AWTM, this link's for you. It has a teh in it! I'm still giggling.
You Might Be a Fredhead If...

I had a friend in high school (Hi, T!) who used to make a hilarious distinction between "money" and "real money": Money was what his mom gave him; real money was the stuff he had to go out and earn.

I would pay Real Money to see Fred Thompson beat up teh bin Laden.

And how bad do I want one of these shirts?

Posted by: Sarah at 03:41 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 90 words, total size 1 kb.

MSN published their most influential men and women of 2007. The list of men was predictable, the women laughable. I was heartened to read comments about the list, specifically

Appalled in St. Louis:

Your criteria or the people evaluating your criteria must be very warped. It is amazing to me that so many of your most influential women are from the entertainment industry. The real world is not populated by entertainers and they have much less influence with real people than you think. Why didn't you look to the world of business, education, law, charitable foundations and science where real changes are made that impact all of our lives? Quit being so incredibly shallow.

JaninaB

Stop for a minute and compare the list of influential men and women. Most of the men were politicians, businessmen, or social activists. Most of the women were in the entertainment industry. Some of them had done nothing more than be successful entertainers and attract gossip. Couldn't you recognize people who actually make a difference in the world??? Two thumbs down, MSN!!!

I couldn't have said it any better. Putting Benazir Bhutto on the same list as Hannah Montana is just insulting. I'm glad other MSN readers agreed. MSN could've come up with this list by polling people at a mall; shouldn't they instead use their resouces and reach to educate their readers about influential people they might not have heard of before, people in science or politics who are making a difference?

This comment said it all:

Hannah Montana? Really? There was a woman who came to the high school where I live and spoke to the students of her life. She works for the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and she has survived two car bombings. She has survived attempted assassinations and has finally been able to flee to the U.S. Her brother and sister haven't gone to school in months because there were terrorist threats upon their lives. Members of her family have been killed off. She recounted her tale of her frightening trip here, and proceeded to write words in Arabic that were projected onto a screen "hope, faith, save us". I think people like this that come to save their country and help our own are much more influential that "the Obama Girl"

What I also found amusing was MSN's article on how they picked their influential people.

When the editors of MSN Lifestyle gathered for their annual assessment of the year's most influential people, a few names—mostly from the world of politics—immediately bubbled to the surface. But as we discussed the election cycle omnipresence of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the prescient environmentalism of Al Gore, and the continuing emergence of Hugo Chavez, the conversation changed.

It started when the addition of George W. Bush to the list was proposed. The president, by any objective estimation, has had a rough year. Yet the difficulties of his presidency have emboldened the more liberal end of America's political spectrum to such a degree that an African-American and a woman are currently the frontrunners to become the next president of the United States. In this way, President Bush is more influential than either Obama or Clinton by themselves. Call it “influence through anti-influence.”

Let me get this straight. Bush is so bad that we have to resort to a black guy or a woman? Am I reading that right? We hate Bush so much that we're even willing to hand the reins over to minorities? And I thought Republicans were supposed to be the prejudiced ones. Sheesh.

Posted by: Sarah at 10:27 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 604 words, total size 4 kb.

So since I'm not knitting, I'm writing about knitting. And thinking about knitting. And scouring the internet for knitting (holy cow, a Super Mario bag!) The Girl suggested that I take a nice, hot bath to rest my muscles and relax, but when I got there I remembered I hate water, and all I could think about was what I could be knitting.

It seems I'm not the only one with knitting on the brain: AirForceWife has taught herself to knit. Sweet. The husband and I are planning a trip to visit the AirForceFamily in January, so I can't wait to knit together. Hang on, AirForceWife, I'll teach you to knit socks soon!

I made a knitting joke the other day over at AWTM's place. Commenters told me that I should stop forcing my oppressive knitting agenda down AWTM's throat (I'm wildly exaggerating for humor here.) I don't care that AWTM doesn't want to knit; it was just a joke because Emma Peel was knitting. Actually, I have decided I am thrilled that people now have to pay me to learn my hobby. If they're forking over cash, they must really want to learn it. I've taught enough people in my life who didn't end up becoming Knitters™; I like to teach enthusiastic learners.

And AirForceWife seems enthusiastic. Heck, even her husband is enthusiastic about her knitting; after seven years together, I still don't think my husband quite groks my interest in the pointy sticks.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:25 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 253 words, total size 2 kb.

