Peaceful Easy Knitting

Resurgence?

2010-04-21T18:59:00.003-06:00

Someone saw my blog (through Ravelry I think), and commented that I should start up again. Well, I just don't think I am interesting enough to sustain a full blog. I've gone Twitter now. I can handle 140 characters of knitting updates. It would be great if I could post pics without too much hassle, but eh. I tweet. I update Ravelry. That's about as good as it's gonna get for a while.

Peace Out

2009-01-01T09:37:00.002-06:00

It is highly unlikely that I will posting in the future. (I'm leaving this up just in case)

Thanks for reading until now:)

Possible Changes

2008-11-19T10:33:00.002-06:00

This blog may in the future be removed. I've been thinking lately about how I spend my time, and more importantly, how I would like to spend my time. I am coming to the conclusion that despite enjoying blogging, this is not helping in the bigger picture of what I want to do- namely knit more, write more and photographing more. I have too many things I want to do and finish that spending my time online I feel is wasting time I could be, should be, using to get things done (I realize I don't blog as much as some, or update as often, but when I do go online I get sucked into that time trap that is bloglines and surfing; so, to reduce the overall time-wasting, the blog may be sacrificed). I haven't yet made up my mind, but I wanted- as a courtesy to my limited readership- to give a heads up in case I drop it altogether. What ever happens I will remain on Ravelry, in fact probably be more involved on Ravelry as a result. Perhaps I will find a good place for writing and photography support. I am hoping to get more focused, in life and in online use.

New cast-ons

2008-11-14T13:34:00.004-06:00

Well I gave in. I started another project, two actually. Another cotton market bag (Sugar and Cream) and multi-directional scarf (finally found something suitable for the Debbie Mumm). In my defense I already had the yarn and the patterns and the thought that I was going to make the items at some point. I just needed something simple to work on while watching "Warplane" on PBS. Pics soon hopefully.

(So, the plan was to unravel this one tan scarf -Homespun- I had and knit it up together with the Debbie Mumm, but when I opened the closet I realized I had two scarves and the one I thought came from an old accquaintance wasn't the one that did. The brown one that did is the one I actually wore last year. So no unraveling there. So where did it the tan one come from? It's crochet. Did I make it? I can't for the life of me remember doing that, especially since it's double-stranded.... I already frogged part of it to test with the D.Mumm yarn but that was a horrible combination so now it's stuffed back in the closet as if it never happened)

Attack of the Computers!

2008-11-11T11:11:00.002-06:00

MAC does funny things with this blog. Last time I checked it at work the headers and footers weren't 100% wide. Today they are, but there is a blue scroll bar through the middle of my header...?

Anyway, I started another cotton market bag last night while I watched "From Hell" (Johnny Depp). I should probably do the toggle loops on the Cardigan for Merry tonight as that is last bit for that project and it will become an FO. I should also take pics of the opera gloves as they have been FO'd for some time....

Oh yes we did

2008-11-05T09:38:00.002-06:00

There is a lot I'd like to say here, probably too much for a blog that is suppose to be about knitting and crafting. I'm not sure if there is anything I can say anything that would sound more elegant than the immense collection of statements made in the past year, more so as yesterday approached. If I could make my simple thoughts sound as poetic as they should, I would feel they lived up to what he deserves. I am proud, not just because it is "historical", but for electing a president I trust, support and believe in; a president I feel comfortable having on my side; a president who will face challenges made worse by the previous eight years and a president I know will be fair and make decisions based on real intelligence; a president that, true to corny commercials and slogans, has given me hope for what the future might be.

I Voted!

2008-11-04T21:43:00.002-06:00

'Nuff said.

(OK, one more thing, I was really excited to see there was a line at the poll when I walked over [I live a block away] this morning at 7. I am so curious to know what the voter turnout will be, especially for the "youth" vote.)

Sweet Pumpkins!

2008-10-26T15:35:00.005-06:00

We cared pumpkins ay my aunt's this weekend. Great family times!

(L to R: Grim Reaper, Pooh, Crystal Ball, Franken-Goofy)

(L to R: Oh No!, Grim Reaper II, Spider, Black Widow, Scarecrow)

(This one was mine)

Freunde!

2008-10-19T10:37:00.002-06:00

Hello to my German friends Lina and Vroni! I miss you! Eat some chocolate for me:) you can also see some of my pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56567566@N00/

Status...(pics added 10/15)

2008-10-12T10:15:00.006-06:00

what have I been up to?
- finished hood on Cardigan for Merry, determined length of sleeves and body, so I ~~will be making~~ made a fold over hem and finish~~ing~~ed that up ~~soon~~

- purchased some gingham to make adjustments to my Dorothy costume (the one I wear nearly every year), seperating the over dress from the white undershirt
- broke my self-impossed yard diet and bought some Patons Chunky Shetland at JoAnns (in my defense, it was on sale and for specific projects I am planning)

- going to apple orchard today with the girls (picture added below)

- working too hard, there has been talk of rearranging the clients so I don't have as much, that would be very welcome, I have been swamped and I'm afraid of being over burdened and missing something or messing up....
- some of my herbs are growing again, I have new green sprouts. What the hell? It's October, I was getting ready to pack it all up and clean off the patio.... I guess I'll start watering again...

Whheeeeee! Splash!

2008-10-06T21:42:00.003-06:00

Just got back from a great anniversary weekend away... at Wisconsin Dells for indoor waterparks... unfortunately no pics, but trust me that we had a blast! Two words: The Hurricane.

P.S.- I have been so slacking on knitting... no excuses.

P.P.S. _ I think it's funny yhtat waterpark was already one of my lables/tags.

Oh Yeah?

2008-09-21T16:46:00.004-06:00

Collected and inspired from a Ravelry forum's discussion about people who say they are bothered when you knit around them....

Responses:
- “Annoying? No, now THAT (poke, poke them with your needles) is annoying.”
- whip out an airhorn and sound it at the end of each row
- Tell the people around you to STFU
- "don’t watch me then”
- You annoy me when you watch tv while I'm knitting
- (silently raise an eyebrow and stare them down, don't look away, make them do it first)

Got any more ideas?

Crack the Whip

2008-09-16T18:08:00.002-06:00

I need to finish something... I'm tired of looking at the same old shit... This blog is boring without knitting pictures... but I'm sorta on a yarn diet, no new projects until I finish at least two... (I've determined the fastest are going to be my re-worked opera gloves, the log cabin blanket -large but easy and fast- and the Cardigan to Merry- this >!< close!)

FO: Aleita Shell

2008-09-03T20:06:00.002-06:00

Pattern: Aleita Shell
Yarn: Kona Bay Cotton
Made for: myself

FO: Tudora

2008-08-28T16:46:00.003-06:00

Pattern: Tudora
Yarn: Bernat Satin in Chardonay
Made for: myself
Comments: Very fast, I cast-on the few days before Ravelympics2008
because I needed somethin to bide my time with,
then put it aside for two weeks and can back and finished in a day.

Pics of Ravelympics Projects

2008-08-26T07:31:00.003-06:00

Finished! The Angle Baby Jacket, Lion Brand Microspun (needs buttons)

~80% Cardigan for Merry, Caron Simply Soft Tweed

One!

2008-08-25T08:35:00.002-06:00

One outta three ain't bad:)
I finished the Angle Jacket and it's adorable! I have to pick out buttons still, I haven't found anything I like yet. The Cardigan for Merry was close, I got the whole body and both sleeves and 1-2" of the hood done. Oh well, it was fun. And the Log Cabin blanket got the short end of the deal, only 25% done. I took pics of the two jackets at the very moment it was over. I will post them tonight.

Ravelympics2008: Half-way!

2008-08-17T12:54:00.002-06:00

So, I'm not exactly half way on each project, but I think progress is good. here we are:

Cardigan for Merry, top down, sleeves seperated, 7 of 10 inches in the body.

Log Cabin Blanket, I'm just working until I run out of time...

Anlge Baby Jacket, half way (!)

Going for the Gold

2008-08-14T09:05:00.000-06:00

Last night I was depressed, feeling like "I never finish things", because I do tend to start lots of projects and not follow through. I took a critical look at my Ravelympics projects and determined that there was no way I could finish them all (3) by Saturday, and since tonight I have to go to dinner with the in-laws, I didn't think I could even finish out one if I focused soley on one project… so, sad night, appathetic knitting…

Until this morning when I was online and checked out to see what time the closing ceremonies were suppose to be that I found out I have One More Week! It's not over this Satruday, it’s next Saturday… YIPPEE!! OK, deep breath, I could pull this off, I could maybe finish at least the two baby/toddler sweaters… maybe not the blanket, but that's why I chose several projects, to give myself options and besides athletes can be in more than one sport and get 2nd or 3rd medals or even not medal and they are still Olympians:) It’s not all about the gold.

But hey I’m going for at least one! I’m half way on the Angle Jacket, I’m 2” past the armpit on the Cardigan for Merry (knitting top-down raglan)… and about 1’ x 1’ square on the Log Cabin Blanket (I kinda restarted twice on that trying to do something special then giving up and doing it regular, so I would have been further ahead).

I can hear the award music now… Da! Da! Da-da, Da Dum Da! Da dum Da Da, da da da da-da Da DA DA!

Not Enough Time!

2008-08-11T21:29:00.005-06:00

Can't Blog, Must Knit!
Progress (all photos from day of casting-on, actual progress is further):

Angle Baby Jacket, Lion Brand Microspun
(this is where I first saw the pattern and what it will look like finished)

Log Cabin Blanket from Lion Brand Homespun

Cardigan for Merry, Caron Simply Soft Tweed

Fun Fotos

2008-08-01T15:09:00.005-06:00

Weilheim-Maria's Square, Bavaria, Germany;

2,100 square meter painted replica of Kandinsky's painting of the same name. One of four giant panda cubs born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

in China's southwestern province of Sichuan.

Isis Pics

2008-07-31T20:18:00.004-06:00

Not much to say, just posting pics of the Veil of Isis:

Must. Cast. On. Now.

2008-07-30T19:50:00.005-06:00

I signed up for Ravelympics 2008! You pick a project (or multiple) to start and work on during the Summer Olympics. Cast on during opening ceremonies and finish by closing ceremonies. You can see the projects I picked at right (hey, I need more than one 'cause what if I'm not inspired by one, I can go to the others, something's bound to pan out).

And as soon as I signed up I wanted nothing more than to cast on, right then! I've been sitting on these in my queue and not until I can't start do I really really want to! So I started a new project, a short one, a filler: Tudora (cabled asymetrical collar) from Bernat Satin in Chardonay.

The finished size is only like 4 inches long so I figure it'll tide me over. I am still working on the Veil of Isis tablerunner during my lunch hour. I've been going to the park with my work-knitting buddies and getting bits in here and there. I don't know if I'll finish by Xmas (probably not) but the recipient doesn't really know it's for her anyways.

Oh yeah, we went out to the Yarn Cafe today. J had been getting emails about things being so much percent off the past few days to a week (we went once at 50% off) and yesterday got one that everything was 98 cents. We figured the quality bar might be set real low for what's left at 98 cents, but what the hell why not. I can't imagine what a zoo it might have been yesterday but today they were totally done, empty, lights out, nothing but carpet. There goes another LYS. RIP.

T.G.I.R.

2008-07-27T10:08:00.003-06:00

I hada dream last night that I was at a Knitting Camp/Class and the instructor was trying to determine what level or experience we were so we could break out a get to work. I had not brought any FO's because the booklet description did not indicate to do so. The instructor went around to everyone "oh'ing" and "ah'ing" at everyone's stuff and got to me and said: "I just don't know Lisa, I can't let you continue unless I see what you've done." She was going to kick me out. And I was terribly embarrassed, especially because my mother was in the back of the classroom (despite her never, ever knowing how to knit). But, in an "ah-ha!" moment, I said: "What about Ravelry?!" Can you look at my Rav page?" And she said yes! That would suffice. Ravlery saved me:) if only in my dream.

(P.S.- It's "T.G.I.R(avelry)")

My ears are ggetting pointy....

2008-07-25T14:57:00.001-06:00

Your result for The What Middle Earth race do you belong to Test ...
Elf
You scored 0% Size & Strength, 65% Morality, 53% Aggression, and 82% Intelligence.

