Friday, December 30, 2005

A list to ponder and wonder 2005-2006




After reading my friend's blog , http://monstercrochet.blogspot.com , entry about resolutions and reflections I realized that I would not mind sharing the same with you. First of all let me tell you that failing to achieve any of them is not a failure, they will be moved or modified or reevaluated. I find no value in beating myself over the head for things impossible or unrealistic expectations or for most anything. In life you need to learn to adapt and change. Being a Taurus life is good if it is predictable, steady and routine. Besides being a Taurus there is more to my chart and I like change and I like challenges once in a while, it keeps life interesting.

When I look at certain things in life I look at the whole value of the ideal then I proceed to see if I am actually asking myself to fail or just postponing the inevitable. My motto in 2006 more than ever will be "Simplify life", almost like Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, but different. I am not afraid of living nor of embracing death. The fictional characters of Star Trek, the Klingons say that the body is just a shell. I believe that. My vision of God is very diferent, and sometimes I am afraid to even think of God, because I do not want to limit God or the Gods to my limited human brain perception. I can accept that my mind is too limited to try to define God or the Gods at all. I never forget the first time I heard the word Gods, it was at UC Berkeley 's International House Dorm, it was a comment from a guy from India in which he used the word Gods. At first I kind of got a shock, but I realized that this man came from a completely different Continent, culture and lifestyle, to him the Gods where as real as anyone else 's God, welcome to the real world where his culture has been around as long or longer than mine. Namaste.

Now coming back to this day I have lots of desires, lots of goal, lots of wants and few needs. I want to take care of all my needs next year, get some of my want items and fulfill some desires and have some goals attained. So here are some of the things I am including. They are not in order of desire or priority, and some may be replaced by new ones, you never know what is after the river's bend. So here I go , I hope you get inspired, as did I, after reading my friends list:
  1. Enhance my health some more in 2006, since 2003 my health has changed and it has it challenges. Being stable is my goal for 2006.
  2. Travel outside California at least twice.
  3. Make new friends with more crafty people that either crochet or knit. I started in 2005 and have made a lot of new acquaintanships and friendships.
  4. Make granny squares and some Afghans for charities in memory of my friend Scott, using his yarn. I may be able to make many, we shall see how it goes.
  5. Be financially more independant at many levels. I have been working on that.
  6. Make two sweaters , one crochet , one cable knit.
  7. Read at least one book a month.
  8. Be more assertive.
  9. Want to meditate more.
  10. Visualize with caution and precise intent.
  11. Renew my love and commitment to life and myself.
  12. Pick up two pieces of trash a day.
  13. Have a laughing time every day.
  14. Get a tattoo , picture above, Klingon, Heart and Honor.
  15. Continue my excercise routine.
  16. Enjoy nature some more.
  17. Have a healthy fantasy life. LOL.
  18. Be more tolerant of people.
  19. Disarm anger in my life.
  20. Continue calling family often, I already call them twice a week.
  21. Compliment people more.
  22. Speak my mind even if I have to apologize later.
  23. Smile more often it makes people wonder.
  24. Watch Battlestar Galactica religously.
  25. Start a Crochet Group at the SF LGTB Center.
  26. Deepen my Astrology practice.
  27. Renew part of my wardrobe.
  28. Pay down my debts, I have cut down my debts in half already.
  29. Start setting goals for when I am 50.
  30. Honor all my relations.
  31. Speak to the wind.
  32. Embrace the four points.
  33. Embrace change and bend like a sheet of Tallgrass.
  34. Go to a nude beach and be nude and experience freedom.
  35. Keep paying in cash as much as possible.
  36. Love my body.
  37. Take baths once a month, it's a luxury to take baths.
  38. Learn to cook more with Stevia.
  39. Try some new fruit or vegetable I never tried before.
  40. Express my love for all my relations.
My life is very simple due to circumstances in my life. I am not a complainer by nature, but I do have my life in as much order as possible. I enjoy organized chaos LOL, it is how I will describe life at best. I will live life to the fullest and share my experiences with all people, my friends and aqcuaintances as well. The year 2005 leaves me very humble and very honor to be among all the people who I know. May we have a great and abundant 2006 full of joy, good health, happiness, abundance, sex, chocolate, and maybe if the Gods are kind enough there will be a cure for some diseases and maybe a vaccine for AIDS. I am hoping that famine will be no more, hunger will end, homelessness will be a thing of the past. Peace and joy to all on Earth and in any other planets. May the Gods of Kobol and the Prophets of Bajor smile on us once more.

Until Next year with all my love Andrés aka Andy says hasta la vista Baby.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Lavender And Purple

This is one of my works in progress I call it Lavender Trellis. I am making this project with yarn from my charity bunch. It will be in memory of Scott Hooper. I am working on my new years resolution et reflection list. It is amazing when you realize how much you have to say and you are not even thinking about speaking.


