Blah.

I seem to have a strange stomach. Some mornings I just don't feel like eating anything. I'll be hungry, but my stomach doesn't seem to want anything solid. And I just ran out of chocolate soy milk. Shucks.

I did, however, work on my Party Clutch though, with help from my mom. I had to pick up and knit stitches along the edge. I got the first edge done, but I couldn't get the cast-on edge done. I think it was because I hadn't eaten anything. So I ate two bowls of Campbell's Italian Wedding soup. I think it was after the soup when I polished off the last of the chocolate soy milk. Some days I just don't wanna drink that stuff, other days it's like an elixir. Then I ate a couple of English muffins with peanut butter and jam on them, and I also drank a bottle of Pepsi.

Maybe I have to start drinking a glass of water in the morning, because a little while ago I had to drink water to kind of kick-start my stomach. I wouldn't feel hungry in the morning, but after drinking water I started feeling hungry.

It also doesn't help that I drank all the fruit juice in the house. That stuff was also great to consume in the morning if I didn't feel hungry.

ETA: Sorry, it wasn't an entire bottle of Pepsi. There's still some left in the bottle.

Visiting my sister

I went to London, Ontario to see my sister Katie yesterday. My dad was meeting folks, so while we were waiting for him and my sister's boyfriend to come, the three of us - me, Katie and Mom - played Scrabble. Katie won, I came in second place, and Mom came in third. For me, the best part of the game was when I had a blank tile and got 'hijabs'. And, if I remember correctly, it was a triple-word score. Sweet :)

Also, she gave me three packs of gum. She bought this huge mixed pack of gum, and found out that she only liked one kind, so she game my mom three packs of peppermint gum and she gave me three packs of berry-flavoured gum. I was only going to take one pack when she offered us the gum, but she said, "You want two packs? Three?", and just gave them to me.

We went out to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. The food there is so good. I didn't eat any sushi (I wasn't too keen on it the first time I tried it), but I did have a bowl of BBQ pork udon, and some tempura, and some squid. Yum :) I also had a few edamame, which were quite good, and some deep-fried squid rings. Then everyone except Dad had ice cream. The servings of ice cream were small - which is actually good because desserts are often so huge. Mom, Katie and I had mango-flavoured ice cream and Katie's boyfriend had vanilla. The mango ice cream was so good!

I took two books with me for the trip there - a book about Bob Dylan, and Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce. I was going to bring my discman, but I decided against it - I hate my discman. I really don't like the buttons on it, because you have to dig your finger into them, but that might have been because I had the discman on my bed while reading or something when I was using it. Anyway, I might have to get an MP3 player, so that I have some music to take with me on those long car rides.

Ah, Bob Seager...

So I went to an orthodontist appointment today, because I still have retainers, even though I forget to wear the bottom one - I couldn't wear the top one for a little while, because of a membrane on my top gums, but now that the membrane is gone, they're making a new top retainer for me to wear when my fake tooth, or 'flipper', is out, because I take my flipper out when I sleep.

The awesome part of the visit was that, when I was called in, I heard the last bit of Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler on the yesterday-and-today radio station that they had on, and right after that the station played Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seager. When I hear it, I picture Tom Cruise dancing around... Never saw Risky Business, but I saw the scene on Oprah.

And then, on our way home, my dad and I heard Bloody Well Right by Supertramp :)

Punk Knits is AWESOME.

So here's what I picked up from the library...

1. Punk Knits by Share Ross
2. Alice Cooper: School's Out and Other Hits
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Friends: Solos, Sessions and Encores
4. Queen Rock Montreal (CD)
5. Best Books for Young Adults
6. Easy Knitted Accessories by Jeanette Trotman

I listened to disc one of Queen Rock Montreal. I had watched it on PBS, but it's still nice to have the live album to listen to. It's definitely an album I'd like to own.