You're an Elf! You scored low in size, high in morality, high in aggression and high in intelligence to get here. The first and favorite race created by the Valar, the Elves have been in Middle Earth for many ages, and are currently the only race allowed to join their creators in Valinor. Blessed with eternal life, enhanced senses, great beauty, wisdom and skill, the race of Elves still has several black marks on it. (Kinslaying, anyone?) But hey, no one is perfect, right? Of course not, but the Elves are damn close to it. FYI, your polar opposite is the Troll.

Take The What Middle Earth race do you belong to Test at HelloQuizzy

S.E.X. Details

2008-07-19T17:38:00.004-06:00

As promised, here are the pics of my newly aquired stash from the store-closing sale at the Yarn Cafe in Maple Grove:

Berroco SoftTwist Bulky (rayon/wool); 136 yds, 100 g; 16s/1" on US10(6mm)
Purchased: one skein in a rich purple
I bought this soley for the color, so either I find something to use it for,
or find a good friend that likes purple... now where am I going to find someone like that?

Berroco SoftTwist (rayon/wool); 100 yds, 50 g; 20s/1" on US (5mm)
Purchased: two skeins in magenta/purple
Again, purchased for the color.

-------

Noro Lily Solid (cotton/silk); 108m, 40g; gauge: no idea
Purchased: three skeins in pumpkin and one in steel blue
Didn't know it was Noro when I bought it, the tags were covering the logo.
Again don't know what it's for.

-------

Mooncake Tranquility (wool), 215 yds, 100 g; 16s/1" on US7
Purchased: 6 skeins Vetiver green and 8 skeins Quiet Water blue
This yarn was highly recommended by my s.e.xpedition buddy.
The green is for me, blue for my aunt perhaps.

Added note: Entertainment Weekly just came out with their countdown of the 25 greatest Musical movies of all time. I am so very pleased with their Number 1 pick, my all time favorite: Wizard of Oz. I am elated! (in real life that statement was followed by several dozen exclaimation points, for the sake or your Internet-Sanity, I censored myself. The EW.com's countdown starts here.

Great S.E.X.

2008-07-18T15:26:00.003-06:00

Over lunch me and my knitting posse went to the Yarn Cafe's close-out sale. I walked away with more yarn than I intended. I got some random cotton/silk for who knows what, some other purple yarn I bought soley for the color and two different colors of this yarn my girl recommended. It is (was) only available at Yarn Cafe, from a local company, worsted weight, very loosely plied, pretty soft and recommended for sweaters- Moon Something. I got some blue for my aunt and some green for me:) I'll have to take pics this weekend and post soon.

Summer days drifting away...

2008-07-12T18:53:00.004-06:00

I'm back and it's time for my big/not-so-big vacation recap:
- went to the ol' (rented) cabin up north, 19th year, with two aunts, an uncle, an aunt's boyfriend, the husband and Yorkie.
- went fishing, caught some good sized crappies, a big catfish and my uncle caught some bass and a dogfish
- played card and board games, frisbee golf, ping pong, bocce ball, horseshoes, knitted while watching husband play basketball
- ran six out of eight days
- good food, one day made an apple pie from scratch with no measuring cups, one day had fish fry
- apparently it stormed two nights in a row but I didn't wake up, cleared up by day, hot and humid on Fri for good afternoon swim, got burnt/tan
- went "into town" (St. Cloud) for two yarn shops, one small, one bigger, I highly recommend Gruber's Quilting Shop in Waite Park, MN, came away with some acrylic, don't know quite what I'm doing with the brown/blue stuff, but the green is gonna be a scarf, perhaps with beads...

- also, stopped at Knit'n locally before we left and I got some RYC Cashcotton 4-ply on clearnace and started a top... pics to follow when the pattern develops a bit further:)
- and on the way back stopped at the history center of the county we were in, which happens to be where my part of grandma's family is from, and got some good info, plus (!) finally found something on the mysterious great-great grandpa that died young and I couldn't find anyhing on. I found an obit that revealed he was from a different area/town than we had thought... I think this may break open the gates to "finding" him and his family. I am so excited!

I'm So Outta Here:)

2008-07-03T15:45:00.000-06:00

I’ve got a half hour until I’m outta here for nine days…nine sunny, funny days:) We're closed on the fourth, then I got to the cabin for a week. One would think my brain has checked out. However, I was actually trying to find something work-related to do so I could feel that I put in my full time before absconding for so long. But the Big Gigantic Project is coming to an end. We're sending out the last two files to freelancers (as a test of their competence for other big projects that we will have soon and don't want to have in house like this last one) and the project coordinator sent the edits to Megan to finish out my last file... so boring story short, I’ve got nothing to do now. I’m going to sit here eating my yogurt with granola and read a knit-blog or two. Fifteen minutes to go...

Calling all green thumbs

2008-06-30T19:36:00.004-06:00

I need some advice: I am going on vacation for a week and will not have anyone to water my plants for a few days...I am trying to devise a do-it-yourself drip irrigation system without having to go buy a bunch of materials. I've tried punching holes in the bottom of pop cans but they drain too fast, much too fast. I'm trying to figure out how I can get slow drips that might drain over the course of several days if I can hook it up to a big supply.

I live in an apartment, third floor balcony. I do not have a hose. I welcome any ideas:)

Which reminds me, I am going on vacation next week and will not be blogging during that time. I do plan on knitting. What, I'm not sure. I'm bring a few small/lightweight projects (socks, some lace) and perhaps some yarn for an easy baby project? Baby surprise jacket? Or work on the blanket? I don't know.

Hi-Ya!

2008-06-26T14:49:00.006-06:00

Ok, just because I'm a blog-slacker doesn't mean you can get away with it. Come on people, post something!

My newest favorite-est thing: AskANinja It's a dot.com and has podcasts on iTunes. Hilarious! I'm probably months if not years behind the times but I just ran across it and cried at work I was laughing so hard and my co-worker asked if I got high during lunch. My two favorite episodes: "Ninterview" and "Crazy People vs. Ninjas."

I've been making very slow progress on my Veil of Isis. I pulled it out last night and disaster! Half the stitches from two ajacent dnps had fallen off. Some had unraveled and I had to pick back and figure out what they should be, I did manage to get it on track though. So I switched to a circular a bit prematurly, it's a stretch, but at least they are not in danger of dropping.

WIP: Veil of Isis

2008-06-22T14:58:00.003-06:00

WIP: Veil of Isis from BadCatDesigns (Misty Alpaca Laceweight in cranberry)
I am actually a bit further along than the photo suggests, I've been doing a few rows each day at work... it's a fun kit for now because it's growing and changing as it gets bigger. At some point it will stop "changing" and just grow with repetitions, that will be the infamous black-hole portion I must get through.

Other than this I haven't been knitting much. The Aleita Shell has been ignored for some time now, poor thing. I really should finish it off. Yet I would not wear it during the summer, despite being of a nice light cotton, would still be too warm... a perect for early fall though. We'll see, if the office gets to chilly when the a/c kicks full-on, perhaps.

I've been slacking in almost everything lately. I haven't written, I haven't knit much and I certainly haven't done anything to my websites thatn I meant to take care of... I did just organize my desk area a bit (I'm spray painting my mis-matched metal trays and pen cups etcand such so everything matches and looks neat) to make it easier to sit down and work on the computer or write so hopefully... but I am going on vacation in two weeks, for the whole week, so I doubt much will get done.

My aunt Sharon came up from Oklahoma for a vists so we hung out a few times. We went to the MN History Center on Tuesday to see the MN 150 exhibit, celebrating 150 favorite MN things in honor of the sesquicentennial (the 150-yr anniversary of the state) then sat in the hot tub one night and a family BBQ on Saturday. Ah, good times...

Zorg!

2008-06-13T12:15:00.003-06:00

I have been such a blog slacker! (that sounds like quite the insult eh?- "you're a scruffy-looking nerf-herder!" "Yeah, we'll you're a blog slacker!") I even have a new project to report on (but sorry no pics).

I abandoned my Print O' the Wave for the Veil of Iris by BadCatDesigns (Rav link) (website link). Hopefully I can pull through with this one. I had a hell of a time starting out, I could not figure it out how you start a circular shawl from the middle. I couldn't juggle the DPNs and it was way too loose and holey. Then I started again and crocheted four chains and did a ring of sc around that and then picked up four knit stitches and went from there, that worked quite well. I've only got 2" x 2" square but I think the first foot will go fast then it will be a knitting black hole. I'll be a good lesson for me in patience and perseverance. I'm going to work square until about 24-8" and then break off and extend rectangularly to make a table runner for my aunt. It's will be as long as I have yarn...

Today I was...

2008-06-09T20:39:00.002-06:00

... indifferent to working on the same old project for the fifth week in a row, could be worse;
... upset to see this beautiful swatch and then not be able to purchase or even identify the yarn, on a yarn website of all places;
... content to lay on the couch with my laptop on my stomach, reading blogs and listening to the entire Complete Greatest Hits of Gordon Lightfoot album;

P.S.- Ravel-versary contest still open if anyone else wants to give it a shot, see blog post below

Ravel-versary!

2008-06-04T21:32:00.000-06:00

In honor of my Ravel-versary I am hosting a quiz. It will be posted for one week, or until I determine that the handful of people who read my blog have visited and had time to guess. The winner will receive their choice of prize: gift certificate either to their local yarn store of their choice, KnitPicks.com or, if possible, Etsy (but I'm not sure yet if this is possible, bear with me I'm making it up as I go).

I am sorry Alison, but you are not allowed to participate as you would undoubtably win. Don't worry, I will still give you a prize.

1. (1 pt. each) Name my two cats.
2. What date is my Ravel-versary?
3. What was my first FO of 2008 (not counting "Ughs")
4. What is my favorite color knitting-wise?
5. (1 pt. each) What song is the name of my blog based on and who sings it?
6. Technically I learned to knit from a book, but who got me interested?
7. Did I finish the Mystery Stole 3? (y or n)
8. Name one of my non-knitting hobbies and be specific (watching tv does not count).
9. How long have I been married (round guess to nearest .5 or 1 year, must be within .5 years)
10. What does the "y-t-d" figure on my blog (right column) refer to?

Send me an email with your answers (don't post in comments or you could be plagerized). I will announce the winner when ever I damn well feel like it. Feel free to tell strangers, if they are smart enough to guess the answers they are welcome to give it a shot.

Doods!

2008-06-02T19:13:00.002-06:00

My 1 year Ravel-versary is coming up in two days! I gotta come up with something good quick! A quiz? Trivia? What can I give away?... must get to work....

untitled

2008-06-02T12:23:00.007-06:00

I went to a Pure Romance party last night, very much fun. The host and presenter were great. I won this:

and purchased this:plus a book and other things not appropriate for showing here.

lolcats

2008-06-01T10:07:00.002-06:00

I got sidetracked this morning on ICanHasCheezburger.com, two favorites:

a rose is a rose

2008-05-28T19:41:00.002-06:00

My beautiful flowers from this weekend (no reason)
were lovely on my desk at work this week.
I love the color.

Aleita progress: 75-80%

2008-05-26T19:56:00.004-06:00

Not a particularly exciting photo, but that's as far up as I am, a few inches into the bust stitches, I've split for the neck and soon will split for the arm holes. Won't be much further now with it deceasing more each round...

Other than that, saw Indian Jones on Friday, enjoyable, fits with the others. Went to my aunt's graduation, not terribly exciting. Got a new dresser from IKEA to hold my hobby/crafty stuff (matches dresser I use for clothes) looks great. Cleaned up the patio a bit but still have to hang the baskets otherwise trouble kitty will eat all my herbs. Planning our fun activities at work this week: an Indiana Jones scavenger hunt and a Sex & the City "night out".

love is not a victory march...

2008-05-19T20:30:00.005-06:00

I'm not trying to steal Emily's theme, but I had to post because I've been obsessing all day over the song "Hallelujah". (Of course I'm not as cool as Emily because I can't get the video to embed)

I went on YouTube to watch the late Jeff Buckely sing it (here), then surfed "the Internets" to find out it was written by a still-alive Canadian, Leonard Cohen (YouTube here). And he had written 15 verses, some of which are sung on his Various Positions album, different ones on the live album and a combination in Jeff Buckley's version. Then I proceeded to watch/listen to every video clip on YouTube of others singing the song, including that guy in American Idol, Amanda Jensenn (Swedish Idol), Rufus Wainwright (Shrek), Allison Crowe (?), Sad Kermit (audio only) and k.d. lang.

