A New Meme for Al=KAL

I've been home sick all week with strep throat or something equally evil...fortunately, 3 days worth of antobiotics has gotten me back to where I can sleep for more than 1-2 hours at a stretch, don't need to have the kleenex box attached at my hip, and I can actually swallow without crying. Fortunately, as bad as I felt, I never felt bad enough to stop knitting, even if I was sneezing and coughing after every other stitch. This is what I was working on:

Bitsy BonTon thinks this would make a very nice little pillow

I finally decided what I wanted to knit for myself and it is luscious! Baby Alpaca Grande
yarn knit on #11 clover bamboo needles. The pattern is the Yarn Harlot's "One Row Handspun Scarf" which really showcases the yarn and has been a very soothing combination of stitches to knit on while watching TV and choking to death on oceans of mucus. I have a skein left and am trying to decide whether to add fringe or leave the ends plain. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Since I had so much time for myself (when I wasn't hunched over a sink of hot steam trying to figure out how to do CPR on myself if I got too congested and stopped breathing), I got to explore the 'nets looking for new knitting adventures. So I stumbled upon this, and since I wanted to join a KAL and since I was already almost finished knitting a project with alpaca and knew I wanted to knit with alpaca again, I thought joining would be an excellent reason to make a run to the lys to add loads of squishy, buttery cloudy-soft alpaca to the stash.

So I joined. And then I began a remarkable healing, miraculously restored by the surge of motivation to get well so I can buy. more. yarn. Truly. As of tonight, the fever has broken and if the weather makes it up into the 20's, I will go and get my Rx filled this weekend!

Meanwhile, here's the Al-KAL meme which I know you are all waiting with baited breath to read (and what does baited breath mean anyway? That you have worms in your mouth?)

I've been hooked on the needles since...
The week before Mardi Gras, 2006.

I'm still a virgin, but not for long...
For cable and lace knitting, and making my first garment that is not a hat or scarf.

She's crafty -
she gets around to....
Knitting, beading, sewing things for my home (as long as it's simple)

she's always down for...
Good food, good wine, good music

she's always got a gripe about...
Not having enough free time to knit and be otherwise crafty

What type of knitter are you?
Since I am the proud owner of an ADHD brain, I bring these characteristics to my knitting: curiosity, a need to have something new going on in each project (new technique, new kind of yarn or needles, etc.), need to have several things (AKA projects) going on simultaneously, need for quick gratification, and of course, the attention span of a beagle.

I'm dying to try...
Some alpaca/silk blend - maybe for some mitts.

I gravitate towards colors like...
Violets, lime green, periwinkle, very soft butter yellow, cobalt blue, greys, black

My most cherished possession (kids, pets, family doesn't count)...
I have a few: my deceased SIL's bible, my mother's wedding ring and my cherished family photos.

I'm stuck on a deserted island, what am I reading?
Probably 2 books: Raft-Building For Dummies and Making Yarn From Common Tropical Plants

If I was offered a last meal, it would be...
Sauteed crab claws and the broiled pompano from Jaeger's, Teddy's red beans and rice, my SIL's macaroni and cheese and my sister's artichoke casserole served with a cold Abita beer. For dessert, a trio consisting of Emeril's banana cream pie, Lawrence Bakery's chocolate doberge cake and Commander's Palace bread pudding souffle, and a demitasse of strong chicory cafe' au lait.

Music to knit by...
Any music is great to knit by, it depends on my mood. Since it's Mardi Gras season, I've been mostly listening to lots of Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Beausoleil, Professor Longhair and Nathan and the Zydeco ChaCha's.

I have a crush on...
Men In Trees

Least favorite celebrity...
The ones who act so fudgin' stupid that I cringe in embarrassment for them...Tom Cruise and Britney Spears are the 2 that pop into my head although there are others...

Choose...
Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp...
Johnny Depp, of course

Madonna or Janet Jackson
Neither, I much prefer Mary J. Blige

June Cleaver or Peg Bundy
Do either of them knit?

Jackie or Marilyn
Jackie

Love or money
Love

Brains or looks
Brains

Math or English
English

Cat or dog
I can't choose - this is how we ended up with 2 of each!

Leader or follower
Independent, although I can be either when I need to be.

Beer or champagne
Beer, unless we're talking bellinis

My favorite smell...
Roasting coffee beans, gasoline, fresh mown grass, lemons, lavender, vanilla

Not many people know this about me...
I can still recite the poem Jaberwocky, which I learned in 4th grade.

My hidden talent is...
Tap dancing and singing opera to the kitties. (For the safety and mental well-being of everyone, these shall remain hidden.)

Oops - my Kleenex is calling, gotta go. Ya'll stay well out there!