Knitting and Marriage

So, here's the follow-up to my last post from forever ago.  I knitted something different with the yarn I got free (referenced in the last post) and am very pleased with the results. 

I also finished my knitted skirt so here are some pics of that as well!!!

Now onto marriage:
I can't sleep lately and this is the first time this has ever happened.  Here's what I came up with in the wee hours of the morning that could explain why I'm still single.  Enjoy.

Behaviors keeping me from finding my soul mate:

• Hibernation: the art of being a recluse
• Solitude in public - I don't mingle well
• Expectation to find the male version of myself
• Too much supernatural teen dramas
• Brushing people off because I'm reading my nook
• Associating primarily with high-schoolers or young married couples and their children
• Daydreaming in bed.  Every.  Day.
• Wardrobe consisting of handmade items: non-hip Grandma-ey or frumpy juvenile things

KNITTING!!!

Just thought you all should know that I won some yarn to make this project called Angostura from Ysolde Teague's new book, "Little Red in the City.".  Yeah, here's the post from Ysolda Teague's blog.  I commented on a post, and my post (out of more than 1300 comments) was picked! 


Ysolda Teague Blog

Yeah, I'm so excited to make this vest.  I will post pictures once I whip it out!

WHY?

Music that is not to be missed

So many good albums have come out this year, that I have not had time to even get jaded.  Life is good.

So here they are:

For all you folk lovers

Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

This album is a very refreshing listen.  It's different from his other stuff in that it's much more jazzy.  He's got a lot of jazz instruments in there and some truly funky beats.  I bought my ticket to see him this year because I've wanted to see him live for ages AND it's right by my birthday.  Perfection, or what?




You can listen to the whole album in a special live performance from NPR

William Fitzsimmons - Gold In The Shadow

Highly anticipated, this was, and it did not fail me.  Worthy of repeated listens in my opinion, but I've preferred relaxing, mellow music lately because of my insanely stressful life.  He has such a soothing sound.  Excited to see him live again in May as well.  (May 18th at Urban Lounge to be exact, must be 21 kiddies!)

Boring video and like all the others, but at least you can look at his adorable face!

Who isn't obsessed with beards!!!


Bright Eyes - The People's Key

This actually exceeded my expectations.  It's like a perfect blend of I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, Digital Ash In a Digital Urn, and Cassadaga.  This album should not be missed.  I can't stress it enough.

Your lucky day.  The band filmed it's own listening party when it came out so you can listen to the whole thing!

Having a bad day?  Need some cheering up?  Listen to this upbeat goodness and your frown will surely turn round.

Peter Bjorn and John - Gimme Some

I will prove this with a song.

I totally forgot this album.  I was too hasty in posting.  For shame. 

Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours

 This album was such a surprise.  We love every single track.  Just start listening.  You won't be able to stop.  Brooke's favorite is Louder Than Ever.  Go there now.

tUnE-yArDs - WHOKILL

Now, this may not appeal to everyone, but this girl is amazing.  Trust me. Live, she is completely magical.  She absolutely shreds on the ukulele and her looping skills are GEN-I-US.  This music sincerely moves me on the inside, if you know what I mean.  It makes me catch my breath.  I have to dance...I have no choice.  Good thing we all have a chance, because she's coming May 3rd.


Here's a music video worth a watch.

Here's another video that show her skills live.  Don't worry.  She starts playing the uke later on...  I've seen her live several times.  Always by accident, but I believe it was 'meant to be' because I can't get enough.

And last, but certainly not least for the time being: one of my guilty pleasures.

Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby

I'm proud enough to say that I'm not ashamed to admit to the world that I love Avril Lavigne.  Her poppy teen music is just irresistible.  I listen to it in the gym, driving in the car, basically anywhere.  It's perfect to sing along to.  She's in her mid 20's now, and still as immature and annoying as ever (i made the mistake of watching her 'making of ' video for this album and was bitter-sweetly dissappointed.  Bittersweet, because I don't care.  It's all about the overproduced, predictable, radio-friendly garbage.  I'm sorry if this offends you, but I'm being real and honest.  We are allowed a guilty pleasure now and again, no matter how embarrassing, right?

