I’m a little puzzled about how this came out. I have never lived in the South, though I have lived with Southerners so maybe it rubbed off some. I don’t know anymore what sort of accent I have, really, but I’m pretty sure it’s not southern much.

(Kari? Marvie? What kind of accent do I really have?)

I don’t know why the little barzamathingies are not showing up–I’m pretty sure I pasted the right thing–but it was south 69%, midland 65%, and gradually getting smaller from there till it hit boston 25%, which is funny because that’s where I, y’know, learned to talk.

I kinda expected this. My stitches tend to be a little short; I can pretty much always match the stitch gauge in a pattern but hardly ever the row gauge.

I need to find a comfier chair to crochet in at work. Yes, I am mostly crocheting at work right now; that’s one of the benefits to being your own boss, that nobody can fire your ass for spending half your workday crocheting frantically. Anyway, my desk chair is apparently not so much the thing for crocheting, and my upper back and neck kinda seized up on me last night. Basically my entire trapezius muscle on the right side was in spasm. That suuuucked. I am trying to sit up straight today and not aggravate it.

And now for something completely different: (ooh, can you tell I’m procrastinating?)

My Personality

Neuroticism	93
Extraversion	13
Openness To Experience	66
Agreeableness	88
Conscientiousness	21

I did this yesterday and some of it looks a little weird now, like I marked the wrong books or something. I suppose it’s mostly accurate.

Meme instructions: Look at the list of books below. Bold the ones you’ve read, italicize the ones you might read, cross out the ones you won’t, underline the ones on your book shelf, and place parentheses around the ones you’ve never even heard of.

The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy – Douglas Adams
The Great Gatsby– F.Scott Fitzgerald
To Kill a Mockingbird– Harper Lee
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J. K. Rowling
Life of Pi– Yann Martel
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story– George Orwell
The Hobbit– J. R. R. Tolkien
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
Lord of the Flies– William Golding
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
1984– George Orwell
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – J. K. Rowling
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Memoirs of a Geisha– Arthur Golden
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
Slaughterhouse 5– Kurt Vonnegut
Angels and Demons – Dan Brown
Fight Club – Chuck Palahniuk
Neuromancer – William Gibson
(Cryptonomicon) – Neal Stephenson
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess
Wuthering Heights– Emily Bronte
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C. S. Lewis
Middlesex – Jeffrey Eugenides
(Cloud Atlas) – David Mitchell
The Lord of the Rings– J. R. R. Tolkien
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Good Omens – Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
(Atonement) – Ian McEwan
(The Shadow Of The Wind) – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway
The Handmaid’s Tale– Margaret Atwood
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
Dune– Frank Herbert

The bag is dried and blocked and just needs a lining and the strap sewn on. With any luck I might get to it this weekend—most of this week I’m either working till midnight or else busy with other plans. I plan to get over the Fear of Lining Bags once and for all and do both bags at once.

I can’t wait to get it finished. It totally, perfectly matches my three favorite shirts. (I have three nearly identical rib-knit type t-shirts in maroon/wine red/burgundy-ish colors. I am constantly on the lookout at thrift stores for more clones of this shirt. If I had more I would wear them every single day.)

I ordered the Rigilene boning for the corset from corsetmaking.com yesterday and already got a shipping notification. They seem like really nice people. I had a question I needed answered before I could order, and someone got back to me really quickly and was very helpful and nice. If you ever need corset boning, go see them. Really.

And now for something completely different:


My Personal Dna Report

You Are an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

On the surface, you’re a little plain – but you have many subtle dimensions to your personality. Sometimes you’re down to earth and crunchy. Other times, you’re sweet and a little gooey.

And red underwear!

Your Lucky Underwear Is Red

You’re confident and bold, and your lucky red underwear will only make you more sure of yourself. You have a great zest for life, and you tend to take on impossible goals – and succeed. When it comes to love, it’s hard for you to take the time to open up. You’re too busy conquering the world. So if you’re looking for a little more romance, put on your red underpants. And see where their passion takes you!

Okay then…

Your Theme Song is Back in Black by AC/DC

“Back in black, I hit the sack, I’ve been too long, I’m glad to be back” Things sometimes get really crazy for you, and sometimes you have to get away from all the chaos. But each time you stage your comeback, it’s even better than the last!

