The books I would write...



The books I would write would be vast yet few in number.

The books I would write would be star heroines and not heroes.

The books I would write would feature women who appear normal on the surface and yet underneath it all are quite extraordinary.

The books I would write would be about lost, devastation and sadness and yet also about the hope beneath it all.

The books I would write would be about places here on Earth and also about those places we can only dream about.

The books I would write would also feature a bit of my character.

The books I would write would be about all those things that happen everyday and all those things that appear to be coincidental.

The books I would write would show me my character and lead me to the ends of the Earth.

The books I would write would teach me about the people I know and about the people I’ve yet to meet.

The intrepid were told to write the first paragraph of thier book and since I feel intrepid, I have written it here.

The waves flow onto the shore and she stares into the distance watching the ocean's mood.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way when we decided to move here and yet now so much has happened that can’t be taken back,” she thinks.

She calmly watches the waves begin their encroachment on the shore. Crabs and other such creatures scamper into the waves. The birds caw and dip into the ocean. The waves continue their assault on the beach. Back and forth, the ocean flows and tears begin flowing down her face.

Preaching from the Highway Pulpit


click on photo for larger view

I had a training session off-site for work today and so I drove a different route than usual. Along I-405, I noticed this bright Yellow Cross doing some "highway preaching". Since it caught my attention, I had to snap a photo for the blog. I wonder if this sign draws a lot of people into the church or if it pushes them away.

Thoughts to ponder...

May's Self Portrait Tuesday's theme is to "Introduce Yourself".




I am a runner. I've run 5K's, 10K's, Half Marathons and one Marathon. I run to be free. I run because it feels good to my body and to my soul. I run to release emotion and reflect on emotion. I run so that I can wear my favorite "Jack in the Box" hat. I run because I have two legs that work and a body that allows me to run. I run for those who can't run and because of those who run faster than I'll ever run. I run because I can.

The Weekend



The weekend started out strong with a Cinco de Mayo visit to Golden Gardens with friends followed by a tasty beer at Hale's Brewery.

Saturday was spent swimming, running, grocery shopping, furniture looking and Ipod accessory buying.

Sunday, oh Sunday was the best day of all. I met up with my friend, Andi for an early morning breakfast. I do enjoy spending time with her. Then Meg and I cancelled our bike ride due to "inclement weather" (it was raining off and on). Later that afternoon though, I took part in my first Kickball game of the season! I haven't played in years and boy could you tell! We had so much fun though and while we did lose it was only by 1 point! Go CHUCK NORRIS!

My Shoes



My shoes have carried me many places; through wooded trails, down long asphalt roads, along the lakefront and shoreline. They are no longer shiny and new like the day I bought them from the fancy running store at Greenlake. There are signs of wear and tear and a bit of dirt along their edges. They’ve carried me more miles that I’d ever image possible. The most important place they’ve ever taken me is Washington D.C. and the Marine Corp Marathon.

Bang! The gun goes off and my shoes thrust me forward through the crowd of runners as they surge forward. Up, up, up the hill we go and down the George Washington Parkway, sprinting past Frankenstein’s Bride and a Wedding Runner. The sun is pounding down upon me but my shoes lift my feet as we go past Lincoln’s Memorial and up to the Capital.

My forehead is dripping with sweat and I’m not sure I can go on but my shoes know we still have 13.1 more miles to go. My running partner tells me I can go on. My shoes hear the push of her voice as they cushion my feet and spring up in the air. We pass my friends waiting to cheer us on and my friend’s 5-year-old son runs besides me for a few blocks. His screams of joy encourage me to keep moving forward.

I propel myself into East Potomac Park and I begin to chant, “I must make it to the bridge in less than 5 hours!” I round the corner and I can see the bridge. My shoes let me know that they are tired too but that it is almost over. I swear I can smell the chocolate awaiting me at the finish. I trudge across the bridge shuffling my shoes a bit. I slow my pace. I can only hear the pounding of my shoes against the concrete; the crowd’s cheers have faded into the distance.

After more than 6 hours, I am nearing 26 miles when I spot my friend racing along the sidelines. Her energy helps me spring forward toward the finish. My running partner points out the finish line and asks me if I’m ready for it. We chug up the hill to the finish line. I thought I would cry when I accomplished 26.2 miles but for now, I’m too tired for much emotion. We pose in front of Iwo Jima and hobble to the food tent. Our arms are soon loaded up with food and water but we’re too afraid to sit down and so begin our short journey to the Metro and home. Once home we collapse into a heap and my friend hands both of us a bottle each of Stella. It’s the perfect way to end a perfect day.