According to Wikipedia: "The original recording from 1984 is noted for containing explicit biblical references in the lyrics... In these instances, the lyrics are overtly sexual. Jeff Buckley called his own rendition of the song [1994] a homage to "the hallelujah of the orgasm". Before looking into it, I had always thought the song sounded rather sad. Huh.

[Sorry, no knitting progress, just this]

... it's a cold and it's a broken, hallelujah.

exactly 50% normal, beat that freakazoids!

2008-05-12T12:24:00.002-06:00

You Are 50% Normal

While some of your behavior is quite normal...

Other things you do are downright strange

You've got a little of your freak going on

But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

Oh...wait, maybe it means I'm 50% normal and 50% weird... here, I was thinking I'm right in the middle, meaning perfectly normal... now I guess no, in that case, sorry freakazoids.

weekend

2008-05-11T16:56:00.004-06:00

Saturday: morning run, 3miles; minor cleaning; Shepard's Harvest, rain, slightly disappointing; dress shopping in Woodbury, no dress, two pairs earrings; barbeque with the Band, good times, good grillin';

Sunday: husband helped brother move heavy couch, lunch at Matty B's retaurant with mom, her husband, bro's, s-i-l and niece, good times, good Walleye; hanging out at Mom's;

Up next: printing lace patterns, possibly order from KnitPicks, grocery shopping, stringing patio lights and putting up garden fencing to keep sneaky kitties safe on balcony.

pics: cake and knitting

2008-05-08T20:34:00.004-06:00

(my birthday cake from Alison [last week]: a knitted cake!)

Aeita Shell (Interweave Knits, spring 2008): I'm through the waist shaping and soon will split for the neck. I used Kona bay cotton from my frogged Drop Stitch Tank (Fitted Knits), which I never wore, not once, to make this instead. Knits up fast (if I actually worked on it more than an hour every third day...), I put in fake side seems (a purl in the midst of the knits) in case I needed to take it in I'd have a guide. The lower hems is rolling a bit despite the rib (ok so it's only 4x1) but perhaps some light blocking would help. The top half will cruise bec' it's all decreasing...

I've been neglecting my yarn

2008-05-07T12:16:00.003-06:00

I've been trying to squeeze in extra hours at work when ever I can without crashing... we have a big project that is going to be very tight and I'd rather do some here and there instead of all at the end... thus I haven't done much when I get home. I even skipped running last night, shame on me. Better go tonight. I did get back to work on my Aleita shell while we watched the last two weeks' The Office episodes online (Still have two weeks of Earl, Scrubs and 30 Rock to watch...then add to it this week's... ack! too much tv, not enough time.). I'm through the waist shaping and am adding a few more rows before I split for the neck. It should go rather fast now because I keep decreasing until the shoulders and there is only the should seems to do at the end. Pretty quick and satisfying. Then what? I'd like to start some lace but I should probably finish one of the three pairs of socks I have on the needles...

Weekend recap

2008-05-04T18:33:00.003-06:00

Well the Walk for Animals was good, clear weather (tad too breezey though) and lots of animals. I raised $270 (for which I got the third tier swag: a bandana, a teeshirt and a nifty umbrella). Mom and aunt Kathy came along... oh and Dusty, Kathy's yorkshire terrier (aka- Dust-Ball, Little Buddy). After that I stopped in at work to get in some overtime. No one else was there so I had my music going and got some good things done. Then in the evening I went to Traci's surprise graduation celebration. She was shocked. She even teared-up a little to see everyone. Good times. Today I went to Khan's (mongolian barbeque) and Baby Mama (Tina Fey and Amy Poehler) with the husband- funny but in a serious real life way.

Still very little knitting progress... shame on me.

Progress Report of Slow Progress

2008-05-01T21:46:00.004-06:00

A week since my last post! What is wrong with me? What have I been up to? Waiting for my computer...which is here now and I am typing on it while laying in bed :) Sitting here and not at a desk really points out to me what a bad typer I am. For working on a computer all day (and I mean all day, that'a all I do) I'm still so bad.

What else? I got a hair cut. I had a wave put in (done?) at the end of January but it only showed for two weeks. They cut off some inches and gave me some layers and boing! It sprung up into soft waves and felt soo much lighter. It's not as curly as I would really like ( like Alison's when she had hers done) but I've come to accept that my hair wants to be straight and any thing I can coax out is fantastic.

I was my 27th birthday on Saturday so I was busy over the weekend visiting friends and family and eating cake. I got four cakes this year! Three chocolate and one lemon :) Also I ate at Wasabi with Jessah, fantastic food and fun atmosphere- they cook your food on the hibatchi in front of you. And who gets seated at our hibatchi but Jessah's boss. So we couldn't really bitch about work.

Speaking of, it's been going pretty good, I'm on two big projects right now which makes me nervous (problems in big projects can get magnified into big problems) but still good because it shows they must have some confidence in me. I've decided to not talk too much about work in specifics here, just in case...

As for knitting, I haven't sone much lately. I finished one of my Blueberry Hill socks. I'm about 8 inches into the Aleita Shell from spring Interweave Knits. It goes fast when I actually work on it, straight stockinette in the round, but not exciting. And the Skeleton Leggings are no further than last mention.

I was excited to get started reorganizing my genealogy on my new computer but my software doesn't work on Vista. I was able to order an upgrade (from 2.0 to 8, what a jump!) for $20, not too shabby. I'll have to wait a few days for it to come then we're in business.

I am ready for weekend! We're gonna see Iron Man tomorrow. Saturday is the Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals (got $110 donated at work) at Como. Aunt Kathy's coming and maybe my mom. After that it's a surprise party for my aunt Traci's graduation from some college program of some kind. Hopefully I can relax on Sunday. All right, I've go to sleep...

Glub Glub Glub (blinded by science, underwater)

2008-04-24T12:12:00.003-06:00

In general, I would never need to know this, but it's interesting anyway:

Sound travels 344 meters per second in 68 degrees (F) air. That's 2,064,820 furlongs per fortnight. Sounds travels even faster in liquids and solids because of their greater density (although standard measurement is slightly more complicated because of it is effected by the shape of the material and also the fact that both longitudinal and transverse waves may propagate in solids). Thus, it travels three time faster in helium (at 32 degrees), 4.5 times faster in water (at 68 degrees) and 18 times faster through aluminum. ("Modern navies depends heavily on being able to predict the speed of sound in varying water conditions for their SONAR echo-location systems. If you have ever lived in an apartment with shared walls and a party next door, you are no doubt aware that sound waves can transfer from one medium to another and back again—in this case from air to the rigid wallboard and back to air again. The speed with which it travels changes accordingly with the shift in mediums")

And now, according to Mythbusters:
Sharks do not hunt by feeling low frequency sound waves transmitted through water. However, it is plausible that the presence of dolphins can deter sharks from attacking their prey. (The Mythbusters built an animatronic replica of a dolphin and took it to the shark infested waters of South Africa. They tested the waters by throwing in a seal-shaped lure only to have it attacked by a great white shark just barely five seconds after it hit the water. They then placed the fake dolphin in the water with the lure. The sharks approached the lure, but when they saw the dolphin, opted not to attack. The Mythbusters replaced the lure with actual bait, but the results were the same, and the sharks appeared reluctant to attack. However, once they removed the dolphin, the sharks immediately began attacking the lures and bait again. With these results and with plenty of anecdotal evidence, the Mythbusters decided that the myth was plausible.)

Must Share This...

2008-04-23T12:23:00.001-06:00

From Alison, a post about her Mystery Project

Knitting Mad Libs:
"I’m almost now exactly 50% done with the _______. This, of course, counts as only knitting, because the ______ takes quite a while afterwards, or so I’m told. The _____ are kind of being done hodge-podge, due the ‘breaks’ in skeins. For the first skein(s) (two because it is double-stranded), I started at the beginning, and knit the _______ of the ______ , but what I had left looked like it was too much yarn for the second ______ , but not so much that I could knit that ______ and have enough left for the next piece. Do you see what I’m saying? I’ve been jumping around a lot. I’m no longer working from the ______ to the ______ , but rather, to whatever _______ my skein dictates. There are enough ______ to be concerned that something won’t be identifiable later on, and the final ______ could yield a very funky ______. So I’m trying to keep track.It was nice to take a little break and get my calorimetry done. The ______ that I completed last week were perhaps a bit more boring to get done than I first thought, due to their _____, and that’s probably why I suddenly had that super-strong urge to do another little project in between. Today I started on the ______ at lunch, but I really had to focus on counting my rows. Calorimetry’s effects were still being felt – probably due to the fact that I had stayed up past 2:00 am to finish it. I didn’t mean to: I truly was not paying attention to the time. But I still managed to get through the beginning of the ______, and unlike last week, did not get to the _______ only to find out I had cast on the wrong number of stitches."

Wiki-What?

2008-04-23T09:14:00.002-06:00

"...which allow polynomial time and space complexity top-down parser to be constructed as executable specifications of ambiguous grammars containing left-recursive productions."

Park Clean Up

2008-04-19T11:23:00.003-06:00

Today was the annual park clean-up at Battle Creek Park. It's amazing the amount of trash that can accumulate in one year... or the stuff that got missed last year. I tackled a large area of marshyness in the lonely forgotten SE corner of the main park area where alot of trash blows through the parking lot or off the garbage cans and over the hill. I have no idea the size of the garbage bag I filled, but it was big, like more than half my height big. I found, among the many plastic bags and mundane things: a pizza box (with, something in it, I did not care to investigate what) a 1/4 full bottle of vodka, a jug (picture a stereotypical cartoon redneck jug, yes that's what I found), a softball, a dead deer missing it's head and a hubcap for an old, old, old Pontiac.

After the clean up the local rec center had food for the volunteers (donated by the grocery store I will not mention). I was walking back home and there were some young whippersnappers a little ways behind me. You know how an aluminum can makes a distinct sound when dropped on the ground? Yeah. I spun around and said "You know a lot of people spent the morning cleaning up the park." He said, "oh, you want me to go pick it up?" I said "Yeah." And he did. I don't know if he later tossed it again once I had gone on my way... but his one male friend started teasing him about it in front of the female friends, so hopefully he was embarrased. And the kicker of it was that they had just come from the after-clean-up gathering and his friend was carrying one of the bright yellow bag they gave us to use.

The only thing I have left to say is three little words: "Kids These Days..."

Better Than A Cuica

2008-04-18T17:58:00.002-06:00

SlingShot Monkey Says "ooh ooh ooh eee eee eee aah aah aah"

Highly appropriate for work...

so were the "Nerfoop", the Sarcastic 8-Ball,

the Barrel of Monkeys and the Sumo Stress Ball

(Emily, my pod-mate, and I recommend OfficePlayground.com)

Loyalty of Animals

2008-04-13T19:33:00.001-06:00

Trying to share a vid with you.

Progress on revised (skeleton) Leggings

2008-04-13T18:53:00.006-06:00

These are my (skeleton) leggings so far...I have rather greatly modified the pattern to fit my leg in it's length and circumference and to fit my taste. I had reduced the repeats at the ankle before the lozenge. I have adjusted the CO stitch count and charted calculated increase stitches to fit my calf. I have also, most dramatically, changed the stitch from reverse stockinette to plain stockinette (flanked the front cable pattern with a purl stitch on either side to make it stand out) and changed the twisted knits to regular knits.

I am the only one who thinks that row one of the Hauser Model chart is wrong and the center two stitches should be cabeling knit stitches and not a cabeling knit-purl combo? Am I reading it wrong? Or it is written wrong?

My husband had two shows this weekend, Fri in St.Paul (I got home at 1:30, him at 3:00) and Sat. in Eau Claire (both home together at 5 am). I'm exhausted! I slept til 2, putzed around, went running and now catching up on my web and knit-blogging/reading that I have not had time for lately...

*Also, I have ordered my new computer! A fancy pants 17" Dell laptop, that will take two weeks to build and then ship. I am so excited. I have to put it out of my mind or I will be anxious for the next two weeks.

