Angie, this is for you-I'm posting again! The reason I'm posting today is to direct readers to the following link:

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/32072054.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUss

I don't know how to add a link yet so you can't just click on the above and go directly to the article. You'll probably need to cut and paste-sorry.

If you're not from Minnesota, chances are you've not heard of Katherine Kersten. She is an "opinion" writer for the Star Tribune newspaper. Her rants have become legend in these parts, and always good for a laugh. I don't know why the Star Tribue keeps this kook on the payroll. The Star Tribune can't be serious so it must just be for comic relief. Katherine should be one of the journalists Michelle Bachmann should employ for her "great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out: Are they pro-America or anti-America?"

So Angie, here it is. I can hear you squealing as you read this.

Easter Trivia

A lot of people are talking about how early Easter is this year. I mean, in Minnesota we just got a couple of inches of snow. But I didn't know this information, originally posted on the Luther College website:

Easter is early this year. Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, March 20. This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives. Only those 95 and above have ever seen it this early. And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier. Here are the facts:

· The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228. The last time it was this early was 1913.
· The next time it will be March 22, will be in the year 2285. The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.

We won't ever have to complain about Easter coming early ever again.

I've Been Removed

I was reading some other blogs today, and happened upon a friend's blog: http://playcatchupwithcate.blogspot.com/ She cleaned me out of her links list, evidently because I haven't posted since 21 February. But, I have an excuse-I was for the past 2 weeks involved in my final opera of the 2007-2008 Minnesota Opera season.

The Fortunes of King Croesus. What can I say? First, the music is beautiful, and was sung by some of the best voices I've heard in a long time. It really was an experience to have every voice of such quality sing this overlooked piece. I hope it gains a place in the Baroque rep.

That being said, the rehearsal process was long and tiring. Not because we had so much to do-just the opposite. Long periods of time were spent sitting in the green room reading, knitting, and watching people play Dominoes. I lost my cool on the last night of tech, the final dress rehearsal, when we staged the bows. I said very loudly "this is taking longer than the staging of the chorus throughout the show." But I was being blasted by a very bad sinus headache, and wasn't in the mood to stand around and then be directed on how to leave the stage. Ugh.

I spent a lot of time knitting one of my nephews a sweater for NEXT Christmas (see previous post). It will be in pieces, and I'll have to find someone to put it together when I'm done. The body of the sweater is done in an English Rib Stitch-purl one row across, and then knit 1 purl 1 back. I was quite far along, when I discovered I made a mistake and the ribs weren't lining up-must have purled when I should have knit or vice versa. Anyway, the carrying on in the green room distracted me several times, so I think I ripped and started again at least 3 times. There are certain areas of the world one (or at least I) cannont knit which requires concentration: the green room at the Ordway Center in St Paul. Socks would be a good project in those conditions.

So now I'm going to be a recluse for a while. It's tough working all day, going to the theatre, and having to be "up" several nights a week. Couple that with losing an hour of sleep on Saturday night, and NO nap to make up for it on Sunday (a show that day), I am ready to sit on the couch in our den,knit or read, one of the cats looking for attention from me, and watch the lurid Eliot Spitzer story unfold.

Catch up with Cate--will you put me back on your links??

Christmas Knitting 2008

Christmas knitting for 2007 was a bust. I attempted too much and started too late. So now those scarves, many in progress, will be given as birthday gifts throughout the year. But...

I wanted to make my 2 nephews sweaters for Christmas. Never even got started on them. I decided in the past couple of days to start them now, and then those projects will be done by Christmas. It feels weird knitting gifts 10 months hence. And then my sisters (3) saw me working on Christmas stockings at Thanksgiving and they kept saying how cool they were. I guess a not so subtle hint isn't lost on me. So, in between sweaters, I'll do Christmas stockings. But I won't use worsted weight yarn. The pattern I have can be done in chunky yarn too, on size 10 needles. Those should knit up quick. Funny thing is that beyond a scarf for myself when I started knitting, I haven't done anything else for me. As you can see by the sidebar, I've got a couple things going for myself-and they have been languishing too long.

I'm not in a bad place, compared to other folks. Yesterday I did a Google search on people who have multiple knitting projects in progress. Some people have had sweaters on the needles for 21 years! How could they remember where they left off? Socks seem to be the worst offender-second sock syndrome. But I felt better knowing that I am far far away from having boxes under the bed of unfinished projects.

Stepford Wife

Last night I drove home from MN Opera rehearsal and heard that Obama and McCain had won in Wisconsin. Of course, being a news junky, I had to stay up and watch the blah blah blah analysis of why they won, etc. Amidst this blathering, clips of Cindy and John McCain flashed across the screen. My only thought about Ms McCain is she looked like a Stepford Wife. The smile is so fake. And those eyes! Please, no more pictures of Cindy McCain-she scares me!

Spam

Here is a letter I received in my spam email at work today:

Dear Friend,
I am MRS CELIA SANDRA BOTHA, a mother of three children and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly: Democratic Alliance (Parliament), Cape Town; House Chairperson:
National Assembly, Free State, South Africa.

You can view my profile here:
http://www.whoswhosa.co.za/Pages/profilefull.aspx?IndID=5847

After discussing with my children, I decided to contact you for your assistance in assisting us in clearing a huge sum of money which my husband deposited with a finance and security company, we want you to stand as the beneficiary of this money because I can not do it due to my position in government.

My late husband Mr Andries Botha died while he was on a business trip to Trinidad and Tobago in 2007. After his death, I discovered that he had some funds in a dollar account which mounted to with this finance and security company.

This money emanated as a result of an over-invoiced contract which he executed with the Government of South Africa. Though I assisted him in getting this contract but I never knew that it was over-invoiced by him. I am afraid that the government of South Africa might start to investigate on contracts awarded from 2002 to date and if this is discovered, they will confiscate it and seize his assets here in South Africa and this will definitely affect my political career and position in government.

I want your assistance in clearing this money from the finance and security company and as soon as the money is cleared, you are expected to move it immediately into another personal bank account in your country. As soon as you have confirmed the fund into your account, I will send my eldest son with my Attorney to come to your country to discuss on business investments.

For your assistance, I will offer you a certain percentage of this amount as we will agree upon. However, you have to assure me and also be ready to go into agreement with me that you will not elope with the money upon transfer by you.

If you agree to my terms, kindly as a matter of urgency send me an email. Due to my sensitive position in the South African Government, I would not WANT you to call me on phone or send a fax to me. All correspondence must be by email to my private email or if I have your phone number I will endeavor to call you from time to time and when it is convenient to do so.

If you want to speak with my Attorney, that is fine and okay by me. His chambers will be representing my interest with you. All correspondence must be made either to my Attorney or send me an email. I will also like you to give me your contact address, telephone, fax and email to enable my Attorney call or reach you from time to time. I shall explain to you what to do and how much that is involved when I hear from you.

Please I do not need to remind you of the need for absolute Confidentiality if this transaction must succeed. YOU MUST NOT CALL ME!
Here is my private emails: mrs.celiabotha@sify.com

If you do not feel comfortable with this transaction, do not hesitate to discontinue.


Thanks for your anticipated co-operation and my regards to your family.

Yours faithfully,

MRS CELIA SANDRA BOTHA


This is just bizarre!

With a little help from my friends

So I goofed when I posted minutes ago. I wanted a link to The Meema Files and my friend Scott at Going 40 in a 20 Zone told me what to do.
When I tried it the Meema Files didn't work. Let's see if the link to Going 40 works. If it does I will feel as if I have conquered the world.