Hurricane!

Actually, Hurricane Irene was pretty anticlimactic here - mostly it just rained for a long time. But today Ben and I walked down to the Schuylkill, and there was definitely some stuff underwater that wasn't supposed to be there:

The water was also moving much faster than usual, so it's a good thing neither of us fell in.

In conclusion, it was a good excuse to spend the entire weekend inside in my pajamas, cross-stitching and watching TV. I would appreciate more weather that prevents me from having to do anything (without causing major damage) in the future.

Random Updates

1. I successfully contacted Randall Munroe, and (based on his excitement at my offer) mailed him my cross stitch! I sent it about a week ago, so it should be in his hands at this very moment (or will be very soon). Yay! I also finished the pattern for my next big project, and while it's not quite as epic as the xkcd one, it should be pretty cool.

2. I bought a wedding dress this weekend! It is pretty and makes me look like a girl. I am very excited about wearing it again... in 14 months.

3. I've spent the last few days on the beach at the Chesapeake Bay, at a retreat for work. It was very fun, but I kept getting in trouble during the team-building activities because I am not good at thinking metaphorically. Examples:

Facilitator: Now we're going to do trust falls. Remember, if you drop your partner, it means that they can't trust you at work.

Me: I don't see how arm strength and trustworthiness are correlated.

Everyone else: Shut up, Caroline!

...

Facilitator: If you flinch before you fall into your partner's arms, it means that you don't trust them.

Me: Or that you have a functioning vestibular system.

Everyone else: Shut up, Caroline!

Also, while I was at the retreat there was an earthquake, but I didn't know that's what happened until the internet explained it to me later, so I don't think that really merits its own number.

I love to cross stitch!

UPDATE: I ended up getting in touch with Randall Munroe and mailing it to him! He thanked me and said he was "delighted" to have it - life dream achieved!

ANOTHER UPDATE: I posted the pattern for this project here.

Alternate title for this post: x-stitch-cd.

Okay you guys, check it out:

Just to be clear, that is not a framed printout of "xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel," that is a framed cross-stitch of it.

It took about a month of obsessive stitching, as well as an entire skein of black thread. For context on how much thread that is, I have yet to go through a full skein of any other color with all of my other projects, combined. Ben kept calling it my "magnum opus" while I was working on it, but I'm not entirely sure if he was being a supportive fiance or making fun of me for waking up early to cross stitch before work.

Now that it's done, it is my dream to send it to Randall Munroe and have him acknowledge my existence in some way, but so far it's still in my house because:

1. I can't find a PO Box on the xkcd website, and
2. I am afraid that Randall Munroe hates cross stitch and will laugh at me while throwing it in the garbage, and then I will be sad.

So if anyone knows where Randall Munroe gets his mail and/or how he feels about cross stitch, let me know! And in the mean time, you can click on the pictures below to see close-ups of the different sections. If you only look at one, you should check out the ball pits. Oh God, the ball pits.