k1,yo, k2tog

Is there anybody out there?

2011-12-01T23:06:00.000-05:00

The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. I'm still married (yea!), I still have a son (he's now 11, I haven't killed him yet), I'm still knitting. In short, SSDD.

Though, I have decided that I need another hobby. I want a spinning wheel. I've wanted one for a very long time, but the urge is even stronger now as I've pretty much stopped knitting with anything that is man-made (or mostly man-made) because natural fibers are the bomb. And I've got some roving around here that I'd like to spin up, but only have a drop spindle (and hell and be damned if I'm going to try to spin 2 pounds of roving on a drop spindle).

The nice thing about this hobby is that it goes along with my knitting hobby. Now if I can only get DH to believe it.

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

2010-09-23T16:14:00.000-04:00

Holy crap, it's been a long time since I lasted updated this thing. Many things have happened, so here is a brief recap:
1. Got sucked into Facebook and LiveJournal and Ravelry.
2. Got my real estate sales license
3. Got a job to go with the real estate license.
4. S is a 4th grader and almost 10.
5. V is working his own computer business because he was tired of being downsized. He is still working with leather too, but it's still his side hobby.
6. I'm knitting. Duh.
7. I'm not sewing as much. Probably because my cutting table is full of other crap. As usual.

G-d, I'm boring.

Bless me Bloggers...

2009-03-31T14:39:00.002-04:00

I have sinned. It's been almost 4 months since my last entry. I've gotten sucked into LiveJournal and Facebook. But, I'm here, still unemployed, but here.

January and February were pretty boring, but March was a month for being sick. I had surgery on 3/13 (of all days) and then a full week after that I came down with the flu. This week has seen the usual spring sinus headaches. Where is my stunt double?

Knitting has been slow, as I've currently got several types of yarn that are refusing to be made into anything. Maybe I need to do some charity knitting to get my karma back. I've got a little over a week before Easter.

I hate shopping

2008-12-03T12:23:00.003-05:00

Let me preface this to say that I'm talking about apparel. Not yarn or other craft items.

A recent post over on Franklin's blog sent me into my semi-annual tirade about not being able to find clothing and shoes that fit. That, coupled with the fact that the one store in town that carried 'real' jeans (not these stretchy, over embroidered trendy pieces of drek you see now), decided to discontinue this line. As I was told by a sales clerk "Nobody wears that style anymore." EEEEEHHH, good answer thanks for playing. I do.

I am (unlike most of the natural world) very tall for a woman. Six feet to be exact. With a 34/36" inseam and a 46" outseam. I am also very overweight, so I need clothes that are large as well as long. This seems to classify me as a freak of nature. Tall = thin, fat = short. Making clothes to fit a tall fat woman makes designers heads go all assplody.

Shoes are another issue. I wear a size 12A/B. I have since my freshman year of college. When I first hit a 12, they were more narrow. Like AAAA narrow. With a AAAAAA heel. I was able to find dress shoes after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, but for the most part I wore men's sneakers and thick socks. I still do this. And I haven't worn actual heels for about 4 years.

So, it is time to clear off my cutting table (again) and start making clothes for myself (again). I usually entertain this option a couple of times a year, but now that I have time (oh, yeah, I lost another job, but that is a whole 'nother story) I can probably actually get something done.

He's so romantic....

2008-09-27T08:40:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was our 10th anniversary.

Earlier in the week we had been talking about what to do, what the traditional gift was, etc. OK, so traditional is tin, and the modern is pewter. I showed him on the intarwebs that pewter was the new gift. So what does he do? Goes over to his supply shelf and hands me an ingot of pewter and says, "Happy Anniversary." We laughed ourselves silly.

Anyway, last night we were able to score a brat-sitter (yeah Leigh!) and got to go out for dinner at a new sushi place here in town. Yum. We tried several rolls and had some nigiri, including one with kobe beef. OMG, if you have never had it, try it. It's like butta...creamy texture, slightly smokey flavor. And yes, it was raw. We left feeling sated and with a much lighter wallet.

Vince also bought us a copy of "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." Squee! Costumes! Some very badly researched, but costumes nonetheless.

All in all we had a good time. His biggest comment: "I don't know how you have put up with me for so long." Right back atcha honey.

I have a new job!

2008-09-08T22:07:00.002-04:00

And I get to work with yarn! I'm working for a wholesale company called Alpaca with a Twist. Gorgeous stuff. Only working part time, but if her business keeps up, it will probably increase, though she keeps really laid back hours. I worked 9 till 4:30 today and took time for lunch. Though, I did forget just how tiring it is to walk around an office all day and schlep boxes. My feet are killing me.

Squee!

Quiet Desperation

2008-08-26T21:54:00.002-04:00

I have sunk to the depths of desperation. I have a WIP that I am no long happy with. I do not love it anymore. I want it to go away.

The long, sordid affair with the Eleanora of Toledo stockings is coming to an end.

I do not have enough yarn to finish.
I am working with yarn that is too big for the needles (or needles too small for the yarn, whichever).

So, at some point, I will begin the arduous process of frogging the stocking. I will be trying to re-chart it as I go, so that if the spirit ever moves me again, I can take another stab at it.

Pray for me.

Note to self:

2008-07-31T12:59:00.001-04:00

Do not let me go shopping by myself. Especially when there are sales. And clearance items.

SSDD

2008-07-28T13:17:00.002-04:00

Same shit, different day times 3 months.

Still no job (3 interviews), still knitting, still sewing, still trying to keep up with house, still yelling at S for not paying attention (though, if I would remember to give him his meds that would help), still trying to help V get ready for Pennsic.

New things: S now has an orthodontic appliance and head-gear for his underbite. Insurance has a lifetime benefit of $1500. Total for this is $4300. Ga.

I need some good vibes: job, family, you name it. I'm tired of feeling like I'm having the life sucked out of me.

I suck.

2008-05-01T19:37:00.001-04:00

I got fired. For not being perky and not begging hard enough for stuff to do.

Can one do any permanent, disability-inducing injury with a knitting needle?

Got Harlot?

2008-04-29T23:32:00.002-04:00

The Yarn Harlot comes to Indy (well, Carmel actually, but...)

We had SUCH a blast. I went with a friend and we got there at about 5:30. The place was already starting to fill up.

I did manage to 'kinnear' Stephanie a couple of times, but usually someones head got in the way. The good photos came after....

This is me and Stephanie, holding each others socks (does that sound a little kinky to you? Me too). And yes, she is that small and I am that big.

Anyway, we had a blast. I was laughing so hard that I damn near cried. Go back in her blog and read about the Calgary incident. Oh, that one is good.

Change for Change (or the 2008 Indianapolis Memory Walk)

2008-04-12T15:44:00.003-04:00

My team page for the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk is up. My team name is The Wool Waulkers (what else?). Please take the time to donate your change to help us make a change for Alzheimer's patients and their families.

Help me out here, I need some money raising ideas. What kinds of things would you like to see that would cause you to donate?

There is an Alzheimer's group on Ravelry. There is some discussion in regards to people who once knit taking it up again as their short-term memories fade, but the long-term memories (like learning to knit as a child) start surfacing. The calming effect is wonderful.

BTW: I will have a drawing for a little bag of fibery goodness from the name of people who donate to the cause.

Fibery goodness

2008-04-12T15:28:00.003-04:00

I attended The Fiber Event in Greencastle, IN today. This had been known as the Fleece Fair, but the original organizers had undergone a serious case of burn-out. But, the Phoenix rose from the ashes and this new event has taken it's place, same time of year, same location.

Weather was cold and rainy. Buildings were full of wool, roving, yarn, books, tools, wheels, rabbits and warm, friendly fiber people. It was all I could do to not get a rabbit, but V has threatened that any rabbit coming into this house is to be eaten, not raised for yarn. *pout*

I spent a little bit of money but not as much as I could have. Two skeins of yarn, a flick carder, and a knitting bag that hangs from the belt. The bag was cool because it came with some very soft roving. I'll have to break out the spindle.

Sigh

2008-03-14T11:38:00.002-04:00

Haven't updated in a while. Ravelry is the time-suck I was afraid it would be. :-)

Job still going well, so is V's, S has been tested for ADHD.

I'll be getting the Memory Walk thingy up on the sidebar soon. I named my team the Wool Waulkers (gee, go figure). If you can't wait, go to the Memory Walk page, click on the Indianapolis date, and then either Join a Team or Find a Walker.

Plimouth socks are done, just need to be blocked and then mailed. I may forgo blocking just to get them out of the house.

I've been in a knitting rut. I'm working on a sweater for Kim, re-knitting 2 pairs of socks, but I've got this kick-ass alpaca that I want to work into something, and damned if I can't find a pattern I'm happy with. It's a sport weight verging on worsted, and everything I've tried looks like boiled ass (thank you Rabbitch for expanding my vocabulary).

I also want to get started on Kepler before it gets too warm to knit a big project, and I want to finally finish Rogue. I think I've actually found someone who has the yarn!

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll try to update this weekend.

Me and my big mouth...

2008-01-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

If you will remember in my last post, I said that 2008 had to be better than 2007. Well so far it hasn't been. We've been broken into twice, and it's not even the end of January. And of all the low-life things they could have taken, they took Sean's piggy bank. Are you that desperate for meth money that you steal from a 7 year old?

On the up side, V does have a new job. Doing IT stuff for a stable company, and I even get some perks as well: all of the lotion and shampoo and body wash that I want.

So far this year I've only finished one project, a pair of Monkey socks for Kim. I'm still working on the Plimoth Plantation stockings, and I have a couple of other projects in the queue. I have to re-knit a pair of socks that I had made for Kim because they are too big. She has little bitty feet compared to my skis.

Well, that's all for now. Laundry and cleaning await. As usual.

Just a quickie.....

2007-12-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

I've been very MIA lately, with work, home, family, knitting and the holidays all coming together in a huge crush of reality.

I've been knitting stockings for Plimoth Plantation, which as been fun, but I will definitely be suffering from SSS, so they will not be done before the first of the year. DH is getting more fanatic about not keeping so many of my projects around my chair, so I have had to move several stash boxes to the basement. Granted, our living room is not that big, and with family in for X-mas, it will get a bit tight.

Work has been going pretty well, until this past Monday. One of my co-workers was murdered in her apartment over her lunch hour. The funeral is tomorrow. And I still have to try to keep a happy face for Sean. And "Aunt Flo" is in town, so life is SO much fun. NOT!

I have pretty much all of my present shopping done (which is amazing!) and DH is going to do the grocery shopping (though he doesn't yet know he will be by himself). I need to get stuff wrapped, which will happen Sunday and Monday nights after Sean is in bed.

So, I'll say "Happy ChristmaHaunaKwanzaDan" and see you next year. 2008 has to be better, right?????

Oh, the joys of an older home....

2007-11-26T13:48:00.000-05:00

Not.

The septic system is on strike. Nothing will drain, and it has been raining off and on for the past 3 days. This started on Thanksgiving.

I need to do laundry. I want to be able to flush after every use. I want to be able to take a shower longer than 5 minutes without the tub backing up.

Sigh.

You know you're a serious knitter when.....

2007-11-13T10:07:00.001-05:00

You start planning your wardrobe around your hand knit socks.

And now for something completely different....

2007-10-31T12:11:00.000-04:00

You all may be wondering about the odd topic of the last post. As of August 30, I have been employed by the Alzheimer's Association. November is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month. I will be putting this picture into my sidebar (as soon as I can figure out how) to create a link to the chapter web-site, if anyone would like to make a contribution. I am going to make this my "cause," similar to Stephanie's Doctors without Borders fund drive. Why? Well, I'll tell you (you knew I would). My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 7 and she was 79. I still remember sitting with her, remembering her smell, and her quiet way that she and I would talk while she showed me. This is a memory I don’t want to forget.

