Structured Blogging

I just uploaded a new WP plugin called from the folks over at Structured Blogging. It allows you to write pre-structured movie, book, CD, etc. reviews, put in links to the Amazon page for books or Yahoo page for movies, pull pictures from Amazon for books, and a few more things.

This is going to be great for my book reviews - and maybe I’ll do movie and music reviews too! My only complaint: Amazon? Gah. I’d rather link to Powells.com or other more independent bookstores. Maybe someone will write an update to the plugin…

The plugin also allows event posting - I didn’t explore that yet, but think it poses really good things for organizational blogs!

One other question - does anyone know of any good feminist or GLBT organizations that have Amazon Associate/Affiliate status? The plugin lets you put that information in, and I’d like to support a good charity that participates.

Books Read in St. John, USVI

I read a couple more books while I was on vacation. I’ve got no real desire to review them, suffice to say that I both enjoyed them and would highly recommend them to whomever was looking for fun and/or intriguing reading.

Feet of Clay, by Terry Pratchett

More of TP’s fun in Discworld, this time with an emphasis on golems, self-determination, Vimes, and Nobby.

Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players, by Stefan Fatsis

Who knew that competitive Scrabble players were such a compelling group? This book riveted me for hours on end, and made me realize that being obsessed with something to the detriment of being able to hold a job is not something I aspire to.

ETA:

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini.

Fantasy, danger, and dragons… who can argue? Not me!

Dane Decor Sale!

I love and hate it when Dane Decor has their twice-annual sale. Love it because I can always find something there that I want, and hate it because their stuff is really expensive. This year, though, I got a 50% coupon in the mail right before I left for my vacation. So the day after we got back, Amy and I drove downtown for a little bit of shopping.

And lo and behold, what did I find?

One gorgeous, hip, sassy sideboard that will cross the divide between the ulra-sleek design of my table, chairs, and wallhangings, and the slightly more saucy look I’m trying for in the kitchen (when I start redoing that.)

The company that makes this piece is called Träspecialen, they’re based in Sweden, and the line that this particular sideboard comes from is called Malibu. I really like these pieces - much more hip than IKEA (although the designer used to work there in the 80s), much better quality than IKEA, but with that awesome Swedish sensibility.

Now, to wait for it to arrive on the boat (16-20 weeks - boo!) and then to get some work done on my kitchen in the intervening months!

St. John, USVI, Part 1

This past week, Amy and I were down in St. John, one of the US Virgin Islands, with my family. My mom and dad both turned 60 in 2004, and to celebrate they took us and my brother’s family on vacation. We stayed at a lovely villa called Andante by the Sea, which overlooked Hart Bay. Hart Bay is part of Rendevous Bay on the south side and west end of the island - on this map, it’s where there “R” is on Rendevous. From our balcony, we could see Chocolate Hole to the west. (See the photo above).

We went snorkeling several times. On Monday, we went out with Captain Phil of the Wayward Sailor. We sailed north of St. John, and found a quiet spot between Congo Cay and Lovango Cay (on this map, it’s just north of the far western edge of the national park boundary line). We snorkeled for a couple of hours. Captain Phil taught my 8-year-old niece to snorkel, and she had a blast! It was loads of fun, and I highly recommend his services if you’re going to St. John.

On Wednesday, we did some more snorkeling at Jumbie Bay, one of the more secluded north side beaches. (See the photo of Amy at right). It was a beautiful day, the fish were amazing, and we all had a wonderful time, slight sunburns on the backs of our legs notwithstanding.

On Friday, we attempted more snorkeling on the north side, at both Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay (one of Travel Channel’s Best Beaches), but the surf was incredibly rough as a cold front had just gone through the area. We had to content ourselves with playing in the surf and walking along the shore. Bummer!

Saturday morning saw us all packing up and leaving. To get to St. John, you must take a ferry from St. Thomas (there is not an airport on St. John, blessedly!) Amy and I took the 8 a.m. ferry to St. Thomas (see photo below). It was a lovely day, and an amazing trip! In my next entry, I’ll talk about all the wildlife we saw - not to be missed!

Knitting MEME

AmyG tagged me in the latest knitting meme. Here you go:

1. Do you knit continental or English?

I think I knit continental. At any rate, I hold the free yarn in my right hand and throw it, rather than holding it in my left and picking.

2. How long ago did you learn to knit?

My mom tried to teach me when I was 10 - we were on vacation in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I remember sitting on a large rock, getting furstrated by the needles and yarn and my inability to make anything coherent happen. Nearly 20 years later, I took a class and have been knitting actively for 2 years now.

* 5. First FO?

A washcloth out of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. Then I made a hat out of some lovely orange Manos wool. And then I made a little bag out of Noro Kureyon. All done in the class - and I learned knits, pearls, both in the same row, casting on, casting off, k2tog, knitting on straights and in the round, and seaming.

6. Favorite yarn?

Probaby Noro Silk Garden. I’ve made one full sweater out of it, and am *nearly* done with a second in it. I can’t imagine what I’ll do when I don’t have anything to make out of more Silk Garden!

7. Favorite pattern?

Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton’s Klaralund from her book 2.

8. Favorite pattern source?

Knitty.com and the two SnB books by Debbie Stoller.

9. Favorite needles?

My Takumi bamboo circs, size 10.

10. Nicest thing you’ve ever knit?

Klaralund, for my mom.

11. Most hated project?

Aigh. The first sweater I made. Wool, sleeveless, tank top, too small, and too hot. Bleh.

12. Who are you going to pass this on to?

Not going to… because many folks have already been tagged. But if you want to, feel free!

* I wonder what happened to questions 3 and 4?