1 I'm trying to knit more, but crochet has been a bit faster, lately, at least for Christmas gifts. I was surprised the other day when my husband was watching me, and announced that I should teach him how to crochet before his next deployment (!). OF COURSE!!! That would make sending care packages easier! "Need more yarn, Sweetie? Here you go!" I'm still pretty stoked about that announcement. I'll have to revisit it later, to see if he was really serious. And I'll have to learn how to make socks and hats, so he has something "masculine" to work on.

Posted by: deltasierra at December 20, 2007 11:08 AM (woXks)

2 I taught my brother to crochet when we were teenagers. He in turn taught his wife right after they got married. I'm looking forward to teaching him how to knit. And AirForceFamily can't WAIT to have the Grok family visit. Knitting, war pictures, and tours of the DC area... Sounds like a most excellent time.

Posted by: airforcewife at December 20, 2007 12:21 PM (mIbWn)

3 Oh my god. I need one of those mario bags.

Posted by: Erin at December 21, 2007 11:45 AM (XRza7)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

I have a knitting project that I have been working on for a seriously long time. It's a big project, and it's a boring project. I have become desperate to get it finished, so desperate that I have been knitting on it for about six hours a day all week long. And I've developed a horrible crick in my neck. I have put myself on the disabled list for a day or so to see if the pain goes away.

So what's a girl to do when she can't knit? Shop for yarn, of course. My husband is gonna kill me...

Speaking of knitting, I read an article yesterday that blew my mind. It was about Althea Merback, a knitter who makes clothes in miniature. Her stuff is incredible. 80 stitches to the inch! Stop and think about that for a second. She uses medical wire for knitting needles. I am just floored. She has a website, but I'm sure photos don't do the work justice. I read that some of her work is in a museum in Kansas City, so the next time we head home to the Midwest, I definitely want to check it out.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:05 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 201 words, total size 1 kb.

My husband was taking a turn around the internet in the computer room last night while I was already snuggled into a warm bed. Normally he has this nickname that he calls me around the house, so when I heard him call out "Sarah...," I felt something was funny. It seemed serious. Apparently it was serious enough that he used my real name to call out to me. What could he have found on the internet to make his voice sound like that?

Jamie Lynn Spears Says She's Pregnant

Yeah, you really don't want to know what I have to say about that.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:33 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 111 words, total size 1 kb.

An ode to my Christmas tree at SpouseBUZZ...

Posted by: Sarah at 10:19 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 18 words, total size 1 kb.

Did you know that on July 9, 1776, the newly-written Declaration of Independence was read to a crowd in New York City? Page 137 of the excellent book 1776 (which I bought on recommendation from Neal Boortz) says:

The formal readings concluded, a great mob of cheering, shouting soldiers and townspeople stormed down Broadway to Bowling Green, where, with ropes and bars, they pulled down the gilded lead statue of George III on his colossal horse. In their fury the crowd hacked off the sovereign's head, severed the nose, clipped the laurels that wreathed the head, and mounted what remained of the head on a spike outside a tavern.

Now that sounds wonderfully familiar. I got such a kick out of the parallel with Baghdad. However, the Saddam statue was melted down and made into a memorial for the 4th Infantry Division. That's a lovely end to a brutal dictator's ode to himself. But the warmonger in me likes what happened to the George III statue:

Much of the lead from the rest of the statue would later be, as reported, melted down for bullets "to assimilate with the brains of our infatuated adversaries."

Posted by: Sarah at 03:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 196 words, total size 1 kb.

At night in bed when I'm trying to fall asleep, I think about knitting. It's a soothing exercise for an insomniac; it keeps me from obsessing about what some jerk said at work and other things that my womanly mind fixates on when silence abounds. Knitting keeps my mind from wandering and focuses my brain on something peaceful. I think about finishing the projects I have started, starting the exciting new ones, or designing the next preemie hat.

And I swear, for a moment last night, my brain started mapping out that intarsia Abraham Lincoln. Bad, bad Sarah. A google search this morning turns up evidence of a pattern for a knitted Lincoln doll. No photo, but you can see the knitted Borat and Amy Winehouse. Heh.

