Daniel Craig in love (please resend link-I have been banned from watching it) while I was supposed to be cooking dinner-no wonder dinner is always burned.

He thought I had somehow set up video link into Daniel's real flat. Yes, because I am internet crime magnet living in Michigan with spies all over the world.

Currently in the field, spy 47

I would so drive a nicer car that doesn't bottom out in the drive way.

Anyway, I am an international woman of mystery with extreme spy skills. If only knitting paid so well.

Tim Horton and polar bears...

Brilliant knits in Iceland... if you like Fair Isle! (I don't...).

I can't say I agree with you re. wanting the 9 months of "real snow". But - maybe that makes you a true Canadian! Check out the Far North in Canada (or else Alaska, I suppose, if you want to remain Murcan).

One caveat - if you go TOO far north they do not sell such things as pringles, diet coke, etc locally and one must order in sufficient quantity every six months or so at great expense.

Anyway, you might want to check out this issue of Walrus Magazine before you think about moving North. It was quite interesting reading... but solidified my desire for warm temps. If you catch me bitching about the humidity in the summer, please come north of the border and slap me hard.

I think my fingers have thawed well enough to return to my "phallic" Secret of the Stole II:



(Phallic?!?! What was up with that?! Perhaps a trip to Toronto to check out the yarn shops would be therapeutic? What say you?!)

And guess what - there is now a museum dedicated to Tim Horton! It is located in Cochrane, Ontario - his birthplace.

Come to think of it, given your desire for colder climes, it might be a good idea for you to make a pilgrimage to Cochrane, which is located here:



In other words, northeast of Timmins (named after Tim as well? Hmmm) - which is as far north as I have been, and only in the summertime.

Wikipedia says that Cochrane Town contains many references to polar bears. Its mascot is a large polar bear statue known as Chimo. There are also live polar bears at the new "Polar Bear Conservation and Educational Habitat and Heritage Village" which opened in the summer of 2004.

Sounds like it's right up snow-mad alley! What say you?

It's cold and dirty around here

Dear Kristina,

I'm plotting a move to say, Iceland, or somewhere officially "COLD." I am just not keen on this wimpy snow here, snow there, some sun, then a bit of a blizzard. I think I'm ready for the long haul insanity of actual deep rooted in 9 months of darkness, monsters of the deep, frozen ALL the time, Iceland. I hear they have nice knits too.

Completely Snowed In,
Holly

sacrilege!!

Holly:

In this weird, weird world we inhabit, is nothing sacred?!?!?



I mean, really. Cookie Monster eating veggies?!?!? And why, do you think? I'll tell you why!!! They're worried about child obesity. Like kids are going to want to eat broccoli because Cookie Monster is on a diet?!?? Please. (although you may beg to differ as you have kids and I don't. Do correct me if I'm wrong!)

I actually found seeing this photo rather traumatic. I don't like vegetables - I never have, and when I was a kid I liked even less. Cookie Monster was my hero.

Whither the real Cookie Monster?

Sob. You will be missed, Cookie.

why didn't I think of that?!?!?!?!

Holly: we need an agent sooner rather than later.

(Wrong agent? Just trying to get your dirty little mind off more current Bonds. I'm a bit of a hypocrite though, because this ruse is not quite working for me...

STOP THINKING ABOUT DANIEL CRAIG, KRISTINA!!

That's better. Besides, as you know I am rather partial to older Scottish blokes:

OK - I can focus now. What was I saying? Oh yes ...).

We desperately need an agent. Look what I saw on the way to work this morning...

We have missed out on yet another golden opportunity! Check out the blurb:

I could have written that book. And you could have written the American companion volume "Why Krispy Kremes just don't cut it: Tim Rules!

So... let's get going on it. It's winter, it's cold and we can spend lots of quality time scheming and writing...

Ahem, not to mention daydreaming.




You are truly, truly wicked. I don't think that JJ will let me watch Casino Royale tonight given that I've already made him see it three times in the past two weeks!

Any zombie problems lately?

Ta-ta,

Kristina

Pure Genius! We need an Agent!

Dear Kristina!

We need an agent, STAT! Better call in 007...

Somehow between the olives, the vodka, the blue eyes and the giddy planning of Daniel Craig as permanent Friday Man Slave yarn winder, this info passed into the martini/brain barrier...

blah,blah, DANIEL CRAIG, blah, blah, movie, BOND, blah, 2008.

fame and fortune are soon to be ours!

Holly:

FABULOUS ideas!!!

I'd totally go for the MDK book concept, but wackier and less homey, of course. How about something along these lines:



Check out the inside of the book!

If you don't know who Amy Sedaris is, you'll get a sense by reading this interview. Very, very wacky. Almost as nuts as us (except that she's only half greek and I'm 100% greek which would account for the difference on my end at least!)

Then we can get a TV show, then Daniel Craig can be the regular guest star. I certainly wouldn't mind prancing around in front of him like this:



I mean, he thinks he's tough...


... but I'm sure we could convince him to be the souschef/yarnwinder/boy Friday. How do you think he'd look in an apron?

