Fiber Fest (a.k.a. "Alpaca-rama")

So I dragged Micah to Santa Monica for Fiber Fest. I had a nice time. He liked the alpacas. I saw something I was really interested in (besides all the yarn, of course!). It was called "Bison Gals" and it's yarn & fiber made from buffalo wool. I looked for B.G., but to no avail, but I found American Buffalo Designs. Buffalo wool is sort of pricey due to it's limited resource. I found the reason for it heartbreaking.

There are close to 600,000 bison in the United States and Canada. The American Buffalo Hair Industry will always have a limited supply of hair collected each year not an unlimited supply.
Close to 60,000 bison are slaughtered each year in the United States and Canada for their meat. It is from these animals that the hair which was once wasted product is now a new industry.
There are by-products of the American buffalodown yarn industry that are being researched and developed as the industry grows. Some of the hair now is being used in felted hats.
The American Buffalo Hair Industry is a niche industry but a very unique and exciting one.

This is the sort of thing I get interested in. Nearly 10 per cent of a species on our continent was killed off for meat. THINK OF ALL THAT HAIR THAT WENT UNUSED!! (I don't know for how long, but in 10 years, that's a lot of unused animal left. I'd have to look into what "endangered" number would be.) I wouldn't be able to buy a lot of the yarn, but maybe for a nice hat or gloves...

If anyone knows any other buffalo yarn website/companies, please let me know. Thanks!

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In other news, I'll be going to Colorado tomorrow with Micah, his sister (Heather) and her husband (Karl) for Micah & Heather's grandpa's 90th birthday. It might be nice. First time meeting all of that side of the family, except for their dad, step-mom and a cousin. I'm nervous. ("What if they don't like me?") Oh, well. If they don't like me, Micah will still. That's all that matters. It'll be a 15 hour drive, so I'll probably get my skirt mostly done! That'll be awesome!

In knitty love,
Alie K

11 Reasons Gays Should Not Be Allowed To Marry

Taken From The Lasebian Lifestyle who took it from The House Of Bone. [I PROMISE I'll be writing about knitting stuff next post. This was just too good to pass.]

1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and birth control.

2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people can't legally get married because the world needs more children.

3. Obviously, gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage is allowed, since Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage was meaningful.

5. Heterosexual marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are property, blacks can't marry whites, and divorce is illegal.

6. Gay marriage should be decided by people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of the minorities.

7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

10. Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.

11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to things like cars or a longer lifespan.

Getting to know you... er, me.

I saw this on a blogspot that came from an email. If you want to copy this, be my guest.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was told once that I was named after one of my grandparent's friends that I'd never met. I don't think that's true, though. I have no idea.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I don't remember. It was probably over something ridiculous.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes, I do.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Chicken.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Oh, heavens no!
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Maybe.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
No, never.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
There are easier ways to attempt suicide...
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Puffins!
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
I wear sandals... untieing (sp?) would be pointless, not to mention impossible.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Physically? No. Emotionally? I like to think so.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
I don't like ice cream. I like fro yo.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their face?
15. RED OR PINK?
Red.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I don't know.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My grandfather who raised me.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Nope.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Well, I'm wearing a blue skirt and my sandals are green & brown.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Peaches & a bagel. Yum.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Barenaked Ladies. The band. You know.
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
The color that changes in different temperatures?
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Vanilla, fresh cut grass, nag champa.
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Ah... I don't remember.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
I've never met her.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
HOCKEY!!
27. HAIR COLOR?
Mine? Reddish brown.
28. EYE COLOR?
Grey green.
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Nope. Glasses.
30. FAVORITE FOOD?
Are you kidding?
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
What? Those are two totally different things!
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Kung Fu Hustle.
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Multi.
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Spring.
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
Both!
36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Choclate Malt Frozen Yogurt.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
No idea.
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
No idea.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
A mouse.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
Spongebob Squarepants.
42. FAVORITE SOUND?
I can't say... it's too corny.
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles. Duh.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Geographically? England.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
Probably.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Orange, CA. Look how far I've come...
47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK?
I'm not counting on getting any back.