Baby Strong
Due March 21, 2009
Welcome to the womb, Frijole.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Ravelympics 2008
The goal: To cast on a project during the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics-- a project of somewhat epic proportions-- and finish it by the end of the closing ceremonies on the 24th. 17 days of mad knit sprinting!!
My event: The Sweater Sprint
The project: A self-designed sweater for my fairly manly-sized cousin Mark, who is currently in attendance at the actual Olympics.
My Team: Team Middle Earth. One Team To Rule Them All!
My Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers in colorway "Shire" (of course).
My Status: Four days down, back completed.
What Michael Phelps thinks of this progress:
Evidence:
(I am using one of Mark's favorite sweaters as a size/shape template)
On to the front!!
My event: The Sweater Sprint
The project: A self-designed sweater for my fairly manly-sized cousin Mark, who is currently in attendance at the actual Olympics.
My Team: Team Middle Earth. One Team To Rule Them All!
My Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers in colorway "Shire" (of course).
My Status: Four days down, back completed.
What Michael Phelps thinks of this progress:
Evidence:
(I am using one of Mark's favorite sweaters as a size/shape template)
On to the front!!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
8 squares to the end
With Ravelympics starting tomorrow (YAHOO!!!), I won't be able to finish the remaining 8 squares necessary to complete the knitting on the Barn Raising Quilt. I was cruising along with cat-like quickness when, for some reason, knitting the squares started making me sea sick. It slowed me down more than I could manage, and thus I did not make my goal. But I did photograph some of the pairings that WILL appear in the final blanket. The colors are more vibrant in real life, promise.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Blogging from Under the Desk
Yes, yes, I did. I got under the desk. I'm a dork, and would have been alive even if I hadn't gotten under the desk... But if the sh*t had hit the fan, I'd have been pointing and laughing from my hidey-hole-- trapped under the desk under the rubble-- at all of you who were too cool to get under your desks... until I had to start drinking my own pee.
Then I'd probably stop laughing.
Then I'd probably stop laughing.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
A little t.v., a little knitting, a little better...
Today is a better day. Much quieter here at work, and after my weekly dose of Project Runway and So You Think You Can Dance last night, I'm feeling much more myself. Neither gruntled nor disgruntled, I'm just cruising. Which is a relief because I didn't like the way yesterday transformed me into a miserly troll hungry for tender unsuspecting goat. You're all lucky you didn't cross my bridge yesterday. It wasn't pretty.
Thank you Monte for your hilarious anonymous comment on yesterday's post... at least I think that was you. It gave me a good laugh this morning. I read it to coworkers. A fun time was had by all.
So anyone want some knitting? I did the math on my Barn-Raising Quilt, and I am 16 and a half squares away from completing my grand plan. I've decided that the best way to make sense of the mish-mash of colors is to try to create 4-square blocks with same or similar colorways diagonal from each other paired with a contrasting color on the opposite diagonal... I have two or three squares of most yarns, but only one of some. My hope is that the single squares can be matched up with something similar enough to create a coherent 4-square with two same colors opposite it. Does this make sense? Photos would help, huh? I'll work on that.
So anyway, where do I go from here? I'm working on knitting a second square of any matchless colorways for which I have yarn remaining. And to keep myself entertained (and to make best use of what little yarn is left in colorways that have fulfilled their blanket destinies), I am knitting bitty baby things. We have a new bitty baby, so some of them may go to her, some of them may go to charity, and as my mom always suggests, no matter what baby thing I knit, some will be put in a "Save them for [my] kids" pile. I always tell her that I can't save everything, and that by the time our kids come around I'll be a much better knitter, but she does have a point... some things are just too damn cute not to keep. :) Once 2 squares and a baby item have been made out of a colorway, that colorway is going in a bag which I hope to sell/trade or otherwise dispense of via the blog or Ravelry to some other Barn Raiser. There should be a good selection of nice yarns in pretty colors to add to another blanket elsewhere in knitland. (Putasockonit, are you out there? How's your blanket coming? Still wanna make a deal?)
The Laminaria shawl is chillin', as are other UFOs, but they are not languishing. I'm just allowing myself to be a slave to my whims these days, and I feel certain that I will whim my way back to these older projects very soon.
Thank you Monte for your hilarious anonymous comment on yesterday's post... at least I think that was you. It gave me a good laugh this morning. I read it to coworkers. A fun time was had by all.
So anyone want some knitting? I did the math on my Barn-Raising Quilt, and I am 16 and a half squares away from completing my grand plan. I've decided that the best way to make sense of the mish-mash of colors is to try to create 4-square blocks with same or similar colorways diagonal from each other paired with a contrasting color on the opposite diagonal... I have two or three squares of most yarns, but only one of some. My hope is that the single squares can be matched up with something similar enough to create a coherent 4-square with two same colors opposite it. Does this make sense? Photos would help, huh? I'll work on that.
So anyway, where do I go from here? I'm working on knitting a second square of any matchless colorways for which I have yarn remaining. And to keep myself entertained (and to make best use of what little yarn is left in colorways that have fulfilled their blanket destinies), I am knitting bitty baby things. We have a new bitty baby, so some of them may go to her, some of them may go to charity, and as my mom always suggests, no matter what baby thing I knit, some will be put in a "Save them for [my] kids" pile. I always tell her that I can't save everything, and that by the time our kids come around I'll be a much better knitter, but she does have a point... some things are just too damn cute not to keep. :) Once 2 squares and a baby item have been made out of a colorway, that colorway is going in a bag which I hope to sell/trade or otherwise dispense of via the blog or Ravelry to some other Barn Raiser. There should be a good selection of nice yarns in pretty colors to add to another blanket elsewhere in knitland. (Putasockonit, are you out there? How's your blanket coming? Still wanna make a deal?)
The Laminaria shawl is chillin', as are other UFOs, but they are not languishing. I'm just allowing myself to be a slave to my whims these days, and I feel certain that I will whim my way back to these older projects very soon.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Worn Out Welcome
Today. This place of employment. This ringing telephone. The company that faxed me endlessly for almost an hour. These people calling to haggle their bills. The news people that told them that is an okay thing to do. This hairdo. These clothes. This economy. This worn out feeling.
Worn out welcomes all around.
And I am Senora McMoodSwing. Yesterday I described myself giddily as "ritable" and "gruntled". (The opposites of irritable and disgruntled).
Worn out welcomes all around.
And I am Senora McMoodSwing. Yesterday I described myself giddily as "ritable" and "gruntled". (The opposites of irritable and disgruntled).
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Does this shirt make me look fat?
No. But it does, apparently, make me look pregnant (which I'm not, by the way). Two people today have asked me if I'm expecting. Normally, this would have been an enormous blow to my ego, as all women of a curvaceous nature would agree. I think, at this point, most people know better than to commit the social foul of asking a woman "When are you due?" unless she is 8 months or more pregnant and otherwise thin. Most of us may wonder, but we don't ask because we've all heard the horror stories. You never want the response to, "When are you due?" to be "I'm not pregnant." If I were wearing anything else in my wardrobe, I'd be crying and hiding in the bathroom right now.
Today is different, though. I know it's not the shape (or lack thereof) of my figure that is prompting questions. I know this because my shirt does not touch me anywhere except the neckline... and therein lies the problem. Apparently I appear to be hiding something. This shirt gives people permission to ask me.
But it's not like it says, "Baby on Board" across the front. Remember when we all used to wear babydoll style shirts and dresses? Back in the early 90s? Did people ask then? I just wanted to be cool in the hot weather. I just wanted to wear something new. I just wanted to be free and whimsical and hippy-chic. At least I know how this shirt looks on me...
Does it make me look fat? Nope. It makes me look fertile. Good to know.
Today is different, though. I know it's not the shape (or lack thereof) of my figure that is prompting questions. I know this because my shirt does not touch me anywhere except the neckline... and therein lies the problem. Apparently I appear to be hiding something. This shirt gives people permission to ask me.
But it's not like it says, "Baby on Board" across the front. Remember when we all used to wear babydoll style shirts and dresses? Back in the early 90s? Did people ask then? I just wanted to be cool in the hot weather. I just wanted to wear something new. I just wanted to be free and whimsical and hippy-chic. At least I know how this shirt looks on me...
Does it make me look fat? Nope. It makes me look fertile. Good to know.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Stash Contained.