Triathlon Training and Sock Knitting

LeAnne recently left a comment on the blog asking me to tell her about my triathlon training so she can live vicariously though me. Since her car accident, LeAnne has not been able to train and her dream of doing an Ironman this year has vanished. Fortunately though she will be OK and for that everyone is quite grateful but I do understand her wanting to train so LeAnne -- for you! Here is a recount of what I've been doing for training.

I'm currently training for the Danskin triathlon which is a sprint. A sprint triathlon is a half-mile swim, a 12-mile bike and a 3.2-mile run -- all very do-able distances and distances I've done many times before.

Each week I make sure to accomplish 6 workouts consisting of a minimum of two swims, two runs and two bike rides. Right now the distances are short but I've been bumping them up each workout. For instance on Wednesday I swam 10 laps and last night I went on a 10-mile bike ride. You can see my training schedule here *I apologize for the poor quality but I can't figure out how to prop an excel worksheet up here so I made a .jpg of it.

There are many reasons why I enjoy training as much as I do. First of all, I really enjoy exercising even when I complain about it. Also my Mother is doing the Danskin along with a few friends of mine. I am so proud of all of all of them! It also gives me the chance to be the boss of them, though lately they are bossing me around! Last night I just wanted to take a nap but somehow my Mom convinced me that I has convinced her that we were going on a bike ride. We headed down to the Burke Gilman (about a 2 mile ride from the house) and cruised along in the path. It was so beautiful and quite enjoyable except for the sneaky hill we have to ride back up to get home from the trail. It's a hill that you don't notice until you start pedaling up it and wondering why you have to pedal harder and the sweat starts dripping down your face. All in all though a great ride!

After exercising my muscles, I proceeded to plop down on the couch and knit on my Cascading Leaves socks. I did the heel flap and when I attempted to try on the socks, I ended up breaking one of my needles (luckily have 5 when I only need 4 but STILL! how dumb of me!).


*So no, I didn't make my bed yesterday or TODAY! HA!

Soon I'll have finished Cascading Leaves socks just like Cari. I'm using Sundara Yarn for these socks and loving it so far! I also did one more repeat on the leg pattern since I prefer longer socks.

For Motty

Mot left for Italy yesterday and I told her that I would miss her. She said that I would only miss her because there would be no one around to hear my tales of woe. The ones where she tells me to put my hand on my forehead and say, "Oh, Woe is me".


yep, just like this

It does help bring levity to any situation when she makes me do that. And today I need the levity.

I made myself go swimming tonight and chanted Megan's mantra, "I am the training". I'm glad I went. I ended up in a lane with two energizer rabbits who didn't stop swimming the entire time I swam my 12 laps. They were so good and were still swimming when I left. I didn't want to overtire myself so I kept the swimming to 12 laps though I probably should and could have done a lot more.

When I arrived home, Destiny was sunning herself on the deck. She does seem happier in the summer months when her friend, the sun is out.



Tonight, knitting and LOST!

Dulaan and Feral Knitting



June is quickly approaching so my Dulaan knitting is ramping up! I just finished my 9th item for Dulaan which leaves me 5 more items to complete my goal of knitting 14 items for the Mongolian children. I'm now 64% complete!



Tonight was also the Ferals meeting and before the knitting meeting, people came early to spin. I watched them in awe and admired some of June's spindles. I'm still not sure if I'll ever want to spin BUT I do admire their work.



I also spent some time working on my Jellybean Cushion. I'm about 7 inches into the front panel, with 7 more to go. I desperately want this cushion to be finished so I can enjoy its goodness! Destiny is so going to love this cushion and I'll probably tell her to stop getting fur on my pillow!

Why I Live Where I Live...

I moved here when I was twelve and I always believed that I'd move away before I turned 25. I've been away (never for long) and back again. I've traveled the world and seen great places, yet few compare to here.

Here holds my heart, my family, my friends, my memories and while I know that my heart can move, new friends can be made along with new memories, here will always be home; the place where I've lived longer than any other place in the world. Here is Seattle and there are so many reasons why I live where I live. I feel safe here.

I know what lies just after the bend in the road and yet I am constantly surprised by what lies just after the bend in the road. While I feel that I know every road and every secret hide-out, I am constantly surprised by what the city has to offer me.