After my father died, my mom and I would sit and knit and watch TV in the evenings when I came home from classes at university. We didn’t speak much those first few months other than to share what we were knitting. This was (for the longest time) the only thing we had in common besides DNA. This is a memory I don’t want to forget.

I’ve met some of the most interesting people by knowing how to knit, people who I may not have had the opportunity to if I hadn’t knit. Knitting has also led me down the paths of spinning and dyeing. These are memories I don’t want to forget.I knit for my mother-in-law while she was in Hospice. This gave me something to do with my hands (besides eat). I finished the socks before she died, and she was cremated with them on. Yes, I lost several hours of work, but this is a memory I don’t want to forget.

If you do make a contribution, just mention my blog title: K1*yo, K2Tog*. The gal who processes the donations is a knitter too.

Move, Voice, Open

2007-10-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

Fancy brings a thought to me of a flower so bright and fair,
Grace and beauty, both combine to make that far more rare
Like a maiden that I know who shared my happy life,
Where we parted, when she whispered, "You'll forget-me-not".

Great Big Sea

With a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s every 72 seconds, we ask that you join us in continuing to move our cause forward! You can still donate online at www.alz.org/indiana and click on Memory Walk.

If you or someone you know is living with Alzheimer's disease, our Specialists provide ongoing support, information and referral services. Call our Helpline at 1-800-272-3900, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Gobsmacked

2007-09-16T13:10:00.000-04:00

Yes, that is how I feel. Which will attest to me being awake at the ungodly hour of 5:00 this morning. And I'd like to thank HRM Dag for moving up the timeline on my new garb by a whole week.

Yes, ok, I got an award yesterday at Grand Pagent. While it's been (oh crap, let me think) since Jafar and Catherine's reign since I've gotten a kingdom award, I was so not expecting anything. But, one of my apprentice sisters (who will remain nameless, but she's the PREGNANT one) had put me in for the Order of the Evergreen, a mid-level A&S award, which will again put me on the Laurel radar, albeit on the very edge.

With all of the stress and inactivity of late, I'll admit I've gained more than a few pounds, which makes my garb pretty tight and uncomfortable. Since I wasn't doing anything at the event, I decided to just throw on one of Vince's big shirts over my jeans and call it a day. At one point in the day Odette had made a comment to me of "Can't your AoA drink by now?" meaning that I've been in for a really long time. Well, it can't drink till next year. Though, it has been about 15 years since my last kingdom award (through no fault of anyone but me. Having a kid and PPD will do that to a person). Since I haven't been that active recently, I wasn't expecting anything. I forgot the most important rule in the SCA: When you least expect it, expect it.

Toward the end of the day, Moira McG. asks if I am going to stay for feast. I say no, because it's pretty impossible to sit feast with a 6 year old. She asks if I'm going to court, to which I say no, hadn't planned on it. While I do like sitting in court and seeing people get awards, I was hungry and Sean was antsey and we still needed to help get TJ into the van with all his stuff. When I arrived back at the booth, Vince told me that he had been told it would behoove us to stay for court. I've heard that one before, but just figured it was going to be someone else in the group getting an award.

So, we're sitting in court, Caywick and Thorgerd behind us (Caywick yipping like a chihuahua), not really paying too much attention because it seemed like 1/2 of the people called into court were not there. Then I hear the herald call my name. OK, actually she butchered the last name, but since I'm probably the one of the only ones around these parts with an O'anything for a last name, I knew I was hosed. My usual comment to V being 'oh, crap, what have I done now' made it around to at least a couple of people around me.

I head up, fake a curtsey, and actually get down on the kneeler without falling on my face. HRM Dag says 'so glad to see you dress up', and I make some sort of sorry excuse as the herald starts reading the scroll. As she gets to the part describing why I had gotten the award, I hear 'period knitting and smooching and teaching knitting and.....' WTF??? Smooching??? Talk about the collective head-whip. Everyone dissolves. The herald is bright red as she is told it should be 'smocking', and she continues with the award. Mine was probably one of the last awards given, so it wasn't long before we were heading out the door to the parking lot. Of course, everyone was commenting on the smooching remark. I went up to HRH Aislinn and told her that her scribes really need to work on their spelling. She and I used to work together, so there is no peer-fear there. As I was crossing the parking lot Dyderich and Tristan both come up and Dyderich says 'oh, honorable lady, please teach us about period smooching.' OY!

The scroll is beautiful, done with period pigments and 23k gold leaf. As soon as Michael's opens up, I'm going to get a frame. This one is not going to wait.

So, Coronation is in 2 weeks, and it is here in Indy. I've got to get my new garb done. Hell, I've got to get it started.

Sockapalooza Goodness

2007-08-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

At last! Photos! Here are my Sockapalooza 4 socks for my pal. Pattern is Latvian Socks from "Folk Socks" by Nancy Bush. Yarn is a double strand of handspun (not by me!) knit on size 3 dpn. The dye-job is mine, using the food coloring technique on Knitty's website. I call the color "sour apple" as it reminded me of lemon drops and apple Jolly Ranchers. I started these with one strand on size 0 dpn, but they were going to be too narrow. They are going out on Monday, with the blessing of my pal. She's been really fun to correspond with.

And.....here are my socks from my Sockapalooza 4 pal: Lynda. They are so nice, fit well, and I love the cables! The pattern is called Penllyn (?) and is done in Claudia's handpainted (not sure of the colorway, the note is upstairs). Oh, and yes, the feet look enormously long, but I've got big feet.

V is (finally) at Pennsic, and Sean starts school on Tuesday (if I let him live). Thank FSM that I have alcohol in the house, because I so need it. V threw his back out about a month ago, and has been having lots of trouble. X-rays show the beginnings of arthritis in his C-7/T1 area. Not fun. This meant that I ended up helping him haul boxes out of the basement. It also meant that my knees are not on speaking terms with me except for the occasional stabbing pain. Grrrr.

OK, beastie-boy is starting to gnaw his arm off. Time to feed him before he eats everything.

Buried alive

2007-07-26T20:47:00.000-04:00

by fabric. In the past two weeks, I've cut up 24 yards of linen, 25 yards of muslin, and and 18 yards of various and sundry tunic material. Out of that I've made 24 linen veils, 24 muslin veils, and 3 tunics. I have another 3 to finish, plus make some new garb for V before the 3rd of August.

V is in high stress mode, as he still has tons of belts to get done, with about 1/2 of them needing to be shipped by tomorrow.

There are times I really hate Pennsic.

Quicky update

2007-07-17T23:45:00.000-04:00

Before I get buried in fabric. Sockapalooza socks are DONE, WASHED, and BLOCKED. Pictures to follow. Love, Me.

Ooo, look! Pictures! Of a FO!

2007-06-15T08:45:00.001-04:00

I finally got to use DH's new digital camera. Sweeeeet. A Nikon D80. Yeah, so the subject wasn't very interesting, but hey. I also went out and took photos of headstones to upload to Find-A-Grave, but didn't think you'd want to see them.

Anyway, here are my Latvian Socks from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. They were knit using Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock yarn (I think the color was Iris), on size 2 needles. They are a bit stretchy, but I didn't want to knit them on any smaller needles. I tend to use a larger needle size and a bit heavier yarn for some of these patterns so I can get the extra size I need. I only had enough yarn for 8 repeats of the pattern in the leg of the sock (it called for 10). If I had had enough yarn, I would have made knee socks.

Here is another shot. The pattern doesn't show up really well, but I like subtle and unexpected. If I had thought about it, I would have done the star toe in the opposite direction so they would lean towards the big toe on each foot.

This is the pattern I'm using for my Sockapalooza pal. I'm using a fingering weight (almost lace weight) 100% wool that I dyed with food coloring. I think I'm going to call the color "sour apple" because it reminds me of a cross between Granny Smith apples, Lemonheads, and Apple Jolly Ranchers. I'll post a photo of them later. I'm knitting them on 0's (like the pattern says), and they are turning out much narrower than this pair (I hope that they fit her foot)!

Plans for the weekend include knitting, annoying the kid, and hopefully going to the pool (where I can knit while Sean plays in the pool). I'm going on a field trip with him next week (that should be fun), and then next weekend (yes, I do plan out that far in advance) is a reunion in U.C. Whether or not they intended it, it has become the Heuss/Montano reunion. Got to love it when the family tree gets tangled.

NEWSFLASH: ACTUAL KNITTING CONTENT

2007-06-01T23:34:00.001-04:00

Woo Hoo, I have actually started my Sockapalooza socks. Of course, this makes project number 6 that I have started recently. I must have knitting ADD.

My foray into dying with food coloring was fun, and just too simple for words, though, my kitchen smelled like vinegar for a while. I started by dying the whole kit and kaboodle yellow, and when that dye bath exhausted, I added some blue splotches. So, it's mostly yellow, with some subtle green places.

I am now using this yarn for my socks. I'm doing the Latvian socks from "Folk Socks." Yes, I know, I did those with some Lorna's Laces for me earlier this year, but I really like the pattern. The hardest part is knitting that (*^*&# picot edge together. About went nuts doing that. And, I'm doing something that I don't do very often: I'm knitting on 0's. Damn, they're small. But, the yarn is working fine, the stitches look good. The colors aren't pooling horrendously, and I think I actually dyed enough to do something for myself. Note to self: When using your warping board to skein off yarn, skip some of the pegs. Your arms are not that long.

I'll try to get some photos taken this weekend. I'm really bad about taking photos, even though we have two digital cameras. Leigh graduates on Sunday, so you can bet at least one of us will have a camera.

Sockapalooza Update

2007-05-10T11:01:00.000-04:00

I have gotten some yarn skeined off so that I can try my hand at hand-dying. Since my swift is MIA, I used my next best option: my Beka 4.5 yard warping board. 120 wraps has given me enough for a pair of socks plus. The only kink was when I had to separate the whole mess so make sure nothing was sticking to anything. My arms aren't THAT long.

Next step: Food color dying as seen in this issue of Knitty.

When the hell did this happen?

2007-05-07T21:41:00.000-04:00

Leigh's pre-prom photo from this last weekend. She and her boyfriend stopped by the house since her dad was here for the weekend (long story).

I saw this photo and about dropped my teeth. Can you blame me?

Yes, I saw her in the dress when I marked the straps so I could shorten them. But her hair was down and (I think) she had on her glasses and no make-up.

Not bad for an e-bay dress.

Wow

2007-05-02T21:37:00.000-04:00

Get a new browser and I go post-crazy. I guess it's better than going postal.

I have my pal for Sockapalooza, and I can't wait to get started. I think Leigh and I are going to get together and hand dye some wool I have laying around the house. Now that I'm unemployed, and she is getting ready to start college, money is tight.

I feel kind of sorry for her right now. Prom is this coming Saturday, and she has strep. And is allergic to penicillin. And Zithromax. So she is on tetracycline. Slow to work. She told me today that come hell or high water she was going to prom and she was going to look good. She can collapse later.

I need to start a knitting stash for her to take to college. She's going to live in the dorms, and she is not going to rush a sorority (thank FSM), so she'll need something to do when she's not studying or eating. She has knitting in class down already.

This is not getting my laundry done. But, I have all day tomorrow, right?

I QUIT!!!

2007-05-02T10:07:00.001-04:00

My job, that is. I am now gainfully unemployed, and I feel good. Time to start working towards my goal of working at home sewing for people.

Sockapalooza!

2007-04-29T21:46:00.000-04:00

OK, I signed up for Sockapalooza 4. Why? Because Leigh said it would be fun. And it's an excuse to buy sock yarn. And to knit socks. And to get a new pair of socks.

I actually have two paying sewing gigs coming up. The first one is to sew eyelets into a dress. This will be the toughest, because it's a dress that is laced from the waist to the neckline, and the eyelets need to be 1/2" to 3/4" apart, and the girl is LONG waisted.

