A collective groan is heard across the universe:
Not quite as clever a headline as you’d see on fark, but almost.
Month: June 2010
Viva la V.V.!
Posted by – 28/06/2010
I know, it’s been a long time since I blogged about the greatest store on earth, Value Village. To be honest, not much has changed there and I rarely go any more. I trickled over today to look for plaques, like, award plaques for a project I’m working on and to do some donating. The lady accepting donations was very nice, I told her about coming home around 10 pm last Friday night and watching a family (adults and children about Ari’s age) rooting through bags left as donations. She told me that they know who they are and that they do it regularly.
This is stealing. And the donations that are left strewn about are usually ruined by the weather making them unsellable too.
I did find some treasures today and if they’d been priced a little lower, they’d be with me right now. The first is this beautiful green sculpture which is reminiscent of my high school project called Reclining Poo (which, incidentally, I broke, glued back together and still have!).
Hand made, can you tell? Only $2.99. In hindsight, it almost seems worth it.
This next guy is made of painted pebbles and he has a yarn cravat:
He’s exactly as cute as you think he is. Also $2.99.
And this pig. I used to collect pig things when I was a kid, this is something I would have begged for.
I resisted this time.
I did get some good scores, 2 plaques and a small trophy AND a copy of Gobblet, a game we’ve had the Jr version of for a while. And really, I only paid $5 for all that stuff, so maybe saying everything is over priced there is an exaggeration.
And this is for Ali, who will know why-feel free to post on facebook or wherever:
How is your skush anyway?
Live free or die, indeed
Posted by – 28/06/2010
There’s been a lot of excitement in the city I live in, Toronto, over the weekend. I’d largely ignored most of the G20 hype until Saturday night when friends started posting comments on facebook, angry with the destruction of businesses and police cars. By Sunday a lot of that anger was redirected towards the police and government, rather than at the activists, protesters and media.
I’d wondered when something about it would be posted on boing boing, usually Cory Doctorow is quick with stories about Toronto, but as Shannon reminded me, he does have a new book out to promote; some things are more important than social change. Then Xeni blogged a video I’d already seen.
The comments that followed it are pretty average, a lot of back and forth on all of it. Then this one, #79, that will hopefully help clarify the meaning of the black bloc for everyone:
To the people who are perplexed at why black bloc activists use militant tactics and destroy corporate property, and to those who think said activists are nothing more than “thugs” or “hooligans”:
You’re right, black bloc activists are not protesters. They aren’t there to protest, they’re there to take direct action against the machineries of oppression. Their actions are designed to cause material damage to oppressive institutions. But much more importantly, they’re intended as theatre. As a dramatized illustration that even in the face of an overwhelming police state, the people still have the power. That the cops and banks aren’t as omnipotent as they try to convince us, and it really is within our power to strike back if they turn against us. And that defying authority and subverting “law and order” doesn’t have to mean abandoning ethics, humanity, or care for your fellow man.
These are vital lessons that the public needs to be reminded of now more than ever. Even if you disagree with the particulars, I hope most people can agree that those in power (be they CEOs, heads of state or police chiefs) should fear the public. From the reports coming out of Toronto of police blatantly and smugly disregarding people’s basic rights, it seems that they have lost that healthy fear. It seems they see the public as a docile mass to be herded and controlled at will. Militant protest is an effort to keep the threat alive in a way that standing around waving signs never will, and for that we should be glad of it.
The more completely we forget our power to strike back at those who would dominate us, the more complete their domination becomes.
Thank you zikzak, whoever you are.
Done!
Posted by – 17/06/2010
I decided to go with no sleeves-after knitting half of one-because it’s a hot summer already and this sweater will only fit for about 5 more minutes.
I just need to weave in about 800 ends and it will be ready for wrapping paper. Next baby gets this sweater. Or this dress. And obviously it better be a girl baby.
