A New Year & My Resolution

Holy disappearing act! I knew it had been a long time since I’d blogged, but I was astounded to discover it has been an entire year. My sincere apologies to all of you, I have been a very bad blogger.

Normally I’m not keen on resolutions. They just don’t pan out. I don’t know of many folks that actually stick to them beyond January. LOL But I decided this year to officially make one – and that is to resurrect my blog & stick to it this year. I have missed it so much.

Running

Yes, running is another area where I’ve dropped off the face of the planet, I’ll admit. I’ve gotten out here & there, but I just haven’t stuck to a regular routine. It’s been a very bad thing for me. Also something I’m determined to fix – and in case you few readers haven’t picked up on it before, I tend not to blog when I’m not really running either. I hate putting up a post stating that I’m not running!  LOL

Now, I DID get out the other day for a 2 mile run with the youngest manlet & the Pixie (oh, you all haven’t “met” her yet – she is the oldest manlet’s girlfriend of 18? months). I *love* running with the family, it’s SO much fun! I felt bad, though, as the Pixie had worked out the day before, so she lost steam after a half mile. She walked pretty fast & I did a slow jog with her for a half mile to finish up mile 1. The manlet did fantastic for just over a half mile, running way out ahead of us with his super long legs…  but then he slammed into that age-old runner’s issue, chafing. Poor guy had to walk the rest of the way in misery, but at least for mile 2, the Pixie kept him company.  I ran back mile 2 on my own ahead of them & felt pretty damn proud of myself that I’d seriously outrun a 17 year old manlet & a 19 year old Pixie!  :D

BTW – we took the route to the schools & back, so we ran by the ABC Gum Pole. I took a snap just to show the progress, for those of you interested.  I decided to link to it instead of posting it directly so as to not gross out the other readers.  ;)

Reading

I have gotten some reading done lately as well, YAY! Of course, it helped that I treated myself to one of these, which makes it SO easy to knit & read at the same time.  ;)

• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
  WOW! I’m late to reading this one. A good friend of mine had recommended it to me months ago & after I got into it, I totally understood why. Someone else has referred to it as a “nerdgasm” – and it totally is. It is a true geekfest of virtual reality & 80s pop culture (but just the bits that centered around all things geeks are drawn to). Video games, movies like Star Wars & War Games, even Japanese cartoons – and best of all, Rushare featured in this fast paced action/adventure/suspense story. It is chock FULL of geek references, some explained, some not – it’s up to you to see if you can find them all!  ;)  Probably it’s the biggest hit with anyone that grew up in the 80s because of that & it’s not destined to be a classic – but it IS so much fun, I will absolutely read it again. :D
  Rush’s album 2112 (which is my 2nd fave Rush album) is featured in the story. Specifically a couple of songs, this being one.  Enjoy!  :)
  Rush – 2112 – Discovery
• The Darkest Surrender by Gena Showalter
  The latest in the Lords of the Underworld series, this is the story of Strider.  Strider has the demon of Defeat within him, so he can’t lose any challenge without suffering terrible weakness & pain afterward. This story matches him up with a harpy, Kaia. Happily, I like Kaia – because that is the ONLY reason I made it through this book. Strider is the biggest egotistical sexist pig of a character I think I’ve read in a very long time. I hated this book.
• Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
  There are some things that I love about the Sookie Stackhouse series – primarily, Eric Northman.  The stories are usually either fun & entertaining or they stink. This one is in the stinker category. The author seems to have confused Bill & Eric, as she has Bill saying & doing things that Eric would do – and these two are as opposite as night & day. She also has Sookie blathering on about being Christian whilst plotting massive assassinations in this one – which totally loses points for me. Fine if she wants to focus on her faith, I have no issue with that. But to do that, then plan to kill people?!  Pssst, Sookie – that doesn’t fall under the umbrella of WWJD. Just saying.

Knitting

Oh, I had lost my knitting mojo for the longest time. It’s come back again, finally too.  Not quite in time to get ALL the gifts done for the holidays this year, but I’m ok with that. I’ve gotten loads of things done, but these are some of the highlights…

Today’s Ravelry Search

This part right here? I’ve missed the most, actually!  :D  I’ve always had so much fun doing this piece of my blog posts and I’ve really missed out on some awesome patterns this past year by not doing this.

None of these are mine, of course – just click the picture to go right to the Ravelry pattern page.  Those marked with an asterisk are free patterns, so enjoy!  :)  It’s coming on that time of year again…  ;)

Knit

* Cute & quick socks!

Knit

Beautiful cabling on this hat.

Knit

These would make a fantastic wreath to hang on your door, wouldn't they? It's a pattern for sale on Ravelry (only $2.50), but you can also find it in Woman's Weekly magazine for February 2011.

Knit

* Monster for your Love! SO cute.

Knit

* Must resist urge to move those hearts down about 3 inches if I ever make this one.

Knit

Have I mentioned how much I love Rebecca Danger's designs before? Because I do. I really do. :D You can pick this one up through the Knit Picks website $1.99 pattern program! Go, get it now!

Knit

* I adore this pattern as it is, but when I saw this project photo, HOW COULD I RESIST CHUBBY BABY LEGS?? :D

Crochet 

Ok, I find this adorable and I don't even like cats. :D

Crochet

The classic crinoline girl with a bit of a holiday twist! ;)

Crochet

Cell phone charms, zipper pulls, key chains - these would be cute for any of them!

Crochet

* Pretty little doily!

Crochet

* Oooh, create your own fortune cookies. That could make the "in bed" game seriously fun! :D

Crochet

* Tiny hearts to add to hair clips, pins, or anything else you can think of!

Crochet

Awwww, kissing angels! So cute. Way less scary than the weeping kind. Aw, c'mon, you had to know I was going to make a Doctor Who reference, didn't ya?! LOL

Crochet

I'm positive I've featured this guy before, but who can resist his devilish charm, his heart shaped eyes & seriously cute bum? he he he

* Free pattern

Happy 2012, everyone!  :)