If we could never buy another pair of slacks, eventually we'd stop gaining weight for fear of having to run around to the knitting stores pantsless. Most pants will eventually stop stretching to fit an ass... agreed?
So if I didn't want my stash to grow, why was I letting it wear an elastic-waisted skirt? Or, to complete this analogy, why was I letting the yarn live in a basket with no lid? Like a muffin top, or as we call it at our house, "North Butt", the yarn was starting to overflow it's basket as I became less and less able to prevent the slide of plastic bag across plastic bag. It was becoming unseemly and unmanageable. It was going to become the butt (har har) of jokes before too long.
The solution? Get that stash a pair of pants!!
When I moved into my 2 bedroom apartment, I moved in alone. It was before Senor and I were official, and before his lease was up elsewhere, so I brought in my stuff and put it WHERE EVER just to get it out of the way. When Senor brought his stuff (significantly less stuff than I brought to the equation, I acknowledge this), it got put away on top of WHERE EVER and we called it good. It looked neat enough, we could find most everything... most of the time, and so it has never changed.
Well it needs to change now that we've both expanded our waistlines stuff-wise.
So while Senor was out of town, I did a bit of reconfiguring, a bit of furniture moving, a bit of purging (merciless merciless purging, undies with holes? Don't need those! A bunch of removable bra straps that have lost their bras? What the... 18 pairs of tights with runs? I'm not that dancer from the famous photograph...), and now the stash has a drawer... okay, two drawers in a previously under-used dresser. It has moved out of it's stretchy skirt and into a pair of skinny jeans. It cannot expand. Literally. Which means there will be some destashing going on here to make room for future purchases.
And now we don't have to look at the stash's north butt anymore.
Coming tomorrow: photos of a finished Swallowtail Shawl!
So if I didn't want my stash to grow, why was I letting it wear an elastic-waisted skirt? Or, to complete this analogy, why was I letting the yarn live in a basket with no lid? Like a muffin top, or as we call it at our house, "North Butt", the yarn was starting to overflow it's basket as I became less and less able to prevent the slide of plastic bag across plastic bag. It was becoming unseemly and unmanageable. It was going to become the butt (har har) of jokes before too long.
The solution? Get that stash a pair of pants!!
When I moved into my 2 bedroom apartment, I moved in alone. It was before Senor and I were official, and before his lease was up elsewhere, so I brought in my stuff and put it WHERE EVER just to get it out of the way. When Senor brought his stuff (significantly less stuff than I brought to the equation, I acknowledge this), it got put away on top of WHERE EVER and we called it good. It looked neat enough, we could find most everything... most of the time, and so it has never changed.
Well it needs to change now that we've both expanded our waistlines stuff-wise.
So while Senor was out of town, I did a bit of reconfiguring, a bit of furniture moving, a bit of purging (merciless merciless purging, undies with holes? Don't need those! A bunch of removable bra straps that have lost their bras? What the... 18 pairs of tights with runs? I'm not that dancer from the famous photograph...), and now the stash has a drawer... okay, two drawers in a previously under-used dresser. It has moved out of it's stretchy skirt and into a pair of skinny jeans. It cannot expand. Literally. Which means there will be some destashing going on here to make room for future purchases.
And now we don't have to look at the stash's north butt anymore.
Coming tomorrow: photos of a finished Swallowtail Shawl!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Mo-Mentum Mo-Mentum Mo!!
Finishitis. So rare. So gratifying.
I see them, those unfinished projects, and I want them finished. I want to work on one until it's finished and then pick up the next and finish it until they are all done.
This almost never happens to me. I hope it lasts. If I can carry it through for another week, I could make some serious headway. I need to do some photo shoots of a few recent finishes, but in the meantime I present you with a single shot of the project I hold responsible for the finishitis:
The Shetland Triangle. What seemed like an insurmountable project somehow was finished in 4 days. And after that I wanted more. More finished objects. More feelings of dedication and endurance. I cast on a Swallowtail Shawl the next day. It is now 85% finished. And I have since finished a Harlot Scarf and the Citrus Yoke pullover. I'm on the move. Next will be the Ribbon Lace scarf, and meanwhile I will continue taking little bites out of the Swallowtail.
Life is good. Knitting is good. But finishing... finishing is the best. Whether it's a project or a bottle of shampoo... getting to the finish line feels so great!
I see them, those unfinished projects, and I want them finished. I want to work on one until it's finished and then pick up the next and finish it until they are all done.
This almost never happens to me. I hope it lasts. If I can carry it through for another week, I could make some serious headway. I need to do some photo shoots of a few recent finishes, but in the meantime I present you with a single shot of the project I hold responsible for the finishitis:
The Shetland Triangle. What seemed like an insurmountable project somehow was finished in 4 days. And after that I wanted more. More finished objects. More feelings of dedication and endurance. I cast on a Swallowtail Shawl the next day. It is now 85% finished. And I have since finished a Harlot Scarf and the Citrus Yoke pullover. I'm on the move. Next will be the Ribbon Lace scarf, and meanwhile I will continue taking little bites out of the Swallowtail.
Life is good. Knitting is good. But finishing... finishing is the best. Whether it's a project or a bottle of shampoo... getting to the finish line feels so great!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Good Times
Well, it's now officially one month since the first event on my list of squirrelled blog posts, so I think it means it's time.
I know what you're all thinking. Finally! (Hello all you Strongs and Bynums, I'm sorry it's taken me so long!)
At 3:30 in the morning the alarm went off. By 4:30 in the morning Senor and I were at the airport, see photo:
By 3:30 in the afternoon we were in Traverse City, Michigan. Our bags were not. It's very discouraging when the smallest airport on earth unloads the smallest plane on earth and the 7 bags come rolling out on the shortest conveyor belt on earth and NONE OF THEM ARE YOURS!! You have nothing to wear to the wedding, you have nothing to wear to the rehearsal dinner, you have nothing to even brush your teeth or restraighten your hair. (But you do have your knitting because you are not an idiot and carried that on)
By 4:00 in the afternoon we were checked in at the Holiday Inn, which was quite nice and had an ocean view. (Senor tells me that it is in fact a lake. Barbara tells me it's actually a bay attached to a lake. I say you can't see the other side. It's ocean.)
By 4:15 in the afternoon we were enjoying oceanside bevvies in plastic cups (yeah, baby, just the way I like it) and some fried cheese (What, buy food on the plane? We aren't Rockefellers. But we are Rockin' Fellers, thank you thank you.)
And by 5:00 we were at the rehearsal.
According to my photos of the event, the only thing that happened at the rehearsal was that the Father of the Bride (FoB) exchanged cds with the Bride... while being windblown and sassy. Don't worry, Amanda, there are pretty photos coming. Of course, the wedding itself was rehearsed casually (way to go on the low key proceedings!). It didn't take much because we were dealing with a bunch of professional wedding party members, and we were off to the rehearsal dinner at the groom's parents lovely home out in the countryside.
(Note the glazed over look in Senor's eyes, that's two hours of sleep for you)
Senor and I were still wearing the same clothes we had put on at 3:30 in the morning, and we were driving a Chevy Aveo, which we renamed El Crapeo, for obvious reasons, see photo:
While I didn't take any photos of the actual house, I did take some photos around the Bynum's property (and one of myself, cause that's just who I am):
The food was excellent, the company friendly, both new and old, and the evening beautiful, if a little windy and chilly for a native Californian. (Yu-huh, it was-so cold, Ashley High!). And the sun was still up at 9:30.
Then began the hunt for the bags. Roaming charges abounded. They promised to deliver our bags by the morning.
One arrived, not the other. We ended up picking the other bag up at the airport ourselves and then having breakfast at the appropriately named:
... where we ate at half a booth:
And I was still wearing the same clothes...
And then it was time to get ready for the wedding. A much needed shower and fresh undies and I was a new woman! Senor prepared to marry his sister, and we went out to the oceanview terrace for a pre-wedding plastic of wine.
It was a beautiful wedding, short, sweet, funny, perfect.
The groom is on the left, with two of his groomsmen.
I video taped the ceremony on my little camera, which promptly alerted me it was out of batteries, so the rest of the evening was not captured properly. I can tell you there was karaoke and wine, and karaoke ON wine. The Maid of Honor and I sang "Don't Stop Believing" at the tail end of the night, which I'm sure was very lovely. A singer in a smokey room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume... Oh so wedding appropriate. I'm still waiting to see the alleged photos of that one.
And then we went to pass out.