So if I’m lucky, someone will notice I’m dead and I won’t get eaten by the nice doggy…

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

“Nice doggy.”

(Maybe I was feeling less, er, scattered at the time.)

Your Brain’s Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm – full of intensity and drama. Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time… But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you. You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

(You can get one here if there’s anyone out there who wants one and hasn’t already done it yet.)

That’s all for now, I think. No knitting pictures today. I got about fifteen or so rows done last night, but I’m feeling a little discouraged.

You will be smothered under a rug. You’re a little anti-social, and may want to start gaining new social skills by making prank phone calls. What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die? brought to you by Quizilla

and to further explore the non-sociable theme (BTW, bingo on the social phobia but they totally missed my compulsive use of hand sanitizer):

You Are 24% Abnormal

You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at low risk for having a borderline personality. It is unlikely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at high risk for having a social phobia. It is very likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom’s basement. You are at low risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is unlikely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer.

I’m still working on Lori’s questions—they’re more involved than these ones were so I haven’t had time to adequately answer them yet.

This is really long, so I’m trying out something so it won’t take up three miles on the main page…

[ ] I’m afraid of the quiet.
[X] I am really ticklish.
[X] I’m afraid of the dark.
[ ] I’m afraid of facing my back to open doors at night.
[X] I believe in true love.
[ ] I’ve ran away from home.
[X] I listen to political music. (depends on whether the music is good or not—I won’t listen to sucky music just because I agree with a political viewpoint)
[ ] I collect comic books.
[X] I shut others out when I’m sad.
[ ] I open up to others easily.
[ ] I am keeping a secret.
[X] I watch the news.
[ ] Yes, I own more than 5 rap CDs…
[ ] I own something from Hot Topic
[ ] I love Disney movies.
[X] I’m a sucker for blue eyes.
[ ] I don’t kill bugs.
[X] I curse regularly.
[ ] I have “x”s in my screen name.
[ ] I’ve slipped out an “lol” in actual conversation.
[ ] I love spam.
[X] I bake well.
[ ] I have worn pajamas to class.
[ ] I have owned something from Abercrombie.
[X] I have a job.
[ ] I love Martha Stewart.
[X] I’ve tried alcohol.
[ ] I drink alcohol on a regular basis.
[X] I’ve tried a cigarette.
[X] I’ve smoked a pack in one day.
[ ] I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
[ ] I can’t swallow pills.
[X] I have many scars.
[X] I’ve been out of this country.
[X] I can’t sleep if there’s a spider in the room.
[X] I love chocolate.
[ ] I bite my nails.
[ ] I’m comfortable with being myself around EVERYONE.
[X] I play computer games when I’m bored.
[X] Gotten lost in the city.
[X] Seen a shooting star
[X] Had a serious surgery (Okay, the surgery itself wasn’t all that serious, but the consequences if I didn’t have it were extremely serious.)
[X] Hugged and/or kissed a stranger
[ ] Been arrested
[ ] Pushed all the buttons on an elevator
[X] Made out in an elevator
[X] Swore at my parents (Under great provocation.)
[ ] Kicked a guy where it hurts
[ ] Gotten stitches
[X] Bitten someone
[ ] Crashed into a car
[X] Shoplifted (I was thirteen, okay?)
[ ] Been fired
[X] Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back
[ ] Stolen money/profitable items from work
[X] Stolen supplies from work
[X] Had a crush on a teacher/coach
[X] Slept with a co-worker
[X] Been married
[ ] Gotten divorced
[X ] Saw someone/something dying
[X] Been to Canada
[X] Been on a plane
[ ] Thrown up in a bar