Punk Knits by Share Ross looks awesome. I was looking through the patterns, and they look really cool. I'm already considering putting together a punk-rock outfit for the next family function... heh heh heh... :)

STILL haven't gone to the library...

...But it's not my fault! A DVD is in transit, so my mom said that we'll go tomorrow. I think. I don't even know if the DVD will be in tomorrow. Sometimes they take forever to come in, other times they zip right in the library and on the shelf, waiting for me to pick it up and check it out. So, if I do go tomorrow, I'll have to pay 50 cents in fines for my two DVDs. I only watched one DVD, because the other, season one of Torchwood, I had reserved for my mom, because I was sure that she said that she missed some episodes on CBC. Oh well.

But when I do get to the library, I'll have two knitting books waiting for me, along with a book called Best Books for Young Adults and three CDs.

I have an icky stomach from eating chili, even though I mixed mild chili with Dynamite Hot Stagg chili. Bah. I think I'm gonna nead another glass of chocolate soy milk when The Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin has finished.

More pictures

These are also ones that I'm proud of. I took several shots of the bottom two, but those two are probably my favourites of the bunch.

Clouds

I took these photos last night. They're my best ones yet. I'm especially pround of the one with the post in it.

I'll probably put up more photos in another post.

Kitty! :)

As you can see, the recliner is not mine, it's hers. Silly cat. She was on my bed this morning, but I kicked her off because I thought she might attack my feet. She's probably sleeping on my bed again. Or is it 'still'?

Bored out of my mind

The good news, though, is that I'm on a two-week break from math :)

Plus, I have a good-sized stack of CDs to listen to, thanks to the library. Only problem is, I'm worried that I won't get through all of them. But why should I worry? I'll get through them. I only have Robert Johnson, The Rolling Stones and the rest of Jeff Healey to listen to. R.E.M., Ringo and The Doors are already listened to. I'll probably take The Doors back soon, though.

I watched Becoming Jane yesterday - I'm borrowing it from the library, too - and I loved it. A good knitting movie. I worked on my mobius wrap yesterday, and it's looking nice.

And now I'm listening to Queen. Exscuse me while I quote from Wayne's World...

"How about a little Bohemian Rhapsody?"

"Good call!"

Excellent :D

I'm feeling a bit better. I managed to write a bit in Microsoft Word - I worked on my story, and on a separate project. I won't say what that project is, I'll keep you guys guessin' ;)

My thanks to Taryn and AJ for their sympathy :)

So I got the news a few minutes ago that Germany beat Portugal in the Euro Cup! Happy! I'm part German, so this is pretty awesome.

Also, two CDs are in transit - Queen Rock Montreal and a Stevie Ray Vaughan CD.

Plus, my mom said that after I finish up my math tomorrow, she's letting me take a two-week break! I'm still gonna be doing math over the summer, though. I need to, really, because I'll most likely forget a good chunk of it this summer. Also, the tent sale at one of the LYS's is coming up shortly! Yeah, I know I'm supposed to be de-stashing, but it only comes once a year.... :D

The cranium ain't workin' today

I got a bit of knitting done, but I put it away. The cat nearly got into the yard. I couldn't read or work on my math. I just kept crying for no reason.

I don't know what's up with my mind lately. I start talking about something important (like my education), or something that annoys me (like my extended family), and my brain turns on the waterworks.

I feel like I can't do anyhing today. My brain is working, but it's not letting me do math or read. I feel really uncomfortable. I feel almost sick, except I know that I'm not sick.

I feel helpless.

Maybe I should just relax. Maybe I should paint my nails, or soak my feet...

Sweet, sweet music

So in a previous post I asked you, dear reader, about songs that remind you of moments in your life or scenes from movies. I shall list all of the songs that bring back memories...

Songs and memories:

While My Guitar Gently Weeps, covered by Jeff Healey: Reminds me of Jeff Healey's death, and how it hit me hard. They say that the music died when Buddy Holly died, but for me the music seemed to die or almost die when Jeff Healey passed.