After the Sunday brunch, we spent the next day puttering around Traverse City, peering through the windows of closed knitting shops, and eating. We had dinner with Monte and Barbara (who just joined Ravelry, by the way... another one bites the dust, eh, staxgirl?) and a lovely restaurant, and then late night drinks with the bride and groom. A fitting end to a great weekend.
Good times.
I know what you're all thinking. Finally! (Hello all you Strongs and Bynums, I'm sorry it's taken me so long!)
At 3:30 in the morning the alarm went off. By 4:30 in the morning Senor and I were at the airport, see photo:
By 3:30 in the afternoon we were in Traverse City, Michigan. Our bags were not. It's very discouraging when the smallest airport on earth unloads the smallest plane on earth and the 7 bags come rolling out on the shortest conveyor belt on earth and NONE OF THEM ARE YOURS!! You have nothing to wear to the wedding, you have nothing to wear to the rehearsal dinner, you have nothing to even brush your teeth or restraighten your hair. (But you do have your knitting because you are not an idiot and carried that on)
By 4:00 in the afternoon we were checked in at the Holiday Inn, which was quite nice and had an ocean view. (Senor tells me that it is in fact a lake. Barbara tells me it's actually a bay attached to a lake. I say you can't see the other side. It's ocean.)
By 4:15 in the afternoon we were enjoying oceanside bevvies in plastic cups (yeah, baby, just the way I like it) and some fried cheese (What, buy food on the plane? We aren't Rockefellers. But we are Rockin' Fellers, thank you thank you.)
And by 5:00 we were at the rehearsal.
According to my photos of the event, the only thing that happened at the rehearsal was that the Father of the Bride (FoB) exchanged cds with the Bride... while being windblown and sassy. Don't worry, Amanda, there are pretty photos coming. Of course, the wedding itself was rehearsed casually (way to go on the low key proceedings!). It didn't take much because we were dealing with a bunch of professional wedding party members, and we were off to the rehearsal dinner at the groom's parents lovely home out in the countryside.
(Note the glazed over look in Senor's eyes, that's two hours of sleep for you)
Senor and I were still wearing the same clothes we had put on at 3:30 in the morning, and we were driving a Chevy Aveo, which we renamed El Crapeo, for obvious reasons, see photo:
While I didn't take any photos of the actual house, I did take some photos around the Bynum's property (and one of myself, cause that's just who I am):
The food was excellent, the company friendly, both new and old, and the evening beautiful, if a little windy and chilly for a native Californian. (Yu-huh, it was-so cold, Ashley High!). And the sun was still up at 9:30.
Then began the hunt for the bags. Roaming charges abounded. They promised to deliver our bags by the morning.
One arrived, not the other. We ended up picking the other bag up at the airport ourselves and then having breakfast at the appropriately named:
... where we ate at half a booth:
And I was still wearing the same clothes...
And then it was time to get ready for the wedding. A much needed shower and fresh undies and I was a new woman! Senor prepared to marry his sister, and we went out to the oceanview terrace for a pre-wedding plastic of wine.
It was a beautiful wedding, short, sweet, funny, perfect.
The groom is on the left, with two of his groomsmen.
I video taped the ceremony on my little camera, which promptly alerted me it was out of batteries, so the rest of the evening was not captured properly. I can tell you there was karaoke and wine, and karaoke ON wine. The Maid of Honor and I sang "Don't Stop Believing" at the tail end of the night, which I'm sure was very lovely. A singer in a smokey room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume... Oh so wedding appropriate. I'm still waiting to see the alleged photos of that one.
And then we went to pass out.
After the Sunday brunch, we spent the next day puttering around Traverse City, peering through the windows of closed knitting shops, and eating. We had dinner with Monte and Barbara (who just joined Ravelry, by the way... another one bites the dust, eh, staxgirl?) and a lovely restaurant, and then late night drinks with the bride and groom. A fitting end to a great weekend.
Good times.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Welcome!! The More the Merrier!!!
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I want to extend a Mommy, Look What I Made! welcome to my newest family member... of whom I do not yet have a photo...
Kelly Bradley Kurtzig
Monday, June 16, 2008
5:01 pm
9lbs 10oz!!!
Kelly is my cousin's second daughter, making the second half of our family's only set of sisters. Seems like there might need to be some tiny pink knitting going on sometime soon! And some matching not-so-tiny-anymore knitting for her sister, Jamie. What would be a good summer knit for a 4 year old?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Me Me Me Meme...
1. What were you doing ten years ago?
I was working at a government defense company AND Tower Records (I was working 8am to midnight, how did I do that?!). I thought I WAS Liv Tyler from "Empire Records"-- even dressed like her character one day, how cool am I? I was dating my manager, scandal, and watching my co-workers get fired for bringing pot brownies to work (I did not partake).
2. Five things on today's "to do" list (in no particular order)
- Make a To Do list (seriously)
- Rent "Point Break" in preparation for "Point Break Live"-- I am an F-B-I-Agent!!
- Rewash mildewing laundry in the washing machine (sorry, Senor)
- Floss
- Watch So You Think You Can Dance!!!
3. Snacks I enjoy
Pickled Ginger, Parmesian flavored goldfish crackers, wine (this totally counts), cheese on toast, ginger ale (but only on airplanes)
4. Things I would do if I was a millionaire
Pay off debt, buy a house, get Senor another car (which kind do you want?), set up a craft room, buy a new wardrobe, wear matching bra and undies everyday.
5. Places I have lived
Manhattan Beach, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
El Segundo, CA
Canterbury, UK
Da Hood, CA (also known as USC)
Sorority House @ USC-- Once we all got food poisoning from the ice machine, but this is irrelevant to the Meme.
I tag no one, but feel free to participate if you'd like... that is, assuming you haven't already.
I was working at a government defense company AND Tower Records (I was working 8am to midnight, how did I do that?!). I thought I WAS Liv Tyler from "Empire Records"-- even dressed like her character one day, how cool am I? I was dating my manager, scandal, and watching my co-workers get fired for bringing pot brownies to work (I did not partake).
2. Five things on today's "to do" list (in no particular order)
- Make a To Do list (seriously)
- Rent "Point Break" in preparation for "Point Break Live"-- I am an F-B-I-Agent!!
- Rewash mildewing laundry in the washing machine (sorry, Senor)
- Floss
- Watch So You Think You Can Dance!!!
3. Snacks I enjoy
Pickled Ginger, Parmesian flavored goldfish crackers, wine (this totally counts), cheese on toast, ginger ale (but only on airplanes)
4. Things I would do if I was a millionaire
Pay off debt, buy a house, get Senor another car (which kind do you want?), set up a craft room, buy a new wardrobe, wear matching bra and undies everyday.
5. Places I have lived
Manhattan Beach, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
El Segundo, CA
Canterbury, UK
Da Hood, CA (also known as USC)
Sorority House @ USC-- Once we all got food poisoning from the ice machine, but this is irrelevant to the Meme.
I tag no one, but feel free to participate if you'd like... that is, assuming you haven't already.
Blogging like a Squirrel
Imagine I have these fat cheeks, all bulgy and lumpy, like a squirrel, only instead of nuts, my cheeks are filled with blog posts. I've been so busy collecting stories and events and knitting accomplishments that I am too busy putting in to have time to take out. But a blogger's cheeks can only stretch so far, and while I will not be addressing the nuts in order, I will get to all the nuts. Here is a list so as to be sure not to forget.
- Michigan Wedding
- San Louis Obispo Graduation
- Laguna Beach Wedding
- Shetland Triangle
- Swallowtail Shawl
- Dance Recital
- TSD Rally
Those are the biggies. There might be a few little sunflower seed-sized posts in between, but these are the main fare.
Of course, I am not really addressing any of these today except in as far as they apply to my current frenzy of planned productiveness.
I don't mention it a lot on the blog, not sure why, but in addition to my day job (working at my dad's dental office) I am a dance teacher. I've been teaching on and off for about 5 years, and I alternately love and hate it, depending on the day and which kids were absent from class that day. I also teach an adult tap class which I invariably love.
I find it interesting that I first decide to mention it on the verge of my semi-retirement. Our recital is this Saturday, and the prospect of time being freed up in my life has me frothing at the mouth. I don't remember the last time that June felt like the end of something and the start of an actual summer break. While the last month or two of teaching has seemed to drag on, now that it's almost over I am feeling very nostalgic about it... But then I remember how I'll be getting two evenings and Fridays back and my head starts to expand with all of the plans I am making.
