I am on Ravelry (CerridwenColleen, which is basicly my default username for any social networking site. Or, of course, my real name. I am not all that creative). Two of my friends just joined, silver_tulip, who is a knitter, and pixyxtixy, who wants to be. So, if you are on Ravelry, friend them. They need more encouragement!

Has anyone been to this website? I am totaly amazed and smitten.

How they describe themselves:

We are designers of mathematical knitwear. Or perhaps we are mathematical designers of knitwear. Whatever you want to call us, many of our designs are simple geometric shapes combined to make elaborate patterns. We are now best known for our collection of large-scale knit and crochet afghan and cushion designs.

I want to get the patters for Maze, and several of the other afghans. Some hurt my eyes, but they are all so very cool!!

Check them out if you haven't seen their stuff. They are UK based, so I think with current excahange you double the prices for everything (roughly $7 for each pattern).

Does anyone else love knitting as much as I do? It looks like crap for the first 3 or 4 rows, and you think you messed up. Then, BAM, out of nowhere it all lines up and looks wonderful and you are happy!

There was this shirt I saw. It said:

K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2

P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2

Ribber for her pleasure

P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2

K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2K2P2

I wanted it, but figured noone would get it, and having to explain all the time what it was would get old fast.

Dear Santa,

Please find enclosed my Yule Wish list. I have been a good girl this year. I haven't killed either of my brothers, despite the fact that they totaly deserved it and no jury in the world would convict. I didn't murder my father in his sleep and butcher his still warm carcass in the frount yard (I had PMS. He was being insensitive. I thought it was a creative threat.)

Not that I am materialistic or anything. I am just a littl...obsessed? No that's not the right word. What is more than obsessed?

I can't save a thumbnail to show each. But I encourage you to check them out. Very cute! There are several thousand different things at cafepress.com, and several are repeated. These are just my favs. :)

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/23964796

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/16871971

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/20244982

http://homedecor.cafepress.ca/item/christmas-ornament-round-santa-bring-more-yarn/15007706

http://t-shirts.cafepress.ca/item/jr-raglan/13522605

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/25362144 this one I am getting. YAY!!

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/5113234

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/14790582

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/8423349

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/11357523

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/29080603

http://buttons.cafepress.ca/item/do-your-worsted-mini-button/101244076

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/18687906

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/31409382

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/29629838

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/29477674

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/26083796

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/7572756

http://bumperstickers.cafepress.ca/item/in-case-of-the-rapture-bumper-sticker/229798030

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/23657690

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/30097738

http://shop.cafepress.ca/design/15644201

I just read the post from the 25th on The Yarn Harlot the blog of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee: knitter and humanitarian.

Some woman has been hateful to her. So, I want everyone to go to her blog, and comment. Tell her that American's are not these hateful people. Tell her that this vicious woman does not speak for American's. If you are a fan, tell her that.

Now, I think I am going to go to the book store and buy a new copy of her books.

This is my comment:

There are so many people in this world who you have helped and who love you. I know it hurts when someone is hateful and cruel. But just keep thinking of everyone who you meen something to. For me, you were teh first "knitting" think I found. And because of that, I joind my local Stitch 'n Bitch. This group of women have been good friends for years. I took your books with me to Africa and would read them when I had a bad day, and the dy seemed a little less bad. My dad would print up your blog entries and mail them to me. It was a 2 day trip to electricity and internet, but I would look forward to it and the first thing I would do after email was opening your blog. I got a copy of "Yarn Harlot" right before my nephews funeral (my sister was 8 months pregnant when she lost him). I read the essay about you finshing a sock for that baby, and cried and cried. ANd then felt a little better because we weren't the only family who went through that. I could go on and on about all the little things that made a big difference in my life. Hundreds of people can do that same.

We can list all the charities you've helped. All the money you've raised. All the friendships you've created. You've brought so much joy into this world. And you will be remembered for that. What will this woman be remembered for? Nothing. In a week, noone will remember she ever existed.

And remember this: obviously this person knows nothing about being American. We stand up. We support our friends. And we don't like people who matter to us to be attacked. American's have your back. Noone's got hers.

Much randomness. Still job hunting. Filled out applications for a Unit Clerk position at TMC and a phone job a Geico. Hopeing to get my CNA. That should make it easier to get a job. Then save up money and get the hell out of AZ. We're really thinking of Boston. I like the schools there. Chris likes the schools there. Dan even wants to go. We can all get a house together. It'll be fun.

TAWN has been bugging us. Fall Fest is in September, and they want us to have a booth. We do every year. THis year, we most likely won't. The idea of boycotting Fall Fest this year has been discussed and approved by most everyone in the Coven. We all have different reasons, the main ones are

1-the price for an informational booth has gone up from $5 to $25. That's a huge increase, especialy since it isn't at a very good location. Usualy it is at Reid Park, which is a great place. It's a nice park. It's a nice location. It's right on a main road. This year it is at the Unitarian Church. Smaller, inside, off the road. Yes, it's on a main road, but there is a parking lot and trees between the building and the road. Less chance of walk in traffic.

2-TAWN treats us like crap. DHC was one of the founding members of TAWN. We've been around longer than anyone in town. But we're Garnderians. And whether you want to hear it or not, 90% of the pagan/wiccan community are a bunch of bigots. I have never met so many racists in my life. They insult me, call me names, treat me with such derision because of my religion! Can you believe it? And if you have the audacity to call them on such hypocracy, well then, you are judgemental and intollerant. I see no reason to be tolerant of anothers intollerance.

3-I was publicly insulted by a member of the TAWN Board. He insulted me as an official member of TAWN. I expect an official and public appology. Until that happens, I will have nothing to do with them. That's personal. But my Coven understands. Since my dad was put on moderated status on their elist for telling people that X is against the law, the law says Y, then when he told one of the board members (a different one than the one I had a problem with), the board member was told by the web moderator that my dad was taken off moderated status and the guy claimed he was never put on moderated status. Hmm...I guess all those months where his profile said "moderated" was a glitch in the system. Anyway, I have a problem with the lies, and my COven does as well.

4-They use people. They want us to do for them, but never are there when we need help. Patrick keeps asking for us to write something for Tapestry, the newsletter. But he only wants us to write what he wants us to write. They want us to be new agey, fluffy bunny lewellynites. Hate to break it to you incase you haven't figured it out but we're Gardnerians. We're educated, and we take our religion seriously. I'm not saying that non-Gards aren't and don't. I'm saying that we're asked to write drivel that will appeal to the lowest common denominator, and it needs to be ecclectic. Not going to happen.

On knitting news: I knit some flowers last night:

The pattern is from Lion Brand. I would link to it, but it's a bitch to find. It's from their "Flower of the month" thing. These are supposed to be roses.

I am also knitting a blanket for my neice. I wasn't going to post pics so far, but then realised that noone reads this

This is one of the pannels for the blanket. It is The Summer Garden Coverlet in Wool Ease. You can google the pattern. I'm making 3 different ones, for each of my neices. With any luck they will be done for christmas.

