I'm so flattered, so I'll spread the kudos

Farmwife gave me an award; and even though I don't have anything red-carpet-worthy, I humbly accept her generous offering, knowing full well I don't deserve it.

It's a big cloudy as to the real origin of the Arte Y Pico Award, but I'm all up for handing out honors of my own, so I will certainly play along.

Here are the rules as set forth by Farmwife.

1) Show the award. Link back to the blog that gave you the award.

2) Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award because of creativity, design, interesting material, and contributions to the blogger community, no matter of language, and link to them.

3) Leave comments on the blogs to let them know you've given them an award. (OK, I am skipping this one in hopes that everyone makes it over here to find their name.)

4) Show the link to the Arte y Pico blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) Show these rules.

And the winners are, in no particular order: (and some of you won't be named because Farmwife already gave you kudos, so let's spread the love and share with others.)

1) Willow Grace (aka Madretz; I won't blather on about how great her artwork is, that's too easy. I don't think you can go there without feeling and reading her incredible attitude. It's so refreshing.)

2) Trying to Grab Some Happy (aka Phin; again, her artwork is moving and stunning; but I also like to read about her "adventures". So green with envy.)

3) Emily (Even though she's been on a blog break, I still catch myself visiting her blog just in case.)

4) Needlefingers & Pilot (Because everyone needs a good knit fix and some questionable packaging art.)

5) Brando & Rudy (Who doesn't love reading about those kids and some dead fish never hurt anyone.)

And a sixth one, that's sort of unofficial. She'd have made the list if only she posted more often. . . hint, hint: Kissed Knitter.

An interview with Farmwife, blogger/investigative reporter

Farmwife has resurrected the Blogger interview meme and she asked some tough ones!

1. If butter cookies and Ice cream were suddenly and permanently unavailable, what sweet snacks would you switch to?

This is a very, very tough one to answer, given my propensity to eat my weight in both. However, I think I'd switch to Oreos and Heath bars.

2. What would you title your life's story?

Ooooh, she's tough, but I promise not to cry, Barbara Walters. "She tried really hard". No one would buy it with a title like that, would they?

3. If you could have any single super power, what would it be?

I think I'd like to be able to will people into telling the truth and be able to sense dishonesty. I suspect this would get me in loads of trouble.

4. If you could travel back in time to witness any single event in history, what would it be?

I would have liked to witness the suffrage movement as it closed in on change. I have read enough and seen enough documentaries to know that it must have been an exciting and trying time. Not very flashy as far as historical events, but interesting and groundbreaking.

5. What do you miss most from your childhood?

The obvious answer for me is "innocence", but what I miss most is that sense of wonder and awe at everything that came your way. Everything was a big deal. Everything.

I'd like to pass along the interview love. If you are game, leave a comment and your e-mail address and I'll get a list to you.

Internets. . . I need your assistance

Cynical and I are looking to make a trek to Charleston, SC in October. Any thoughts on where we could stay? In my dreams we find a little beach house that's affordable. Please don't burst my bubble.

An Interview

I recently spied an Interview Challenge on Madretz's blog and found it kinda cool. So, I decided to play along. If you are game and want me to interview you via five questions, let me know. Might give you some blog material. It's a great chance for those of us stopping by to get to know you better.

Madretz came up with some tough questions as shown below, along with my lame answers. Much appreciation, Madretz, for letting me play along.

1) Where would you go on vacation if money and time are no object?
If money and TIME were no object, I'd have to say Greece. I am intrigued by the architecture, the blue water, the culture.

2) What are the lyrics to one of your favorite songs?
This one was tough. I was torn between "When It Don't Come Easy" by Patty Griffin and this song, but since this has long been my favorite, I am including it:

Tiny Dancer
Music by Elton John
Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad

Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums

But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can't hear me
When I say softly, slowly

Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today

Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand

3) What do you love and dislike the most about the part of the country you live in?
What I love most about the South and Kentucky is the changing of the seasons and the pace at which things happen: slow and steady. It's evident in our speech, our cooking, our way of life.

What I dislike the most is the Bible Belt stranglehold and the adverse reactions to diversity. I am both a spiritual person and a Christian, but I am a liberal; I embrace diversity in lifestyle, thought, background and outlook; and there just isn't a lot of room for that line of thought in this part of the country.

4) What is your favorite meal/food?
As for a meal, I'd have to say pizza or Mexican food. Bring on the cheese, sour cream, tomatoes and salsa. As for food, it's clearly, plainly and forever: ice cream.

5) What other art/crafts/hobbies have you been as passionate about as you are now with knitting?
This was a tough one as well. I don't know that I have ever been this passionate about any hobby outside of knitting. I think that perhaps it has been rivalled by reading and journaling/letterwriting.