Scolded away from intarsia Lincoln, my thoughts turned to my hair. To quote the Mad Hatter, my hair wants cutting. Last time I had to go quite short in order to donate the full 18 inches to Locks of Love, but this time I have grown weary of my hair faster. In fact, I never really planned on donating again; it just happened. It's because I have no idea how to maintain a haircut. I've never done it before. My life has been a series of chopping it to my chin and then letting it grow for years. I don't have any idea how to pick a hairstyle and stay at it. I haven't been to a barber in at least two years, not even for a trim. (Man, that sounds bad when I actually type it; I promise I don't have four inches of split ends.) But I think I might be ready to try an actual hairstyle. Maybe. I do know for sure that I can't wait to get rid of 10 inches.

OK, enough of my inane chit-chat nonsense. Please switch your brains back on and go read this monster tome: Mormons, Muslims, and Multiculturalism

Posted by: Sarah at 03:31 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 329 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Oh, that's it. Now I must find a way to get a knitted Borat and Amy Winehouse. I must. MUST.

Posted by: airforcewife at December 18, 2007 04:43 AM (mIbWn)

2 Hair... it depends on how fast it grows. Mine grows very fast, which is why I don't keep it short. At shoulder length I can maintain some semblance of order for longer periods of time... short short hair means I'd have to get it cut every 4 weeks or it would look funny. I would say, go for shoulder length, then get it trimmed every 8-10 weeks to maintain the "shape" (I get mine cut every 8 weeks). I do some layers at the bottom of my hair because when it grows to one length (as I had it at milblogs) it's so thick it poofs at the ends. You could go with a very simple "bob" that is the same length all around and is easy to take care of. As for the knitting... all I can think is - someone took the trouble to knit Borat and Amy Winehouse dolls??? Someone with WAY too much time on their hands. LOL.

Posted by: Teresa at December 18, 2007 06:36 AM (rVIv9)

3 The last time I tried a new hairstyle was about 10 years ago. I ended up looking like a bad country singer. I'm with you, just grow it and chop it. Although I must echo the above and say a bob would be the way to go. Not to mention if you have a style you have to upkeep it can cost you. I don't think there's a salon in the Philly area where you can get away with spending $60 for a trim.

Posted by: Mare at December 18, 2007 07:10 AM (bLO1M)

4 From someone who is forever on a quest to find the perfect haircut for her... maybe this is just the right time to find a good? new? hair style for you (not that there is anything wrong with the one you have). Don't you need a little distraction?

Posted by: Kate at December 18, 2007 10:32 AM (FmdP4)

5 Locks of Love takes 10-inch donations, so you don't have to cut too much off

Posted by: Green at December 18, 2007 04:46 PM (Q8/Tc)

6 I share the same haircut/style pattern. I just had a little over 10" cut off for my second donation in under two years (the last was around 17"). I only cut it this time because I thought I needed a "grown-up" look for a job interview. Otherwise, I would have kept the hair to stay warm over the winter Of course, my haircut was less than a month ago and I'm already so tired of styling it that I'm seriously considering just letting it grow again...

Posted by: Peggy at December 18, 2007 07:55 PM (cENZi)

7 I loved your haircut you got when you were a junior in high school. I guess it was a bob, and it was so attractive on you. Wait until you get my age; I'm willing to try all sorts of styles because I know if I don't like it, it will grow out in no time! When you got your hair cut in France, that was cute too! Take pictures with you to show the girl/guy what you want. Your Mama

Posted by: Nancy at December 19, 2007 05:58 PM (abs0H)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

A cool post from everyone's favorite post-once-every-leap-year blogger: I didn't marry a girly-man
I'm considering paying someone to break into our home so I can see something that hot.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:26 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 37 words, total size 1 kb.

Mark Steyn:

At the recent climate jamboree in Bali, the Rev. Al Gore told the assembled faithful: "My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here." Really? The American Thinker's Web site ran the numbers. In the seven years between the signing of Kyoto in 1997 and 2004, here's what happened:

•Emissions worldwide increased 18.0 percent;

•Emissions from countries that signed the treaty increased 21.1 percent;

•Emissions from nonsigners increased 10.0 percent; and

•Emissions from the United States increased 6.6 percent.

Posted by: Sarah at 03:02 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 87 words, total size 1 kb.

Peggy Noonan:

I wonder if our old friend Ronald Reagan could rise in this party, this environment. Not a regular churchgoer, said he experienced God riding his horse at the ranch, divorced, relaxed about the faiths of his friends and aides, or about its absence. He was a believing Christian, but he spent his adulthood in relativist Hollywood, and had a father who belonged to what some saw, and even see, as the Catholic cult. I'm just not sure he'd be pure enough to make it in this party. I'm not sure he'd be considered good enough.

