In list form
1. Rhinebeck (NY Sheep & Wool Fest) is this weekend, but I'm skipping it this year. (I went in 2007, and I had so much fun; I went in 2008, and I froze my ass off.) There are lots of people I'd love to go and see, but I can spare neither the time nor the cash this year.
2. I defended my dissertation proposal last week, so I'm finally whatcha call ABD. (Remember I submitted the proposal back in July? Well, it took three months to actually get three academics in the same room to talk to me about it.) So that's a big step. I'd feel more excited and relieved if I wasn't in the middle of writing a paper for a conference that's only a week away.
2. b) My conference presentation is going to involve pie charts, and they're going to look awesome. If you need to make pie charts -- which, I recognize, is unlikely -- I can recommend this site. 
3. I got my copy of the beautiful Knitter's Book of Wool, and I am sorely tempted to drop everything (including the pie charts) to cast on for Evelyn Clark's Prairie Rose Shawl. It's beautiful. (Why can I find no photos to share with you? Hmmm. Just keep checking Ravelry.)
4. I've become obsessed with Babybel cheese -- those little red wax-covered ones. I love them. On the packaging, it just says they are "cheese." What are they?
5. It's getting cold here. In response, I am working to finish a bulky wool/alpaca cardigan vest: the Heather Hoodie Vest. Mine is neither heathered nor hooded. It's a solid orangey-red. When I get it done, I'll post photos here. If this doesn't take place within the next couple of weeks, it probably means I've gone ahead with the Prairie Rose Shawl at the expense of all other knitting. This is a distinct possibility.
6. I am now going to resist the temptation to make a pie chart outlining the percentages of my thoughts currently occupied with the Prairie Rose Shawl, my conference paper, and Babybel cheese. Time to get back to work. Have a nice weekend, with or without Rhinebeck!
22 comments:
I love those little Babybels! I think they're supposed to be Gouda (of the non-smoked variety). All I know is that they have nothing bad in them and they taste great - that's good enough for me :)
Haha, you're hilarious! I agree with you about the cheese - so delicious, yet so mysterious!
Best of luck with the defense. You'll do a great job. Knock 'em dead with those pie charts.
Now that I'm back in the North and closer to Rhinebeck, I really wanted to go this year. But it was a little too much. Maybe next year.
This cool weather has increased my desire for handknits....
Mmmmmm... pie.
Congratulations on the ABD status! I've been ABD for two years and am loving it so much I'm trying to postpone the PhD for as long as possible. ;) Seriously, this is huge. Kudos!
(Am still waiting for my copy of Clara's book... according to the tracking info it arrived at my post office this morning at 5:43 am. The post office is across the street; I can see it from here. Alas, no delivery today.)
Like Chez Shoes, I believe Babybels are of the Gouda persuasion. My middle son loves them and has been known to go through an entire bag in a day or so (which is why I have to hide the big bags from the warehouse store!). My kids also like to use the wax as modeling clay. It is very malleable and they have made some very creative sculptures, but that is probably more than anyone needs to know about the properties of Babybel.
My four-year old daughter loves "round cheese", preferably the kind in red wax, though she occasionally branches out to light (yellow) or cheddar (orange). Can't wait to get my hands on Clara's new book, as I love Evelyn Clark's designs.
I would agree with the gouda guess. Gouda's in the red wax and Edam's usually in the yellow, right? Either way, they're darn tasty and fun to eat.
I also think they're mounting a clandestine campaign of sorts. My Dad came to visit me with a package and he's never bought Babybel before. Heh, curious.
I wish I could have gone to Rhineback this year but the budget is tight for me.
I also love the Babybels. I think it has to do with the wax covering.
Good luck with your dissertation defense! Sorry to miss you at Rhinebeck this year, but if it's any consolation to you, it was way more FREEZING this year than last.
I am all for more pie charts. Congratulations on your latest milestone.
I'm writing from Germany and the cheese we have here may be different from what you guys have. At least this is what I experienced when I went to the USA. However, we have Babybel here which is actually Edam's not Gouda. Gouda comes in a yellow wax, Edam's in a red one. We also have the babybell kind of cheese in a bigger package which says Edam as well. But I can only speak for german experience...:-)
Greetings from Germany!
Annie
You did it! You are now both ABD and in possession of a Heather Hoodie Vest without a hood. Good work.
First, Babybel cheese is just sweet. Individual sizes and red wax.
Second, I just met Clara Parkes today and she signed my new copy of the Book of Yarn. She was such a great lady, that I bought this book even though I'd brought the Book of Yarn with me for her so sign, and she signed them both! She was truly a wonderful person.
Oh, just got that book as well and am going to dive into it tonight. Congrats on defending your proposal - one more box checked on your way to your doctorate! To celebrate, and because of all of the money you are saving by NOT going to Rhinebeck, you should knit the Prairie Rose Shawl. Just saying.
We missed you at Rhinebeck. Next year, perhaps?
Babybels are not quite Gouda I guess, but Edam. Edam, the big one comes in Wax too as much as many other cheeses from the Netherlands. But...it actually is Edam the french version.
And...you can make beautiful red noses and also ladybirds out of the wax!
Love the book too.
Paz from www.slowclothes.blogspot.com
I love the baby red wax cheese, and so does Noah. Costco sells it (in quantity, of course) for much cheaper than anywhere else I've seen it. And according to Wiki, it is indeed Dutch Edam. It also informs that the rennets used in the red-wax varieties are suitable for vegetarians.
Babybel's are not my kind of cheese, which is weird because I like all varieties of cheddar and gouda and etc. Granted, it's been umpety years since I last had one. Maybe my tastes have changed.
The pie chart tool is pretty neat. I wish there was an import tool though, so I shove in my excel document and get a much prettier chart than excel will give me.
This was the year to freeze your ass off, as I spent the entire weekend at Rhinebeck with numb toes... that's painful! Had a good time though.
I love babybel... they're just the best.
Congrats on your ABD. I clicked on your link, not knowing what ABD is. Holy Cow what a process. Again congrats for sticking with it. Your blog is certainly aptly named.
Congrats on being ABD!!! That is great news indeed.
And I now want to make pie charts and eat apple pie with babybels.
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