Vacation

Early July was spent on a fantastic 10 day road trip. This pic was in the Bear Tooths (L to R) Meghan, me, Jeff, Joel.

These good times didn't kill me. 

For those of you that were wondering

I've recently become interested in the Myers-Briggs Personality Profile, with my classification being Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging (INTJ). You can find out what you are HERE.

Links and bits about my type are listed below.

http://www.typelogic.com/intj.html
http://www.keirsey.com/personality/ntij.html
http://www.geocities.com/lifexplore/intj.htm

And, From http://fuzzy.snakeden.org/intj/

How to deal with an INTJ:

1. Be willing to back up your statements with facts - or at least some pretty sound reasoning.
   
   
2. Don't expect them to respect you or your viewpoints just because you say so. INTJ respect must be earned.
   
   
3. Be willing to concede when you are wrong. The average INTJ respects the truth over being "right". Withdraw your erroneous comment and admit your mistake and they will see you as a very reasonable person. Stick to erroneous comments and they will think you are an irrational idiot and treat everything you say as being questionable.
   
   
4. Try not to be repetitive. It annoys them.
   
   
5. Do not feed them a line of bull.
   
   
6. Expect debate. INTJs like to tear ideas apart and prove their worthiness. They will even argue a point they don't actually support for the sake of argument.
   
   
7. Do not mistake the strength of your conviction with the strength of your argument. INTJs do not need to believe in a position to argue it or argue it well. Therefore, it will take more than fervor to sway them.
   
   
8. Do not be surprised at sarcasm.
   
   
9. Remember that INTJs believe in workable solutions. They are extremely open-minded to possibilities, but they will quickly discard any idea that is unfeasible. INTJ open-mindedness means that they are willing to have a go at an idea by trying to pull it apart. This horrifies people who expect oohs and ahhs and reverence. The ultimate INTJ insult to an idea is to ignore it, because that means it's not even interesting enough to deconstruct.
   
   This also means that they will not just accept any viewpoint that is presented to them. The bottom line is "Does it work?" - end discussion.
   
   
10. Do not expect INTJs to actually care about how you view them. They already know that they are arrogant bastards with a morbid sense of humor. Telling them the obvious accomplishes nothing.

ReDesign

It's time for a ReDesign - of my life, of my goals, of my blog. The motivation is most clearly represented by Karim Rashid's approach, as presented in his text Design Yourself.

I get to keep all the things that work and work to change all the things I want to improve. I'm interested in so many things, and I'm going to use this blog to document and focus my energies as necessary. I've still got knitting projects in the works, but there is so much more to be explored.

Other things that have been taking up my time

It was a record setting weekend for the Chicago Avon Walk for Breast Cancer , which was this past weekend

We set a record for number of participants – 3,600

And we set a record for most money raised at any one event – 8.2 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For reference – the Avon Foundation funds 42 clinical trials annually, at the cost of 7 million dollars!

The walk was really wonderful – lots of fantastic people, and I really felt that my efforts were worth while. Along the route there were many people cheering us on – breast cancer survivors, their families, those who had lost loved ones – all out there cheering us on, thanking us walkers for our efforts. It was truly amazing.

I walked 13.1 miles on Saturday and made my way to Warren Park, where the Wellness Village where Jeff had been working all of Friday and most of Saturday laying out and setting up tents, tables and chairs for the mess hall, and other miscellaneous hard labor to get camp set up for the walkers. After dinner, Jeff wasn’t feeling well so we went over to the medical tent where we were sent home. Jeff was experiencing the beginning stages of dehydration and exhaustion. Unfortunately, I did not wake up in time on Sunday to get in the second day of walking.

All in all, it was truly moving experience and I will consider participating in it again!!!

Happy Birthday to Me

A beautiful knitting bag (it holds 6 pounds of yarn!) from Scott, Kelly, Joe and Jeff

and flowers from my husband

A sewing project

A little pillow - I've sewn ladder yarn onto some fabric samples....

Another almost finished

A baby blanket for my cousins - crocheted in cotton, I have to decide on the edging.

2 finished objects

Two scaves for charity:

Another image!

This was a holiday gift:

Pattern: Knit Picks Bella Scarf by Susan Lawrence
Yarn: Merino Frappe in Ivory , knit on US13 needles

FIN

The blanket was completed this weekend!

"Damn' the man. Save the Empire"

Favorite quote from the movie "Empire Records", as spoken by Ethan Embry's character Mark. As you may or may not have heard, trouble is brewing with naming of particular knitting groups, and as a member (and co-organizer) of one of said groups, I say : Free to Stitch Free to Bitch. Other bloggers share their thoughts.

Blocks and projects

We're up to 29 blocks - only 20 more to go by Saturday!

I'm nearly done with two projects, but have a lot to start and finish (one scarf, two bookmarks, a shawl and MAYBE something else) . I am 50% complete with Christmas cards, though - they should go out this week (a huge improvement over last year's February postmark!)

Marie Curie Quote

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perserverence and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing...must be attained."

Blanket Update

I've completed 3.5 blocks so far, I've seen a couple of the other completed blocks and I've gotten more commitments. I think we're going to have a wonderful blanket! I'll be sure to post pics of the assembly and the blanket.

Charity Blanket

So we now have a place to give the blanket, thanks to Jerry. I think the block tally is over 10 right now. So we still have a ways to go, but I know we can do it!

I other knitting news, this weekend I completed 1 christmas gift, am at 90% for another. (Counting on her fingers)... this means 3 in progress, 5 to start and finish, and 3 complete. Not bad. I also managed to make my way through 25% of my holiday cards this weekend.

More blocks at S'nB tomorrow.

Pic from Afar

Sarah has posted pics that include my first freeform scarf, so I stole one. In the pic, she happens to be in Paris (lucky girl :)

Participants!

So far we have Jerry, Chandra, Cyn, Sarah, Gayle and myself from Lakeview S'nB making blocks, and Mary has knitting machines and has at least one knitted blanket to contribute! Way to go! Jerry is helping identify a local need for the blanket(s) we produce. Project Linus is also a consideration.

We already have 2 blocks completed! We're on our way...

I have also added a link for Threads of Compassion if anyone is interested in knitting for sexually abused women in Chicago. My goal is to complete some charitable knitting every month. In January, I'll be working on items for the February 3rd Benefit for Chloe. Thanks to Cyn for bringing this to our attention.

In other knitting news, nothing completed this weekend, but progress made on two Christmas gifts and another begun. I also made a couple of attempts to start knitting blocks for the blanket, but to no avail. I will try crocheting a block tonight.

Happy Knitting!

Knit Unto Others

Check out the link under "Looky Here". I'll be working on squares for Warm Up America. I invite my S'nB buddies to contribute a square, and maybe we can send in a full blanket before Christmas.

Your Personality Profile

You are dignified, spiritual, and wise.Always unsatisfied, you constantly try to better yourself.You are also a seeker of knowledge and often buried in books. You tend to be philosophical, looking for the big picture in life.You dream of inner peace for yourself, your friends, and the world.A good friend, you always give of yourself first.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

It sure is Friday at the office

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life.You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first.You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker.You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?