Oh man. If the Jane Austen Drinking Game had existed when Liz and I were in college, we would now be alcoholics.
Woot, my knee-jerk don’t-overthink-it pub-quiz answer was Iran which seems to be [✓]. I ‘knew’ it was more populous than…
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Shared today on Twitter
@tinkabel I’ve donated in the US and UK before, but not in the last 10 years. My Hb level was 139, IIRC. Right in the middle.
@tinkabel I’ve never been paid for it anywhere. Just always donate at the Red Cross.
@knitterjp No fishing line? I’ll call that a win. 🙂 Thanks!
RT @knitterjp: A third for @mrs_sockvictim http://t.co/Me7LZ7I // Yay, congrats Fee!!
My Hipster Cardy didn’t win the Show. Once again I am too AVANTE GARDE for the judges! 🙂 http://t.co/0lfymTt (Thanks @knitterjp for pic)
RT @knitterjp: Reccie’s shawl!! http://t.co/LHTJJn0 @miss_reecie
@knitterjp Intarsia waratahs? INTARSIA WARATAHS? Tell me that Asa’s actually pretty design won a ribbon.
RT @knitterjp: Send in the clowns http://t.co/gCN8fNr // So much FAIL in one photo. It’s a wonder anybody takes up knitting these days.
@knitterjp STOP TRICKING ME INTO CLICKING ON MORE CLOWNS. DO NOT WANT.
@drkknits I think we need to write a uke song about scourge of insipid clowns and the valiant-but-misunderstood knitters who oppose them.
@knitterjp There are no words.
@knitterjp GASP! He didn’t win? I do like the meerkat.
@knitdra @knitterjp He’s there every year. As god is my witness, one day I will own some naked marquetry.
@Kat13v Awww, thanks. 🙂
Playing Patsy Cline on the ukelele. @imdominating would be pissing herself.
@Kat13v Wait, WHAT? No 1st in my class? Okay, that’s friggin’ annoying.
@AusVintageGrrl Awww, thanks. I suppose the garment would’ve lost all Hipster Cred if it had a ribbon. Losing is more “authentic.” 🙂
@stufromoz I think you’ve done all the ones I know!
@steven_noble Isn’t there a parliament of owls? I always liked that one.
RT @eileenDCoE: Cures not cuts! #protectresearch
@knitabulous Nah, Walkin’ After Midnight. I’m not up to crooning yet. 🙂
100 Awesome Husband Points: secretly getting your wife a Jane Austen comic book as a surprise gift. http://t.co/0wLfHXB
@knitabulous I didn’t keep it as secret as I should. It was listed on Rav for ages. Oh well, winning would have tarnished my indie cred. 😛
The wicked bruise on my arm is the perfect counterpart to my wicked allergy attack, wicked sinus headache, and wicked bad mood.
@gingerthomas Yeah, I bruise pretty easily. It’s gnarly; looks like I got attacked by a vampire. Not Red Cross lady’s fault, she was good!
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Shared today on Facebook
Oh well. It appears that yet again I have failed to win the Easter Show. On the plus side, they didn’t string up the Snook’s Hipster Cardigan with fishing line…
Perfect timing. I scheduled my donation yesterday to be 12 days before my next long run. I’ll be taking it easy for the next couple days too.
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Charity
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to be more charitable. The Snook and I are incredibly lucky: we both have good jobs; we’re paying off our mortgage; we save more than we spend. We should do more to help out those less fortunate. Here’s a list of causes that I’ve supported in the past few months in case you’d like to join me:
Jump Rope for Heart – This is a yearly event that my little brother Joey participates in to raise money for the American Heart Association. I’m really proud of him. Last year he was the 2nd highest fundraiser in his whole school!
Disco Red Cross Appeal – This page was set up by my friend Lara, who felt powerless in the wake of the Queensland floods, Christchurch earthquake, and Japanese tsunamis. She’s asking folks to make a small sacrifice and donate the money to the Red Cross. Me, I gave up some of the cash I would’ve spent on a box of red wine. (Me = classy.)