Of course I'll be at the gym all the time. Every day and I'll magically love working out and will suddenly be getting every penny's worth of my monthly fee. Of course.
And all of my knitting works in progress will stop getting passed up for new projects and will seem wonderful and beautiful and compelling again.
And housework will be a pleasure as I flit about wearing a ruffly apron and singing to the rabbits who are doing my dishes while a sparrow lands on my finger and sings "Africa" in perfect harmony with me.
And the novel I started back in November for NaNoWriMo will get finished and published and I'll go to book signings in brand new clothes with a brand new figure.
And in my spare time I'll sit and watch my bank balance tick up towards the $200,000 mark, at which point I will buy my Dream House to put my kids in (in this fantasy kids are kinda like sea monkeys, they just appear when the environment is right).
All of this, my friends, will get done in the mere 7 hours a week I am getting back with the coming end of dance. Summer is awesome.
Can you see it? It's so clear to me.
- Michigan Wedding
- San Louis Obispo Graduation
- Laguna Beach Wedding
- Shetland Triangle
- Swallowtail Shawl
- Dance Recital
- TSD Rally
Those are the biggies. There might be a few little sunflower seed-sized posts in between, but these are the main fare.
Of course, I am not really addressing any of these today except in as far as they apply to my current frenzy of planned productiveness.
I don't mention it a lot on the blog, not sure why, but in addition to my day job (working at my dad's dental office) I am a dance teacher. I've been teaching on and off for about 5 years, and I alternately love and hate it, depending on the day and which kids were absent from class that day. I also teach an adult tap class which I invariably love.
I find it interesting that I first decide to mention it on the verge of my semi-retirement. Our recital is this Saturday, and the prospect of time being freed up in my life has me frothing at the mouth. I don't remember the last time that June felt like the end of something and the start of an actual summer break. While the last month or two of teaching has seemed to drag on, now that it's almost over I am feeling very nostalgic about it... But then I remember how I'll be getting two evenings and Fridays back and my head starts to expand with all of the plans I am making.
Of course I'll be at the gym all the time. Every day and I'll magically love working out and will suddenly be getting every penny's worth of my monthly fee. Of course.
And all of my knitting works in progress will stop getting passed up for new projects and will seem wonderful and beautiful and compelling again.
And housework will be a pleasure as I flit about wearing a ruffly apron and singing to the rabbits who are doing my dishes while a sparrow lands on my finger and sings "Africa" in perfect harmony with me.
And the novel I started back in November for NaNoWriMo will get finished and published and I'll go to book signings in brand new clothes with a brand new figure.
And in my spare time I'll sit and watch my bank balance tick up towards the $200,000 mark, at which point I will buy my Dream House to put my kids in (in this fantasy kids are kinda like sea monkeys, they just appear when the environment is right).
All of this, my friends, will get done in the mere 7 hours a week I am getting back with the coming end of dance. Summer is awesome.
Can you see it? It's so clear to me.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Memorial Days
Weddings. Ours and theirs.
We are heading off tomorrow before the sun rises to Traverse City, Michigan for my sister-in-law's wedding. A wedding!!!! I love weddings!
Well, actually, I dread weddings as they approach, which I can't explain very well, but I love them once they are near and then here. I am past the dread and am looking forward to it with childish glee-- Me! Gleefull!! It's been a while since I could claim the emotion glee. But suddenly this morning I find myself full of glee for the bride and groom. You know why? Senor and I watched our wedding dvd last night (he in preparation for officiating this weekend-- yes, friends, Senor is marrying his sister-- I in televisual solidarity-- and to remember how thin my arms were!). At first I was thinking, "I'm not sure I'm ready to watch it again. It hasn't been long enough." But then it was on, and I was watching us looking great and feeling great and having fun and the tears and the laughs and the... Ahhhh... the loveliness. Everyone should get to feel that way, and in a mere two days, Amanda and Nate will be feeling great and looking great and crying (maybe? not sure if they'll be criers, I have my doubts, but I could easily be surprised) and laughing (definitely) and singing some karaoke (Yeah baby! "Let's Get It On", Senor, you must sing it!) and having the loveliness. And I am happy for them! And after watching our dvd, I felt happy for us.
One of the most surprising things I can say about watching our dvd... seeing myself in that setting made me like me, made me think I'd like to have her as a friend. That's a nice thing to be reminded of... yes, yes, that's a dangling participle. I could fix it, but I choose not to. (See, again! Let it dangle!)
Another cool thing about weddings is the knitting time. Now, a wedding is a lot of work, and I may very well be busy helping with stuff during and around the wedding... but what of the airport time? The airplane time? The waiting at baggage claim time? All usable. All highly coveted by the avid knitter. And I have a plan!
My first plan is to not leave my knitting bag at home. At 4am tomorrow morning I will not be in the mood for taking a cab back to the apartment to retrieve it. I am taking sock yarn leftovers for Squares. I am taking a new stash-busting project, the Jewelled Shell from Knitty.com, which I cast on Tuesday night at 11:30pm as a midnight snack, and I am taking the Lace Ribbon Scarf, in case I get bored of all that stockinette. That's all I'm taking. Too many options will split my time too much, and I'll end up with nothing to show for all of my waiting this weekend. Yarn shopping is, of course, part of the plan, but shall be limited to sock yarn as I have plenty of unknit sweaters and hats and scarves staring at me at home. Sock yarn does not breed guilt as the others do. Sock yarn breeds hope and dreams of a delightful future.
That's how I will memorialize this weekend of loveliness and waiting. With a skein to build a dream on.
And photos, if the camera cord ever turns up. And memories for next Memorial Day.
We are heading off tomorrow before the sun rises to Traverse City, Michigan for my sister-in-law's wedding. A wedding!!!! I love weddings!
Well, actually, I dread weddings as they approach, which I can't explain very well, but I love them once they are near and then here. I am past the dread and am looking forward to it with childish glee-- Me! Gleefull!! It's been a while since I could claim the emotion glee. But suddenly this morning I find myself full of glee for the bride and groom. You know why? Senor and I watched our wedding dvd last night (he in preparation for officiating this weekend-- yes, friends, Senor is marrying his sister-- I in televisual solidarity-- and to remember how thin my arms were!). At first I was thinking, "I'm not sure I'm ready to watch it again. It hasn't been long enough." But then it was on, and I was watching us looking great and feeling great and having fun and the tears and the laughs and the... Ahhhh... the loveliness. Everyone should get to feel that way, and in a mere two days, Amanda and Nate will be feeling great and looking great and crying (maybe? not sure if they'll be criers, I have my doubts, but I could easily be surprised) and laughing (definitely) and singing some karaoke (Yeah baby! "Let's Get It On", Senor, you must sing it!) and having the loveliness. And I am happy for them! And after watching our dvd, I felt happy for us.
One of the most surprising things I can say about watching our dvd... seeing myself in that setting made me like me, made me think I'd like to have her as a friend. That's a nice thing to be reminded of... yes, yes, that's a dangling participle. I could fix it, but I choose not to. (See, again! Let it dangle!)
Another cool thing about weddings is the knitting time. Now, a wedding is a lot of work, and I may very well be busy helping with stuff during and around the wedding... but what of the airport time? The airplane time? The waiting at baggage claim time? All usable. All highly coveted by the avid knitter. And I have a plan!
My first plan is to not leave my knitting bag at home. At 4am tomorrow morning I will not be in the mood for taking a cab back to the apartment to retrieve it. I am taking sock yarn leftovers for Squares. I am taking a new stash-busting project, the Jewelled Shell from Knitty.com, which I cast on Tuesday night at 11:30pm as a midnight snack, and I am taking the Lace Ribbon Scarf, in case I get bored of all that stockinette. That's all I'm taking. Too many options will split my time too much, and I'll end up with nothing to show for all of my waiting this weekend. Yarn shopping is, of course, part of the plan, but shall be limited to sock yarn as I have plenty of unknit sweaters and hats and scarves staring at me at home. Sock yarn does not breed guilt as the others do. Sock yarn breeds hope and dreams of a delightful future.
That's how I will memorialize this weekend of loveliness and waiting. With a skein to build a dream on.
And photos, if the camera cord ever turns up. And memories for next Memorial Day.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
In the Absence of Camera Cord
I haven't felt compelled to post because I haven't had any photos to share... well, that's not quite true. I don't have any photos uploaded to share. The camera cord is riding around in one of my bags or purses, but cursory searches have turned up nothing. It is not gone, and will turn up after it's vacation, but until then-- Words.
