Well, there was another baby shower for people at work, this time for CH and LS. It's chronicled (at least a bit) at CH's site, so I won't duplicate. Much. She missed the action shots of little boys with balloons, which I couldn't miss out on posting. Here's AG and AS with blue balloon... apparently AS needed to wrastle it a bit.
CH got a little bit of practice in with little AZK. Hey! Why jump all the way to jumbo size? Practice with a little one, first... Oh well. Just be glad they don't come out that size. Ouch.
I also did a little knitting for the ladies. CH's mystery gift is nowhere near ready. She may get it in 2012. But LS got a little baby bib.
Remember this yarn? It's from the Elizabethan collar of a blanket that I decided to frog. Well, part went to baby bib, and part when to shopping bag.
I also did something with my Manos that I have had around the house for almost 2 years. I made Muffy, Part II. This one is for me. I still have 2 skeins, so Muffy may get a matching hat or mitts, or something. Bashir wants nothing to do with it, of course.
Speaking of basenjis, we almost had another old basenji man in the house. This is Shane. He is just outside of Scranton, and needs a new home.
He's 13 years old (poor old man) and needs to go into rescue. He almost was ours, until we learned that he's being rehomed because he's getting snippy with the toddler in the house. I did
go down and evaluate him for Basenji rescue, and hopefully someone will take in the old guy. At 13 years old, though, it's tough. We got Mr. Calvin at 10 years old, and he was a tough sell. But now, at 16 years old, he's just as active as...
...well, it took a LOT of effort for him to squeeze into the cat bed. Yes. That is a cat bed. And no, he really doesn't fit in it.
Well, speaking of not quite fitting into things, Bashir doesn't quite fit into this little hat.
I think it's adorable, with little lions on it... but no, it doesn't fit the basenji. I know. So does he. Yes. That's a snippy little basenji look. And then again, I am not fitting into my clothes anymore. Completely popping out of everything.
But that's ok. I'm 14 weeks pregnant, so I can blame the little one. (Which is why Shane doesn't get to come home with us, and why silly baby clothes and hats with lions do.)
We had our first ultrasound. Baby waved hi. Then hid behind its little hand. CH says ultrasounds are sort of alien like. MR says it looks creepy.
Well, if you think that's creepy, take a look at the website Makemebabies.com. You upload photos of yourself and your partner, real or imagined (yes, MR, you can cross yourself with Palin if you want) and they come up with the love child product. These were three options for ours...
Well, my fat cat, Felice, finally passed away this weekend. It was a long struggle (about 3 months) of her kidneys failing. She was in no pain, so I guess going in one's sleep is as good as it can be.
Way back in July, No Knit Sherlock! made a special post in my honor. I don't know how I missed it. I really don't! I do apologize, and here is my blog response...
No Knit Sherlock gave us the Elvis x Elmo hybrid called Elm-is...
I give you "Tackle Me Elmo."
Cheers, NKS!
A major knitting project is currently underway, but it is a gift.... SHHHHHH! So I will post it later, after it is gifted.... SHHHHHH!
I finally finished my hourglass sweater.
It makes me look like a bag lady. More sad photos on Ravelry.com. If you dare to look.
Some of you know I am not the biggest Star Wars fan. Episodes 4, 5 and 6 were good movies. I Who doesn't like Han Solo?
But PLEASE! This newest Star Wars movie - The Clone Wars, was painful. Absolutely painful.
There has been a cartoon series based on The Clone Wars out, some time ago. The animation is pretty good, the story is pretty good....
But this 2008 version?
Yuck.
BashirsDaddy is a Star Wars costumer, and he and his club went for the midnight premier. I went along for the free ticket. Even he hated this schlock.
Mr. Lucas, what is your problem?
Absolutely Offensive: If you thought that Jar Jar Binks was a stereotypical Rastafarian, and that whole characterization was offensive and racist, get ready for this one. I bet you will see Jabba's uncle for what he is - an offensive stereotype of a homosexual. I mean, do people really think a purple Hutt with a lisp and feathers is funny?
Unoriginal Score: Tell me, why do filmmakers always have Middle Eastern music playing in the background when there is a scene with sand. Why not some Navajo flute music? African drums? Or Andean pan flute? Or how about a Didgeridoo? Or better yet, HIRE A FRIGGIN COMPOSER WHO CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING ORIGINAL! Mr. Lucas, I bet you could spare $10,000 for an original song. Well, you could spare it if you stop smoking that crack that you are obviously smoking if you think this is a good film....
