My largest crochet project ever.... this is an afghan I made for Marty for Christmas. Unfortunately, it was not complete by Christmas day. I finished it and gave it to him in January!

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I used the pattern from here: http://beancrochets.livejournal.com/627.html - except I made the blanket a lot bigger and added two rows of single crochet in navy blue as a border. I wanted it to function as both a blanket and a bedspread for a double bed. :)

• 15:16 Just had a lovely morning and afternoon with Susan! #
• 16:02 Deciding what to do first: watch more Elvis movies, pack for my trip, dismantle the Christmas tree, finish my room cleaning, or crochet. #
• 17:40 @TheDoifter: That's FANTASTIC!!!!! I am in awe. He is my hero. #
• 22:13 Almost ALMOST feel like I am getting sick. CANNOT let this happen. I am going away on Tuesday! Hitting up all my fave remedies! #
• 23:10 Am upset that two missing items have not been found even after my Big Clean: my kitty hat (knitted by me) and my digital camera's charger. #
• 10:16 Am SO MAD that I am getting SICK. POUT STOMP STAMP STOMP STOMP. #

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So... I have been working on two top secret projects leading up to Christmas. One was a commission project I did for Doris' sister.  Basically she wanted to have a special shirt made for her girlfriend who likes those menswear shirts that have painted punk/goth designs on them. She provided me with a shirt, and gave me lots of ideas. You can see how it came out here at her blog!! She and her gf (and Doris) were very impressed with the outcome!! I thought it was such a thoughtful gift!! I was really proud of how it came out. It makes me think I should make more custom shirts for myself and others in the future!

Also in the works... I have been making Marty an afghan. I worked and worked on it but could NOT get it together in time for Christmas. I ended up wrapping it up (with a crochet hook and ball of yarn attached) and presenting it to him on Christmas so at least he would KNOW about it and I didn't have to hide it from him anymore. When I presented it to him, it was a mere strip (kind of like a super-large scarf), however, it is now QUITE enormous, and I can no longer realistically tote it around to work and my parents' house to work on it. I'll finish it in my apartment, then give it to him!! The pattern I am using is by beancrochets and it is found over here, and I am making it in the exact same colors she uses. I have made it quite a bit larger, so it will almost function as a bedspread for a full-size bed. This might be my biggest project ever, size-wise! To date, it is over half done. I'll share a pic when it is done!

Additionally, I am knitting a scarf for my friend Megan! It's been a crafty few weeks!

On the horizon, two baby blankets: my dear friend Claire is expecting a little girl in June, and my cousin Ben and his wife Kelly are expecting a boy in June! Are my carpal tunnel hands up to the challenge?!? Tune in next time!

• 14:19 Mr. T used to be my office mascot, but now that I'm at Elm Street, it's Charo. #
• 15:36 2009 wedding count (so far): 4 #
• 15:57 Looking forward to dinner with the folks tonight! They are coming with my Christmas presents. :) #
• 16:41 My parents are trying to drive to my Elm Street location using GPS navigation. Extreme! #
• 19:50 My dad just showed me how my aquarium heater works. All of these McNugget heating problems? Totally preventable. #
• 20:22 @rante Dude! Flat Stanley! Get on the ball! Read the book or accept Stan as a visitor. Lots of fun! #
• 07:49 @pgalland: My new temp job is with the Brooklyn Museum, but it is a special project not located AT the museum (it is at a separate annex). #
• 10:06 Enjoying one more day of Christmas music. :D :D :D #
• 10:40 What to wear tonight? It's so cold so I need to dress warm! Yet, I want to look cute. I hate winter clothes! #
• 11:43 Today on Credit Line Unsolved Mysteries: gloves are neither "plume sticks" nor "coiled ware cooking pots." Just where DID that # come from?! #

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As you can see, I have my Twitter feeding into my LJ, and that's all the updating I've done in a while. That is because I have been BUSY!!! Busy with finishing the semester of student teaching, finishing the semester of grad school, and Christmas-ing it up!