Jaywalker 5.0 is finished! The Pagewood Farms yarn that I used is absolutely wonderful, and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially in the Ireland colorway. Such interesting blue and green variations!
I am working on a design or two, one of which is really going for the jugular. While my visions for colorwork pieces are racing along at warp speed, my hands and needles are not living up to the ideas. It's totally frustrating! It's like trying to explain something in a language where you only know how to say Butter and Ice and you're not sure how to spell them.* I've had to rip back 5 times on a couple inches of a sock, and you should know that I don't usually rip back anything... even when there are mistakes, I usually let them slide. But this has been unacceptable. My design has looked like the knitting equivalent of a three-year-old's fingerpainting. It would be fridge-worthy if a three-year-old had actually done it, of course, but if an adult handed it to you and said, "Mommy, look what I made!" you'd say to her, "What the Eff?" Last night I would have thrown the stunted nub of a project across the room, but the idea of the yarn spiraling out of the center-pull ball like a cruise ship send-off was too cute to be rage appropriate. I hid it in a bag, probably with the camera cord and other misfit projects (one of whom wants to be a dentist), and pretended like it didn't exist.
The Pipe Dream scarf remains true to its name. The weather in Michigan is sufficiently chilly that I am consoling myself with the following mantra: It wouldn't have kept me warm anyway. It wouldn't have kept me warm anyway.
Other than that, squares. Barn Raising Quilt squares and yarn trading on Ravelry. A new friend is sending me a 1 gallon bag of sock yarn leftovers for some Cascade 220 leftovers. Smaller stash, more squares. How awesome is this? I also sold some Cascade 220 cheap to another new friend to help her make a point to her husband about how awesome knitting is. Smaller stash, promoting knitting awesomeness. What a great deal!!**
Bye for Now. ***
*CO 60sts. Knit 1" in k1p1 rib. Mantequilla. Yelo. BO loosely. Weave in ends.
**Senor endorses this message.
***You read it in the voice, didn't you? Admit it.
Jaywalker 5.0 is finished! The Pagewood Farms yarn that I used is absolutely wonderful, and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially in the Ireland colorway. Such interesting blue and green variations!
I am working on a design or two, one of which is really going for the jugular. While my visions for colorwork pieces are racing along at warp speed, my hands and needles are not living up to the ideas. It's totally frustrating! It's like trying to explain something in a language where you only know how to say Butter and Ice and you're not sure how to spell them.* I've had to rip back 5 times on a couple inches of a sock, and you should know that I don't usually rip back anything... even when there are mistakes, I usually let them slide. But this has been unacceptable. My design has looked like the knitting equivalent of a three-year-old's fingerpainting. It would be fridge-worthy if a three-year-old had actually done it, of course, but if an adult handed it to you and said, "Mommy, look what I made!" you'd say to her, "What the Eff?" Last night I would have thrown the stunted nub of a project across the room, but the idea of the yarn spiraling out of the center-pull ball like a cruise ship send-off was too cute to be rage appropriate. I hid it in a bag, probably with the camera cord and other misfit projects (one of whom wants to be a dentist), and pretended like it didn't exist.
The Pipe Dream scarf remains true to its name. The weather in Michigan is sufficiently chilly that I am consoling myself with the following mantra: It wouldn't have kept me warm anyway. It wouldn't have kept me warm anyway.
Other than that, squares. Barn Raising Quilt squares and yarn trading on Ravelry. A new friend is sending me a 1 gallon bag of sock yarn leftovers for some Cascade 220 leftovers. Smaller stash, more squares. How awesome is this? I also sold some Cascade 220 cheap to another new friend to help her make a point to her husband about how awesome knitting is. Smaller stash, promoting knitting awesomeness. What a great deal!!**
Bye for Now. ***
*CO 60sts. Knit 1" in k1p1 rib. Mantequilla. Yelo. BO loosely. Weave in ends.
**Senor endorses this message.
***You read it in the voice, didn't you? Admit it.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
My knits are doin' it!
They must be. Procreation is the only explanation for the proliferation of the species. Soon I shall have to hire hunters to come in and shoot the surplus population.
Current works in progress:
1. Lace Ribbon Scarf
2. Doppio Gauntlets
3. Citrus Yoke Pullover: This is an actual photo of mine... It's progressed quite a way since then...
4. Jaywalker 5.2
5. Lace Garter Stitch Scarf/Wrap/Wedding-Wearable for sister in law's wedding in less than 3 weeks... Also called "Pipe Dream Scarf".
6. Endpaper Mitts
7. Storm Water Shawl
They are doin' it. Swear. I am not responsible for this madness!
Current works in progress:
1. Lace Ribbon Scarf
2. Doppio Gauntlets
3. Citrus Yoke Pullover: This is an actual photo of mine... It's progressed quite a way since then...
4. Jaywalker 5.2
5. Lace Garter Stitch Scarf/Wrap/Wedding-Wearable for sister in law's wedding in less than 3 weeks... Also called "Pipe Dream Scarf".
6. Endpaper Mitts
7. Storm Water Shawl
They are doin' it. Swear. I am not responsible for this madness!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Stash Goes In, The Stash Goes Out
Webs, what am I going to do with you? They send me this little e-mail that subtly suggests that Cascade 220 might be on sale, and I numbly click on the link, thinking, "But I'm not really in the market for... Hey, wait a minute!" And suddenly visions of new sweaters come screaming into my head. Senor needs one! I need something new, too! (but you already have something new) But I need another something new!! Hey, cousin Mark wanted a sweater, too!! And while I have reservations about knitting entire sweaters for a non-husband, now would be the time to find out what I'm really made of 'cause CASCADE 220 IS ON SALE!!!
Yeah, you laugh, but I suddenly have 26 skeins of Cascade 220 to store and no desire to touch wool in the current heat wave.
Cotton it is! Or rather, 80% cotton (the 20% wool doesn't seem to be a detractor)... After much unsuccessful swatching Saturday morning, I finally matched up some stash cotton with a pattern and needles.
Citrus Yoke Pullover- Interweave Knits Winter 2006.
Cotton Cords- Brown Sheep Company- colorway Crescendo (mixed berry-ish)
10 1/2 Needles.
Zippy little thing!! It's knit top down, so I tried it on yesterday to make sure everything was working out okay. So far, so good. It's down below the armpits now. Already. Yip!! It's fun to knit a big chunky tube after all that cabling on Twist and the other size 2 needled projects that are floating around my house. This should be done by this weekend, if all continues smoothly, next week at the latest. And it will make room for at least 8 skeins of my new stash...
Oy, what will I do with the other 18?
Yeah, you laugh, but I suddenly have 26 skeins of Cascade 220 to store and no desire to touch wool in the current heat wave.
Cotton it is! Or rather, 80% cotton (the 20% wool doesn't seem to be a detractor)... After much unsuccessful swatching Saturday morning, I finally matched up some stash cotton with a pattern and needles.
Citrus Yoke Pullover- Interweave Knits Winter 2006.
Cotton Cords- Brown Sheep Company- colorway Crescendo (mixed berry-ish)
10 1/2 Needles.
Zippy little thing!! It's knit top down, so I tried it on yesterday to make sure everything was working out okay. So far, so good. It's down below the armpits now. Already. Yip!! It's fun to knit a big chunky tube after all that cabling on Twist and the other size 2 needled projects that are floating around my house. This should be done by this weekend, if all continues smoothly, next week at the latest. And it will make room for at least 8 skeins of my new stash...
Oy, what will I do with the other 18?
Friday, April 25, 2008
Finished Finished Finished!!
It's Twist, by Bonne Marie Burns!! Except with a twist (see what I did there?). I modified it to be a pullover instead of a cardigan. I simply knit the back twice, once as the pattern states and once with an improvised v-neck. I'd say for someone who was terrible at improv in school (I was a theater student), that's a darn fine neckline.
I already wore it out, even though it was way too hot.
Tonight I am wearing it to dinner. Senor thinks that is not a great idea. He's probably right. Vanity, thy name is PF Chang splash!!!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
My blog needs this
Senor, is there any chance we'll have little English kids someday?
Awww, man. That's too bad.
Now with photos!