A Galaxy Right Next Door, Right Now: There is nothing more painful to me than anachronism. If this is a galaxy far far away, answer this - why do all of those characters use SO MANY late 20th and early 21st century Americanisms? And American military terms. "Roger Roger"? "Stinky"? "Call me"? "SkyGuy" (instead of Skywalker)? I can't even go through the list of them. But they are everywhere. And they are painful to hear, each and every time. Ok. So it's not just Americanisms... ok. I will buy that. But when your leader of the separatist movement has a Scottish accent? Please.
The Snarky Mary-Sue Padawan: The new character Ashoka - who was nicknamed "Snip" - I think because she was so darn snippy - was a Mary Sue. There is nothing more painful than having your hero or heroine be a snarky, sassy 13 year old kid who talks back, thinks they know it all, and has super jedi powers. She saves the day, AND shows up her Jedi Master (who isn't even a Master yet!) She saved Skywalker's butt on so many occassions you wonder how the Republic ever survived without this 13 year old... This character was the epitome of a Mary-Sue character. Big, cute eyes, supposedly loveable, but to anyone who ever dealt with a sassy 13 year old is really obnoxious to the core. We all remember how annoying Anakin as a kid was in Episode 1. This was much worse. Not only was this new kid annoying, but she is paired up with a snippy and snarky Anakin. I think this is why God gave me TWO eyes. One to poke out after seeing her, the other to poke out after seeing him.
Some say that Ashoka is a strong female role model - which is needed in the Star Wars universe. Great for young girls. Right? WRONG! This snippy little girl is the WORST kind of role model. Why does the only role model for young girls have to be a snippy little bitch? Why not just have her wear pants that say "Porn Star" across her ass, or a t-shirt that says "BRATZ"... ? Is that the only kind of role model young girls can have? Bull shit.
By the way. Give her a burger. That "Be-atch" is verging on the anorexic.
Thanks, Mr. Lucas. You just helped advance the women's movement to the year 1843.
Animation: Ok, this is just my personal taste, but it was awful. I understand there are a lot of different styles and tastes vary, but your characters looked like wood. A carved wooden Obi-Wan beard? And even the motion was belabored. It felt like wooden claymation, animated. Awful.
Mr. Lucas, you once again let down your fans with this one. Episodes 4, 5 and 6 rocked. Every time you release something else, you just twist the knife a little more.
My final complaint for now....
Was that John Cleese in the movie? Doing one of the voices? If it was SHAME ON YOU, GEORGE! Shame on you for using one of the funniest men on the planet and not giving him one funny line in the whole movie.
Ok. One more complaint. What about these guys? These guys are great. Where are they in this movie? Dammit!
Which is more likely to be so outrageous that it will stop people in their tracks?
The car with hundreds and thousands of toys and action figures glued to it...
...or me in that dress...?
Ok. What was I thinking? Are BIG BLACK POLKA DOTS flattering on ANYONE? How much WAS I drinking? I guess they DO sell alcohol at the Dress Barn. Who knew?
Things are settling a little here. Bashirs Daddy is staying with a friend, locally. He's working some things out, and we are still talking. Still shaky, but at least I am not crying on a daily basis.
On Friday morning, I left Binghamton. I loaded up the Saturn and made my way east to Boston. The Unsinkable RB was throwing a grand dinner party. This time, it was for one of the unnamed American Shuhadas for Oriental Redundancy, which was meeting in a small unnamed place outside of Boston.
Always up for a trip to Boston, and knowing the True Power of Schmoozing, I decided to accept the invite. Picking up AL in Albany, I drove the 10 hours to spend one night in Boston...
(Silly self photo of me with AL.)
(Pointless photo of me, just to show off my new clothes)
The 80s girl that I am, this reminded me of that 1984 hit "One Night in Bangkok" (which I accidentally typed in as BangCock.)
But instead it was "One Night in Boston."
I was inspired to rewrite the song.
One Night in Boston
Boston, Orientalist greeting Seven o'clock, it's time to start eating The creme de la creme of the research world in a schmooze fest with everyone that's worth meeting...
Time flies - doesn't seem a minute till the convo turns to research permits All change - don't act like a student Acting like a scholar would be much more prudent At Albright... or ACOR... or CAARI... or... or this place!