Top TV Shows

2008-04-08T11:56:00.004-06:00

Empire Magazine has revealed its list of the "50 Greatest TV Shows" ever.
Below is the list and here be the rules:
1. Bold the shows you've watched every episode of
(I bolded and italicized the ones I'm fairly certain I've seen all of but can't be certain)
2. Italic the shows you've seen at least one episode of
3. Post your answers
(Also I've marked my favs in blue)

50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex & The City
45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers

40. Life on Mars
39. Monty Python's Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted
35. Alias
34. Frasier
33. CSI: Las Vegas
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood

30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf
25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office UK
22. The Shield
21. Angel

20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who
15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld

10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24
05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons

[shows -off the top of my head- not included that I would put on my Fav list: Stranger With Candy, Kids In The Hall, Medium, L&O: SVU, Journeyman, Office (USA)]

Skeleton Leggings

2008-04-07T12:08:00.004-06:00

I want to save my Blueberry socks for the Harlot (because I can knit them w/o directions, it's in my brain) so I decided to get back to... or rather start... the Skeleton Leggings. What are the Skeleton Leggings? These (rav link, sorry can't find on regular web nor shown on Interweave's site), henceforth named since Courtney made the comparison, as the pattern "states 'to fit a woman,' but that is grossly innaccurate. It should say “to fit a skeleton... " Right she is. The pattern gives a circumference of 10" at the calf, my calf circ. is 14". The pattern give a length of 22.5", my leg ankle-to-knee cap is also 14". I've said this all before, let's journey away from the inaccuracies of written patterns and into the wonderful world of modification:

I pulled out my yarn and pattern yesterday and re-checked my math. I'm glad I did too because I couldn't quit be sure I understood my notes from before and I decided to go about it a different way. I am going down a needle size (3 to 2) and changing when/how I increase. When I started knitting, I decided I don't like the reverse stockinette and twisted stitches... which is kind of specific to the pattern, but hey if I don't like it I'm not going to keep going. So I frogged and made a few marks on the pattern to change it from reverse stockinette to stockinette with a few purls to frame the cable when necessary. It will certainly look different from other's patterns and I'll see if I like it. I certainly prefer knitting it this way instead...I have trouble with reverse stockinette on dpns (I've heard others do too, especially trouble with ladders) and twisted-traveling stitches. I am actually kind of excited to get knitting tonight... Medium is on. I need to get an oil change for my car but not tonight, I'll miss my show.

Nevermore

2008-04-04T12:05:00.003-06:00

I really enjoy the Forum Funnies in each This Week In Ravelry... this one especially: Nevermore. I have a fond spot in my heart for any well-done Raven take... did I mention I have The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe?

Work is much better today. I spent 9 hours yesterday working on the same files and today I had 1-2 hours more this morning finishing and catching things no one has caught before despite that it has gone to proofing internally, externally and to translator... sigh. Is a file ever Final? I am quite proud of myself for doing what I needed to do in the time I did. A co-worked was rather surprised this morning to realize that I was working on 28 files. Normally that constitues a 'major' project. I am so sick of staring at the same content. Then I find out it's going into one more language and I'll have more import and DTP. O yeah!.

Looking forward to being mobile

2008-04-02T18:16:00.004-06:00

1. So I wasn't the only one who didn't get their overtime this round, the accountant made a mistake and a few of us were shorted...it's being taken care of. Whew.

2. Relating to that, I am going to buy a new computer, when the overtime goes through. I've picked out a Dell laptop. At first I just wanted a laptop just because it would be neat. Then I started coming up with all kinds of reasons why I should get a laptop over a desktop... less space on the desk, can take it to History Center (free Wi-Fi), can take it well anywhere... I don't care that I don't have a real good reason (I'm not a student and I am not using it for work) I've decided I want one and I can afford it so I am buying myself a present. I already purchased the graphic design program suite I wanted (major student discount through a friend, score!) and I hope to be able to order my computer soon. I know there are some great other-brand computers out there but i picked Dell because they get good ratings, we use them at work and don't have problems and I can build the configuration I want without too astronomical a pricetag.

3. Speaking of computers, I spend my entire day at the computer, not just near it with time moving around or looking at other things. No, the entire day infront of either the PC or the MAC. One would think I'd be tired of a computer screen by now (6, 7 pm) but I still want to go online and look at knitting stuff! I think I haven't burnt out because at work I'm doing work with no time for surfing etc but hopefully I am knitting instead. Speaking of, I should get cracking on my Blueberry Hill socks, I'm 3/4 done on the first... they go fast I just haven't had much time to knit lately.

A Little Pissed Today

2008-03-31T18:40:00.002-06:00

Not much knitting going on over here... I've been thinking about, and looking, at computers, waiting to buy a new one... waiting for my next check with my 28 hours of overtime pay... got paid today, no overtime. WTF. They better get it taken care of. Now. I want my money.

Knitting has taken the backseat

2008-03-25T11:34:00.004-06:00

I'm to the point in my Blueberry Hill socks that I have to do the heel, but I don't want the striping to change...good thing I have a third skein... I can knit the short row heel like I normally would but with the spare skein and then go back to the first skein to do the leg and my stripes won't change !:)

I had a three-day weekend for Easter. I didn't knit until last night and only then about a half hour. Other than going to eat with relatives, I spent all my weekend time organizing my genealogy files. I have color-coded 3-rings and divider tabs and such. Now I can really keep track of what I need. My next steps are to make some charts: a list of sources (records) so I know what I have on each person, a time line chart for a person's life (put life facts in bigger context), and a census checklist so I know which ones I'm missing for what family. It'll be a lot of paper work and I hate printing all that stuff but I can't really get much further without doing it. I have no more room in my head to remember these things; I need to have them laid out for me otherwise I'll waste time and resources looking for stuff I already have or looking in the wrong place.

I'm so glad Medium is back on air... I was going through "good tv" withdraw. It's the only show back on air with new episodes that I'll watch. I can't stand anything else on right now. Actually I can count the shows I will watch on one hand: Medium, L&O: SVU, The Office, Earl, 30Rock (borrow a digit from the other hand for Scrubs if it ever comes back... will it? I haven't heard anything...?... btw season 6 just came out on DVD, hot diggity!)

Double Dork

2008-03-22T14:35:00.004-06:00

The other day I was telling a co-worker - someone whom I general thought of as quite, um, dorky - about my knitting and that I have a knitting blog. She gave me the old raised-eyebrow and "ohhhh....", kind of drawn out and with a big pause because she couldn't think of what to say about it, because not only am I big on knitting, I have a blog about it, as if I was a big dork! And from her! Hmpf!

I went to a "researching local history" workshop this morning... and just as I typed that I realized what a huge dork I AM (sigh, I accept)... anyway, and had a great time! The group was small and there was one other person who may have actually been close to my age. I got some good sources and probably more importantly, got revitalized in my genealogy. I was taking notes and making lists of the things I wanted to do and find out about. I want so bad to jump on my computer (using husband's right now) and pull up all my files and spread all my 3-rings over the floor... but I should probably run first. If I don't and I start looking at my genealogy stuff, I'll never get away from it. Speaking of running, I hit 200 miles yesterday! Yea Me! I will definately hit 500 miles this year and probalby come close to or make 800 :)

I promised photos

2008-03-19T20:29:00.003-06:00

The Socks Aquatic v.2 (modified Spirogyra)

Blueberry Hill Striped Socks (3x1 rib)

(my foot is huge! oh wait, that's c'ause the picture is a close-up...)

[P.S.- I just spent two hours on Ravelry, thinking it had only been oh, ten mintues,
you know, "I'll just pop on and check some things"...

another so-called life

2008-03-19T14:54:00.003-06:00

Life has been slow. Work has been slow in general (nice) except one of the main converting software programs has decided to stop working. Nothing good on tv. Good weather for running outside (slushy yesterday though, my feet got soaked). Made some good pork chops yesterday (and apple sauce).

Lately I've been back to knitting the Socks Aquatic (Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Spirit). I adapted a glove pattern, which seemed to be similar, if not directly adapted from the Pomatomus. I've abandoned the Pomatomus pattern before because of the holes and mine was coming out way too loose for my taste. But I'm liking this one so far. Still haven't come up with a name for my blue socks... or pattern from my Arctic hand-dyed...

Just taking it easy I guess...

Need another weekend

2008-03-17T09:06:00.002-06:00

Today is another slow day at work. I've been surfing Rav, interspersed with packaging all my fonts to share on the server... It's nice to have this down time. My weekend was the kind where you are busy in short bursts and the rest of the time is just waiting for those bursts or getting around. We went to Madison for a gig. Friday night was our usual pizza night and relaxing at home. The drive out (Sat) is always fun because everyone is in a good mood and joking. The roads in Madison are ridiculous, especially near campus. It took a while to find the venue (the Annex) and way too long to find our hotel. The show went well; the crowd wasn't huge 'cause it was Spring Break week there, but a good crowd anyway. The other band had a totally different sound from my husband's band, but the audience didn't seem to mind. We stayed up way too late and slept in until the last minute Sunday. The drive back is quiet. I just wanted to be home, on the couch, watch a movie or knit. But my m-i-l was making dinner and expecting us to come over (sigh). So the weekend went fast but I never had down time to myself. Plus I didn't get to run either day. I need a weekend from my weekend.

I did get a chance to knit on the drives. I started a new sock (for me), something I didn't need to think about or use a chart. I've got the short-row toe-up thing down pat so I can just go... It's a 3x1 rib in some blue KnitPicks Memories (discontinued)... I got the toe and foot up almost to the ankle, will probably be making the heel tonight. I love the color and I'm trying to come up with some nifty name for the socks. Pics, soon hopefully. I also thought of two other patterns I want to try so maybe I'll get back to the Socks Aquatic soon. Plus I need to get a good start in the Interweave leggings, I should be able to bust out the cable part by the ankle fast 'cause my legs are so short.

I get enough holes in my socks thank you very much...

2008-03-12T11:08:00.003-06:00

Note: I meant to say last post that the name wasn't the only reason I bought the yarn from NH Knitting Mama, I loved the colors, they are my colors. My clothing palette is generally limited to shades of blue, green, brown, black and white - come to think of it all my palettes are limited to those (house, web etc). Also the skein was only $19 and free shipping -- great deal for beautiful soft hand dyed sock yarn.

I'm trying to be sneaky here, writing this as an "email" and then posting to blog when I'm done... bec' I've got nothing to do at work right now. I'm sure I could ask for something, but today I just feel like slacking off, especially after the past week or so we've had. I had 28 hours overtime last week, which compared to some isn't as much but then again it's ~175% of a normal week. Hey I think Emily is kinda slacking too, she's writing an email about our company wide lunch this Friday and decorating with smileys, font colors etc.

Anyways, I'm glad I didn't post pics of my new socks 'cause I changed them again last night. I was exhausted yesterday after work, just because. I ran only 2.25 miles instead of the normal 3 and I crashed on the couch. We ate spaghetti, watched some Planet Earth and I knitted. I got a few rows, frogged, a few rows, put it down and so on... I'm trying something now that reminds me sorta of like, um, undulating waves, kinda soft but still some C4B and C4Fs, no purls. I took a stitch pattern from a book and added some plain knit rows to lengthen the movement. It's hard to say how it'll look in the few rows I have, but I'm hoping it's just a subtle texture.

I've found that I tend to not like YOs in socks. I mean I like many, many patterns that have them and I ooh and aah over other peoples socks, but when it comes down to knitting them, I pass over pattern with YOs (holes). Or I wonder what it would look like with an Inc1 (knit through purl loop of stitch below) instead.. I have yet to try that approach to a pattern but I probably should soon, it would open up the sock possibilities and get me working on the stash and/or queue.

Artic Desert

2008-03-11T07:52:00.006-06:00

"In environmental terms, Iceland is unique. Iceland is a large country (103,000 km², about the same surface area as Ireland or the State of Virginia), but is sparsely populated, with only 3 persons per km² living mostly along the coast. The interior of the country contains stunning contrasts. It is largely an arctic desert, punctuated with mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and waterfalls. Most of the vegetation and agricultural areas are in the lowlands close to the coastline."

