Blues-Buster

Little Known Fact: I love the Olympics.  Especially winter.

I mean, really.  Downhill skiing.  Luge.  Curling.  Snowboard half pipe.  An event in which you have to ski around a course and then shoot a gun.  What’s not to love?  I really wish the Snowpocalypse had come this week instead, so I could stay home and watch all the daytime not-so-popular events too.

So, you’ll have to excuse my absence for the next week, but there are more pressing matters on my TV.  Though, I promise this weekend I will FINALLY take the pictures from this  month’s Daring Cooks’ challenge off my camera and get them on my blog, since the posting date was only, oh, four days ago.  No biggie.  Better late than never, right?

Anyway, figure skating is one of the events I am not so crazy about.  I still watch, of course, and appreciate with awe the ability to spin around four times and land on a toothpick-thick blade on a sheet of ice (while I, meanwhile, cannot stay upright wearing a full-width pair of boots, and wiped out on my lazy ass neighbors’ unshoveled sidewalks so badly on Tuesday that my knee is still the size of a grapefruit)… but well, I’d rather watch skiing.  Except when it comes to Johnny Weir.  I know he’s controversial and all, but he brings the attitude that makes it so exciting to watch him.  And frankly, I thought he did far better in the freestyle program tonight than his scores indicate.

I had a really, really, really crappy day today.  I self-medicated with an extremely thorough kitchen scrubbing (I find getting the burnt-on gunk off of burners is way more therapeutic than either ice cream or alcohol), but even after scrubbing until my hands bled, I still wanted to strangle someone.  And then I found this gem.  Every time I watch it, I feel better and better.  Because what could possibly be a more perfect match than a flamboyant figure skater and Lady Gaga?

So next time you’re having a crap day, watch this.  You’ll feel better. 

The Snowpocalypse

We disrupt our regularly scheduled blogging (hahaha… I wish I had the dedication to blog regularly) due to digging out from under three feet of snow.

People, there’s a lot of snow out there.  And, aside from the minor detail that the melting snow freezes and turns to ice and I am certainly going to slip, fall, and break something next week walking to lab, I am LOVING it.  Of course, I say this as someone with no sidewalk to shovel and no car to dig out.

 

My all-time favorite childhood book was Joe and the Snow, and these past few days have really been like the book coming to life (hopefully, however, as the snow melts my condo building won’t float away…).

 

After a bout of food poisoning last week and three days out of the lab, a week off seemed to rejuvinate me and helped to get over my frustrations in the lab.  I also learned, however, that I can spend a full week trapped inside… and never once be bored.  I knitted.  I caught up on TV.  I read four books.  I organized and cleaned like crazy.   If this whole science thing doesn’t work out, I’m pretty sure I could cut it as a housewife without feeling cooped up.  What can I say – all those years of learning to entertain myself as an only child are paying off.

The last time D.C. had a worthwhile snowstorm, I was a sophomore in college.  My roommate and I woke up early, walked down to the Ellipse and made snow angels in the pristine snow.  This time around, I didn’t have anyone to “play” with, but was thrilled to have several days to explore various areas of D.C. within walking distance, all of which were even more delightful than normal buried under three feet of snow. 

More pictures of the snowiest winter in D.C. history can be found here.

Crafted-It-Forward

Many, many (many) moons ago, I posted about participating in a Craft-It-Forward, in which one person sent me a homemade gift, and in exchange, I would pass on homemade gifts to 5 other people.

Rebekah kicked it off and sent me an amazing lemonade sugar scrub.  I LOVE the scent of lemon, so I really, really enjoyed the scrub.  I’ve been meaning to make some of my own!

I also saw that Amy was participating, so we agreed to send each other something as well.  Amy sent along ridiculously amazingly delicious Oregon Blackberry Jam (so good, I forwent the scone and just at the jam out of the jar with a spoon) and some yummy vanilla shortbread.

For my outgoing crafty gifts, I decided to make scarves.  Since it was supposed to be a surprise, I just asked each person their favorite colors, and tried to pick something out of my stash that matched.  I hope everyone has been enjoying their scarves, especially in this extra cold and snowy winter!

Rina over at Gotta Little Space wasn’t picky and listed a variety of colors, so off went a cozy blue, purple, and black variegated scarf in her direction.

Geeka said she liked green, so I abided to her wishes, even though I was super tempted to make her a black and gold STEELERS themed scarf!

Profgrrrrl likes eggplantish-purple and sage green, and since she lives in a warmer-weather climate, I tried to do a more open, lacier scarf which wouldn’t be quite so heavy as the others I made.

Lucy Pigpuppet  said she liked rainbow stripes or anything “bright and happy-looking.”  I had the perfect yarn in mind as soon as I read that!

Amy said she was on a yellow kick, but unfortunately, I had no suitable yellow yarn in my stash.  I gave her a list of colors to chose from (which I admit, must be tricky when you have no idea what you are receiving!) and she picked a pumpkin orange.  

And, lastly, Jenna finally received her scarf last week!  A girl after my own heart, Jenna said her favorite colors were black and white (not that I don’t enjoy colors, but I can’t think of any color combination classier and more timeless than black and white!).  Jenna even posted a picture on her own blog of her sporting the new scarf!  I hope it keeps her (and her adorable baby bump) toasty warm throughout the cold streak in Dallas! 

Thanks for your patience and waiting so long, and I hope you enjoyed participating as much as I did in the Craft-It-Forward!

(If anyone is interested in pattern information, all the details are on my Ravelry page.  And if you’re on Ravelry, friend me so I can see what you are working on, too!)