It is so hard to post after such a long hiatus. Part of me wants to sit here for hours and tap out a long update.. but I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to try to pick up where I left off, and get back into the swing of things.
Summer is off to an interesting start though! The kids finished their school year last week, just as Richard's office has decided to transition from maintaining a working office to everyone telecommuting. Great in theory.. and with gas prices so high, its a money saver. But starting off.. during the kid's first week of vacation, when everyday is barely managed chaos. Well, lets just say, we all hope to work out the kinks quickly.

As for knitting. Boing! is still in progress, though I've taken a little break from it. The Celtic felted bag is in hiding - I actually hated the pattern as it was slightly confusing. And when I hit a glitch like that in a pattern, I'm completely turned off. Maybe I'll go back to it.. I'm not sure.

What I am rather obsessed with currently is Lizard Ridge. I've watched Paige knit on hers a few times on Saturday mornings when we all get together and well, I was smitten. A weird thing for someone like me who tends to walk right past the Noro at every yarn store. Its pricey.. and its scratchy. But I couldn't resist any longer. And whatta ya know.. I actually don't mind the feel of the yarn. Its also incredibly helpful to my wallet when Beth at Sheep Thrills gives us Ravelers a sweet discount.

The pattern tells us to knit 24 individual "blocks", much like a quilt. Screw that. Too much seaming! So I'm working panels using the equivalent number of blocks. One panel down (left) and the second one in progress (right). I'll be making four total. I've definitely slowed down a bit this past week with all of the changes here at home, but I'm still making steady progress.. and I'm not bored yet.

And oh, Its Monday! That means Music!

Love Rise Against.. And love Little Boxes. For those unfamiliar, Little Boxes is the theme song for the tv series, Weeds (Monday evenings on Showtime) Every episode features a different artist singing the theme (see here for the most recent release). If you have never seen the show *gasp*, get the first few seasons from Netflix and catch up. Its one of the best tv series, ever. Fantastic writing, great acting, hilarious!

This little something arrived via UPS about 2 weeks ago. Because we stashed it away, saving it for a day when we were all home to work on it, I sort of forgot about it...

If you read 5 Minutes For Mom, you'll know all about their contests and giveaways. Well I finally won one!

This represents one thousand teensy tiny pieces. Joy. But the family is hard at work putting it together on one of the old train table platforms, so that if we get bored (or tired) we can safely tuck it away without losing progress.

And since its Monday, lets play Whats On My iPod? Ironically, one of the songs plays along with the Lego City Police headquarters theme, in title only I suppose..

"Calling All Cars" by Senses Fail. I love this song. I mean, really love it. I love even more, the acoustic version. But what turned me on to Senses Fail, was this bonus track on Guitar Hero III...

This is my warm-up song on Guitar Hero. And Connor, loves this song - he knows every single word and loves to sing along when I play. Actually, he asks me to play it over and over. This song also has an acoustic version - actually I think the acoustic version of "Can't Be Saved" is way better. Give it a listen.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a rant about a moronic, inhumane kindergarten teacher in St Lucie, Florida. This story kept me up, shaking and infuriated until nearly 3AM. Mental note: do not move to St Lucie Florida.. and especially do not enroll our children in their public schools.

So I missed music Monday (which I've decided to rename as "whats on my iPod?" anyway) but even setting that aside, I've missed blogging about everything lately. My mojo apparently went on vacation again. Its not that I haven't thought about blogging.. I've just had nothing to say.

So because I don't want to just throw a post here once a week with a music link, I forced myself to take some pictures..

While I'm more fond of the moniker, "McSame", "McW" and "McBush" serve the purpose. You can get your very own stickers here. And free while supplies last, so hurry!

Another We Call Them Pirates hat. I think this is my 5th or 6th one? This one will be gifted to a friend who is moving to a very snowy and cold state in two weeks. I really love this pattern - it goes so fast! Its being worked in Patons Classic Merino - on US3 needles and I'm getting proper gauge.

Now for the music.. Its not new by any means, but when I think of Boston or Massachusetts, I think of Dropkick Murphys. With the breaking news of Ted Kennedy's tumor today.. I just wanted to pay homage to the "Lion of the Senate" in my own warped way. Get well Senator!

Next week I'll post what I had originally planned. A clue: Guitar Hero III Bonus Tracks.

Whew. I didn't mean to take a week off. Its been.. well, you know. Not much crafting, or cooking, or picture taking. I am however, waist deep in the continuation of spring cleaning - doing it in spurts, as I have energy. At this rate it may be next spring before I'm done.

Anyway.. Didn't I mention new music? I'm trying a different embedded media player today since my fave, imeem.com doesn't have the artist, or at least the particular song I wanted to include, in its listings/library (bummer!) So I'm hoping this embed works from playlist.com.

I've really been enjoying David Ford. He is a little bit Bob Dylan (at least to me) and a little bit Damien Rice. What hooked me at first were the political rants of both Requiem and State Of The Union, but Go To Hell has become a favorite too.

Enjoy... (warning: explicit language, so mind the little ears nearby)

I think I'm going to start doing this every Monday since I have a backlog of new music that I've wanted to blog about. You know.. when I'm absent knitting, family, or food fodder.

So onward...

We rarely buy music, and rely on listening to Pandora mostly. But every once in a while we find something we have. to. buy. With that said, I've put off buying this one for a while now. My hand has hovered over the buy now button in iTunes so many times.. I finally shared it with Richard this weekend, and he agreed. We needed it.

We actually bought both.. One and Two

The track that made me need it?

Whats not to love? Its perfect thrashy cleaning music for me... and its nostalgic. I love it - I can't stop listening.

Since I'm totally stuck on "The Seeker" by The Who on hard, which is I think the second level (Oh my aching hands!) The kids have been playing. Cassidy is nearly done with the easy level, but Alex is really just starting out...

Connor can't play the game very well, but he could spend hours playing air guitar along with every song.

I'm in a crappy mood today. Lack of sleep. Allergies. And to top it off, its raining.

I did want to share this little bit though, even though 90% of those who read my blog are knitters, and thusly are likely to have listened to Brenda Dayne's most recent podcast and know about Ingrid Michaelson. Honestly I was hooked in the first thirty seconds. Knit Hat? Binghamton? Must. Learn. More. And I'm happy that I love the rest of her music too.. even the Grey's Anatomy stuff.

But this song? It just makes me happy, despite its moderately sad theme. It makes me want to dance.. and smile. Even on a cold rainy day - So things are looking up!

It was shot in Ithaca just a few weeks ago. Its a bummer that I didn't learn of Ingrid until after she toured through here.

In any case.. Upstate Represent!

Oh, such a good one. Once upon a time, the hottest ticket on New Years Eve..

Complete with crazy excited commentary from Ken Kesey and Father Guido Sarducci.

Happy New Weir one and all..

Twirl on!