The people who live here are passionate about what they believe in and while at times I feel that they are too liberal to be really open-minded, they constantly show me an insight into a new opportunity. It’s hard to deny the passion people have for this place and all that it has to offer.

That’s why I live where I live…I live where people have passion and I find plenty of it here.

The Knitting Blackhole

I've been knitting this hat for the Dulaan Project and after hours and hours of knitting, it refuses to be any longer than 4". I'll sit and knit for a few hours and then whip out my tape measure to see if the hat has reached the magical length of 5" to discover that the hat has now shrunk to 3 3/4" in length.

So I'll knit some more and whip out the tape measure again, now it is 4". I'll knit and knit and knit while watching television to discover that the darn hat is still ONLY 4". I curse the hat. I throw down my needles in anger to pick them back up and begin knitting again. I complete one row. I whip out my tape measure, hands shaking to measure again when the hat magically measures 5" as it if knows that I'm about to go over the edge.



Now the hat is ready for decreases as long as it stays the proper length, I think I can handle it, otherwise the hat will have some explaining to do!

Chocolate



Warm chocolate cupcakes bake in the oven. The scent of rosebuds drifts in from the yard on this sizzling spring day. It’s barely 9 a.m. and the temperature is already in the 80s.

“Today will be hot”, she thinks as she sizes up the cupcakes. Will the chocolate melt before she can get these delivered to her inappropriate crush? The chocolate chips are already beginning their oozing slide into chocolate sauce after lying on the countertop much too long.

A wave of heat sweeps through the kitchen as she pulls the cupcakes from the oven. The chocolate slowly dribbles down the sides of the cooking pan. She determines the cupcakes are just right and promptly puts them on a cooling rack.

Now it’s time for the frosting. Chocolate cupcakes call out for chocolate icing but she’s thinking of trying something slightly different. Something that will catch the taste buds of the person she is trying to impress. Maybe a chocolate cream cheese frosting, it would certainly give those melting chocolate chips something to do instead of continuing their slide into oblivion. The beaters whirl in the large mixing bowl as the frosting is made. It’s so hot though that the heat is melting the butter and cream cheese almost as fast as she can whip them together.

Sweat drips from her brow and she wipes at it with a dish towel. She doesn’t have the energy for much else. Right now her energy must be directed toward making a frosting that shows her inappropriate crush all the inappropriate feelings she has for him.

She frosts the cakes and places each one into the cupcake holder she purchased especially for this occasion. She’s been planning her cupcake flirt attack for months and tomorrow is implementation day. Steam rises from each cake and little droplets begin to form on the frosting.

She quickly opens the fridge to cool the cupcakes and spends a few moments positioned in front of the fridge cooling off. She gently places the cupcakes in the fridge and puts a post-it on the door to remind her to bring the chocolate cupcakes to her crush the next day.

Yellow-ness



Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all yellow

I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called yellow

So then I took my turn
Oh what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow

-- Yellow by Coldplay

This month in Project Spectrum the colors are Yellow and Orange. Last night I went on a walk with Julie and Zubin. We made sure to watch for all Yellow items and I snapped photos of everything. It's amazing how much yellow is out there even on a short walk. Thanks to Julie for helping me spot all the YELLOW!

Last week was Maundy Thursday, This week it's HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY THURSDAY


click on photo for larger view

Gabby goes home today, right after her last dose of antibotics. Her Mama said that their bags are packed and as soon as the last drop of drugs flow into her IV, they are sprinting from the hospital where they've spent the last 3 1/2 weeks. Children's is a nice hospital but really who wants to spend that long stuck in one place!

Gabby will be one month old on Sunday and today is the first day she will see her new digs. Her room is gorgously painted and her name is already on the wall.

Soon, I'll be able to hold her some where other than the hospital with its vinyl seats and loud machines. YEA FOR GABBY! Gabster -- you are SOOOOO getting special cupcakes! (OK so your parents will have to eat them but I promise that when you turn 1 year old, I'll make you another batch!)

Learning the proper way to do Intarsia

A few weeks ago, I began knitting my very own Jellybean Cushion but sadly last week I realized that I was doing something terribly wrong. There were gaps where the two colors met and Debbie Bliss's instructions mentioned something about twisting stitches which meant nothing to me!



So I loaded up my knitting and headed to my Ferals Knitting group where I knew that Karen, knitter extraordinare would be able to lend me assistance.



