kitten_lion

ok I posting this so that you can all shame me into betterness....

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:27:10 GMT

So when I was at my best going to curves 3 times a week, and do their "diet" I know... I was at the best shape I had been since High school.
That was Feb 2005... Today Jan 2010
Bust 37.50 inches 44.00 inches
Waist 30.50 inches 36.00 inches
Abdomen 38.50 inches 43.50 inches
Hips 43.75 inches 45.75 inches
Thighs 25.75 inches 27.50 inches
Calves 15.25 inches 16.00 inches
Arms 13.25 inches 14.50 inches
Weight 174.40 pounds 201.0 pounds

Christmas knitting

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:18:42 GMT

Last year my Christmas knitting got very very overwhelming. I was knitting on christmas day and finished my brothers bag to be fair, we picked out the yarn while he was here in for christmas, in July. So this year I really didn't want to knit much this year... Ok well I did I knit my sister's shrug It's really cute, she already knows she is getting it because she picked out the color but I still want it to be some what of a surprise so no picture yet. I knit a whole lot for my co-workers they all match except my boss no more on this because some read my blog. I am knitting a beautiful sweater for my best friend from high school new baby girl. I absolutely love this sweater and will knit it again once I figured it out I <3 it. Plus I knit a cowl for my mother in law, we bought the wool when she was here in January it's not what she wanted but I love it. I want to make something for my father in law but I am running out of time. My mother in law told us not to buy them anything- So I'm knitting from my stash. Hehehe I'm sneaky like that. Here is the deal my father in law is a fisherman and he will be home for christmas which is rare- I really want to finish something for him. But I have the sweater for my best friend's baby, a jayne hat for my next door neighbor, a "skull" cap for his son, I should do something for his mom too. and then I have to reknit something for my bosses birthday and her christmas present. ARGH help me obi wan canknitty your my only hope.

Writer's Block: The Tech Effect on Education

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:31:30 GMT

How has technology’s constant presence affected your (or your child’s) education?

Sponsored by LifeScoop: Bringing You Tips for a Connected Lifestyle.

View 124 Answers

I was able to complete my Bachelor of Applied Science degree because of it. I went to St. Petersburg's college which has a BAS available via distance learning. I finished my degree in 2.5 years all by computer, late nights and hard work. Most of my class work was done on my laptop that I carried everywhere, mostly to Starbuck(yes I still hate them but they have Wifi), and meetings with my editor, as you might know I am not the most articulate person in the world.

Cleaning ever cleaning....

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:58:15 GMT

So if you are a FB friend you know that I am doing some winter cleaning... Yes like spring cleaning deep and dirty, since it has been many months since this has been done in this house... Yes I know- it would be easier if you did a little every week, that's disgusting... months (my grandmother is rolling over in her "grave"[she was dusted over the ocean]), Pig sty comes to mind... whatever it is getting cleaned now.
I hate having bottles of chemicals in my house and never have the right one anyways. I am very sensitive to bleach though I love the killing power of bleach. So this last 2 weeks I have found some make at home chemicals for cleaning that I wanted to write down in on place and share it with my friends too.

The first is my most favorite!
I have lots of those body mists laying around popular gifts at christmas, and I never use them. My first job as a tech my boss was extremely sensitive to scents and I got out of habit of wearing the body mists. I have 6 bottles or so of the stuff.

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 cup body mist
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar

Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with national brands. This can also be used to give a nice shine to hard tiles, chrome, and other surfaces. What I have found is that the oils in the body mist do add a little more need to polish it dry but keeps the fog from sticking to the mirrors in the bathroom. And it smells good...

Linoleum Cleaner

Place 1 tablespoon of liquid soap (I used my organic dish soap) and a quarter cup of washing soda (I used borax because I didn't have washing soda) in your cleaning bucket. Add 1/4 cup of vinegar and two gallons of hot water. Use to clean linoleum (non-wax) floors.

