You Bet Your Asp

On this day, 2,041 years ago, Cleopatra VII died near Alexandria, Egypt.

And on this day, some 1,993 years later, Anthony Ray was born in Seattle, Washington.

At first blush, you might think these events are unrelated. But dig a bit deeper and I think you’ll agree that they are inextricably linked. For Cleopatra is popularly believed to have died after being bitten by an asp.

And Anthony Ray, better known by his stage name of Sir-Mix-a-Lot, is best known for his anthem to, well, something that sounds an awful lot like asp.



What does all of this mean? Nothing, really. Except that it means today is a particularly auspicious day. The kind of day that makes a person want to announce something.

So, I’m announcing that I’ve started my Christmas knitting. True, I may have mentioned this before. But one of our current presidential hopefuls has announced her candidacy at least three times now – so really I’m just being presidential. Not redundant. Really.

And, since I’m announcing that I’ve started my Christmas knitting – I’d like to announce that I want to add a couple of new names to my Christmas-gift-list. You heard me right. I already plan to make things for family and numerous friends – but I want also to make something for at least one complete (or nearly complete) stranger. So – this seems like an opportunity for a new giveaway. So – I hereby kick off the 2011 TSMK Christmas-Gift-Listapalooza.

Here’s the scoop: You want something – you ask for it.  Maybe a scarf?  Or how about some socks?  Could be anything.  Tell me what you’d like made, and why you think you should be added to my Christmas list.  Make it (the item) memorable.  If it is something intriguing – I’ll be more likely to want to make it. 

And make the request memorable as well. In past events we’ve had fun with poetry, photos and even an adorable video of an infant. All of that is in play with this one as well. In fact, anything you can email can be used as a submission. However, please do not send me anything you wouldn’t want to see posted in this journal or of which you think The Echidna might disapprove.

All entries should be sent to tsmkblog@yahoo.com. If you need to send something through snail mail – shoot me an email and I’ll reply with an address.

I’ll accept entries through the autumnal equinox. Have fun, and I hope to hear from you.

~TSMK

Good Fortune

Today, I have the good fortune to do something really exciting.

I get to perform the wedding ceremony for a friend. So, I guess I get to help knit two people together, as opposed to pieces of yarn.

Writing the ceremony, I confess I was tempted to say something along the lines of "let no man frog what we have today..." but I resisted the urge. Instead, we're going to talk about the rock, paper, scissors theory of marriage. Should be fun.

On the knitting front, I have begun my Christmas knitting. I recognize that it is a bit early, but I have a lot of things I want to make this year. Stay tuned for updates as things come off the needles in the weeks and months ahead.


~TSMK

Fear and Loathing in the Living Room

I'm a little worried.  I may have done something dreadful.  The trouble is, I don't know for sure if I did.  And, if I did, I'm not sure what it is.  Let me explain.

This morning, Mrs. TSMK and I were having our morning 15 minutes of quasi-uninterrupted conversation on the couch.  We do this every morning (or try to).  We banish the children for just a few minutes so that the two of us can drink a cup of coffee or tea together, talk about what we need to do that day, and generally strategize on how to make it to the kids' bedtime.  War planning, really.  But with an affectionate bent.

And this morning, well into our discussion, I noticed that I wasn't hearing her.  Her lips were moving.  I'm sure they were saying something important.  But I couldn't hear her. 

This is not my fault.  The fact is that her lips were speaking quite a bit more softly than her outfit - which was shouting every inch of her curves at me.  If the yoga pants and clingy white top had been amplifier, they would have gone to 11.  That's one more, isn't it?

So anyway, I have no idea what she was saying.  I just know that I found myself nodding and saying "yes" without comprehension.  And that's what has me worried.  Just what did I agree to?  What if it is something horrible - like going on a weekend trip to Forks to look for sparkly vampires?  Or eating kale?  Or, heaven forbid, eating Kale in Forks?  This could get really ugly.

- Breathe TSMK; this too shall pass -

Ok.  Now that I have my wits about me at least momentarily - let me share the most recently completed item.  This is my version of Kim Hargreaves' Edda.  Luckily, it does not appear to have been unnecessarily fouled by tartar.  Shown here prior to blocking - I'm hoping the cables will be slightly more presentable once I give it a good soak and pinning out.  I did mine in wool, as opposed to the cotton called for by the pattern.  I like it, and Mrs. TSMK does too. 

Wait a minute - you don't suppose she was asking me to make another one?

~TSMK