I won't force a listen, but go preview the whole album in iTunes.  No song disappoints.  I'm serious.


Please comment freely.

My worst nightmare

My worst nightmare, other than playing the wrong hymn in Sacrament Meeting, which I did on Sunday, would be this knitted clown hat/face thing.  NIGHTMARES!!!!

...design with a geek-chic gal in mind!

So if you know me at all, you know that I love Etsy.  I just barely stumbled upon the greatest shop and had to immediately blog about it.  Observe.

Embroidery + chemistry = perfection

-don't you think so too?

This is serotonin by-the-way, the "happy" molecule

There are many others in her shop (citric acid, tryptophan, testosterone and estrogen, caffeine, sucrose, and chlorophyll) and I'm just dying to do one.

This is blog-worthy, though because there's something for everyone!  Literally!  Get excited, Ali.

Tetris + origami spells Ali to a T.

Oh, but wait Brooke, I won't leave you out.

 Bows and a ring that resembles knitting.  OMG it's mind-blowing!

Check it out if you want to be like any one of us girls.

itsastitch

There Must Be More To This Provincial Life

The concept of becoming jaded by the normal hum-drum of everyday life plus the fact that it will be just as monotonous and bleak for the rest of your life has bothered me for the past few months if not past several years. I like to pretend that my life will actually amount to something - that I will accomplish something more than a normal career/family/American Dream life.  What is the American Dream?  Isn't it to be 'normal?'  I don't want that.  I want to be extraordinary.  I have no idea how to do this because I'm not smart enough to invent something or cure cancer/AIDs or discover a new species.  I like to knit far too much.  My biggest fear is that what my life turns out to be won't bring me contentment/happiness.  Is that what I want?  I'm happy/content now, so why am I worrying about it?  I don't know, so here's some throw-up for you today.


This struggle is seen in the media quite a bit.  For example, the newest album by Arcade Fire addresses the concept of achieving the American Dream, but finding out that it's not all it's cracked up to be.  It's some good, catchy stuff.

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

So what happens when you get your hopes up and make your plans to have the perfect life and you are suddenly trapped before you know it?  Many things drive people to do the things they do and I like to think about this sometimes.


I just finished reading Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert.  Wiki summarizes it thus, " The story focuses on a doctor's wife, Emma Bovary, who has adulterous affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life."  That is it.  Sounds boring and not worth your time, right?  Think again. Wiki further goes on to say, "The novel was attacked for obscenity by public prosecutors when it was first serialized in La Revue de Paris between October 1, 1856 and December 15, 1856, resulting in a trial in January 1857 that made the story notorious. After the acquittal on February 7, 1857, it became a bestseller when it was published as a book in April 1857, and now stands virtually unchallenged not only as a seminal work of Realism, but as one of the most influential novels ever written.

A 2007 poll of contemporary authors, published in a book entitled The Top Ten, cited Madame Bovary as one of the two greatest novels ever written, second only to Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina."

Maybe this is overstatement, or maybe this just shows my ignorance.  Also, i'm not trying to convince you people to read it, but if it at all piques your interest, please do.  There is a depth there that gives pause for reflection and the language is beautiful.  Flaubert is a realist, but he also incorporates romantic ideals, which he usually satirizes.  I, myself, relate to this style and thought process so well for some reason.  Is there such a thing as being a romantic realist?  Ha Ha  Anyways, it's an enjoyable, relatively fast read, despite the length.  For me, it's alluded to everywhere so I've always been intrigued by it's widespread appeal and when I watched Little Children (2006), I was convinced I had to read it because of this dialogue during the book club scene.  The main character, Sarah (Kate Winslet), is having an affair herself, so gives an interesting perspective on the book especially in comparison to the judgmental, gossipy housewives.

