Stress Reaction

Hey ya'll. Anyone still out there? Any faithful few that still wonder how things are going at Casa Stress Reaction? Yeah? Well I'm so glad you decided to drop by. This is day two of the Oklahoma Artic Lockdown 2006. No school means no clinic with my wonderful new practice who's partners actually do care that their employees might slide right off the icy road and freeze to death in a ditch while trying to get to work. (Just for kicks and giggles I called my old clinic yesterday and sure enough, they were open. The employees were forced by management to go to work, but the irony is that most of the doc's didn't go in. Go figure).

Stress Reaction turns two this month. This is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. One, it's probably the longest I have worked on something without clearly understanding the parameters of the project. Realizing that these parameters are for me to determine, I still find myself struggling with what to blog about and when. The blogs I admire most are those where the writer puts it all out there. The good, the bad, and the ugly (to quote Carole). But, in my mind at least, there is a fine line between all out there and interesting. There are a lot of days when I just don't have anything all that uplifting to say. In fact, I often feel down right snarky. But if I am going to be out there with that kind of content, I don't want to cross the line into appearing emo, just plain crazy, or, God forbid, boring (notice the emphasis there: what does it say about a person that appearing boring is the worst thing on their list)?

The point is, I am going to be playing around a bit with this here blog, straying a bit more from the knitting and spinning content, and maybe, on those days when I feel like writing (which was, after all, the original purpose of this blog in the first place) but may lack the maniacal good humor at which some bloggers excel (could link here, but I won't, cause that would go beyond snarky to down right mean), you may just be hearing from me. I'll know how it goes, I guess, by who keeps coming back and commenting, and who doesn't.

Two (you're thinking: finally!) I want to have a celebration. A blog anniversary party. A blogiversary party. And you know what that means! The guests get presents!! Woo-Hoo!! I'm planning on a month long party of contests and random gift giving. And just in case you are one of those who thinks the smaller the crowd, the better your chances (and I'll admit that I think that way too!) know that some of the presents will be randomly awarded based on comment numbers and new readers. So check back often, gentle readers, and invite your friends and neighbors. We are going to PAR-TAY!!

I am in a snit. So before I give away yarny goodness, you all get to hear about why my nose is out of joint.

First, I found a house. I've been looking for about a year now, but this is only the second house I have found that meets my criteria.

It's spacious, fairly new, on two acres of land. The first one I found last year sold before I even got to look at it. This house has been on the market awhile. They want too much for it, especially in this market. I made them a reasonable offer, expecting a reasonable counter. But they want to play games, so I walked away wishing them luck. My plans are now on hold until they wake up or I find another house. That puts me in a snit.

Second reason is this.

This is not good. This, on top of the house thing is really not good.

This happened because I saw a pretty morning moon, shining through the trees. Silly me, thinking that the sheet of ice on the patio, which I have walked across before, didn't have a thin film water on it because the temperature outside is 37 degrees and the ice has started to melt.

The bruise on my butt should be truly impressive by tonight, but the bruise to my beloved camera is much harder to bear.

So now that you have listened to my whining, I will reward you with some yarn. We'll make this an easy one:

** To keep it fair, send your answers to leah@stressreaction.com.**

I am privileged enough to own two spinning wheels. What have I named them?

Everyone who gives the correct answer will have his or her name put into a random drawing for this wonderful prize.

Much coveted, truly lovely, self-striping Vesper Sock Yarn in Sweetwater and a sock bag custom made by yours truly.

The contest ends promptly at 12 noon, central time, Sunday 12/10/06.

We are in mourning Chez Stress Reaction. The bum has recovered. The dignity is restored. The beloved Nikon remains mortally wounded.

I took this photo one day while playing with my digital friend. I love the subtle shading of the handcrafted chimes.

And a taste of things to come:

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Congrats to Katie for correctly naming Rose and Martha as my spinning wheels. Katie's number was drawn by random number generator, and as soon as she picks a color, her hand crafted sock bag and McDreamy Vesper will be on their way.

Thank you all for participating in my second Blogiversary Celebration. But the party's not over yet! Next challenge question for those of you so inclined:

How many pairs of socks are currently featured in my Flickr gallery? (Warning! Look closely, because you might get fooled)!

As before, everyone who answers correctly gets entered in the drawing. Send your answer here. And seriously folks, send it here! Last time I had answers in three different email boxes! Right here will make my life so much easier!

And the prize?

Two skeins of Claudia Hand Painted 100% Merino Sock Yarn in the Purple Haze colorway. Woo Hoo!!

Claudia's and Fleece Artist are probably two of my absolute favorite sock yarns in the world! In fact, my two favorite pairs of socks I ever knit where Dragonfly and Chocolate Cherries, knit with Fleece Artist and Claudia's respectively. Both knit as swap socks. For when you care enough to give the very best!!

The contest ends promptly at 12 noon, CST, Sunday 12/17/06.

Not this year. Christmas is always a bit of a strain for me, because I don't like to shop. It's a dream and a yearly goal to see if I can do absolutely all of my shopping online. This year, I almost made it. Turns out I have to make a stop at the drugstore, but otherwise, I have managed to avoid the lines and the crowds. Since I am a procrastinator, I took a beating on the shipping charges, but it's worth it. The kids will have a good Christmas and mom won't be locked up on any assault charges. Sounds like a success to me.

Mandella was the lucky winner of the Claudia's Hand Paint. She correctly identified 8 individual pairs of socks in my Flickr gallery. The Blackwatch pair are featured twice, and the Fuzzy Feet, as many of you correctly pointed out, are not socks but slippers.

The grand prize in this second blogiversary celebration is designed to knock your socks off. Put on your drool bibs, because this is a prize sure to invoke an immediate Pavlovian response in my readers.

One lucky and creative participant will win:

And to qualify for the drawing is easy!

Let's just skip this next part...

Using one or more words from each of the following lists, compose a short (or not so short) Christmas jingle, limerick or Haiku. Be sure and include the tune to which it should be sung, and post it in the comments so that we can all enjoy.

cheer
drunk
wrap
merry
burp
holiday
Stress

wool
nog
happy
egg
Reaction

fiber
roving
Christmas
reindeer
snow
flake
elf
See? Easy!! (Come on, be a sport and play! It's not like we can see or hear you)!!

Edited to add: It occurred to me that adding more stress to your holiday season is not the intent of this knitterly contest. So if you still want to write a Christmas knitting jingle, go right ahead. Use any knitting/spinning/fiber related references that appeal to you. You could also share a funny knitting story. Finally, copy and paste your favorite holiday candy or cookie recipe. Any (or all) of the above. I want this to be fun for everyone!

*Everyone who posts an entry will be entered in a random drawing. Contest ends 11:59:59 pm CST 12/31/2006*

I am a matriarch.

There are only a handful of people who know me well enough to grasp the significance of this statement. It is a tremendous declaration of independence and self sufficiency. It is an assertion that I am enough.

Enough to give my family the Christmas gathering that I picture in my heart, of home and hearth and family gathered around a colorful tree and the turkey roasted to perfection. Enough to establish the traditions that would not go unnoticed were they absent. Enough to be the gravitational force which holds my little universe together, and makes each of them feel as if they are coming home. That I am enough to be the definition of home. Where ever I might be.

To each of you who visit, to each of you who comment, I offer you heartfelt thanks. Thank you for sharing a bit of yourselves with me. Have a joyful holiday and blessings throughout the coming year.