O My Freakin' God

You would think that I, having knit since I was 7, could do a simple little lace pattern. EEHH, wrong answer, thanks for playing. I have started that *&*(^$#%&* Adamas shawl pattern about 5 different times. I actually got the thing knit to the end of the ball, but then realized I hadn’t left enough to do the edge chart or bind off. RRRRRRIIIPPPPPP! So, I started it again. And again. And again. And again. I have now resorted to typing out the entire upper chart so I can actually read what the symbols mean. My husband thinks I’m strange, and the pattern now looks like computer code. Then he went off on some tangent about creating a binary program that would convert into knitting stitches and seeing what we got. GEEK.

Am I missing something, or am I just so thick that I can’t figure out stinkin’ yarn overs and k2togs?????? My next step is to actually have someone read it to me while I knit. I’ve done that before, but with Arans, not with lace. And of course I can't drink while I'm knitting this, or I might as well just wrap the entire hank around my neck and wear it like a noose. Of course, if I drink enough, I won't care how the thing looks.

With that being said, the Eris has made no progress, and I have just started the heel flap on my latest pair of Fortissima Colori sock. My toe-up SCA stocking is to just up to the bottom of my calf. Damn, I wish my legs weren’t so freakin’ long. It takes for-ev-er to knit a pair of stockings. And the Elenora of Toledo stocking is putzing along slowly. You would too on size 0 needles. And that isn’t even to the original gauge.

It must be PMS. And the day before my birthday no less. Arrgh.

Hey, check out Celtic Knitter's new blog. Cool stuff. And BTW: I've got all of the Bain books on celtic knotwork, plus a book (or 5) of line drawings by someone long out of the SCA of really cool knotwork that I've been trying to figure out how to convert to patterns. If I can't cable them, maybe I'll try intarsia.

And check out my Frappr map and add your pushpin. I like to know where my stalkers are from.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

SIL and I went to see TSO last night. Having only heard one or two of their songs at the holidays, I wasn't sure what to expect. Wow. Talk about the range of emotion and talent that was up on that stage. There were times I didn't know whether or shout "Bravo" or get out my lighter and shout "Freebird." The music, mostly Christmas and classical with a hard rock beat, was loud, and the light and laser show was a bit much at times (the strobes were enough to send anyone into a grand mal seizure), but over all I had a great time.

None of them are from anywhere near Siberia. I think it was just a neat sounding name choice. They played Mozart like Mozart would have, had he had electric guitars, keyboards, and violins (yes, an electric violin). Beethoven's 5th was very hard driving. Orff's "O, Fortuna" from Carmina Burana was another wonderful rock re-vamp. But, I think my favorite were the selections from "The Nutcracker." The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies brought up mental images of teenagers hyped up on sugar and caffeine dancing in combat boots. The Russian dance would have been perfectly suited for a mosh pit.

My only complaints, though minor, were the volume and the singers' dresses. Come on folks, we're in a FIELDHOUSE, for cryin' out loud. Lack of proper acoustics cannot be made up with volume. And the dresses, while nice in regular light, left nothing to the imagination when backlit. You could see up to possible and then some.

Overall, it was a good show. I want to thank my brother for getting the tickets and for watching both boys while SIL and I went to the concert. Probably one of the better birthday presents I've gotten from him. Great seats, too.

Next month's review - Mannheim Steamroller, I hope.

Another weekend down the tubes

It seems that this is what happens every weekend. I work all week at an unfulfilling job, looking towards the two days during the week that I can do whatever the h*ll I want, only to find that it's 11:00 on Sunday evening, and I've pissed the weekend away again.

I've been blog-stalking the past week, trying to catch up on all my favs, and look at a few new ones. Franklin has a wonderfully pithy sense of humor, a great cafepress store, and some wonderful drawings that include knitters (I love the sheep). Laurie is going through the full gambit of emotions associated with a divorce, with her cats and her yarn to keep her company. I'm right there with you sweetie, having BTDT about 10 years ago. Stephanie is, as always, discussing some new form of family torture with yarn and needles as the main ingredients. And the holidays are coming up, so no doubt there will be some late-night, caffeine-induced rantings coming from her in the following weeks.

Eris is coming along. I've just gotten down into the fronts and off the actual neckline. I've noticed that for the larger sizes, it's probably a good idea to go with an even longer cable than recommended. My Boyd Needlemaster is coming up a bit short.

I ordered the Shadow sampler pack from KnitPicks (shhhh, don't tell hubby). I also ordered the Adama shawl pattern, and am thinking that I might be able to cut the size in half and make some really cool neck scarfs instead of full size shawls. Not many of my friends wear shawls. That, and I've been dieing to try my hand at some lace knitting.

I actually got the French Market bag felted. It didn't turn out near as big as I thought it would, but it's still pretty cool.

And remember that sock I lost back in April? The one I posted a photo of the mate? The one I actually bought more yarn for to make another pair? I FINALLY found the stupid thing. It was in the garage of all places, just laying on the floor. How did it get there, I hear you ask. I have no bloody idea. I think it may have been statically stuck to a jacket, and finally fell out, and (luckily) that is where it landed.

Time for bed, kids. Five more days until the weekend.