Since I last updated, I have had surgery. It was the most painful experience of my life. Everyone told me "oh, don't worry. I had my gallbladder out and was up and about the next day." LIERS!!! FILTHY LIERS!!! I couldn't move without pain for more than a week. For days I needed help sitting and standing. I couldn't sleep flat. It was hell. My entier gallbladder was calicified. They said "you know how people get gallstones? Well, your gallbladder was one giant gallstone. Thank god we got it out. That could have killed you." Seriously, I should sue that ER doc at Tucson Medical Center that sent me home Christmas Day after doping me up with demoral which I hate. I didn't want it. I don't like pain meds anyway, but demoral makes me throw up and telling me nothing was wrong with me.

But I am better now. No more pain, no more nausia, no more vomiting. Who knew such a small thing could cause so much probloms.

Now, I am trying to find a job. Like everywhere, the job market in Tucson sucks. Very few people are hireing, and those that are, I am competing with people way more qualified than I am. I can't really blame the buisnesses, though I hate it. Would you hire a 26 year old who wants to go back to school? Or a 40 year old man with kids and a morgage? I will quit in a year or two to go to grad school. He will be grateful for the job and stick around as long as he has bills to pay and a family to feed. One of my friends is a manager at a fast food place. She is getting applications from people our parents age who have 20 years running an office and just got laid off. I hate the ecconomy. And this stimulus thing is a joke. Me and Tam were kinda joking about joining Americorps. Only half joking too.

On a happier note, I am knitting this blanket in Wool-Ease Rose Heather kinda a darkish pink. It is fun so far. Except I keep getting these holes in the honey comb part. It's only visable from the back, so no big deal really. Just not sure if that is a thing with this cable pattern or with how I am knitting it.

**DISCLAIMER**I have no clue who these people are, or how they got my information, but they emailed me a couple of times and asked if I would post the link and infomation about The Fresh Air Fund. If anyone knows anything about them, please comment.

The Fresh Air Fund

Forehead sweating

Legs aching…

Kids yelling…

And loving every second of it!

Counselors from around the world get together each summer to share excitement, the tears, the achievements, and the challenge.

We’re hoping that you can be one of them!

Well,I have been in this funk for the last...while. I haven't been to the SnB in 3 weeks, I think. Nothing says "knit me". I haven't really wanted to pick up my needles. I have never gone this long without wanting to knit. So, I will peruse ravelry and some other sites and see if there is a pattern that will knock me out of this. Anyone have a favorite un-funk pattern?

So, we are 4 days into the Obama Presidency. Everyone is talking about the Inaguration. I think this is going to be another "where were you?" things. Where were you when MLK/JFK were shot? Where were you when the Challenger exploded? Where were you when Obama was sworn in? though I guess we have to ask "which time?" to this now. The thing is, I didn't watch it. Before you start flaming me, assuming anyone actualy reads this blog anymore, let me explain. This was the largest and most expensive inaguration in history. They kept adding things, which cost money. Now, I know that a lot of the stuff was paid for by private donation, but not all of it, and none of the security. The bigger it got, the more things that were added, the more security was needed. I find that horribly irrisponcible. We have a national debt that is in the trillions. Does anyone even know what a trillion is? It's a made up number! It's so huge that we can not logicaly conceive of it. People try to explain it by saying how high a stack of $20 bills are. I have heard to the moon and back. That is huge!!! We spend something like a billion dollars a DAY in Iraq. We are still in Afghanistan remember that place?. We are still trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina. The country is bankrupt. Yesterday on the news they said that the state of Arizona is $4 billion in debt!!! They want to cut the education budget by 40%. Sidenote: um...lawmakers, just FYI, cutting the education budget is no way to help with the deficite. Less education means fewer people can get jobs, which means more unemployment and welfare, which means more depbt.

So with all this, how can we as a nation seriously be ok with spending that much on the inaguarion? So I did not watch it. I did not feel pride that we had elected our first African American president. I felt shame that the Democratic Party, which I have supported all my life, would be this fiscaly irrisponcible.

So, where was I when Obama was sworn in? No clue. Proboby at home. Probobly knitting. Probobly doing what I do every day. And in a year, I won't remember it at all.

But there are other "tv moments" I will remember. So I am curious, what do you think is your most memorable tv moment? I ask for "tv moments" rather than any memorable moment because tv is something we share as a culture. You're most memorable moment could be when your oldest child first said "mama", but that is for you. Something like when Mr. Cooper died on Seseme Streetit affected generations. I remember watching Big Bird trying to find out what happened, and my dad sitting next to me, trying to help me understand is something we all can remember and share together.

So, my most memorable moment: the 2000 election coverage. My history class had cable, and we were all in there just watching, amazed. We fought and argued and stared at the tv. I think things were thrown at the tv, and we had to be dragged from the classroom. Can you immagine it? A bunch of teenagers, who mostly don't care about politics, mesmerised by the political process, discussing the electoral college and teh constitution and the candidates. A bunch of high schoolers not wanting class to be over, and later in the day not wanting school to be over. I think our reaction to it is what makes it stick in my head so much.

How about you?

Does anyone have information on this? I've been trying to find out, and can't find anything. Anyone know what happened?

Last night I wasn't feeling well, so I stayed home instead of going to my knitting group. I watched this show on CBS called "The Menatlist", about some guy who works for the cops helping solve crimes with the power of his intellect. Last nights show was a boy who was found dead in the woods with candles and a pentagram near the body. You can see where this is heading. When they asked the parents if the kid was interested in the occult, they said that this witch had called and said she put a spell on him for stealing her cat.

So they go and visit the witch. Her "name" was Tourmaline Dove, or some new age crap like that. She was a complete freak, with a coven of high schoolers. She put a "death curse" on the kid for stealing and killing her cat um..isn't that a crime? What ever happened to calling the cops?. She is the worst stereotype of the New Age fluffy bunny crazy freak witch wannabe. She took great pleasure in playing that role, and scaring the cops and people around her. Later you find out she did time in a mental institution. One of the cops describes people who follow Wicca as "nerds in cloaks".

Now, my coven is made up of these people:

HP: retired Air Force, Civil Engineer. Now works for the county clerk

HPS: retired Air Force, medic. Now a neo-natal nurse practitioner, works with Doctors Without Borders

Maiden: palates instructor, working on her degree in physical therapy

Others include: retired military intelligence officer, working on masters. Pharmacist. Vet tek. Artists. Grad student in music. Teacher. IT. Restaurant manager. Artist. RPCV.

Now, while between the 14 of us we have or ar working towards 16 higher educational degrees (from bachelors to PhD), I don't think any of us are nerds. And the closest thing I have to a cloak is a shawl.

Just once, I would like to watch one of these shows where the cops are looking for the evil/scary/crazy witch and find a normal person, like the majority of us are. Here's my script:

cops approach a nice ranch style home. The yard is desert landscaping, with islands of flowers. Very neat and conservative, as fitting for the neighborhood. They use the knocker, which is a wrought iron green man like this:

The first indication that the house is not exactly like it's neighbors. Then again, they could just have liked antiques and thought it was a cool door knocker. The door is opened by a man in a pinstripe suit

Man: Can I help you?

Cops: Yes, um, we're looking for the witch. We were told she lives here.

Man: She? Well, I suppose you mean my wife. She's still doing rounds. Is there something I can help you with? I'm John Smith.