The second one is to sew maternity tops for a friend who is expecting twins. As she said, she's tired of the yoke of the shirt not coming down past her boobs. I don't say that I blame her.

I've been applying for new jobs, but haven't been successful at even getting an interview. There are so many things that I can do, but it's really hard to translate it onto paper.

More sewing, more knitting

2007-04-25T23:01:00.000-04:00

That is what I want to spend my time doing. The reality is that I am not doing anything but sulking and wasting 4 hours of my life each day at an unfulfilling job.

I am apprenticing to a real, honest-to-god tailor. He's really fun to work with, and he is also a reenactor, so I get the best of both worlds. I just wish he could afford to hire me full-time. As it is, he is losing money since most people don't need (or get) things tailored anymore. Sigh.

I have been able to get Sean on the bus every morning from the house. I really enjoy this, except when Sean throws a fit about wanting to wear a certain pair of shoes that he hasn't worn in over a year and doesn't fit into anyway. At the rate I'm going with the job, I'll be meeting him at home too, because I'm to the point I can't afford the after-school care.

So, got any sewing for me?

WooHoo!

2007-04-20T18:13:00.000-04:00

I finally made the leap and got Firefox, so blogging on a regular basis will commence.

I have been given the title "enabler" by my niece, Leigh. The past couple of times she's been down, I've dug into my yarn stash and gifted her with something. She's been going to Goodwill and buying sweaters to frog and re-knit into something different. I commend her for this, but feel that I should help her along on the path to fiber awareness. She is starting college in the fall, and I hope to be able to keep her in yarn while she is there. There are no good places to buy yarn in Muncie, other than JoAnn's and Michael's, neither of which carries a big selection of anything besides acrylic.

I signed up for Sockapalooza, and am excitedly waiting for the pairings. Leigh signed up too, so we'll see who we get paired with. We're going to meet up and go to Mass Ave to shop for yarn.

And while I'm talking about Leigh, go visit her blog Me and Benita. It's a good read. She was selected to show at her school's senior art show, and she's the music director for her school's radio station. Can you tell I'm proud of her?? Didn't think so.

Fracking Monday!

2007-03-26T13:32:00.000-04:00

Thought for the day: I can go bat-shit crazy, or I can knit. Your Choice.

Still working at completely unfullfilling job, meds aren't working anymore, and found out that a friend (who was barely a year older than me) died this morning due to complications from diabetes.

Bat-shit crazy is looking better and better.

Oh Dear God.

2007-03-20T10:24:00.000-04:00

I must have been smoking crack. I updated my blogger to the new version, but only found out afterwards that it doesn't work with IE 6. So, I can't update at home yet. IE 7 plays havoc with my Outlook program. Grrrr.

Please don't laugh at me

2007-02-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

This is what my best friend said to me just before she brought out her yarn stash for me to look at last weekend. She made me promise about 3 times before she walked out and returned with a Rubbermaid footlocker full of yarn.

I sat there stonefaced.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked.

"No. I would never laugh at anyone's stash."

Her DH calls it the yarn safe. And I think this is wonderful, since the dog likes to eat the wooden knitting needles, and has ruined more than one project because of it.

Kim hadn't knit since college when one day she asked me to show her again. She was traveling for work and wanted something she could work on in her hotel room. She used to cross-stitch, but I think all of the little bits and ends got to be too much.

She has taken to it again like a fish to water, and is about as obsessed with yarn as one can be with 2 kids, 2 cats, a dog, hamsters, fish, and a turtle (oh, and the snake they are watching for the neighbors for a month). She has thanked me numerous times for giving her something she can do while sitting with her husband as he watches yet another television program that she has no interest in (but complains that she nevers spends time with him).

I wish my stash was as well organized.

I am in need

2007-01-01T20:05:00.000-05:00

of some yarn that is discontinued. (bad ubu)

Takhi Yarns "Chelsea Silk" 65% silk 35% wool
don't know the number
kind of a gray verging on lavendar with multi-colored flecks

I bought this yarn back before the dirt was trucked in, and now I am in need of more.

If you know of anywhere I might find this 20 year old stuff, please let me know.

Monthly Update

2006-12-27T10:56:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm a slacker, but I have survived the dreaded X-mas commercialism with only a small increase in Prozac and alcohol, so "nyah."

On the homefront:
House was burgled on Dec. 14th. Got the X-box, I-Pod, PDA, digital camera, and MY ENTIRE JEWELRY BOX. Bastards! Custom jewelry from DH and heirloom stuff from grandmother.

DH's co-workers suprised us with a new X-box 360, so Sean is happy (as are we, because it keeps Sean out of trouble).

Gals in the October 2000 group suprised me with a gift voucher for Elann.com yarns. Hooray for knitting therapy!

Niece was accepted to Ball State for the fall. She'll make the 3rd generation to attend Fruit Jar Tech, and hopefully the 2nd to graduate (Dad got drafted out and never finished).

On the health front:
DH's new doctor is OCD in a good way. Has now put him on BP medicine, Lasix, and sent him for a colonoscopy (which found two polyps, both of which tested positive for adenoma). I start seeing him in January. Joy.

My OB-GYN gave me info on a procedure that might just get rid of my periods without having to yank the plumbing. WHEE. No bleeding, no cramps.

On the knitting front:
Gave my SIL and niece knitting swag for X-mas. I got knitting swag for X-mas. I've got money to buy more knitting swag. Life is good.

I'm about 1/2 done with Rogue for me. Pray to Elizabeth Zimmerman that I can finish with what yarn I have.

On the job front:
It sucks. Need new job. All offers welcome.

You meet knitters in the strangest places...

2006-11-21T20:54:00.000-05:00

This morning I took Vince to the hospital for a CT scan and stress test. He had pneumonia last month, and on the x-ray the doctor noticed that his heart was a bit enlarged. He's been wanting to get started on some good baseline health screens since his mom passed, so this was a good start.

Me, being the dedicated wiffy, drove Vince, as he decided to wake up this morning with one of his migraines, and keeping his eyes open for the drive was not easy, especially driving into the sun.

I knew it was going to be a long wait, so I took my knitting. I've started another Rogue (this one for me). The woman who took us down to the imaging department commented on my knitting, saying how she wished she could see the finished product. I was working on it in the waiting room, and another woman sits down not far from me and pulls out her knitting. We compare notes; she's working on a T-sweater for her Guideposts group (a bright orange acrylic thing, definitely not something I'd wear, but a kid would love it).

After a while, Vince was finally called back and I went with him. The nurse was nice enough to get me a chair so I could watch the monitors and be out of the way. As Julie was getting Vince situated, I pulled out the knitting. She took his BP, and it was elevated, so she asked him to just relax, and noticed the knitting. It was downhill from there. She starts asking me questions, circular vs. straights, gauge and needle size, how much yarn, etc. Another nurse walks in and Julie said 'hey, come here, she's knitting,' and the second nurse said 'I heard' and comes over to look. Evidently they just both learned and are still on scarves. Both asked if I taught.

Poor Vince is laying on the table, electrodes and wires and BP cuffs strapping him down, and I'm talking to the nurses about knitting. Julie took his BP again, and it had really come down. I told her that I could probably bore Vince to death by talking about knitting.

The test went well, the ultrasound pictures were good. Thankfully the ultrasound tech is a crocheter, and didn't get distracted.

I did give Julie my name and phone number before we left. Just told her to remind me who she was when she calls. I need to get some business cards printed.

Update on Moi

2006-10-04T10:28:00.001-04:00

Since we last left our intreped heroine, much has happened in her life.

*In the last 66 days, the local SCA group has put on 1 local event, 1 kingdom event, 1 small demo, and one huge-ass Ren fair demo where the authenticity level is off the scale. I am beat.

*Vince produced a butt-load of new leather products to sell at the Ren Fair. We think he did well.

*Vince's grandmother passed away, 90 days to the date of his mother passing. His grandfather was heard to say, "Get out of my way, I'll be gone in a month."

*Needless to say, knitting has been non-existant. I'll be doing that tonight as I watch "Project Runway" to see if anyone hands Jeffery his head.

Thank you SP!

2006-09-13T10:05:00.000-04:00

I got another fabulous box of goodies from her. I am such a schlub. And I still can't find the freaking camera.

Debbie McComber's "A Good Yarn" plus the pattern book that goes with it.
"Socks soar on Two needles" by Cat Borhdi. This was on my supper secret wish list, thanks!
A skein of Cascade 220 in a really pretty yellow. Two balls of a fun, slubby yarn, and one other that I can't remember right now, but equally as pretty.
A vanilla candle (Yum)
A box of chocolate covered Sugar Babies. Those Rock!

This is going to be my last SP for a while. Life is just too crazy for me to do another one right now. I'll have to keep my eyes out for a future one.

Life is a zoo...

2006-08-30T23:23:00.000-04:00

or a circus, or a fuster-cluck, whatever. I just realized how much I need to get done in the next 2 months. Not only is the Ren Fair coming up, with garb to get done and leather work to do, but get this...

Vince got his name pulled out of a hat at work to have the entire IT department come and work on our porch.

"Cool!" I hear you say. Well, yes it is, but it is also going to be a nightmare, as Vince wants us to clean house before people get here. Really clean. Better Homes and Gardens clean.

I am a pack-rat by birth. I have clothes in the house I haven't worn in years. I have yarn and craft stuff dating back at least a decade. Plus, it doesn't help that when we moved into this house (which we got from Vince's grandparents), it was still filled with their stuff. We boxed up somethings, and got rid of other, but we still brought more stuff in on top of what was already here. And we've been here 11 years.

I need a dumpster and a scoop shovel.

Update on life

2006-08-15T18:08:00.000-04:00

Besides major suckage, this is what is happening in my world:

DH is off on his yearly sojourn to Pennsic. I get to be single mom till Sunday night.
Sean started kindergarten last Tuesday. "My God, that is early!" I hear you cry. Year round school does that.
Sean's pet Beta fish died. I'm waiting for the third one, as these things always come in threes.
BILs girlfriend is preggers, so I am knitting baby blanket. We're not thrilled, but hey, it's the thought.
FIL is going through his very own grieving process which has the rest of us scratching our heads and saying "WTF?" He's cross-dressing.
And to top things off, the package that I sent to my SP was returned in shreds. So, now I have to try and re-create some of the things that I included. And dummy me didn't insure it, so I'm out the money.

But, as a friend of mine pointed out today, there is always someone worse off than you.

I've been a bad girl

2006-07-21T18:03:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in a week or three. Things are beginning to get back to the pseudo-state of normal that they usually are around this time of year. But, alas, I have yet to get my SP box out. Bad girl!

DH is getting ready to go to Pennsic. I'm frantically trying to find his garb, seeing what is fit to send with him, and what all I have to make from scratch.

I'm not doing much knitting, other than a vest for Sean out of the Lion Brand Wool-ease. Hey, he's 5. He'll outgrow it probably before I get it done. I haven't really worked on anything else as it's been too hot here to see straight.

Sean starts kindergarten on August 8th. Time to start school shopping.

SCORE!!

2006-07-11T22:54:00.000-04:00

I just picked up a ginormous ball of roving and about six boxes of unspun angora. Free. A friend was cleaning house prior to moving and was giving stuff away. The roving also came with about 2 dozen packages of kool-aid mix. Next question is: How the frack do I spin angora?? I have two drop spindles and a charka. Actually, the bigger question is when am I going to spin it.

Thank you SP!!!

2006-06-29T21:29:00.000-04:00

I know that I emailed you the other day, but I need to PUBLICLY thank you for the ab-fab gifties.

