K V V S questions

Since we will be spending our time and money finishing up the front terrace this summer (which involves gravel, sweat, sand, sweat, stone, sweat, mortar, sweat, and a few bandaids) a long vacation doesn't appear to be on the horizon for us. In lieu of this, I am willing to trek on a tour with "Knitter's Virtual Vacation Swap" (or KVVS as I will now call it). Thank Anne, Jessi, and Sharon for guiding the tour/hosting this summer swap.

The pictures below are in China...no traffic lights, everyone just merges from many to few lanes (notice there are not merge lane markers on the road either).

1. If you could visit any state in the United States, what would it be and why? This is a tough question because there are so many, each with a unique reason. I will say I would visit Minnesota because it is the home of A Prairie Home Companion. I have listened to this live radio program for over 15 years. I don't want to see a live performance. I think it would ruin the pictures that are created in my mind of the scenes of Garrison Keillor's characters. The oral tradition of telling stories is what truly draws me to the radio program. In our society we bombard our minds with pre-made images through television and video games. Becoming lost in a radio show with visions created by my own minds-eye instead of someone else's is...well, relaxing. Minnesota is also known as a state of many lakes. Lakes and streams means fishing. I love to fish. It's the simplicity of a pole, line, and hook, the walk to "the spot" early in the morning or in the evening, the patience needed--being in the moment. It's the same feeling I get when a knitting project is going through my needles and I see the fiber magically transform into an object as it glides between my fingers and through my needles. Just because I can, a second state would be Maine: the moose is the state animal (how cool is that?); 90% of the state is forested; lighthouses; northernmost state on the east coast.
   


2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why? (I can only talk about one? Not possible. Here are my top ones, not necessarily in order.) South Africa: the third most bio-diverse country in the world; eleven national languages which tells me how incredibly culture-rich this country is; southern hemisphere (opposite seasons to me). Scotland: part of an island (the UK); bagpipes; Gaelic language; highlands; part of my own family history; fibers, knitting, and weaving; Edinburgh (love the sound of that name). Canada: close to the US; bilingualism is the law (English and French) which is awesome (two languages are accepted equally); forested woodlands to tundra environment; no national education department (as a teacher I see that as very interesting).


3. Have you ever driven across several states/providences/countries? Yes. Several summers ago my husband and I packed the Jeep (yeah, the Wrangler...the small Jeep) with camping equipment, clothes, and food for a three+ week tour of many western US states (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and back to home in California). I arranged the entire trip putting it in a binder, with dates, places to stay, contacts of friends and relatives along the way, specific places we wanted to see/visit.




4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it? I used to think of China as exotic. Last summer we went there for three weeks, visiting what seemed like most of the country but in reality only small pieces of it (it is so much bigger than you think). There were many things that we saw that one could call exotic but it's just the way people live in that country. We saw that many parts had been westernized. I'm sure it was a very different experience had we been able to visit China 20 or even 10 years ago. In that respect we were disappointed in some ways.


5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why? There are three. Two I have already answered a bit about: our trip to China and our "tour" of many of the western states. China because my husband and I play a "game" where we say where we would like to go and give each other options about that place and times to be there. That's what I thought we were doing when he talked about China. I went along, just thinking we were just "talking and dreaming", when all of a sudden he gave me visa papers to sign and sent off our passports. Our trip through the western states included enjoying many national parks, visiting old friends, seeing grizzly bears, eating huckleberries, climbing sand dunes, and soaking in hot springs. Who wouldn't enjoy such a rich experience. The third travel vacation was when our daughter was five or so. We traveled from Colorado to Nevada on Amtrak for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party. We played card games, enjoyed views, and ate in the dining car. Because the train tracks don't follow next to the freeway, we were privileged to see parts of the states that we hadn't seen before. It was a good time to spend with our daughter.


6. Have you ever played tourist in your home/city/state? Explain. No. I don't like to stand out like that. Even as a true tourist, I try to blend in as much as possible. That's not to say that I'm not goofy and dorky...I have my moments. However, I must say it's good to look at your home/city/state with a visitor's eye and remember how unique the area can be.
   


7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comber, or an amusement seeker? NOT an amusement seeker. Thinking about it I can smell the greasy french fries, stale popcorn, and boiled hot dogs as well as the urine on the boardwalks courtesy of the homeless the night before (that's not a good thing, folks). Museums are a great insight to the culture of the state/country. They are also a wonderful escape to a cool environment in the summer months or a dry, warm one in the winter months. I am always drawn to the museum store for books or items I can use in the classroom to enrich my teaching. Beach combing has to be my favorite because it usually involves fewer people, less man-made noise, and fresh air. Anywhere there is nature and fresh air, I am there.


8. What's your favorite type of yarn? Cashmere, silk, qiviut, angora, baby alpaca, wool...well, all the wonderful natural fibers.


9. What's your least favorite type of yarn? Hate is such a strong word, but it quite fits here: acrylics, man-made-oil-synthetic-based products, novelty yarns, all-cotton yarns.


10. What items do you like to knit? For purposes of this questionnaire, fingerless wrist warmers, mittens, socks, hats.


11. What do you pack, knit-wise, when you go on vacation? Something small like the items in question number 10. I like to take a variety of things because I never know my mood or patience for a particular project. If I am flying, it needs to be needles that can be accepted by the "security" peoples.


12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than knit? Basket weaving/making, quilting, sewing, calligraphy.


13. Are you allergic to anything? Pollen in the air, but yarn-wise or treat-wise, no...no allergies.


14. What is your favorite color? Greens, blues, browns--deep and rich in these colors. Dark purples, dark reds work also as accents. These colors as well as grey/black in heather colorways. Least favorite colors? No pastels, no pinks, no bright oranges, no neon.
    


15. Sweet or savory treats? Good milk chocolate with walnuts or almonds. Hard sweet candies to suck on while I read or knit (I haven't been able to master doing both of these at the same time). No dried fruit. Almonds and pistachios are good.


16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think you partner desperately needs to know? I can't think of anything at this time but reserve the ability to add items as they come to me to my partner. OK, OK...here's a few things I will add that I found others have on their swap questions, and may be necessary to know in order to play "bingo": I have two cats; I live in California (United States); I have a daughter (you can read about her in my blog).