As I sit here surfing

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:26:14 GMT

I think of all the other things that I should be doing... Cleaning the house, riding on my bike, knitting. But what am I doing sitting on the couch reading journal entries, looking at knitting projects, and looking at facebook. Well once the dresden files I'm watching is over then I'll go get some knitting done, stir my chicken soup. And then work on the kitchen floor. Then maybe the living room floor.

Senses

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:44:23 GMT

the sound of a fabric bolt thumping reminds me of my mother
the smell of leather takes me to the street fair in Florence
the taste of perioges reunits me with my family
the touch of starched sheets makes me feel at home
the sight of kittens make me smile

so this is my first mobile post

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:26:37 GMT

from my droid.

hi

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:24:56 GMT

this is a test.

thought I would spread the news...

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:16:17 GMT

Just in case you didn't know. I created some really cool mittens that match the foliage hat.

yeah I can finally post about something other than italy.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:39:13 GMT

Now I actually have nothing to say other than I love fall in seattle. I put up my halloween decorations yesterday and more to go up tomorrow after work.

Day 7 Italy

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:36:26 GMT

Day 7 we got up and went first thing to Murano by Vapretto 42 which is the long way, and tooled around the island. David and I went to one of the showrooms and outside there was a vending machine which had a beer for a euro so of course we had to buy it.... We met a Lady name Fiona from Ireland who had lived in LA, Seattle and North Ireland, she heard us speaking English while we were playing with some of the cats and asked if she could bounce something off us, she was staying at a hostel and the owner offered her a job, free room and board, and she wanted to know if she should do it. We both said of course what a great experience. We said our goodbyes and good luck and headed for shoping David remember to get our years Christmas ornament! then to lunch on Murano and I got a Bitterone which was Campari, Lemon Gelato and soda water, wow it was truly bitter but it was good at the same time. Then we took the faster 5 back the San Marco and walked through the Doge’s palace forgive the bad angle there are no photographs allowed but I had to get this shot for my brother.were we got to walk in the bridge of sighs and then through the San Marco basilica . We paid to climb the Nave but didn’t go down to the treasures or the golden alter as those were an additional price too… then a leisurely walk back to the Hotel and dinner at the Pub next door. It was the first time of the trip that I had something I couldn’t eat- I ordered the bacala and polenta, the bacala was like tuna salad in consistency and had no flavor so I just ate the polenta….

We had a great time, a time of a life time and we will never forget it....

Day 6 Italy

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:42:29 GMT

Day 6 up at 6:40 so that David and I could get to hotel check out and breakfast. Then off to the terminal. Our train didn’t get a platform until 8 minutes before we took off. We sat next to a couple from eastern Canada Stephanie and Tom. We actually got off a stop early at Venezia MESTRE not Santa Lucia. We went to information the guy just said get on and take it to S.L. so we did it was only about 5 more minutes. Then we got to our hotel checked in got our vapretto tickets and had lunch at a little place around the corner called the happy kiss. Then took our bags upstairs the room’s door way was a little low - David hit his head hard enough to create a bump. Then we rode the vapretto’ around to San Marco took some pictures , had coffee at the toto room and walked around to the Rialto bridge, and then home. I was so tired I fell asleep at around 7pm. It rained off and on all day which wasn’t bad but neither of us were really prepared for it. I put on a pair of pants under my dress, and wore my only closed toe shoes- so nothing on me matched.
We found two very cool technological things in Venice the first is graffitti to say there is an unsecured wifi in the area ok so it is on a couple thousand year old lion but... and the tag my lagoon sign. I'm going to go look it up right now It's a QR code that would have told us about the area if our phones where working then.

