DBS affects 15% of the blogging community

(It's a looonnggg post today kids)
It's no secret that I have a terrible case of Delayed Blogging Syndrome. I have the best intentions of using my blog a sort of photo journal for myself, having abandoned proper maintenance of a real journal quite some time ago. But alas this too has been placed on the back-burner. As someone who suffers from DBS, I have come to realize that I can not spend my time reprimanding myself for not posting in a timely manner because it only wastes more time, making pictures of my knitting in the snow appear terribly out-dated on a lovely spring day. So today, I am playing catch-up. All these little "draft" items that have been patiently waiting to get posted will appear today. I will do my best to be brief in my description so that I can actually complete my mission and bring everything back to current affairs. Hey, maybe then I'll even have some time to knit, wouldn't that be mad?!?

Even I can do it? You must be joking!

I'm usually not one to get my panties in a twist over the politically incorrect things that people say on a regular basis, but this one just stuck in my craw and there's nothing I can do about it. This ad for The Knitting Board boasts that their handy-dandy device is perfect for "children and South-Paws".

Yes, you heard me, lefties!!! Even left-handed adults, who let's face it, are about as bright as small children, can master this fantastic tool. It's that easy. Apparently righties can do double-sided knits in their sleep, but those of us who favor the right side of the brain, are often caught drooling over how to master needles and string and can really benefit from the assistance of this board. Thank goodness they came along just when I thought the knitting world had forgotten all about us!

(*in adding the Wikipedia link about lefties, I just saw the Irish word 'Ciotog' mentioned and found it hysterical that it not only means left-handed but also, strange person. Yes, I suppose that may be true)


On a lighter note, I went to see The Pogues this weekend on St.Patrick's Day none-the-less!


OK, so pictures in the dark, with the lead singer in a wheelchair and many beers and sips of whiskey from the flask, don't make for the greatest of pictures.

Here's me and JJ - her hubby's taking the pic and Nikki and her crew are out and about (rustling up more drinks maybe?)


Back at J's place she showed me some of the things she's been learning at The S Factor. I got to fly around wearing 6 inch red stiletto's and a fluffy black skirt. Of course I twisted my ankle and got pole burn on my wrist but it burned off enough alcohol to save me from a hang-over the next day so it was worth it to me.

Here I am relaxing in both the fluffy dancer skirt and my jeans afterwards - remember, you must always replenish your fluids after heavy activity. Ab Fab's (champagne, vodka & cranberry) are good for this.

-Oh look, in the picture you can see I was also working on the last bit of my Fetching that night too! It's like the Where's Waldo of knitting! -



Diner & a movie take 1:
A big group of us went out for our first movie club night. In talking with Vinny (Jana's hubby) we realized there were a lot of movies that we both wanted to see but no one would go with us. So what better plan then to start a little movie club to go see the indie, horror, foreign etc. films that everyone around us scoffed at? But, then Reno 911 Miami came out as did the gaggle of folks we roll with.

We decided to go to Harold's which is one of those places that everyone should go to at least once. They serve THE LARGEST of everything you've ever seen. So big in fact we ordered 1 bowl of soup for the table of 9 to share just to give you an idea. They even have a pickle and bread bar - - you grab a plate of slices of bread so you can make regular sized sandwiches from the master sandwich.



1/2 a Turkey Club sandwich and the "mini" Rubin

Then off to Reno 911 Miami - I think my extra large dirty martini's added to the comedic experience (I must say, I caught a lot of heat for ordering that drink)


Flashback
Mom was cleaning out the hall closet because they were getting new carpet and look what she found!

I remember how I just HAD to have those and got them for Christmas one year (just add a dab of salt to the water for the perfect hold). Ahhhh, 1991 how I miss you.

Last but not least...
I got my upstream/downstream partners (I'm so going to mix that up) for the International Scarf Exchange! I'm so excited to start digging through my stash of patterns for just the right one for my pal. Oh and the yarn, all the fun yarn that must be rubbed, caressed, pet and sniffed. Mmmmmm..... yarn.... (sometimes I feel like Homer must feel when he's near pork chops)

Randomess of the week.... They're pencils!



This one makes me feel a little dirty

Spring Has Sprung!

Welcome new knitty, welcome!

I've already printed two patterns. Now we just have to wait for the unveiling of the surprise patterns. I hate waiting.

MS Walk

So here's my thought, if you're going to have a blog you might as well use it for all that it's worth right?

This year I'm doing the walk for Multiple Sclerosis to do my part in helping to eradicate this debilitating disease (actually I'm volunteering and not walking but that's just semantics). For me, one of the most terrifying things about MS is the idea that it can, and often does, come on suddenly with no rhyme or reason. Those with MS never know from one day to the next, or from one minute to the next for that matter, what to expect from the disease.

Great advances have been made and will continue to be made towards a cure for MS and other demyelinating diseases but there is still so much work that needs to be done. I thank each of you in advance for any donations you make via my personal page or in support of any other walker, biker, hiker etc.

Best Wishes,
Tracy

If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from the MS Walk are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against MS, please visit the national MS society website.

Click here to visit my personal page and follow my progress.

A brief explanation of MS:
multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic, slowly progressive autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the protective myelin sheaths that surround the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord (a process called demyelination), resulting in damaged areas that are unable to transmit nerve impulses. The disease also gradually damages the nerves themselves. There are elevated numbers of lymphocytes in the cerebral spinal fluid and of T cells in the blood (see immunity).
The onset of MS is usually at age 20 to 40 years, and its many symptoms affect almost every system of the body. There may be visual difficulties, emotional disturbances, speech disorders, convulsions, paralysis or numbness of various regions of the body, bladder disturbances, and muscular weakness. The course of the disease varies greatly from person to person. In some patients, the symptoms remit and return, sometimes at frequent intervals and sometimes after several years. In others the disease progresses steadily.
There is a genetic predisposition to MS, and environmental factors also seem to play some role. The disease is more common in temperate climates (1:2,000) than in the tropics (1:10,000).
There is no cure for MS, but a number of drugs—the first of which became available in the 1990s—can slow its underlying progress and reduce the frequency of attacks. These are Avonex, Rebif, and Betaseron, forms of beta interferon (a synthetic version of a natural substance produced by the immune system); Copaxone (glatiramer acetate); and Tysabri (natalizumab).
See R. Rubinstein, Take It Or Leave It: Aspects of Being Ill (1989); U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, Multiple Sclerosis (1990).