Twist and Shout, covered by The Beatles: Reminds me of the parade scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Hot Blooded by Foreigner: Reminds me of a Diet Pepsi commercial... the dude trying to get into his old jeans... :)

Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams: Reminds me of a funny moment at a youth group meeting.

There's probably a lot of other songs, but I can't think of them.

So, I'm gonna take that Zeppelin book back to the library. It's called Led Zeppelin In Their Own Words, compiled by Paul Kendall. I love the photos in it. It's the only copy that the library has, and I think it's out of print. I also have to pick up Becoming Jane, season one of Torchwood, and the complete recordings of Robert Johnson.

Plus, the tent sale at the LYS is coming up :D :D :D

Check out this WIP!

I was worried that it would be too loose, but it's looking good. I'm really happy with this mohair blend - it's Lion Brand Imagine, which has been discontinued. It's a shame that it is, though, 'cause I like it. It's nice to work with - the only downside is the occasional felt ball, but you get that with all kinds of yarn, don't you?

I may not go back to the youth group in the fall. I feel like most of the youth don't appreciate my participation at all. Two of the younger members are mature enough for the group, but there's other young members who keep getting off-topic. I may take up something else. Music lessons, maybe? Or maybe I'll hang out at the nearest LYS.

On a happier note...

I heard an awesome set of songs on the radio late last night/early this morning. Until they played a song that I don't like, but oh well, that's life. Here's the list...

1. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Cold Shot
2. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
3. April Wine - Roller (Man, can Myles Goodwyn holler!)
4. Foreigner - Hot Blooded
5. Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days
6. The Who - I Can't Explain

"Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share..."

Here's my rant of the day. Brace yourselves, my friends.

First of all, my dad is irritating me beyond belief. He didn't want me to go on the computer today, but I thought he was joking so I turned the computer on to download my photos. He went into a fit over it, I retaliated, and all hell broke loose. He has it in his head that I act like the computer's mine. I'll admit that I overreact, but he does, too. So my strategy is to go on the computer when he's either: a) working or b) sleeping. When he's home and awake, I'll ask him in a civil tone. Which I already do.

And now, for the other half.

I hate my grandfather. My grandmother is getting better about not excluding people, but my grandfather is another story. He doesn't make an effort to get to know me, my brother, and my two favourite cousins, and neither does my grandmother. Just because we're a little different. One of my least favourite cousins, however, is in my good books. I actually didn't mind being around him. He seemed to be genuinely kind to people, which is fantastic. But my grandparents never tried to get to know us different folk, and it really annoys me to no end. My least favourite aunt is the same way.

It never really occurred to me that my grandparents treat me like a kid until my mom brought it up once. It makes sense. They don't take me seriously. They don't take my brother seriously, and they don't take my favourite cousins seriously.

Because we're different.

What's so fabulous about being normal, anyway? What makes them so bloody special?!

Mall crawl

So my mom and I got dropped off at the mall so that I could get my last-minute father's day shopping done. It actually went well. I got him two golf shirts, and because I forgot to get him something for his birthday in February I got him a new corkscrew. We browsed in between - we were tempted to buy jewelry at The Bay, because they had nice earrings. We also went into a store called Green Earth, which has some funky stuff - jewelry, figurines, picture frames, that sort of thing. We also saw CDs there, one of which was a disco compilation. I wanted to get this Marvin Gaye CD, but I had no money with me. Shame... I like his music. We also stopped in a Coles, where we saw more CDs. I wanted to get Supertramp's Crime of the Century at Shopper's Drug Mart, but as I mentioned before, no money. Oh well - I'll see if I can earn money by doing yard work, then I'll go to HMV during one of their big sales.

My dad, the computer hog.

This drives me nuts.

