Yarn Pirate came out with a colorway called “Gotham.” I had to have it.

Combined with the Knitty pattern Sunday Swing Socks, which is fittingly holey, I had the best Batman socks ever.

The pattern was easy. The yarn was great. I enjoyed knitting them and wish I’d gotten them done faster, but life and a baby blanket got in the way.

I plan on growling “I am the night!” whenever I wear them.

(Cross-posted to Holy Blog, Batman!)

Voila: Fishing for Necks.

This is the crocheted mesh scarf, with a hook size H, using malabrigo in alpine pearl.

Today is my birthday and recently Jon and I celebrated that and our anniversary by dressing up in our finery and going to eat at a fancy place.

The place was so fancy that it wasn’t even written in English.

Jon isn’t very good at the “bad ass” picture, but eventually we proved how pimp we are:

Yeah. We be rollin’.

- M

Well, as I turned a corner and watched one of my cats licking the plastic cover of a treasured comic, I realized I needed to take the plunge: I bought a short-box (the smaller box that is most often used to store comics). I officially can’t pretend comics is just a “little hobby.”¹

Although cheap and the perfect size, short-boxes are ugly. The crafty side of me took over and voila:

Yeah. I bought a cheap lot of Wednesday Comics off eBay and I decoupaged the hell out of it. Although I don’t really like Superman (detest might be a better word), I couldn’t ignore how beautiful the art was and ended up giving him his own side of the box.

The Green Lantern earned the other large side.

The Flash was perfect for the small side.

The other small side was reserved for random extras, especially the awesome sound effects.

Of course the top went to Batman.

And when I tried to sort my comics, I came back to my box to find this scene:

That is our new cat, Jean Grey (named after a X-Men character from the Marvel universe), caught red-handed giving Batman some love. I always knew she’d come to the DC side of things.

Incidentally, that cover art is what my Batman tattoo will be of when I complete my quest to read all of Batman.

Does this earn me biggest geek ever? Probably not, but it puts me square in the running.

(Cross-posted to Holy Blog, Batman!)

¹Because deciding to read all of Batman didn’t push me over the edge enough.

The pattern is OpArt from Knitty.

I used the yarn the pattern calls for, KnitPicks Swish DK, in asparagus and nutmeg. Sounds tasty.

Because the baby shower surprised me and I only planned on getting it to her before the baby was born (late August), I ended up going with the small size. You can check out any more info and other pictures on my project page.

I’m not sure if the mom likes it or not, but Jon clearly does.

- M

We drove a lot. About 15 hours total, but we stopped at my parents’ on the way down and back up, which was about halfway and broke up the monotony.

Home! Both of us are from Maryland and spent a large deal of time squealing about various places we recognized as we drove the Beltway. It was my first time driving both the Pennsylvania Turnbike and the Beltway and I thought it was fun, like Mario Kart – only when you die on the Beltway, you really die.

The National Zoo.

Jon finally fulfilled his life-long dream of meeting a dragon. They seem so much smaller in person.

Khhhhaaaaaaaaaan!!!! (This is an Alligator Snapping Turtle – one of my favorite.)

Last turtle picture, I promise. At least, from the zoo.

We went to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Mostly we just tried to find as many strange things as possible while there. And there were a lot of strange things.

Like Blairwitch Lincoln.

Michelangelo – like, totally dude!

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Lots and lots of bones in this one. We were both amazed by how the horse skeletons, of all of them, seemed the scariest. Perhaps because we are most used to seeing horses with skin.

Turtle

No caption needed.

And I’m pretty sure this is the face-hugger from Alien.

It was crowded and busy most of the time, as expected. We saw his family and some friends, visited with my grandma, brother, and nieces (whom I hadn’t seen in five years) and, of course, made it to Ikea.

Both of us want to move back but it’s so expensive. And I have this thing up here called a job that I just happen to love. We’ll always have reasons to visit, though, and will do so happily.

- M

¹ More pictures on my Flickr if you happen to love pictures of animals/dead animals.

His name is Jon and he’s damn good people. We met this year and have been friends since September. Then he asked me out and things have been amazing.

Holden loves him. Really. That look he’s giving him is just one of judgement, for playing Magic. Only total geeks would ever play magic. *cough cough*

This weekend we went on our first roadtrip and Holden put his head on Jon’s shoulder most of the way. Also, that stuff you see through the window? Yep, that’s snow.

Jon is amazing, hilarious, kind, awesomely geeky, and – the best part – also from Maryland. We’re headed back to visit family and home at the end of the month. Plus, we’re both total BAMFs:

And, so this is somewhat knitting related, his sister is having a baby, which has gotten me back on the knitting wagon. I’m working on an awesome baby blanket and it should be done by July (I hope). Pictures to follow.

- M

February 1st seems to be the last time I updated this thing? Shame. Shaaaaaame.

Have I finished any knitting projects? No.
Have I started any knitting projects? No.
Does anyone still even read this? Probably not.
Am I still a knitter? Hell yes! Some progress has been made. But I’ve been distracted by various things, like life.

And, of course, this:

Yes, Batman. I’m reading all of Batman, from 1939 to 2009′s Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?. So most of my attention is being focused over there, on my Holy Blog, Batman! But never fear, I shall return, needles in hand. It’s just taking me a bit longer to get one project done when I’m too busy reading comics.

Seriously, what has this world come to?

- M

It is a reference back to the “Keep Calm and Carry On” propaganda posters from England in WWII.

You can buy your own on jennigee‘s Etsy site. I love them!

ETA: And she has a CafePress store with lots of other goodies with the logo – mugs, shirts, journals, etc. Definitely give them a look.

Also, I now have a Batman blog, keeping track of my journey to read all of Batman: Holy Blog Batman! Please let anyone interested know about it. I’d like as much feedback as possible. So far, I’m having a blast. Wish me luck!

- M

Step one: figure out what they are. I’m guessing this list is at least a start.

I’m not expecting to finish this goal this year. Or maybe ever, depending on whether or not I can somehow find these issues without spending away all my money.

But then, Bruce Wayne didn’t expect to get rid of all the crime in Gotham either.

- M

¹I should also get myself an awesome Batman figurine.

My knitting(ish) year in photos:

That photo includes Maddi, since she passed in January; Holden, who I got in February; Obama, because that is amazing for our country; Moni, who I just recently got; and three sets of tattoos – one half-sleeve.

It doesn’t include another snood I made and three pairs of fingerless gloves that I didn’t bother taking pictures of.

I learned to crochet, made a few small gifts, and made one large shrug for my friend’s wedding.

AND – I have a new nephew:

His name is Tiberius. My friends just got him while I was visiting for New Years. He’s wonderful and cute and reminds me that I’m just fine with my one grown-up dog and a cat.

- M