Slow Runners Club Run Chicago – Diabetes Action Team
– I’ve been enjoying the Slow Runners Club podcast for a while now. Eddie recently lost his Mom to diabetes and the two guys are running the Chicago Marathon in her memory. They’re also raising funds for diabetes research. As an added thank-you for donations, the guys are offering entry into their private online coaching program. I’m looking forward to it!Australian Red Cross Blood Service – I’ve been meaning to start donating blood again. I haven’t actually donated in ten years (mostly because that time was so traumatic). I saw a poster recently advertising the big new fancy Donor Centre at Town Hall though, so I decided to go for it. I rang them up yesterday and made an appointment. And this morning, I went in and did it!
As recommended, I was well-hydrated and fed. The new Centre is great, all gleaming and high-tech. Since it was my first donation in Australia, I had to go through all the paperwork and interviews and such. They also checked my blood pressure and haemoglobin levels. (139 g/L – perfect! I am the Hermione of Haemoglobin.) Then I got led off to a big comfy robotic chair in front of a large TV, where a nice lady prepped me. I was worried they wouldn’t hit a vein easily – I’ve given other nurses trouble – but she got it on the first go. I was hooked up for about 7 minutes, and according to the little machine they got 480mL from me. Afterwards I got to rest in the chair to make sure I wouldn’t faint, and then it was off to the refreshments area for some food and drink. Overall it was my best donation experience yet, and I will definitely be repeating it. (I’m tempted to donate plasma, since they said that was better for those who train a lot since it doesn’t deplete your red blood cells.) Big thumbs up!
Edited 12/04/2025: The fundraising links are all dead and not archived.
Read and add comments: Charity2 responses
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Shared today on Twitter
@PhilKeoghan ACK. How about those of us in Australia? Going to have to hide your tweets!
This office is an ice box. My fingertips are actually going numb.
Was inspired to book in for blood donation tomorrow. I know too many folks who can’t donate; figure I’d better step up in their place!
@Yarna_ The cutoff on that seems to be ’96 for Australian donations. Luckily I didn’t live in England til ’98, so I’m okay!
@carbolicious Just thinking about that makes me wince.
Received hilariously mismatched job opp from Gemteq HR spammer. I’m not a team lead or dev, & I know zero .NET. Do they even read linkedin?
@Justacogitating Aussie rules ban those who spent 6 months in UK prior to ’96. So we’re clear by two years, thankfully!
Just finished breakfast (leftover meatloaf and zucchini) and now I’m pounding water. All preparation for giving blood in an hour!
Hemoglobin checked, iron levels all good. Ready to get stuck!
Needle is in and I am being drained. New Town Hall Red Cross centre is brilliant. Comfy high-tech recliners and big TVs!
Who wants to see me and my blood? (Not gross; I swear.) http://t.co/7GzZ8pQ http://t.co/LMyfGvW
All done! Now just chillin’ til I get my cookie. That was best blood donation experience ever. Practically painless, very professional.
@knitterjp It’s those folks, but the whole center has moved to Town Hall. New place is great!
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Shared today on Facebook
I have now donated blood on three continents! (I have to say, the new Red Cross donation center at Town Hall in Sydney was the best of all.)
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8-bit Pocket Camera
8-bit Pocket Camera. Oh man! Use your iPhone to take photos that look like the ones from the old Game Boy Camera. That’s awesome.
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Shared today on Twitter
@stufromoz @ellymc I used to work at Morris and Sons. Great range, biggest in Sydney. Not cheap though!
@stufromoz @ellymc That’s A Coffee and a Yarn. Nice cafe, not a big yarn range though.
Catching up on Biggest Loser. Okay, Lara’s Dad made me cry.
@Shiloh834 You appear to be a spammer of some kind. No thanks.
@XXFRha Please stop begging. You’re ruining the game.
@healthmonth Another spammer! “@XXFRha: hi:)) i see you play healthmonth too..so would you mind to help me to sponsoring my acc? please”
Jamie’s recipe #11: Grilled Sardines, Crispy Halloumi, Salad, Figs, and Choc Mousse. Our first 10/10 rating! SO GOOD. http://bit.ly/fD9eoF
Practically empty 480 just blew past Broadway without even slowing. Why do I even bother waving? @131500buses
@betsybookworm @madradish It’s mostly because that bus stop at Broadway gets so backed up. They need to split it into two stops.
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