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Friday, December 31, 2004
Pattern
Hey Melissa!
The pattern is from Rowan... here's a photo of the book:
It's not terribly hard, but a little confusing at first because you have to use a marker on the center stitch and keep moving it as you go. (so you'll need the little markers that look like a lock or an open marker that is removeable.
The yarn I used is from Rowan also, I paid 15 bucks a skein, but you could substitute with cheaper yarn.. You'll need 9 skeins, size 17 and 15 needles.
I'm also adding a new link to Trisha's knitting blog! http://yarnarchist.blogspot.com Good stuff! She's on blogger.com which means she's ahead of me because I originally started this on there but couldn't get past the html stuff!
Happy New Years to all! I'm not sure what we are gonna do yet... We got a gift certificate to some swanky euro-japanese restaurant in Exeter of all places... maybe we'll cash that baby in.... More later, Helena is pulling on my P.J.'s!
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Thursday, December 30, 2004
Poncho pics
here she is. all one half of her!
Sorry the pictures are so cruddy, I'm still trying to figure the camera out, it's totally different from my old one!
Not only that, but I had to do it thru my mom's computer because my brother hasn't rose from his crypt in days to fix my computer, which is on it's last gasp apparantly.
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Wednesday, December 29, 2004
2nd time is a charm
Well, I've gotten quite a bit done on the poncho, size 17 needles.... away!! I'm like a rocketeer on the needles..
And so far, it's looking pretty darn impressive.. I'll take a picture and when my brother can pencil me in some time between sleeping and playing fantasy football (or whatever else keeps him so occupied on his computer, hmmmmm...), will hopefully have all the kinks worked out and will be able to slap them on here.
Aside from that, I am still feeling crappy and with no new news to report other than I feel like a disheveled housewife. I'm still in my p.j.'s and I think I'm getting a matlock as (opposed to dredlocks) because I just can't be bothered to get a brush thru my hair, it takes to much energy and hey, where's my nyquil?
Sickly signing off dear readers!
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Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Twirl Poncho 2
Well, I'm sick and groggy and started the poncho... But the nyquil has rendered me retarded, as I have to start over because my lil' sickly mind just can't concentrate long enough...
I started (in tandem) the capelet and my daughter ripped it out for me...
so I am going to try to hook up my camera and get my patterns and finished pieces up here..
wish me luck!
Well, I've got the poncho figured out, thanks to Mel... So I am gonna just start anew. I have this thing about spending alot on yarn and not knitting something properly and as precisely as I can. She said she had a problem with it too at first.. It's those dang England-ish directions.. Anytime I knit something by Erika Knight or any other English knitter for that matter, I run into the same problems.. Even if it is the most basic, simple design. They have different wording and a different way of knitting a piece... For anyone else who has this problem, the only advice I can give is to read carefully and re-write the directions in the lingo you know. That seems to work best for me. And then I don't have to stop midway to go and find my knitters companion.
So today I attempted to install my camera stuff...... And errors kept occuring! I kind of half-expected this to happen.. I think my computer is a little sick and bogged down.. I am going to have to enlist the (sigh...) aid of my super nerdy computer guy brother. Who, yes, is EXACTLY like that character Jimmy Fallon played on Saturday Night Live, Lol, snort snort! To a tee, only not as amusing.. He'll be all like "you can't be running your dos with the blabbity blabbity, no wonder why the blabbity blabbity doesn't blabbity! YOU'RE WELCOME!!!!!
So, I am dissapointed to be postponing them again, arrrrrgh! Me no likey the computer, and the computer definately don't dig me either!
More to come....
On a side note, you'll all be amused to know that my cousin Mandy was on stand-by untill YESTERDAY @ 1pm... Bawhahahahahaha! Talk about biting off your nose to spite your face! What a little snot!
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Monday, December 27, 2004
Twirl Poncho!