I am looking forward to going to Puerto Rico next month. I am going to be in my native Puerto Rico on a real vacation for the first time in my life. I will be doing just not much. I am planning to visit the Camuy Caves, Camuy is a town in Puerto Rico.

I am also working on a sweater, and some other miscellaneous items. I am reading as well reading at least three books. I get bored with just one book, unless is really good. ANyway thank you for stopping by, come back before or at year's End and read my list, maybe youget motivation to write your own list.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Title: Which Changeling Kith Best Fits You?
























You are a Sidhe!! You are the beautiful, the elite,
the cream of the crop. LUXURY is the only word
to describe your tastes. But sometimes, luxury
and nobility by birth are not enough. To
survive, you need to loosen your collar a bit
and have a more open mind towards those you
view as being "beneath" you. You just
might be surprised at the things you can
accomplish.


Which Changeling Kith Best Fits You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sunday, December 25, 2005

What was left under the Christmas tree?


Our friends Bob and Javier joined us for Dinner. We had great tamales, arroz con gandules, which is a favorite in the puertorrican cuisine at this time of year. We had sweet rice pudding, a nice salad, coconut custard, home made non-alcoholic eggnog, some wine, chocolate cheesecake and cookies which I never had, I can eat the whole box. LOL There was home made bread, olives, brie cheese, blue roseborg cheese ( careful with that one They are BORG), salami, roasted nuts. A nice evening with some friends, and a very mild night in San Francisco weatherwise.

I got very ethnic as you can see LOL. After the meal was over we saw Batman Begins. The guys left around 1130 PM, they needed to hurry if they wanted to catch Santa.

Next day, or today there were presents under the tree. I got the perfect Gift Card , look by the by the Toy Soldier inside the box. You can never go wrong giving a Taurus money. A Taurus always thinks some for fun, some for savings and some for making more money and some for charioty, you have to share your abundance if you want to receive more. I hope your holidays were fun. I ate too much sugary stuff, I will have to go to the gym everyday to recover for it this next week.

I got a lot of unexpected gifts and some that I already knew. Mike got a Madonna Cd, A vest and Knitted caps. Money and chocolate are always fun to get. May the rest of the year be full of wonder and fun. If you are wondering about the Virgin Icon and the crystal, the Virgin is called the Virgin of the Road, and the crystal is a citrine quartz which will bring you balance, it is a great stone for Aries and Libra specifically.

So to the end of the year. This year was better than last and I am looking forward to nice changes in 2006. Thanks for stopping by and come back again.

Friday, December 23, 2005

I present you Heidi the Wonder Weiner





Hello and welcome to my Friday entry for this week. Maybe not the last one, LOL. Heidi the Wonder Weiner was Scott Hooper designed stuffed animal. Finishing her pattern has given me a little bit more closure as to the physical loss of my friend.

Scotts pattern is very clever and I think can be made in many colors. The dog is stuffed with polyfil and as we were discussing the stuffing, we decided to use a sock or stocking of the color of the dog or yarn that you choose to make Heidi of.


A boy and his dreams. We men never stop being boys, I think woman must talk about their little girl inside of them, even though some peoiple have a little girl and a little boy inside them, I guess it gets crowded inside our beings. LOL.

I got to take this picture of Heidi , and it looks like she is sitting down. I was able to give her pads on her paws, the pattern did not call for that. Anyone interested in the pattern , please contact me and I will email you the PDF format file. It is not a hard pattern to make, but definitely not for beginers.

Here is a back view of Heidi as she was running away to get her mealbone cookie. I will definitely make another Heidi. I hope to make her in different colors. Thank you for stopping buy and for taking a look at Heidi. This is part of Scott's legacy and I want people to have the pattern for free, it is a nice thing to do in his name.

There is so much craziness about the Holidays, that people forget the fun part of it . Who bought what, who got what, who did not get anything, who thanked me for the gift, who was not greatful and so on. The joy of making a child smile is equivalent to happiness. Remember to treasure children and to encourage their creative and wonderous spirit. Children are living beings that remember everything you tell them or do to them, consciously or unconsciously. Remember that how you raise your children will shape their lifes and the way their children and children's children will grow up. If you want to create change and stop the insanity of how you grew up, now is the time. Learn to discipline without brute force, and remember that sometimes children need to be spanked, and do not abuse your children it is wrong.

I will like to end this note by saying that I am proud of my sister and they way she raised her children. It was different from our parents and it promoted, tolerance, creativity, respect and an open mind.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Yarn Stash 2005


Can You believe the look on my face, Say YARN. I have been tagged to show my stash of yarn, here is most of it, on the far right of the picture toward the window there is about 10 skeins more, and I have about 20 more in the bedroom with projects. It was not always like this, I swear to you.

