Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Central Park Hoodie

And now, for a knitting post. Currently on my needles is Heather Lodinsky's Central Park Hoodie. I've done several sweaters for my niece, but never for an adult. This is probably my largest undertaking yet, but so far it's going just fine. I agonized over the yarn I'd use for a long time...several months! I wanted to do this pattern, and I wanted to use nice yarn, because I knew if I picked yarn I wasn't 100% in love with, I would do all that work and never wear it. Cascade 220 and Knit Picks City Tweed had been the main contenders until I decided to just take the plunge with Tahki Donegal Tweed- the yarn recommended in the pattern. Duh.
Then there was the question of my LYS vs. Webs, over an hour away. I decided to take a trip to my local store just to see if this was the yarn I wanted- touch it, etc. I walked up to the display, they had the color I wanted, and in the exact amount I needed. The yarn gods were rooting for me, so I picked it up, using my discount for being a student in the shop. Took it home, whipped up a swatch- Dead on! Then, my $90 worth of perfect yarn sat in a bag for six months. I bought the yarn in September of 2009, but had to begin my Christmas knitting shortly after buying it. Christmas knitting kept me busy (and I was working on some of them literally Christmas morning- luckily, a stomach bug kept my brother's family away for
several days, which bought me some extra knitting time to finish my niece's hat and mittens!) and unable to start. Then, when the gifts were done, I started right in on a blanket for another niece, due to arrive at the end of January. She was 6 weeks old by the time I finally got it to her. Then, and only then, did I finally start my CPH- March 30, 2010. It went quite quickly. Now, the back is done and the bottom ribbing for the left side is done and I'm ready to begin the pattern.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Movie MeMe

Well, this has absolutely nothing to do with knitting or raising chickens, but I was in the mood to do it and thought it might be a good ice-breaker, since it's been about a year since I posted. You'll probably think less of me for the quality of movies that I enjoy.


Name a film that you have seen more than 10 times.
Dirty Dancing

Name a film that you’ve seen multiple times in the cinema.
I saw both Twilight and New Moon twice, as well as Titanic when I was 12.

Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a film.
Colin Firth, Gerard Butler, Patrick Dempsey

Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a film.
Less likely? Not sure, but probably someone who does a lot of action-adventure-car-crashing-beat-them-up type movies.


Name a film that you can and do quote from.
Dirty Dancing! Nobody puts baby in a corner. (That's probaby one of the most commonly quoted lines, but I have many others. I carried a watermelon! You just put your pickle on everybody's plate, college boy. Remind me not to take my honeymoon in Niagra Falls. So, you'll go to Acapulco! etc...)

Name a film musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.
I'm pretty sure I know all the songs in The Sound of Music.

Name a film that you would recommend everyone see.
Something that everyone should see? Hm... Maybe the Harry Potter series? It's such a cultural icon that most people would probably enjoy it. At least the first one.

Ever walked out of a film?
No, but I was about ready to during the beginning of the remake of The Dukes of Hazzard, when the Duke boys opened the door to the General. What?!? Door opening!? I don't think so.

Name a film that made you cry in the cinema.
None, really.

Popcorn?
I prefer to smuggle my own Mike and Ike's in. Preferably the Lemonade flavors.

How often do you go to the cinema (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?
We go a lot...at least 1-2 times a month.

What’s the last film you saw in the cinema?
Saw "Hot Tub Time Machine" this weekend. Wasn't my choice, but it ended up being less stupid than I expected.

What’s your favorite/preferred genre of film?
Romantic Comedy.

What’s the first film you remember seeing in the cinema?
I've been told I saw Snow White or something in the theater, but I don't remember it. The first movie I remember going to was The Lion King with my dad, when I was 9.

What film do you wish you had never seen?
Looking back, I don't know if there's one that I actually regret seeing, but I know that I absolutely can't sit through an entire showing of any of the Lord of the Rings, or the Matrix. No thank you!

What is the scariest film you’ve seen?
Ugh, The Ring. I HATE scary movies. I was traumatized by the Sixth Sense.

If you could be any character portrayed in a movie, who would it be?
Renee Zellweger in Bridge Jones Diary.

Total number of films you own on DVD and video.
Oh jeez, can I include downloads on my computer too? Probably around 30.


Last film you bought.
Actually bought? New Moon. I rarely buy DVDs. I have netflix and the internet.

Last film you watched.
Watched some of the Bounty Hunter.

Five films that mean a lot to you.
That mean a lot to me? Well, they aren't deeply meaningful or life-changing, but i'd say:
1. Dirty Dancing
2. The Harry Potter series
3. The Twilight Saga
4. Bridget Jones Diary
5. The 1995 BBC Broadcast of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth

What are your favorite movies?