Cops: Rounds?

John: Yes. My wife is chief of staff at the local hospital. Got her MD from John's Hopkins. Can I help you? Though I only have about 20 minutes to spare before I have to leave for court.

Cop:with a look of condensation on his face. "Here it is!" he thinks. "all these freaks are criminals, and he's just admitted it." Court?

John: Yes. I am an appellate judge. I am hearing a case this afternoon. Why don't you come inside. I can offer you some coffee and you can tell me what this is about.

everyone goes inside. They see a nice home, maybe a bit cluttered with the collections of a lifetime. The cops wait in the living room while the man goes for coffee. They look around and see pictures of kids in every stage of development

John:with obvious pride in his voice Ah, I see you looking at our children. That is my oldest son. He's a corporate lawyer in NYC. We joke about if that is a violation of the Rede. There is my daughter. She's getting her masters in political science at Georgetown. And my youngest, a teacher in an inner city school. Wonderful children.

Cop: Are they witches too?

John: Of course. Why wouldn't they be?

Cop: You actually raised your children like this?

John:confused Yes, of course. We raised three wonderful children into three wonderful adults. I am confused...

Cop: No, I mean raised them as witches

John: We raised our children in the religion that we follow. Didn't you do the same? Now, how can I help you?

Cop: We're investigating a murder. A boy named Jimmy.

John: hmm...I don't recall any of the cases before me to be about children. But you said you were looking for my wife. Was he a patient of hers?

Cop: Not that we know of. But we'll be looking into that. He was killed in a ritualistic fashion.

John: That's terrible. His family must be devastated. Not enough to loose your son, but to have him taken in such a way. I am not sure how I can help though.

Cop: He was found with candles and a pentagram. We think he was sacrificed.

John: I am still confused...Ah, now I see. A boy is killed, and you come to the followers of a non-mainstream faith. Tell me, what makes you think me of my family did this besides the name of our religion? I wonder, if a boy is killed and there is wine or bread present, do you go and question the Catholic priests in the area? Or if there is salt found near the body, do you get a list of Jews? Do you do that instead of looking for the nearest kitchen?

Cop: well, um...

John: I know! If a black man is killed, you question every black man you can find. Obviously, one of them did it! My, police work must be gratifying, with your suspect list so obvious. You never have to investigate. Like if you had, you would have realised that in this house is a judge and a doctor. We live an upper-middle class existence. We raised 3 kids and put them through school. We also happen to be a religious family. Had we attended St. Joseph's down the street, you would never have looked twice at us. Now, I have a question for you: What was the religion of the last murder suspect you arrested?

Cop: I don't know. Christian I guess.

John: And the one before that? Christian? How about the five before that? So, statistically, of the last 7 murder suspects, 100% were Christian. So, statistically speaking, shouldn't you be next door questioning Mr. Doe? He's in human resources, raised 5 kids, has 8 grand kids. He's also the deacon of his parish. Being Christian, doesn't it stand a better chance of him being your killer? Do some investigating, and if you still feel like I or my wife are viable suspects, you can contact our attorney, who will be quite interested in your religious discrimination and racial profiling. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get to work.

the cops are shown out, with a sheepish look on their faces. John closes the door, and you can hear a garage door opening and see him drive away

Cop; Maybe we should do some investigating, and find out if this murder actually has anything to do with the religion. Maybe it's kids, or someone trying to stage something to throw us off the trail. I mean, we zeroed in on a suspect, and if he's not the killer, the real one has had all day to cover his tracks.

Fade to commercial

We have a new holiday tradition. It started while I was in Africa, and this is th first year I have been able to participate. On the morning of the Winter Solstice

(21 Dec this year) we go and sing up the sun. We jump the bonfire to give it strength, and we sing to encourage it that first morning we all know how hard it is to get out of bed when it is cold. Imagine if you were the one expected to warm everything up>. Though, hearing some of us sing, I am not sure if we are encouraging it to come up, or to run away... This year it was at Reid Park.

I think for next year I am going to knit us all matching hats and scarves. Maybe glvoes. Nan thinks I should do element themes, but I am thinking rebirth of the sun theme. Either way, it is COLD at dawn!

A lot of Pagans (some of the BNP's and those who think they are, which is sad) think that a lot of the things we do are just symbolic and stuff. One author told me that the Gods don't exist, that they are just anthromorphic representations of your psyche needless to say, I have not read any of her books since then. Her first wasn't that good to begin with, but how can you write books about dieties you don't beleive in? Or claim to be the priestess of a religion you don't think is anything more than a psyhological construct?. But here is the thing. The ancinets all over the world of every religion belived that if we didn't do these things, the sun would not come back and winter would last forever. Gardnerarians beleive the ones who know what they are talking about. Unfortunetly, like anything, there are a lot out there who are more interested in power and ego and were never trained properly because they were taught by people who were more interested in power and ego. The cycle continues, and we have groups like the Hard-Gards, who are fundamentalists. The kind who would be quite happy to start a new Inquisition to get rid of everyone who does not beleive their exact way or won't bow down to their athority. And I am sure these people also don't beleive in the Gods they claim to worship either that if we stop doing these things - stop celebrating the sabbaths and stop jumping the bonfire ect - then the wheel of the world will stop spinning. You can laugh, but think about it. For the whole of human history, someone out there has always done these things. And the world keeps turning. Do you really want everyone to stop because you think it is a silly superstition? What if we are right?

After, a few of us went up to Mt. Lemmon to play in the snow. Mt. Lemmon is about 7000feet or thereabouts and an hour drive from my house. So you can go up there and have a blast in the snow, then get cold and come back to Tucson and warm up. Nan, Gary, Mike, Dad and I went.

Playing in the snow Neo, Mike's Husky mix and Ava, Nan and Gary's Jack Russel. We think the two of them have a thing going. :)

Trying to sled on some cardboard we found. We need a real sled...

Fresh tracks. Probobly heard us singing that morning...

Harvey wondering why we aren't playing Ava's previous boyfriend. He hasn't noticed he's been replaced

I am going to start this post off with my favorite Xmas song. It is sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells"

Kill A Tree

Dashing to the mall in a fleet of rented trucks,

a million hairless apes are out to spend some plastic bucks.

It's Christmas time again -- or maybe World War Three --

and to keep their spirits happy now, they've got to kill a tree.

CHORUS

Oh, kill a tree, kill a tree, kill a tree for Christ.

(Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, accept this sacrifice.)

Kill a tree, kill a tree, kill a tree for Christ,

not sure what we're doing, but it seems to work out nice.

We know we each deserve a ton or two of crap,

but to keep the goodies coming now, we've got to spill some sap,

and string electric lights, and raise the ritual star,

and bribe our friends and families to forget what jerks we are.

Chorus

We always kill a tree. That's always been enough

for videos and GI Joes and all that kiddy stuff.

But Mommy wants a Harley, and Daddy wants a boat;

that's prob'ly gonna cost at least a chicken and a goat.

Chorus

Hehe. Great song, huh?

Ok, here is now my favorite serious song:

It's sung to the tune of "Do You Hear What I Hear" which I love in any version. This is my favorite. I have two credits to the writer, Kal Brennan and Eleen Reed (I think that is how you spell their names).

