Through the looking glass

I was picking up my new glasses yesterday, and the sales-lady showed me how thick my glasses would be if there wasn't the technology we have today for thin lenses. My prescription thickness is on the left, as compared to "normal" lenses.

The glass doesn't have a band on the edge or anything. That's really how thick the lenses would be. Insane. Thank God for scientists and technology. Holy crap.

By the way, the picture was taken with my little LG camera phone. I am amazed at the clarity of the shot, all blown up like this. I had expected it to be all grainy and indistinct, but not so!

This has nothing to do with anything, so I'll just launch right into it. If you don't read my knitting and spinning and crafty blog, you may not know that I produce a monthly podcast called The Knitting Cook. This is partially because the idea of anyone that I know listening to me talk on and on about knitting, cooking and spinning makes me quite embarrassed, but Greg has insisted that I let you all in on it. Listen if you must. Please don't feel that you have to though.

If you've just read that and are now scratching your head thinking "what in the heck is a pod-what?!", then go here first. You don't need an iPod to listen to one, you can just listen straight from your computer. They're free, and there are podcasts on every topic you can think of, and some that you can't.

Occasionally Greg and I will say "I bet there wouldn't be one about..." and then we find it, of course. (Actually, that only happened once, and I won't tell you what Greg said that there wouldn't be a podcast about.)

So. There you go. I'm (sort of) famous. And now you know.

Sarcy created this logo for me. Isn't it cute? She's so talented.

If you do happen to listen to the show and like it, please tell me. If it turns out that it was so horrible that you couldn't get through it or other such criticism, you are released from the obligation (of telling me). ;)



P.S. In case you're not totally at home in the online world yet, let me give you a hint: all of the blue underlined words are links. If you click on them, you will go somewhere else (i.e. another web page) that will explain what I am talking about. Cool, huh?

To love and to cherish...

A mildly PG post that might gross some people (i.e. my siblings) out.

Yesterday marks 5 years of being married to my best friend, and the hottest guy I know.








We've been through good times and bad, and have an even better relationship than when we started; we're constantly growing together as a couple.

Some of our friends recently asked us how we are able to remain so deeply in love, and we told them that it has to do with selflessness (giving 200% of yourself regardless of what the other person is doing), and pursuit.

To gain the love and adoration of your spouse in the first place, you dated each other. It was all about the chase, getting them, getting to spend time together, getting to talk with each other, etc. If that stops, the whole relationship turns into little more than roomates. It's difficult to feel needed, desired, adored, if the extent of the marriage happens in front of the tv or divided up between kids/hobbies/work etc.

If you've stopped dating your spouse, you can start again now! It's never too late to start. Now that you're married, you've got more at stake than ever. Learn what makes your husband/wife feel loved (cleaning the house? saying "I love you"? little gifts? kisses etc?), and invest time in fufilling that.

Relationships take cultivation, and a loving, secure marriage relationship is awesome! I feel like the luckiest person I know, because I get to live with my best friend (with benefits!).

(Warning: the PG spot)
Speaking of which, who says that sex gets boring when you are sleeping with the same person for years? We have found that everything gets better as we grow closer. The more time we spend loving each other, the better time we have...well, having a good time. ;)

I love you, Greg. Thank you so much for always keeping up the chase.

PS. Two books that revolutionized our marriage, from the very start, are Gary Chapman's, "The Five Love Languages" (which, pretty much everyone should read, regardless of whether they're in a romantic relationship or not), and "The Act of Marriage", by Tim & Beverly LaHaye (I'll leave it up to you to figure out what the "Act" refers to).

Elijah Walking

So we realized that we hadn't posted any more videos of Elijah walking, since he started walking back in June. He's actually quite fast now, so here are two videos.

Little Drummer Boys...

So, I guess it'll be drum sets for all, this Christmas.

Recent Movies Rented, Part II of V

Read "Recent Movies Rented, Part I of V", to understand the rating system.


The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: !!!! 2005; Starring Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, and Liam Neeson



So apparently I’m a real loser for not having read any of the Chronicles of Narnia. Regardless, I thought this was an excellent movie. Faith said that there were a lot of parts that got left out, and also a lot of scenes that were drawn from The Magician’s Nephew, the first of the seven-book installment (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, is the second). Despite the unfortunate limitations of cinema, I was very impressed, and look forward to seeing Prince Caspian, in 2008.


Melinda & Melinda: !!! 2004; Starring Radha Mitchell and Will Ferrell



As a general rule, I can’t stand Woody Allen movies, but this one was an exception. Without ruining the whole plot, the basic story is a dark comedy about a woman named Melinda, and the well-crafted dichotomy of two different life scenarios and the eventual outcome of each, if that makes sense. Basically, a back-and-forth story about two different lives of Melinda.