I inherited a lot of yarn from Scott Hooper. His father sent me all the yarn he had, we split the shipping and I will make granny squares in mempory of granny guy, afghans, scarfs, hats, and such in the memory of Scott Hooper Jr. I have tags with his name on. I will also have a tag saying handcrafted by yours trully. I will be making donations in his memory through my work and his yarn.

Well I have a great surprise for you Friday. Thanks for stopping by. Peldor Joi!!!

Addendum 12/26/05

Scott's father donated the shipping. I have put all my yarn away, got an Etagere just for the yarn and as I walk into the bedroom it looks like a yarn store. My dream come true own my own yarn store. I just wanted to make an addendum to denote Scott's father kindness.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

I sat on Santa's Lap!!!

Well, here I am, sitting on Santa's Lap. This is a different Santa, that stops in San Francisco to check on the boys. He asked me, Have you been a Good Boy this Year Andy? I was confused and my answer was a little perplexing. I responded with such innocence and the following, "Dear Santa I have been good and bad, I guess ", How can that be my boy?. I looked around as if I could get the answer from the air, and I said, " Santa I have been a bad boy, but people say that when I am really bad I am actually really good. He gave me a kiss and said you definitely look like trouble. LOL.


What do you think Santa said?
Will he bring me presents?
Do you think he Believed me?

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

Monday, December 19, 2005

My Christmas Elf Name Is!!!!

What can I tell you, My friend from BITCHZILLA got me into trying this and I thought it was hilarious. You should try it and have fun as well. I have been working on a lot of things and I am done with Heidi's legs, will post a picture later I am working on ther tail LOL. Once the tail is done I will also post a picture.

Thanks for stopping by. What do you think about my Elf Name, is very Me!!! HO Ho HO!

Christmas Elf Name

My Christmas Elf Name is
Get your Christmas Elf Name at JokesUnlimited.com

Heidi Has New Shoes


Hello Everyone:

It is Monday and the fairy dust is falling. These are the hips (round) , front legs and paws (far left below) and the hind legs and paws. They wull get toes and it will be stuffed.

We are doing a Crochet-Along at the my great MSN Group, http://groups.msn.com/crochetdepot, it is a group that was co-founded by Scott Hooper. My friend Scott was a great human being and the designer of Dashchund Heidi Stuffed animal pattern , http://grannyguy.blogspot.com. As he was not feeling well and complications with the old website were getting absurd.



I want to thank my friend from BITCHZILLA for his help in helping making this website look better. There Have been a lot of inspiration from his blog , you may click on his button to visit him and his madness.


So I will be working with Heidi and other stuff. I decided to get a beautiful Brittany Wooden Hook for my Airplane trip next month. I even downloaded and printed the FAA rules and regulations as of September, 2005, I am taking a copy of it with me, just in case you can find the good and bad items at this location and you will need adobe acrobat reader to be able to open the file. As I read kniting and crochet needles are allowed in carry on, I will just advise to bring wood or plastic. IMHO these materials do not pose a threat to you or anyone and bring yarn of course. http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_9_6_2005.pdf

I am glad you decided to stop by and see what I have been up to, thanks and come back soon, as I will have a picture of Heidi the Wonder Weiner standing up for my entry on Wednesday.

Friday, December 16, 2005

One Friday in my Life Dec 05


Just in case you were wondering what's in a Friday for CraftyAndy , I got up early, 730 AM, and went to the gym, as I do on my Mon-Wed-Fri routine. I actually drag myself out as for some reason wether is the medications, old age, or AIDS or some hidden syndrome they can not diagnose, I am always tired. Going to the gym and doing some Cardio always gets my blood pumping and the energy goes up at least for 3 to 4 hours.

So after I took my lavish sulfur shower so that I don't get
weird stuff on my skin, I got dressed up. San Francisco has a mild winter, but today was around high 40s. The Hat and the sweater are made by me.

After I got dressed went to my other daily errands, the mail, the bank, the cute boy with the warm croissants, LOL, just kidding. I promised a friend of mine that I will take some pictures around and show him some of the local natives and their holiday spirit. What do you know, in the store called "Does your Mother Know" there is a display and there is a set of dolls from RuPaul and if you don't know who RuPaul is better click on her name, she has a doll. Now I don't know about you folks, but she has a doll, she is the most famous drag queen have ever known in my life. That puts her up there with GiJoe and Barbie, the Doll has an inscription that reads "99% Plastic, 1% Woman" Amazing, only in San Francisco and the Store "Does Your Mother Know".
Here you have yet another window display. But I did not stop there, I wanted to show my friend the Community Tree in front of the Bank of America or what they call Hibernia Beach. It is called Hibernia Beach because some time ago, the were shirtless men taking the sun in front of the bank which at that time was called the Hibernia Bank. So here in the middle of the Castro there was a place to sun yourself in your lunch break, the view was very diferent.