PENTAGRAM

1)

Said the East wind to the Priestess Witch:

Do you hear what I hear? (echo)

Silence rules the still and sleepy night.

Do you hear what I hear? (echo)

The God, the God, cries out with his birth

and showers His light on the Earth,

and showers His light on the Earth.

2)

Said the South fire to the Priestess Witch:

Do you see what I see? (echo)

Darkness blankets over all the Earth.

Do you see what I see? (echo)

The Sun, the Sun, is reborn tonight,

from the Goddess, He's shining so bright,

from the Goddess, He's shining so bright.

3)

Said the West waters to the Priestess Witch:

Do you feel what I feel? (echo)

Hopelessness is heavy in our hearts.

Do you feel what I feel? (echo)

The God, the God, the Mother's newborn child

is the symbol of hope and rebirth,

is the symbol of hope and rebirth.

4)

Said the North land to the Priestess Witch:

Do you know what I know? (echo)

Winter grips the cold and naked land.

Do you know what I know? (echo)

The Sun, the Sun, warms the Earth again

as the Goddess suckles her child,

as the Goddess suckles her child.

5)

Said the Inner Spirit to the Priestess Witch:

Do you understand now? (echo)

Life is like a circle, spinning 'round.

Do you understand now? (echo)

For I, the Goddess, am the endless source

and the web that binds all the Earth,

and the web of the whole universe.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

In November, Arizona had several controversial propositions to vote for. The three biggest ok, the three I actualy cared about were the one about the pay day loans this one pissed me off. The comercials about them had no basis in reality. They flat out lied!! How can you legaly or moraly lie like that. I understand twisting the truth. It is moraly repugnant. But a flat out lie?!? that would extend the pay day loans exemption from the AZ State usury laws indeffinitly, while now they end in 2009. It would also raise the intrest rate from 390+% to over 400%. Luckily, Arizonan's voted this one down. The second was a proposition to require a measure to pass it had to have the vote of the majority of eligable voters. Not a majority of people who voted, but a majority of all the people who could have voted, whether they decided to or not. Stupid, huh? Fortunetly, Arizonan's showed good sense again and voted this one down as well. I was feeling pretty confident. My state had voted down two stupid propositions. Then they faced the third.

The so-called Defence of Marriage Act. Yes, I am sure you have heard of it. Arizona, along with Florida and California, amended our state constituton to say marriage is between one man and one woman. What pisses me off the most about this is that it is the first time we have voted to limit the rights of an entier group of people. It doesn't really matter if you agree with homosexuality or not. It doesn't matter if you beleive marriage is a religious institution under god this is a completley different topic. If marriage is a religious institution, what does the state have to do with it? If it is a governmental thing (and since you have to get a lisence from the government it is) then what does religion have to do with it? Choose. Either marriage is a religious thing, and the individual church can choose who gets to get married or not and the state stays out of it; or it is a governmental contract and equal right for everyone and the religons get no say. I could go on, but then you'd forget what my original point was. Actualy, so would I. It matters if you beleive that a whole group of people should be denied a governmental sanction because of their membership in a group. I understand that the majority of the people in government grew up beleiveing this was ok. Until 1976 the law may have been changed earlier, but it was on the marriage lisence until then it was illigal in the State of Arizona for a white person to marry a "coloured" person; this means hispanic, asian, black, native american, ect. Until the 1980's there were parts of Tucson that were segregated by law. There was actualy a law that said interracial couples and non-white people could not live in certain neighborhoods in some areas there was a provision that they could not live in a house. This made it possible to have live-in help. They got a shed on the property. To many guys from DMAFB were comming back with their foreign brides and the military got this one overturned. They didn't have enough houseing on base and were getting sick of guys comming in saying they were denied houseing after fighting and bleeding for their country because their wife was not a WASP actualy that would be WASC since it is southern AZ. But that doesn't roll off the tounge that well.

Anyway, you get the impression that we/Arizonan's don't really care. Well, knitters care!!

The local Tucson knitting group was approached by Tucson Medical Center to come in and teach their antipartum mothers to knit. These are women who are pregnant and for whatever reason are stuck in the hospital, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months. There are only so many movies you can watch. So we will go in and teach them to knit, and to make stuff for their babies. Booties, hats, blankets, sweaters, ect, depending on their skill level. Should be interesting. So if you are a knitter in Tucson and want to get involved in this, email me cerridwencolleen at gmail dot come or the group and we will get you information. You need to pass a background check and have had a measles vaccination.

ok, the first and the second really don't have much to do with each other, and my seque sucked. But I wanted to bitch about the first and mention the second. Yay, two birds! But seriously, if you are a knitter in Tucson and want to help. Or even if you aren't a knitter. There are many volunteer opertunities at TMC and the other hospitals, as well as many other worthy causes in Tucson that need people. And if you aren't in Tucson but this still sounds interesting, call your local hospital. If they don't have a program like this, maybe you can start one. Or find an other program you can help with! The best things I have ever done have been volunteer. First at Souther Arizona AIDS Foundation then the Peace Corps, and am grateful everyday that I was given those oppertunities.

Why yes I am. I returned home to the good ol'USofA in early September. About a week after I got back, my grandfather died (my dad didn't take it well) so I was dealing with readjusting as well as the fall out from that. And I keep getting sick. I'll catch a cold, and have it for 2 or 3 weeks. Then I will finaly kick it, and a couple days later, be laid up with the flu. Since I have been home, there has maybe been 2 weeks scattered about where I haven't been sick. And Monday I am going in to get a EGD done, as a precurser to surgery to have my galbladder removed. Yay. On top of that, I am trying to figure out what the hell I want to do with my life. Grad school? Law school? Mooching off my parents?

So, I finished the Sampler Shawl from Folk Shawls. It's in the mail to it's intended recipient.

Ever notice how lace looks like crap until you block it? As I was knitting, I hated the third pannel. I just couldn't see how it would work. I would stretch it, and it looked like something my cat threw up. Then I blocked it, and it is my favorite. Just goes to show the miricle of blocking. I liked this, but if I knit it again, I would do more repeats of each pannel. Luckily I didn't this time, because see the little bit of yarn bunched on the bottom? Ya, that is all I had left.

I joined Ravelry. My page isn't nearly as cool as other people's yet. I am still figuring things out.

And I am starting on the sweaters for my neices. They will in no way be done for CHristmas, so I am starting the AMerican 12th Night Tradition. I like to pretend they will be done by then.

I love cables. They are so easy to do, but they look realy complicated. So I feel smarter than I actualy am. This is the first sweater. I have 3 colors (all Wool Ease). Sweater 1 will be Dark Rose Heather with Wheat accents (it's white heatherd). The second will be Wheat with Blue accents. And third will be Blue with the rose accents. All are Black and White Cabled VNeck Sweater Ithink that is the name From Nautical Knits For Kids by Debbie Bliss.

I am off. Lots of knitting and not enough time.