No photos (as DH has hidden the camera yet again) but imagine, if you will...:

2 balls of Noro, one in a purple colorway and a second in a pink. Bright, I love it!
1 book: One Skein projects. Though, I do have to see just how big some of those "one skeins" are, because that tee-shirt in there might fit my size 1 niece.
A Creative Memories 7x7 album and a box of pre-cut shapes. Very cool. DH and I had just the night before been talking about helping Sean with an album for photos of his grandma.
A button that says, "I'd rather be knitting." That is SO true.
And a box of Salt Water Taffy. I haven't had taffy in ages, and this stuff is the real deal. I'll probably save some to help Sean out when he looses more teeth.

News of the Weird.

2006-06-20T23:27:00.000-04:00

Note to self: Never make promises to someone on their deathbed if you don't think you can carry through.

OK, I did something today that I would NEVER have thought about doing in a bazillion years: I helped do hair and makeup on my MIL. You know, the dead one.

I met up with FIL and MIL's best friend and her daughter at the funeral home. We met up with one of the guys who normally does this. It was pretty freaky starting out, but then as we eased into it, it got easier. We got past the initial "You touch her." "No you touch her." "Is she cold?" "Is she hard?"

Her face was pretty gray, which was kind of suprising, but the guy handed us some tint to brush on her face which pinked her right up. Then we started in on the foundation.

Kerry did most of her makeup and I did eyebrows and nails. The woman practically had a spa treatment and wasn't here to enjoy it. Though, I did notice a slight smile on her lips as we finished.

She is wearing a brown pin-stripe suit, a cream mock turtle shell, and a pair of socks that I made for her that totally don't match, but she wanted to wear them. She told me so while I was knitting them. She also asked me if I wanted them back after the funeral, since she is to be cremated. I told her no, because I had made them for her.

The viewing is tomorrow, the funeral is Thursday. Friday is reserved for heavy drinking.

It's over

2006-06-18T16:02:00.000-04:00

Vince's mom passed last night around 11:30. He was with her, along with her husband and other family and friends. I was home with Sean. I'll miss her terribly, but glad this ordeal and her pain are over.

Sh*t or get off the pot

2006-06-06T22:50:00.000-04:00

This is what my best friend said to me when she called the other night asking about my MIL.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Damn, that was harsh." But I actually had to laugh outloud. You get to a point in a situation like this one where, despite the knowledge of what is actually happening, you really can't wait for it all to be over.

You never want to wish ill for anyone, always asking for positive thoughts. Well, the positive thoughts have gone from 'get well soon' to 'let the end be swift.'

Somebody send me a bottle of tequila.

Just a late night quickie

2006-05-23T23:29:00.000-04:00

DH's mother has been in the hospital for the better part of 2 months. Tomorrow she is being released to go home, with Hospice care.

Blogging may be a bit slim for a week or three.

This sucks. And not well.

Ethical question

2006-05-10T19:47:00.000-04:00

I have two sweaters that were given to my in a previous lifetime (read here: ex-husband). They are both very nice, hand-spun and hand knit from Equador. They were gifts from the ex's sister and BIL. The yarn is a bulky weight, kind of like Lopi.

They don't fit anyone in the house. Here is my dilemma.

Should I:
A: Give them away
B: Put them up for sale on E-Bay
C: Rip them apart and use the yarn for something else entirely?

BTW: If I could have kept the in-laws and just gotten rid of the ex, I would have done so in a heartbeat.

Young Love

2006-05-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

Aw, ain't they sweet? My niece Leigh and her boyfriend Grant made a point of stopping by the house on their way to prom. This is the size 10-wacked-into-a-size 5 E-bay dress. See, black overlay. She had her hair done in finger-waves, and it looked so retro. And Grant's tie matched the dress, and he had no help ordering it. I still haven't found out what the prom-queen's reaction was, though I did witness her father's reaction. One of utter shock and amazement. All he said for about 10 minutes was "Wow." I think if there hadn't been so many of us around he would have cried. Patrick wouldn't even go near her, because it didn't look like "Sissy." Sean wasn't impressed, and went back into the house after the first minute and a half.

Vince's mom is doing better, considering they have drained over 20 pound of fluid off of her body since Friday morning. That's about 2 and a half gallons. She was a human water balloon. They have her breathing a bit better, and are at least keeping her O2 levels up where they are supposed to be. I started knitting her a pair of footies that will stretch over her leg wrappings. I hope she gets some use out of them.

Time for bed kids. Tomorrow is another day at the office.

Roller Coaster Ride

2006-05-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

Let me off, I'm gonna puke.

The past few weeks have been a big series of ups and downs. DH's mom was moved to a nursing home today. She's been the hospital for the past month, not getting any better, because the doctors don't see past her weight. She has several different auto-immune disorders which are all pretty much attacking her at once. Lupus, Sjogren's, Raynaud's, NASH, CREST, lymphedema. She's all messed up. We are hoping and praying that this nursing home will help her get better.

On the education front: We were told last week that Sean was going to have to attend full day kindergarten because the wrap-around daycare didn't have high enough enrollment to continue. I got a call today that the school district will not be offering full day kindergarten, but are bringing back the wrap-around care. G'uh!

Needless to say, there has been a lack of knitting and meditation around here. I must go become one with my yarn again.

Secret Pal 8 questionaire

2006-05-03T21:31:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo!!! I signed up again! I had so much fun the last time being spoiled, and right now I need it.

Here are your SP8 questions and answers.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love to knit with wool, cotton, and linen. The natural fiber blends are good too (wool/silk, cotton/linen, etc.). I’m not fond of acrylic, but it does have it’s purpose in life, especially when you have kids.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Currently, they are all over the place: in baskets, in cases, in vases, in yarn…. You mean I’m supposed to keep them together?

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit when I was 7, but have been knitting pretty steadily for the past 25 (holy crap) years. I’m advanced with cables, intermediate with color, and a beginner with lace.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but I can probably put one together really quick.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I love vanilla and patchouli.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
What knitter doesn’t? Milk chocolate and caramel top the list.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am a beginner spinner, but I do enjoy it. I also sew, do scrapbooking, and am active in historic re-enactment (specifically medieval).

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Yes, my computer does play mp3s. I like about anything except rap. I especially like The Chieftains, Ashley MacIssac, and show-tunes that I can sing to.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite color is yellow. I like brilliant jewel-tones, especially blues and purples. I like true red. I’m not real fond of orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I’m married, with a 5 1/5 year old son who will start kindergarten in the fall. We have a beta fish named Michael. I’d love to have a cat and an angora rabbit, but DH says NO!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to everything but ponchos. Friends don’t let friends wear ponchos. I will wear a shawl.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Currently socks, especially with the self-striping yarns, though, I have to be careful to make sure I’ll have enough yarn for my big feet.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A scarf, and about 3 pairs of socks. I started the Eris sweater, but had to rip it out because of miscounted stitches.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
You bet! Handmade to me means that the person took the time to think about the gift and the person involved.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the application. I’ve got a few of all of them.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, but they are hand-me-downs from my mom. I’d really love a new one of each.

17. How did you learn to knit?
My maternal grandmother taught me at 7, Mom gave me the refresher in high school.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Don’t ask. Probably about 10 years. It’s on small needles.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Beltane.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Dust bunnies? I used to collect carousel horses, but I don’t have the room anymore, so they are in storage. I do have an Italian charm bracelet that I love.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I can’t think of any books right now. I don’t have any subscriptions, but I’d love to have one to “Piecework.” My mom gets a bunch of knitting 'zines, so I usually raid her stash.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
The follow-through to finish projects.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
See number 12. I wear a size 12 narrow shoe.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
November 30. Anniversary is September 26.

Teenagers

2006-04-26T22:16:00.000-04:00

For those of you with teenagers, you'll be shocked and amazed when you read the following. For those of you who were teenagers (and can still remember that time), you'll be equally amazed.

I'm altering my niece's prom dress. She came down today to try it on before I do the final sewing of the seams. I nailed it. I don't think I could have done a better job of turning a size 10 into a size 4. She's so excited that her dress fits perfectly. She is equally excited that Vince is making her jewelry to go with the dress, something her friends just can't (or don't) understand. She bubbles when she talks about it. She also bubbles about the fact that she is getting away freaking cheap on her dress and accessories for this prom. She bought the dress on e-bay ($38.00 including shipping), shoes at Goodwill (some equally ridiculous low price), she's getting her dress altered for free, and she's getting free, custom-made jewelry. The prom tickets cost more. And there is the added bonus that the "future prom queen" has the same dress (in blue), and paid full retail plus for it. Gotta love karma. But, I digress.

Leigh has been talking about how she wanted to learn how to do bobbin lace. I remembered between her visits that I had a small, but servicable set of bobbins and a piece of foam that I had gotten at one time when I took an intro class at an SCA event. They have been sitting in my basement since we moved in here 10 years ago. I dug them out tonight, and gave them to her, along with two books on the basics. As I handed them to you, I jokingly said, "Who's your favorite aunt?" Knowing full well that I am her ONLY aunt, I wasn't really expecting what she said to me.

"Yeah, you've always been my favorite. You do alterations, you taught me to knit, and now you're giving me this. You're cool."

I have been validated. Now, if I can get this out of my son when he is a teenager, I can die happy.

Spring in Indiana

2006-04-19T22:40:00.000-04:00

Means really nasty storms. Our cars look like someone took a ball-peen hammer to them. Last Friday (you remember, Good Friday, Sean had pink-eye), there was a heaven-opening, dive for the basement thunderstorm, complete with hail. Large hail. Marble and golfball sized hail falling from the sky for a good 15 or 20 minutes. Hail that was bouncing 8 to 12 inches off the sidewalk and yard. Hail that pummeled our cars, including the van which Vince had made only the 1st payment on.

We were relieved that the dents were the only thing that happened. We received a call from Jackie, Sean's daycare provider, asking if we were ok. Apparently, about a mile or so south of us, the hail was more of the size of baseballs. They lost 5 panes of glass, and the rear window of her husband's Acura (which still has not been replaced, and it is now Wednesday).

Personally, I think it is the gods' way of saying, "Why in the heck did you change time?" I still cannot get my internal (or external) clock readjusted. I ended up going to bed at 9:45 last night just so I could catch up. It didn't work. I can't get Sean to bed at his "normal" time because it is still freaking bright outside. How about we compromise, and move a half hour, kind of like Newfoundland?

Good Friday

2006-04-14T14:45:00.000-04:00

It's turning out to be not so good. Sean has pink-eye. Eewww.

But, last week I received my last package from my secret pal Carolyn. She is a goddess. The photos below reveal the treasure trove.

The first layer contained some rubber stamps, ink, some Clover needle protectors, a box of Tazo tea (yum), a vanilla soy candle, some vanilla cologne (also yum), and a box of the most wonderful chocolate covered caramels I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. These things are HUGE I am SO glad DH doesn't like caramel.

The second layer contained 7 balls of Pierre Cardin "15" a wool/cotton/polymide blend in a great shade of purple, and a book called "The Knitting Goddess." It talks about the various Classical goddesses and how textiles actually played a part in their mythos. Being a Classics minor in college, this is facinating reading. The yarn looks much bluer in the photo than it is "live." Forgive the camera strap in the photo, I was so excited.

We (DH, SIL, and moi) had taken Sean and nephew Patrick to the Newport Aquarium that day, and I was beat. We had a good time, but finding this at the house just capped off the day.

I'm making a "feather and fan" scarf with the Silkwood that Carolyn sent me in my first box. I'll take photos when it's a little further along. It's turning out very pretty. Even my 17 year-old niece likes it. No, she can't have it.