Ain't that sad.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:43 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 102 words, total size 1 kb.

I will support the Republican nominee for president. I could be fully satisfied with any of the men in the field right now, and I would embrace any one of them as my president. But it's time to say who I'd prefer to see in office, and it's time to get out the checkbook.

I'm with Fred.

And I'm with Fred because of things like this:

But in the last month or so Thompson has acted like a man who has been liberated from something. And that is what voters saw on stage Wednesday: a presidential candidate who has declared himself fully free of the stupid stuff one has to do to become president of the United States.

If youÂ’re going to ask Fred Thompson to participate in a grade-school show of hands, or demand that he sign a pledge, or insist that he speak emotionally and at length about how much his religious faith means to him, well, you can just forget it. HeÂ’s not gonna do it.

And that's why we love him.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:45 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 179 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Although I don't particularly care for Thompson, I did enjoy seeing his refusal to answer one of the questions posed at the most recent debates--I think it had something to do with global warming. It was another intended to push the Republicans into a corner from which they can never get out. I commend him for pushing back.

Posted by: Nicole at December 14, 2007 06:32 AM (r5h4I)

2 Everytime I do a political survey, he is my top match.

Posted by: Kasey at December 14, 2007 06:38 AM (tttDj)

3 I'm with Fred, though I've been trying to talk myself out of it lately. But if he's got what it takes to finish, I'll be right there with him.

Posted by: pam at December 14, 2007 06:39 AM (l6NIn)

4 I could be on board with Fred or Mitt, anyone but Hillary or (*Gulb*) Obama. I need more time frankly.

Posted by: tim at December 14, 2007 08:10 AM (nno0f)

5 I am on board with Fred myself! We will see what the coming months brings for him and if I still have him as a choice in Nov. If not, I will have to step back and take another look around, yuck!!

Posted by: LMT at December 15, 2007 05:38 AM (y9taJ)

6 Yes, I am fully on board with Fred too. Because that guy never makes a misstep or rather "misspeak". I love his answers to the stupid questions they have been throwing at the candidates, and not just the debate questions, but the stupid questions along the lines of briefs or boxers, like: What do you like to do in your lazy time? Fred: campaign. What is your most prized possession? (Other candidates answers: Obama: picture of where his mother's ashes are scattered; McCain: autographed baseball) Fred: My trophy wife. How refreshing, a guy who refuses to campaign, but just wants to be President. I hope the Republicans wise up and elect him as the Rep candidate.

Posted by: CaliValleyGirl at December 17, 2007 02:26 PM (Ijp/q)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

This tongue-lashing (via AWTM) is long and angry and personal. It's also entirely worth reading.

Mass Murder and the Metrosexual reaction to the Westroads Mall massacre

The part that got to me was this:

I'll tell you what you will want because I have heard it over and over from people that have been lucky enough to live through violence. You will want a gun. You will cry for a gun. You will pray for a gun. You would offer up your soul for a gun to save your wife/husband and kids.

You'll be running like a scared little sheep trying to herd your family out of danger all the while praying "Oh how I wished I had a gun, oh please let us be spared, oh I feel so helpless, how I wish I could do something to save my wife/husband and kids, please someone with a gun stop this madness."

But then it wouldn't do you any good would it? Because of your irrational fear of an inanimate object you wouldn't have practiced the skills to function with it and you'd probably end up dead anyway. That is what his is really all about isn't it. You lack the gumption to do what is necessary to protect yourself and your family so you harbor an unhealthy jealousy for those that do.

I could use another trip to the range.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:30 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 239 words, total size 1 kb.

I am always fascinated when I come across something that a vaunted past president did, something that would never be considered heroic or courageous if the current president did it.

Right before the move to Dorchester Heights during the Revolutionary War, George Washington issued the following order to his continental army (as quoted in David McCullough's 1776):

But it may not be amiss for the troops to know that if any man in action shall presume to skulk, hide himself, or retreat from the enemy, without the orders of his commanding officer, he will be instantly shot down, as an example of cowardice. [emphasis in original]

Just imagine, if you will, our current George putting forth such an order...

Posted by: Sarah at 03:28 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 118 words, total size 1 kb.

We watched Live Free or Die Hard the other night, with Lileks' review up on the laptop while we watched. One thing I did like about the movie was John McClain telling the Mac guy to shut the f*#k up. That summed up perfectly the difference between the old man and the new. Can we get more movies like that? Maybe John Wayne could teach Ashton Kutcher to be a man? Or pair up Steve McQueen with Stiffler? These new leading actors could learn a thing or two.