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Random thoughts for a Monday morning

Would it be appropriate for me to hug the contractor?

And, would it be odd for me to ask for the afternoon off so I can go home and take a shower?

Do you have any idea how nice it has been not to carry my goods across town and shower at the Y?

Do you know how funny it is to see my very tall beloved attempt to bathe in our tiny, tiny tub?

Now for some notes that just might more sense, but are certain to still bore you:

-I haven't had an opportunity to thank Cate for hosting the Nudge-Nudge Punny Valentine Contest. The prize was amazing: a copy of Knitscene, an itty-bitty book light, a beautiful bookmark, a handy-dandy one that lets you mark not only the page, but the line as well, and a neato little note pad. That Cate, she's so thoughtful and amazing.

-I have been enjoying my commute much more thanks to some CDs exchanged with Emily, Madretz and Farmwife. Thanks guys, this has been so much fun. . . you are so creative and your taste in music so wonderfully eclectic. I am sorry it took so long for me to thank you publicly.

-I finished my Green (Brown) Gable. All that is left is a little tucking in of the ends. I am slightly disappointed. Not in the pattern, but instead in the way my body looks in it. I had somehow expected the sweater to work miracles.

-I started on Glee and am so pleased with the way it's going. I am using Knitpicks Andean Treasure in Sunset Heather. Really loving the feel of the yarn and the color will be nice this fall.

-In addition, I have the yarn to make this sweater, with the base color being a beautiful brown. The yarn is incredible in texture: a wool/silk blend. Hope to work on it tonight at knit group.

-Since it seems we have made big strides in moving toward a new house, I am suddenly overcome with the desire to rid our current abode of anything and everything. I have plans to bring a box home with me each week, to fill said box and then donate the box of goods. I wish you guys all lived nearby, because I'd plan a big ole swap with my books and other stuff. Sound like fun?

It must be luv

I like to mark special occasions with music. And by that I mean I tend to recall a particular point in time not through scent or even sight, but often what was playing in the background on the day I fell in love, had my first wreck or was scared to death when someone shook the porta-potty at the Jimmy Buffet concert many years ago.

I have continued this line of thinking when it comes to holidays at Chez Ragged. That being said, I have prepared the official 2007 Valentine's CD: It Must Be Luv: Songs of true luv and everything in between.

This CD celebrates not only the wonders of falling in love (stalking one another, not minding if your beloved calls you "Pookie bear" or "Sweetiekins" or long walks on the beach when you were actually able to hold hands without one of you saying, "Quit twisting my arm that way.") but also the underbelly of love, the falling out of it (demanding that he give back your copy of Madonna's Greatest Hits, throwing his letter jacked at him in the parking lot at school).

So, you may notice a bit of a twisted mix of songs on the 2007 version, which was greatly influenced by some of the ups and downs some of my friends are experiencing in the world of relationships these days.

If you are game, I am up for trading. Send me your CD of tunes that scream of love and love-gone wrong and we have a deal. Just e-mail me at raggedaroundtheedges(at)hotmail(dot)com.

Oh, and here's the songlist:

Anniversary Song by The Cowboy Junkies
One line says it all: "And I'll wear your ring".

Crash by the Dave Matthews Band
Come on, this is a hot song.

Here With Me by Dido
Just enough darkness to make it loverly.

I’ll Take Care of You by The Dixie Chicks
That's what it's all about.

Icecream by Sarah McLachlan
Better than icecream, I dunno, but she sounds convincing.

If You Could Only See by Tonic
A man turning down temptation out of pity for his beloved. So sweet.

Jackson by Johnny and June Carter Cash
Hotter than a pepper sprout. Enough said.

Jealousy by Natalie Merchant
Oooooh, jealousy. . . . the really dark underbelly of luv.

Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
I love this song and it's sentiment. I'm feeling all sappy now.

Love Shack by The B52s
Chez Ragged is the Love Shack, make no mistake.

Mandy by Barry Manilow
She came and she gave without taking, now that's luv.

Name by The Goo Goo Dolls
He'll even let you be nameless.

Some for the Dumped by The Ben Folds Five
The perfect break-up song. Give me back my black t-shirt.

Sonja by Lyle Lovett
He loves his waitress and he's all giddy about it.

Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper
Everybody steals kisses and no one ever gets convicted.

Trees by Marty Casey & The Lovehammers
You and me, up in the trees. Enough said.

Trouble Me by The 10,000 Maniacs
This is actually our song. And I got all sappy just typing it out.

True Companion by Marc Cohn
I'm tearing up just thinking about this song. Everyone deserves a true companion.

When It Don’t Come Easy by Patty Griffin
If you forget my love, I'll try to remind you. Enough said.