The roads actually ended up being fine today. I went to Old Navy to get Helena some new duds and a SNOWSUIT!! Then we went to And the beads go on, my local uppity yarn store that I only wish I could afford to go to more often. I spent a whopping 124 bucks on 7 skeins of Rowan big wool yarn, but they had to order me 2 more skeins because they didn't have enough.... + $9.00 for some new longer #15 needles (which I realized when I got home, I already had) and just as I was about to leave, decided to buy a couple of skeins of blood red La Gran mohair for the Spider web capelet in the new s'n'b... Sooooo, all in all, I dropped about $165 bucks... This project better tide me over for a while~
My daughter is crawling on me, more later!
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Date night!
Well, my husband has been quite the romantic lately and took me out for a drink and a movie last night! It was alot of fun, I forget how much fun it is to go out and spend alone time with him. We braved the triple nor'easter's (thank god for 4wd) and went to see national treasure but something had happened to it so we had to see meet the focker's instead. We had to drive home at a death-defying 20 mph! It's really cool to see him so excited about the snow, he's never seen it like this! I can't believe he had to go to work today, we were hoping for a "snow day" so we can take helena and play, make snowmen or snow angels....
I don't know if I am going to brave it to the yarn store or not, the roads look like an ice rink and there's already benn a slew of accidents. But I've been up since 6 am and am starting to get cabin fever.
question: If a girl is happy for my husband, why would she be crushed that he moved? Slightly annoyed with this.
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Sunday, December 26, 2004
My holiday
Yey! I just created a "KNITTING" community on here, which is great because Blogspirit has no search engine thingy to see if there is anyone else on here who's an avid knitter! So if you knit, please join!!!!
We are currently just getting hit by 3 nor'easter's!!!! So it's a beautiful, snowy evening out! My cousin Mandy got her panties all up in a bunch because my aunt (delicately) brought up the conversation about her drinking and she flew off the handle and has been at the airport since 11:30 this morning, trying to get on a stand-by flight back to San Diego that leaves at 5.... I don't think (even if someone cancels last minute) that she's gonna make it because of the storms... and they are NOT gonna put her up for a stand-by... so, she may be eating some crow in a short while...
Well, I got my new camera~ It's charging as we speak! I've been reading the 200+ paged instruction book and am trying to figure out the what-nots so I can finally get the photo's up!! yey!!!
I also got a grand total of 7 new knitting books and a gift certificate to beauty and the beads (lys). That place is sooo expensive that I should be able to afford to make a sleeve for something!!
However, we just got 500 bucks for a late wedding gift from Anthony's family in Australia so with my half I should be able to make some new stuff!!
For a gag gift, I think I need to make the boys from Suplecs one of these........
too funny not too, I can't resist! Hahaha. Thanks to Adrian for the link!
So, it was a good xmas, I'm happy. I ate pumpkin cheesecake with gingerbread crust that my aunt had made and gained like 10 pounds! Also a truckful of turnips... I loe them!
My daughter got a buncha new and cool toys for us to trip over! She's figuring out her new sit and spin right now, giggling with delight! So I'm gonna go and play with her, but will be back later...
I hope you all had a terrific and mellow holiday!!!
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Thursday, December 23, 2004
Side note
It's been dawning on me that ever since I started this blog, there's been a sudden influx of serious alcoholics in my life, I almost feel bad about it, but I named this thing totally tongue-in-cheek.
Shoulda just gone with nerdy knitters international or something... sheesh...
the cursed blog, mu-wah-haha!
14:40 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
More soap opera stories, alas!
The holidays are sure to bring out a whopping influx of dysfunctionalism in my little sphere, I got just but a preview last night... Here's the latest gossip, it's pretty juicy and would make a great sitcom, but alas, in REAL life, I am just horrified in a bad car accident kind of way.... Chrys, you'll get a kick out of this... keep in mind, I had NO power over the situation!