Karen examined my knitting and gently asked me if she could tink back. I announced that she could rip out the entire thing if she wanted. Well she only wanted to tink back a few rows so that she could show me the RIGHT way to do Intarsia and then I could compare it to my previous attempts.



Karen very nicely (way too nicely!) tinked back my knitting and then began teaching me how to knit Intarsia and I THINK I GOT IT! I worked on the cushion last night and while I am still not at the previous point, it is already looking so much better! SO MUCH! Of course it takes some brain power but soon I feel I'll be flying along. Karen -- you are a GEM! and I would take knitting classes from you if you offered them (seriously! I've already learned so much from you!)

I was also lucky enough to corral Ryan and obtain her autograph on the Dulaan article on my own Vogue Knitting Magazine! Thank you Princess Ryan!

April's Self Portrait Tuesday's theme is "April Fool".



This is a photo I took about a year ago after attending an "Ugly Bridesmaid Party" which I thought fit perfectly into this month's April Fool theme as I do look like a fool here! (Makes me giggle though)

When we were wee…



When we were wee, we played Dukes of Hazard, Wonder Woman, Superman and Office in the backyard. We’d hide out in our playhouse or behind the Pampas Grass waiting to leap out and surprise the other. I’d climb the back fence to taunt the German shepherd who lived back there while you kept watch for our Mother. We were constant companions.

There were times we allowed others into our confidence in order to round out our games, but they were rare. Most of the time, we’d secret ourselves away and refuse to allow others entry to our secret games. The cats and dog were used as props and somehow kept calm composure through the most harrowing of games. We tried to create a secret language but even to us it sounded like gibberish and we quickly learned that we would never understand Pig Latin. We had battles for the goodness of the galaxy while running up and down the large hill in our backyard.

And if it was hot, we’d have the “Slip and Slide” to slide down the hill on. We looked forward to those extra hot days as the slide provided so much entertainment. We’d spend hours playing on the slide, splashing in the wading pool and later playing at the swim club. I remember each of us trying to hang on our Mother who only had one rule which was not to get her hair wet! This was a challenge to us and we’d splash, splash, splash until she roared at us to “Knock it off!” We’d also spend our time trying to hang off her neck as she performed the “Mom Stroke”. By the end of each summer, we’d end up with skin darkened by the sun, often times the sun would darken us to the same color as our friends from Mexico, Juan and Pepe. I’m sure it was quite a sight to see; two blonde kids with skin the same color as their Hispanic counterparts as they cavorted through the neighborhood. We never noticed it until years later when we’d flip through the family photo albums, comparing the color of skin from when we lived in Texas to when we moved to Washington.

Along with the move, it seems our skin lost its pigmented hue. Shortly after that we found out that we were no longer wee for it seemed we had both grown-up, O Brother of mine, and we no longer had time for those childhood games.

Thanks to Laini and Meg of Sunday Scribblings for this prompt!

Psssttt...

The Interweave Preview is UP!

And as usual, Kate has outdone herself! I'll be making this just as soon as the pattern is available! So precious!

Quick Knits

I've been very interested in Quick Knits lately from large gauge socks to baby hats! When Rachael came for a visit and I stalked her to Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, I purchased some Debbie Bliss yarn for the Swirl Hat in Holiday Handknits. I had marked this pattern down when I purchased the book back in November as a possible hat to make for Gabby.

I have to say that I love this pattern! I found it easy to follow and I adore the end result! Now it's a bit big for Gabby right now but it should fit her come October when the weather starts to cool down again.



I love this hat so much that I'm tempted to make one for myself (the pattern includes instructions for children along with men and women!)

Now I just need to figure out what my next quick knit will be...maybe I should finish my second Debbie Bliss Cabled sock from Home. I do know that I'm bothering the Ferals with questions on the Jellybean Cushion tonight so that is also back in the running.

This week also marks the official start of my Danskin Triathlon Training. I can't wait to get back in the game!

Sundara Sock Yarn

After I purchased my Sundara Sock yarn, I spent some time fondling it and sniffing it. Then I spoke with it to see what it wanted to become. There was rustling through my patterns until I hit upon Jeanie Townsend's Cascading Leaves pattern.



I cast on tonight and so far, I am loving this pattern! I can't wait until I have these socks on my footsies! The only problem with this pattern is you can't knit it and watch Lost at the same time! Lost requires much more concentration.