The end of the semester (Brooklyn College-wise) has been busy because down to the wire I was working on a paper for Herman's class. I didn't feel it was truly my best work (seriously, I was procrastinating SO BADLY on it -- I don't know what my deal was!). Still - I ended up with an A- in the class, so that is a good sign. During the holiday break, I am supposed to be working on research that will help turn this paper into a full-out thesis in the semester ahead (MY FINAL SEMESTER: DO YOU BELIEVE IT? I DON'T!). Toby's class was not difficult but I did have to schedule two observations (Linda observed 10th grade and Toby observed 9th) within two weeks, so that felt busy to me!

Student teaching was amazing. I helped with the gallery opening at my school. This high school has a fully operational gallery within it, where people can buy student work. It's completely professional and the kids learn all sorts of gallery and museum skills. I will post pictures of this at some point, because it is awesome to see! My project I did with the 10th grade seemed to be the most talked-about artworks of the night, so I was really proud of that! My last day of school was the Monday before Christmas, and it was SOOO sad saying goodbye to the kids. I even cried a little! I will miss them!

Christmas... Christmas will be in a separate post! Gotta run, as my parents are driving around Brooklyn and I better get home to locate them. :)

• 15:18 Guess who has a NEW UKULELE? !!!!! Thank you, Marty Claus! <3 #
• 11:53 @ianschwartz & @thedoifter: tinyurl.com/868gbf (NEW UKE) #
• 11:54 Just had breakfast, gonna take a shower, then gonna see what Doris is up to. :) #

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• 00:20 MERRY CHRISTMAS! Time to sleep or Santa Claus won't come! #

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• 14:02 I did some of my secret craft project at lunch, and am now feeling successful! :) #
• 15:49 A- in Herman's class. I hate that the minuses bring down my GPA. And yes, I realize I shouldn't be complaining. #
• 16:25 It's a Boy George Christmas. #
• 20:04 Two top-secret Christmas craft projects... simultaneously. ::stress!:: #
• 23:20 My two projects are progressing nicely... #
• 00:45 One project is complete! Hoorah! #

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I love getting a new outfit to wear to all of my holiday/seasonal events each year, and for 2 or maybe three years in a row I've always gotten red outfits. However, this year I am going for something different: jewel-tones and "peacock" colors. What I was hoping for initially was emerald green, but I guess that is not a trendy color of the moment. So I am channeling my inner peacock. It all started when I got a peacock-feather fascinator on a headband. I then kind of used it as my holiday attire inspiration. I got a VERY peacock-y top that I wore to the Toys for Tots benefit, and I got a black sparkly top that goes with the sequins in the headband.

Also, because it is a tradition (I suppose), I got a new red top as well.

I was tagged by sallycandance , so here we go!!! Also, I think I am going to post my happy things about the previous day, since I will definitely forget to post at the end of the day after all the good things have happened. Today's post is a little long because I haven't updated in a while...</lj>

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The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day. Tag 8 people to do the same.

DAY ONE (yesterday, December 11, 2008):

1.) I thought my beloved dwarf pufferfish McNugget was going to die. I've been putting McNugget's heater on for a few hours while I am monitoring him and in the room with him, to regulate the temperature. However, because the tank is small (only 5 gallons), it could easily overheat. Well, yesterday morning before going in to teach, I saw that I had accidentally left McNugget's heater on ALL NIGHT and had completely overheated the aquarium. McNugget was looking very lifeless. I immediately took him out of the tank, put him in cooler water, and tried to revive him. I could see his gills were moving, and his tail was sometimes moving, but that was all. I was SO UPSET. I did a 50% water change and added cool water to even out the temperature, and then put McNugget back in the tank. Then I had to go to school to teach. I worried about McNugget all day. He really looked dead (except for his gills moving). On Thursdays, I usually go straight from teaching to my new temp job at the Museum, but I decided to go home first to check on McNugget. Lo and behold, he had swam up to his plant and was chilling there. I shook the plant and he began to swim agound. I think he is going to make it! I was so happy, I was almost crying! I am hoping he will make a full recovery. He seems to be a little exhausted and less self-motivated to swim around (he does a lot of hanging out in his plant since it happened). But, that was a pretty traumatic experience, so I hope he will come around soon.