I'm going to be altering her prom dress for her. Mint green with a black lace midriff overlay (what is it with me and black overlays?). She picked it up on e-bay for a song, and found out that the future prom queen at her school has the same one in blue, but paid through the nose for hers. Karma is good that way. I've got about 3 weeks to get it done. I'm going to a friend's house Monday who actually does alterations for a living and get her spin on what I should do. I have to take it from a size 10 to about a 3-5. Leigh is a skinny thing, but has a nice rack (so, is it wrong that I notice?). I think this will be her first formal. Since I won't be doing the formal thing for Sean (gods willing), I'm living vicariously through her. I didn't go to my prom. Just as well.

Need to figure out what's for dinner, and get stuff together for a class I'm doing tomorrow.

Does anybody really know what time it is?

2006-04-02T17:28:00.000-04:00

For the first time in over 30 years, Indiana is observing daylight savings time. Yuck. For me, this means one less hour of sleep per night, and one less hour of knitting time in the evenings (because, of course, you're supposed to be spending that extra hour of daylight OUTSIDE).

Stress has reached an all time high: I ripped out the Eris collar. After re-counting the stitches originally picked up, I was 20 stitches short of what the pattern called for. CRAP! I won't be working on that for a while. I'm going to try to enlarge the Rogue so I can wear it. I may use the Eris yarn for that.

Saw another knitter friend of mine who was pushing, er, um, giving away spools of silk for people to try to either knit with or use for tablet weaving. Two strands held together on #00000 needles. Yes, that is FIVE 0s in a row. She has knit some spectacular things with it, but then again, she's not married and has no children.

My secret pal has not revealed herself to me yet. Maybe there is a final package in the mail. Don't know, but I hope it didn't come yesterday while we were gone. Someone took out our mail box. That is like the 4th one in as many years. I'm ready to surround it in brick and concrete. We luckily recovered one piece of mail.

Time to go see what else I can rip out.

I must be mental.

2006-03-29T16:03:00.000-05:00

In the past 3 days, I've ripped out two WIPs. The Gunnister sock, and the body of the Eris (no, I did not rip out the collar, I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid).

My husband does not understand that my knitting is my meditation, my sancutary. I need to be able to knit in order to function in the everyday world of work, family, and what-have-you. When I'm stressed, I get hyper-critical of my work, and tend to start ripping. Luckily my Elenora stocking is in hiding, or it might be next.

SP7 is coming to an end, and I had hoped that I would be able to get another box out to my pal. I don't think she needs any more stitch markers, as I sent her about 10 that I had made. I even gave her a bit of my angora stash. I still may try and send her something even after SP7 "officially" ends Friday.

DS is going to spend a couple of days with my mom, so I need to get going. This ought to be interesting. He's never stayed with her, and she's not used to a 5 year old. I see a battle of the wills on the horizon.

Migraine Monday x2 and news from here.

2006-03-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

Ah, yes, another glorious morning to wake up with a migraine. I say times 2, because Sean also was not feeling well this morning, so DH let both of us sleep. Sean slept till about 8:30, and he in turn let me sleep till 11:00. Though, he's been a bit of a PITA this afternoon.

News from here:
I've started knitting a baby sweater to match the Jester booties, using a Harlot pattern she posted to Knitty. I'm making a couple of changes, but it's the sizing that I need. I'm so used to knitting things for me, that to knit for a baby is kind of hard. All of my other projects are hanging around in various states of unfinish. I did get the skein of Silkwood (from my SP)balled up in anticipation of a project. I'm just not sure what to do with it. Suggestions?

My bestest bud in the whole world called me last night to tell me she is taking a sweater knitting class. I am so proud of her. She said she had the back done to the armhole decreases, and she did that in a week. I'm impressed to say the least, as she works full time, has 2 kids, is a Brownie leader, is active in her church, and had the flu over the weekend. I'm lucky if I can finish a sock in a week (The Olympics don't count. That was a moral imperative).

I hope everyone is going over to Franklin's blog and reading up on the adventures of Dolores. I swear, if I don't have to clean off my monitor at least twice while reading one of those posts, I'm doing really well.

Three weeks till Fleece Fair! April 7th and 8th at the Putnum Co. (IN) 4-H Fairgrounds. Yarn, fiber, sheep, rabbits, tools, and lots of stuff. I'll be there on the 8th, probably not buying much, but sitting under a tree with my knitting. Come say 'Hi' and sit and knit for a spell.

Mamluke socks

2006-03-13T15:04:00.000-05:00

DH found the memory card, so here they are. The second one took me for-ev-ar and I don't know why. I actually finished them the weekend after the end of the Olympics, but I finished them.

Onward to Summer!

Just a quickie....

2006-03-08T16:53:00.000-05:00

I got my goodie box, I got my goodie box.....Wheeeee!!!!!

I'd take photos if SOMEONE (dh) hadn't lost the memory card for the digital camera.

Contents:
100 grams of yummy yarn, hand-dyed, from London no less.
1 bottle of Bath and Bodyworks Warm Vanilla Sugar body lotion (mmmmmm.....)
1 Godiva gift bag (Step away from the bag, and nobody gets hurt)
1 Modern book of Lace Knitting (which I already have, along with book 2, but no worries, it will find a good home)
and a package of CafePress note cards that say "Eat, Sleep, Knit."

Now to figure out what to do with the yarn. The chocolate is a no-brainer.

THANK YOU SECRET PAL!!!!!!!!

1.5 from the Russian Judge......

2006-02-26T17:23:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't make it. Had to rip back the majority of the second sock due to a chair-needle error (there was something wrong between the chair and the needles: me.) I left out an entire pattern, so had to fix it. Congratulations to all of the other knitters who actually finished on time.

Haven't taken photos of anything recently, as I've been playing chauffer to my husband for the past 2 weeks. His car is pretty much DOA, so it took him this long to find a new one. Meanwhile, I've been wracking up the miles on my little POS.

More later, gotta fix dinner for the men.

A Finished Object, and my Olympic Yarn

2006-02-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

These are the jester booties from Zoe Mellor's Double Knits for Kids. They are so easy, and (IMHO) really cute. She says to put a pom-pom on the tip, but I put bells on them. Make it a bit more interesting for the kid.

I'll be giving these to my boss's daughter, who just had her 3rd son on Saturday.

And, here is my Olympic yarn for the Mamluke socks. It's the Takhi Cotton Classic. It's been 'aging' in my stash for just the right moment. OK, so I'm lying. I'm so broke right now I can't buy anything new. DH's van is terminal, so I've been driving him back and forth to work, about a 15 mile round trip ever time. Plus taking DS to daycare, and then getting me to work. I'm beat.

I'm pretty excited to start the socks, especially since DH will be gone this weekend, and won't know how much time I actually spend knitting. Mwhahahahahaha!!!!!!! I just hope that I am actually able to get these done in 16 days. Wish me luck, ya'll.

Tee hee!

2006-01-31T22:37:00.000-05:00

I've gotten virtural flowers and an honest to Gods postcard from my secret pal! And the postcard was of two bobbin lace makers from Belgium, which is so cool because I would dearly love to try and learn bobbin lace.

Thank the Gods I get paid tomorrow, I can start getting stuff together for mine. Though, I don't think she'll mind a couple of hand-made gifties. At least I hope not!!

Warning: This post may piss people off.

2006-01-31T13:05:00.000-05:00

Stuck between a Rock and a hard place: This is where I am in my everyday struggle with weight. The reason: Artificial sweetners.

I am allergic to both Nutrasweet and Splenda. A miniscule amount of either will give me a headache that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Nutrasweet is the worst, and now that manufactures have listened to the consumer, you find it in everything. And the bad thing is that now they don't have to have the big Nutrasweet logo on things because everyone is just calling it by its generic name of aspartame.

Case in point: I purchased a package of Wrigley's Doublemint gum a few months ago. After chewing one (1) piece for about 10 minutes, I noticed the distinct aftertaste that aspartame leaves in my mouth. Five minutes after that, I have a headache. Fifteen minutes after that, I have to leave work so I can go home, take massive amounts of pain killers, lay down in a dark room, and try to go to sleep.

Now, why would a gum that is not sugar free to start with, have aspartame in it? As a flavor enhancer, not a sweetner. Thanks to Wrigley's, I can no longer chew gum, with the exception of Bubble Yum, and that gets old after a while.

Flavored water is another product on my no-no list. Anything listed as "light" is verboten. I got a "light" frappacino from Starbucks on Sunday, thinking it would be lighter in fat, but it also had Splenda in it, so I again had a headache which lasted most of the evening. You'll even find aspartame in children's vitamins.

Aspartame breaks down into several different, highly poisonous chemicals when exposed to temperatures above 86 degrees F. One of them is formaldhyde. You know, the stuff they use to embalm people.

I won't go into all of the details of how GD. Searle and Company basically lied to the FDA and the American public about the safety of aspartame. Do a Google search for "ban aspartame" and you'll find reems of info. Just do me a favor: keep the crap away from me.

T-Shirts I want to see...

2006-01-26T14:41:00.001-05:00

Or bumper stickers. Either would be good.

Mommy drinks because I whine. (In honor of my 5 year old)

I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Go Adam! Mythbusters)

There is no such thing as "too much yarn."

Don't knit and drive.

Will work for yarn.

This week has been crazy. Not 5 minutes after I walked in the door from my weekend with the girls, Sean starts going nuts. Yeah, he missed me, but damn, does he have to start acting like a ferret on a double expresso? And hubby is slumped in his chair, looking like "oh, I had such a rough weekend by myself." Not. My SIL was at the house all weekend, so hubby didn't really have to do a whole lot, other than make sure Sean got to bed at a reasonable time, and not eat too much sugar. He was also nursing another one of his sinus migraines, which no doctor believes he has. The last doctor he saw about them tried to blame all of his troubles on his weight. Sorry, I don't buy that, and neither did he.

On the knitting front, I'm working on a pair of little jester booties from Zoe Mueller's Double Knits for Kids. They are so cute, and easy to make. They are for the daughter of my boss, who is having her 3rd boy in about a week. Moms always get screwed on kid #3 as far as new stuff goes, especially if it's the same sex as the other ones.

I've also signed up for Stephanie's Knitting Olympics. I'll be doing the Mamluke socks from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. I may try to do them toe up, and on 4 needles, as that is the actual way the original ones are made. I'm also still slogging along on Eris and the other 3 or 4 pairs of socks I keep around. There are times I wish I was a tiny person. I could finish sweaters in a flash. I'm knitting Eris in the largest size, and it takes forever to do one row. I'm doing the cardigan, so it's not all in the round either. I really want to make another Rogue for myself, but will have to enlarge the pattern for my zaftig frame.

I've got to get my butt in gear for SP7. My pal will think I've forgotten her! I've got something to send off, so while I'm thinking about it........

Dullsville

2006-01-15T15:40:00.000-05:00

That is what Sundays usually are around here, and today is no exception. I even sat down and watched part of the ass-whuppin' the Colts were getting against the Steelers.

I've had the stomach flu the better part of the week. Cons: I missed work. Pros: I lost 10 lbs. Not that I recommend this as a way to jump-start a diet, but hey, whatever works. I hope that I can keep this trend up. Both DH and I need to lose the equivalent of a small third world country. He's decided to join a group of people at work, mostly the entire IS department. Computer geeks tend to have weight issues. I'm just trying to keep myself busy, though I didn't knit for 2 days when I had the worst of the flu. It's kind of hard to knit when praying at the porcelain altar.

The diet will probably go out the window next weekend. It is the annual Adult Women's Only Weekend at my friend Kim's In-Laws lakehouse. I know what you're thinking: a lakehouse in January? But this is actually the best time. We've survived the holidays with our families and this is our treat. 48 hours of scrapbooks, stamping, knitting, beading, drinking, talking, and just being us. Did I mention drinking? And food. Kim is a wonderful cook, but her DH and DS are pretty picky eaters, so she doesn't get to cook much. I personally, am not much of a cook, so I am more than happy to indulge her in what she likes to do. We always joke about finding a big house that we could move both families into, then she could cook for appreciative people, and I'd handle the "Mom, I need a (insert craft here) for school!" requests that usually come at bedtime the night before. Ah, Utopia.