Other new new (well, newer-ish) project
Posted by – 12/06/2010
Jana came upon an ad on Craigslist for free…stuff, I think it was a free bonanza really, and she kindly thought of me for the 4 giant boxes of fabric scraps. Lots of it was scary (polyester!) and unusable (biodegrading as you watch!) but some of it was super cute and vintage. There was a tiny bag within of tiny scraps of adorable flannel and I knew right away what I wanted to make.
Small, cute, perfect. I’m kind of following the instructions above, but as always, I am also doing my own thing. My squares, for example, are 2″x2″. As you can see, until I was interrupted by a certain someone’s bed time, I managed to cut 81 of them. I have more to cut, I think I’d like it to be 100 squares total, then a border, then binding.
And a close up because it’s worth it:
The kids fishing from a canoe is so cute, I wish I knew where it was from. I’d wrap my entire life in that stuff.
Babies
Posted by – 11/06/2010
Seems everyone I know is pregnant these days. Or has just had a baby. Or is just wrapping up their baby-making business.
Not me. I went for a long time wanting a baby, then a long time not wanting a baby, back to wanting one. Now it seems it’s too late for babies for me. Don’t assume you know why. Here’s a clue: it has nothing to do with my age, ok? If things had gone according to plan, I’d be caring for a 9 month old kid by now, but things rarely do go according to plan.
I only bring this up because I’d posted something on facebook and the first comment was asking me if I were ‘preggers’.
Please stop asking me that. Just stop. It’s not going to happen and I don’t really like explaining myself. Although I have found that I can make the asker pretty damn uncomfortable with brute honesty.
This is the sweater I am knitting. It’s just about the cutest thing I’ve ever made, and I’m pretty proud of it. A pattern (beware, pdf file!) recommended to me by Twwly. I am almost done the body and will work on the sleeves after. I’ve got cute buttons picked out. Oh, I’ll post pictures when I am done.
Ok. And here’s the deal: any “kind” comments on this post that upset me will be deleted. If you really feel the need to say anything personal to me, feel free to drop me an email, ok? Otherwise, just say how cute the sweater is, that’s enough.
Newbie
Posted by – 02/06/2010
Such a teeny little muffin, I was instantly in love. Of course she didn’t cry and she didn’t poop. That makes for a good baby visit in my books.
You can tell by the bulging vein on my forehead that I am completely chuffed. I can not WAIT to be on shower duty (as in, Saira calls me when she needs a 5 minute shower so I race over and sit on a baby). I’m so glad we live so close.
Here’s what I bought her (and that she won’t fit into for another 4-6 weeks, I guess):
All size 0-3 months, a denim skirt with built in diaper cover, 2 sleeveless onesies, and fish print harem pants. Yes, you read that right, HAREM PANTS.
To. Die. For.
Oh, and here’s daddy Michael with Kiran Maureen. Gosh, I just got all choked up!
R to the izzOM
Posted by – 01/06/2010
Ari and I had a girl’s afternoon out on Saturday. We took the subway (which is still a treat to her) to ROM, using our family pass. It’s worth every penny, if you ask me, I can take 2 kids and it’s free. Ish. Did you know how much I love taxidermy? It’s true, I do.
And this friendly fellow jumped out and said “HI!”
I love beavers. I am not such a fan of raccoons, so this guy didn’t do as much for me.
The area of ROM that’s been there forever, it’s got trees and grass and lots of different animals and the idea is to spot them all. It’s still good, I can remember being stumped by it as a kid, and I still have no idea where a bunch of them are hiding. Maybe when I am older…
Anyway, we also hung out in the loathed children’s area, I hate it and said as much to the young woman making sure that all kids 12 and under were not going in unaccompanied. I tried to tell her that Ari had just turned 13, but she didn’t buy it. Ugh. It’s an enormous waste of time in there, just a distraction from the good parts.
On the way out there was a red mascot dinosaur flapping at the little kids. Ari went right up to her and told her she was a fake.
Heh. Then we got new sunglasses and sandals. A jolly good day!