I am in Kombo on med-hold (trying to figure out what is wrong with my stomache. Then got an infectiona and am on pennicillin. Yay pennicillin. It's itchy!). So I am a little not thrilled. I am knitting a lot for people. Several are getting bags and stuff. WHile hanging out here, I am reading. Or trying to. I have read a lot of the books here already. Croc's mom sent here a box and she is comming tomorrow and will bring me some. But I found The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. It was really depressing! OK, the theme is woman joins a knitting group after her daughter dies. So you get that. But it was a lot sadder than I thought. And not something I want here. I was so excited to find a novel on knitting in country. Then read it. Maybe if I was in America I would have enjoyed it. Books should have a warning! "This book has a 100% happy ending" or "This book will make you cry. Be warned". That is why I read a lot of Nora Roberts here. You know going in that it will be happy, no matter what.

Once a month, a Peace Corps car travels around the country visiting every PCV and delivering their mail. This month, I was one of the two who did it. It was fun. I got to see parts of the country that I have never seen before. If it weren't for having to listen to the kids scream "TOUBAB" all the time, and dealing with Gambians, it would have been great 82 days and I go home. As you may be able to tell, I am past ready

Going from Basse to Barra, this is the SP I was in. I looked over and the steering wheel, and this is what I saw...

Why, yes. This car needs to be hot wired to start.

So I texted a friend and asked which should worry me more, if I get in a car that needs to be hot wired, or if I get in a car that has it's own juju? been in cars like that before. After I hit send, I looked down and saw:

Yep. The car also has a juju...

Here is one of the "roads" we took. We got lost several times, because the wet season things get bad.

Here is a PCV's site. She has turned her house into a rabbit project. she wasn't there. that is Kristina, a Cottey girl who did Mailrun with me

This is the mural that is at Allison's house, painted by her and her sitemates.

This is the only "handicap friendly car" that is on the continent

It was a lot of fun. I am glad I did it. Now, after 7 days, I am exhausted.

Where to begin? How about at the beginning?

Wensday last, while everyone was sleeping, someone came into my compound I really hope so. If not, it was someone from my compound and cut a slit in my window screen. This is the window that I sleep under earplugs, tylanol pm and my dog vissiting the next village helped them here, reached in and stole my phone.

I was a little freaked out when I realised what happened. Senario one: someone who knows me, where my house it, where I put my phone at nite, where my dog was and my compound well enough to sneak in robbed me. Senario two: someone in my compound robbed me. Either way, I freaked just a little. So I went to Basse Thursday after trek. Friday was going to be the new Basse House opening ceremony we'll get to that in a minute. I met Mike, our new CD here, at the riverside. I told him what happened, and that I was scared to be in my house right now, so I came to Basse early. Guess what his reaction was? If you thought considerate and sympathetic, you are way off the mark. I was told that it was "stupid" to be scared. That this was just like having a peeping tom. CAN YOU BELEIVE IT?!?

I was so shocked and angry I didn't say anything.

Let me reply now:

1)Mike, if you weren't my boss and we were in America, I would have slapped you for that. And I would have been supported by every woman in the country. As a man, you have no right to tell me when I should be scared or not. You don't know. As a man in the Gambia who lives in Kombo and doesn't spend time in village, you deffinitly don't know what it is like to be a woman here. We face constant harrassment from the cops, the military, the customs officers, governemnt workers, the random man on the street. When you face that every day, then are shown how easy it would be to have your home broken into while you are in it you get afraid. You start thingking "what if...?" What if they came in to my back yard? What if I had forgotten to lock my back door when I came in from the bathroom at 1am? What if...?

2)As a man who lives in a nice compound with security guards at the frount and never leaves Kombo withouth a Peac Corps driver and sees a very edited version of the country, you have no idea what there is to be scared of or how dangerous a situation can be. You don't live in reality. At least not a PCV's reality. Don't try to tell us how to interpret it.

The next day was the Basse House Open House. First, let me explain something. PCV's face constant harrassment. Especialy the women. You have no idea what it is like. I hope you never do. Girls ET because of it. Girls complaints are egnored because of it, then when they are sexualy assulted, admin is shocked. That being said, here is the top 5 list of who harrasses us the most outside of Kombo:

1-cops

2-soldiers

3-customs and secret poliece

4-governemnt workers or anyone in athority

5-any male between the ages of puberty and decrepid

Guess what the guest list was for this?

1-the governor and his staff

2-cops

3-soldiers

4-people in athority

Hmm...can anyone else see the flaw in this? THEY INVITED THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE WORST OFFENDERS!!!

THEN Alpha theoreticaly our Saftey and Security Officer, who in fact puts thoes things in jepordy didn't translate what Mike said. We sat there, as he was adding things that were never said. When Amanda walked in and he said "that girl there who just came in, she is from village name has been omited because it is AGAINST PEACE CORPS POLICY TO OUT A PCV'S VILLAGE" we were all shocked. Then he invited the "security people" as he put it to tour our house. Yes, please. The people who put us in the most danger and we are most afraid of. Please show them the security arrangements of our house.

Again, we complained to Mike. He said "so what? At the 40th Annaversary 100 volunteers announced their villages on national tv. It's not against policy" this from the man who didn't know the federal governemnt couldn't speculate on currency and is the biggest gossip in country with no clue what "confidential" means. Again, so angry, didn't respond. So here we will:

1)The man responcible for our saftey can't even be trusted to translate what his boss says accuratly. That worries us. His boss didn't care that he didn't translate correctly.

2)100 volunteers didn't announce their villages. There are not 100 volunteers in country. Not every volunteer choose to do it or was there.

3)there is a huge difference between CHOOSING to announce your village and having that choice taken away from you.

4)National tv in Gambia means Kombo. Kombo viewers are made up of 90% of people who have a vague recolection that there is someplace called the URD in their country but couldn't tell you where. Versus sitting in the middle of the URD telling the people with the cars and motorcycles who harrass us with immunity where a single woamn lives far from any athority who cares to help her if they come "visit" note: In Gambia when a man says he wants to "visit" with you or come and "chat" with you, he means sex.

Conversation with another PCV

Question: What do you do when you are more afraid of the cops than the criminals?

Answer: ET

Question: What do you do when Admin doesn't give a damn?

Answer: ET

Question: What do you do when your Saftery and Security Officer puts both your saftey and secrurity at risk?

Answer: ET

Question: What country has the highest ET rate in the Peace Corps?

Answer: The Gambia

Question: Are you surprised?

Answer: not at all.

Only 90 days left.