I started a new pair of socks the other day, toe-up, from hand-dyed yarn by NH Knitting Mama (her etsy) because it was called Arctic and inspired by her trip to Iceland (where we went for our honeymoon). I couldn't resist. So we chatted a bit via Ravelry about our trips and how much we want to go back. And when the yarn came it was wonderfully soft, perhaps a bit thinner than KnitPicks Memories or Koigu but about the same as my Lana Grossa Meilenweit Cotton Spirit I got from my German girl. I started a toe-up construction and am trying to find the right stitch pattern. Since I tend to change my mind a few times before deciding, I won't post until I get a few inches in... I'd like it to remind me of all the beautiful waterfalls we saw or if that doesn't work, the uneven texture of the basalt volcanic rock that makes up the land. I'm off to Ravelry...

Gulfoss (southern Iceland, on the Golden Circle drive)

x 1.5 = all the shit I want to buy

2008-03-08T18:39:00.004-06:00

So I am at work, and yes it is Saturday. I am not into overtime but I have my reason for this time:
- extra money (see title)
- otherwise Lee would have to pull an all night'er
- one of these times I'm going to need the help from him/them and they'll owe me
- shit, what else I gotta do today?

We've been bitching about this project from the beginning. And my take is different from theirs and here's why:

The project has 144 files. Six sections going into 24 languages: 144 files (4-6 pages each). While Lee & Em were working on the first two sections, I started on the next three. There were some problems with them but I got them done, they helped one night when I found a mistake on the section five template (done by an external source) and had to redo them. Then I started on the sixth section while they were doing the first one. Now we're all working on the second section. So in my mind I've basically done 4 of the 6 sections, but hey, not bitter...just internally proud of what I was able to do. Anyway, back to it...

I just about fell off my chair....

2008-03-01T19:05:00.003-06:00

...when I saw how utterly fucking cute these things are!!! I may be behind the times, but I read about Amigurumi (wiki) on Rahardjo's blog and followed some web browsing to these by Crafty Alien ("making things out of this world") on Craftster.org and all fifteen comments pages of people saying basically how cute they were and that they'd buy the pattern. Guess what?! She now sells the patterns (~$6) and/or kits (~$12) on craftyalien.com and etsy. And also, her name is LISA too! I couldn't be more tickled pink.

~~Alas, she is not on Ravelry, nor are her patterns~~. There are some nice crochet amigurumi from Lion Brand, ~~but no Crafty Alien~~. That may (or may not) have something to do with this post, but I doubt it Rav is not known for that, right?).

Edit: She is! She is on Ravelry! I just couldn't find her searching by name or location... here she is and here are her patterns.

long-winded bec' my lung capacity has increased...

2008-02-26T21:30:00.004-06:00

I haven't joined a gym, not only because I can't afford one- or rather I prefer to spend the big bills on things like fresh fruit, yarn and shoes-but also because it would not motivate me the way some people think it will for them ("If I join I will feel guilty for spending the money and not going so I will force myself to go"... or I couldn't let all the good opportunity and equipment go to waste...). Online fitness clubs do not motivate me, stacks of magazine don't do it, or pictures of skinny people taped to the fridge, or awarding myself treats for working out or depraving myself of them if I don't. So what does work? Good question, me. I don't know. To be honest I am surprised that I have been running consistantly for as long as I have.

Back when I started running frequently I was working at Ye Olde Court Shoppe for my boss who used to run regularly (and marathons). When I mentioned I had been running, he began asking me if I had run the day before and I asking it of him. It was an unspoken mode of support that really sustained me past that third week, which is often my over-the-hilltop time for starting new- or ending old- habits. As winter approached he was hesitant to run outside (being in his late 50s and now consicous of ice and weakening knees) and relied on his stair machine and in-home sauna, while I was able to use the treadmills inside. I managed to keep running even without his milage to compare to. I was worried that starting a new job would disrupt my workout time and I have been deliberate to get home and run before I do anything else (i.e.- knitting, internet, cleaning). I can't run after eating, nor in the morning.

So it figures that I am now having a problem with my knee. It was sore again today despite being fine on Saturday and Sunday running outside and taking a break yesterday. I have a velcro foam brace thing that doesn't seem to really do much in the way of physical support but lends mental support. I don't want to be a wimp about my knee but with my Dad's (and brother's) history of knee problems (He has a titanium knee now and is retired because of it), I can't ignore it. I can only hope that running in better conditions helps and try to strengthen the knee joint and surrounding "parts" with stretching and targeted exercises (Alison, if you're still reading, let's talk about those giant rubber bands you mentioned). I am eager for better weather for two reasons: 1) running outside is not boring like the treadmill in our rec room and 2) it feels better on my feet, knees neck and back. I have a map of the neighborhood around me and found an interactive St. Paul website that calculates the distance as you click around the map. I've mapped out several routes in differing directins and at varying lengths.

Also (I'm petering out here, will need to visit Ravelry to regain my internet-second-wind) I ran with my aunt on Saturday around her neighborhood and had a great time. She is about my height thus has a similar stride length. We talked about maybe doing a short- to mid- range run this season (she's done two marathons, I am not interested in those, but I'll do a 5 or 10k) or a bi-athalon (I hate swimming). And on one last odd-ball note: even with my normal daily fluctuations, I may have perhaps possibly lost 8 pounds- and it's about time- either that or my scale has it's own wicked personality and likes to fuck with me. In which case I give up, he wins.

FO: Wheat Cable Cuffs

2008-02-25T22:32:00.004-06:00

Pattern: Wheat Cable Cuffs
From: Made up
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in Dark Grey Mix
Needles: US 7 & 6
Time: one eveing with Alison, a few lunch breaks and one evening at dodge ball
Made for: myself
Comments: I gave the shorter ones to a co-worker and made these for myself. I started with a 4x1 rib and then did mirrored cables that twist away from each other to get that look (does that make sense?). Very easy. I’ve found that I don’t usually like the traditional bind off because it either pulls too tight or flares out too much, so on these I did a "wrap and turn" as if to short row, but flipped the cuff inside out and bound off in the reverse direction in rib (k, p, k, p) and that gave a nice loosness and slight flare without too much…sits nicely on my wrist.

18 score and 5 days ago...

2008-02-23T21:26:00.003-06:00

Happy Blog-iversary to Me!

One year ago today I started this blog. My readership is not very high but that's ok. I like writing even if only for myself, plus it's a nice handly reference place for my blogroll. I was not able to come up with a nifty give-away in time so I'll just say "You're All Winners In My Book" and leave it at that.

P.S.- I know I haven't had a knitting photo in quite some time and hope to take a few tomorrow of the recent work (not much at that) and post soon.

Knitting + All Your DTP + Running

2008-02-19T21:24:00.007-06:00

Slow Knitting Progress

Yes I have my tickets for the Yarn Harlot.
I started another pair of grey cuffs, these ones a bit longer and a different stitch pattern... I gave the other ones to Emily at work who expressed interest in them and complemented them several times as I was knitting, but now I wonder if she wasn't just being nice and didn't know how how to say she didn't really want them when I offered them to her...
I also finally cast on the second sleeve of the crossover baby jacket (in Bernat Satin) from Debbie Bliss Simply Baby. I couldn't find my last skein of brown and was going nuts until I finally dug into every bag and box in the apartment and came across it with several other misc. skeins destined to finish projects half-completed. So I have about 6" to go, then seeming and a light (and probably unnecessary-because-it's-acrylic) blocking. Still liking the project, but unsure of the closure, not a fan of the single thin leather strip from the book, perhaps a silkier ribbon style... ?
I know my knitting capacity has receded quite a bit with the new job, but I am still in the knitting mindset. I may not be turning out the projects like I was once able to while working at Ye Olde Court Shoppe, but I spend alot of time thinking about knitting (and looking at Ravelry of course) and that counts in my book.

All Your DTP Are Belong To Us

Work has been, do I dare say, fun lately? Despite ongoing -- and likely never-ending -- computer-functionation(TM) problems, I have been working on a few projects that I have gotten into the swing of and it's nice to actually use my brain all day. Sure, I have down times, but in general I feel like I'm contributing, and that's all I was looking for.

124.32 and Counting

Miles, that is. That I have run so far in the year of 2008. Whether or not that sounds impressive to you I will tell you IT IS. Especially since a year ago I couldn't run more than a mile at a time. I began running regularly last July when I realized I had put on more weight than I was comfortable with. Perhaps you remember me complaining about not losing any yet? Yeah, still haven't lost much, 4 or 5 pounds maybe. But boy can I run. I run about 3 miles- 5 or 6 times a week. I am slowly trying to run faster and get in more miles each time. I have been counting my miles since the new year and am excited to see what I can tally up. I got the idea from reading Self or Shape or something and they asked people about their fitness goals and one woman said she ran something like 250 miles. Well I loked back at my 2007 calendar and figure how much I ran in the last half of that year and knew I could blow that figure out of the water (I hit that from July to Dec 07). At my current pace I might hit 900 miles. Of course I easily might not if I get held up by things like vacation, weather, work or injuries. Which leads me to the day before yesterday, when I hurt my knee. I was running, same a usual, and it just started hurting, like alot, to the point that I had to stop and not move it. I hobbled home and put on an Icy/Hot patch (which really did feel good). I was kind of freaking out because my dad and brothers have/had trouble with their knees, but I was also trying to be cautious and not over-react. Yesterday I got on the treadmill but knew within a minute that is wasn't going to fly. So I biked instead (which doesn't count toward my mile total). Today I wrapped it in that stretchy stick-to-itself reusable athletic wrap tape stuff and surprisingly it felt fine. Better as I went in fact. So Rah Rah! Back on track...

Fun with Babel Fish

2008-02-15T08:05:00.005-06:00

I signed up for the German "weihnachtsgeheimnis" Yahoo Knitting Group because I've been seeing neat stuff on Ravelry...I got a big email from the moderator today and popped it into the Alta Vista Babel Fish translator...sometimes you get readable results (works fairly well for Polish), sometimes you get things like this:

Hello and cordially welcomely with the Weihnachtsgeheimnis, I will place to the starting date different guidances to you to the order, will become it smaller things will be, which one can use also well as weihnachtsgeschenk. We need for it sock yarn and Lacegarn. The secrets it equal as complete guidance to give, I believe before Christmas has nobody the nerve which to knit and afterwards determine that one the part differently imagined. The only secret becomes its that I do not insert a picture of the finished part into the guidance. It is possible that in the course of the Weihnachtsgeheimnis still further guidances come to it, ever after how much time I has. For the moment I have already three sock guidances with right left samples finished, a scarf it will give if I again at home am. Planned are still hand tulips and socks with unity trick sample. If still someone has an idea I would be pleased, if you communicate these to the group. As small reference to our "dealers": Advertisement for Wollshops is generally forbidden in the group. Who has to offer wool for the models, can register itself gladly into the data base. Who against it offends is deleted. It would not be not fair opposite the dealers advertisement makes or into the list registers themselves, if use the individual opportunity and make offensively for itself advertisement. So that nobody takes the detour over the best friend, freely after the slogan: Mach times for me advertisement, I may not... No advertisement for Wollshops over the group. Who has a Wollquelle, ask into the data base to register, who needs or looks for wool, checks please there. Please deliver your voice with the inquiry, so that we can consider a starting date. Otherwise I wish much fun with knitting and air of the different secrets Moni

Such fun! I am not making fun of foreign speakers...I am having fun with the way Babel Fish can't handle sentance structure different from English.

Figuring out my place

2008-02-13T19:24:00.006-06:00

Work is much better this week than last. It's not even that my computer programs are working better (they're not) or that I know much more than I did before (I don't) or my new co-workers have me rah rah parade (yeah right) but rather that I came to understand what was making me feel crumby, acknowledged that it was valid, thought about the other side of things, had a brief but encompassing talk with the Team Lead and decide to just forge ahead. I have a better understanding of the day to day business, the work level and flow and the people who work there...I can pick out very typical characteristics in the different roles (i.e.- sales, management, operations) and now that I see that, it's much easier to deal with/ignore/accomodate/c'est la vive. I can see who is going get the minimalest interaction from me (it's just better that way) and who is going to be easy to work with.

