Der Feuervogel aufersteht.

My sister is pregnant. I want to crochet her (baby) a blanket.

I emailed my mom to ask if that's something she'd like, and mom replies that I should email sis a picture of the pattern and let her decide if she wants it and pick a color.

Isn't that the opposite of a gift? I'd planned to go to the store and pick out a pattern from a book and some yarn, or get yarn that has a pattern on the label. I want to make something very neutral gendered: no pink or blue, no patterns (hearts or flowers). I saw a book of afghan crochet (the kind of crochet that's like single-hook knitting) baby blankets, and I liked one of the patterns in it.

Honestly, now I don't even want to bother.

Anyway, internets, am I wrong for being upset that I should let a gift be dictated?

My laptop is five years old, and it's finding new and exciting ways to remind me of its age every day. It's a MacBook, the white kind with the case that splits at the seam where your wrists sit. The keyboard is flaky, starting Firefox with 4 tabs takes 3 or 4 minutes, and I'm not getting Chrome updates anymore because I have OSX 10.5, which they no longer support (nor does Flash, apparently). The mouse button doesn't always click.

So it is becoming somewhat urgent that I replace it. Except I still don't have a job (not for lack of trying, let me assure you), so I need to find money from somewhere. I have a crapload of doujinshi for fandoms I'm not all that into anymore, which I could ebay (though god knows if anyone else is interested in them...).

I also have a bunch of BPAL imps that are very much Not Me, which I can sell to interested parties.

Anyway. I have several of the Caron one-pound acrylic yarn skeins, and crochet hooks. I'm currently experimenting to make a joint e-reader and phone (and maybe a couple pencils) holder (http://twitter.yfrog.com/oeq9tfej). I can make phone sleeves to keep your phone from getting scratched (if you don't have a case for it). I plan to try a phone sleeve with a pocket for an ID and some cash, since I always want something like that when I'm at a con and don't want to carry my whole purse. I'd need to get some cotton yarn for those; the acrylic is worsted weight and kind of bulky for that purpose.

Would any of you (or your friends) be interested in purchasing such a thing? I was thinking of pricing the phone sleeve at $10, e-reader+phone cover at $30, and the two-pocket phone sleeve at $15. Other things I can make are balls (which can be made into Kirbys or Jigglypuffs or Haros, priced around $10 each), coasters (though I wouldn't use acrylic for those), uh, scarves, hats...

If I have to purchase materials (ie yarn), that'll factor into the price. I have over 3 pounds of acrylic yarn right now (purple, blue, pink, burgundy boucle, and a small skein of pink baby boucle), which wouldn't cost anything extra. For cotton, I like Lily Sugar n Cream, which is pretty cheap and comes in a wide variety of colors, both solid and ombre.

I can't guarantee that there will be no cat hair in the item. I can wash it before sending it to you, but cat hair is really sticky.

I also have some fabulous Amy Butler print fabric, which I could use to make ... something. Handbags, clutches, that type of thing. It's a little too heavy to work well as clothing fabric, which is what I originally bought it for. (Though it might also work to reupholster my chair...)

Other things I can do that don't involve making things: I can plan you a trip to Germany (any major city, or a tour by train, given budget, traveling style, and interests); I could attempt to write you a story. Um. Stuff.

Would it be worth me making a post listing stuff and prices, colors available? Or set up an etsy shop? (That may be more effort than I have time for right now.)

I got through my entire to-do list, except registering for the CE. I have another week or so for that. And it's like $170 for a day-long CE, which includes continental breakfast (coffee, tea, and pastries) and a rather nice lunch. It's at this fancy-pants resort/spa in Greensboro, which is part of the reason it costs several times as much as the day-long CE with continental breakfast and box lunches at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill. (Which I won't be able to make this year, unfortunately, because I'll be in BERLIN instead. Hahaha. It's the first day of my language class, even.)

I learned that David Drake got a JD at Dook, and he was the town attorney for Chapel Hill. Now I feel obligated to read his books. I bet they have some at the library, and there are some free on Baen's Webscriptions. (Baen has offices down here. Did you know that?) But he has written space opera with mercenaries, and I feel doubly obligated to read more in the subgenre.

After dinner, Ben's gonna play the last bit of DLC in Assassin's Creed II, and I'm gonna crochet. I have a shawl I need to finish. I'm on row 12 or so of a projected 80+. -_- (At least it's worked entirely in half-double, so it's quick.)

Quick beer review: Picked up a 6-pack of Dead-Eye Jack (Lone Rider Brewing). It's a seasonal (Outlawed Release) porter. As I've mentioned before, porters are hit or miss for me. This one is a hit, I think. It's got a decent balance between malt and hops, and a hint of chocolate. Recommended! (I prefer stouts over porters, as far as dark beers go. Except the Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, which is amazing.)

I probably mentioned how much I liked Shotgun Betty, which is Lone Rider's hefeweizen. I'm going to mention it again, because it's so damn good, and I haven't had any since my halloween party, because it's only available in growlers still, and I can't drink 4 pints by myself. :P

We should make a field trip to Big Boss and Lone Rider, but possibly not the same day. I wonder if Triangle Brewing in Durham offers tours/samples/etc... (Ooh, I can send a SASE to Lone Rider and get labels and coasters...)

Which reminds me of another quick beer review: Triangle Brewing's Belgian golden: Nice, drinkable. Not quite as good as Duvel, but probably cheaper.

Holy shit, clicking around TBC's website shows a Black Friday cask festival. Too bad it's impossible to get Ben's family here for Thanksgiving. :P (Not that they'd want to do it, of course. Except his bro.)

OK, dinner's ready. Time to eat!