Oh Holly Holly Holly - do you see what you've started!!!! You are evil. The world will never be the same again once they are introduced to... the 49th Dimension!!!

Oooh! Excellent Idea!

Totally rock this idea!

Let's either

Have a 49th Dimension Knitting book-like the Mason Dixon chicks
or
Have a Zombie Prom Date Knitters Book turned into a Movie

Either way....

Daniel Craig will star!!!!

stop putting up photos of Daniel Craig, woman!!!

Holly!

It's hard enough being a knitting obsessed blogger and trying to concentrate on work (especially since most of my work is done on the computer). Then you haveto go and put up distracting photos of James Bond! Man alive.

Do you not realise I almost did not leave the house this morning because I was watching Casino Royale for the 50th time?!?!

Sheesh.


Oh - since you've forced us onto this topic, I thought you might enjoy the following video clip for drool potential and/or laughs. I saw this on TV in London at Christmas time. It is a skit featuring Catherine Tate, a popular british comedian, and DC.

Hey - I never clued in that my new favourite movie star and my favourite beverage share the same initials. This must mean something.


Is it meant to be? He has the same colour eyes as JJ as well... just my type! And British to boot.

Now, back to your post.

So, you liked the Malabrigo OK...
I preferred this one but there wasn't enough of it for the Secret of the Stole thing (of course, I had to buy it anyway): Handmaiden Lace Silk!

I now have 7 kilometres of Handmaiden products. Shameless, I know. I'm wondering if there is a Yarn Miles card out there somewhere? hmm.

Excellent that you have a duck family as well! Love it! We'll have to introduce them all sometime.

Sorry to hear about your toxic waste. I won't take any of it, thanks. I got rid of all mine last week when cleaning the apartment. Glad to hear you have a girl crash on the waste lady - I guess you'll never have a girl crush on me because I don't watch CFL. But don't I look handsome? I know, I know... not as good as this guy:

Sigh. (fanning myself) Back to the grind now.

Cheers, and enjoy the waste-free day!

Kristina

Your Lace Weight Impresses Me...I'll Raise You Hazardous Waste

Your lace weight does in fact impress me. Did you score they all mighty amount?

I was sent a harshly worded email that suggested I needed to get off my arse and rid the house of all the chemicals that forced me to conclude that the Ogre was a Romney lovin' Republican.




My lady really was that happy when she took my hazardous waste! It was great. We talked about coffee, Led Zeppelin the benefits of CFL, and the cool new shopping bags they have at our local grocery store. They're fabric, collapsible, and are sturdy enough to stay upright, all for the low, low price of $1. I think I have a girl crush.

So after all that hot environmental saving the world action, I decided to end some of the Ogre enforced bans and took Pig 3 out to lunch. Oh, I wasn't thinking about Haz Mat Girl, RFK Jr baby. Well, him and Daniel Craig, the beach, and yeah.

Then we went shopping. No, we didn't hit the LYS. I knew that would be pushing it, but I did score some much needed supplies. Christ, there could be a bloody blizzard at any moment and you do not want me to go all Shining on the family and start swinging my shovel willy nilly. So I had to stock up on a few essentials...

Look! Did you know, I too have a family of ducks? They Pigs are actually fostering them for me.

it must be five o'clock SOMEWHERE...

Hey Holly:

I hadn't noticed that your drinking game post was dated 4:00 p.m. So - are you saying that you and Ogre didn't get started until ... oh... 4:45 or so then?


(I know what you mean - dates/times really get screwed up by this 49th dimbulb here. Sometimes for some reason work Emails come over as having been sent by me at 2:00 a.m. People remark upon this and I just let them think I really was up until all hours doing work. It justifies my taking a 2 hour lunch and then leaving at 4:00 p.m. to hit the bar/the LYS/my couch in front of Law and Order reruns/wherever else I'm planning to hit on any given day.)

Obviously I'm quite hard at work right now... it is 2:00 p.m. at time of writing and I'm busily thinking about high-end legal concepts while I draft this post!

ACKCKCK!!! Good thing I looked at Lettuce Knit's website! They are CLOSED until 6:00 p.m. today - and I was going to hit there to look for lace yarn for the Secret of the Stole around 4:45 p.m. Sigh. Will have to go to Romni instead. Please wish me luck - I need 1400 metres of laceweight yarn in the same colour. (I'm sad because I like Lettuce Knit but don't get there too often because it's off my normal route).

Anyway, take it easy. Had best at least pretend to do some work before I bail from here...

kb

Holy Drunk PJ's Craft Girl!

Ok, my post says I wrote that at like 4 in the after noon. I would like to say that some how in the glory of the space time continuum that is the 49th dim (stress on dim) ension, my posts seem to come across really early. I was not in my pj's and doing drinking games with the Ogre at 4 in the afternoon.

We have three pigs, we have standards. Heck, I'm busy burning dinner until well after 6 most nights.

Speaking of dinner...I made a mighty good meat loaf, last night. I didn't even burn it. That's right friend, I'm going to have to be peaceful and learn math to be like my heroes Ghandi and Einstein. I'm going to gnaw on any cow that walks by my house...and you know that may happen in my neighborhood.