So last night my cousin Mandy (home from San Diego) made this lasagna and we all were forced to go... My dad, (I like to call him and his little bunch of fishing friends "captain morgan and the cronies) had a bit of a glow to him, (he farted on the way out and thought this was the most hillarious thing in the world - hey, who stepped on a duck! - kinda thing....) My uncle was well hopped up on beer, my brother went out for wine for the ladies and took like 3 hours, maybe he had the right idea... so it's like this is like ingredients for a moltov cocktail.. After sitting through a painful dinner of everyone basically busting everyone's balls (which was entertaining untill Mandy's umpteenth glass of vino) Mandy wants us to all go out.... We almost got out of it too, but then she sucked us back in, it was easier to go then to deal with the whining and she's all super clingy family love-y anyways... boy did I have no idea how true that really is..
So my aunt and uncle are giving us the hairy eyeballs, and I said, well.... she's only got 12 bucks on her, so that's only enough for like, ONE cocktail and a tip. And we won't buy her any!, proceeded to tell my cousin John to keep his wallet in his pants, which of course sparked laughter and some response about how 15 years ago, it wouldn't have been his wallet... har har..... ewwwwww.
I've tried to block out the following events, and I am not going to go into great detail, because Mandy is like my dumb little sister, who I am forever trying to protect and getting angry with at the same time!!!
I ran into a couple of really old pals, so I was off on the other side of the bar, which was really suiting me just fine because it was increasingly, excruciatingly uncomfortable with the cousins... I really, REALLY don't want nor need to hear about any sexual episodes pertaining to ANY family members!!! Like, for instance, I find out Mandy is sleeping with 7, yes, SEVEN different dudes.... Or how John isn't, but would like to with this really young one, or that really young one... oh my god, I am in holiday hell....
So Mandy, wearing her stilletto boots, kept on sauntering over, so I had to go back.... only to watch her HITTING on John!!!! Ugggggggggghhhhh, ewwwwwwwwwwww, yucccccccckkkkk!!!
At this point (10 p.m.) I'm like "THAT'S IT, LET'S GO!!!!!" So we have to carry her to the car, then I have to carry (literally) her to bed, take off her shoes, etc... My poor aunt is just sitting there, sewing.... I felt so bad! Then Mandy comes out again, falls down, hugs my legs and says "don't go! don't go!!!" So I carry her back, AGAIN.....
So now, I am supposed to go out again for our yearly xmas eve thing with the REST of my cousins, and I'm trying to figure out a creative was that we don't include Mandy.... who put all of her million drinks on her credit card, oh yeah, including the ones for John.... He doesn't drink!!! And she's trying to get him drunk!!!
Like I said, I have left out alot of stuff here, it was actually much worse than I've written...
God help me!
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Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Sonia Vassi, knitter to the STAHS!
I really like the style of Sonia Vassi and I admire her rather large balls when it comes to pricing, not that I would pay 200 dollars for a scarf that consists of (maximum) 60 dollars worth of yarn. More power to her, I suppose if I could get away with that, why not? A gal's got to make a living.
200 dollars!! That's just CRAZY!!!
I just made an almost identical scarf for my aunt, I think it cost less than 30 bucks!
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Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Re-cap
So, me husband gave me another cd, one I have been wanting since it came out but kept forgetting to buy..
The Boatman's Call by Nick Cave. It's a very romantic cd, but you kinda gotta be in a super mellow mood because the beat is to that of a funeral march, but the songs are so truly beautiful. I simply can not divulge my other "surprise" because it was of an illegal nature and if I told you, I'd have to kill you! Muwahahahhahaa. Let's just say I am getting old, because I wasn't all that giddy about it. The 80's are fucking over, DUUUUDE.
Of course, there is no night spent out in ye olde townshippe of Providence that does not include a healthy dose of action-packed drama! Turns out 2 gal pals of mine don't dig each other so I had each one going off in either ear, not to mention another twist because my lawyer and friend had previously proposistioned one of them for lewd sexual acts and is apparantly still rather infuriated with him.
