An (almost) finished project

Many babies are arriving at my friends' homes over the next few months, and I am determined to turn out a half-dozen tiny garments. Tiny garment #1, a Crayola-colored baby sweater, is missing only the buttons. (This is a simple Fiber Trends pattern knit with Lorna's Laces washable wool.)

I've got rhythm

While I anticipate starting law school next year, I've been teaching English as a Second Language at an adult learning center a few blocks from my house in Pilsen. I enjoy it: the students are a lot of fun, and the school does an excellent job of providing tuition-free classes for hundreds of people, mostly from Mexico with an occasional Salvadoran or Honduran in the mix.

The problem with working at a place that serves a Latino population is that inevitably one must attend the ritual fundraising event involving salsa dancing. Sigh. Luke was a good sport, but as you can see we spent most of the evening focusing intently on our feet.

Mabel's elephant

I've been meaning to post a picture of the little stuffed elephant I knit my niece for Christmas. The pattern is from Joelle Haverson's Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It came out really well, although I knit too slowly for it to be a truly "last minute" project.

meme

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Mostly silver and plastic.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Volver
4. What is your favorite TV show? Desperate Housewives
5. What did you have for breakfast? Oatmeal, as always.
6. What is your middle name? Jennifer, pbbbt.
7. What is your favorite cuisine? tough one...California contemporary?
8. What foods do you dislike? Black licorice, marshmallow peeps, gummy worms. Are those foods?
9. What are your favorite chips? Tostones from El Milagro tortilleria
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza
11. What kind of car do you drive? 1995 Toyota Camry. Actually, the "y" fell off so now it's a "Camr". Sadly, the driver side door lock recently ceased to function, so I have to unlock it from the passenger side and walk around. Other than that the Camr is going strong at 140,000 miles.
12. Favorite sandwich? Irazu's Costa Rican steak sandwich
13. What are characteristics you can't stand? Weak knees and painful feet. (Sorry, did you say "stand on"?)
14. What are your favorite clothes? My boyfriend's giant grey sweatpants
15. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would it be? Ecuador--maybe this summer?
16. Favorite brand of clothing? Luchesse cowboy boots.
17. Where would you want to retire? Somewhere warm, with good food. South Carolina?
18. Favorite time of day? 11am
19. Where were you born? Helena, Montana
20. Where have you lived? Montana, Wyoming, Indiana, New Hampshire, Chicago, Brighton (UK), and Los Angeles...with brief three-month stints in Kenya and Spain.
21. What is your favorite sport to watch? bicycle racing
22. Coke or Pepsi? I do love the bitter aspartame aftertaste of Diet Coke.
23. Beavers or ducks? Huh? Um, beavers. Definitely.
24. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Afternoons are nice.
25. Pedicure or manicure? That reminds me that I haven't clipped my toenails in about three months. Gross.
26. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? Got into law school. Bought a ticket to Brazil.
27. What did you want to be when you were little? A country singer like Crystal Gayle.
28. What is your best childhood memory? Mom reading us A Wrinkle in Time.
29. Piercing? Screams, occasionally.
30. Ever been to Africa? Yup.
31. Ever been toilet papering? Yup.
32. Been in a car accident? I gently rear-ended an Escalade once. The Escalade was unscratched. The Camr required extensive body work.
33. Favorite day of the week? Tuesday
34. Favorite restaurant? Sultan's Market, Mundial
35. Favorite flower? Anything orange
36. Favorite ice cream? Pistachio coconut chocolate chip
37. Favorite fast food restaurant? In-n-out Burger
38. How many times did you fail your driver's test? I've actually never taken one.
39. From whom did you get your last e-mail? ComEd's billpay service. Sigh...
40. Which store would you choose to max out your credit? Hogeye music
41. Bedtime? 11:30PM
42. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? hmmm...
43. Last person you went to dinner with? I ate pozole at my roommate's cousin's house to celebrate the cousin's marriage. I understood nothing anyone said (in rapidfire Spanish slang), but the living room had some truly fabulous jungle decor.
44. Favorite color? brown
45. How many tattoos do you have? 0
46. How many are you sending this Email to? none, I don' t forward things.
47. What time did you finish this e-mail?8:25 PM
48. Favorite magazine? Cook's Illustrated