One night in Boston and the world's a schmooze fest No bars, no nightlife, but the drinks are free Discuss your research with some random house guest And if you're lucky she's a PhD She may be on a granting committee.
One grant's very like another When your setting up your next project, brother
It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity To be schmoozing with the board, not seeing Boston city
Whaddya mean? You've read one boring uninspired final report...
Tea, food, and Jordanian treats Some set up in Madafa-like suites
Who knew? They're selling pots to tourists! They're only reproductions, 10th century purists I got that plate in D.C., sweetie!
One night in Boston makes a student humble Not much between you and PhD Don't let them know that your project's stumbled Maybe they don't know your pottery Won't see the research mediocrity
Next schmooze. Gonna be the witness To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness He rips me more than could A bad review from BANGSOR would And thank God you're not my committee, controlling it
I don't see you guys creating The kind a books like you're berating My AZOR paper? I would invite you But the theory I use would not excite you So let's just go out to the bars, the yarn stores, the Trader Joe's
One night in Boston makes a student humble Not much between me and a PhD One night in Boston and your speech is mumble Can't be too careful with your company "Did I dig with you back in 93? "
One night in Boston and you made connections
A few from Harvard University
You'll find someone will give you some direction
"Some text, a graph, a little history..."
"I wish you could sign off on my degree!"
In all honesty, this was an incredibly friendly dinner party, filled with some familiar faces, and some new opportunities to meet people doing research in the Middle East. And RB is always the most fun to hang around with. Middle Eastern Hospitality? Huh? You have nothing on RB!
The next morning, we went out to breakfast with TP, and talked about Roman farmsteads and Islamic period overburden. There was almost a rumble at the table....
Then there were the photo sessions with RB in her place, on the divan...
Apparently these are made very recently (more recently than I suspected even) for the tourist trade. RB got hers in Washington, D.C. Well, thankfully they weren't real 10th century pieces that we were buying. But we knew that....
Oh. And then there was the Boston Shopping.... *Sigh* RB lives right near the row of middle eastern grocery stores. Of course, this means an obligatory visit and shopping bonanza. It's my one shot at some imported food. Of course, I always find something new and exciting. The yogurt soda was special, but this time I found the best product line EVER! And I could not be more surprised...
Would you look at this? NOMAD BRAND olive oil? What the...? Since when are Nomads engaged in capitalist production?
And honey? In glass jars? This boggles my mind. Nomads don't even like POTTERY! Let alone GLASS! Oh... wait a minute. Manufactured in Jersey?
I guess the nomads picked up and moved. Not nearly as exciting anymore...
While in Sevan, the wonderful store that has all my favorite Turkish food stuff, I decided to buy something special.... how about KAZANDIBI! It is nice - a milk pudding, a little caramelized.
I don't know why, but I actually confused this with Tavuk Goguzu, which is basically Chicken Breast Pudding. I thought I was buying Chicken Pudding... But I didn't. *sob*
I know it sounds weird, but it is delicious. And it is NOT Kazandibi. This of course means that I have been away from Turkey for FAR too long. It also means that I was scaring RB and AL with my new purchase.
"Don't you want to try some Chicken Pudding?"
"I worry about you and your food choices...."
Finally, we made the pilgrimage to Lexington, for one of my favorite yarn stores in the world. (My favorite yarn store? As if I actually know more than about 10... Hey, what do I know? I imagine poultry in my puddings!)
Wild & Wooly is a great little store. I picked up some nice alpaca, light alpaca, and a few skeins of merino wool from Wales. (Not whales. That would be strange.) I am giving that to Fire Ox vs Metal Dragon for taking care of the basenjiboys while I was away.
Couldn't wait to take a photo of the yarn... had to do it while on the ride home. And that's Peet's coffee too. It's such a different world, when you actually find civilization...
So, all in all, my One Night In Boston was a great success. Friends.... schmoozing... shopping... What more could I want?
Remember this yarn? It's from the Elizabethan collar of a blanket that I decided to frog. Well, part went to baby bib, and part when to shopping bag.
I think it's adorable, with little lions on it... but no, it doesn't fit the basenji. I know. So does he. Yes. That's a snippy little basenji look.
And then again, I am not fitting into my clothes anymore. Completely popping out of everything.
We had our first ultrasound. Baby waved hi. Then hid behind its little hand. CH says ultrasounds are sort of alien like. MR says it looks creepy. 
"Don't you want to try some Chicken Pudding?"