Well this was not all I did, I went to the Mission or what we puertorricans will call "El Barrio" and I got very ethnic as you can see. I got my cheeses including, fresco, cotija, oaxaca, I got malanga or Tarot Root, green bananas which are delicious boiled, you have to add a little milk to the water, otherwise it will stain the pot. A plantain , some carnitas (pork), some pork rinds and "Quesadilla Salvadoreña Juanita.", a salvadorean pastry. Thus it ends my day on the streets and I am sipping my sugar free Hazelnut Latte.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your stay and please come back there may be more to tell during the weekend.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

One Hundred Things I want to Share with You

These are facts , simple as they are of the way I look at things, they way I think. It has not always been like this, but I have grown to be a very nice man. I wish my father was as nice as I am, he would have been a great Dad, yet he was the father that he was.


I found this through the internet in a friends photo album and I thought it was worth sharing it. It is on a Starbucks Coffee Cup!



  1. If what you say and what you do does not match, there’s a problem.
  2. I believe Justice is blind.
  3. The sun rises over good and bad people.
  4. Never take more than what you need or give more than what you have.
  5. A aspid is always an aspid it can not help but be what it is.
  6. Good Relationships are like gold pressed latinum, treasure them like the ferengui do.
  7. Bad relationships are like a grain of sand in your eye, it still hurts after you get rid of it.
  8. Men are always men never forget that.
  9. Gossip and criticism are two different things.
  10. I believe in the inscription of the oracle of Delphi “Nothing in Excess”
  11. Self Worth is personal and not related to anything you posses, buy, sell, love, steal, learn, get, give, wear, hear or say, you get my point.
  12. Self loathing is useless.
  13. Self pity is useless.
  14. Never be afraid to Speak up.
  15. Don’t be afraid to create waves.
  16. Cowards have no honor.
  17. Keep an open mind.
  18. Women are sentient valuable beings
  19. You will be judged in the way you judge.
  20. Prejudice is unacceptable, it will touch you back one day.
  21. AIDS sucks!
  22. Alcohol is a drug and a poison, will you freshen my drink please.
  23. Coffee is good in moderation
  24. The kettle can not call the cauldron black.
  25. Organized Religion is for crowd control.
  26. Pick up two pieces of trash everyday.
  27. Do not litter.
  28. If you Sexually harass me I will grade you.
  29. Be careful what you wish for you may get it.
  30. Short men are beautiful.
  31. The taller you are the longer it takes to pump blood to your brain.
  32. Our brain is mostly fat, don’t starve it.
  33. hairy men are beautiful.
  34. bald men are beautiful.
  35. men are beautiful.
  36. Latin is not the language spoken by Latinos.
  37. Ignorance is daring.
  38. Part of my father’s family came to the Americas in the 1500’s.
  39. There is ONLY ONE Spanish language that all Spanish speaking people speak.
  40. Rudeness is unnecessary.
  41. The best birth control is abstinence.
  42. Don’t be ashamed of your body it will respond accordingly.
  43. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
  44. You cannot give what you don’t possess.
  45. You cannot have what you deny to yourself.
  46. I am an equal to everyone.
  47. I am not arrogant, but I am shy.
  48. Learn to listen and you will make lots of friends.
  49. Eat sugar in moderation.
  50. Eat wholesome foods.
  51. Be mindful of the kind of language and words that come out of your mouth.
  52. There is beauty everywhere.
  53. Don’t say all that comes to your mind, but mind all that you say.
  54. Never live wondering what if.
  55. Exercise in moderation.
  56. I never Forget, it’s a curse.
  57. Wrong me more than twice and you are out.
  58. If You betray my trust , I doubt you get it back.
  59. With the truth no one manipulates you.
  60. human have an animal instinct.
  61. I will like to learn Mandarin , Hebrew and Greek.
  62. Child molesters should be neutered.
  63. Trust the Universe and whoever you call God.
  64. Faith is real.
  65. Love conquers everything, but bad relationships never work.
  66. What I want and what I need sometimes is not the same.
  67. I love filberts.
  68. I don’t like liver.
  69. Whoever is without sin, let him or her throw the first stone.
  70. Jesus was a Jewish man!
  71. As long as you don’t tell me what it is, I will likely eat it LOL.
  72. Money is an illusion.
  73. When you die you will take nothing with you.
  74. Live without regrets.
  75. I set my watch 10 minutes ahead, if people comment about it, I tell them I come from the future.
  76. I love Café Mochas.
  77. I like my steak dead and well done.
  78. I don’t belong to any religion,
  79. I believe in a higher power.
  80. If you are in a hurry , please wake up 30 minutes before I do.
  81. If you are mean to your children, remember you will get old some day.
  82. Condescending comments say a lot about our inadequacies.
  83. Tell me what you pretend to be and I will tell you what you don’t have.
  84. Earth is not the only populated planet in the universe.
  85. Aliens do not have the right to anally probe you.
  86. Still waters run deep, I am an example of that.
  87. Friendships are like bank accounts, shop around for the best interest.
  88. I see dead people.
  89. I love myself despite my imperfections.
  90. Education is freedom.
  91. For every rule there is an exception, be conscious.
  92. There’s no free lunch in life.
  93. The law of action and reaction is always in motion.
  94. No matter where you go there you are.
  95. Life is not black or white.
  96. Nothing is permanent in life.
  97. I love to crochet.
  98. I love to knit.
  99. I love chocolate.
  100. The whole universe is not against you, don''t flatter youself.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Post Party Fun