After it was over, somehow the movie Redacted came up. My husband chuckled and said that Pootie Tang made more money than Redacted. We looked at each other, grabbed the computer, and had a good laugh. Pootie Tang whooped Redacted in box office take. Niiiice.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:32 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 135 words, total size 1 kb.

A couple days ago, I started to hate.
I hated everyone I know who is pregnant. I hated everyone who already has kids.

People keep telling me that there's a lesson to be learned here, that God has a plan for my life. But I'm not so sure I like the changes that have come over me. In the past year, I have felt more bitterness, more jealousy, and more hatred than I have ever felt in my life. I have grown so angry throughout this process. Having a baby is supposed to be a wonderful experience, and instead I am full of rage. I can't help but think that this is making me a worse person, that I would never have felt these feelings if I'd just gotten pregnant and had a baby the easy way.

I don't like what I've become.

And then the doorbell rang, and the UPS man left me a package. Ginger sent me a blanket from Sew Much Comfort. And her son made me some fudge.

I started thinking, and I started crying. I don't deserve a Sew Much Comfort blanket. I haven't lost nearly as much as the people who normally get those blankets, and I sure haven't done it with much dignity. Here I am, being hateful and feeling sorry for myself, and I get the most selfless gift imaginable from the most selfless family on the planet.

I'm working on being a better person, I promise. I have to earn the right to have that blanket.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:07 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 265 words, total size 1 kb.

Wanna hear something humbling? Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Posted by: Sarah at 09:45 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 31 words, total size 1 kb.

1 heck I am over mine.... crap, this is bad news. I cannot even seem to get laundry done and put away in a timely fashion.

Posted by: awtm at December 11, 2007 03:29 AM (LxlNZ)

2 hm... I guess I'm past it completely.. But then that sort of genius only happens very rarely. A Renaissance man like that would be so wonderful to see in a position of power again. So far.. Nope. LAW

Posted by: liberal army wife at December 11, 2007 02:13 PM (R+g0A)

3 Well, poo. I AM 33, and all I've managed is to get kicked off the Montel Show. Just doesn't have the same panache, does it?

Posted by: airforcewife at December 11, 2007 04:06 PM (mIbWn)

4 Similarly, though in a less intellectual vein, Alexander the Great was 25 when many of his conquests were finished. Hi from an old blogging friend, by the way.

Posted by: Leif Johnson at December 12, 2007 04:55 AM (DA7so)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

I've got my holiday preemie caps to donate this week.

I had all these grandiose plans to make Hannukah caps and all sorts of goodies, but last week kinda took the wind out of my sails. I made these over the weekend and that will have to do for this year.

And now I'm looking forward to the lack of upcoming holidays so I can just make hats from whatever colors I want. I'm free until 4th of July! OK, maybe a few hearts for Valentine's Day. But I swear I will not attempt an intarsia Abraham Lincoln in February.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:19 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 106 words, total size 1 kb.

These are the times when I'm ashamed for the blog community.

Yes, Jim Henley made a mistake. Yes, someone should've pointed it out to him, and he should correct it. But Jesus on rollerskates, does it really take 629 comments to accomplish this?

The third commenter pointed out the attribution error. A few comments after that are perhaps rude, but a little funny. And then it just gets sad. The section gets uglier and uglier. And more personal. And then comment 20 points out the error again. Do people even read comments or do they just assume they're the first to realize the error? Or the first to come up with some witty way of pointing out what an awful and stupid person the blogger is?

Comment 90 finally starts to admit that they've given Jim a hard enough time. But still the comments continue.

I've been on the receiving end of this form of ugly. It's not fun. It's not fun to have your parents' home address posted just because someone doesn't like your opinion or thinks you're dumb. Frankly, I think it's disgusting behavior, no matter who it's pointed at. And right now, it's "my people" being the rude ones, and I don't like it. I disagree with Jim Henley's viewpoint, but dang, leave the man alone.

I am so happy to be a part of the blogosphere. But today it makes me feel ugly.
It's days like this when I remember why Tim left us.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:09 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 250 words, total size 1 kb.

Well, if we're not going to see the Freedom Watch ads on the networks, then we need to go over to Powerline and watch them. They're touching.

And at least this way I'll see them; we fast-forward through commercials anyway in this household.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:15 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 45 words, total size 1 kb.