Remember the book Roots? Kunta Kinte kidnapped and taken to America as a slave? Well, he was "taken" from The Gambia. So every 2 years, there is a Roots Festival here. This year the theme was "celebrating unity through culture" We started the day in Cristin's village, where we geared up. Dharma and Cristin modeling for us Then went to Cristin's village school. We were kidnapping the assistant headmaster to be our "Bumpster for the Day". While we waited for him, we decided to check out her school's library. Then we walked the 4km to the island After you go onto the island, there is a little park like thing with plants, and a statue of a kankurang... The safest way to see them, as a statue behing a fence. These guys get dressed up for ceremonies: cumcisions, etc. They walk around village at night with 2 machetes and scare off the witches and deamons and evil spirits who may try to hurt the participants while they are weak. Noone really knows for sure who is in the costume. They can be very dangerous because they are drugged and followed around by drummers. Between the drugs and the rythmic beating of the drum, they fall into a trance state and...well, your saftey cannot be garunteed if you meet one. So we hide in our houses when they are out. The outfits are traditionaly made of a certain type of bark, as seen above. Some have grass and leaves: "Modern" onee will be made out of rice bags: If you look past the kankurang there is a little Fulla boy dancing. Here is is later Me and Dharma with our "Bumpsters For The Day", the assistant headmaster from Cristin's school, and the head teacher from JJB Upper Basic School These are the little Fulla boys sitting waiting for their turn to dance. These are traditional costumes for their post-circumcision. I always feel sorry for these boys. They come back from the bush, all dressed up, and their fathers pick them up and parade around with the boys on their sholdres and everyone dances. They just got parts of their very sensitive anatomy cut off!! What if they don't want to dance?!? More Dancing The JJB Senior Secondary school band Some Serehule drummers A weding ceremony

Gambia is here only. It is hot, and not enough rain. We planted, but are now getting a little worried about not having enough rain and loosing crops. Added to that, the rice seed we ordered was lost by the World Food Program.

This is someone prepareing their fields. They use the "burn and pray" method. You light little fires so the grass will burn, and pray it doesn't get out of hand.

I got punched in the face on the ferry. Gambian 1 insulted the man selling the tickets for the ferry in Barra. Ticket Seller's Friend (Gambian's 2 and 3) came out and grabbed G-1 and started punching him. There was yelling and hitting and kicking. Then G-1 swung to hit G2 and instead connected with my face. I grabbed his ticket that he had dropped and ran. Made the ferry as it was pulling out. Mai was on it and we went and got a smoothie. Eye swelled a bit. But glancing blow off my glasses and got ice on it quick (yay Banjul!) so it didn't get bad.

Why I Am Afraid of Horses

I went to go out of my house, and this is what I saw:

Later, when I went to the well to fill my bucket for a bath, the other horse came and stole it. SO I am running around chasing this damn horse and screaming at it to give me back my bucket. By the way

FOR SALE One horse. Goes by the name of "goddamnitstopeatingmyfuckingfence". Free OBO.

Other intersting animal news:

My dog has been molested by a donkey. Now I know why the mother chases him off whenever he wants to go play with this baby. I fully support the mother now.

I was delayed going to Basse. Didn't feel comftorbol with the other passangers...

Travis found the Basse slaughter house rejects:

Willy says hi:

Questions:

1 Should I be worried if I get into a car and it has it's own juju?

2A billboard in Basse. We are trying to decide what it is.

Sinario 1A school girl being propositioned by a school boy (out of uniform). She won't have sex with him until he finishes her homework. A few weeks ago, they put up a second one on the otherside that is a boy in uniform, so we now think this sinario is no longer valid.

Sinario 2 A teacher. She won't have sex with him until her grades are in and she has passed all her classes.

Sinario 3 A random man from village. She won't have sex with him until he pays her school fees.

why yes, I am a bit cynical about the Gambian school system. Why do you ask?

I made this bag. And a friend likes it a lot, so I was going to make her one too. But, I now can't find the chart. So, if anyone has a chart like this (or another interesting Celtic knot), could you e-mail it to me, or send me the link or something?

OK. I admit it, it has been a while since I have posted about any knitting projects. That is because I have had real(-ish) work! I am excited. I am trying to get funding from a Spanish NGO to plant a mango orchard at the hospital. When/it I get that in, we are going to expant to cashew and citrus.

But, in between saving the world, I have been working on a few projects.

First up, we have Dan's Gambian Man Purse. Made from acrylic I got in Basse, with a muslin lining I got in Basse. His going away present from the Gambia. I really like this pattern. It is done in pieces and except for the strap, none get to big, so you can carry it around and work on it. there is no shaping, and you can adjust it very easily. It is based on the Monk's Travel Satchel from Folk Bags

Next up we have my new bag. I decided I needed something a little smaller for just walking around village. The yarn was a purchased in one of the only friggin yarn stores in Ireland. They are hard to find. I think it was the Singer store actualy, which is a sewing machine store, not a yarn store! It is Celtic Aran by Tivoli colors 958 and964. I only got one skein of each, because I was going to make a hat. But I like this a lot better. Lining and zipper from Basse (zipper keeps breaking. But I took off the pully thingy and put on a keychain, so hopefully that will fix the problom.)

This we mentioned before but here is a pic of the beggining of my new Irish Diamond Shawl.

When I stole borrowed my dad's camera, he left me 2 memory cards. One is 2 GB and that is the one I use. There was also a 16 MB one that he left, but sine I am no where near filled up with the first, I have ignored it. Well, today, while waiting for a stupid file to upload to email to this NGO I work with, I decided to look at it. So, here is the first few pics my parents took when they were in The Gambia. Enjoy.

I think this is my dad sleeping on the floor of the Dakar airport. That is really gross. I hope he burned thoes clothes...

On the way to Sera Kunda from the airport in Banjul.

It's way hot upcountry. Luckily, Beth wanted some company comming down so I am taking a few days in Kombo. So randomness... I appologise for the spacing and stuff. BLogger is beingt stupid. Yes. It's blogger, not me

Dan, who has left us. Bastard. He is off to civilization. He better keep in touch or I will beat him!

See this? It looks like a yummy cinimon bun, doesn't it? Smells like one to.

Beth's parents came on vacation and got off the plane and gave her it. You can immagine her joy when she thought she was getting a cinimon bun...

See this? This is the box that the cinnimon bun candel came in. Yes, she got a candel that killed us because if you light it it smells delicious. Which is probobly why in the corner of the box it says "please do not eat"

Dan's last nite in Basse. We got all Tubabed out in Tom from MRC's truck...

Just a cute pic of Bubacarr and Mariama. He enjoys that walker thing more than she does...

OK, another pic of Dan. We miss him here. Dan, remember our Smallville marathon and eating game? note to my readers: eating 20 bannanas is not a good idea...

Do you have a bike helmet? The random everyday one? Like the one that Beth is wearing?

Look inside your helmet. Does it have, like Beth's, a sticker that says Warning: Not for off road use? But what if this is your "road"?

Oh. And Tamara says "Hi"

I am trying to compile a list of fibres avaliable, both in roving and yarn. So far I have:

WOOL there are hundereds of types of sheep/wool, so each and every one is not that important. If you have comments on any specific one, or a favorite that I don't have, post it in the comments

-Peruvian Highland

-Merino

-Shetland

-Leicester

-Corriedale

-Romney

-Lincoln

-Coopworth

-Finn

-Blackwelsh

GOAT

-Mohair

-Cashmere

-Angora

ALPACA

VECUNA

LLAMA

CAMEL

YAK

QUIVUT

BUFFOLO

SILK

COTTON

-merchanised

-organic

LINEN/FLAX

BAMBOO

HEMP

SOY

SEAWEEK

So far, that is what I have. Can you add to this list? Post in the comments. Thanks!

After a year of begging, I finaly got The Yarn Harlot's last book not to be confused with her new book. Though, looking at Amazon for those links, it appears she is comming out with another book!! That one comes out in Sep, so I probobly won't get it until I get back home in December-ish.