Sarah Pierce: I think I understand your feelings about this book. I used to have some problems with it, myself. When I read it in grad school, Madam Bovary just seemed like a fool. She marries the wrong man; makes one foolish mistake after another; but when I read it this time, I just fell in love with her. She's trapped! She has a choice: she can either accept a life of misery or she can struggle against it. And she chooses to struggle. 
Mary Ann: Some struggle. Hop into bed with every guy who says hello. 
Sarah Pierce: She fails in the end, but there's something beautiful and even heroic in her rebellion. My professors would kill me for even thinking this, but in her own strange way, Emma Bovary is a feminist. 
Mary Ann: Oh, that's nice. So now cheating on your husband makes you a feminist? 
Sarah Pierce: No, no, it's not the cheating. It's the hunger. The hunger for an alternative, and the refusal to accept a life of unhappiness. 
Mary Ann: Maybe I didn't understand the book! 


Stupid housewife.
The book goes beyond the act to the motivations behind them.  Very significant and interesting and one of the things that appealed to me about this book the most.


The movie was good, if you don't mind a lot of naked Kate Winslet, rough and passionate love-making, and some really disturbing images involving the neighborhood pedophile.  The imdb synopsis says, "The lives of two lovelorn spouses from separate marriages, a registered sex offender, and a disgraced ex-police officer intersect as they struggle to resist their vulnerabilities and temptations."  It has a lot of the same themes from Madame Bovary and is a good cerebral flick if you aren't offended easily.


Well there you go.  Have a nice day.

To Knit or not to Knit...

Our obsession with knitting just seems to be growing and growing and growing.  Here's the quick low-down.


I'm knitting this super cool skinny scarf for our beloved John Maynes (who at least one of us will marry) who is currently in Slovenia on a mission.  Yes, this is a super hard technique called double-knitting.  It is a reversible scarf, as you can see.









We've also joined the alligator scarf bandwagon (thank you Jenni Boyle).  I've knit the one in green, plus a mustard yellow and brick red one.  Brooke knit the white one and is knitting another dark green one, which is turning out most delightfully.







I spent the first 6 months after Christmas knitting socks as voraciously as school would permit, but as I am currently unemployed, this was a feasible task and brought the utmost enjoyment.  I ended up knitting 3 pairs, including the ones on the cover, which are perfect for cold feet during pedicures.  Really.  I'm serious.  Mom could not have been more thoughtful in her present of the best sock book around with some beautiful yarn.

Then, I stumbled upon this book, VAMPIRE KNITS.  I'm very excited to get to a project from here - be it fashionable cowls, blood-type beer cozies, or werewolf eared hats.  Stay tuned for updates on this.

 What with all our neat-o projects and Ali's very own knitting society, the Weldin girls are at the top of our game in the knitting world.  Brandi listens to knitting podcasts, at the suggestion from Aunt Shelley, in her free time, and Brooke is knitting her little heart out preparing for the holidays.  What could bring more joy?  Put on a little Sufjan or Beirut and steep a cup of tea and there is literal heaven on earth.  What could be hipper than this?  Well, let me tell you.


Drum roll, please.


Russell Crowe knits.



Actually, it's somewhat a fad among several celebrities.  Take a gander, and be even more surprised.

Scarlett Johansson, who also taught her husband, Ryan Reynolds

Debra Messing

Uma Thurman

Sarah Jessica Parker

Kate Moss

Catherine Zeta Jones

Goldie Hawn

Hilary Swank

Cameron Diaz

Winona Ryder

Madonna

Russell Crowe

Dakota Fanning

Madonna

Hilary Duff, who knits to keep herself occupied on airplane trips

Julia Roberts, who is starring in the upcoming movie called The Friday Night Knitting Club

 

Yes, that is Ginger Spice, Geri Halliwell.  In addition, David Arquette, featured in a special volume of a whole lot of celebrity knitters, knitting for a cause.

This post, however, comes with a warning.  As cool as knitting seems to you now, beware.  There are plenty of kitschy items that would best be left alone.  I now present to you, my own collection of, "What Not To Knit"

 

 

And the grand finale..........

We hope you are crying your eyes out in unbelieving laughter.  Brooke and I don't know what our favorite part about this photo is.  The colors the poses, the facial expressions, the visible textures, the condom resemblance...I don't know, but it's wonderful.