High on Fire tore my panties to shreds as usual, with a bunch of new songs and a Joe Preston (Thrones) taking over for George salt deposit Rice. The mystery has finally been un-earthed, he just didn't feel like touring anymore..... Uh, yeah.... when MY band actually can make a living off of playing music, I would QUIT TOO! (that's some sarcasm there)
At the end of the night and the height of my drunkeness agreed to go to new haven, ct the next night to see them again, but upon awakening realized that the whiskey had won and I was far too hurting to pull another night, not to mention BROKE. Perhaps the worcester show, even though the Palladium is kinda not my favorite venue. Last time I was there me and Gene Trautman got yelled at for opening a door because it'll "KNOCK DAVE GROHL'S GUITAR OUTTA TUNE!!!" We were like, uh yeahhhhhhh, right! Then I always end up at the seediest of strip clubs buying 10 dollar dixie cup drinks...
My cousin John drove us home, designated ding dong I think was the term he used, Anthony passed out in the back, we peed on the side of the highway facing oncoming traffic (no hoots or honks!! I'm obviously past the stage when people think this is hot, thank god!) and got home to a wide awake peanut.
Today for some reason 4 different girlfriends called and I got all the local gossip. This is what happens, I make a rare public appearance and I am flooded with a who is mad with who bonanza. Can't they just get along???!!! Sheesh, life's way too short to focus on trivial shit. I am glad that I've become a hermit, although I do miss my wild days of reckless abandon and irresponsibility. Can't have the cake and eat it too, I suppose.
My cousin Mandy is home from San Diego, with a fresh DUI so she can't drive anyone's cars and she put away 1/2 a magnum of zinfandel and a big captain and coke. But I'm not supposed to tell anyone. I keep hearing those words for some reason. Everything is such a big secret these days!
Currently working on that dress previously posted, but it's not meeting my standards. I 've decided to finish it anyways, maybe it'll be one of those dresses I hate to look at but love to wear. The colors are all wrong! SO wrong! Tan and White just aint my scene, babies!
Okay, I'm gonna finish this fishbowl goblet of cheapo zinfandel, take a shower if I can keep my peepers open and hit the hay.
Good night little bloggers everywhere!
00:35 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Drunkity
Last night was great, but I lost my wallet TWICE and I drank a bit too much. Currently I am too hung over to even write, but we had a great time, more later...
we were supposed to all go to new haven, but that's just not possible, i need time to re-cuperate
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Saturday, December 18, 2004
High on Fire!!
Is tonight!! My cousin John is coming over from Block Island and my friend Donna is gonna go too! It'll be so nice to get to hang out with pals and socialize for a change. I can't remember the last show I went to, but it was in Portland.. In fact it might have been a high on fire show, when i was pregnant.
Anthony gave me some early xmas gifts; another orange goblin cd that I've been wanting, a purple poncho, a big ole bottle of wine (current status=1/2 gone!), and he's got something planned for this evening, but it's a surprise.
I've had a migraine for 2 days, I hope it goes away before this evening. It's like 10 little indians beating me with a tomahawk and scalping me! OW!
I finished the cheapo skirt, did a lovely garter stitch scarf for my aunt Connie with some beautiful cream adriafil yarns which I am debating over whether to add fringe. I have to finish the debbie bliss frilled cardigan for miss Ruby- all that's left is to make the band and add some buttons. I have to sew buttons onto the felted pocketbooks, too.
So I'm going to try and make today my finish ongoing projects today. I know I'm not alone when it comes to finishing, even being an avid sewer, i hate sewing knitted items. I should really try and get over that.
I need to buy more yarn!!! But I'm in a bit of a rut as far as what to make next. I got some tan and white cotton to make a lacy 70's dress but haven't figured out the pattern. I need one of those software disks because I am one of those folks who write as I knit. I'd really like to have something designed BEFOREHAND for a change. That way I am not running out of yarn or having to re-do something. I'm thinking a picot trim and maybe pompeian lace for a belted shift dress, v-neck, short sleeve and snug in all the right places but a-line for the skirt. I love lacy patterns but have a hell of a time figuring out the decreases.