Today being Wednesday I was suppose to met for my lunchtime knitting group (all two of us) but I had forgotten my knitting and forgotten it was Wednesday. No matter, the other woman couldn't make it anyways. (P.S.- There's suppose to be three of us, but we haven't heard from the third). I just took it as an excuse to get away from the desk for that (unpaid) lunch hour. Unfortunately there is no break room or anything in the office so I make a point to leave the building, even if I'm just going to a coffee shop to sit, at least it's away.

Having finished my grey cuffs, I've been on a two-day knitting hiatus (yeah I know real long...). I know I should cast on the second sleeve for the wrap front ribbed baby jacket but I know there is no hurry since my s-i-l last the baby again... I have a sweater I want to make for myself and should probably get started before it turns into summer...

FO: Grey Braided Cuffs

2008-02-11T20:47:00.000-06:00

Pattern: Braided Cuffs
From: Made up
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in Dark Grey Mix
Needles: US7,6,5
Time: Just a few hours over lunch breaks
Made for: myself
Comments: Quick knit, very happy with them. Liked the wool so much I went back and bought a few more skeins for something...

2, 4, 6, 8, my candidate is really great!

2008-02-05T20:16:00.000-06:00

Well, did you? It was fun. My caucus place was packed...swarms, hundreds of people in the lobby trying to find their room, huddled around one map marked with ward and precinct numbers (I guess they never heard of a copy machine). In the rooms, more order but still alot of energy. I only saw one person I knew (a woman who lives a few blocks away that I know from my last job); I was hoping to see someone from the aptartment area. Most of the people who came voted for just presidental nomine and left. I originally wanted to stick around and be there for the Senate candidate part, but they got into a bunch of boring stuff (reading introductions by the party leader, reading public proposed resolutions etc) and I was hungry. Anyways, I voted for my nominee...too bad you can't go to more than one party caucus (I'd do both and really feel like I was involved). I called my dad to see if he needed a ride to his caucus but he wasn't going...neither did my mom and her husband. She said she didn't have a preference between the candidates, there just wasn't enough to distinguish them from each other and that's a very valid assesment and a fine reason to obstain from the caucuses. I agree with that and could conciously vote for another candidate if they got the nomination and my pick did not. I would be fine with that. But it was fun!

Frustration? Knitting to the rescue

2008-02-04T09:30:00.000-06:00

I’ve had a frustrating morning and it’s only been and hour and 15 minutes in… I’m attempting to get Acrobat 8 to print a comments summary running all together without page breaks for each comment (i.e.- a 200-pg .pdf with 7 comments is printing seven pages, one comment per page instead of printing them all on one page) to save paper. When I first tried it last week it worked, now it won’t and I can’t figure out why. I’ve tried ever setting, I’ve tried everything I can think of; I’ve googled every phrase, opened every help doc… I cannot figure out why it worked then and not now. It’s frustrating because I have in front of me the printed page from when it did work, so I know it’s possible…

Last night I started a new project, a pair of wrist warmers from the gray Patons wool I got at JoAnn’s. I’m just making them up and so far so good. It’s a 3x1 rib with braided cables up the 3 section. I started on #7’s very loosely because I wanted the option off pulling them quite far up my arm and as I went they seemed to be ok so I changed to #6’s for a little bit, I may go a little further and change to #5 and so on until I get to the narrowest part of my wrist. I like the idea of trying this instead of decreasing stitches so I can maintain the braided cable without loosing repeats. When I get to the wrist, I’m not sure if I’ll go over the hand or not… if I do, then I’ll increase (I can do increased purls and make it 3x2 or 3x3 if necessary).

I’ve set the other wrist warmers aside because I’m just not that into them right now…I like the idea of the stitch pattern, I like the yarn I just don’t like how they are coming together. I may frog them and try the yarn on something else… I’ve tried too many different stitch patterns and have not liked any yet so I think the yarn is destined for a different use, perhaps a herringbone stitch bag or something. I’m not giving up on the yarn yet, I’m waiting for it to tell me what it should be (like Michelangelo let the block of marble show him the figure inside- how’s that for a highfalutin artistic metaphor).

"eerr eerr eerr eerr"

2008-01-30T20:27:00.000-06:00

Caption: not my car but that's what it felt like

Well, I was 1/2 hour late to work today because my car wouldn't start. I had to call my mom's husband (retired) for a lift (Husband was already late and out the door). I thought I'd be more than 1/2 hour but we made good time. I took the bus home: 1.5 hours to get home plus the 15 minute walk from the stop in the below zero degree weather. I hope tomorrow is better (suppose to be at least above zero I think) but I do have the bus schedules and such.

So if I don't show up for knit night, you know why. Also, I was able to knit a bit on the bus but didn't get too far. The two 40+ guys across from me were watching me work the whole time pretending to have a conversation with each other about nothing just so they didn't appear to be staring (heaven forbid you look at someone on the bus and strike you down if you make eye contact).

Oh yeah, I meet a woman at a coffee shop today during lunch to knit. She's Italian, living here ~5 years, making sweaters for her 1.5 year old. We decided to move the met-up location closer to us since we both went a ways to this place on 1st St and 1st Ave (picked by someone else who couldn't end up making it). We talked about going to the ~~Montana~~ Coffee Break on 3rd St and 5th Ave; it would be good to hang out in the old neighborhood again even though the coffee shop isn't owned by the same people I once knew (remember- I once worked a few blocks from where I work now).

Gainful Employment

2008-01-29T19:22:00.000-06:00

I should probably post about work eventually, so here's a little bit about what I do. I am a desktop publisher (DTP) at a Mpls company that provides "language services" for medical, technical and industrial companies. We take their documents, translate the text into a foreign language, and make sure the new document looks exactly the same as the english version. I work on mac and pc, in what ever program the clients have used to create their documents. I do not translate (we have contracted multi-lingual translators for that) but I do have to work with the translated text. The other day I proofread arabic.

I have only been there a few days and am still slowly working up to the job description. We've been struggling with program access on my new computer, mainly because the person who usually dealt system setup issue (also the person who hired me) up and quit. The DTP who'd been there the longest was suddenly promoted to that spot with all those responsibilities no one else knew and never had to do. I can tell she's frustrated and tries hard to help me gets things set up and find things for me to do but still has her own work load to finish.

I can say for sure yet that I "like it" because I haven't done much of the "real work" but I think that I will once I get the hang of it. I like messing around with the programs and knowing all those nifty things they can do. Much of the job is problem solving with the files you receive. There are four other DTP who are very nice, a slew of project coordiators (also nice) and random people who do I don't know what... I feel pretty comfortable that I will soon be up to speed (I learn fast) , probably because I don't feel too pressured to come in as some wonder-dog DTP person but expected more to take on small project now (like editing or updating) and eventually have full-onp rojects of my very own.

There are some things I'm not so keen on. Mostly the thought of not taking a full lunch and having too much overtime. I am adamant about taking a full lunch, leaving from the desk and going somewhere else to eat (or knit as the case may be). Also, I am fine with occasional overtime (extra pay is good) but not all the time. I have a life I am not ready to give up, I'm too old to work crummy hours. My plan is to tactfully make sure those who need to know, know that I am not going to working lots of overtime (unless of course I mess up and need to fix something).

Anyways, that's enough for now, I'm exhausted. I need to finish dinner and get some quite knitting time in. I'm working on the twelve dozen-th incarnation of the Debbie Mumm Traditions wrist warmers... took me forever to pick a stitch pattern, I tried a billion different cable ideas... hopefully this one, not a cable pattern, will stick...

o woe is me

2008-01-27T21:55:00.000-06:00

Hey Emily, guess what I did yesterday? I'll give you one hint: 5 years.

The only reason I did it is because I was suppose to be cleaning the bedroom and felt too overwhelmed by that so I need something else to do first. I needed to clean the bedroom because the radiator leaked and the carpet on my side of the bed and under my nightstand was wet. It had been leaking for at least two day if not more before I noticed (I don't often stand underneath my nightstand) and I am still sucking up water some two days after it's been fixed. The only reason I noticed when I did was because I heard what I thought was a ticking sound coming from the radiator, it was actually water drip drip dripping onto soaked carpet. Thank goodness my yarn or book didn't get wet, the water magically meandered and soaked in the other direction, heading under the bed instead. Most of my junk is still stuffed in the closet though (all my yarn, books and writing stuff stacked up haphazardly) because I think I need a better system than my stand-by "piles on the floor" method. I'm thinking of hitting IKEA and getting a second dresser for my crafty stuff. Also I'm slowly taking over more and more of my Husband's half of the closet space.

...they give us those nice bright colors...

2008-01-21T17:18:00.000-06:00

I bought another pair of shoes this wekend (damn that DSW and their $10 off coupons, makes me think I gotta buy something). Anyways I got a pair or brown shoes much like the black ones I bought a few weeks ago. Hey, when something works for you, get it in all the colors.

I've been known to do that:

In other news, I haven't gotten much knitting done. I've swatched the Debbie Mumm like a dozen times, started a pattern and now I think I'm gonna frog it again... sigh. I also frogged the market bag and redid it with smaller yet needles and this time came out with enough yarn to do the full repeats.. It's a little small but hey, that's what I get from one skein. I should have some nice knitting time tonight to work on things.

Becuase of the MLK(jr) day I closed early and came home hoping to get on the treadmill before the rush only to find both taken by fucking walkers! (Who said they had an hour left to go!) If you are going to walk go to the mall. Leave the equipment to the real athletes. I'm heading back down in about ten minutes and I'm gonna sit there and wait.

misc + I'm a big fat Copycat (#4)

2008-01-18T08:43:00.000-06:00

#1- Made a market bag for my veggies and such from Liz's pattern. Kinda ran out of yarn (twice) so I might frog and try again later.

#2- Wound my Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn. Isn't this just screaming to made into something with a peacock theme...

#3- Also wound some more of the frogged recycled wool/cotton sweater from the thrift store...and my Koigu, the cakes look so tiny compared to the CTH and the recycled wool/cotton.

#4- So Alison was working on some fingerless gloves for her Mom from this nice medium gray wool. And I was at JoAnn's the other day and saw some nice (darker) gray wool...I'm a big fat copycat. I haven't picked the pattern yet, but I'm going to make myself a pair. Also she was telling me that she tried Debbie Mumm yarn from JoAnn's and hated it, threw it away. So that was like a challenge to me to try it for myself...I picked some up and was swatching it yesterday (never did find a nice swatch/stitch pattern I liked yet)...it's ok, loverly color and looks nice, gets reall twisty and even after frogging so many times, came apart in one spot... a yarn you'll need to be slightly more delicate with I guess... Again they will be fingerless gloves perhaps. Also the lable says "75% acrylic, 23% wool, 2% other"...other?! It's people!

They're always cynical in Philadelphia

2008-01-14T22:31:00.000-06:00

Laugh or get pissed, either way:

"Vlad the Impaler didn’t crotchet his own ear-flapped bobble hats. And neither should you. If you need a hobby, take up spitting."
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/16125

And I realize I am a few days late for most of you super-blog-readers, but I want to make leaves! Tons of tiny leaves, no sock, just the leaves!!!! And hang them around the house, on the fir tree that's been adorning my front door for 5 years, on my lamp shades, around the door frames...

Oh, by the way, my husband has been "gone" for two days straight, at the studio making a new demo cd with the new singers voice...so I've had the apartment to myself for two days, ah...nice. I love my husband, but sometimes I like to sit on the couch and knit without the tv on (yesterday that is- today I did watch the JFK special and Medium), and to eat cereal for dinner both nights because I don't want to cook.

Update: job, baby knitting

2008-01-14T19:53:00.000-06:00

#1- I have a new job, deskptop publishing. I start on Wed Jan 23. This was the position I interviewed for before and didnt get then was considered for a second hire. I got the official job offer letter and all the paperwork via email today, including the employee handbook. I have never seen such a strict handbook. Other places I've worked had unwritten rules about not using the computers and phones etc for personal use (except everyone did it anyway) but this place has very strict written rules about it. Not that it will cause problems with me. I only surf when I am bored and if they keep me busy there will be no problem. On the other hand, the dress code simply says dress appropriately, how very open to interpretation. Also, there is also language in there about keeping a clean and professional desk area- which frankly I am glad about because I hate cluttered desks at work and all the crap people have fluttering around. Anyways, I have a new job and I am happy about it, and nervous...