The party was nice, and I was glad I did not bring my knitting. I got to socialize with some of the people and found out a lot of nice things about them. My partner forgot about his depression and the night was actually very nice. They do this White Elephant , gift exchange and in that exchange you get to steal a present only twice, it can not be the same present. I came home with a flower box of silk poinsettias which was not bad at all , and a christmas motif ceramic gravy set .

The highlight of the night was this nurse lady , who was sitting besides me. She gets up and declares in a kind of not so subtle way that she will like me to watch her seat, while she goes to the bathroom and evacuates. That said and a glass of Maria's famous punch, the guy beside me asked me if what he heard was correct, then somebody else and we ended up laughing so loud that I am sure her evacuation got disturbed. Very clinical for a nurse, but funny as hell.

It reminded me of a puertorrican joke. There is this lawyer that marries this puertorrican hillbillie, whose education is not like the lawyer's education. There were no problems until she had to go to the bathroom in a public function, she excused herself and said" Excuse me I need to Piss". The lawyer afterwards asked her to the side and explained to her that you did not say that outloud, instead you said you needed to powder your nose. She was so glad that she was coming up in the world and learning about society rules. She would practice in front of the mirror everyday. Another party came by and the lawyer was happy that this time she will say the correct and proper statement when she needed to go to the bathroom, she is powdering her nose instead of pissing, so here it comes , she interrupts the conversation and says " Excuse me I need to powder my nose ... and she hesitated ... if I take too long is because I am taking a dump" LOL.

Well thanks for stopping by. I hope your day goes well and that we get to chat some more this week, it's a busy one. Peldor Joi!

Monday, December 12, 2005

Disco Yarn


Disco Yarn from Bernat, it is a very peculiar yarn, and if you ask me it looks a lot like a christmas garland. The question is, What is cheaper, the christmas garland or the Disco Yarn?, LOL. I honestly don't care, but I am glad that Mary Maxim from http://marymaxim.com/ thought it was necessary to include me in her mailing list and send me a free sample, I am greatfull and honored. Two skeins would have been nicier, that way I could have made a rope to pull my cow to pasture. Don't mind me, just taking some frustrations out.

I am going to a Christmas party tonight I am thinking of taking my knitting with me. There are lots of people in that bunch thatI don't really enjoy their company but that like to make small talk and if I keep busy, maybe they will ignore me, LOL. Don't worry I am very polite unless they are rude, then I just let them know their behavior is unacceptable without bitch slapping them. Gee, I am in a weird mood, but not to worry I will have a great time tonight, maybe even without my knitting!


I can tell you this much, my significant other is depressed, and he will be depressed through the holidays, even though he is not christian. This has a way of taking a told even on me, I get tired of dealing with a senseless depression. It bothers me, I don't really have the energy or patience to deal with someone like that anymore, I have kind of gotten tired of it, but there will be the new year and something will be different. I will be different as I will have a direction unlike in the past.

Secretly I am thining of getting a tattoo, and I may come back from my vacation with one tattoo. Well you never know it may happen, it will signify my new spiritual path. Peldor Joi!

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Crafty Andy Revealed


Well if that did not grab your attention nothing will. LOL . This is my birthchart born in 4/29/60 at 11:45 AM. This will give you a window into my bare soul, so it is like being naked. I have been doing astrology since a very early age. You can say that I am constantly working through the stages and challenges that my chart shows. Nevertheless I am more than my chart.



When I lived in Orlando, (from 1994 until 1997), Tracy, Jason from http://jasonloliver.com , and yours trully had a radio show in the morning around 11 am to 12 noon every day for about 6 months I believe,the radio show name was "The Psychic Hour" on WOKB or WKOB AM radio and we had a great time. This will also give you another window into my soul.

I have been an avid astrologer student since the age of 15. As life cricumstances drove me to look outward . I learned about cycles, progressions, astro-cartography (how a location will affect you). and relationships. I learn that a Sun Sign is not enough information to describe someone at all.

