Whole Lot of Shaking

Earthquake: It happened as I was washing the coffee carafe. At first I thought the rumbling was thunder as we've had quite a number of storms in the last few days. But has the rumbling roar and shaking continued. I put the carafe in the drainer and waited. As it continued I then thought it was an explosion somewhere. Imagine my surprise to find out I'd experienced my first earthquake. It was a 3.6 and happened about 20 miles northwest of where I live. It seemed to me that it was more than 30 seconds. But I seriously can't imagine being in a 6 or 7 or more earthquake. The surprising thing was the noise. It was all encompassing rolling thunder that shook the apartment building and rumbled under my feet. Afterwards there was such magnificent birdsong led by the robins that for a moment after I stepped out of the kitchen I thought one of my nature sounds DVD's was playing. After Friday morning, I know those sound effects in earthquake films aren't made up.

The excitment of the earthquake and emergency preparedness emails during the day with instructions about what to in the event of aftershocks was followed on last night by a terrific thunderstorm with brilliant lightening and slucing rainfall. My windows were steamy and the screens still damp when I got up this morning.

It's been hot again this week, but there was a nice breeze yesterday afternoon. But the mugginess is getting to my sinuses and I had to take an Aleve to lessen the inflamation that was making my right eye feel like it was ready to pop out.

I Write Like: I submitted this bit from A Catered Affair:

Ricky stifled a giggle as they took their seats on the chintz covered chairs and couches in Lady Elizabeth’s morning room. Mark could barely contain his awe at meeting a real aristocrat or being in such opulently appointed surroundings. He stared at the elaborate silver teapot, creamer and sugar bowl occupying on the silver tray on the table in front of Lady Elizabeth. Both men seemed mesmerized as Lady Elizabeth poured, prepared, and handed out the delicate china cups on saucers. Ricky caught Mark’s eye and lifted the little finger of one hand. Mark gawked at her.
Lady Elizabeth settled herself comfortably against the pillows of the couch and crossed her legs holding her cup and saucer easily in one hand.
“This must be important.” She said looking at them.
Ricky looked at Trevor. His uncertain expression told her he didn’t know where to start.
“Detective Forrest is with the MPD in Washington.” Ricky began. “He’s been investigating a murder case, and in the course of that investigation, learned that a person wanted for questioning is a citizen of the UK. He contacted Trevor, and asked him to make inquiries based on information. Trevor did so, and reported back to him on what he learned.” Ricky took a breath. “Through an anonymous tip, it was learned that the person, who is female, was seen in London and items found in her residence in Washington, led the police to consider her a suspect. Detective Forrest came to London; Scotland Yard agreed to open an investigation to locate and question this woman. Since her whereabouts in the UK was unknown, a press release was put out with her picture, asking for information.” Ricky took a quick sip of her tea. “A response to that press release, came from Washington DC, from someone who knew the woman and saw a British newspaper. That person was interviewed along with other people that he led the police to. Information from those interviews, as well as other information collected by the police on both sides of the Atlantic, has led the police to believe there is an association between this woman and Senator Jed Stanton.”

And this was the result:

I write like
David Foster Wallace

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I'd not heard of him before and so looked him up on Wikipedia.

Knitting:

Gaiter (Gator)

This is my contribution to Operation Helmetliner . This is an effort to replace the DOD issued helmet liners, scarves and gaiters given to our troops in Afghanistan. The DOD-issued articles contain polyester which means that when they are subject to high heat (an IED explosion) they melt creating terrific injuries. Knitters are responding to the need for wool replacement. Wool does not burn. Wool also breathes. The gaiter or gator will go around the throat and can be pulled up to cover the mouth and nose for warmth.

Winter Leaves Stole by Colleen Archbold

This was just one of many Ravelry patterns that caught my eye. What engaged my imagination was the thoroughness of the instructions (both written and charted in colour) with not only row count and section notations, but stitch counts for each row. To top it off, the pattern is free. An amazing feat of detail and generousity which I felt compelled to honour by knitting it.

Spider Stitch Shawl

No it's not this one. More info here. This is the Spider Shawl designed by Sarah Fama from Yarn Forward Issue 18. This is a fun triangular shawl which has gotten too unweidly for the bus knitting. But thanks to the World Cup, I was able to make good progress.

Speaking of bus knitting and bus knitters: I spy more of us everyday. We're out of the closet and coming to bus near you!

Olive Oil: Interesting study. I am a notorious ingredients reader in supermarkets. I've noticed that in salad dressings most claiming to be "olive oil" + whatever are most times a combination of one to several other oils + sometimes olive oil and in a few cases no olive oil listed in the ingredients.

Now why is this interesting or important: I'm focussing on eating at least one salad a day sometimes two. I'm always concerned about fat, sugar and carb content in any food and wanted to make sure that I'm getting what's advertised. How disheartening that more often than not, you can't trust the labels.

A History of the World in 100 Objects. Click This has to be one of the best BBC World Service Programmes I've ever heard. It fullfills the promise and exceeds the mandate that educational programming should aspire to achieve. Without being interested in the subject being presented, the listener finds themselves drawn-in, intrigued and transfixed thereby in the end learning. I applaud the programme for it's global focus.