2.) Linda, my professor, came to observe me teaching in my classroom. The lesson went really well, and Linda had great things to say about my teaching. She said I was very intuitive, and had great instincts to go over to the students that needed help the most. She thought that some of the explanations I made to the kids were really good (demonstrating on the fly what is meant by a 3/4 profile, for example; not assuming the students know what that is). She said I am going to be a "wonderful art teacher," and when my mentor teacher Desiree was there, she added how I am going to build an amazing program wherever I go! It was awesome to get all of those great and supportive compliments! ALSO exciting is the fact that Linda has a school in mind for me that needs a really strong art teacher. It's an elementary school near Brooklyn College. Something to think about!! Linda comments, "They will hire whoever I send them." Linda is one of my best advocates at finding a job, so I am extremely excited that she is already thinking of places that would be a good fit for me. She has a lot of contacts and is such a great resource, and it is awesome how supportive she is of me!

3.) I got a manicure and pedicure which was long overdue and I think I just needed to do something relaxing and pampering for myself (especially after the stress of worrying over McNugget)! I got a festive purple color!

4.) I went to see Marty play at a Toys for Tots benefit in Bayonne last night! It was really fun, despite the nasty weather! I brought four toys I'd gotten at Target -- a Barbie, a baby doll, a Transformer (Robots in Disguise!), and a Mr. Potato Head! So, while I am sad I will not be able to afford Operation Santa Claus this year, I definitely feel better that I was able to contribute some toys to needy children! Marty did a great job and it was fun seeing him play solo since he hasn't really done that in a while! We got a little drenched, but it was cool. It made me feel very festive, and I am looking forward to Marty's BIG holiday event, Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza. Marty will be playing with Spiraling, and also in the house band!

OK, I am tagging....
zama60  cleodee  v_mina_harker  igraine120  un_sedentary  lea724 whitetigergeek and pgwfolc 
...but, don't feel obligated, and also: if I didn't tag you, feel free to participate!

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1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper. Except if the gift is an odd shape and needs a gift bag.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real tree - the pine smell is necessary!

3. When do you put up the tree?
I will probably be getting mine this weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Around my birthday -- January 6 (or if it starts getting dry).

5. Do you like eggnog?
Egg nog is amazing!!! There's some in my fridge right now!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
When I was in middle school, my mom and dad got me a sewing machine!!! I was so surprised! I use it and love it to this day!!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
It depends... usually people at work can be hard because I want to give them a little gesture of appreciation, but not spend too much. This year I don't have that problem...

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Doris! (I know we're only doing mix CDs this year, but I have seen about 100 things I could have bought you if we were doing gifts!)

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
I love the nativity scene at my parents' house and set it up every year. I do not have one at my apartment. I am hoping to get a Squidtivity one year when I have the money!!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Definitely mailed!!! :D Look forward to doing this every year!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I can't really remember ever getting a truly horrid gift... I am told I am easy to buy for! 

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim as Scrooge. I must watch it every year on Christmas Eve!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
As early as possible - it helps me get the best gifts, as wel as spread out the expense over several months instead of just one or two months.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Not that I can remember...

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
A chocolate orange. Whack and unwrap!

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes! Colorful ones!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Too many to list...  "O Night Divine," "Santa Baby," "The Chipmunk Song," "White Christmas," "Sleigh Ride." Christmas music is on my iPod for the entire month of December! All Christmas music all the time! Love, love, love it! Except when it's played too early (ie: October and November). DECEMBER ONLY!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I got to my folks' in New Jersey (I don't really consider that traveling).