In my chart I am a Taurus, but my image or the way the world looks at me is Leo, given the fact that I have the planet Uranus in Leo (in astrology you put the emphasis in the firts syllable of the name, don't laugh) in the house of personality gives me a deep desire for uniqueness, more so with a Leo rising. When a Leo walks into a room he or she is never ignored. My moonis Gemini, which helps with the multitasking, Mercury Conjunct Venus in Aries is , the conjunction is good for writing, Aries is for quick repertoir, wit and thinking, it also goes for impulsiveness, but an Aries goes after what it wants. Venus in Aries is a Venus that always feels alone, even in a crow. LOL. Mars in Piscis is a very mystical Mars, lots of psychic power, it also goes for dancing . I have in my chart what they call a Kite formation, which involves An Earth Grand Trine.

So here is how you explain this in a simple way. Think of a movie projection, the Sun sign is the light of the projection, the Lens is the Moon Sign and the projection is the Rising Sign or Ascendant. So these three aspects are involved in determining your personality, but it is not all. You still have to look at Venus for love and Mars for drive, and Mercury for the way you think.

I thought I would give you a diferent side of the equation to make you ponder whenever you read the horoscope in the newspaper. Major life cycles are around 30, 42, 45, 50, 60, 72 and then who really cares, but 80. If you don't learn the lessons they keep repeating, believe me. The ages are approximate, because only the earth and few other planets have a steady orbit. There are cycles every 7 years, every 2, and so on. Are we predestined by the stars? Not necessarily, but the stars give you a window to your souls path. One of the things that are more important for anyone is to have options, when we are informed of our options we can make the best decisions possible, given we have all the information we need (Gemini has to know, the information gatherer).

Anyway , this was not intented to be an Astrology class, but a window to my soul. I hope you enjoyed reading and that you don't judge a book for it's cover. The weekend will be busy, but the Gemini Moon is excited lots of socialicing. May your path be without incidents, Peldor Joi!

Of Mole and Tres leches


I can make a mean Mole Sauce and I will have to give the credit of this accomplshment to my ex mother-in-law, Doña Lupe, from Mazatlan , in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, she taught me how to make Mole Sauce from scratch. That my friends is a lot of work , so I get mole Doña Maria and custumize it to my liking. I add salsa, olive oil and garlic to it and a enough sweetener to take the bite out of the sauce and give it a hint of sweetness. Anywhere from a 1/4 th teaspoon to a tablespoon. Why such a range? Each mole batch no matter how consistent you are will be different. The chiles pepper region, terrain and climate make the chiles taste diferent. Here of course is my Tunisian Crochet Pot Holder.


Well this was not enough I also made 4 Pastel de Tres Leches which I am going to share with some friends. I had a little bit of a challenge. I try to make everything with unrefined flour, I add fiber to things and it has a diferent texture, not really sponge like, but the flavor is excellent. Here is one of the four I made yesterday soaking in its sauce. I had a piece last nite and what a treat. Thanks for stopping by and we shall have more news later on this week. Peldor joi!

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Completed Vest



I kind of feel like I am being squeezed between two pictures. In a way I am. This is the vest, Drew Emborski designed and I am proud to present the finished work .

I now have completed one of the works in progress I had. You can find this pattern at http://thecrochetdude.blogspot.com/

I have other vest and sweater patterns and plenty of yarn to make more than two sweaters. I bought enough before the holidays to keep me busy and took advantage of free shipping.

On another note, I got a hold of this booklet 63 Easy-To-Crochet Pattern Stitches Combine to Make an Heirloom Afghan (Leisure Arts #555). I think that anyone who is interested in learning crochet will benefit from the experience of making this afghan. I am planning to make a crochet-along for next year and post at least a Square a week, that means that by the end of 2006 we will have a completed afghan. So I will probably have to do two a week for a little bit to just make sure I can finish it by December 2006.

Our group http://groups.msn.com/crochetdepot will be participating in this crochet-along as well. WHich by the way you can join easily.

You know what's amazing? When I think that I don't have anything to say, there I go and I start talking. I was talking to a friend the other day about me being shy. As amazing as this may seem to you , I am a very shy person, sometime just insecure and bashful, I will say that I border in the line of lone wolf.

So what has changed? I don't really like being alone, so I try to overcome my shyness by meeting people and being social. In all honesty I care if people like me , but I don't let it affect me if they don't. I have a lot of things that I want to do tonight, I want to get some of my projects organized for the rest of the week, reading material and stuff. OH and just to let you know, I have finished the first set of 9 cds from the book Da Vinci Code. I listen to it when I am crocheting it is a good background entertainment. Well thanks for stopping by and we shall continue maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after. Peldor Joi!

Monday, December 05, 2005

Holiday Trivia



Reading my friend Regina's blog http://mostercrochet.blogspot.com got me inspired to write in my blog tonight. You have to read her blog and see they creative spirit that comes out of those pages, enough to inspire the dead to crochet.