Day 5 Italy

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:56:54 GMT

Day 5 was nice we started to just walk around. This the view from out side our apartment.this the door to our apartment. :)
Our one thing to see was Venus which at the museum Uffizi which as we had know was the most non-user friendly museum. WE went and stood in line which was really a line to no where, I went to take my metal water bottle back to the apartment and saw there was another door (2) so I went in and we got reserved tickets for later that morning. So David and I went back to the main hotel and got online for a little bit. Then rushed to walk through the museum. We were very frustrated with how hard it was to find things and to learn about them. Outside the cafe in the museum this was the view of the tower that is the back of the outdoor David seen in the Day 4 photos. This was a no photos allowed museum, but I snuck a few some.

The Venus was very poorly placed and the windows from behind us cast a glare on the glass in front of it. ARGH Both David and I were feeling the pain of travel so we stopped in at the pharmacy and asked for a ointment for pain and we got the most magical stuff- it's topical naproxin.Then we wondered a little around town then we sat for café completto with grappa, and David got gelato, at a little café in the square of the Duomo.
Then we decided since we couldn’t climb the dome of the Duomo on Sunday we decide to climb the tower, 414 steps, and four stops along the way… I apparently I didn't take any pictures. Then to diner Ristorante La Repubblica David got a pizza, and I had the risotto de fungi and some undercooked meat and then home to repack and get ready for day 6 travel day.

Day 4 Italy

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:53:19 GMT

Day 4 was the trip from Roma to Florence we got to the metro station early so we were able to find maps at the book store, one for each city we will visit.
This very cool dog just sat on his cart and checked out everyone who was walking up the stairs.The train was awesome, first class, and we sat in the four seats and no one sat with up so I was able to charge my zune read my book, listen to my book and knit on david’s socks, this was some of the only time I knit on the trip itself. The walk from the train depot to the hotel was short but troublesome, it was had to find the door. When we got upstairs (ask me about the elevator-there was really one enough room for one person and baggage. On our way up this first time David I and our bags crammed in) they had over booked the hotel, so they put us in the apartment they have- 2 bed bath, kitchen dinning room and frescoed ceiling in the dining room, pictures were taken the next day. We rushed to see "David" as we weren’t sure what would be open on the next day Sunday… No pictures are allowed in this museum. But wait for tomorrow more pictures of beautiful thing tomorrow. Then wandered around the city and there wasn’t a corner you didn’t walking to something beautiful.even the service covers are pretty. We ate a great dinner traditional florentine steak and potatoes.and had great wineIt appears that I took very few pictures during the day, I know David took more but I have only posted the ones from my camera.

Day 3 Italy

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:13:18 GMT

Day 3 Friday we started via metro at 8:30 at the Colosseo Always the geek I find a survey point in the floor in the colosseum and have to photo it.
and then to the Foro Romano & Palatino , wow that was huge we walked through almost all of that map! more of those cool drinking fountains!
Then off to the Vatican again for the Sistine Chapel, and the vactican museum i want this tub, the little cat head in the center was the drain!

Tiberius for Keely and someone that looks like he may be related...
there was so many beautiful thing there I dare say more beautiful things then the Sistine chapel itself, in which photos are not allowed, then we lunch at Café Vaticano which was over priced and bad microwaved pasta and slow service… Then to the Pantheon then back to trevi fountain , which we found a orthodox church across the square had some gelato, metro home.

The really sad thing is David and I got lost on the way to both pantheon and the fountain, and both times we saw a McDonald's sign, leading us the Pantheon McDonald's and Trevi McDonalds sad but true....

Day 2 in italy

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:31:50 GMT

Day 2 we started at 7am shower, washed laundry and had breakfast at the hotel- went to the train station 2 blocks away bought tickets for a hop on and off bus tour and went back to the hotel since they don’t start until 9. We picked up the laptop and here I am writing up the story so that when we get access, which we couldn’t from McDonald’s since we aren’t citizens, something about a Italian sims card on your phone for password, I can’t post it for you (but now I can ;)). We ended up jumping on that bus and riding it all through the city it took over 2 hours, and there was a little dialogue you could listen to, nothing really great but nice. So we got to see a majority of the hot spots, some enough where we didn’t need to go back. I think this is Santa Maria Maggiore
Colosseo
Ara Pacis
Then we stopped at the Vatican and went through St. Peter’s basilica. Wow… makes you want to be catholic, or a better catholic, man that church took my breath away, as well as everyone who walked through the doors. the pieta,

