so i was doing some online birthday shopping for the gaggle of neices and nephews whose birthdays are this month, and i came across what may be the grossest toy ever. it is actually called "Barbie's Friend Midge with Pregnant Tummy and Baby Doll." In case you find the name ambiguous, let me explain. According to the manufacturer, "Barbie doll's friend Midge is having a baby! Midge doll comes with everything girls need to play out the birth and care of a new baby. Midge comes with a pregnant tummy that removes to reveal the brand new baby."
Gross.
The best thing about this is that the amazon.com page where pregnant removable tummy midge is being hawked has actually, er, spawned a big debate amongst reviewers about whether "midge" teaches bad values. Like pregnancy. Apparently some shoppers are alarmed that pregnant midge looks like she's about 14 years old. Others complain that she doesn't appear to have a wedding ring. Personally, i'm concerned that midge's anoerxia can't be good for that baby. Actually mostly i'm just concerned about the "removable tummy" concept. (Or maybe i'm just jealous b/c I wish I had a removable tummy....) In any event, several of the very pro-midge reviewers have taken the stance that midge isn't teaching bad values, and in fact it's a great educational toy to teach kids where babies come from.
really? you're going to teach them that you just snap off mommy's belly at the end of 9 months? really?
I also noted that amazon will give you a special low price if you buy pregnant midge along with the "happy family volvo" minivan. To be honest, I find this just as gross as the removable tummy.
we had easter brunch on sunday with some musician friends here in anchorage. all day i was noticing what great music they were playing on their radio. turns out they had their computer turned to radio paradise. it's free streaming radio, no commercials, really great music.
there's this cool "listener map" feature on their website. it's amazing -- little dots lit up all across the world. right now there's one little dot in all of alaska. that's me! here in my living room watching the 10: PM sunset and feeling slightly more connected with the world (even if i'm really far away).
okay, they're not photos of knitting, but you can't have it all. i finally unpacked the digital camera and battery charger, so here are some pics of our new house! A vast improvement, wouldn't you say?
Incidentally, what makes this "knitting related" is that the big trunk in the living room is actually filled with yarn and knitting needles. (It's pretty obscene, really.) Oh, I also think the guest bedroom photos show parts of Suzie. And the pic of the garage shows the new home of my absurd stash o' uncarded fleece. Thank goodness Mr. Purl,Interrupted got all "homeownershippy" and started building shelves!
knitting school, that is! thursday night has turned into chess and boardgames night at our house, and now it's knitting lesson night too. this thursday my friends jara and jeannette brought their needles and yarn over and demanded to be taught how to knit.
a few observations:
1. i'm relieved that i still remember how to cast on, given how long it's been since i started anything new.
2. for that matter, i'm relieved that i still remember how to knit at all, given how lazy a knitter i've become.
3. jeannette and jara are much faster learners than i was. that poor girl at skein lane must have thought i was "special," and not in the endearing sense.
so they are both off and running. jeannette, who is an overachiever, learned both knitting and purling. jara, who is very pregnant and tires easily, stuck with knitting and will purl next week. but rumor has it that she was knitting away last night during poker night. i'm so proud. and mostly just selfishly excited to have people to knit with!
in a related and very strange story, did i already tell you about the middle-aged plastic surgeon i met who wants to learn to spin? he's married to a partner in my lawfirm, and they were at our house for our housewarming party. imagine my surprise when diane's husband was the guest who was most excited by suzie (my spinning wheel), my big toothy drum carder, the huge piles of yarn and fiber, the garage full o' fleeces, the spinning books, and all my stories about knitting and spinning.
the whole thing was hilarious. apparently he wants to be invited over for a play date so he can try spinning. talk about an unexpected mixing of the worlds.