So here it goes inspired or copied LOL by The Holiday Version of LadyLinoleum.



The Holiday Version of CraftyAndy

1. Eggnog or Chocolate?

I agree 100 % with her, I like them both. In my old age I have a little eggnog for the holidays and that's it. Puertorrican Eggnog is like Ron Pope in Mexico, you wonder when the heat from the alcohol is going to subside. LOL. Chocolate like my yaya use to make. I miss her still 32 years after her death.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

You know there is something about wrapping presents, I like the unwrapping more than the wrapping. I use tape, and sometimes ribbons and as the 25th is arriving, presents start to show up under the tree. That's my style.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

I personally love lots of lights, see the picture of the house at the top, well almost as bad if it was up to me. There is something mesmerizing about twinkling lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Not yet, is not in my cultural data bank.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

As soon as I can an etique permits which translates to me Thanksgiving day is the soonest.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Pasteles. This are the puertorrican version of tamales, wrapped in banana leaves.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

I think my favorite memories were looking at the night sky to see if I could catch Santa Flying. In Puerto Rico Santa has to do something different to get into the houses, we did not have chimney's you know. LOL.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

One day that my mother and brother where wrapping the presents in during the daytime in my brother's room. I came early from an outing and walked in to the elves wrapping the presents.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Rarely, I like waking up in the morning and surprising myself again! It is a surprise that I can get up and walk, let me tell you that much.

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him?

When Santa came to my house he had already eaten. LOL. That was not part of our tradition and folklore.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

I lived in Puerto Rico as a child , snow was an enigma found in the freezer. Once the lady mayor of San Juan, brought snow so the children would experience it , her name Doña Feliza RincĂ³n de Gautier, I believe she was the first woman to be Mayor of a big city like San Juan de Puerto Rico is, in this hemisphere, very well known in the world. She had a plane chartered and there was snow in the Muñoz Marin Park. I like snow for a while. I mean while I am in the mood, it's romantic, cool to see , but it gets messy as well. I lived in Alaska,and Boston, I don't think I need to add anything more.

12. Can you ice skate?

You bet! I learned in Puerto Rico. There was this place that had a floor made of some kind of wax and that's how I learned. Was very popular.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

Mack Mason, space Station. Anything that had to do with space exploration.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Right now the most important thing is about remembering people and sharing with people, living life to the fullest and by God having as much fun as I can before they make Christmas unconstitutional. Your family and extended family, spreading joy.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

TurrĂ³n (Nougat) and Fruit Cake.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Christmas Day Brunch! While Calling my friends and family wishing them a happy holidays. I had to think about that one.

17. What tops your tree?

A bunch of curlied ribbons.

18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving?

Both.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol?

In English "Silent Night" in Spanish "Noche de Paz."

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

Can I exchange them for Nougat?

Thanks LadyLinolium for the inspiration and a journey to the past. My heart is warm with sweet memories. I apologize for all the talking, that Gemini Moon is very chatty.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Joy to the Worlds



Joy to the Worlds, of Budahood that is.

About four years ago I decided to break away from all organized religion. I think that all religions are good as long as you don't personally sacrifice me or any living being in your rituals.

I am not a buddhist, yet I chant, I am not christian yet I see the Christ consciousness, I am not a skeptic, yet I believe in nothingness, I am not a Jew by religion, yet I have a Menorah, I am not a catholic, yet I see the wonders and monstroucities of the church, and not a hindi yet I see the love of life in every being. Pass me the London Broil please!

What I don't see is the needless suffering that some people put themselves through because of the holidays; AND THE NEED TO SPREAD IT AROUND!

Is it about giving? , maybe, Is it about commerce?, maybe, Is it about sharing?, maybe. I think that the most important part of the holidays is what it does mean to you at a personal level. My friend, he is so upset, because his family does not think of him enough, because they give him a gift certificate, because they don't appreciate his gifts. I told him to give me the gifts that are thoughtless and I will spend them or find them a home.

I guess it is because I am puertorrican at heart, we love parties and gifts. Do you know that we celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December, then the Epiphanyon January 6th, twice as many gifts for those fortunate enough. On the Epiphany you get a shoe box and fill it with cut grass, no not that kind of grass, and you put the box under your bed with a bowl of water. It is for the camels, or in puertorrican folklore the horses. In the morning the Kings have left gifts under the bed? Talking about the tooth fairy being a cheapo. LOL. Oh and we don't have a tooth fairy, it is actually a mouse o ratoncito that leaves the money under the pillow. The festivities do not stop there. You will know that there are 8 days following the Kings visitation to the holy child, that people still have parties and drinking, we love the dringking part too, it's called "Las Octavitas" .