Check this out! My Endpaper Mitts, knit in Colinette Jitterbug "Vincent's Apron" and "Blue Parrot", and cruising right along! I am experimenting with holding one yarn in the left hand and throwing the other with the right hand. So far, so good. I'll be interested to see how it all works once I get to the thumb gusset (Say it outloud, "Thumb Gusset". I sometimes use this as a substitute for "dumbass". It works great!).
I've also got a couple of owner appreciation shots of the Swing Thing jacket. It's now keeping my little neice warm in Australia (does it count as a neice if it's a sorority sister?).
Malabrigo makes her boogie!
Oh man, I hope that little ponytail never lays down! I feel so good about bringing handknits to Whoville. What a cutie!!!
Senor's new baby... we love it!! I have already experimented with convertible knitting. It's pretty much the same. Plus now I have a reason to wear a hat all of the time. I'll have to get on that!
And last but not least, Twist is seamed!!!!!! Yay! But you'll have to wait for finished photos. It isn't quite going to be perfect-perfect, but it is definitely close. There's a bit of room for armpit tumors, which I (fortunately) don't have, but other than that, it fits pretty darn well. It is superwash, too, so it might be that I just blocked it out a little too far, and maybe a washing will help it. Though I have to say throwing a brand new knit in the washing machine has me pretty freaked out. Are you sure it's safe?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
What you've been waiting for... but didn't know it...
Since I last posted, 16 days ago after being sick, the knitting has exploded wildly! I have, in 16 tiny days, knit BOTH sleeves AND the front of Twist, which I converted from a cardigan into a V-neck pullover. I don't have photos for you at this very moment because my camera is dead as a doornail, but if you're wondering which sweater I'm talking about, it's the white cabled thing in the post below. The back and the sleeves are blocked, and I just cast-off the front on my lunch hour. Yay!! Unfortunately, I do not think I have enough yarn for the hood... though now that the rest of the knitting is complete, I can reevaluate. It MIGHT be possible, though I hear hoods are a lot bigger than they seem, and after all the bummerness of thinking I didn't have enough, I might now actually prefer it as a simple v-neck. It would certainly be more work and dress-up friendly. You'll have to wait and see...
I also finished Jaywalker 5.1 and began 5.2. I finished a pair of Roza's socks (not in the 16 days, I only wove in the ends). AND... I started a pair of Endpaper Mitts. How I love them! They are for wearing while out for Sunday drives in Senor's Miata convertible. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Werner was put out to pasture. (Moment of silence) But the Miata, who is as of yet unnamed, is super cute and jaunty, definitely not gay, and really fun to ride in. But you see, my hands get cold. Endpaper Mitts it is!!!
I know, many of you are not knitters, and you have no idea what most of the aforementioned patterns are... hold tight. I will post photos soon!
I also finished Jaywalker 5.1 and began 5.2. I finished a pair of Roza's socks (not in the 16 days, I only wove in the ends). AND... I started a pair of Endpaper Mitts. How I love them! They are for wearing while out for Sunday drives in Senor's Miata convertible. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Werner was put out to pasture. (Moment of silence) But the Miata, who is as of yet unnamed, is super cute and jaunty, definitely not gay, and really fun to ride in. But you see, my hands get cold. Endpaper Mitts it is!!!
I know, many of you are not knitters, and you have no idea what most of the aforementioned patterns are... hold tight. I will post photos soon!
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
A Two-Story Morning
Today I bring you "How today was almost really bad" and "A tale of two shopping trips".
First "How today was almst really bad."
I was on my way to work, groovin' to some Bob Dylan, dreading Monday but enjoying my new outfit (see the next story), and cruising down PCH past the new mall here in El Segundo. A glint of light caught my eye off to the right of the road about 200 yards down. Instantly I knew what it was: a cop and his lazer. A slight alarm rose in my chest as I looked down at the speedometer and see that I was in fact speeding. My foot lifted off the gas and began tapping lightly on the break. I didn't want to slam my foot down for fear that the sudden decceleration with call attention to me. As I began to slow the car beside me went wooshing by, not at aggressive-teenage-boy speeds, but still faster than myself. We reached the driveway where the cop was waiting. I watched as the car in front of my went by. The cop didn't pull out. Would I soon regret buying a red car? I went by at the posted speed limit without looking over at the cop. In my rearview mirror I saw my fears coming true. The cop whipped out of the driveway and pulled into my lane. "No, no, not me," I said outloud, trying to maintain my lawful driving. He followed me for a few dreadful seconds and then miraculously, he went out and around me and threw on his lights for the car in front. Phew.
With my heart in my throat I drove the rest of the way to work. And it wasn't until I got here that I realized what could have been so so much worse. I forgot my purse at home. No driver's license.
And now "A tale of two shopping trips."
With the change in the weather and the pressure of what to wear for Easter looming, I ventured out shopping with my mom and grandma on Friday afternoon. I was still sporting a fuzzy champage buzz from a little brunch we'd had that morning. We were headed for Nordstrom's to shop with their money, cha-ching!! I was even happy with the underwear I was wearing (boys, it makes a difference, I can't explain). It was going to be a good day.
But it wasn't. Nordstrom's sucked!! I don't know who their target market was, but everything looked like dental scrubs-- and I would know. The colors were washed out and weird, the patterns were just bizarre, and the quality was on par with Old Navy but with Nordstrom's prices. It was the suck. I knew it was the clothes and not me, but as the buzz wore off and the afternoon hangover set in, it was impossible to avoid getting down on myself for the lack of fit and flatter going on. I went home with three new things but a seriously bad attitude. By 6:30 I was so down that I sent myself to bed. When Senor got home at 7:30, I did my best to ressurect myself because we were going out to see his co-worker's band. Whatever, I was so over it all.
Saturday, I still needed something to wear for Easter, and I was sure I could do better than I had the day before. I went instead to Macy's and had a much better experience. I got myself a dress and three tops. And there were a few things I left at the store that were pretty good too.
I wore my dress to Easter, and when we got home from brunch, we took a little nap, and then went through our closets. You would have been so proud-- I was RUTHLESS!! Everything I don't wear: gone. Everything that needs ironing: hung out in plain view to be taken care of. All yucky wire hangers: replaced with plastic.
I feel a bit more like a grown-up. Which I could certainly use more of these days.
And those are my two stories.
How were your weekends?
First "How today was almst really bad."
I was on my way to work, groovin' to some Bob Dylan, dreading Monday but enjoying my new outfit (see the next story), and cruising down PCH past the new mall here in El Segundo. A glint of light caught my eye off to the right of the road about 200 yards down. Instantly I knew what it was: a cop and his lazer. A slight alarm rose in my chest as I looked down at the speedometer and see that I was in fact speeding. My foot lifted off the gas and began tapping lightly on the break. I didn't want to slam my foot down for fear that the sudden decceleration with call attention to me. As I began to slow the car beside me went wooshing by, not at aggressive-teenage-boy speeds, but still faster than myself. We reached the driveway where the cop was waiting. I watched as the car in front of my went by. The cop didn't pull out. Would I soon regret buying a red car? I went by at the posted speed limit without looking over at the cop. In my rearview mirror I saw my fears coming true. The cop whipped out of the driveway and pulled into my lane. "No, no, not me," I said outloud, trying to maintain my lawful driving. He followed me for a few dreadful seconds and then miraculously, he went out and around me and threw on his lights for the car in front. Phew.
With my heart in my throat I drove the rest of the way to work. And it wasn't until I got here that I realized what could have been so so much worse. I forgot my purse at home. No driver's license.
And now "A tale of two shopping trips."
With the change in the weather and the pressure of what to wear for Easter looming, I ventured out shopping with my mom and grandma on Friday afternoon. I was still sporting a fuzzy champage buzz from a little brunch we'd had that morning. We were headed for Nordstrom's to shop with their money, cha-ching!! I was even happy with the underwear I was wearing (boys, it makes a difference, I can't explain). It was going to be a good day.
But it wasn't. Nordstrom's sucked!! I don't know who their target market was, but everything looked like dental scrubs-- and I would know. The colors were washed out and weird, the patterns were just bizarre, and the quality was on par with Old Navy but with Nordstrom's prices. It was the suck. I knew it was the clothes and not me, but as the buzz wore off and the afternoon hangover set in, it was impossible to avoid getting down on myself for the lack of fit and flatter going on. I went home with three new things but a seriously bad attitude. By 6:30 I was so down that I sent myself to bed. When Senor got home at 7:30, I did my best to ressurect myself because we were going out to see his co-worker's band. Whatever, I was so over it all.