Answer ONLY yes or no.
Made out with a member of the same sex?
Yes
Drove a car?
Yes
Danced in front of your mirror?
No
Been dumped?
Yes
Stole money from a friend?
No
Gotten in a car with people you just met?
Yes
Been in a fist fight?
Yes
Snuck out of your house?
No
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back?
Yes
Been arrested?
No
Made out with a stranger?
Yes
Left your house with out telling your parents?
Yes
Had a crush on your neighbor?
No
Ditched school to do something more fun?
Yes
Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex?
Yes
Seen someone die?
Humans no, pets yes.
Been on a plane?
Yes
Kissed a picture?
No
Slept in until 3? …or later?
Yes
Love someone or miss someone right now?
Yes
Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by?
Yes
Made a snow angel?
Yes
Played dress up?
Yes
Cheated while playing a game?
No?
Been lonely?
Yes
Fallen asleep at work/school?
Yes
Felt an earthquake?
No
Touched a snake?
Yes
Run a red light?
Yes
Been suspended from school?
Yes
Had detention?
Yes
Been in a car accident?
Yes
Hated the way you look?
Yes
Witnessed a crime?
Yes
Been lost?
Yes
Been to the opposite side of the country?
No (I’ve never been further west than St. Louis)
Felt like dying?
Yes
Cried yourself to sleep?
Yes
Sung karaoke?
No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t?
Yes
Laughed till some kind of beverage came out of your nose?
Yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
Yes
Kissed in the rain?
Yes
Sing in the shower?
No
Had a dream that you married someone?
Yes
Glued your hand to something?
No
Got your tongue stuck to a flag pole?
No
Ever gone to school partially naked?
No
Sat on a roof top?
Yes
Ever been too scared to watch scary movies alone?
Yes
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?
No
Been told you’re hot by a complete stranger?
Yes
Broken a bone?
No?
Been easily amused?
Yes
Laugh so hard you cry?
Yes
Cheated on a test?
No?
Forgotten someone’s name?
Yes
Blacked out from drinking?
No
Played a prank on someone?
Yes
Gone to a late night movie?
Yes
Made love to anything not human?
No
Choked on something you’re not supposed to eat?
Yes
Played an instrument for more than 10 hours?
No
Cheated on a girl/boyfriend?
Yes
Did you celebrate the 4th of July?
Yes
Thrown strange objects?
Yes
Felt like killing someone?
Yes
Thought about running away?
Yes
Ran away?
No
Did drugs?
Yes
Had detention and not attend it?
Yes
Made parent cry?
No?
Cried over someone?
Yes
Owned more than 5 sharpies?
Yes
Own an instrument?
Yes
Been in a band?
No
Drank 25 sodas in a day?
No
Broken a cd?
No
Shot a gun?
Yes

I expect to have some photos shortly; I’m in a crunch trying to finish up some gifts, doilies for my mom and my mother-in-law. The one for MIL is done already apart from blocking, but it’s itty-bitty. That’s what she wanted, a tiny little doily, but I’m hoping to make a matching one in a bigger size to go along with it. Right now I’m about a third or so into my mom’s doily. I’d wanted to make a bunch of snowflakes to send to various family members, too, but that didn’t really work out.

Partly I’m so late with finishing gifts and not getting as many made as I’d have liked because my hands were/are bothering me (current status: not bad at all today, though my knuckles still have been swelling up randomly). And partly because I’m having a major back pain episode and the one position that’s comfortable to sit in is murder on my neck if I try to crochet too long sitting like that.

(Anyone want some cheese to go along with that whine?)

I’m noticing that my status bars over there haven’t been updated for so long that they don’t actually bear much relation to what I’m working on these days. I’ll try to remember to do WIP Wednesday this week. But mainly I’m doing the doilies, and after those I’m going to get back to some other projects, like lining the purse that’s otherwise finished and finishing up the Seraphina shawl, which I could totally use because, well, holy early winter, Batman! It’s cold here!

And I’m trying to decide what to do with the felting yarn Lori sent me. I’ve been browsing around looking at various patterns but haven’t been able to settle on anything yet. I’ve thought about doing some felted mittens—I saw a great-looking pattern somewhere and bookmarked it. They looked so lovely and warm. But I’m thinking that for a first attempt at felting (and in a front-loading washer at that) it might be best if I did something where size isn’t critical, like a bag. If anyone has suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

And now for some quiz results! Seen at various blogs, but I can’t remember whose offhand.

You’re a scientific intellectual.

What Sort of Intellectual Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

You Are Dancer

Carefree and fun, you always find reasons to do a happy dance. Why You’re Naughty: That dark stint you had as Santa’s private dancer. Why You’re Nice: You’re friendly. Very friendly.

What’s also probably just not right is this score, given that Don and I have been together since I was 22 and married since I was 23. Maybe that’s why I was ready to settle down that young. (Hey, don’t be looking at me like that. You mean you’ve never dated an ex’s friend?)

Your Dating Purity Score: 39%

You are an experienced dater. You’ve dated around enough to know what you want in a relationship. And you’ve got the dating skills to get exactly what you want!

