UFO's

It's an illness.  We have here a cabled fingerless mitt that I hate because the cables are shlumpy due to the alpacaness of the yarn, a baby mitten which will be ripped out because I like the yarn too much and wish to make myself some socks, a scarf for Will which I am taking on vacay with me, my Clapotis which was boring me to tears and had to be put to sleep for a few months, and my sexy cardi which is in the works as we speak (well, it will be sleeping whilst I'm on vacation because I can only take so many needles as I keep getting stopped at airport security).  

I shall be posting about Disney world shortly.  That's right, Disney World.  I love it.  Anyone who doesn't love Disney World doesn't have a soul ;).  We're leaving tomorrow (ack, sweat drops, sweat drops!).  So I shan't be reading many blogs for a bit (I know, shocking), nor shall I be posting (now for something different).  

I hope everyone has a great week!  

London '99

Is this not the cutest group of girls EVER?  I'll answer that.  It is.  This is my adorable BYU London Study Abroad group.  Well, the ones I liked ;).  There were about 35 of us total (I think), but this lot here was the cream of the crop.  We arrived in London 10 years ago this month!  INSANE!  I still keep in contact with these girls.  Some more than others (some I thought were dead but, like Lazarus, they came back).  

The "Foundation" at Lake Windermere (Krista, Ather, Marie, me, Emily, Amanda, Melissa, Lis, Jessica).

My time in London was unbelievable.  Some of my greatest memories are from those 4+ months spent there.  Let me list some reasons why...

1)*  We had two stellar professors who made our experiences so memorable.  They planned trips outside of London each week so we were able to see more of Britain than is humanly possible in such a short period of time.  We also had one crap professor.  He provided us with comedy and anger.

   

2)* The "BYU London Centre" is two row houses in Notting Hill (27 Palace Court Rd. W2 4LP, to be precise). You couldn't wish for a nicer neighborhood.  Even if you wished for it, you couldn't afford it.  BYU bought them in the 70's.  Praise Heaven.

3)* I met some of the greatest girls alive.  Yes only girls.  Boys don't tend to apply to this program.  Ather, Emily, Amanda, Marie, Jessica, Melissa, Lis, and Krista are some of my favorite people on earth.  Still.  

4)* I learned A LOT.  Seriously.  If you live in London and can't find something to keep your mind busy every day, you are officially an idiot.  Either that or you have a torn meniscus that keeps you in the centre (this happened to poor little Anne Marie). 

 

5)* I FELL IN LOVE with British literature.  Mostly with Jane Austen.  Really, really in love.  It's amazing how much more you can love something or someone when you actually see where they lived, or get to exist for a bit in the modern day version of their world.  I'm giddy just thinking about it!  

6)* We got to be mean girls for one last time.  Don't inhale sharply!  EVERYONE knows that when large groups of girls get together they fight.  It's the law.  There was just something about our particular coven that really ticked some of the others off.  We never started anything.  Swear.  But we were really good at finishing.  Mainly we just talked under our breath.  A lot.  We conquered by our wits.  It's the only way.  Also, the professors (two of them) liked us, so we got away with a good deal.  Yay us!

7)* I got to have my hair cut at Vidal Sassoon and Toni and Guy.  To the average human being, this may not sound like much.  To me (a hair freak), this was astounding.  They have innumerable hair schools in London (duh) and the students need people to practice on.  I was only too willing to oblige.  My cut at Sassoon was done by an instructor for a class and was the BEST, most precise cut I've ever had in my life.  My cut at Toni and Guy was done by a hair "grad student" (it's a thing), whose name was Robin and he was literally from Nottingham.  Like Robin Hood.  Also, that location was in Sloane Square.  As in "Hair Dresser on Fire" Sloane Square.  Hilarious.  

8)* I discovered some of the most delicious food on the planet.  Anyone who tells you British food is crap is a moron.  It's wonderful.  Nowhere on earth can you find such an amazing array of foods.  We're talking Indian, Thai, Chinese, Lebanese, French, Greek...  And English food IS great.  Give me a ploughman's lunch any day of the week and I'll be a happy girl.  Or a pasty!  Oh I love me a pasty.  And do NOT get me started on the sweets.  Don't. 

 

9)* It gave me a new appreciation for the fact that just because things are different, it doesn't mean they're inferior or less.  I had this notion that my way was the very best and all the other ways were crap.  Not so.  Once I realized that it was like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders.  Does that sound crazy?  It sounds a little crazy.  I LOVE that other cultures do things so very differently than I do.  Ultimately we're all after the same thing.  We ARE all after the same thing, right? ;)

10)* I realized that I have a serious crush on Britain.  It's become and illness.  I am the biggest Anglophile you'll ever meet (maybe a few readers of this blog tie with me).  When I continue my education it will be to get a Master's degree in Humanities and will likely be in some Britishy thing of my choosing ;).  La di da.  It makes me smile to think of it.   

Below are some of my favorite pictures of my time in England (the greatest of all the lands).  

What else?  Abbey Road.  We never did get that shot quite right.  (Me, Amanda, Marie, Ather)

Hilarity in the North Country.  There is nothing more worth while than putting the camera on auto timer ;)  (Krista, Marie, Ather, Amanda, me).

Rain Forest Cafe.  Not one of the finer culinary choices London has to offer.  But fun, nonetheless.  (Ather, Amanda, me, Krista, Emily, Melissa, Lis, Marie).

Some abbey.  I REALLY should have written on the back of those photos.  (Emily, Ather, Jessica, Krista, me, Melissa).

More hilarity in the North Country.  (Krista, Ather, me, Amanda, Marie).

Hampton Court.  Very cold.  Very.  I adore the Hershey's Kiss trees.  (Lis, Krista, Emily, me, Amanda).