#2- I started a baby sweater for my brother's baby, a 2x2 ribbed one from Debbie Bliss Simply Baby. I was a bit disappointed how vauge the directions are and how the pics don't quite show all the details that I would have liked. I might add a collar, I might not. It knits fast, especially since I did circular up the arm pits. I'm using Bernat Satin in sable with navy trim.

#3- I haven't worked on the big cubes baby blanket in a while...or the Socks Aquatic. I have more big plans, so much to knit, so little time! I have a new idea of what to do with the cornflower blue elegance yarn from Knitpicks that was going to be like three other garments but now I've got a new one...We'll see how long before I get around to it.

#4- I made a market bag from Sugar and Cream cotton to use at the grocery store and such...very nice but I had trouble getting it completed in one ball. I followed a friends pattern and came up short. Since it was such a quick knit, I frogged and changed my needle size, eliminated a repeat, eliminated a garter ridge and I still came up with just enough yarn (I had about a foot left after binding off). Hmm.... I still like it, but close call. I think I will use it for a week and see how I like the size and then make another/more from the other colors of S&C I have.

#5- Gotta run, there a show on PBS about the JFK conspiracy theories in our social context.... also new Medium at 9!

O Martyred Women

2008-01-08T20:24:00.000-06:00

I'm going out to lunch with an old friend (and old co-worker) to discuss his new business venture that he wants me to be a part of. Problem is, as much as I would like to work with him again, I doubt that he will be able to match or exceed the offer I just got today from another established company. I feel bad going to this lunch knowing that I will just be fishing for confirmation of a decision that I've already 90% made.

Honestly I just don't know what it is he thinks I can contribute to the business. What I would be doing I have no idea. I certainly do not want to be in a roll that at all resembles a secretary. When I last worked for him I was an office manager (a secretary basically that does/did everything including shipping orders and tracking A/R and A/P) and I am not interested in that again. I really want to focus on the DTP (desktop publisher) track and the other offered position is 100% right up my alley (Actually it was a job I interviewd for a month ago, didn't get, was super bummed about, then got called back to fill a new opening and was told thst if I was interested they weren't going to look at anyone else. So basically a shoe-in, well, second-choice shoe-in but I'll take it).

I need to think about making a good salary, saving money, getting insurance that will offer good maternity coverage for that someday, a decent 401k match and be a position that challenges me as a person and employee (that's the main reason I left the last place, plus looking for more hours to make more money). I kow these are completely responsible and grown-up things to base my decision on, so why do I feel so bad? Because women are raised to put the feelings and needs of others above their own.

Best of 2007 Knit Meme

2008-01-05T12:56:00.001-06:00

So I'm a few days behind everyone else doing Knit Lit's Best of 2007 Knitting Meme, oh well. I have until month end. Here goes:

Best FO of the year
My favorite has been the modified Shedir hat I made for my s-i-l for Xmas from Bernat Alpaca Blends. I loved the yarn, I loved the pattern and I loved that I tackled it despite having drastically different gauge and was able to do the (albeit) simple math to modify it and was completely satisfied, no - overjoyed, with how it turned out.

Best FO of the year made by a blog you link to
Jenn's Monkey Socks still stand out for me as favorites, because of the cat, the color and that when this one caught my eye I started reading her blog regularly. I also cast on for monkey socks after that but they are currently UFOs/Ughs.

Best yarn you tried
I was surprised by the KnitPicks Memories. I purchased two skeins because it was one clearance and loved the feel of it so I went back and got 7 more. I used two colorways for socks for my brothers (Xmas) and have one colorway left. I am bummed that it's discontinued but hopefully they'll come out with a similar one soon (I don't count Felicia, it's striped which makes it novelty yarn in my book). Second place is Bernat Natural Blends Alpaca, which I used for the hats and scarves for my s-i-l and niece, sheds a bit but loverly.

Best new book/mag/pattern of 2007
Despite the dozens of knitting books I own (I have more books than FOs; I'm a sucker for books), my favorite is one that is more literature than pattern: KnitKnit: Profiles and Projects From Knitting's New Wave by Sabrina Gschwandtner. It celebrates knitting as an art and it has patterns in it, some of which are ridiculous (who is going to knit this, I mean really?!). Even though I am not likely to actually make the patterns in it, I did see some I liked. I love the concept behind it; knitting free, knitting whatever, knitting on public objects, knitting with unusual materials, knitting as a reason and knitting just because.

Best new knitting technique or gadget you tried in 2007
Since I learned to knit in 2007, everything was new, but what I loved was making short row toes and heels. I latched onto the technique and now I can within seconds calculate my sock pattern, no matter the stitch-pattern count or gauge. I'm sure the traditional heel flap is easy too, but I prefer the look of the short row, especially for the toes.

Top 5 inspirations
Number one is Alison, who inspired me to learn to knit- I owe it all to her. Number two is my Thursday night knitting group, that gets me regularily knitting, even for a few hours, in a lively environment. Number three would be Interweave Knits magazine (I haven't made anything from there yet, but I love looking). Number four is Sensational Knitted Socks, which showed me how to think of socks as engineered objects that I could adjust to fit whatever yarn and gauge for whomever and gave me confidence to just knit socks, find a stitch pattern and make them without any designer telling me "this is how you have to do it." And number five would be of course (can't do this without once mentioning it...) Ravelry, for all the obvious reasons.

Designer who most amazed & inspired you throughout the year
I haven't made one of his designs, but I most love the work of Brooklyn Tweed. I love his originals, I love his from-another-designer pieces, I love his photography. I strive to feel as good about my knitting as he should about his.

Knitting resolutions for 2008
I expect a large decudtion in knitting time for me in 2008 due to (hopefully soon) gainful employment and my continual exercise plan. I plan to keep up the blog (it will keep me knitting even when I don't have time) and try to write more about my projects, to think in terms of why I do this and why I chose such-and-such. With less expected knit time, I want to enjoy what I knit and make some nice pieces for myself - in other words, be more knitting-selfish.

Socks Aquatic v.2 + BCBB

2008-01-04T21:25:00.000-06:00

Here are the Sock Aquatic so far...I decided to frog the stitch pattern from the asymmetrical cardigan and go with the honeycomb one, only reducing the regular rows in between slants from five to three to give it a more condensed honeycomb, more similar to the shell of a turtle (see Socks Aquatic v.1). Very happy with it, the pattern is quickly remembered/mastered. I'm excited to work on something for myself....

...except that I started another project for someone else! I frogged the Homespun "big cubes baby blanket" I had made for my brother and restarted. The cubes will be smaller in dimension (~6" x 6") and it has a seed stitch border around it now. OBJ and his wife are hoping to get pregnant this spring. I just felt like having two WIP going and I was motivated by this one. Hard to take pics cause it's all bunched up on a circ and really not very far, only a few inches so far, but when I get some substance I'll take a shot or two.

...also, my Husband's friend Josh looked at my computer this past weekend. He put in a temporary hard drive and loaded some drivers and blah blah computer jargon etc. and it's working. I haven't yet begun to use the web on it or load programs yet because I am going to replace the hard drive with a new bigger one and hopefully it will work for a while. The computer guys that I paid to work on it replaced the hard drive also and that didn't fix the problem but hopefully Josh did.

Timecapsule: 2007 + In the Year 2000 (and 8!)

2007-12-31T17:15:00.000-06:00

A year in review:

January: (blog did not exist but I did, here's what happened: started new job at church with high hopes; Feral cat had surgery for stones in bladder; brother's wife had miscarraige, uncle went to hospital two days after having heart attack;)

February: first joined the Woodbury knitters on Thursdays; serious allergy trouble, trial use of Zyrtec, earliest possible appt. with allergist- four months away;

March: visited Borealis for the first time and bought some Cascade 220 ( used for a felted bag that is still not yet felted); contemplated how the job I was laidoff from in the fall affected my career goals;

April: attempted to make a pair of socks, abandoned the first ones and started again with diff. yarn, finished those

May: made the Drop stitch tank; enjoyed a leisurly weekend in WI; friend Jessah graduated from Arch school; Husband's grandmother passed away

June: started the MS3; started the POTW stole; quit job at church; met brother's new kitty on Father's Day; attended first WWKIP picninc at Rose Garden

July: started socks for brothers (Xmas); started working out 4-5 days a week; discovered ICanHasCheezburger.com; spent a few days lazing up north with family

August: finally left church job; 35W bridge fell; abandoned MS3; bought three sweaters from consignment for yarn recycling (still in stash); knitting in public at Irish Fair; made Tinker Toys swift; grew some nifty flowers on balcony; enjoyed the MN State Fair

September: first computer problems; kool-aid dyed yarn for Ali's yoga bag (fun!); KIP at Minnehaha Falls; Afton Apple Orchard with Ail and Kurt

October: two year anniversary; still job searching; boycotting Cub; discovered great WWII army society for my Gpa's unit; Husband's band got new rockin
singer; Halloween as Dorothy (again)

November: redesigned geno'site (not yet active); family cook-out at Dad's; plotting Xmas hats and scarf gifts; realized how pizza addicted we are; computer problems again; cousin's wedding; big time sick on Thanksgiving

December: proud of knitted gifts for Xmas; hanging out with the Germans; beautiful Xmas tree (!); and a snowy winter walk; bemoaned lack of weight loss from working out alone, bound and determined to eat better, encouraged in such a goal by allergies

Goals for 2008:
count miles ran, shoot for 300
eat more veggies, vitamins
drink more water
floss once a day
finish a NY Times crossword w/o looking up or asking for help
start an IRA
get the geno'site up finally
start using eco-friendly homemade cleaning products

Damn You C6H4(OH)CO2H !

2007-12-31T16:39:00.000-06:00

Without getting my hopes up...it's quite posible I may have stumbled across the cause of my hives and facial swelling: salicylate sensitivity. In otherwards I may be allergic to the compound found (in abundance) in asprin and naturally occuring in other foods that I have certainly been eating (particularly mint, tomatoes, chewing gum, and artificially and naturally fruit flavored things) and beauty products.

The only way to know if this is the cause is to try an "elimination diet." That means getting rid of everything that is known to be high in salycilates and testing upwards from low doses to higher levels. I have no way of remembering what I ate when I had my other reactions or whether I had taken asprin. Since I don't take asprin very often, but I do use it, it's possible the use of corresponded with reactions or added to existing levels in my system causing the hives and swelling in my face, hands and feet.

What made me think of this was that I woke up very early this morning realizing my right eye was swelling up. I put cold water bottles on it to try and help the swelling, then I took an asprin. It seemed that it got worse! Then I remembered I had taken an asprin at the Husband's aunt last night. When I got how I googled "allergic to asprin" and was astonished to find out that asprin, fruits and peppermint can contain high levels. Here I had been eating mints and chewing peppermint gum because I read that smelling peppermint reduces food cravings!

Now, before I start down the symptom-solution version of hypochondria...this may not be the case. It might just be a coinsidence. However, only by suspecting seemingly normal products/things and seeking out relations can we deduce what might be causing an allergy. So I will be reading up on this, avoiding what might things worse and writing down everything I eat. So, here's to keeping an open mind to feeling better!

The Sock Aquatic

2007-12-30T12:19:00.000-06:00

From the gift certificate from Ben and from my German girl Lina, I got: Sock Yarn! On the left we have Koigu, purchased at The Yarnery, in a loverly deep teal. And on the right we have Meilenweit Cotton Spirit straight from Germany in colorway "Partie" (whose colors seem to me to be: teal, light green, pool blue and forest green).

After spending the last few months knitting things for other people I can no start a project for myself. I have cast on the Meilenweit already for a pair of toe-up socks in a pattern that I am making up. I made the first toe and decided it was too big, so I frogged and re-did the toe last night. The stitch pattern comes from the asymmetrical cardigan in Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. When I was making the first toe, without having a pattern in mind) I thought the colors seemed very aqatic, which led me to think of the scene in Finding Nemo where the turtles are riding the East Australian Current. So thinking about turtles...hmm...turtle shells....octagon shapes....I perused my knitting book sand magazines and found two potential patterns in Knitting Nature, the asymmetrical cardigan and the honeycomb henley. I settled on the stitch pattern from the cardigan because it had a little more depth and contrast in the shapes. Of course using sock yarn the size of the shapes will be much smaller. I put in a life line just in case I don't like how it looks. I'm taking the sock with me to the Husband's cousin's house (last Xmas gathering) today. Then can play Risk for hours for all I care, I've got socks to knit.

