FiberTribe

Off the Grid

Heading out again, peeps. First stop Colorado, second stop Boulder, Utah.  It's gonna be intense, that's for sure.  Wish me luck. If luck (and legs, and thirst, and guts, etc.) holds out, I'll be back on or about the 15th with many a story to tell. If not, I appoint Green Eyed Grrl Laurie to apportion my stash fairly out to all ya'll. And she can keep as much of it as she likes. heh. Mwah.

Rainy Night in Florida

Nerve-wracking light and sound show outside tonight. It is always interesting when you hear the violent crack with no gap between light and sound. Especially when one lives surrounded by 4 and 5 story tall old-growth royal palms, poinciana, and coconut palm trees.  Time to commune with the pillows. Say goodnight, Gracie...

New Foodie Discovery

Well. New to me, anyway.  Those of you who've been reading here for a while may recall the  nasty car accident I had back in May 2004. It left me with broken ribs (which healed quickly enough) and two frozen shoulders which didn't. They are probably 85% healed but still not quite there yet.   One of the things that have speeded the healing tremendously, and, btw, are great for anyone with chronic or acute joint issues, vertebrae issues, slipped disks, etc. is nature's own anti-inflammatories.  Like turmeric. the spice, yes. A teaspoon of it in soup or stew or stirfry daily is a good thing. If you can't take the yellow, it's sold in tablets. Same benefit.

The other 'good thing' is Omega-3 fish oil aka cod liver oil filtered to remove the mercury. Unfortunately, my stomach and I agree that we'd rather have our entire body frozen than burp that crap up all day. Ew.   So, my long-suffering peeps, I present to you Van's Hemp (yes, another use of hemp, you knitters and potheads) Waffles (if you're in Canada) Van's Flax waffles if you're in the USA.  They're available organic as well.  Apparently Shrub's minions have struck terror into the frozen waffle industry and they are afraid to put the word "Hemp" on a package south of the 49th parallel. Wish I were joking, eh. 

Back to the point. These waffles are yummy with organic Maine (or Ontario, don't yell at me you Canadians) maple syrup (amber) and damned quick when you're famished.   Best of all they contain 1300 mg of Omega-3 oil per serving which is just as good as Omega-3-laden but nasty cod liver oil.  Good for what ails ya and very yummy for breakfast or a snack.  I alternate them with Weetabix which Neena & Don got me hooked on last March. And May. Thanks, guys.   That is all from thunderstorm-soaked paradise.

Better Today, Thanks

Who knew there were so many of us in the Lost Days Club?  Thank you all for the support and ideas. I tried the ideas and they work. Getting out to the gym helps, too.  Big treat, they are (finally) renovating the place and are about to go live with spinning classes. Too late for prep for the wilderness trip but welcome for keeping up the fitness I'll hopeful gain out there.  I didn't do too badly at the gym despite a gap in the training. 30 minutes and 120 floors on the stairmaster.  Am not normally good at diligent consistency but I've been pretty good on this training regime.  Unfortunately none of it really helps with the altitude.  I'll only have 3 days at altitude before we hit the trail and one of those days will be spent traveling. Ah, well.

As a reminder (to myself, maybe) this is where I'll be heading:

And yes, I still owe you pictures of the yarn lovelies from Lettuce Knit. Mmmm, tonight, maybe? It's off to have the car a/c repaired now.  Joy of joys to the wallet.  July in Miami and no a/c? Right, that's gonna happen. And less you think me a pampered wuss (alright, maybe I am but not on account of this), you'll pop an immediate sweat just stepping out the door in the morning here.  That is all from paradise.

Don't Understand It, Can't Explain It...

Had another 'lost' day today. Haven't been out of the house. It took only one week of being back for this to slip back. Imagine your worst day of avoidance of everything. Now cube it.  I cannot figure out why or what's going on with this.  I'm heading out now at 9 pm to the gym. But it's an act of will. 
If any of ya'll have ever experienced this and can pass along a clue about how to shake it, I'd appreciate it.
I mean, wtf, eh?

Harlot's Got Back...And Other Knitterly Toronto Scenes

It's the only evidence of Got Harlot that I have, don't pounce on me. Taken Chez Lettuce Knit on the occasion of Megan's moving party and Amy Singer's Free at Last, O Lord, Free at Last-from-the-day-job party.

And here is the lovely Megan up against a wall of sumptiousness and bracketed by my long-suffering friends Natasha on the left and Nikita on the right. They did stop their eye-rolling long enough to pick out some silk to be knit up as a top for themselves. eh. photos of that next time. See the vertically scrunched halter top behind them with ribbon attached at the neck? In that colorway is Nikita's soon to be top. There will be a blue-violet one for Tasha.

The yarn Nikita is fondling holding is to be a cap-sleeved top for me. The lighting makes it look more orange than it is.

Here's the view from Nassau Street looking into Lettuce Knit at twilight. Which in the summer in Toronto is about 9 pm.

And some more amazing graffiti wall art for your viewing pleasure.

And ever the political animals that they are, here's the last Canadian word on current American foreign policy/political incumbents:

That is all from paradise.

All You Beasts

Dunno. that title just came to me.   It's late, I'm tired but here are some lovelies of Queen Street, West in Toronto to tide you over. And me and SuSu at Bluffer's Park Beach at sunset. She's trying to prevent me from tickling her whilst Nikita takes our picture. IF Nikita can find and press the damned camera  button, eh...

More later, promise...

(that billboard says: betterthanbeer.com) typical Canadian ad droll sense of humor.

another.

LOVE this ad. love it. Canada rocketh mightily. (borrowed from one of Twisty Faster's commenters)

SuSu's laughing because I'm  about to leap at Nikita and rip her throat out for being so retarded with the camera. Yes, thank you, I'm aware of how gorgeous this sentiment makes me look.

here's one to redeem my sorry ass. Posed with the boys of ZipCar. great concept. more about this later. Yes, I'm a car slut. Cool cars make me unbearably happy. as you can see.

ah, the amazing graffiti wall art of T.O. Here's a small taste, more later.

There will be yarn. Oh, yes. And Harlot. well, her backside, anyway. Stephanie may not thank me but it's all the proof I have that I did meet her. And it's a cute backside, as I'm sure you'll agree. no sock, but what-ev-ah.  and I cannot believe I didn't take any pictures of the Pacific Mall and its denizens. Ms. Radmilla rocketh yet more mightily than even my beloved Toronto. And the Mistah has the silkiest phone voice ever. Right, Radmilla. There'll be no living with him now. heh.

Travel, she said...

Per Camus, lost in Prague at the time: "The music of the world finds its way more easily into the heart grown less secure. Finally stripped bare, the slightest solitary tree becomes the most tender and fragile of images."    from Pico Iyer's book:  Sun After Dark - Flights into the Foreign, pg. 8 (see the sidebar)

ah, yes.