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
At my parents' house, it is a Bunn Angel tree-topper that I made on my SEWING MACHINE (see #6). At my apartment, it is an ANGEL SQUID holding a STAR by Cleo Dee!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning, except traditionally I get 1 present on Christmas Eve -- and it is pajamas to wear to bed that night!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Trying to shop in the city!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Well, last year I had a Squidmas tree, a theme I will be repeating again this year. Notice how Cleo Dee is embedded in my holiday traditions. :)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
My favorite is actually Christmas EVE when we have surf n' turf: filet mignon and lobster tails!! Usually a baked potato, too. :)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I don't have any big requests.... I am actually having a "small" Christmas this year, so I am trying to not go overboard!

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?
Someone who loves Christmas as much as I do.

27. Who is least likely to respond to this?
Someone Jewish?? ;)

A GIANT BOX OF SQUIDS has arrived! It's my order of squids for Christmas. My parents are getting some special holiday squids, as are some near and dear friends. My roommate Maryanna is the only one in the household who does not yet have a squid -- but not for long!! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Bethany (cleodee)!!!

The best part is, my Squidmas Tree of 2007 inspired a new squid in cleodee's holiday collection: A squid with a SQUIDMAS TREE. Due to her utter awesomeness, Bethany gave me the first Squidmas Tree Squid ever. Let me just tell you -- it is stunning! It is a regular-sized squid with a Christmas tree decorated with teeny tiny squids! The teeny squids have teeny little FACES she embroidered on.

Bethany, you are one talented woman, and I am proud to be your customer!!!

I should add that I think it was wise of me to start a little Christmas shopping so early. It is DEFINITELY helping me spread out the expense of Christmas shopping (much better for budgeting). Also I think it allows me to get more thoughtful gifts because I am less pressed for time!

Comment and I'll give you a letter; then you have to list ten things you love that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.

vertical_chaos gave me the letter G! Here goes...

1.) Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is one of my Favorite Television Programs Of All Time. I can remember watching it when I was 2 or 3 years old. It is an interest that has somehow managed to carry throughout my lifespan, since I enjoyed it as a baby, then throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school... trough to the present! In the days before DVDs, I would rush home to watch the reruns on TNT, and I would record them on the VCR. I would be very upset if I would miss one!

2.) Gracie
Gracie is my family dog, and she resides in New Jersey with my parents. She is an 80-pound golden retriever (not fat, just a BIG DOG). She thinks, however, that she is much smaller. She is good at tricks, including "sit up and beg," a trick mostly mastered by SMALLER dogs. Gracie enjoys seasonal fruits and vegetables, including melon of f the rind and corn on the cob. Her birthday is December 20, and she is 2 1/2 years old. She is quite a riot! Although i was not living with my parents' house when we got her, I went with my dad and picked her out! Gracie is nicknamed "The G" which makes her perfect for this list!

3.) Golden Retrievers
Kind of redundant after the above, but I added "Golden Retrievers" as a way of also including the Greatest Dog Of All Time, Madison. Madison was our family dog before Gracie, and she was our first golden. She was a dainty 50-55 pounds and had reddish hair. Her personality was very different from Gracie's -- Madison was very "regal" (Doris and I nicknamed her "The Baroness") and was upset if she was "seen" doing something embarrassing. She loved everyone, but was stingy with kisses, which were reserved only for her nearest and dearest. Bathtime for Madison was my job, a job I cherished because Madison loved nothing more than to be dried with a towel at the end.

4.) Georgia
Some of you may know that I have a LOT of family in Georgia! Many of the Georgia family members migrated south from New Jersey. My Grandma lives there, as well as many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. In fact, there are only a few relatives that don't live there! I love to visit Georgia to see everyone. Georgia is a big state and it has a lot of different things I like, including: cities, beaches, lakes, and mountains!