Saturday, I still needed something to wear for Easter, and I was sure I could do better than I had the day before. I went instead to Macy's and had a much better experience. I got myself a dress and three tops. And there were a few things I left at the store that were pretty good too.
I wore my dress to Easter, and when we got home from brunch, we took a little nap, and then went through our closets. You would have been so proud-- I was RUTHLESS!! Everything I don't wear: gone. Everything that needs ironing: hung out in plain view to be taken care of. All yucky wire hangers: replaced with plastic.
I feel a bit more like a grown-up. Which I could certainly use more of these days.
And those are my two stories.
How were your weekends?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
That's Only Half?!
Yep. I only have about half of what I've planned. But who can resist playing with the layout of so many colorful squares?
In the top photo, I think I was trying to put the squares next to another square that shared a color splash in common without putting any two like squares beside each other... Not sure.
The photo below was an attempt to go from lightest to darkest starting in the upper left corner and moving to the lower right corner. I think I like this better.
But then I tried to organize them into blocks of four squares with matching ones on opposite corners. I like this too, but forgot to take photos...
... and then of course, there are going to be twice as many and in new and exciting colors... so the sky is the limit.
How would you do it?
In the top photo, I think I was trying to put the squares next to another square that shared a color splash in common without putting any two like squares beside each other... Not sure.
The photo below was an attempt to go from lightest to darkest starting in the upper left corner and moving to the lower right corner. I think I like this better.
But then I tried to organize them into blocks of four squares with matching ones on opposite corners. I like this too, but forgot to take photos...
... and then of course, there are going to be twice as many and in new and exciting colors... so the sky is the limit.
How would you do it?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A little stretch
The squares march on.
However, the fingers and mind needed a little stretch.
I have started a swingy little jacket for Maddie, who just turned one and to whom I owe a present.
The brilliant thing about having a friends in Australia is that just when it looks like wool will never be appropriate in Southern California again, there is a little family of knit-needers heading into the long Aussie winter.
Photos and details to come.
A small big project.
To take a little break from a big small project.
However, the fingers and mind needed a little stretch.
I have started a swingy little jacket for Maddie, who just turned one and to whom I owe a present.
The brilliant thing about having a friends in Australia is that just when it looks like wool will never be appropriate in Southern California again, there is a little family of knit-needers heading into the long Aussie winter.
Photos and details to come.
A small big project.
To take a little break from a big small project.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
When Vacations Attack 2: Sorority Girls
Guess where my yarn was... My neighbor's mailbox. Guess where my neighbor was...
SPRING BREAK WOOHOOO!!
My yarn was being held hostage in her mail until the mailman finally couldn't fit anything else in there... then he asked the building manager to take her stuff for her... and that's when I got my yarn. The building manager liberated it. Phew! Claudia's Handpainted in Marigold. Just what I needed.
Of course, while waiting and getting frustrated, wondering where my Claudia's was, I made two orders on-line. The 3 skeins of Lorna's from eBay and 2 skeins of hand-dyed yarn from Etsy. All of my orders made it safely through the mail (or out of the mail)...
...Just in time for me to find them in front of my door as I arrived home from one of my LYS with a skein of Lorna's in the Gold Hill Colorway. I had to have SOMETHING to take with me in the long car ride. I didn't know the others were going to make it in time. I had given up hope. It was the last minute, and if it weren't for the last minute, the Fuertes would get no yarn, none at all!
So, if you're doing the math, that means I took 7 skeins of yarn with me on our getaway to Vegas. (You never know which color will call to you next) But see, none of this is my fault. I blame SPRING BREAK WOOHOOO!!! If the sorority girls hadn't left town, I'd have had one polite, thrifty little skein. But NNNOOOOOOO-oooooo.
Oh Gluttony, you are a seductive mistress!
Since Friday I have 3 finished squares, one on the needles, and a finished Roza's sock. Photos to come.
(What I'm not telling you is that I bought a skein in Vegas... What happens in Vegas...)
I'm too busy rolling in all the yarn to care about taking photos!
SPRING BREAK WOOHOOO!!
My yarn was being held hostage in her mail until the mailman finally couldn't fit anything else in there... then he asked the building manager to take her stuff for her... and that's when I got my yarn. The building manager liberated it. Phew! Claudia's Handpainted in Marigold. Just what I needed.
Of course, while waiting and getting frustrated, wondering where my Claudia's was, I made two orders on-line. The 3 skeins of Lorna's from eBay and 2 skeins of hand-dyed yarn from Etsy. All of my orders made it safely through the mail (or out of the mail)...
...Just in time for me to find them in front of my door as I arrived home from one of my LYS with a skein of Lorna's in the Gold Hill Colorway. I had to have SOMETHING to take with me in the long car ride. I didn't know the others were going to make it in time. I had given up hope. It was the last minute, and if it weren't for the last minute, the Fuertes would get no yarn, none at all!
So, if you're doing the math, that means I took 7 skeins of yarn with me on our getaway to Vegas. (You never know which color will call to you next) But see, none of this is my fault. I blame SPRING BREAK WOOHOOO!!! If the sorority girls hadn't left town, I'd have had one polite, thrifty little skein. But NNNOOOOOOO-oooooo.
Oh Gluttony, you are a seductive mistress!
Since Friday I have 3 finished squares, one on the needles, and a finished Roza's sock. Photos to come.
(What I'm not telling you is that I bought a skein in Vegas... What happens in Vegas...)
I'm too busy rolling in all the yarn to care about taking photos!
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Attempted Detox
Attempted... indicating a failure.
Yesterday I finished square #25. As of leaving work I needed only to bind off, which meant that upon arriving home and finding one or more packages of yarn waiting for me, I could rabidly tear open and get some new fiber on me.
There were no such packages. I began to sweat. No new yarn? No Claudia's Handpaint in Marigold? No River, Pioneer, or Watercolor? Surely there had been a mistake. I checked the empty mailbox again. Nothing. I checked in front of my neighbor's door, in case of a miss-delivery. Just a carpet cleaning flyer. I went back and stood in the middle of my living room. No new yarn. I'd have to use some of my old stuff, to which I am building a tolerance and have a difficult time getting enough to feel it anymore. A little shiver went up my back. The yarn stores are closed. I'd have to do something else.
Rather than rocking or pounding my temple into the wall while scratching invisible bug bites, I decided to do what I could... I bound off #25. I blocked 21-25. I counted my squares. 25. I counted my squares again. 25. I restacked my squares and counted. 25. So I picked up a project that's been rattling around the apartment since November. Twist.
Muttering to myself cables, cables, cables, cables I sat and tried to focus on something new. I turned on this week's episode of Biggest Loser, which I hadn't watched Tuesday because I was so happy that Senor was finally home. And I knit. I knit 8 rows of the back of Twist and then I looked down... and I looked at the pattern... and I looked at the knitting... and something was different.
I blame the blanket.
I had to drop both cable panels down all 8 rows that I had knit (I refused to frog altogether). I spent the rest of the evening recabling what had taken me no more than a half an hour to do incorrectly in the first place. Shoulda frogged.
I blame the blanket. And the US Postal Service.
All I'm saying is there had better be some yarn when I get home today. I need a stash to take with me to Vegas. If I don't have stash from home when I arrive in Sin City, I could have a real problem on my hands, as I've heard there are two lovely yarn shops near the strip... I'll bet Vegas wool is harder stuff. Forget these local blends, perhaps I should just plan to get some uncut stuff there...
I blame the blanket.
Yesterday I finished square #25. As of leaving work I needed only to bind off, which meant that upon arriving home and finding one or more packages of yarn waiting for me, I could rabidly tear open and get some new fiber on me.
There were no such packages. I began to sweat. No new yarn? No Claudia's Handpaint in Marigold? No River, Pioneer, or Watercolor? Surely there had been a mistake. I checked the empty mailbox again. Nothing. I checked in front of my neighbor's door, in case of a miss-delivery. Just a carpet cleaning flyer. I went back and stood in the middle of my living room. No new yarn. I'd have to use some of my old stuff, to which I am building a tolerance and have a difficult time getting enough to feel it anymore. A little shiver went up my back. The yarn stores are closed. I'd have to do something else.
Rather than rocking or pounding my temple into the wall while scratching invisible bug bites, I decided to do what I could... I bound off #25. I blocked 21-25. I counted my squares. 25. I counted my squares again. 25. I restacked my squares and counted. 25. So I picked up a project that's been rattling around the apartment since November. Twist.