If you wanted me to, I would knit you a

Snuggie®

Word of the Day

Pegasi is plural for Pegasus

Now don't go around saying pegasuses anymore...

Blast From the PAST

My professor is late, so I thought I'd take advantage.  I hopped out of bed this morning, and while in the shower, after pondering Patrick's blog post about laundry and wondering how I'm going to make it through the day, the most odd thought popped into my head.

Who can forget the propensity in the 90's for kids movies where the main source for laughs comes from annoying adults.  Are kids movies still like that?  I have no idea.  I also have no idea why this popped into my head at such an odd time, when at all.

Famous?

Although my name is not used in this article, i am now published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. My specialists asked me a year ago if they could use my case because i am the first and only one they know of.

Today i found the article...

Abstract

Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES) [Job's Syndrome] is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent skin and lung infections. We report the first case of Coccidioides immitis meningitis in a patient with HIES. [ME!] Coccidioides should be included in the differential diagnosis for central nervous system infections in HIES patients.

I don't have access to the entire article yet, but Brandi will get it tomorrow.

For A Happy Marriage 10/12/10

By: Nick Farmer

1. Clean stuff. It's not too hard and it makes everything nicer. And you can have sex on clean things.

2. Screw nature. Stay hot.

- Workout in the morning, maybe tantric yoga.

3. Remember dates of important spouse related events.

4. Listen, just listen. You don't have to solve your spouse's problems.

5. Be of good cheer, you're married to someone you be lovin'.

6. As one doctor friend of mine once said, everybody needs hugs and kisses. They make a bad day good or a good day great.

7. Dudes, cook some food for your wife, watch a good movie with her and enjoy cuddling. Maybe drink a diet pepsi too.

8. Cuddle, it's super great, and lots of people seem intent on denouncing it as gay or unmanly. But seriously just hold each other.

9. massages, foreplay or not, they're really great.

10. Enjoy sex. Don't let it become stale, try new things. Talk about it. If you can't then you shouldn't be married in the first place.

11. Be spontaneous, but don't overspend. Debt can be a bigger downer than boredom.

12. But at the same time, have fun going places: movies, dinner, walks in the evening, sex in public, getting some soda.

13. When you're having an argument, don't use funny words or voices. It undermines your position. Even when you are absolutely sick of your spouse leaving the cabinets open or peeing in the shower and you're ready to blow up nuclear style, remember you love them and married for a reason. Don't say things in anger to hurt them, that's terrible. Say things only to communicate effectively the problems that you face. Don't go to bed mad because you'll never know if the issue was resolved or will be there plus resent in the morning. And people have bad breath then.

-- There you have it. The wise words of Nick Farmer. Great guy.

Rory Spotlight!!!

I have recently had the recurring impression to spotlight one of Ali's friends, Rory.  He decided to answer my questions, so now you get a glimpse of who this great man is.

 (This picture was taken at the Michael Jackson party this summer.)

He declares Michael Jackson as the greatest pop artist of all time, and rightly so.  Our friendships all depended upon this one response.

First off, I asked him what his first memory and impression of Ali is.  He said, "My first memory of Ali was when she was in my driver's ed class.  Her and I would exchange dirty notes back and forth.  I thought she was cool because she was keeping up with the vibe I was giving off."

Perfect!

My first impression of him was when I picked him up with Ali in the car and we stuck a mix in that he had just made for Ali.  There was some Format on there, so my first impression was a good one.  Then, the second time I saw him, he wowed us with a guitar piece of his own composition about Halloween.  (He has refused to record it in costume thus far.  Perhaps if there was some compensation...monetary or otherwise?)  Nonetheless, he is great.

 His favorite band right now is Bombadil, specifically the Tarpits and Canyonlands album.  "[He] can't put them down."  They are sort of folk-pop and very indie.  Unique and musically gifted.  Great choice.

His favorite artist of all time is Bob Dylan, and favorite band of all time, The Killers.

He believes that his smile came from his mother, but he hasn't really noticed. 

If given a choice, he would love a boxer for a pet.

He prefers Super Mario Bro's over Tetris.