I'm trying to figure out what to send my pal for her first SP7 gift. And, I haven't actually heard from the one who has my name. If you're out there, give me a sign. Of course, that goes for anyone who is stalking my blog and not leaving notes. Like Franklin said, I blog for the comments.

Secret Pal 7 Questionnaire

2006-01-09T00:08:00.000-05:00

I've been SO looking forward to this. I have no life right now.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
I love being able to knit with natural fibers, but realize that having washable sweaters and things is not a bad idea.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I spin a little on a drop spindle, and recently bought a charka wheel. I do crochet, but only under duress.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a box next to my knitting spot that I just tend to throw needles in. I also have a crock on my sewing table that holds some.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit when I was 7. I figure that I'm probably pretty advanced in some areas, but haven't tried other things. I'm not much for intarsia knitting. I like cables better.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
What knitter doesn't? My favorite is chocolate covered caramels.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I scrapbook, do some rubber stamping, and I sew...a lot. We do medieval reenactment.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'll listen to about anything, except rap. I love Celtic, both traditional and modern (like Ashley MacIssac and Flogging Molly).

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love yellow, green, blue, true red (more bluish, not orange), and I love jewel tones. I do not like pink.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm married with a 5 year old. We do not have any pets.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to everything except ponchos. They make me look like a barge.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I like wool, especially soft ones. Cottons are nice too. I've knit with angora, but it made my nose itch.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
metallics

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Socks made with the self striping yarn.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
So far I've pretty much liked everything.

17. What are you knitting right now?
Which one? 4 pairs of socks and the Eris sweater.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
You bet.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Depends on the application.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I've used them all. Again, depends on the application.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I do, but both are hand-me-downs from my mom, so they are old. And, I can't find them right now!

22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Let's see, at least 10 years. It's a pair of stockings for the medieval reenactment, knit on size 0, and I've got huge legs.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Bugs Bunny, Tinkerbell, horses.

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween (Samhain)

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides dust bunnies? Not anymore.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have any. Mom gets them all, so I just raid her stash.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I'll have to think about that one.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to learn to throw my yarn with my left hand, so I could learn to do two color stuff.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I am a sock knitter. I wear a women's size 12 narrow shoe.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
30 November

Let the games begin!!!

News Alert: FINISHED OBJECT!!!!

2006-01-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

Adamas is finished. Done. Finito. Blocked even. And here are photos to prove it!

The finished size is approximately 52"x 26". This was done with one skein of Knit Picks Shadow in Oregon Coast. I think it's a nice scarf size. I've got 7 more skeins left (one of each color). Should I tempt Fate and try for another one?

Who is this child?

2005-12-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

When I took Sean in to see Santa last night, he was 5. The picture I got back was of a 10 year old that looks remarkably like Sean. Same clothes and everything. He looks so OLD!

I am not ready for Sunday. I am never ready for Christmas. If I could go on a 4-day bender, this is when I would start, so I could avoid X-mas.

What little snow we had on the ground is melting. They are expecting rain on Sunday. Ick. My mom is being a royal pain, not wanting to commit to coming on Sunday. It'll either be because of the weather, the fact that there will be too many people in our small house, or that she really isn't in the "Christmas Mood" this year. Feh. How can she say no to this face?

Wake me when it's over

2005-12-20T23:14:00.000-05:00

There are times when I just want to crawl into a hole and stay there. Usually the feeling hits about mid-November, and lasts through at least St. Patrick's Day. I must have been a bear in a former life. The urge to hibernate is strong.

There are 4 shopping days until Christmas, and I haven't a) finished shopping, b) bought groceries, or c) cleaned house. We are expecting 16 people to be in and out of the house that day. We have a small house. We are big people. See a problem here?

So, we have decided on an "open house" format. A buffet for food, no set come and go times, and no dressing up. SIL is here helping, doing all of the Christmas baking, and pretty much taking over the kitchen.

I have finished 2 scarves to be used as "Gee, we weren't expecting you, but have a present" type of gifts. I'm seeing the light at the end of the Adamas tunnel. I figured out part of my problem: stitch markers. They were throwing me off. That, and trying to pay attention to the knitting and trying to keep the kid from tearing up the house just doesn't work. I also went up a needle size. I tend to knit firm.

I did get signed up for Secret Pal 7. I'm really jazzed about being matched up with someone. It makes you feel special to get something in the mail besides bills.

If I don't get back to this before Sunday, have a Happy Chrismahanukwanzaadan.

Who thinks of these things?

2005-12-12T16:22:00.000-05:00

I got tagged by a friend on another board (thanks Mary Fran). Here goes nothing.

TEN random things you might not know about me:
1. I had my picture in Rolling Stone.
2. I want to learn how to luge.
3. I really hate cold weather.
4. I want to open a yarn shop.
5. I’d love to go back to school and get my masters degree.
6. My first engagement lasted a week.
7. I like VW microbuses and would like to own one.
8. I have driven an ambulance.
9. I failed high school senior English.
10. I like to drive fast.

NINE places I've visited:
1. Canada
2. Germany
3. Iceland
4. Luxembourg
5. Austria
6. Washington, DC
7. Boston
8. Philadelphia
9. Los Angles

EIGHT ways to win my heart:
1. Chocolate
2. Foot massage
3. Do something kind for a stranger
4. Love my kid
5. Tell me really good jokes.
6. Make me something.
7. Yarn
8. Give me alone time.

SEVEN things I want to do before I die
1. Watch my son get married.
2. Go to Europe and go museum hopping.
3. Write a book.
4. Get my masters degree.
5. Visit the rest of the states I haven’t been to.
6. Have a career.
7. Stand up comedy

SIX things I'm afraid of
1. Death
2. Heights
3. Falling
4. Enclosed spaces
5. Rejection
6. Losing a family member

FIVE things I don't like
1. Green Peppers
2. Bugs
3. Snakes
4. Making hamburger patties or meatloaf.
5. Getting crap up under my fingernails (see #4).

FOUR ways to turn me off:
1. Discriminating against someone because of weight
2. Smoking
3. Lying
4. Disrespecting my family

THREE things I do every day:
1. I drink a Coke.
2. Knit
3. Sleep

TWO things that make me happy:
1. My family
2. My knitting

ONE thing on my mind right now
1. Who thinks of these things???

Mannheim Steamroller

2005-12-08T13:34:00.000-05:00

As promised, my review! Hubby and I did get to go last night, despite our little buggy haired boy. A friend was kind enough to watch him for the few hours, full knowing that she was going to have to probably do a comb-thru of the entire family. I shall offer my assistance if that happens.

Our first suprise of the evening came even before the music started. We trudged up to our reserved seats in the balcony level of Conseco Fieldhouse, only to find the section blocked off by a table. The seating arrangements had been changed, and so we were given tickets for the club level of the Fieldhouse, one section lower. WooHoo! Of course, the seats were still too narrow for our wide loads, but hey, we were closer.

There are times when I wish we were independently wealthy. The lucky stiffs with the floor seats were seated at tables with two cash bars available. They also had a quarter sized (I think) model train running around a track on the floor, guarded during the breaks by four "tin" soldiers, who would march around and wave. What do you know, dinner and a show.

The music was everything I expected from Mannheim and Chip Davis. They did not sacrifice quality for volume. It was lovely. The entire group looked like they were having a ball. They utilize video to accompany the music, so the light show was minimal. The first song was accompanied by a video of clips from their 20 years of doing Christmas music. Other songs followed, both old and new. The first hour sped by like the Enterprise at full warp.

The second half of the program contained a section that is my personal favorite. They had done a video several years ago with a medieval theme. Not completely period, but fun nonetheless. Chip and Arnie Roth, the violinist, kept picking on each other during this section. Roth would thrust with his bow, Chip would parry with his crumhorn. Chip got to laughing so hard he kept overblowing the crumhorn, which produces a sound not unlike a goose.

All in all, we had a good time. If you have not heard Mannheim, think again. They have produced some of the wonderful instrumental Christmas music you hear every year. And if you get to see them in concert, count the number of steamrollers you see in the videos.

Bugs, head gaskets, and etc.

2005-12-07T14:26:00.000-05:00

Not Bugs Bunny. Bugs. As in head lice. Courtsey of daycare. I've now been off work 3 days to quarantine my son so that none of the other little darlings come down with the dreaded things. Our house looks like a scene from Wild Kingdom. We're all sitting around grooming each other, looking for bugs. DH is clean (of course, there isn't much hair to infest), but the kid has been full of them, and I think I've removed a couple of small ones from myself. EEEEWWWWW. We even went so far as to clip Sean's hair down to summer length in hopes it would help. He's been pretty good about the whole sordid mess, while DH and I are feeling our skin crawl with the very mention of them.

But, since I've been home, I've done a bazillion loads of lousy laundry, and have knitted a pair of mittens for Sean. I'm working on a hat for him, but he can't wear it until he's clean. The weather is freakin' cold here, and his mittens from last year are too small. Even DH didn't complain about me buying yarn for that.

We are still going to see Mannheim Steamroller tonight. A friend of ours was gracious enough to let me bring Sean over. Maybe if I stick him in a bubble he won't be a disease vector. I'll comb him out really well before we leave.

And, of course, to top off this week, DH's van has a leaky head gasket and a stuck thermostat, which means our trip to Wisconsin this weekend is off. DH is feeling rather put-upon, as he's got the major income right now, and wants me to find a new/better job. Hey, just think of the money I'm saving in daycare this week. Ugh.

And people wonder why I really don't like the holidays.

O My Freakin' God

2005-11-29T23:35:00.000-05:00

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

2005-11-18T23:23:00.000-05:00

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

2005-11-06T22:58:00.000-05:00

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.

Collar down, a bazillion stitches to go

2005-10-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

Well, here is the Eris collar, just after I finished it last night. Woof! This is the Caron acrylic. It's not knitting up too bad, but I had to use size 5s to get the gauge. Some of the cable twists were a bit tight, but I made it. This is for the size I (as in "I-yi-yi, that's freakin' HUGE!!!)

Anyone else find it weird to pick up the second half of the collar the way it written? I've never seen that before. I'm not particularly fond of seeing the seam. I'm almost thinking that I would have rather done a waste-yarn cast on so I could just graft the two together. Next time......

I am having to get creative about picking up stitches around the collar. Some places I have enough stitches, some places I don't.

And yes, I did twist one of the cables the wrong direction, and no, I did not go back and re-do it. If you can find it, more power to you, but I'm still not ripping it back.

In other news, the job still sucks, though I did give my notice. The head of the operation wants me to stay on part time and do office work, which I'm ok with, just as long as I don't have to read the same thing over and over again: When you die, leave us your money. It won't be a lot of money, but I've never done a job for the money. Hubby is a bit miffed, but oh well. As it is, maybe I can be home in the afternoons to actually cook a healthy dinner instead of us going out to eat and slowly gaining weight. I don't see how other working families do it. The time management fairy has never lived here.

Confessional time

2005-10-15T22:02:00.000-05:00

Bless me knitters, I have sinned.

I have purchased acrylic yarn to do a "trial" run for Eris.

And not just any acrylic. Two, huge, hulking Caron "One Pound" skeins. Color is soft sage. Paid less than $5.00 per skein at Michael's.

I know, I know. What was I thinking? I was thinking that I really want to get started on this thing, and I didn't want to wait on yarn to arrive from KnitPicks or drive down to my LYS with my son in tow. The son that will be 5 years old in 4 days. If he lives that long.