Artist's Way Week Twelve and Wrap-up

Weekly Check-In (this recap is overdue!):

1. Morning Pages: I did my morning pages 3 out of 7 days. I had a hard time keeping them up since I knew it was the last week.

2. Artist Date: I took my artist date to drive to the Beach. I took photos, watched the waves, danced in the sand and collected a few rocks as memories. I do so love the ocean.

3. Synchronicity: Synchronicity abounded. I looked for support for Gabby's parents and I didn't have to look far. It was all around them.

Artist's Way Reflections

I'm so glad that I took this journey and I do want to take it again. I was re-awoken to all the creativity within me and around me. I know that if I take the time to write, I will be able to write beautiful things. A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to Kat for taking on the responsibility of being the group's leader and she continues by supporting us in our creative journeys by proving us with the Contagious Creativity blog. The blog is full of creative tasks and goals. Some scare me (writing poetry) and some excite me (using poetry as inspiration), but I can't wait to try them all!

April's Self Portrait Tuesday's theme is "April Fool".



I shot this photo this week while at the beach. The sunglasses were purchased as a laugh for St. Paddy's Day. They continue to make me laugh.

Reasons I love the book, "One Skein"

I'm on a quest to make every design from "One Skein". This week, I finished the Felted Bowl (and I'll be making more!).





I've also made the Irregular Cabled Hat, Baby Hat, Felted Clutch (still being finished) and I've started the baby bolero. This is a book that everyone must run out and purchase!

I'm also watching the Italian Greyhounds this week. They spent many hours chasing each other around last night with barks bouncing from the fenceline.

Of Rachael and Lala

Saturday morning arose rainy and deary but then I remembered! Saturday was the day I was to meet Rachael and La! So I packed up myself and made sure to get to the ferry with plenty of time since missing the ferry would be just too much.

I arrived a bit early and knit along on my Debbie Bliss sock. As I neared the toe shaping of the sock, the ferry began to load. Once my car was settled, I leaped from the car, ready to run to the front of the boat where we had all planned to meet. I noticed Ryan, TMK, Rachael and Lala pulling up in Ryan's shiny car. I lingered in the walkway and the excitement began to build. I was about to meet Rachael! Rachael who also ran a marathon around the same time as me, Rachael who is quite possibly the nicest and cooolest knit blogger around, Rachael who, OMG, would she be as cool in person as she is on the internets?



The group arrived in the walkway and hugs were all around. AND GUESS WHAT? Rachael is as cool in person as she is on the internets! AND Lala is damn cool (really, you need the damn to really understand her cool-ness) AND La went to school in Moscow, Idaho which is about 5 miles from where I went to school in Pullman and the place where I worked at my very first newspaper.

TMK decided that even though it was rainy, we would head out to the ferry deck even though the wind was threatening to lift all of us off the deck and sweep us away!


After near liftoff, we huddled back inside the warm boat and soon we were on our way to Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.

Ann of Much Ado About Knitting also came along for the blogger's fieldtrip! She rode with me from the ferry to the yarn shop and noticed a unique van which turned out to be neighbors from her very small town (she drove from over 2 hours away to come and meet up with all of us in Seattle).



I think Ann was trying to convice Ryan that she needed to buy all the yarn in Churchmouse (or was that me?).



La is a focused shopper and quickly snatched up a few books before retiring to the "husband" chairs for some baby sweater knitting.



While fuzzy, here is the gang (sans Ryan since she was buying yarn) at Churchmouse. So much fun!

After all that yarn shopping and a forced trip to Bad Blanche where Ryan announced I was torturing her, we went back to TMK's house for a BBQ. TMK tried to convince all of us that we needed to eat outside since it was a BBQ but no amount of good food was going to convince me to eat in the rain.



Once at TMK's, Rachael broke out her lovely wedding photos. They were fantastic and so beautiful!

We also had some party crashers at TMK's -- Janine, Janine's sister, Gingko, Elaine and BLING. All were fantastic party crashers! There was knitting, laughter and great conversation to fill the room.



I made sure to pose with Rachael and Lala to prove that I was in the same room as them!



Frankie was even wearing her party necklace for the Honeymooners.

And all the time, Rachael was knitting a baby hat from "One Skein" which inspired me to cast on for the same hat the next day while visiting Gabby at the hospital. It is such a quick knit that I was able to cast on for the hat and before my visit was over, Gabby was wearing the hat!





I think Gabby liked it!