Creampuff Starts Off the New Year With a Bang! Followed by a Whimper. Then a Band-Aid.
It was a windy day in the city and after hours of trying to get my attention by flapping noisily, the vinyl cover on the grill on our balcony decided to make a break for it.
I looked up to see it heaving itself over the edge of the railing and instantly I sprang into action. I flung open the balcony door and leapt like a fat gazelle out into the wind, catching my foot on the doorjamb. As I tried to steady myself, a big gust of wind slammed the door. On my ankle.
Birds rubbernecked as I screamed the F word. Screaming was soon downgraded to a light whimpering as I limped over to the pile of vinyl, gathered it up and dumped it in the outdoor Rubbermaid bin. Then I came inside and had a little cry.
I suppose I was due a little pain, because so far 2007 has been good to me. First of all, in the last comment thread, Flippy made the brilliant observation that my site was actively discouraging indexing by saying, and I paraphrase the metadata, "Robots, fuck off!" Thanks, Flippy! You are a rock star! I investigated further and discovered that the tag was there because for some reason I neglected to choose the "Publicize this blog" option in Typepad when I switched over from WordPress. Yeah, that's right - for over a year now, you have all been reading MY SECRET BLOG. The secret? That I am a DOOFUS.
In the course of impatiently Googling myself long before Google would have had a chance to index anything, I stumbled upon Cream Puffs in Venice, a beautiful food blog with incredible food porn pictures. Seriously. I had to close the blinds and take a private moment. The whole thing made me want to sprinkle powdered sugar on myself and dab espresso behind my ears. There are recipes too, if you are kitchenally inclined. I believe the Venetian "Cream Puff" (who actually lives in Canada) uses "cream puff" in the literal "A shell of light pastry filled with whipped cream, custard, or ice cream" sense, rather than in my euphemistic "delightful fat people like me" sense. Just to clarify. Anyway, it's lovely and I encourage the foodies among you to check it out.
Secondly, I was aided and abetted in my quest to become a sock knitter this year when my love (and hopeful future sock recipient) signed me up for the Petals Collection at Sundara Yarn as a Solstice gift! (Miss Sundara Yarn herself seems to be between websites at the moment, but her stuff is gorgeous, as you knitters all know - here's her blog). I tore into the package like a hoodlum but later, when the fondling was over, I took photos. They're a little blurry because my hands were shaking with excitement.
This month's petal inspiration, the lenten ROSE (Coincidence? I THINK NOT):
The actual sock yarn (photos never do yarn justice, but this comes pretty close):
The picture of the sock pattern. If I wasn't such a ham-fisted yahoo, I'd give it a go, but I think I'd better practice first. To the yarn store!
Thirdly, it's been brought to my attention that a kind reader has nominated Creampuff Revolution for The Lesbian Lifestyle's Lesbian Blog of the Year award. Thanks, kind reader! I understand that the top five most nominated blogs will then be voted on starting February 2. My pomade-lovin' pal Curly's been nominated, as well as Ms. SassyFemme - so y'all should head over there and nominate YOUR favourite lesbian blog(s). That's where I'm headed - right after I dust this powdered sugar off. On the other hand, Katr might be home soon. And I DID buy whipped cream this afternoon. Hm.
I am understanding more about knitting obsessions, and it turns out that there are amazing places to buy yarn in NS, just nothing too close to me! Darling son gave me a book of beginner knitting patterns for my birthday. He thought of it (apparently I needed patterns for sweaters) and found it all by himself! I have my own little knitting cheerleaders, that love everything I make, even practice squares. Thanks for the inspirations, and enjoy the sock experiences.
Posted by: kristen | January 05, 2007 at 04:41 AM
INJURY BLOG! What, do you think you're me or something?
Posted by: Melissa | January 05, 2007 at 05:55 AM
BEAUTIFUL sock yarn!!! I'm lusting over it hardcore...
And congrats on the nomination, you certainly deserve it...I love reading your blog. :)
Posted by: SparklyGirl | January 05, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Congrats on the well-deserved nomination, Roro! Of course, if we both make it to the finals, I'm going to have to hire a Karl Rove-type to defile and besmirch your good name. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to shore up support among the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth...
Hee hee. Happy New Year and congrats once again.
Curly :)
Posted by: curly mcdimple | January 05, 2007 at 11:27 AM
kristen - happy birthday by the way! Can't wait to see the knitting, practice squares and all (I still have my first one). Huzzah!
Melissa - you know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, my friend.
Sparkly - thanks! Someday, I will knit socks as nice as yours!
Curly - It's ON, my friend. HAHAHAAAAA! Just kidding. You'll be the belle of the ball and you know it. Congrats on your myriad nominations!
Posted by: roro | January 05, 2007 at 04:07 PM
I had no idea what this was even about and had to go look. Interesting, I guess.
Love, love, love the yarn, and I'm not even a knitter!
Posted by: SassyFemme | January 05, 2007 at 05:17 PM
Our vinyl BBQ cover died a slow and violent death when the dogs decided to play with it this week in the back yard. Knit socks really are the best - I'm wearing a pair my gran knit for me and even when the bridal store people made fun of me today trying on bridesmaid dresses I refused to take them off. I happen to think tea length skirts go quite nice with multicoloured knit socks.
Posted by: Heather | January 06, 2007 at 08:06 PM
Oooooh, Drunken Pasta! Nice nice nice.
Oh! Duh! Sorry - "Nice socks"
Posted by: maggie | January 07, 2007 at 08:28 AM
What beautiful yarn - I look forward to seeing it made into socks. And if I can make socks you certainly can!
Posted by: ScaryBez | January 08, 2007 at 06:02 AM
I'm glad you retrieved the BBQ cover... AND that the BBQ itself didn't fly over the balcony railing. (We lost a weighted patio umbrella in a not-even-a-tornado level wind a couple of years ago.) And congrats on your nomination. Be sure to let us know when/where to vote. (I'm glad if 20 people a week get to MY blogs!!)
I'm trying to figure what pastry I'm most like... Cheesey Danish? Raspberry Kolache?
A Nutty Stollen?
Posted by: PainterWoman | January 08, 2007 at 08:06 PM
SassyFemme - Interesting inDEED. Hard to know how to celebration nominations for blog awards - me, I just use it as an excuse for celebratory cake. CAKE!
Heather - you are so right about the socks. I'm sure they are very fetching. So sorry to hear about your BBQ cover.
Maggie - I know, hey? Every time I go to her site, I get hungry.
ScaryBez - thanks for the vote of confidence! Definitely sticking to the metal needles though . . .
PainterWoman - A weighted umbrella? That's quite a feat! They grow the wind big in Texas I guess. As for your personal pastry - an interesting question indeed. I'd go with the kolache. Tart AND fun to say!
Posted by: roro | January 08, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Yanno, if you'd had a pair of knitted socks on, you'd not have done damage enough to the ankle to require deploying the f-bomb ;-).
Posted by: greymatters | January 11, 2007 at 11:08 AM
GM - you are so right! Although the F-bomb was pretty satisfying.
Posted by: roro | January 11, 2007 at 09:14 PM