The Bleeding Ulcer sounds better than what I was forced to drink last night! I like the addition of the hot sauce, very sassy.

drinking contests

Hey Holly:

I like the idea of boycotting clothing until the housecleaning is done. And, if I don't get some laundry done soon, I shall HAVE to boycott clothing, actually, and come to work in my PJs. The coworkers would love that!

Love your contest with the Ogre. However, no offence, but I think I'd have to go with his Stoned Ivan.

I'd like to join in with you right now (at work). Hey, how does the following cocktail sound:

- hazelnut vanilla coffee
- warm diet coke from yesterday
- sparkling water
- Frank's Red Hot Extra Hot Sauce
- Maldon Salt
- 151 proof rum (don't ask...well, you can ask. It was a gift someone brought me back from the Caribbean last week which has not managed to make it back home yet. Still unopened. Really).

All served up in a Tim Horton's travel mug? What say you?

I think I'll call it the Bleeding Ulcer.

Best stop slacking and get to work. Hey - wish me luck, eh, as I'm hitting Lettuce Knit this evening to try to find - get this - 1400 metres (1500 yards) of lace weight yarn in the same colour. This for a challenge I'm entering called the "Secret of The Stole II" that Amy told me about yesterday. I'm always the last to know about this stuff! Anyway, the first clue is released this coming Friday and I have no time to order yarn. Unlikely that I will find that quantity in one colour at any of the shops - they do not seem to sell these big cones up here and the shops err in favour of a lot of colour selection in small quantities.

Anyway, hope you're not too hung over after last night's festivities. After the LYS, am heading out to meet my friend Barb for dinner at the Free Times Cafe (best beef brisket ever!). Think I'll be sticking to beer.

Cheers,
Kristina

I really need to go out for supplies...

Ah, Kristina! I congratulate you on the cleaning! I myself thumb my nose at the house!

Take load at this crap...


It's madness I tell you, madness! Please note that in all future photos I will be in my PJ's. I am boycotting real clothes until my basement is complete. I should actually take my pajama clad self and sit down and knit at the permit office until they release my house.

Rat Bastards!

I must go and finish my foul tasting mock martini. I think I'd be better off piercing my ears with the concoction I've made. That or prepping people for surgery...

what the well-dressed zombie fighter is carrying...

Hi Holly: you may have seen this already, but just in case:



A felted pickaxe!!!. I figured every zombie warrior needs one in her collection...

Besides, it might come in handy when you want to dig yourself out after a snowstorm...

cheers,

Kristina

cleanliness is next to zombielessness

Holly: thanks so much for your zombie fighting tips for Canadians on Knit with Snot. You are a truly inclusive North American person!

For my part, I decided that if I cleaned the apartment, I'd minimise the possible hiding places for zombies. Check out what I got done yesterday!

My living room went from this:

...to this!
Just call me Martha. (er... then again, maybe not!)

And then there was the spare room, which looked as though a filing cabinet and several hardware stores had exploded:
You can actually see the floor now!
In addition to finding a whole bunch of yarn treasures long forgotten, I came across this talismanic Scottish traditional headpiece:

I strongly suspect that, were JJ to wear this "See ya Jimmy" tam, it would carry serious zombie-fighting properties. He disagrees, but he'll come around in time, no doubt.

I did not, however, manage to come across any of this while cleaning:

Which is too bad, because after all that hard work I could really have used a break:
When I discovered my sad lack of beer in the house, I had just come in from the corner store to replenish my Diet Coke supply. It was too cold out to venture to the LCBO without the car. I called JJ at work to see if he would stop in for me, but the ingrate (11 hours into a 12 hour work shift) had left early. How dare he?!?

Anyway, on the topic of beer: re Labatt, I do imagine you were brainwashed. I take it you never saw the "I ... am... CANADIAN" ad campaign for Molson. Given your wannabe tendencies, this probably would shift you over to Molson Canadian (if it's available - the only Molson beer I ever saw in the US was Golden, in the green bottle - which no one drinks here).

I wish I could try out some of your microbrews. Those are almost always the best. I had a great one when at the Michigan Womyn's Festival some years back that some women had brought from upstate New York - a black and tan beer. If you can get your hands on some, try it out. There is a version brewed here, but it sucks.

Anyway, another reason for you to get your @$$ up here - lots of microbrews!!! And good "big brewery" beer too... for some reason I have yet to try this one:

...but am looking forward to it (a free can came with the last twofer of Keith's IPA that I bought. J. "Ingrate Supreme" J. snagged it while I was at work one day. He must have run out of Grouse.

As for Alaska: I have no idea why the US bought it. And I appreciate your kind sentiments about giving it to me... but really, I don't know what I would do with it. It's difficult enough trying to keep one 1000 sq ft apartment tidy!

Not to mention keeping up with the knitting:

This is my progress on the Nina Shawl. I'm getting seriously bored with this and hate the colours I picked - but it's too far gone to rip now.

And, I can't really rest on my laurels when there are still bedrooms to clean:


So, I'll sign off now. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and don't drink too much of the brew, eh?