Grizzly Man: !!! 2005; Starring Timothy Treadwell



A documentary starring controversial grizzly watcher, Timothy Treadwell. The film covers Treadwell’s 13-year self-study of living with wild grizzly bears. Tragic but I found it quite intriguing.


Bourne Identity: !!!! 2002; Starring Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, and Julia Stiles



The Bourne series are probably my favorite action-spy movies, because, as far as I can tell, they seem to be the most realistic ones I’ve ever seen. Based on the book series by Robert Ludlum, the character, Jason Bourne is an American field operative who wakes up in a fishing boat, after having been floating in the Mediterranean Sea, unconscious. He has amnesia, and doesn’t remember who he is or why he ended up there. Very suspenseful, and the first of two movies (second is The Bourne Supremacy). Robert Ludlum actually wrote three books for the Bourne series, so hopefully there will be a third movie to complete the story.


This is Spinal Tap (Special Edition): !!!! 1984; Rob Reiner



Hopefully this one doesn’t need a description for anyone. Definitely a classic. Most have probably already seen it years ago. The special edition includes theatrical trailers about cheese rolling festivals, David St. Hubbins with strait hair in an early short that eventually evolved into the film, Rob Reiner begging people to show the movie in their theaters, and a ton of deleted scenes that develop and explain the cold sores the band keeps ending up with.

Our Little Bruiser

Two days ago, on July 6th 2006, Elijah officially one-upped me with regard to bodily injuries.
We were playing on some steps next to our tennis court. Somehow, he tripped off of one of the steps. But when he fell, he only caught himself with one hand, causing a face plant into a plastic truck of Andrew's. The truck cut through his upper lip and he had to get three stitches. He cried a lot at first, but by the time we got home, and also in the emergency room waiting room, he was completely back to his cheerful, cute self. I'm sure it was quite a sight to see a one-year-old with a bleeding upper lip and blood-soaked, white t-shirt, hamming it up with everyone in the waiting room. His lip is healing well, and Andrew is under strict instructions to be extra careful when playing with Elijah.



Then, this morning, July 8th 2006, the boys had just woken up and were playing together in Elijah's crib, when we heard a loud cry. Andrew had, for reasons unknown, thrown a sippy cup at Elijah, cutting the side of his left eye. He didn't need any stitches for his eye, but overall, he definitely takes a beating in stride. He's our little bruiser. Below is a picture that sort of shows both injuries.

Phragile Phones

A few days ago we got new cell phones, because we'd had our contract for two years, and were eligible for an upgrade. So, since Elijah has always considered it a high offense that we don't let him play with our phones, we let him play with the old ones. The above photo was taken the day after he got his new "toys", and confirmed our theory that cell phones don't stand a chance in the hands of a one-year-old.

Ice Cream Cones Are The Worst Invention Ever

Recently a Ben & Jerry's opened up near where we live, and although we prefer The Marble Slab Creamery, B & J's mailed out "buy one cone, get one free" coupons, so we decided to go. Also, upon retrospect, even considering the money we saved, we would have gotten twice as much ice cream for the same price, had we just gotten Ben & Jerry's pints at the grocery store. Also, it was unfortunate that the coupons were only for cones, because I personally can't stand the thought of eating ice cream from a cone.
First of all, as everybody knows, ice cream cones are made out of either cardboard or styrofoam, and really, who would want to eat anything like that? Secondly, cones are probably one of the most impractical ways to eat a perpetually melting, sticky food that I can think of. Why would I want to "relax" with an ice cream cone, when I have to sit there doing wrist gymnastics and tongue backflips just to keep my beloved scoop from toppling or dripping all over the place? I can say, with great certainty, that I have never been in a state even close to relaxation when eating ice cream from a cone. I recall it being more along the lines of heart-racing-eyeballs-darting-messiness. And forget trying to have a reasonable conversation with anyone, or, God forbid, ordering more than one of these horrible things and trying to make it back to the picnic table alive. And the combination of ice cream cones with children should, as a general rule, never be attempted.
Also, in general, ice cream stands don't increase the size of the cone to correspond with the increasing scoop sizes, unless you pay extra. What?! I have to suffer through a teetering three scoop tower, precariously plopped on top of the same cone that houses a size small? And if I want to have corresponding cone and ice cream sizes, I have to pay more just for the bigger cone?
This is almost too much for me to handle. I think I'll just stick to milk shakes.