FibreJunky

Update: 22 Oct 2011

Wow. It's been one heck of a year so far. The spousal unit retired on 1 April. He didn't start working again until the end of August. Not a good thing when he's the breadwinner for a family of 7. It got pretty scary for a while.

As a very few of you know, we also had some devastating news in late April. A man hurt one of my daughters. The matter is now before the military court and I do not know what will happen. My job is to do the best I can to help my daughter heal. The guilt I feel for not protecting her is enormous still.

I'm still in school, just trying to muddle my way through. I stayed off SB for a while, until I could get the resends for Quotecard #43 back out. They've gone out now. Pics on my flickr account if anyone needs to see.

I have two boys,19 & 21, and three daughters, ages 17, 15 and nearly 13. Both of my sons have Asperger's Syndrome. I am usually busier than I like to be and it takes time from my handwork, but, not counting school, what I do get to do is still creative so I can't really complain. I'll be glad when I finally graduate, though.

I don't particularly like muddy colours such as pea-soup green or ochre. I'm much more fond of pinks, purples, jewel tones, natural colours and springy pastels (as opposed to baby pastels, if that makes any sense.)

I love dark chocolate. I think that white chocolate is, generally speaking, an abomination. For other sweets, I like jelly bellies, necco wafers, black licorice, red hots (just about anything cinnamon flavoured), and have a serious thing for wintergreen lifesavers. Oh, I almost forgot. I adore marzipan and maple sugar candy. Real maple anything, for that matter.

I cannot digest any artificial sweeteners at all. They do horrible things to my system.

I drink a fair amount of tea. I like almost every kind I've tried, except chamomile, which makes my nose itch. I like loose tea when I can get it, as I don't feel like I'm wasting any if I make smaller cups. Lately I've been drinking a lot more coffee.

I'm addicted to Red Bull and to Starbucks. I usually drink caramel macchiatos, triple venti, skim, if you please. YUM!!

I have three cats. Aslan is a big, orange furball. Dru is a long-haired tabby who looks an awful lot like a Maine Coon, but is really too small to be one, I think. She was a rescue, so I've no idea either way. Xander actually belongs to the spousal unit, who found him in the woods. He's a twit, but I think he'll grow out of it once he's beyond being a kitten.

I have a weird nickel allergy, so can't wear most costume jewelry, particularly for piercings. I have 2 tattoos and want another.

I'm a big geek and play Magic: the Gathering, not only with my kids, but occasionally at official events. Yes, I do collect the cards. I'm partial to the foils. What can I say? I'm a magpie and I like shiny objects.

I like a very eclectic mix of music. I used to say everything but country and rap. Well, a couple years ago, my mother got me hooked on CMT. Darn her! I still don't really care for rap or hip hop, mostly, but there are exceptions.
My all time favourites would probably be the Monkees, Pink Floyd, the Eagles, Supertramp, Dream Theater, Nickel Creek, REM and the Chieftains. I love classic rock and 80s hair bands.

The Sound of Music, The Princess Bride. If I'm in a rotten mood 'Liar, Liar' or 'My Cousin Vinny' are practically guaranteed to make me laugh. Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Cold Mountain was marvelous and will turn me into a sobbing mass of goo.
I'm a complete sucker for Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers flicks and for musicals in general.

Grey's Anatomy, House, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ace of Cakes, Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, the old Match Game, Two & a Half Men, Bones, CSI (all 3), SYTYCD, Castle, Man v. Food

Most of my "craft" time used to be spent spinning or knitting. It's been almost completely taken over by rubber stamping and other paper crafts (ATCs etc.)

My great-grandmother taught me how to hand quilt. I love all forms of needlework, from cross stitch and needlepoint to smocking.

I also like kumihimo, bobbin lace, weaving and tatting. I collect wooden lace bobbins when I can. My pillow went into semi-retirement while the children were smaller, but it's ready to come back out - as soon as I have room to put it up again. I'm still upset about a piece that was on the pillow which was damaged when we moved. Never trust military movers with lace bobbins. It's a bad idea. Even if you're chasing around a toddler, find a way to pack it yourself and make sure they pack nothing heavy on top! They broke 2 of my bone bobbins, not to mention many of the threads on the work in progress.

My favourite things to knit are lace and socks. I very much prefer to use natural fibres. I love bamboo needles. I can't knit with straight needles longer than 8" due to a shoulder problem, so I use either circulars or double points for everything. Occasionally I'll use dpns as if they were straight needles for something like a narrow scarf.

I've been scrapbooking on and off since my 15yo was a baby.

Constructive criticism always accepted.

I love to read. I am one of those people who will read the back of the cereal box if there is nothing else available. Seriously.

That said, I have favourite authors more than favourite books. I adore Piers Anthony. He's been at the top of my list since I first read a few pages of Nightmare when I was 12. A friend was reading it and laughing. She had me read it. It took me until the following summer to get a copy of my own, but I did and I still own that same copy. I've probably read it a dozen times. At least! Piers signed it for me in 1986.

I will read anything written by Harlan Ellison. That man is a genius. Perhaps a tad misanthropic at times, definitely opinionated and argumentative, but a genius nonetheless. If you've read nothing by him, go. Now. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Just do it. Oh gods, now I sound like a Nike commercial.

Katherine Kurtz is definitely up there. I've read everything of hers that I could get my hands on. Same with Mercedes Lackey. I haven't quite gotten to the last few of either of theirs, but I have them, and will get a round tuit soon. I hope!

In addition to SF&F, I like to read mystery novels. I like the serial type, such as the culinary mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, as well as the more intense ones.

I admit to reading cheesy romance novels on occasion as well. Those are like potato chips. There isn't a bit of redeeming value, but they're definitely quick and fun.