That's my musings for the day, I'll post tommorrow with a re-cap of the nights activities.. Having a kid and never going out anymore equates in my head as someone just being sprung outta the prison. I have the feeling I'm going to be overindulging and walking out of the club on my lips!!!! Help me jack pepsi!
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Tuesday, December 14, 2004
166 hits?
That's nuts! Wow, do I feel popular. I don't know how that's possible, I googled myself using keywords and NADA.
I added a buncha new links and some photos (not new ones though, those will come after the 25th). I feel so professional blogger-y, although I still have absolutely no clue, I am totally computer retarded still.
Today has been excruciatingly dull, but 2 highlights occured.
One was listening to Adrian's new song, which was most excellent. Maybe I should re-phrase that for fear of a bill and ted thing... the new song totally rocks (that's not much better, is it?). You can hear it here http://www.myspace.com/masterblaster The song is called when shit turns to gold.
I wish I could create a little metal utopia where I can transplant everyone to. That way, there'd be tons of shows, tons of creativity and things to do. Everyone is so spread out. Maybe we should all run to the hills and start a sovereign commune and be above the law! Coup d'etat!
Second, I got Sheila and Rob's xmas card. I can not believe how big Emily and Ava have gotten!!!! Emily looks like a supermodel (not hard when she's got Sheila's genes though)!!!!! Somehow, when you have kids, 6 months will look like 6 years and sometimes feel like it too.
That's it for today...
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Monday, December 13, 2004
The $4.34 skirt
So lately I have been designing alot of stuff, the newest one being a skirt. It seems if I do something using good yarn I end up messing it up or something goes wrong so to get it right without getting frustrated I used some cheapo 4 ply worsted weight just to see the outcome. I've gotten the front done. It's a red a-line skirt with a ruffled bottom and some eyelets. I think it looks really hot.... but being able to pull off a knitted skirt is tricky, so we'll have to see what it looks like ON the body! If all is lost on me, I'll give it to Candy. She's model skinny, so it might fare better on skinny assed hips then on my, uh, child-rearing ones.
Again, after the holiday, I'll have patterns and photos up, as promised!
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Sunday, December 12, 2004
Me Photos, arrrrgh!
So, I went to the local camera store and they said that it would cost me at least $175 MINIMUM to fix my camera, and he really stressed the MINIMUM part.... So I'm getting a new one for X-mas! Wheeeeeee!
So, it looks like the photo's will be up after the 25th...
Other good news is that Helena's photo cards came in yesterday. Bad news is I sent out all the gifts in the mail the day before, thinking that the cards weren't going to be finished in enough time. Oh well.
I've got all my shopping done! I've got everything wrapped! I am so glad I don't have to deal with the claustrophobic stores, pushy and rude people, or backed up traffic/no parking crap that I usually stress out on!
High On Fire is in a week and I am sooooo psyched to be going on a "date" with my husband. Finally, a social outing that we are BOTH attending!
Well, I'm off. I'm going to mail out the cards and I need some yarn.
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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Dimebag Darrell r.ip.
I can't believe someone killed dimebag darrell, that's totally fucked. I hope his wife and kid (whom he would tour with) weren't there. What a way to go.. It's all so very, very sad.
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DON'T SEND U.P.S.!!!!!
I'm just forewarning you all, you should send u.s. postal or fed-ex or whatever, but don't send UPS!
My brother works there so I get the inside scoop. If you mark your box fragile, this means "throw it, beat it, bash it" to them. Also, there have been alot of thefts during this season. They just fired a guy last night for taking things out of boxes. Plus, they really treat their employees like shit, give them shitty hours so it's really no wonder that the employees would throw the boxes and/or steal from them.
My mother-in-law sent us a video camera, which I just recieved and damned if it doesn't look thrashed and like the box was ripped open!!!! I am SO ANGRY! I'm not sure if she had it insured or not, probably not. It looks like a bunch of water sat on it for a while too!!!!! This was an expensive item, wrapped and packed in a plain box. Even the wrapping paper was off! Someone obviously took little care in shipping or peeked inside. Hopefully it'll work but if it's like my digital camera, a drop can really mess it up.