I was also thinking that I really want this sweater in more than one color, and being able to have one in a "crap" yarn that I can shlub around in and wash it without thinking about it would be a Good Thing (tm). My mom has an old sweater that she knit out of Red Heart eons ago, and she still wears it. I have my dad's old Aran sweater she knit from Red Heart just as many eons ago, and it still looks good. OK, maybe a bit pilly aound the underarms, but still wearable.

I did at least make myself finish one project before I even take the yarn out the bag. The lap throw I was making from the Lion Brand Chenille is done, all but weaving in the ends. I cuddled down under it this afternoon and dozed while Sean was watching Veggie Tales. Ummm, warm.

So, am I asking for absolution? Not really. Penence? Only if it includes knitting. My penence tomorrow is Sean's birthday party. Shudder.

Geez, Louise

2005-09-28T20:52:00.000-05:00

OK, found a job. It sucks. I'm proofreading "planned giving" newsletters. Everyone of them boils down to this: When you die, make sure your money is coming to us. Too depressing for me, even with Prozac.

Had another interview today with an insurance company. This looks a bit more promising, and I'll be working at a computer again. Wee. And they liked the fact that I was not an early morning person, and honest about it.

So, I now have money for the Eris sweater, which I will probably order as soon as this stinkin' ren faire is over. I don't think I've done this much sewing and swearing in a while. Two dresses, one tunic, stockings, underwear, and shoes. Yes, I said shoes. I made shoes. Or should I say shoe, since one is about an inch too small. Will have to make that one over, or just say the heck with it and wear my Birkenstocks after disguising the sole so it doesn't leave the tell-tale Birk footprint.

I've been taking a sock to work on while Sean is going to soccer. Four year olds playing soccer is like herding cats. Watching it is like watching a train wreck. Here is a photo of my soccer boy.

It is amazing what parents will put themselves through for their kid. Getting up early on a Saturday morning, when your first instinct is to crawl back into bed, draging yourself and your kid to the field, watching the little heathens run around, and then presenting yourself at the end of the game to create the "tunnel of parents" which the kids run through, usually faster than they did the entire game. And snacks. Can't forget about the snacks.

Time to get the heathen to bed. Time to get back to work.

Happy Birthday John

2005-09-12T11:47:00.000-05:00

Christopher Jonathon William Bursnall

9/12/85 – 9/19/00

Today would have been my godson John’s 20th birthday. Here he is at his 8th grade graduation in June of 2000. Little did we know then that in less than 3 months, he would take his own life, one week after his 15th birthday.

I was pregnant with Sean at the time, having one month to go before delivery. John and I spoke often of how I would like him to treat this new addition to our family. I wanted John to teach Sean some of the things that only a brother could teach. I was looking forward to the two of them spending time together. We gave Sean his name because it is the Irish for John. Both shared the middle name William.

My husband loved John like a little brother. They had grown up with very similar backgrounds. Both were born while their fathers were in the Air Force. Both had mothers who had been adopted, and not treated very well by their adoptive mothers. Both had experienced the divorce and remarriage of their mothers. Both of them loved computer games. They would sit for hours on end playing Warcraft and Diablo. John would help Vince with his leather work for the SCA. They had started working on enclosing our porch to turn it into a computer room, because we needed the room for Sean.

This is a melancholy time of year. I look forward to Sean’s birthday every year, but also have a feeling of sadness knowing that these two never met. We’ll never know why John felt compelled to take his life. We only know that his is missed every day, and that our lives were richer with him in them.

Photo album

2005-09-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

Remember all those photos I said I'd post? I've finally got them ready! Woo Hoo! (OK, so don't start acting like I'm subjecting you to the family vacation slide show. I do not do the "Bud and Molly block the view to the Grand Canyon" type of photos. Usually.)

Here are the boys, Sean and my nephew Patrick, this summer. Notice the loving way Sean has his arm wrapped around Patrick's neck. Notice the look on his face, "If I just squeeze a little tighter....."

This is one of the "cotton candy" dresses I did. It is being modeled by my god-daughter Elizabeth, who was one of the flower girls. Don't ask about the overlay. The wedding cake was even white, pink and black.

OK, so I'm boring. I don't have that many photos. At least one's that I'll share. Let's talk about something else. I hate to talk about the distruction of the South, because everyone else has, other than to say give. Money, clothes, food, time. And if you think everyone already has, do it anyway. And don't forget to pack your own emergency kit. Mine, of course, will have yarn and needles. I'll need something to do in the shelter.

Blah, Blah, Blah

2005-08-28T14:54:00.000-05:00

Vince has been home from Pennsic for a week, I'm still unemployed, and gas prices are through the roof, as if you needed to be told that.

I'm not in a very witty/writey mood today, but thought that I should post SOMETHING to keep the readers happy, even though I don't have very many of them.

Another pair of socks have been finished and yet another pair has been started. The lap afgan has one more skein to go, and Eris is still sitting in the book, waiting for yarn to be purchased. I have my new dress cut out, but am having a bit of trouble fitting it, as you just cannot fit a dress by yourself, and my dress form is too small for all the weight I've gained since I bought the durned thing. Vince has yet to un-earth the camera so any photos for the blog will have to wait.

Sean starts soccer again in 2 weeks, though we have to wait one more year for kindergarten. I can't wait till that happens.

Wow, I could use some caffeine right about now.

Single Mom

2005-08-15T10:42:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. My yearly trial as a single mom. Vince left for Pennsic at 7:00am on Saturday, and will not be back until late this coming Sunday.

This year is different. Since I'm not working a "real" job right now, I'm taking time to do those housewife jobs of my ancestors. You know: cleaning, laundry, sewing, knitting, and trying not to lose my mind. Sean is at daycare and Holly and Patrick are back in Muncie, so the house is quiet. The dishes are done, I've applied for 5 different jobs, and am ready to tackle some other things. I figure I've got 5 days to get my act together. The weekend is moot because Sean will be home.

On the knitting front, I'm working on another sock, and figure I need one more skein of the Lion Brand Thick and Quick Chenille to finish my little afgan. It's purely for me, because my boys are usually too warm, and I'm usually freezing.

I need to start another dress for the Fisher's Renn Faire. It will be in October, and so I need to get crackin'. I also need to figure out just what I'm going to be doing at the faire.

Time to get busy. Talk to me folks. Where are my blogstalkers when I need them?

bookbookbook, patternpatternpattern

2005-08-01T21:25:00.000-05:00

I finally went out today and bought the bookbookbook. I am in love. I usually will sit down with a book and devour it greedily, not putting it down until I am finished, which usually ends in a reading hangover. Not this. Each page is another little gem of wisdom that can be read one at a time and savored, like the hidden stash of Girl Scouts cookies that is horded to make them last longer. I have laughed out loud, reflected inward, and marveled in the fact that I am not the only one who thinks like this.

I also picked up a copy of the Ray Bradbury book "The Cat's Pajamas" to read. It is a collection of his short stories that span his incredible 60 year literary career. He dedicates his book to two people: his brother and Donn Albright. I mention this because I've known Donn since I was little. He grew up in Muncie and lived next to my mom when she was growing up. After he graduated high school he moved to New York and hasn't left. He teaches art at Pratt Institute, but comes back to Muncie over school breaks to the house he grew up in. His parents are long gone, but the house is filled with memories of his childhood, and now his adulthood. Part of his adulthood has been spent cataloging Ray's work. He is affectionately known as Ray's "golden retriever." He has retrieved works from Ray's basement long since forgotten. I can't say enough about Donn. I blame him for my addition to fruity wine drinks and old Porches.

The pattern was the new one from Jenna. The cardigan pattern is the bomb-diggity, and I can't wait to start knitting. And I won't have to figure out how to enlarge it for my zaftig frame. WooHoo!! I just have to finish the mountain of other projects before I can justify starting this one. I'll probably buy the yarn while Vince is at Pennsic and hide it, only to "discover" it later in my stash, begging to be knit up into this wonderful sweater.

Soccer Goodness and Random Thoughts.

2005-07-20T22:57:00.000-05:00

As you can see from the photos below, I still haven't figured out how to get all of the photos into one post. C'est la vie. I meant to post these when soccer ended in May, but as you can see, I'm a Bad Mommy and just hadn't done it. It's now nearing the deadline for fall soccer, which I am still waffling on. I'm still not sure if Sean actually had a good time, or if he was just in it for the snacks.

I've not been real motivated lately, as the heat and humidity around here have been oppressive. Each day after taking Sean to daycare, I retreat to the cool, dank basement, where I read my email, do laundry, and work on my sewing project du'jour. Currently, it is more garb for Hubby's trip to Pennsic. He'll be there about 10 days, and needs about twice as many tunics. Luckily I don't have to replace all of them, but he does need more. As do I, but that will have to wait.

We're taking the boys to the Peru Circus on Saturday. This should be fun. Patrick has never seen a clown. We're going for the parade and the show. A little history: Peru, Indiana used to be the winter quarters for many circuses at the turn of the 20th century. The Peru Circus is comprised of kids between the ages of 6 and 21, all residents of Miami County, Indiana. Many of the kids who perform have gone onto Ringling Brothers or the Shrine Circus.

The minister who performed the marriages of myself and Hubby, my Brother and Sister-in-Law, and a couple of other friends, is going to be the honorary grand marshal for the parade. So we're taking all of the "grandkids" up to see "Grandpa Bob" in the parade. If we don't die from the heat, it should be great good fun.

So, as I've been reading other blogs, I've noticed that some people get nice gifty things, or they have secret pals. Can anyone tell me how to get in on this? Is there a secret, hush-hush handshake that I need to learn? Password? Decoder Ring? What I'm really saying here is that I'm feeling left out. Sigh. I need a life. Or a job. Or the winning 6 Powerball numbers.

2005-07-20T22:55:00.001-05:00

The Dragons: Sean, Zach, Shelby, Sam, and Jacob

2005-07-20T22:55:00.000-05:00

Sean still not to sure about the whole ordeal.

2005-07-20T22:54:00.000-05:00

Sean and his medal

Hi Ho

2005-07-15T22:15:00.000-05:00

Just an update to keep the blog stalkers happy.
Having been gainfully unemployed for 15 days, I had a phone screen today with the company my brother works for. I guess they don't have a problem with family members working at the same company. It would be help desk stuff, and probably only part time to start, but it's money.

The house is not much cleaner than it was last week, as I came down with the cold that Vince had and have been hacking up lung bits for the better part of the week. The cold was also accompanied by a visit from Aunt Flo, so it has not been one of my better weeks. Vince has kindly not pushed me about finding a job this week due to the above. Thank the gods, as I would have done unspeakable things to him in my hormone and cold medicine induced state.

I've finished knitting the French Market Bag from Knitty but still need to felt it; I have a scarf about 1/2 done out of Bernat's Boa; and I have a little afghan about 1/2 done out of Lion Brand Thick and Quick Chenille. I've ripped out two different socks that I started a while ago, just to have something to rip out. I find it rather theraputic.

Brother and his family are still with us, and the boys(15 months apart) have not killed each other. Sean (4 years, 9 months) is being the bossy older brother, and Patrick (3 years, 6 months) is being the pain-in-the-butt little brother. When the real fighting starts, I'm going to kick back in the recliner, pop open a cold one, and watch.

Psychic?

2005-07-01T22:34:00.000-05:00

Remember that little tragedy comment I made the other day. Well, I must be f*cking psychic, because today I got canned from my job.

One the one hand, I'm pretty sad and depressed. On the other hand, I am SO relieved. This job has been a pain in my a$$ for the past 18 months. Again, that comedy of errors thing.

Sean's sitter gave me a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Vince came home with alcohol, Cokes, and flaming hot Cheetos. My brother is giving my resume to his boss, as is Vince. I may be employed again before the week is out. Another friend and I have been tossing the idea of a doll hospital back and forth.

So, I am looking at this as my very own Independance Day. One way or another, I am free of those OCD workaholic martyrs.