Muttering to myself cables, cables, cables, cables I sat and tried to focus on something new. I turned on this week's episode of Biggest Loser, which I hadn't watched Tuesday because I was so happy that Senor was finally home. And I knit. I knit 8 rows of the back of Twist and then I looked down... and I looked at the pattern... and I looked at the knitting... and something was different.I blame the blanket.
I had to drop both cable panels down all 8 rows that I had knit (I refused to frog altogether). I spent the rest of the evening recabling what had taken me no more than a half an hour to do incorrectly in the first place. Shoulda frogged.
I blame the blanket. And the US Postal Service.
All I'm saying is there had better be some yarn when I get home today. I need a stash to take with me to Vegas. If I don't have stash from home when I arrive in Sin City, I could have a real problem on my hands, as I've heard there are two lovely yarn shops near the strip... I'll bet Vegas wool is harder stuff. Forget these local blends, perhaps I should just plan to get some uncut stuff there...
I blame the blanket.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
"Senora has agreed to make a documentary about addiction...
...She does not know that she will soon face an INTERVENTION..."
My name is Senora. S-E-N-O-R-A.
My knitting has begun to take on a life of its own. It is making demands, and I am powerless to deny it. I've seen it happen before to others-- Cara's experience was well-documented from the beginning... or nearly the beginning. Pure obsession and madness of the best kind (in my opinion), and I enjoyed every last post about that mad blanket. But I never thought it would happen to me.
Now I have a mad blanket of my own, and it is time to let you all in on the madness.
It began with a knitalong last January (07) for Larissa Brown's new book, aptly called Knitalong. I knit a square for her Barn Raising Quilt. For some dumb reason, possibly having something to do with my trying to knit the square in the car on the way home from Las Vegas, I had a lot of trouble with that first square. Turns out, the pattern is totally easy when you aren't exhausted, broke, and hungover, and so I made another couple of squares way back when for what I thought could possibly someday turn into a quilt of my own...
WATCH OUT! I think this pattern is a viral infection, a lovely viral infection that delights and soothes while taking over all of your thoughts and senses. Over the course of 2007, I worked my way slowly but surely up to about 16 squares. I blocked them about 2 weeks ago...
... and then the sickness took hold. Knitting Smack. In the last two weeks I have knit 8 squares, one right after another. The last 4 were knit in the last 3 days (one thing good about alone time). I can't stop. Last night I stayed up until midnight because I was just so close to finishing square #24.
At first this quilt was to be made solely out of honest-to-goodness leftovers from actual pairs of socks. It led to the recent 3-pair-of-monkeys-in-three-weeks epidemic, which sadly didn't get much blog time (too busy knitting monkeys, duh!). But now, the sickness' demand for more sock yarn and more colors has escalated.
DANGER. I have now traded Cascade 220 for sock yarn on Ravelry. I have bought a skein of Lorna's Laces at two out of three of my LYS, one in Red Rover and one in Black Purl. Yesterday I hit eBay. You want it? You got it. My dealer. Thanks to "emtnestr" (that's her street name), I am now expecting a delivery of three skeins of Shepherd Sock in Pioneer, Watercolor, and River.
One can only imagine the carnage that will ensue when that package arrives...
Consider yourself warned. I am no longer in charge of my faculties. There will be an intervention eventually. I'm pretending not to know it's coming. Family and Friends, you will ALL have to read your "I love you this much, but you need help" letters to get me to stop!!!
Square #24
Socks that Rock- Mediumweight
Colorway: Farmhouse
Courtesy of: Krissy
My name is Senora. S-E-N-O-R-A.
My knitting has begun to take on a life of its own. It is making demands, and I am powerless to deny it. I've seen it happen before to others-- Cara's experience was well-documented from the beginning... or nearly the beginning. Pure obsession and madness of the best kind (in my opinion), and I enjoyed every last post about that mad blanket. But I never thought it would happen to me.
Now I have a mad blanket of my own, and it is time to let you all in on the madness.
It began with a knitalong last January (07) for Larissa Brown's new book, aptly called Knitalong. I knit a square for her Barn Raising Quilt. For some dumb reason, possibly having something to do with my trying to knit the square in the car on the way home from Las Vegas, I had a lot of trouble with that first square. Turns out, the pattern is totally easy when you aren't exhausted, broke, and hungover, and so I made another couple of squares way back when for what I thought could possibly someday turn into a quilt of my own...
WATCH OUT! I think this pattern is a viral infection, a lovely viral infection that delights and soothes while taking over all of your thoughts and senses. Over the course of 2007, I worked my way slowly but surely up to about 16 squares. I blocked them about 2 weeks ago...
... and then the sickness took hold. Knitting Smack. In the last two weeks I have knit 8 squares, one right after another. The last 4 were knit in the last 3 days (one thing good about alone time). I can't stop. Last night I stayed up until midnight because I was just so close to finishing square #24.
At first this quilt was to be made solely out of honest-to-goodness leftovers from actual pairs of socks. It led to the recent 3-pair-of-monkeys-in-three-weeks epidemic, which sadly didn't get much blog time (too busy knitting monkeys, duh!). But now, the sickness' demand for more sock yarn and more colors has escalated.
DANGER. I have now traded Cascade 220 for sock yarn on Ravelry. I have bought a skein of Lorna's Laces at two out of three of my LYS, one in Red Rover and one in Black Purl. Yesterday I hit eBay. You want it? You got it. My dealer. Thanks to "emtnestr" (that's her street name), I am now expecting a delivery of three skeins of Shepherd Sock in Pioneer, Watercolor, and River.
One can only imagine the carnage that will ensue when that package arrives...
Consider yourself warned. I am no longer in charge of my faculties. There will be an intervention eventually. I'm pretending not to know it's coming. Family and Friends, you will ALL have to read your "I love you this much, but you need help" letters to get me to stop!!!
Square #24
Socks that Rock- Mediumweight
Colorway: Farmhouse
Courtesy of: Krissy
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Dear Me,
You are miserable at being alone, you know that? I'll tell you why: The plans. The fantasy that you are going to revolutionize your life and your space in a single weekend while Senor is away... This fantasy is going to drive you crazy. Take it from someone who knows you. You didn't clear out your closet this weekend, and I know you are disappointed about that, but guess what: Most people didn't. In fact, probably hardly anyone cleaned out their closet this weekend. Nor did any significant portion of the population reorganize the garage, build kitchen cabinets, write a novel, or get their carpets shampooed. They all feel fine about this. Why don't you? Oh Me, you and your New Leaf Fantasies. When will you learn?
And besides that, Me, you DID do a lot of the things on your list. You vacuumed, you did the dishes (several times), you got through all of the laundry, you changed the sheets, you knit 3 squares for your quilt, you finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl (fantastic!), and you went for a three mile run. Those are all things to be proud of, and yet, the bigger, less realistic tasks that you didn't do are bumming you out. Now here it is, Sunday evening, and Senor will not be home for another two days... and you're STILL thinking you are going to do not only one, but ALL of those epic projects! You're a fool, Me.
Instead of worrying that you aren't doing those things, why don't you do some other things that you want to do?
I know, I hear you. You can't think of anything you want to do.
And that's because you are alone, and nothing is as fun for you when you are alone as it is when Senor is here... Oh Me, I know how you feel. I miss him too...
Love,
You
PS. I know you are now thinking how much alike the words quilt and guilt are... yes, they are, but guilt won't keep you as warm, though it might keep you as occupied.
And besides that, Me, you DID do a lot of the things on your list. You vacuumed, you did the dishes (several times), you got through all of the laundry, you changed the sheets, you knit 3 squares for your quilt, you finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl (fantastic!), and you went for a three mile run. Those are all things to be proud of, and yet, the bigger, less realistic tasks that you didn't do are bumming you out. Now here it is, Sunday evening, and Senor will not be home for another two days... and you're STILL thinking you are going to do not only one, but ALL of those epic projects! You're a fool, Me.
Instead of worrying that you aren't doing those things, why don't you do some other things that you want to do?
I know, I hear you. You can't think of anything you want to do.
And that's because you are alone, and nothing is as fun for you when you are alone as it is when Senor is here... Oh Me, I know how you feel. I miss him too...
Love,
You
PS. I know you are now thinking how much alike the words quilt and guilt are... yes, they are, but guilt won't keep you as warm, though it might keep you as occupied.
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