I yelled at the guy to wait, but he pretended to "not hear me" and took off....
Aside from that, the box that contained clothes was in PERFECT condition!!! Hmmmmmmm..!!!!!
Ugh, aside from that I started working on a purse made from leftover lopi wool in a zig zag lace pattern that is proving to be not only easy but pretty as well!!! Once I'm done I will give y'all the pattern and photos for it.
I'm really trying to thin down my stash and get rid of all these annoying discontinued yarns I have laying around.
Also I am halfway finished with the leftover yarn shawl, which is very bohemian, border-line dirty hippy looking. I haven't decided if I love it or not yet. Maybe with the right pair of jeans and some clodhopping heels and a tight tee? I'll be putting that one up here as well with instructions.
I also have been making alot of 1/2 poncho, 1/2 capelets which I've been referring to as "the ponchlet" but that name for some reason just isn't agreeing with me. It sounds like I am referring to a stomach so I will have to come up with something better.
I can't wait to get my camera fixed and be able to finally get some pictures up! I feel so naked and bare here!
14:27 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
The new Knitty is out!!!
I am sooooo excited, there are so many beautiful new patterns!
www.knitty.com
I just absolutely adore the work of Libby Baker, her take on the english tea gown is soooo gorgeous and ethereal, when I have the time to actually concentrate (it's hard to keep track of rows, stitches, etc when Helena is banging a toy or book over my head!~) I am going to make one! Her blog is, well, the stuff that jealousy is made of.... I just ooohed and ahhhed over it last night. You can see it here http://creazativity.typepad.com/
She's got 2 young ones herself, how does she do it????
I also made the connection about Stefani Japel, who I was SURE was from Europe somewhere (based on her incredible style) and her patterns and GLAMPYRE. I love her stuff. I love her site. Kudos to her success, she's really making a name! You can see her stuff on Knitty.com, www.magknits.com as well as her site www.glampyre.com
13:05 Posted in Knitting Stuff | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
The holi-daze
So i had previously written a seething post about someone but decided that I'd erase it because it's not really worth it, but i had to vent!
Anyways, I think my camera has gone batty on me as well, and I have to take it to get looked at... I'm sure this is from one or more of the numerous times it has dropped to the ground!
I did however take a few shots of the purses I have been working on but it just dawned on me that I have wrapped some of my other works already because I am really trying to get my gifts finished on time.
Speaking of gifts, I had gotten a bunch of amaryllis' and paper whites about a week ago and I am going to have to deliver them within the next few days to their recipients.... they are gonna bloom already!!!! I was worried that they wouldn't!
Also, the photo xmas cards of Helena won't be ready for at least another week to 2 weeks... I have however filled out most of the envelopes but am completely unprepared and lost when it comes to my husbands side! There are at least 60 of them! It's like my big fat maltese wedding! Some are in Australia (where do you cash in australian $), some from Malta, California, Washington, Oregon, Michigan... CRAZY!!! My family is soooo small.
See, this all goes to prove that organization just doesn't agree with me. Is this the cosmos' way of telling me that I do best under a chaotic, procrastinating, crazed state?
I only have about 7 more people on my list to buy for! Chaos aside, I feel mega-accomplished..
12:50 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
It's one of those days.....
Today, cold, rainy, very windy, bleak, gray, decembrrrrrrrrr and pre-menstrual as well! I have half a mind to curl up with Helena but she's fairly well occupied with crayons at the moment so I will utilize the time and write a bit.
I have to go and order a new cord so I can hook my camera back up. Somewhere in the move it has dissapeared and I've been telling myself that I'll just find it later, but it's been almost 6 months so I guess at this rate, a new one would be quicker and easier approach. I need to start taking photo's of my finished projects and w.i.p.'s to post up here.
14:10 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this