5.) Gmail
Okay, maybe it is kind of lame to have Gmail as one of my favorite things. HOWEVER, I have tried a lot of different emails over the years, and Gmail has revolutionized the way I send and receive email. I just love it. They way it keeps conversations "together," the G-Chat, the archive, everything. Gmail is the best email system ever, and I am never switching!

6.) Grandparents
Who doesn't love their grandparents?! I do! Unfortunately, I only have one grandparent left, my Grandma (dad's mom - residing in GEORGIA!). When I was 3, my Pop Pop (mom's dad) passed away, and we moved into the house with Grams (mom's mom). She passed away when I was 9, but I was really lucky to have such a close relationship with her! My Grandpa (dad's dad) and I had a very special relationship, too! I think I was about 15 when he died. I am the first female grandchild on both sides, so I am a BIG DEAL to my grandparents! And they are a BIG DEAL to me!

7.) Gelatin
Don't make fun -- I really love Jell-O. In Middle School , my friends and I became OBSESSED with it (Doris, is there any way to explain it?). We spent a lot of time writing about it, drawing about it, singing about it, thinking about it, and of course -- eating it. We used to have parties called "Food Fests" which almost always featured an elaborate Jell-O mold. Still, to this day, I really enjoy making a Jell-O dessert now and again!!

8.) Ginger
My interest in ginger is threefold:

a.) Ginger, Pickled
Pickled Ginger is served with sushi, which is one of my Favorite Foods In The World. I used to not like it because I thought it tasted like soap (which it kind of does). However, I realized how well it goes with sushi. It cleanses your palate in between bites so you can appreciate all of the sushi's flavor. YUM -- it is really good!

b.) Ginger, Aroma/Spice
I like ginger candles and ginger soap and ginger lotions! I also like foods that have ginger in them, like ginger bread and other baked goods.

c.) Ginger Grant
While I love every character, Ginger Grant, the "movie star," is my favorite character on "Gilligan's Island." She has been my fave since childhood. She is a Marilyn-Monroe-ish character, which is probably why I like her!

9.) Giving
Easily my favorite thing on this list is "giving." I guess this could be broken down into two sub-categories ("giving gifts" and "giving of my time") which are often the same thing! I love giving gifts to my loved ones... Christmas is my favorite time of year and I love choosing presents for people! I love the feeling of finding the perfect gift for someone, or of really REALLY surprising them! I love the feeling I get when I've got the gift and I have to wait and anticipate what it's going to be like when they open the gift for the first time!! Giving gifts seriously trumps getting gifts (although I love that too!). I also love giving of my time (ie, volunteering!). Sometimes this includes giving gifts, such as what I do for Soldiers' Angels, and what I did last year for Operation Santa Claus! I love giving!!

10.) Glasses
Okay, you know I have struggled with this for a while, but I really do like wearing glasses. I am now allowed to wear contacts again, but I am wearing them more sparingly because I do not want to dry out my eyes. I have learned that if I alternate glasses-wearing with contacts-wearing, my eyes feel really good and healthy (plus I can see)! Hooray for glasses! Having glasses and contacts has made me so appreciative for eyesight in general!

Christmas 2007 Yule Log So you'll recall this Christmas, I made a YULE LOG for the first time. I promised a picture and here it is! I was really proud of my Log, and my family agreed that a TRADITION had been born!

(This is also my attempt to experiment with my many new features that my paid account has come with. Photo uploads -- ahoy!)

One of my cutest videos!!!

The transition between 2007-2008 was spent with ukulele in hand; I played "Auld Lang Syne" just after midnight!

Happy 2008!

It was a lovely New Year's Eve! First, I went to Jessica's apartment, where Jeremy was cooking up a storm!! He made a delicious marinated chicken, mashed yams, green beans, and a yummy salad! For dessert he made a chocolate lava cake (individual mini souffles!) for each person! SO. GOOD. Doris and Daphne were also there, making it super fun. I had my uke, and played some tunes with the gals and Jeremy. We formed a "band" with me on uke, Jess on bass, Jeremy on clarinet, and Doris on keyboard (Doris made the keyboard sound like various instruments, including the pipe organ). We jammed to the kindergarten-style "hits" I know how to play, like "Clementine" and "When the Saints Go Marching In." It was utterly fab. Most amusing of all was the size comparison between Jess's instrument and mine. I believe Doris has photos... I'll have to get them from her!