You & I Both by Jason Mraz
And you know, even if it doesn't work out, you know you loved and that's enough. Right!

You’re the One that I Want by Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta
'Cause in the end, he's the one that I want.

*Edited to add, the Dave Matthews Band song is actually "Crash Into Me", but at Chez Ragged, I tend to shorten the title when talking about how "hot" it is. I should have let ya know that in advance. Sorry.

Come out, come out wherever you are. . .

It' s apparently National Delurking Week, so excuse me while I out myself on some blogs that I read regularly. Oh, and I would much appreciate if you'd delurk here. Come on, you know you want to.

Ya'll let me know when it's safe

I'll switch over the Beta Blogger just as soon as you tell me it's safe out there, but not until I am certain that there are no pitfalls, hidden landmines or snipers. Keep me posted.

In other news:
I am still working on the never-ending pair of socks for my dad. Yes, I have had the yarn forever. Yes, I started eons ago, but for some reason I am uninspired and unmotivated. Ugh, I hate knitting on a schedule. (As you may know I am using a Red Cross kit to create these. During World War II, the organization apparently supplied similar kits to women wishing to knit for their soldiers abroad. I saw it online, had to order it and still think it's the perfect gift for him. Now I just have to get them done.)

My first day of vacation was productive but uneventful, full of household chores, wrapping, the season finale of "Little People, Big World"*, sock knitting (of course) and airdrying my hair. The highlight for me was digging out a shirt once belonging to Cynical, now belonging to me, and wearing it in an effort to remember "the early days", as it's the one he wore the first time we went to buy our Christmas tree.

I have some lofty goals for the rest of my time off, like making a pair of mittens, reading all of the magazines piling up around here, cracking open that tin of butter cookies, watching the first season of "Veronic Mars", making the bed every day, looking at the Christmas tree and losing track of time, assuring that we have clean towels in the linen closet, getting to know my Sock Monkey, and sleeping late.

My sock monkey.

Contest! Get your contest here!

Next Tuesday, a week from today, my dear Cynical and I will celebrate 10 years together. I won't get all sappy about it yet, but there will be plenty of heart-wrenching, make-you-gag posts in the following days. So prepare yourself and keep a trash can nearby.

In the meantime, Cynical and I have once again tossed tradition out the door. We aren't taking a big trip. We aren't doing big gifts. Instead we have a few other surprises up our sleeves, or in our shoes, or at the bottom of my purse.

One of which is that we are going to make a commemorative CD, a copy for each of us. (Gush, gush!) Before you get all sentimental and weepy, most of the songs mark particular moments over the past 10 years, both romantic and silly. Some are all sweet and such, like our "official" song "Trouble Me" by the 10,000 Maniacs, but others note more humorous events such as "Insensitive" by Jann Arden or "Ironic" by our beloved Alannis. (Yes, there are funny stories there, but I just don't want to share them with you. . . yet.)

Get on with the contest, you say! Ok, ok. . . here's the challenge, it's two-fold, so read carefully.

Part 1:
I would like to know what songs you would include on your commemorative CD to your beloved, the unusual ones, the ones that make you giggle and make you melt. Not the one you danced to at your high school prom (unless it was "Footloose" or something else as romantic as "In Your Eyes" by Debbie Gibson).

Part 2:
At this point, our draft CD is called: "Ragged-Cynical: 10 Years and Not Ready to Quit Yet" (title is still in the works, that's why we call it a "draft".). That's where the second part of this little contest comes in. I need a title for our CD. So, help us out here.

Your Prize:
The lucky winner will receive: their very own copy of the CD and some other goodies I have cooked up. (Not literally, so don't start worrying about my culinary abilities or how I am going to mail them to you.)

Submit your entries via a comment here or e-mail "raggedaroundtheedges at hotmail dot com".

Blogversary

One year ago I started this here blog. I had big plans for a post to commemorate the occasion, but I never quite got a handle on what I wanted to do. Whenever I put my fingers to the keys, I got all mushy and sentimental and darnit, that's so unlike me (note sarcasm). Then I got lucky, Lynilu tagged me and I promised her a response, so this is my commemorative post.

1) When did you first start blogging and why?
I started blogging one year ago today. I think I started "Write On" because I felt a bit limited in my creative writing outlets. More than limited, I didn't feel as if I had any sort of an outlet. In addition, I also felt a little "out there" in a town that is full of people who never go "out there". I wanted to write and think that someone "out there" would actually get it. I had a lot of stuff to say and just wanted someone to listen.

2) What don't you talk about?
I don't talk about my job. I don't want to jeopardize my career or my employer.

I also avoid talking about any conflicts between my beloved and I. I don't share that stuff with my family or my friends. It's just best that way, it's between us.