So I was knitting and watching Last Comic Standing. Then Swingtown came on, so I got off the couch so that my dad, who was on the computer, could sit there. When he got off the computer, I asked him if he was finished. He said, "No." I think I also asked him if he was being sarcastic. He wasn't. So I went downstairs. I ate the rest of my chocolate, read knitting magazines and listened to Ringo Starr Live at Soundstage. Loudly.

He left that computer running unattended while he watched Swingtown. By the time he was finished, it was too late in the evening for me to go on. Actually, it was probably more like too early in the morning for me to go on, because he probably turned it off at around midnight, or a little bit after midnight.

If he had asked me to leave his browser open, I would have done that. But instead he just leaves it running and doesn't let me use it.

Nothin' new...

I feel I ought to update, even though nothing new and exciting has happened. Except for the fact that Robert Plant says that he wouldn't mind recording another album with Alison Krauss.

My thought? It's a great idea! I'm really enjoying Raising Sand. Some people might find it odd that Robert Plant is into bluegrass, but it isn't really that odd. If you listen to Led Zeppelin III, you'll hear songs that sound very much like bluegrass and folk.

Here's Robert and Alison singing The Battle of Evermore...

Funky stomach

We went out for fast-food on Monday, and I got a funky stomach afterwards. I'm not sure if it was from the food or if it was from an employee, but I felt queasy later that day, and I felt the same way yesterday. I'm okay now - I had a bowl of grits as a late breakfast.

Sometime today I have to get to the library. I went with my dad yesterday, but they were closed due to flooding. We had wicked weather over the last few days. One day (I can't remember which day), we had a mix of rain and hail. Freaky.

This just in... my computer is stupid. It just brought up a window saying that it was doing automatic updates. My mom said, "That's what it's SUPPOSED TO DO!" My dad thinks I'm overreacting. Too bad... I just hate it when I'm typing and it demands that I make a decision within a 3:00 time limit. Or whatever the time limit was. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

Stupid computers.

I think I'll buy a Mac in the near future.

One more note... I frogged the gauntlet. Twice. First, because there was an ugly hole in it (dad was distracting me). The second time around, I was one stitch short, or something like that. I'm not sure if it was the yarn bothering my eyes, or if the pattern just wouldn't work for me...

Not much to talk about...

Not much has happened. I listened to The Legends of Classic Rock last night. The episode was about the Rolling Stones album Some Girls, which I think was released on this day 30 years ago. There was also a Major League Soccer game on - and Toronto FC lost to Houston. Oh well, my mom says that Houston's a great team.

I have more stuff in transit from the library. I can't remember it all, but the first album by The Doors is one of them, as is a live Jeff Healey CD.

Speaking of CDs, I made another 'calming music' CD. Not all of the songs are slow - three of the songs are one from a Beatles compilation called Anthology 1, one of which is a track called Seachin'.

So I think I'm on a Stones binge now. I'll have to see if the library has Some Girls.

Yay!!!!!!

I got to go to the streetfest after all. I went with my sister and her boyfriend. Mom didn't come, though, because it was too hot. It still is pretty hot and humid. I bought a used copy of U2's War, which is in fabulous condition. And it only cost me $4.00!!! I also bought two chocolate bars and a denim bucket hat. My sister bought me a snow cone, which ended up on the ground. Oh well. She also bought us three elephant ears (fried dough, not real elephant ears!), which we split between the three of us and Mom. We saw a fire-eater, who kept trying to get kids to volunteer in his act. He was scaring the girls a little, which was funny.

I have a slight headache - probably from the humidity.

Stupid weather...

I can't go to the streetfest today because it's too hot and humid, and my mom can't take the weather. I don't blame her, but it's such a bummer, because I have money to spend, and my sister really wanted to go to the streetfest.

I'm also angry because my dad was bothering me when I was working on the first gauntlet. First, he distracted me by asking in the bag on the table full of stuff from the dentist was mine. Then, when I was so upset about a mistake in my gauntlet, he said, "Sobbing won't help!" Uh, dad, you don't even knit, so shut up!