And just for the “awwww” factor:

You Were a Koala

You value living life at a slow, peaceful, meditative pace. You give insightful advice, helping others to overcome obstacles.

So here’s the deal: I’ve made a few coasters out of worsted weight cotton before these ones, and they’ve worked great for me and weren’t wobbly at all, but—and this could be a big difference between stable and wobbly—we’ve only been using them for water glasses next to the bed, where they’re less likely to be knocked over by cats, and where they usually have a giant 44-ounce cup of ice water on them. So I don’t know if they’re as stable with a smaller glass, since the water cups are pretty heavy when they’re full. What I’d say is to try making one and check it out. The ones I’ve made before were Janelle’s star coaster and granted they’re a little flatter than the ones I just made. But we’ve never had any spills, not even when a cup is close to empty.

Moving on…Nope, didn’t do any crochet this weekend. I feel really scatterbrained. More so than usual. And anxious—because of the holidays coming up and me being so not ready for it, and because there’s something going on with my hands that involves random joints swelling up and being painful and stiff, then randomly getting better, then other random joints in my hands doing the same thing. (Please do not mention the word arthritis, okay? I am only 32.)

Anyway, I’m trying to get a grip on myself. Meantime, some slightly unflattering quiz results!

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything. You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life. You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you. Given enough time alone, it’s easy for you to find inner peace. You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life. Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times. At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you. You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others. You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

I’m having a bit of a tough week on account of spectacularly bad cramps and related nonsense. I accidentally left the heat packs at home today, too, which is a major bummer because I’m allergic to ibuprofen and heat is my friend. I’ve been taking Tylenol and that is just sad because Tylenol just does not help with this at all.

I expect I’ll be feeling better by tomorrow but I’ll also be super-busy what with the holiday coming up and all.

Since it’s been going around…For the record, I heart mashed potatoes. I’ve been totally rooting for them in Lori’s poll but they are trailing behind turkey and stuffing so I really think you should go vote for them.

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Ordinary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You’re the glue that holds everyone together.

To which race of Middle Earth do you belong?
brought to you by Quizilla

You scored as Stewie Griffin. Congradulations you are Stewie. One of the best characters on the show and usually everyones fav. Because you are stewie you prob are one evil sick bastard. Stewie Griffin 63% Peter Griffin 38% Lois Griffin 13% Chris Griffin 13% Joe 13% Quagmire 13% Cleveland 13% Meg Griffin 0% Brian Griffin 0%

Find out what Family Guy character you are. (pics included)
created with QuizFarm.com

You fit in with: Taoism Your ideals mostly resemble those of the Taoist faith. Spirituality is the most important thing in your life. You strive to live by all of your ideals, and live a very intellectually focused life. 40% spiritual. 30% reason-oriented.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

I finished the shawl and am almost halfway done fringing it. Muttergrumbledamnfringe. I’m not very good at fringe. I tested out doing the twisty fringe, but it just didn’t look right that way (or without fringe), so I’m making normal fringe. I’m sure once it’s finished (and evened out) I’ll be glad I did it because in the picture on the pattern it looks great. But right now I’m going insane with the fringing.

You Are Apple Cider

Smooth and comforting. But downright nasty when cold.

Mmm…apple cider. I think the only things I really like about fall are apples and the leaves turning. And being able to crochet with yarn again after it being too hot to touch it much all summer. The rest is a little depressing because it means that winter is on the way. (And yes, I am downright nasty when I’m cold! Though I like cold cider. Not sure what the quiz writer’s problem is there. Maybe it’s the same quiz writer who thinks my inner child is sad because I’m not a social butterfly?)

But it is nice being able to bake again. I made an apple crisp last week. I really need to make another one soon—I still have half a sack of apples in the fridge. Mmm…apples…

Your Animal Personality

Your Power Animal: Deer Animal You Were in a Past Life: Panda You are a fun-seeker – an adventurous risk-taker. While you are spontaneous, you are not very rational.

(I’m really not much of a spontaneous risk-taker in my opinion. But the squid…I had to post this because I was so baffled by the squid.)

Anyway. Crochet stuff.

I’ve been working on a shawl, and I think I’m about three quarters of the way through it. It’s all I’ve been working on lately because anything smaller than a K hook (which I’m using for the shawl) is aggravating my finger and wrist. Even with a K hook, I’ve been putting a pencil cushion on it as padding.