There are some specific family issues, both mine and Cynical's, that are off limits. You can't assume anything is completely private, especially a blog on the world wide web (duh!). I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings or cause any fracturing that couldn't be fixed.

3) Are you and your blogging persona the same person?
I like to think that I am more myself when I am blogging. Those who know me in person may find out more about me on my blog than they do in "real life".

4) How do you use blogging to build friendships?
I think this kinda blogging naturally spurs relationships. I think they were a natural outgrowth, so I can't say I used blogging, it may have used me.

5) How would you describe your writing style?
I am not sure how to answer this one. I suspect that I sometimes have a "laughter through tears" attitude about my life and maybe that comes out in my writing too.

Without getting all gushy and mushy and sappy. . . bloggin' on the internets is one of the best things that has happened to me.

We're all winners. . .

Each of you gave such good responses to the challenge of deciding what your "power" would be if you were part of The 4400 that I decided everyone had a shot at winning.

So I put all of your names in a hat and picked out a winner. And the winner is. . . Lynilu.

All she needs to do now is e-mail me at raggedaroundtheedges (at) hotmail (dot) com and we can set up delivery of her prize.

Congratulations Lynilu! And I hope you use your powers for good.

Pondering possible powers

I am still considering what special power I would like to possess should I be a member of The 4400. I do know, however, that I would like to be able to distinguish the truth in all things. I'd like to have the ability to convince people to speak the truth in everything they do; require them to be honest about their motives, their feelings and their actions.

With a simple glare, the truth would be told by all around me. I'd be able to decifer fact from fiction.

I personally think the world would be a much more peaceful place if we all were completely honest and we knew that this candor would be greeted with genuineness from others. This would break down all of the protective barriers we all use, it would remove pride, ego and insecurities from the equation. We'd admit our faults and mistakes. We'd break down facades and throw away masks.

Another shot from the farmer's market last weekend.

Powerful ideas

Fat free, tasty chocolate, the ability to help us see each other's point of view, aiding others in seeing their inner beauty, helping people make "connections", the gift of healing.

Your answers are very thought-provoking and well-considered. I am still pondering how to phrase what power I would choose. In the meantime, the contest of sorts is still open, I wanted to give some of those we haven't heard from yet an opportunity to answer.

A photograph of a Zinia taken at the farmer's market over the weekend. (I have lots of these folks, so I hope you aren't bored to tears with my flora and fauna shots.)

The buzzz: what would your power bee?

At Chez Ragged, we don't typically share the same tastes in television viewing. However, there are a few shows that we have in common including The 4400. For those of you unfamiliar with the drama, the premise is that 4400 people who have disappeared over several decades are mysteriously returned to one location simultaneously.

There is a lot more to it, but you have to visit the site to get the whole story. What is important here is that each is returned with a unique power which will enable them, according to recent episodes, to save the world. These talents range from predicting the future, to controlling electricity to healing to manipulating the actions and minds of others. . .

It made me wonder: what would I want my power to be? Then I thought further: what would you want your power to be?

The best answer just may win a prize. That's for me to know and you to use your power to figure out. I'll reveal my answer as well as soon as I come up with one.

Another shot from the botanical garden.

Big things are brewing

It's been such a hectic week that I haven't had much of a chance to think about the weekend. It just seemed too far away and I had many hurdles between my work week and travel.

However, now that it's Thursday, it's finally sinking in that we have a big weekend ahead. It's big in that we get to travel to Illinois and do lots of visiting with fellow bloggers and friends, Needlefingers, Pilot, Brando and Rudy. It's even bigger because I am going to get to be face-to-face with another blogger that I have yet to meet: Farm Wife. (She will be the first online friend that I have gotten to meet.)

I fear I should provide a few warnings for dear Farm Wife before we meet in the flesh:
-I look nothing like my Avatar. She's hot and I'm not.

-Cynical, well, he's a cutie, but he lives up to his name.

-I will probably be covered in cat hair. I hope you aren't allergic.

-I ask lots and lots of questions. Some mistake this for nosiness. I, on the other hand, think it's just that I am really interested.

-I take lots of photos, so wear your sunglasses.

-When I say I have OCD, I mean it. I won't be counting my steps or anything, but never mind my other habits. (Grin, grin.)

-I am obsessed with sock knitting and lately have managed to bring all conversations around to it. Just slap me whenever this happens.

-You will recognize me: I am the one with the green sock in one hand, a lint brush in the other and a purse full of notebooks.

I look forward to seeing everyone! See you soon. (Now we just have to figure out how to record this meet up for the blog world without revealing our faces online.)

Another photo from the weekend. I am such a girlie girl these days with all of the flower shots. I just can't resist. What a beautiful spring.

Spell it with me now. . .