(first: asymmetrical cardigan; second: honeycomb henley)

The Season of Giving

2007-12-25T22:17:00.000-06:00

My Xmas season is not over (one more family side to visit next Sunday...), but since that is what our week has consisted of I don't have much else to write about. So, before I go into what I got, I'd like to share with you what I gave:

-for Mom's side exchange I gave a Wild Hockey teeshirt and ice fishing lures for new cousin (in-law) Rob

- for Husband's Dad's side exchange I gave two books, Ahab's Wife and More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Minnesota Women, which ended up going to M-i-l (we did a blind name exchange, bring gift for person of your gender, draw cards, pick mystery gift...my Husband hates doing it that way, but the aunt that dictates everything dictated the exchange)

- Husband's Mom's side isn't doing gifts, so nothing there; where going over to aunt and uncle's next Sunday and will probably play a game or watch a movie or something.

- for brothers I made the socks I've posted about, the sort River Rapids socks for my OBJ (older brother Joe) fit good, the Garter Stitch Rib socks for YBJ (younger brother Jon) were a touch too long but he
doesn't seem to mind, he said they were really comfortable (Yea!)

- for s-i-l I made the modified Shedir hat and scarf, which she liked I think, I got so excited that I was done knitting, done shopping and done with presents that I wrapped it up before I remembered to take pictures of the scarf! Maybe I can get her to photograph herself wearing it...

- for my niece I made the beaded hat and scarf, I didn't see her, she was at her dad's side for Xmas but I hope it fits and that she likes it.

- for my Dad I made him a photo album of our wedding pics (see the album I used here, I used to work for them and I still think the albums are the best ever) and got him the first three Die Hard movies and the John Wayne Man With No Name three movies

- for my Mom I made her an album of our wedding pics too, I used a bigger album (this one) because I knew she'd want more pics, I also framed a b&w pic that my friend took at our wedding (this friend used to be my boss and the co-owner of the album company I worked for, he's also a photographer who uses the old fashioned square film Hasselblad cameras, the pics were great!, I liked them better than my photographers pics, but I have to bring them to a special developer in Mpls because of the special negative size). She was glad to get my pics, our wedding was two years ago and I just now got them to her. But that's better than my uncle Dave and his (third) wife Traci, who got married eleven years ago and just this Xmas finally got copies of their wedding pic for us and that was only because his daughter Carrie, who got married this year and brought her proofs to share, had scanned and made copies of Dave's wedding pic to bring with; everyone was shocked, we can finally stop teasing Traci about the pics.

Now for the things I got:

- socks from Mom (I always get socks fom Mom and I love it; scented candle, earrings and Wicked Witch of West talking ornament (I love Wizard of Oz) from Mom
- messanger bag from Dad
- gift card for Target from aunt Kathy (who always gets us "kids" something each year)
- snow shovel and gift cert to The Yarnery (Yea!) from mom's husband Ben for name exchange
- gift card (Visa) from F-i-l and uncle
- cash from Husband's grandpa (money to share)
- leopard print tank, Elizabeth Arden makeup and face cream, magnetic bracelet/necklace from m-i-l

We went to brunch Sunday for the Husband's dad side and then to Aunt S's for gifts and football. We went to (aunt) Laura & Mark's Monday night, snacked on food, uncle Dave made perogis, the boys played pool. We went to my Dad's this afternoon where I made meatloaf and chocolate chip cookies and watched basketball. All in all, pretty good Xmas, I didn't stuff myself too much, the only Xmas movie/show I watched was Shrek The Halls and I avoided most of the Xmas music. I'm debating if I should use the money from Grandpa S for a good allergy-reducing vaccume, which I need, or a low-range ~18-70mm zoom lens for my digital camera, which I really want.

A Winter Walk

2007-12-24T16:45:00.000-06:00

I took a walk through my park the other day just to look at the snow. I realized that I dont' have adequate winter wear. I was wearing boots, gloves, a hat and scarf, yet I was freezing. I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm gonna buy a pair of long johns. When I got home, my legs were all red, I was worried that I was getting frost bite, but they were ok. Here's some pictures (no color adjustments made):

FO: Serenity Scarf + WIP: Lori's Scarf

2007-12-16T22:27:00.000-06:00

Pattern: Serenity Scarf
From: Made up
Yarn: Bernat Natural Blends Alpaca in Natural
Needles: US6
Time: I don't know...I tried not to think about how long the ribbing took...
Made for: niece Serenity
Comments: This came out lovely. I hope she likes it. It looks good with the hat.

And now for the scarf I started to "match" the Modified Shedir hat for my s-i-l, based on the cable motif from Stulpen (color is off, imagine the background to be purer black and the yarn to be a nice wheat color:

Looking at other knitter's versions of the Stulpen fingerless gloves, I see some people changed the direction of the cables, some went left over right, some when right over left. I can't figure out if this intentional or if they read the chart wrong because the ones that are opposite from the written pattern / chart don't say a thing about it... I don't know how many diamond motifs I will put on each end. One seems not enough but I don't know. I certainly am not going to do the whole length of the scarf (even though that would break up the monotony of the ribbing; but on the other hand ribbing is nice for knitting while watching tv), but maybe threee motifs each end?

Furry Feral

2007-12-15T11:53:00.001-06:00

If I ever find out that someone I know is feeding their pet food from the dollar store, I will come steal your pet away for it's own good. Just a warning people...

On an animal related note, Feral had another seizure Thursday night. This one lasted longer it seemed, although it probably wasn't. Time seems to stretch forever when she has one. She was up in the closet (not the first time having one up there), except this time she fell down to the floor. We awoke at the loud thump and knew instantly what it was. I am always so glad when she comes out of it with a puzzled look on her face, because that means that at least she's not still having problems, she doesn't remember having it and it hasn't shaken her up too much. She looks around like "Who woke me up and why?" She's back to her normal self in minutes, hungry and tired (they are always in the middle of the night while she's asleep).

Not related to her seizures is her diet. A year ago she had surgery because she had stones in her bladder; they were blocking her urinary track and irritating her insides (poor baby!). Now she is on a special diet food from the vet (expensive, but not as bad as medication or more surgery). I do give her the old dry food mixed in with the special dry stuff because she likes it, but the wet food is by itself the vet brand. Occasionally I like to give them Fancy Feast as a treat and/or variety. Feral gobbles it up no matter the flavor. If he's not really hungry, Monroe licks all the gravy/sauce and leaves the meat pieces. It reminds me of when my brother was young and used to lick the frosting off his cupcake, give the cake part back to my mom and say he was full.

(relaxing, belly-up)

you can never have too many...

2007-12-14T12:16:00.000-06:00

I went in looking for a watch for an Xmas gift, I left with a pair of shoes for me and no watch. But in my defense, these shoes are a similar version of a red pair I have and love and I've always wanted a black pair, really. They are too cute.

BNW: Revisited + pics

2007-12-10T19:16:00.000-06:00

I'd like to share some quotes from Aldos Huxley's Brave New World Revisited, a collection of essays published in 1958, twenty-six years after the original Brave New World. I won't venture discussion or comments at this time, but if the following quotes interest you, albeit out of context (although they fit quite curiously into present contexts), I encourage you to read Brave New World Revisited.

No people that passes abruptly from a state of subservience under the rule of a despot to the completely unfamiliar state of political independance can be said to have a fair chance of making democratic institutions work.

In their propaganda today's dictators rely for the most part on repetition, suppression and rationalization - the repetition of catchwords which they wish to be accepted as true, the supression of facts which they wish to be ignored, the arousal and rationalization of passions which may be used in the interets of the Party or the State.

...non-stop distractions of the most fascinating nature are deliberately used as instruments of policy, for the purpose of preventing people from paying too much attention to the realities of the social and political situation.

Only the vigilant can maintan their liberties, and only those who are constantly and intelligently on the spot can hope to govern themselves efficiently by democratic purposes.

A society, most of whose members spend a great part of their time, not on the spot, not here and now and in the calculable future, but somewhere else, in the irrelevant other worlds of sports and soap opera, of mythology and metaphysical fantasy, will find it hard to resist the encroachments of those who would manipulate and control it.

As the art and science of manipulation come to be better understood, the dictators of the future will doubtless learn to combine these techniques with the non-stop distractions which, in the West, are now threatening to drown in a sea of irrelevance the rational propaganda essential to the maintenance of individual liberty.

And now for some photos:

Rockin' Baby Cables

2007-12-09T16:49:00.000-06:00

I've come to realize I love cables, but only narrow ones that alternate heights (as in every other column). Case in point: the Serenity hat and matching scarf and the Sandi's Bebe Hat. I love the texture and look of it, plus it's just enough variation within a pattern to keep me interested, quickly calculatable without looking at a chart or directions, not boring and not too much to handle. I don't know how long this phase will last but it will likely progress into celtic braiding (see: Pohjan Neito and Durrow).

FO: Sandi's Bebe Hat

2007-12-09T16:42:00.000-06:00

Pattern: Alternating Baby Cables Hat
From: Made up
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby Ombre in His Jeans
Needles: US3
Time: a few hours
Made For: Sandi (who works in my bldg) whose having a baby on or near Xmas
Comments: This hat was very similar to the Baby Cable Rib Hat by Dez Crawford; but I added an inch of plain 2x2 rib at the edge and alternated the cables every other rib. I decreased differently also, first decreasing the purls every other, than the knits every other while maintaining the cables until the last few rows when I used ssk as a decrease and to slightly mirror the cable. This hat took me only a few hours total, 4 perhaps at work, then 1-2 at home to finish. The yarn is very thin, perhaps too thin to afford real warmth in MN but it is lovely soft and delicate. I would definately make this again and play around with other yarns.

FO: modified Shedir hat for Lori

2007-12-07T10:04:00.000-06:00

Pattern: Shedir, modified to have only five sections instead of eight
From: Knitty, Shedir (Fall Special download)
Yarn: Bernat Natural Blends Alpaca in Wheat, less than one skein
Needle: US8
Time: a few hours total
Made For: s-i-l Lori
Comments: This went very well, I didn't have to frog at all (I had a lifeline just in case before decreasing). I only did two repeats of the braiding part on the crown, then when I got to the decreasing, I omitted a few rows and adjusted the last two rows (because I had five sections instead of eight) to come out nice and flat. I really love this one and would definatley make it again. It looks really impressive but was really easy. I'll probably make a complimetary scarf if I have the time.

Kool Eccentric Germans

2007-12-05T19:16:00.000-06:00

I have to say I was rather disappointed in the latest Winter Knitty. I didn't see one pattern that I liked (or as usual, liked enough to say "hey, I'd knit that", but not actually get around to it, just sticking it in my Ravelry queue). I did enjoy the article on dying yarn with Kool-aid and food coloring, much more extensive than the first article from back when.

I'm back to the Serenity scarf, working 48 or so inches of 2x2 ribbing until I get to the other end when I'll do 6 or so inches of patterned twisted stitches. This is a great project to knit while I watch tv, of which I haven't been doing much bec' of the writers strike, yet I did watch the end of Bones last night and forced my husband to watch House even though I hate the guy (and not in the "love to hate him" kind of way, in the I hate him but I like the odd story lines and circumstances that come up so I put up with it). Has anyone seen Life this season? Am I the only one who thinks the writers took the most annoying parts of the most annoying characters on tv and pout them all into one character? It's like they decided the weird ones get watched (House, Monk, CSI Miami etc) or at least remembered so they made the guy over the top. Generally I like shows where the characters are over the top, but I've come to realize it's only when all the characters are over the top that make it comical and endearing (i.e.- Arrested Development, Strangers With Candy and sorta The Office).

The Germans are coming! The Germans are here! (Ok, well two Germans are here, my b-i-l's German exchange student from 7 years ago came back to visit and brought her boyfriend. They were going to the Hard Rock Cafe tonight,my my husband isn't home from work yet so I doubt we'll go along. I wonder if I'll even get to visit with them before they leave. I miss my German girl, Lina.