When I give a gift, I honestly don't expect a thank you card, not that it is proper you know. In reality giving is about you expressing something. I don't give what I don't want to give, and if I receive something I don't want, I am sure someone else can benefit from what I got. I will never make a sacrifice to buy a gift. So my friend year after year goes in pain, because of this. Finally this year , actually yesterday I told him. I asked? "What do you care about Christmas? Aren't you a Budhist? Well he got upset and told me I was being mean. I said why will a non christian care wether there is even a christmas holiday. My God if at your age you still in that space, then make yourself miserable on your own time or JUST GROW UP!!!!

It's no secret that I do not tolerate self-pity and self-worthlessness issues for too long. I give a gift because I want to give, because it is in my heart to give, sometimes you feel you need to give, but always give with a happy heart. It is nice to receive as well, but I need so little, that a card is enough, a thank you is enough and if I don't get that, maybe, just maybe I will rethink my gift giving to you the next time. LOL.


I was not going to write today, but the many voices in my head were in consortium and allowed me to come up with something to write today. Actually I can not allow it to go without sharing in this season of sharing, it was too important. Just make sure that if you get a gift certificate that your uncaring family sent you and you don't want it, e-mail me and I will give you my mailing address so that you can send it to me. I will make sure those uncaring people get their monies' worth, and I will be thinking of you while I spend it. NEVER GIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, BUT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO! I just don't get it and in the meantime why do you want to make everyone share your misery? I guess it goes like if I am not happy nobody should be? Give me a break dude! I have empathy for him, don't get me wrong, but after offering unsolicited advice for 4 holiday seasons, I get tired of him suffering and not following my advice, that was given freely and without asking, but I had too, my mental health depended on it. Don't let anyone steal the wing beneath your wings.

Joy to the World , we are open for business! Peldor Joi!

Thursday, December 01, 2005

World AIDS Day 2005



I almost forgot, not accostumed to have a blog, I want to mention World AIDS day. Many of my friends are no longer in the mortal planes, but have gone to other planes of a different vibration due to AIDS.

I am glad they are no longer in pain here are some of my friends who passed on

J. Scott Hooper, you were and are such a refreshing lite in my road ahead.
Antonio Villanueva - When Antonio got drunk he will steal tips from waiters in a bar. LOL.
Rene Irizarry - I met Rene in the ARMY , we did not ask , but we did tell LOL.
Jimmy DeZinna - Rene's boyfriend in the ARMY
Lucas a very nice jewish boy
Tom my first roommate in San Francisco, he was ok, loved to travel.
Richard Corrigan, great man sober.
Carlos Mosca, you were so mean, but we loved you.
Richard Boles I loved himlike the father I did not have.
Arturo Echauri, great baker.
Miguel Angel, Enrique De la Rosa,Ariel, Tito, Mincho, Guillermo, Sergio Luques, Sergio Cordoba, Gerardo, Phillip, Rusty he loved his cocaine,Francisco such a sweet soul,
And many more that I can not recall.

Personally I have AIDS, I live the present and enjoy my life to the fullest as best as I can. My health is a surprise from day to day, some days better than others. SOme days my life feels like an Indiana Jones movie, other days if feels like the Simpsons. I am not afraid of death nor am I afraid of life. I am more than my body, more than my mind, I am afraid that I am part of God and as such I am indestructible and eternal.
When I die I will leave my body because is just a shell, and should be disposed as such. I want people to celebrate the goodness that I brought to them. When I die, I will leave my body behind, I will leave my possesions, my gold teeth, my debts, my savings, my pain, my traumas, my love, my YARN, my needles, my dvds, did I say My YARN, my tears, my diets, my skull caps, I will not take any material things with me, but my soul and spirit.

When I die I will join Scott in crocheting the clouds for a while, when you see a cloud that looks like a bunny, that's me. When I come back I want to be able to come and live in the Star Trek Universe, where famine is gone, homelessness is gone, poverty is eliminated. Well maybe you think I am just an optimist, or maybe someone who has high hopes. I do believe it is possible to erradicate hunger, homelessness, poverty, disease and more. The human spirit has its wonders.

One thing is for sure, the Vast ever expanding Universe that humankind shares is the most wonderful place to be. I want to explore space and travel from planet to planet and meet crocheters and knitters from all species. They say Terellians have four hands, can they whip a sweater in an instant or what. Anyway, I want to close this blog entry with a good feeling.

Like in my puertorrican plus blog entry I am more than the physical, and noone will take away what I have gained in happiness. My loving spirit is undestructible, and eternal and goes beyond the physical bounds of my body Anyway don't let anyone take the wind out of your sail. Love with all your heart, love with all your being and express your love and creativity. Remember that Nothing Outside of Yourself is tied to your Self Worth. Your Self worth is not related to anything that you posses, buy, give, know, love, steal, borrow, look at, learn et cetera, but of the essence of who you are, a uniquely you.

Peldor Joi!

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