Also, do you remember my birthdayyarn? Well, after 2+ years and 4 sweater attempts, I have decided that the yarn was not meant to be a sweater. THis is hard and painful to admit. But I have moved on (and have cast on my 3rd shawl attempt with it) and without tempting fait it looks like it is going well. Wish me luck!

I was in Basse Sunday, and you know what? It was so *&$$#%^ HOT I wanted to cry. Except if I did cry, the tears would dry up in my eyes and I would probobly get dust in them. I don't remember it being this hot so early last year.

OK, pretty picture of the cool cool river...

Today, since I am down in Kombo I went to the beach in Fajara. Croc Kate and I just walked up and down, avoiding bumpsters. Guess what we saw? ok, I know it's kind of morbid, but I didn't know we had this stuff in the ocean here

This would be a cuttlefish (or what's left of one). We saw the bones littered all up and down the water line.

And here would be a jellyfish. I always thought they needed cold water. Pretty cool. Though it does give you second thoughts about swimming...

On other news...Manda (17 last December) got married!This is her from Tobaski. Congratulations Manda! Both on your marrage and waiting so long!

New health trainees are in. Heather saw them and said "wow, they look so clean!" I said to wait a few days until they had to do their own laundry at GPI.

On other news: I am knitting Dan a Man Purse for his COS gift. Two years in the URD! We all strive to be him! He wants to call it something more masculine, but the PCV's here have unanumously voted that it is a Man Purse. I am doing a loose interpretation of the Monk's Satchel from Folk Bags. It is my favorite pattern from the book I highly recommend the series. I have made myself two, each one a little different. It is a really easy pattern, and adaptable for whatever you want to do with it. My Gambian one has a cell phone pocket on the strap, which sits right over my chest probobly one of the reasons I still have my original phone. A lot of PCV's have theirs stolen here. I hope I would notice if some stranger started fooling around near my chest. That is what Dan really liked about the bag. I like them to be bright colors. Dan wanted either "really out there funky" or "masculine". Since the "really out there funky" colors avaliable in Basse hurt my eyes, he is getting black, navy blue, and red.

I foundthis site. She has some really nice stuff. It gives me ideas.

I have made a few bags for runes, tarot cards, etc. Not as nice as this this or this. Mostly because I was experimenting with them before I left, and partly because I am not this original. But she has given me some great ideas did I say that already?. Anyway, they are great, except I have one tweak I would make. Natural fibres are great. I like using them in most instances. EXCEPT in a few instances. This would be one. Wool, cotton, etc, are good natural fibres to wear in clothes, robes, ect because they do not impede energy flow. If you use robes in Circle, they should be 100% cotton (prefferable undyed). In something like a tarot deck, you want an insulating fabric. One where the energy with have trouble flowing. Silk is a very popular one. But getting 100% silk is expensive, and out of a lot of people's pricerange. So I experimented on something else. A fooled around, tested, asked people to test, and guess what? Acrylic yarn. I used Red Heart, actualy. Cheap, easy to get, pretty colors. Not as soft and pretty and traditional as silk, but it works well. Not as well, of course, but it insulates decently. Better than wool would. And isn't that what you would want for your runes, cards, etc? When they are traveling or being stored, you wouldn't want them to pick up someone/thing elses energy. SO a bag made of an insulating fibre would be better. When I get back, I may experiment more with different kinds of acrylic yarn. And maybe get some recycled silk anyway.

I am not really sure what these are, but they are really pretty.

What Stone Are You?

HematiteTake this quiz!

Quizilla |

Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Can you guess what this is?

Did you say the cealing? You would be correct. Except let's take a closer look...

If you can give a good reason why there are handprints on the ceiling of the Basse House, we would appreciate it.note: the handprints showed up several months before the fan. Noone had a camera though.

additional note. we would like a good story. Not a true one. Thoes are boring.

This is a pic heavy post, sorry. I just got the CD of pics my parents took while they were here and in Ireland.

In November my parents came to THe Gambia for 10 days. A half-way point/25th birthday treat for me.

I picked them up from the airport, we spent the first nite in the Serekunda compound, then drove upcountry.

They liked the scenery, and their first "real" up-sountry village

The kids were a little unsure of these new white people in the coumpound

But quickly decided they liked them

We went to the river, walked around village, went to the hospital,

We worked in the peanut fields,

where I continued making my father do women's work (fetching water, working in the groundnut fields, etc, are women's work)

We fetched drinking water

And went to the lumo is Sami, where my parents saw their first "Dead Tubab Clothes" ever wonder what happens to the clothes you donate to Third World countries? They end up in the market

We killed a goat in celebration of my parents visit

And just hung out a lot

All in all, it was a good trip. Except for the malaria and the snakes...

I was perusing glittyknittykitty and saw this post, which ended up sending me here to the Cast On Podcast site. Anyway, long story short, they have all these cool badges is it wrong I want to collect all of them?

So, I have now added which ones I think I have earned to my side bar, as well as a link to the site so you can get your own! scroll down to the links, click on the badge, collect and share

My badges:

The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge

*I am in eqitorial Africa, and I still push knitting on other people! ANd knitted goods. Not just stuff like rugs, but children in my compound have hats and socks!

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One)

*Like everyone, I have used saftey pins, paper clips, etc. for stitch markers. I also made a set of them out of the "rope tree". A tree here that you peel the bark off and use it for twine or rope, very strong. Then the goat ate them when I left them lying on the bantaba.

The “Knitting Whilst Under the Influence” Badge

*I don't knit while drinking, but I am on Larium. Made the mistake of knitting after taking it, and the next morning...well, it's a good thing I don't really hallucinate on the drug. Then again, it might have been a good excuse for what happened...

The “Knitting Has Forced Me to Seek Medical Attention” Badge (Level One)

*I routineley knit holes in my finger, repeditive motion injuries, and one instance when the onkey stole my knitting bag. Still a little to painful to relate.

The “I’ve Knit Items With No Conceivable Practical Application” Badge

*Do we remember the Crack Baby Socks? Luckily, I have improved tremendiously on socks since then.

What kind of Pirate are you?

created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Morgan AdamsYou are in it for the thrill, sure the pay off is great but the thing that drives you is the excitement and the chase. Though your family life isn't that great you have many friends who make up for the crappy family life.

Morgan Adams

92%Sinbad

83%Captain Jack Sparrow

67%Mary Read

58%Dread Pirate Roberts

50%Will Turner

42%Long John Silvers

42%Captain James T. Hook

33%Captain Barbosa

25%Black Beard

17%

What kind of knitting needles are you?

You are bamboo.Warm, cozy, and thoughtful, you take your time and enjoy how things feel, smell, and taste. You love the craft and beauty of traditional things, and you value the comfort and experience of knitting as much as the results. But while you are reveling in your warm cozies, don't get stuck. Warm is wonderful, but so is the whole wide world!Take this quiz!