David and I went up the dome to the cupola.
Wow after 340 stair and a very Claustrophobic hallway.
We got the most beautiful view of the city of Rome!
Then we hurried up to the coliseum in hopes to get in but it was already closed but they had it light for evening so we took lots of picture of that and the Arco di Costantino.
Then the metro home and dinner down the street at Café Electra. Then bed.

Italy

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:39:19 GMT

Hello I thought I would chronicle the trip to Italy maybe a little better then I did for last years trip so since we changed a number of time zones I’ll state it like this Day 0 we left our house at 4 am and took off for JFK at about 6:40am PST, slept a little on the plane.
If you squint you can 3 mountains, that is Rainer, St. Helens, and the one in Oregon...

We just had enough time to eat a fast meal at Chili’s in JFK before getting on the ~9 hour flight to Roma. David and I were not originally sitting next together for the flight but the lady next to David had the seats on either side of him and asked him to switch, then we noticed the chair next to me was empty so he moved next to me. I had a great New Yorker who travels often to Rome and gave me great restaurants and tips. The flight was great we slept off and on and watched our progress and watched movies, and knit of course.
Day 1 we landed in Roma at 7am almost a full hour ahead of schedule. We got through security and I got my first stamp on my passport and you can’t hardly see it. Our shuttle from the airport to the hotel was awesome the guy drove us through and around most of the hotspots so there are many out the dirty car window shots. Rainbow over the Airport.Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II A little part of the Aquaduct by the colosseo.On top of the Castel.

That is the archangel Michael sheathing his sword to commemorate the end of the plague in the 5th century.

Then we went to Castel Sant’ Angelo, where we thought the pope was and he wasn’t it was another Castel way outside the city, so we didn’t get to see El Papa. One thing I was impressed with but should not have been surprised about is that there was water everywhere, fountains of drinkable water...
This one was dry but there was others...

We learned the metro system well, and walked almost to the Vatican. Had a great lunch at a little bistro outside the Plazza Cavour which is getting renovation work. Then off across the Ponte (bridge) Cavour to Ara Pacis and then even though I didn't really need to see the Spanish Steps (they were built in 1720) it was right next to the Metro so we saw them.

They are called Scalinata Trinita dei Monti and we took a few pictures before heading back to the hotel Serena to finally get to check into our room, on the “fourth” floor actually 5 or 6^th can’t tell. Thank goodness it had an elevator, because remember that each floor has 10-12 foot ceilings, so a flight of stairs is twice as long. The room itself is clean but makes me a little claustrophobic, there is less then a foot around the bed! We fell into bed about 5 pm (Rome Time) and slept until midnight got up and repacked our bags, and researched a little for our day 2.

Just one word that happens in 13 days...

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:26:02 GMT

ROME!

My brother's bag-

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:49:49 GMT

So I have a few WIP (works in progess) right now a few knit, a few sewing, and a few with fimo.... But the one that is the hardest for me to finish has been my brother's bag. It is the "Monk's Travel Satchel" by Vickie Square. It is a nice looking bag, and the color my brother and I picked out are great. However, the strap is 6 feet long.... in seed stitch, knit one purl one all the way. I love the fabric this produces but it is tedious. True to form being a human I made some mistakes but didn't see that until I bound off, so they stay. I had to learn a new technique the I cord bind off, I am using it to assembly the parts as well as the finish, so far I think this will look great.this picture was taken july 17th and now I'm piecing it together....

So I got this from a Client's "cat" after having problems emailing an estimate to her....

