Friday, February 27, 2009

Flat Stanley

The first time I heard about Flat Stanley I wasn't so sure. But as I learned more about Dale Hubert's project I got very excited. This was for several different reasons. The first of which was learning that the teacher, Dale Hubert, who started the Flat Stanley Project is from London ,Ontario where I was born! Those Canadians are so cool!
So, here is the premis. Flat Stanley gets printed off and colored. He then accompanies you to different places and has his picture taken. Then you can email or snail mail your adventures to others. It was origianlly started as a way for kids to write and learn but is becoming a phenomenon all over the country. Flat Stanley had been photographed with many famous people.
I think that this is one of the niftiest things that I have ever seen. It is creative and cost effective. Especially with the rise of blogging and emailing this is a great way for everyone to get involved. To learn more about it go to the Flat Stanley website.
Print off your own Flat Stanley and show us all where you have been!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Pass on the Love

I was ready my friend Jess's blog, Domestic Piracy the other day and I found this idea. I think that it is so nifty so I decided to try it. Here is how it appears and I am going to borrow some of her ideas as well!
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
- What I create will be just for you.
- It'll be done in the next 12 months.
- You have no clue what it's going to be.
- I reserve the right to do something unusual.

The catch? You have to put this in your blog as well. Pass on the love!

I'm clarifying a couple of points. Firstly the item will not necessarily be knit. I'm a crafty ho, you know, it could be...I don't know, made out of chewing gum and Popsicle sticks. I also want to point out the specification that you have to post this on your blog...that means only people who blog are illegable. I'm not running some hand-made gift charity thing here. You gots to reciprocate.

Sarah

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Stand by Me

Every month the 188th Army Band out of Fargo stays at the hotel. I love to have them all in the building. In addition to being part of our armed forces they are a bunch of super interesting and fun people. Last night I got chatting with one of the guys and he showed me this site. Keep in mind as you watch the video that all of these musicians are filmed in a different place and are not performing together. I was stunned at the continuity of the rhythm, pitch and key. Such a neat video.

http://www.playingforchange.com/pop.html

Friday, February 20, 2009

Much needed time

I am reminded once again that it it the small things in life that make it worth getting up every day and venturing out into the cold. First off, I had my ears cracked at the chiropractor which I love. Then I had lunch with Rachael which was so nice. What I actually had to do today was buy something to put under a dress that I bought. I am notoriously bad at the "girly" thing so I talked Rachael into coming with me for moral support. I could have never believed that shopping could be so much fun! We even took time to try on evening gowns that we not only couldn't afford but would never have a place to wear. Three hours, one bra, one shirt, one pair of shoes and an Orange Julius later I found myself wondering were the day had gone. We rounded out the day picking out a tie for Mark and blissfully watching the fish in the aquarium. It was mostly the time. Just the low stress, relaxing time to take a much needed breath from life.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Happy

I was going through my regular blogs today and the post "Redress" in Panopticon caught my eye.
http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/
I was thinking while reading about his experiences how similar they are to my own but mostly the one thing that I experience that he didn't mention. For me knitting is also a social act many times. I love the days that I get to go to the yarn shop and hang out with everyone. I love being asked about my day, school, my new hair color. I love hearing about peoples kids, dogs, mom's and other things that make up the non-knitting side of their lives. Every time I wear something that I knit as part of a group I remember small things about that time and place. Then I moved on a started to think about all the other things I do that end up as social events. I swing dance and cook and hang out at work on my day off like a person with no life. I think that the people that I know are the most interesting part of the world around me.
As I know people and learn about them I have started to learn something about myself. That the "me time" is more important than I ever would have dreamed. The time to sit in quiet and think about what I have done, as your parents would say! This is the first time in my life that I can remember being completely comfortable with me by myself as a person. I think that we all long for that person to share our thoughts and ideas and life with. I feel confident that when that person wants to find me they will and in the mean time I am having a fabulous time being the person that I have always wanted to be.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Dropped the Ball

It seems that the streak to blog every day in February has not worked. I have been getting so run down with my schedule that I have made myself sick. Not good. But I am hoping to climb back up on the horse and tackle the world again. Despite my icky few days I am still trying to be optimistic. School is going well and I seem to be managing my time a little bit better this semester. So, with all of that behind me on to a new week!

Almost got the traveling Charleston at dance yesterday. I have moments of understanding!
Got a new phone. And it has a Facebook application!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Missed One

So, yesterday was so long and exhausting that before I could even get the laptop back out I fell asleep. To be honest I can't even remember what I did yesterday. I know that I must have gone to school but after that it gets a little hazy.

I had a very tasty taco that my friend Kristie made for me.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Overlapping Days

I am beginning to feel as though all the days just run together. Like someone has accidentally thrown water on what might have been a very nice painting. I am lucky that my online calendar highlights which day I am on so all I have to do is look at the highlighted day and follow the directions typed in it. Go to school...Go to work...Come home and sleep poorly...Rinse and repeat...
My hope is that in the end it all pays off and I have something to show for myself at the end of all this. I would post every day except that I keep such freaking bizarre hours that it is hard. This is actually yesterdays post and I just got home to late to do it into today...wait...never mind.
I would like to have one whole day to clean and one whole day to sit and do nothing. That would be awesome. My one day off would consist of the following. Stars Wars 4-6, Caffeine free Coke, kettle chips, tub of sour cream and lipton onion soup mix (stir and you have fabulous dip), comfy pants and t-shirt, comfy blanket, comfy dog, and on a perfect day, comfy someone else to snuggle with. Must be avid Star Wars fan and love chocolate...Please apply within.
First I need the day off...

Got a 90% on my algebra test!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

"Major" Changes

I finally declared my major in writing and officially. I am keeping my AA but adding culinary arts to that. I am actually really excited about it. I think that I will be really good at it and have a chance to do something creative while actually making money. It was a long but good day for me. I started a new knitting project called Evangeline. So, I listened to Stan Rogers song "Evangeline" while I was casting on. Talk about a warm and cozy feeling. I am tired and sore from dance last night so I am looking forward to going home to a hot bath, warm bed and snuggly dog.

Italian Buffet at school.
Hearing Sara Smile during shuffle on the computer.
Casting on a new knitting project.
Making someone smile with my lasagna.

One of Two

Because I got home very late last night I didn't get the chance to blog. So this will be the follow through for yesterday. The day was good until my car wouldn't start...again. But in the spirit of finding the good in things I have a friend that left the warmth of his apartment at 12am to come and give me a jump. Such is life in this frozen wasteland. Other good things...

I have lost 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks.
Dancing has been fabulous.

Monday, February 2, 2009

A Pretty Ordinary Day

All in all it has, indeed been an ordinary day. I don't really think that there is anything wrong with that. I find the idea of always having something exciting happening interesting. I think that we have all become so caught up in the idea that everything should move so quickly. We are bombarded with television and video games that feature explosions and plots that we forget that most of the time we live in the ordinary world. We sometimes miss the little things that make life so good. Like the fact that if we have an ordinary day and nothing really exciting happened it probably means that nothing bad happened either. After all the excitement of the last few months I am enjoying my one ordinary day.

I talked with Natalia. (this actually happened yesterday but I enjoyed it so much that I pushed it to today's list)
I finished a sock. (I haven't actually closed up the toe yet but I count it a finished anyway!)
I got invited to a birthday party.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Sunday Dinner

So, today brought another Sunday dinner. As per my friend Sam's request we had lasagna. Pretty good but to much sauce. Not that anyone here was complaining! I feel ready for the week to come and hopeful that it is much better than last week.

Had a great time grocery shopping.
Cooked.
Worked on my sock which is almost done.