Quizilla |

Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

In the Gambia, our illustrious president, Yaya Jammeh, is an impressive guy. He took over in a coup 14 years ago, and went from being a Lt. with roughly a 6th grade education to the president of a small West African country with a doctorate. Pretty good step up, huh? You would think that would be enough for any small dictator president. But no, Jammeh continues to serve his people in new and interesting ways. I am not sure if you remember earlier in the year, but Jammeh announced that he can now cure AIDs. We are all thrilled that with the power of the Koran but no fomal religious of theological training and plants from the bush but no botanical or medical training he was able to wipe this deadly scourge from the country. BUt does he stop there? Deffinitly not! He has, in the last year, added asthma, hypertention, diabetes, and last month infertility and cancer!

If you are interested in the cure, all you have to do is go to Banjul on Thursdays. Great, huh? And here we all thought that it would take money, political support, and a laboratory to cure these things. Little did we know.

On other news:

I got some wool in Ireland. A very nice red. 1 KG of aran weight yarn. Now, the big question is, what to do with it? Do I know an Aran Sweater? Do I knot something out of Knitting Ganseys which I got in the mail yesterday? Do I knit a new shawl? I CAN'T DECIDE!!??!! Any ideas, comments, questions will be greatly appreciated.

Well, I have been in The Gambia for over a year now. A new crop of AgFo traniees are in country. The mosquitoes are buzzing, and I am rejuvinated from my holiday.

On November 1 I came down to Kombo to pick up my Dad and Shea. THeir plane landed on November 2. We stayed in my host family's Sarakunda compound. Um...eww. Really. They have roaches. It was gross. All the people are great, I love them, but I will most likely be staying at teh Stodge in the furutre. The wife there (actualy, Ansu's brother's wife) wanted me to marry her son. Seriously wanted me to marry him. I told my dad this, that she would want to negotiate, etc, and he needed to let her down without offending her. So that night they talk a little about it. Does my dad let her down? No. She thinks that when we come back after 10 days in village that they will seriously negotiate for me. Crap.

We get to village, after a long day. Tire blows, so we are stuck in Kaur for a while. There a soldier tried to get my dad to sponcer him in school.

In Diabugu we just motly hung around. I took them to Monday clinic, Tuesday trek, the river, and just mostly chilled. It drove my dad crazy. He hates sitting. He needs to fiddle, to putter, all that stuff. But I wanted to REST, and SHea wasn't feeling well(we later discovered she had malaria). The family killed a goat, which I bought. After 10 uneventful days, we were ready to come back and go to Ireland. I gave Ansu a lot of money to pay for gas to take us down and drop us at teh airport. Last minute, he puts us on a gele. SO PISSED. He used less than half of what I gave him for that gele. We will be having a chat when I get back. Then we get to Sarakunda, and Rodrigo calls (the Santa Coloma guy in Diabugu). He is in Kombo and wanted to know if we were there yet. Apparently, he had told ANsu to bring me and my parents down in the Santa Coloma car so he could use it to get back to village. I never heard about that either. We will be having a second chat.

My dad finaly broke it to the mother that I would not be, no way, marrying her son. She was pissed. She felt like he had led her on before (he did, but he didn't see it that way). Finaly he got it through her head that I wasn't that great a catch. Owe a lot of money for school, need more money for school, PC/TG doesn't pay, etc. She still was upset, but whatever.

Ireland was awsome! COLD!! SO VERY VERY COLD!! The higest it got was 12C (53F), the coldest was 3C (37F), but teh average was 6C (42F). We went to Newgrange not as great as we thought and Dowth much cooler than we thought. Knowth was closed. We went to other monuments, stone circles, etc. Just drove around. Went and saw Jannet Farrar and Gavin Bone (very nice. Got some decent gossip. Much fun. Great people), met up with Barbara. After 5 minutes of meeting her, she said I could marry her son. He's 16, so we have to wait. But, I come back to the Gambia with a fiance, who at 16 thinks fighting is fun, so will defend my honor and all that. I told Oshen I was only keeping him until I could trade up. He seemed ok with that. Poor kid. His sister just died of liver cancer, and he and his mother are taking it hard. Of course, who wouldn't. But they made time to show us around and stuff. Very nice people.

Ireland, though, for those who are curious has an inverse relationship between sheep and yarn. It was SO FRIGGIN HARD to find yarn!! I finaly got some at the woolen mills in Clair. Even they said they had a hard time getting it. I found a store in Bray, but it was closed. Finaly, I got to one in Blackrock (I think) called This Is Knit. I highly recommend it! Nice poeple, nice selection for such a small store, nice prices.

All in all, it was a great birthday present. I don't actualy remember what we did on the 19th (all the days kind of blended), but I do remember that this year, I did not fall off the well!!. SO it was a good day. Wow, my standards for a good birthday have really dropped. No catastrophes, no personal injuries, and I am happy.

In Dublin my plane broke, so we were delayed comming back, and I missed my connecting flight in Brussels. The people at Aer Lingus were very helpful. Couldn't get me on a plane until Saturday (this was Thursday) so I got 2 nights and meals comped in Brussels. Awsome! Only problom was no money, no books, and tv was in french. So I knit alot. Working on the Irish Hiking Scarf, a personal favorite. I also have a new camera, one that works, so will hopefully be able to take and post pics now.

I met my frist bumpster of the season today. I was walking to the office, and I pass a boy, who says to me "Hey, sexy lady. Do you want to kiss me?" My responce was, instead of the punch in the face, "no. you are ugly. go away."

He didn't. In the middle of the season, when you shoot them down, they leave. Plenty more tourists to whore themselves out to. But at the beginning and end, when pickings are slim, they are persistent. He followed me all the way to the PC office. I had my headphones on and ignored him, so unfortunetly don't have a list of his attempts to pick me up.

I got the clear to leave, so tomorrow will go to site. Probobly won't be back until after Ireland!

Last week, I was all set to go back to my happy little village. The 2 day trip? Whatever. My house was at the end of it. As you can tell, I am still in the hell that is Kombo (after about 5 days, it is hell). Why? Well, I had a stomache ache Wensday. By that evening, the pain in my side was so bad, I couldn't breath. Now, I usualy have a large tolerance for pain. I tore my ACL and meniscus in high school. After 2 days finaly went to the doctors and when they asked if I would like anything for the pain my responce of "yes please" freaked my mother out so much she...well, freaked out. So when I say that this hurt, you can immagine. I dragged myself to the med office and layed on the couch until someone came in. I cried. It hurt. The doctor said he thought it was my glabladder. Most people ask "what the hell is a glabladder? What does it do?" But in my family, galbladder means...not good. My mother had her's out after years of probloms. No big, right? She's in her 50's. Bodies wear dowm. My older brother had his galbladder out when he was 25. How old am I going to be in November? 25. I couldn't knit for several days, which isn't helping my bad mood probobly should take this oppertunity to appologise to anyone I snapped at in the last week or so. Larium, Kombo, pain = not a good combination. I wonder what I am going to do when I can't blame the larium anymore? I should post some of the Larium Hiku's that were in the last newsletter if the author will let me. You probobly won't understand, but for me, they are HILARIOUS. SO I have been lying around reading cheesy romance novels. I have read all the Nora Robers/JD Robb (my favorites) so have finaly surcumbed to the harliquine, or whatever they are called. I can't beleive I just admited to that.

I want to be back before Rammadan starts, so hopefully will leave tomorrow or Wensday.