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:44:19 GMT

All Whom this Concerns:

While checking out Mommy's e-mail, I saw two (2) e-mails

sent from "Keisha". However, neither one of these e-mails

INCLUDES the "Dental Estimate" to which she refers to in

each one.

If, Ms Keisha needs a lesson/instructions on HOW TO SEND

ATTACHMENTS, I shall be most happy to "time out" from my

"cat naping" and send them to her. Learning a few tricks

about Computer e-mailing would help her to better assist you,

save time and get the stuff to us Kit-Kats STAT"! What say

you? Paw Pats to you and a purr-fect afternoon to all !

Just so you know I emailed it to myself each time and was able to view it just fine, the 2 times I sent it to her.

Onward rome....

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:32:55 GMT

So OceanEdge will be working GenCon this year again- even though he is no longer employed by them. Why you might ask well read the subject and you will see why. We had planned to go to rome with are income tax refund but we spent it on house improvements...
So We are quickly trying to plan a trip to Rome for the first 2 weeks of Sept. as my assistant at work is going to cut back her hours to once a week after that. There are many problem working a small business and taking needed time off is one of them. My boss is very put out by my trip but I really can't concern myself with that.

Anyways my cousin is a travel agent, so we asked her to help us out. Today we have to pick our trip. Rome and Venice were are must sees but third on the list is Florence. And the two trips she got for us are rome and venice or rome venice and florence....
OH the choices... Ok just had to brag a little...

stuff im knitting...

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:46:48 GMT

So there are two projects I am working on right now. I have my sweater that I am working on and my brothers bag.... I was getting really happy I got both the front and the back done and knew the strap was big- but man! it is 72 inches long. I only have 14 inches done.
This is my beautiful sweater and the picture was takeen a little while ago so it has gotten a little bigger.

Here is the bag- there is a lot of seed stitch. I love the texture of it and it is less mindless then stockinette, but it takes forever.

coffee required to make coffee....

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:24:17 GMT

So here is the problem. I make coffee every morning, yes it is instant but damn it's good. So this morning since Im staying home, I make it in my tall cup. Sugar, fiber, coffee, stir.....

I forgot to add the creamer, went upstairs and realized that I didn't have creamer... SO downstairs I went to get a shot-glass full of non-dairy creamer, the only problem is to pour a large creamer into a small shot glass requires more brainpower then I had so one shot of creamer on floor and dishwasher, and one shot in shot glass....

Coffee in tummy now I clean floor and dishwasher.

circe

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:12:37 GMT

So you may know I have a feral cat that has been living under my bed, pissing and puking on my stuff for going on 6 years now. Well she did something last week that was unforgivable, no it wasn't puking on my book she already did that a year ago. No it was not pissing on my side of the bed that was two years ago.
She urinated on oceanedge's laptop, at least it wasn't the new netbook, or else she would have dreamed of being kicked out.
Last wednesday after I got home from work, we locked the boys up and opened the back door and walked her out. You must remember that we have a feral colony outside Dexter's parents. And it appears that Mommy cat or Emma is kicking Circe's butt. We have only seen Circe a few times. Today we saw her in the front yard and I put some wet food out. Amir ran to the window but didn't say anything...

Sorry it's been so long

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:28:16 GMT

I have been without a desk top for over a month and haven;t moved back into it now that it is fixed and the netbook which btw rocks doesn't have all the linkys in it yet either. I have been sewing and painting and such but not a lot of knitting which is bad because I have a sweater on the needles and my brothers bag that should be done sooon- it is a little boring just stockenette. But I had to cast on something else night before last.
flip flop socks they are so cute and I hope to have them done today! if i get off my computer and go knit.
Seattle has been bloody hot for the last 10 day or so - thursday it finally broke a little still warm but not 80. I forget how much I love spring up here when san diego has june gloom we have glorious days.

Well my sister in law had surgery thurday and she's fine and wednesday my brother is getting surgery. So if you could keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers i would appreciate it. thanks