Glad that's outta my system :)

A rather cool day :)

Why was today a cool day? I'll make a list...

1. Even though I hate going to the dentist, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had a fascinating conversation with the man sitting next to me in the waiting room. Normally I'm not that talkative, but we both had something in common - a fear of going to the dentist. And he made me laugh a little.
2. The hygienist who cleaned my teeth is so cool.
3. I heard 'Here Comes The Sun' on the radio as I waited for the hygienist to come back into the room.
4. We went to a store called JYSK, where my parents bought me a knitting bag that can double as a beach bag.
5. We went to Len's Mill Store, where my parents got me a pair of metal yarn needles. I needed a shorter needle for weaving in unruly ends. We also got two Butterfinger bars - one for my dad, one for me.
6. We went out for lunch.
7. I started knitting a pair of gauntlets.

All together now! "I'm in looove with my caaaar...."

I watched Queen Rock Montreal last night on PBS, and wow. I didn't know that it was Roger Taylor who did the vocals on I'm In Love With My Car. He's got a cool voice - raspy, kinda like Rod Stewart, but not mushy like Rod. I worked on my ruff while watching it, and today I cast it off and wove the ends in. Now I just have to sew on a small button, wash it, fluff up the ruffles and let it dry. Yay!

Below is the YouTube video of Killer Queen/I'm In Love With My Car...

The ruff is almost done...

I think I have another three or four inches of knitting to do before the buttonhole row. Yay! I would take a picture, but it's too dark.

There really isn't much to blog about today. I'm almost finished Troll Fell - I have less than a chapter left. Also, I'm really enjoying the new Coldplay single, 'Violet Hill'. It's calming, but also slightly heavy.

I have a question, dear reader - are there any songs that remind you of something, like a moment in your life or a scene from a movie? Every time I hear 'Twist and Shout' by The Beatles, I remember the parade scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, where Matthew Broderick lip-synchs. And on a sadder note, sometimes, when I hear Jeff Healey's cover of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', I remember how the news of his death hit me hard. I didn't know he had cancer, a cancer that took his sight. He died at a young age - I can't remember how old he was, but he was in his early forties, if I remember correctly. When I heard the news, I couldn't believe it. Then the next day it hit me - he died. I listened to sad songs. I wept.

And he left us some fabulous music to listen to with admiration.

Aching :(

What a fascinating dilemma. My stomach is aching, but I don't feel sick - it's more like a muscle pain, like I pulled a muscle or got kicked really hard. But I haven't been to karate recently, so I assume that I pulled a muscle. My right shin is also aching a little.

On the upside, I watched The Best of the Muppet Show today while working on my ruff. My mom's borrowing The Best of the Muppet Show and The Muppet Show, Season 1 from the library. We watched the first disc of season 1 of the Muppet Show as well. Also, the first season of Cowboy Bebop is in transit, and so is the soundtrack from Shine a Light. So I'm really happy about that.

I also made a mix CD of calming music - stuff like The Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin, and If by Pink floyd, among other songs. I'll listen to it when I'm reading, or knitting, or doing algebra, and I'll probably listen to it before going to bed, to help me sleep.

The service is DONE!

So, the youth group service went really well. Someone was absent, but we still got through it alright. I stumbled two or three times when I read a quote as a reading, and I started bawling afterwards, so when we sang 'Can I Go Nowhere With You' I covered my face with my order of service. But during the last two hymns I sang my heart out.

Here's the quote I read...

"It was just a gradual development over the years. Last year was "All You Need Is Love." This year it's "Give Peace a Chance." Remember love. The only hope for any of us is peace. Violence begets violence. If you want peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. You're all geniuses and you're all beautiful. You don't need anybody to tell you who you are or what you are. You are what you are. Get out there and get peace. Think peace, live peace, and breathe peace and you'll get it as soon as you like. Okay?" - John Lennon

And, in three minutes, the library will update the list of new items in the system. Now that's something I can feel happy about!