Why I don't watch the news.

This is an article that was published by Orson Scott Card (loved his Ender's Game, not a huge fan of much else but the man clearly has a good head on his shoulders). I thought I'd post this with a very loud and resounding "HELL YES AMEN" and hope a few of you might think the same.

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?

And now I'm going back to watching Ace of Cakes. No bull there.

Same people, new scenery

Well, I've been in Utah with my parents for over a week. We got in the Sunday before last and we took off looking for houses the very next day. Mom and I looked at about six a day and it was an eye-opener. Many of the people would have messy homes, which really put me off. Also, many people refused to leave the house while we looked through and when you have a buyer look through your home, you really don't want to hear them comment on how small the bathrooms are or how dark the basement. And they don't want to have to tip-toe around you.

By Thursday, we finally decided on 4 houses to show Dad, who is gone all day at work and couldn't come with us. On Friday, he came with us and we all decided that the house we liked best was the one that had never been lived in before:



It's still under construction and when it's done, it'll have grass in front and back, sprinkler systems and two trees as sanctioned by the city.

It has a study just off the entrance:


And a powder room:


The basement, where I'll be living, is immense. I could upgrade from a twin to a full or even queen-sized bed with plenty of room left over. Not that I will, I am used to my twin. Every room has a walk-in closet, so nice. The master bath even has a separate closet for the toilet, keeping the rest of the bathroom hygienic. This made me so happy, I don't understand or approve why people have to put a toilet beside the bathtub. Ew.

Anyways, there is clearly a lot of work to be done but we've been promised that the home will be finished within 2 weeks. In the meantime, we're all living in a La Quinta Inn, which is nice and has a tremendous view of Utah Lake but just isn't home, even WITH the free breakfast (waffles every morning if I want, not that I really want, but the option is there). But I share my Daisy's sentiment, I just want to go 'home'. *sigh*

In the meantime, I have been having the best time hanging out with my siblings and seeing my niece and nephews. My sister still looks lovely and slender from the back but she's got a lovely baby bump in front. And my brother and I have been having an awesome time just hanging out, talking, and even going to Borders and the mall today. I forgot how much I missed my siblings, I love them so much.

And then there's my friends. I went to Thanksgiving Point with a bunch of them to wander aimlessly through a corn "maize" (hurrhurrwhatever) dressed in a kimono that I borrowed from my friend Melanie and cheap long-haired black wig, sort of like the girl from The Ring except she wasn't wearing a kimono, but whatever. It got the effect I was looking for. It was fun for the first half hour, but when the 'clues' led us nowhere and the rough terrain was hurting us all, we started looking for a way out in earnest and within another half hour or so, we got out. There were cookies and hot chocolate awaiting us. Ahh, so nice and really, so much fun. My friends here are very down-to-earth, goofy, single people who are comfortable with who they are. They make me feel grounded and strong. I love them and I look forward to making more friends. :)

I still miss Lawrence, though.

learn about me

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure


• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this


• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit


• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally


• * Ask me questions to help me get clear


• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery


• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings


• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation


• * Let me know you like what I've done or said


• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting


• * caring for and being concerned about others


• * being able to relax and have a good time


• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around


• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator


• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now


• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive


• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline


• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally


• * being confused about what I really want


• * caring too much about what others will think of me


• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant


• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue


• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm


• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

No time for many words, just pictures.

Christina, remember this?



er, and then Picasa broke. Dangit. Oh well, eating badly, living out of a suitcase, trying to keep the dog from barking at things no one can help in the middle of the night, and knitting socks. That's my life, baby! :D We're on the road tomorrow, hopefully there's internet wherever we stop. Later!

I've been doing stuff, really!

I was totally productive on Friday:

With a burst of productivity, I vacuumed the car. Now, this doesn't seem like a big deal until you realize that I have a pup that is a lot German Shepherd and if there's one thing you must know about GSes is that they explode fur. There was a thick, embedded layer of dog fur in the back seat of my Honda Civic. It was also on the floor, in between the front seats, everywhere. So I took my dad's shop vac and scratched and scrubbed at the hair until it finally went away.

From Misc

Eeeww. Left side is clean, right side is covered in dog. Stupid Daisy.

So I worked really hard on that, cleaned the windows, scrubbed at the plasticky bits using the Armor-All cloths and sprayed some Bounce perfume stuff on the back seats so they don't smell so musty.

And then late that night, mom and I took Daisy and headed out to pick Dad up from the airport so we have his help in moving and getting the vehicles headed out West. Daisy was the most exuberant of the bunch:



There is seriously no better welcome than a dog so happy, she can't even gain traction on the floor. I love my dog.

And walk away. Just walk away.

Ever had one of those projects where just thinking about it made you wish it was already over or even never begun? That the knitting of it is not a pleasure but a pain and gives you anxiety? What do you do about it?

It was the Belle Cardigan (Ravelry link) knit on size 17 and 19 US needles and for someone who hasn't knitted on anything bigger than a size 4 needle for a while, it was BIG. Broomsticks and rope, my friends. That's what it felt like. So I finally put it away. Just stuck it in one of my under-the-bed containers and shoved it out of sight. What a relief! It's gone!

I also put away my lace. Sorry, no Mystery Stole this year, I can't stand it. Maybe later.

Then I needed something to keep my little fingers busy.





It's the Viking Socks and if you're a Danish speaker, it's even better but she does have them in English if you want them. I call them my Money socks because they are nice and green and may bring me to my next job.

Oh! So today I hung out with my fellow Rubbernecker, CeliaAnne! She is a real doll and I wish I had gotten to know her sooner. It just figures, right? Anyways, she gave me a going-away present of an African Butterfly clip. Now, I used to have thick, coarse hair that went all the way to my hips and lower and I just left it because there was never much to DO with it. And now that I'm off cyclosporine, my hair has gotten silky and pretty thin and I still don't know what to do with it. Alligator clips are awkward and ponytails are old. But I have never seen or worked with an African Butterfly clip before and seriously, it's amazing. My hair doesn't slip out (well, other than the hair that frames the face because it's ornery like that), it doesn't go anywhere, it *stays*! I kept poking at it and then grinning and going "This is sooo neat!". You're right, Celia. I *will* be poking you for more (and paying, of course). It's the best thing ever!

And that's it for today, y'all. Ha, I went to Applebees and our waiter must have just learned how to say "y'all" because he kept using it. Interesting note: "y'all" is meant to be singular or refer to particular people within a group. "All y'all" refers to the entire group. Personally, I don't use 'y'all' too much, I was raised a bit too European to be intimately comfortable with it. Maybe if I'm lazy typing. Which I'm clearly not today.

One last picture:



That's right, it's official now. Sorry to all my midwest friends. :/ I'll miss you.