Must find new knitting project to throw my energy into. Suggestions??

Comedy of errors

2005-06-29T22:15:00.000-05:00

I told you that I would share the comedy of errors that is my life. I think the thing that started out this particular series of events were those damn dresses.

My brother Joe, SIL Holly, and nephew Patrick come to town to stay with us on the weekends. Brother works 3 - 13 hour tech support shifts on the weekends. He loves the hours, the rest of us think he's nuts. They are down for the weekend of the wedding where said dresses are to be worn. Great. Holly can watch her kid and mine while Hubby and I go to the reception. Reception is an hour and a half away. We leave well in advance so we may take my mom to dinner prior to the reception. At 3:00pm, all is well, and Sean isn't throwing a fit about not coming with us.

At 6:00, we are just sitting down to dinner at Damon's when Vince's cell phone rings. It's Joe. He's supposed to be at work, but he's at the house. Why? Because Holly has fallen in the living room and they both think she has broken her knee. Vince hangs up from Joe, and we start calling everyone we know to see if they can go to the house to watch the kids while Joe takes Holly to the ER. The closest one we find is at least 30 minutes away (which is still closer than we are), so Holly remains on the floor until Jeanne gets to the house. Back at dinner, the waitress is getting a bit nervous as to whether or not we are actually going to order. Once we find out that Jeanne is going to the house, we go ahead and order, but decide that we will only make a token appearance at the reception.

We finally get home and Holly is back. The knee isn't broken, but severely bruised. She still has a bruise the size of a pie plate 2 weeks later.

I'm just wondering what the next chapter will be. Hopefully not a tragedy.

TGIF

2005-06-25T00:32:00.000-05:00

It's Friday night, and I'm blogging. Not too exciting. These past two weeks have been a comedy of errors, which I will share with you over the course of the next few days. Needless to say there has been little knitting and less laundry going on. I did get the last installment of my Stampin' Up! markers today, but finding time to use them is another thing entirely. Though, it is going to be 90 degrees tomorrow, so staying inside will probably be a good thing. Stay tuned!

Done, done, done!

2005-06-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

The dresses are done, and out of my house. Whee! I can start knitting once again! Yeah, like I ever stopped.

I've knit a quick and dirty little purse for the wedding, because I can't carry a black purse all year. This was one of those Bernat "grab it in the store" freebie patterns. OK, so I didn't quite follow the pattern, but it's cool, and it will go with the dress I'm wearing.

Now to catch up on the house work. Later.

Dress update

2005-06-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

I know that you're all just dieing (or is that dying?) to know what I've gotten done.
Dress number 1 is complete to the point of just needing the zipper put in, the hem marked and sewn in, and the overlay made. Dress number 2 has the bodice put together.

Satin unravels quite badly. I was contemplating re-cutting every single seam with pinking shears (the ones with the zig-zag blades), when I had a momentary flash of brilliance. "Hey dummy, you've got a serger. Use it!" Ah, wonderful. No more little satin bits and fluff pulling off the dresses. And this worked quite well for making the lining and ruffle (I did mention the tulle ruffle, didn't I?) look not so quite "home-made."

I'll not be working on them today, as we're going to the zoo. Hubby's company is having a family day at the zoo. Don't worry, we'll take photos. And if you see a very red fat lady, that is probably me. Me and heat don't do well together. Top it off with tendonitis in my heel, and a sinus headache, it's going to be a wonderful day.

I'm in cotton candy hell

2005-06-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

Pink. Did I mention that I hate pink? Not dusty pink, not rosey pink. Cotton Candy pink. Now, I really like cotton candy, but I usually go for the blue.

I think my sewing machine does too as it keeps catching threads in the bobbin.

The first bodice is sewn together. Thank the Gods there are no sleeves to deal with. Just this funky little cowl thingy that won't lay right. I need a good steamer.

Breathe. I need a drink. Breathe. And a Prozac. Breathe.

Helium Hand

2005-06-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

I have a terrible case of Helium Hand. I just can't keep my damn hand down when someone asks for a volunteer for something.

Case in point: my Bestest Friend Kim (as seen in a previous entry) once again booked lodgings as the spacious and gracious Woodmont Hotel. Seems that the plant in New Jersey needed some more training on new software. As we were talking prior to her arrival, she asked me if I could do her a huge favor. Me, being the kind of friend that I am, said yes even before finding out what the favor was. Seems that her BIL is getting married in 2 weeks, and Kim has to make the flower girl dresses (see the plural?). Fabric was purchased, and (thank the Gods) cut out, but since she won't be back in town until the 10th, and the wedding is the 18th, she was going to be crunched for time. OK, no problem. I can do this. I like to sew.

The dresses are pink. Pink satin. Pink satin with a black net overlay and belt with a bow. And a lining with a ruffle. Did I mention that one of the flower girls had a growth spurt? Seems she went from a size 7 to a 10 overnight. This is also the one who is coming up from Florida, and won't be in town until the 12th. Deep breath. And again. Did I mention that I really hate pink?

Another thing that I've volunteered for is to be chronicler for our local SCA group. Now, this actually gets put to a vote, but since I am the only candidate so far, it's going to be a good bet that I get it. This also means that I'll have to find someone to take over my current office of coordinator of youth activities (or MoY if you're in the know). You'd think in a group that has a children's population of over 25 (in a group of over 150 members), that finding someone to do this would be easy. Not. And since it's not a required office, it may go unfilled. Again. Deep breath. And again. Repeat as necessary.

It is an honor and privilege to serve. Yeah, right.

100 things about me (plus or minus)

2005-05-18T00:15:00.000-05:00

I've seen these silly things all over, and figured that I'd go ahead and be a sheep. So here goes.

I am a life-long Hoosier (whatever the heck that is).
I’m 6 feet tall. So is my husband.
My mom still lives in my hometown of Muncie. It looks nothing like what you see in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
My father died when I was 18, two days after I graduated high school.
I get my sense of humor from my dad.
I am a Sagittarius with Libra rising. My son is a Libra.
I was born in the Chinese year of the Dragon. So was my son.
I've been married twice.
I have an older brother named Joe.
I introduced my brother to both of his wives.
I have a niece and two nephews.
Montano is my maiden name.
It’s Italian, not Spanish.
My mom traced the family back almost to God. 442 BC to be precise.
Charlemagne is an umpty-ump great grand father.
I know most of the words to “I’m My Own Grandpa.”
My father told me I was over the hill when I turned 12.
I was born with bi-lateral congenital hip dysplasia (no hip sockets).
I was in a plaster cast for 21 months of my first two years of life.
I was an emergency medical technician before I graduated high school.
I wanted to be a paramedic, but started having panic attacks.
I was a Scout of one kind or another from 2nd grade through high school.
I was in Civil Air Patrol.
I play flute, oboe, baritone saxophone, and various and sundry tin-whistles.
I sing. Used to be soprano, but the voice has aged. On a bad day I can sing baritone.
I graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor's of General Studies.
My 3 minors were Classical Culture, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Home Economics.
I wanted to be a teacher.
I rode on the equestrian team for a season.
I can beat most people at Trivial Pursuit.
I learned how to knit when I was 7.
I didn't really learn how to sew until college when I joined the SCA.
I made about half of the outfits for my second wedding.
We had a Medieval wedding (Henry VI).
We went to Williamsburg on our honeymoon.
I’ve been in the SCA for 20 years.
Besides knitting and sewing, I also do cross stitch, smocking, needlepoint, and a bit of quilting.
I’d like to open a yarn shop.
I don’t like to cook.
I also scrapbook and have started into rubber stamps.
I’ve been to most of the states east of the Mississippi, except the Carolinas, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
I’ve been to California twice. That was enough.
I’ve been to Walt Disney World once. I want to take my son.
My favorite place to sit and veg-out is my cousin’s back porch in Charleston, West Virginia.
I can drive from Indy to Charleston in about 6 hours.
I’ve been to West Germany (prior to the wall coming down), Luxembourg, and Iceland.
I want to live in Ireland for a year (or more)
I’ve never been to the Indy 500.
I love to stay up late.
I hate to get up in the morning, despite how much sleep I’ve gotten.
I suffer from depression.
Post Partum really sucks.
I have a fear of falling.
I hate to clean house.
I love watching Trading Spaces
My favorite flowers are bearded irises and lemon calla lilies.
I like strawberries.
Chocolate Covered Caramels. Yum.
I’m one degree separated from Ray Bradbury.
I had my photo in Rolling Stone magazine.
I went to high school with Cynda Williams (Spike Lee’s “Mo’Better Blues”)
I like sushi.
I don’t like most cooked fish.
I like yogurt.
I cannot stand bell peppers: green, red, yellow, any.
I can eat chilies.
I like bar-b-que almost anything.
I love Pizza King pizza. It’s a local thing.
I delivered pizza in college.
I worked at the campus art museum.
I worked at Conner Prairie Living History Museum.
I worked at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
I worked at and lived in the Morris-Butler House Museum.
I started to get my art history degree, but got divorced instead.
I’ve worked as a bookkeeper for 4 years.
I really hate my job.
I’ve camped in below freezing weather in January.
I’ve camped in blistering heat in August.
I only took my SATs once.
I have lost a loved one to suicide.
I had no grandparents living by the time I was in 6th grade.
My favorite car was my bright yellow Ford Escort.
I learned to drive in a Mercury station wagon.
I’ve driven a Cadillac ambulance.
I’ve been canoeing on the White, Wabash, and Flat Rock Rivers and Fall Creek and Sugar Creek in Indiana.
I’ve entered sewing and knitting entries in the State Fair.
I got a blue ribbon on a pair of Bavarian Socks.
I was a water safety instructor in high school and college.
I cannot dive into a pool, but I can teach you how.
I do not like snakes.
I’ve known my best friend Kim for almost 20 years.
We are god-mothers for each other’s children.
I was her husband’s drinking buddy in college.
My hex-husband took her dancing in college.
I can install a hard drive into a computer.
According to my brother, I can make Excel sit up and beg.
I started working with computers before Windows.
I have used a Commodore SX-64 computer.
I’ve been called a computer geek.
This was harder than I thought it was going to be.

I'm going to bed.

Here you go.

2005-05-16T21:57:00.000-05:00

Photos of my shrug. Finally. And my best friend. I've created a knitting monster (insert evil laughter here).

Kim: "Why are you taking my picture?"
Me: "Because."
Kim: "Because why?"
Me: Because I want to immortalize you on my blog. It's about knitting."
Kim: "So."
Me: "And you get to take pictures of me."
Kim: "OK."

Kim was in town for a brief nap before she caught the 6:45 am flight to Philly and then to New Jersey for work. I think we quit talking about 11:30, so a nap was all she got. I was a good friend, and actually set my clock to 3:15 so I could wake her up. I then proceeded to go back to bed. She did get me back, she left the bathroom light on.

Kim hadn't knit since college, when an ex-boyfriend talked her into knitting a scarf. For those Dr. Who fans, it was THAT scarf. This is why he became an ex. She has watched me knit for as long as we've known each other, and finally decided to give it another try when her daughter asked to learn how to knit. She has taken back to it like a fish to water. Luckily her LYS is closer than I am (10 blocks compared to 1 1/2 hours) and it's a really nice one. If you're ever in Terre Haute, look up RiverWools on Wabash Avenue. Martha and her crew are friendly, and she carries lots of nice yarn.

On to the shrug. It's soft and warm, and I have absolutely nothing to wear it with. Though, I wish I'd had it at work today. Spent the morning freezing my a$$ off. I knit it on size 10.5 needles, and added a repeat of the lace pattern to make it wide enough to fit my zaftig form. It's probably too big at the wrists, and you don't see the scallops, but I like it.

You know, being a blogging novice, I haven't figured out how to get all the photos into one post. If you know, please let me know.

k1,*yo, k2tog*