Friday, March 9, 2007

No, Seriously -- Cows



And, for my beloved pal in Secret Pal 10 (new best friend! who will send PRESENTS!), here are the answers to the questionairre. Trust me, I like getting mail that doesn't come with a price tag (i.e. -- bills, catalogs, invitations to baby showers) so much, you can't go wrong.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love natural fibers, of course, but I don't turn my nose up entirely at synthetics -- just those that squeak when you rub them or give you rug burn just fondling them in the store. I don't like yarns that split a lot and I've had bad luck with cotton -- hard on the hands.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

DPNs in a case, circulars all over the place, Denise needles in their Denise cases. I still have some straight needles, but they are best used for back scratching these days.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

Mom taught me when I was 10, but it's not like I've been knitting non-stop since. Oh, heck, I never know what the categories mean. I knit socks. I've knitted lace and cables. I'm going to guess "intermediate."

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent?

Lime or Patchouli or Violet or Clove (I hate vanilla, however)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Dark chocolate generally does it for me. 'Specially if it's mixed with something salty like pretzels or nuts or salt caramel.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I don't spin (yet). I don't really do a lot these days other than knitting, craft-wise. Anything else would eat into my knitting time. Which, frankly, already eats into my reading time and my drinking time.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I don't like most jazz, most country, most blues or most R&B. Oh, and most new age. I really like hard rock, 80s stuff, goth, folk, about half the rap out there and serious bimbo music (see: Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" and anything by the Pussycat Dolls. I know, I know, but the girl likes what the girl likes).

I also like a lot of "alternative," but that's kinda like saying I like contemporary music. What the hell does it mean? I like Death Cab for Cutie, Franz Ferdinand, Fallout Boy, Modest Mouse, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's... I don't know if that helps narrow anything down.

AND (almost missed the key element) I'm fully equipped for whatever musical format anyone wants to send me. Probably in multiple places in various combinations and levels of portability... I'm kind of a gadget/electronics freak.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Favourites: Purple, Pink, Red, Chocolate Brown... I don't generally like pastels (darks and brights work best for me), yellow generally makes me look green, ditto orange that isn't pretty rusty/reddish or very yellowy greens. If I don't look good in the colour, I don't tend to like it very much out in the real world either.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live alone with a cat and I'm so glad to be putting that out there like that. Woo-hoo! 40-year-old single girl with a cat! Who knits! Stock up on condoms!

I also do have a family (brother, sis-in-law, two nephews and father all live in this neighbourhood and much of my extended family lives in the general metro area), but not here in my house. I don't know what good that does you, but it's nice to think about all that wonderful, fuzzy family nearby. Makes me feel better after the single/cat revelation.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

No ponchos, never ever yucch. OK, I've seen some cute ones, but I have too many memories of being six and poncho'd every time I wore a dress. It was like the early 70s Texas version of wearing white gloves or something. I don't wear hats much, but mostly because I don't have any. Ditto mittens. And (fancy that) ditto scarves.

I don't knit for myself, people. The cobbler doesn't have the pretty shoes and the therapist is totally bonkers, ya know?

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks and scarves.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Socks and scarves and a baby blanket... going to start that sweater any day now. The mailman will bring my yarn ANY DAY...

(if you were here, you'd hear me singing "Wait a Minute, Mr. Postman," even though I only know five words)

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Oh, yes, please! (see: don't knit for myself) And I'd be so easy -- I don't have hats or scarves or mittens and I have a black AND a brown jacket, so I could match anything and I don't have any fibre allergies at all and I'd be totally grateful! Of course, yarn in its natural state or chocolate (see: mail that I don't have to eventually pay for) would be fabulous. I don't want to give the impression I'd be disappointed if something not a handmade something showed up in my mailbox. I'm just happy to be here and happy you're my new best friend!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

CIRCULAR. Not plastic.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a year -- it's getting ripped out soon so I can use the lovely, lovely yarn (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in a staid and elegant cream) for something else. Other than that, everything's pretty new (like less than two months old). I been seriously F'n my O's.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween. I so wanted to say "Arbor Day," but I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be that much of a smartass. You're only trying to be nice.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Psychos and vodka. Sorry. Back to that "being nice" thing: dragonflies, hedgehogs, orchids, people and books.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Knit 'n' Style is the only magazine to which I have a subscription. I know there are books I don't have, but I can't remember what they are offhand. If I come up with something, I'll happily post it. Watch this space (what a shameless way to get someone besides Marcia and my brother to read my blog. Secret Pal, it's you and me all the way! Best Friends Forever!)

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Sweaters. I just wanna learn how to knit sweaters. As broad as liking alternative music, no?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Oh, yes. I don't know about measurements. I'm a size 9 shoe.

23. When is your birthday?

June 27

*************

My adventures in Wyoming... coming soon to a blogspace near you.


**FOOTNOTE (unasterisked): I don't know how to spell questionairre... quesstionaire... questionnaire... LIST.

5 comments:

The Calico Cat said...

Where in TX are you from? I spent far too many years in that (Oh I better be nice) location...

Rock on dark chocolate and salty stuff!

Marin (AntiM) said...

I was actually born in Colorado and had a stint in Michigan before we moved to Texas, but the oil business took us to Midland then Houston. When you're a kid, these things don't matter much, but I don't think I could live in either place now. Houston... humidity... blechh.

Crafty said...

Oh Marin...how are you my new BFF?? I am your new spoiler and I am so excited! In fact, I was cracking up at your questionnaire. I think we would seriously be BFF if we lived in the same state! But we don't. So I guess I'll just have to send you stuff instead!

I'm so excited to get started! I love this kind of crap! I just hope I don't give myself away!!!!

Marin (AntiM) said...

Look! It's my new TOTAL best friend! The one who will send me presents! Hi, new BFF -- the townhome next door to me is for sale if you wanna move in next door. Just sayin'...

I'm excited too -- thanks for checking in. I'm soooo looking forward to this!

Marin (AntiM) said...

They're asking too much for that house anyway. Lowball them! Stick to your guns! It's a soft housing market, isn't it?

My kitty may eat your maminals. He's never shown much affection for other four-legged beasties. I think he fears they are after the kitty treats.

Oh, Secret Pal! If you haven't noticed, my friendship is a whore! You could trade seed corn or pox-infested blankets for it. Hell, I really should learn a little about playing hard to get.

Ahem.

I don't know, Secret Pal, O Crafty One. See, I'm pretty full up on friends these days, what with picking up 37 new best friends today alone, so it's probably going to take some SERIOUS bribes to get on the waiting list and...

Am I fooling anyone?