I’m really happy with how it’s working up (um, the shawl, not the K hook), can’t wait for it to be finished. It’s a shame I didn’t start on it a week earlier, because the low tomorrow night is supposed to be 37°—brrr! I suppose there’s an outside chance I might be done with it by the time I get out of work tomorrow at midnight, though.

Yesterday I had to see the doctor about my neck and back issues, and while I was there I asked his advice about the numb finger since it’s weirding me out that it’s still numb after all this time. He said, after I described how it happened and how my smaller crochet hooks sit right across the spot that’s still numb, that though it’s probably not related to the carpal tunnel, it probably isn’t helping things any that I’ve already got compromised nerve function in that hand. And something about nerves healing at a rate of 2 millimeters a week. (Or was that 2 millimeters a month? This brain, it’s like a sieve.) And that I should add a multivitamin (in addition to the B vitamins I’m already taking) on the off chance that it’ll help things heal faster. I’m also supposed leave my rings off for a while (it’s my left ring finger), which I’m not keen on, but I did take them off before bed last night and have been taking them off periodically during the day today. I feel naked without my rings.

Hmm. I was going to post an in-progress photo of the shawl, but I can’t find anyplace to lay it out where I can get the whole thing in. When it’s finished I’ll need to recruit some help to get a photo taken.

Also, the gallery is working again, but the pictures in the posts probably aren’t because I haven’t gotten the redirects working (the new version uses a different URL format).

So on to the quiz results!

Found via Lori…I’m a kitty! Yay! It says I was almost a groundhog, and I wouldn’t have minded that, either. We have a groundhog living near the store; there’s a creek next to the parking lot and he hangs out on the banks nibbling on things. He’s so dang cute I can hardly stand it. He was just born this year, I guess, because he was just a little bit of a thing when I first saw him, but he’s getting pretty big now.

Five Things

Ten Years Ago: I was in Boston, going technical school and looking for an apartment for Don and me to move into since he would be moving there from North Carolina in early October.

Five Years Ago: Five years ago was a bad time for me. Don and I nearly got divorced. It was largely my fault. Also I was pretty much out of my mind at the time. Nuff said there.

One Year Ago: More or less where I am now—trying to keep my head above water with this business.

Five Snacks: Kit-Kats, lemon cream sandwich cookies, chocolate chip cookies (am I cheating by listing different kinds of cookies? It’s an entirely separate craving from the lemon ones), Lindt’s truffles, white cheddar cheese popcorn (I’m not supposed to eat cheese but it’s soooo good)

Five Songs I know all the words to: Although I can’t sing worth a damn, I know all the words to tons of old folky songs. Off the top of my head: Pretty Boy Floyd, Wabash Cannonball, Blackleg Miner, Bedlam Boys, Run Come See Jerusalem. Also, though I can’t count it as knowing all the words because there are about a zillion verses floating around out there, I know about ten verses of the paganized version of Old Time Religion.

Five Things I would do with $100 Million: Pay off all our debts. Make sure Sara has enough money for college without having to start out her working life tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Buy some land in the county and build a house (we live in a small town, the kind where you have no privacy, which has its good points and its bad points). Give money to charities that I’d like to help out but can’t afford to these days. Invest it safely.

Five places to run away to: Monongahela National Forest (West Virginia), the White Mountains (New Hampshire), South Harper Creek Falls (Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina). I’m detecting a mountainous theme here…and I’m also drawing a blank for two more places.

Five Things I would never wear: High heels (I made an exception for my wedding and wore two-inch heels, but I can’t walk in anything higher than that), an argyle sweater vest like the one I had when I was twelve and which seems to have come back into style based on things I’ve seen on TV, anything that makes me look pregnant (I unfortunately keep most of my extra weight in my belly), baseball caps, body jewelry (only because I’m allergic to various metals).

Five Favorite shows: ER. Battlestar Galactica (the new one). Sex and the City (I’m pretty much the antithesis of those women but it’s strangely compelling. Like crack.) Joan of Arcadia. Dogs with Jobs (I think it’s on the National Geographic channel. Hi, I’m a dork!)

Five Biggest Joys: spending time with Don, reading, camping/hiking, crocheting, road trips.

Five Favorite Toys: You do not want to hear about my favorite toys, trust me.