After dessert, Doris had to go (she had to work the next day). The rest of us migrated to a party Jess's friend was having in Hell's Kitchen. It was fun because there was rooftop access and we could see the glow and confetti coming from Times Square! We drank champagne and I played lots of "Auld Lang Syne" on the uke. People love the uke! Mostly because it is such an adorable and novelty-style instrument. Soon when I have developed more "skillz," I may attract attention for that reason, but right now it is definitely the excitement of seeing an unusual instrument!

After the party, we went back to Jess's where Daphne and I spent the night. The following (rainy) day, Daph had to head back to Montreal, so she left early, but I had a leisurely morning. We all got up and showered one by one. I tried to put stuff on Jess's kitties, Frog and Toad, for Stuff on My Cat. (UKULELE ON MY CAT.) Then, Jeremy cooked up a storm ONCE AGAIN, making delicious French toast for breakfast. Jess's friend Da (who hung with us the night before) came over to have brunch with us. It was splendid. There was a fantastic assortment of spreads available for topping the French toasts. I think I might have tried all of the combinations of toppings one could have. Jeremy is an amazing cook. He is a keeper!!

After we had eaten and watched ukulele orchestra videos on YouTube, Jess drove me back to Brooklyn so she could get her winter coat which has been in our closet this whole time!! Then I had ROOMMATE CHRISTMAS with Susan, and got some amazing gifts!! She got me a much coveted trio of ELVIS PEZ DISPENSERS, a cookbook for making things out of boxed cake mix (my favorite kind of recipe! even includes some bundts!), and the gift on EVERYONE'S list, the SQUID OF THE MONTH CLUB from cleodee's! The Squid of the Month Club is the gift that keeps on giving. (I find myself excited for my Feb. 1 squid's arrival.) There were even tampons in my stocking. Susan knows how to do it up right!!

I think Susan liked her presents from me, which had a bit of a plant theme to them: there was a stake to put in a plant that says "Plants are people too." There was a blue hat, some earrings featuring a CRAB, and a SUNSHINE mini squid (it was a cleodee Christmas!). Also the best present I got Susan was a terrarium that looks like a little tiny greenhouse. It is empty, so she can have a fun time choosing plants to go in it!

That evening, I also gave Alexandra one of her presents (warm pajamas!!) because it was cold in the apartment and I thought she might like to put them on. Well -- she did! She dropped trou right there in the living room for immediate trying on, and then danced around in her new jammies! This was a very appreciated Christmas present, let me tell you!!! :) Soon, we will have ROOMMATE CHRISTMAS 2 and swap the remainder of the gifts!

That evening I sushi'ed with Bob and Susan, and later on we all (Bob, Susan, Alexandra, and me) sat in the living room and watched some MacGyver (I got Susan Season 2 for Christmas as well!). What a way to ring in 08 with so many of my favorite people. And squids. And ukuleles.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

....I am making my first YULE LOG ever!!!!

Today Megan and I had the cutest little luncheon of all! We walked to my apartment for lunch, and we had Quiche Lorraine that I'd made over the weekend. Megan brought chips and brownies for dessert, and we made up some Mimosas! ;) I put the lights on the tree, and put on Christmas music!

We swapped presents, it was very fun!! I gave Megan Cooking Mama 2 for her DS! Megan got me.... A PLUSH GIANT SQUID!!!!!!! It is SO CUTE. She also gave me a ticket to the Long Island Railroad, so I can come visit her!! So sweet! :)

Before we left, she helped me put my Operation Santa Claus gifts into a box and tape them up. I will ship them all out tonight! Hopefully they'll get there in time!!