Hobby Update

Music

Since I know everyone completely admires my hip taste in music, I'd like to share ... ok, I can't even finish the sentence without laughing at myself uncontrollably.

Here's what's new on my iPod.

The Subways, Young for Eternity: I recorded their appearance on Letterman on Friday after hearing about them on a couple of blogs I read. The performance sounded good, so I downloaded they LP from iTunes and quite like it. They are the kind of light, ultimately forgettable, fun Britpop that can pick you up if played really loudly. Probably targeted at an audience about 10 years my junior, it's fun enough for me not to care.

Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene: This is an indie Canadian band with a rotating cast of 15 members whose music is varied in the way you would think a band with 15 people in it would be. I really like it. In fact, this may be one of those bands I may start to obsess about. We shall see. Oh, how'd I find them? Click click click...

Stars, Set Yourself On Fire: Ok, so I'll be honest, I haven't actually heard any of their music. But reviews of their live shows basically go something like "They were so good I peed my pants," so I figured what the hell and bought it. They are on the same label as Broken Social Scene and are, again, Canadian. Their little disc should arrive in my mail this week.

Knitting

I finished chart 2 on the Lotus Blossom Shawl. That puts me row 96 of 165. I should finish in a month. I freakin' month. Damn, I'm moving slowly. Thumb status: sore but still better. I probably knit too much yesterday. The acupuncture is keeping it loose.

One of the men in my company's London office is bringing me 1.1 kg (11 skeins) Colinette Wigwam in Moss when he comes over for our conference. The yarn is 5.70 pounds in the U.K., which is about about $10 per 100g. Compared to the $22.00 per 100g we pay over here, that is a radically less expensive yarn. And, seriously, the U.S. is the only place Colinette.com won't ship to at this lower price. You HAVE to go through Unique Kolors, who marks it up 50 percent. Oh, and even better, Unique Kolors doesn't even sell it on their website, you HAVE to find a retailer. All that just pissed me off enough to find another way to get it.

Baking (also known as My Never-Ending Quest to Acheive Martha-like Perfection in the Kitchen)

I made her caramelized lemon tart on Thursday (though mine, and the one pictured in the February issue of Martha Stewart Living looked different than this one). I even bought a butane torch and caramelized the top like a creme brulee. It was so pretty, and I forgot to take a picture.

Unfortunately, it was too runny. However, I have to say, looking at this recipe, the instructions are a bit different than in February's magazine. Maybe these would have been better. It still tasted great, but it was more like Caramelized Lemon Soup in a Homemade Pain in the Butt Crust.