Our last night in the Centre.  Packin' up.  It was cargo instead of luggage at this point.  (Amanda, me, Melissa, Krista).

What a fabbity fab experience London was.  What a fun post to write.  Now I shall have it forever remembered in my "journal".  Huzzah!  To my girls-I love your stinkin' guts!  Always.  Love, the Pres.  

Gift

A friend of mine bought me this shirt and I thought the knitters would appreciate it.


I know Oprah has told us all to stop saying the word "ho".  And we know we must hearken to the words of Oprah ;).  But when it comes to yarn...  Well, honestly.  

Blogging Failure!!!!

I feel that I am failing in my blogging duties.  To quote my favorite Luchador (Nacho), maybe it's time for me to get another duty.  

Of course I won't actually get another duty because this is sort of how I "journal" and if this goes then I will have NO recollection of my life when I am old ;).  Also, I love my friends in Blogland and would miss them terribly if I got another duty.  I've made my decision.  Decision made.  Blogging stays even though I'm crap at it.  

Reason one why I'm a Scheizeblog, I was given some awards (a really long time ago) by Hege and Marit, and I've never posted them or passed them on.  There's probably a Blogger's Hell somewhere for me.  I suppose I'll find out someday.  

This first one is from Hege.  I've been reading her blog for quite some time and love it.  She is an amazing Norwegian Super Knitter.  You should definitely check out her blog (hegeshobbykrok.blogspot.com). 

I shall give this award to...  Oh I honestly can't choose!  I love ALL the blogs I read.  They are wonderful and unique and entertaining and I wouldn't be reading them if I didn't love them!  HA!  Oh for crying out loud, I suppose I'll choose, this award goes to Marit.  She is another amazing Norwegian Super Knitter and you should also check out her blog (marit-ontheneedles.blogspot.com).

The second one I received from both Hege and Marit...

I'm supposed to write this little blurb with it...

This blog invests and believes in proximity-nearness in space, time and relationship.  These blogs are exceedingly charming.  These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.  They are not interested in prices or self-aggrandizement.  Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prices are cut, even more friendships are propagated.  Please give more attention to these writers!  Deliver this message to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their awards.

I'm very flattered to have received this kind award.  I LOVE getting new readers and in turn, reading their blogs.  The world is such a fascinating place, yes?  I must admit to thinking the "cleverly written text" is mildly odd but perhaps it just doesn't translate well from Spanish (is that what that is?).  

I hereby give this award to...

Um, no one.  Here's why.  Many of you that I'm thinking of have already received it and the others are "private" bloggers who probably don't want me sending a bunch of new readers your way.  Odd, I know!  However, I shall respect your privacy.  If you DO want some new readers, let me know and the award is yours because let's face it, I don't read stupid blogs and you all deserve it.

Reason number 2 that I am a Scheizeblog.  I have not posted knitting for a really long time.  OKAY here we go for the Christmas knits.  See, I TOLD you this was still a knitting blog.  I have sworn never to have a knitted Christmas again.  It was a stupid idea.  Wait, not that stupid.  It saved me justalittlebit because with the Horrendous Back Saga of 2008, shopping was sort of limited anyway.  

My first gift was for Scott, brother-in-law and gentleman...

What does one knit a brother-in-law?  A scarf, of course.  Any idiot knows that ;).  This is a masterful pattern called "cast on some stitches, do a 2x2 rib for a bit, knit for a REALLY long time in garter stitch and then end in another 2x2 rib section".   It was genius.  I actually almost gouged my eyes out with this one because I started the Boyfriend Scarf from LMKG and it rolled so horribly that I ripped it out and did this lovely.  Simplicity aside, it's very masculine and he claims to wear it all  the time.  Scott is not a liar so I, for one, believe him.  

Gift number 2, Cottage Slipper Socks for sister-in-law Brooke...

Aren't they cute?  

Pattern: Cottage Slipper Socks by Lion Brand Yarn

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick (Pleeeease change this name!)

Mods: I did some of this pattern magic loop because I don't love dpn's but things got a bit wonky and the decreases ended up being in the wrong place.  Ahh well, you can't win 'em all!

Time: They only took about 2 days.  Woot woot!

Prezzie number 3 for my sister Brooke (yes I have a sister AND a sister-in-law named Brooke Bendixen.  It's very confusing)...

The ridiculously simple, the I-have-knit-27-and-plan-on-knitting-more, the looks-good-on-everyone, Unoriginal Hat by the Yarn Harlot.  

Pattern: Unoriginal Hat

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande (yes, it is wonderful).

Mods: None

Time: A few hours.  Lovely, this one.

There are some other Christmas knits but I still have not acquired photos of said knits.  

Lastly, I must show you what I got Steve for Christmas because I love them with all my heart.  A friend of mine has a brother who is a professional artist and does animation on Disney's video games.  He's super talented so I employed him to do animations of my savages.  

Here is Will.  I had him done as a knight because you will rarely find him without a sword in his hand.  He is constantly fighting something.  He once asked Lizzy, when she was crying, if she needed him "to save the world".  Yes Will, please do.  

Here's the Lizzard.  She is "scaring".  This is Steve's favorite thing she does.  She puts her hands by her face and roars at us.  It's terribly frightening.  Also, she is dressed like a princess and in pink because she loves pink (I seriously have no idea where she gets it from, I am NOT a pink person), and she never fails to tell us that she's a princess.  "Wella" (Cinderella), to be precise.  


Steve gave me many wonderful "relaxation" minded gifts such as a new camera, a spa package, lovely books (oh how I love books), a pad for my lap top so I can blog in bed on my heating pad (not laziness, just less painful).  He is v v thoughtful and I would likely gouge my eyes out with my needles were he not in my life.  Seriously.