Robyn Goodfellow

site relocation

2009-01-03T16:34:00.000-08:00

changing location people. We are now meeting over here:

http://robyngoodfellow.wordpress.com/

sorry about the inconvenience.

new year, new knits

2009-01-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

I should be writing out or even thinking about resolutions, but why? I will just end up breaking them anyways.

but I strive to actually knit some of the projects I have planed. snort Like that will happen.

adventures in steeking

2008-12-29T10:21:00.000-08:00

while I do have pictures of all my new yarn, I think I'll show you my first steeking project. Steeking, for those unfamiliar with the technequic, is knitting a sweater or vest as one piece and cutting (yes, cutting) out the arms and neck opening.

while I was knitting, I used some waste yarn (see the red?) to mark the places of cutting. Therefore, when I was finished, I just picked up stitches 2 vertical rows away from the red yarn.

then, I finished knitting the ribbing sleeve and cast off.

secure in the knowledge that the sleeve was not going to unravel or anything drastic, I cut and removed the red yarn.

see the little gap of stitches? That was the next thing to get cut. And ta-da! I repeated these steps on the other sleeve and neckband.

well, the cast-off rows are way too tight. But I did it! My first steeking project is done. I will defiantly be doing more.

Puppy

2008-12-28T15:34:00.001-08:00

I miss my cat. Glad to know she has the people there well trained. See how she's managed to convince them to fill a little shot glass of water? She expects it on the bathroom sink everyday. With fresh water.

At least someone is being spoiled. Well, I want another walk. My person has only taken me on four today. I want six.

home

2008-12-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

what is it about traveling 400 miles that so completely drains a person? Puppy is feeling it too. Even though she slept most of the day on her new travel blanket and pillow, she is already in bed for the night. I think the trip would have been better if I could have knit instead of drive. Santa should have brought me a driver. Or a yarn boy who could double as a driver. But no, nothing of the sort.

wow. I just noticed how much yarn I need to document. Tomorrow.

and if you are very lucky, I might throw in a project or two that I started for me.

last day

2008-12-26T16:59:00.000-08:00

of my holiday with the family.

Puppy cannot wait to get back to her sofa. (She has her own blanket now. This does not mean I will get mine back.)

safe place

2008-12-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place.
I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place. I am in my safe place...on the bloody Titanic.

Children's Christmas Mass rocked. Great service. Family dinner that followed? Not so much. I'll let you fill in the details of Christmas Eve Dinner with the family.

so ready

2008-12-22T19:54:00.000-08:00

for the holidays to be over already. But you hear that from everyone, with Christmas Eve so close at hand.

actually, I want to open presents under the tree. Are there many shinning presents under the tree at your house? All the big ones over here are not marked for me but for The Twins. I swear, if Christmas (as a commercialized entity) wasn't for the kids, I would be very jealous. Somehow I doubt wither Christ cares what day we celebrate his birth, just so long as the culture does actually remember the event and not use it as a way to pad the economy. All the comic strips over the past week or so have harped that "Merry Christmas" has been substituted by a more politically correct "Happy Winter Soloists." So, I vote next year we celebrate an even more pagan holiday than this one and everyone go to Church where we hear God loves us.

again, I am probably behind on that rant as well. Getting wrapped up in the holidays does that to a person.

and for the first time in 3(ish) years, I broke a self-imposed rule. No knitting Christmas after December 19. I've spent the past week furiously knitting (off and on) a unicorn for the Younger Twin half-sister. I never thought the blasted thing would get finished. Now, I can go back to knitting for me. And believe me, I am. I plan to finish a steeking vest for me next week as a way to destress everything.

I have to say, the unicorn is cute. At a distance.

Puppy

2008-12-18T08:00:00.001-08:00

I miss being in college. I have a good thing going there. Get the person up at for a walk, breakfast of eggs and toast, and back to bed. Another walk before the person leaves for the day followed by a belly rub. Back to bed. A walk when my person gets home, a nice meal, another walk, more belly rubs, back to bed.

This does not happen when we are in Arkansas. Nope. No eggs and toast for breakfast. Fewer walks, though I do get more belly rubs if I look sad enough. Then there are these two little girls who think running around screaming is the best thing ever. Appearently my person does not walk them enough.

And because there is a tree in the living room, my person is knitting frantically. Normally, this is a very good thing. She knits and I sleep beside her. Every now and then, I can trick her into making food or going for walks. All I have to do is start helping her knit, then she is putty in my paws. Dogs of the world, take note! When your person is knitting too much, start eye-ing their yarn and smelling it. That should work. If not, gently place a paw on their needles. That always gets their attention. Trust me.

Well, it's been lovely chatting and all but it is time to back to bed.

not a habit

2008-12-16T17:44:00.000-08:00

this lack of posts, I promise. Life just got crazed for a moment or two, trying to get things done so I could come to Memphis. But now, I am here and very happy to be on the internet again.

I made it in time for Sunday evening services. The preacher wasn't there, and much to my disappointment, the youth minister had the sermon. Not to talk out of church or anything, but if his interpretation of scripture is valid...I'd like to reserve an aisle seat to Hell, coach will be more than fine.

yesterday presents got wrapped in something other than newspaper. Why is it that I never remembered to pick up holiday gift wrap? I sent the East Coast family gifts in newspaper or it would never have been sent.

my doctors are very happy about the progress I've made. In fact, I might be seeing them once a year very soon. Yea! Meds are fine. I am getting better.

oh! grades came out today. I have a B, B+, A.

I'll take photos of knitting and have a knitting post tomorrow. You have been warned.

it's over. done.

2008-12-11T06:35:00.001-08:00

my first semester of grad school. Oh wait. That's not right. My fifth semester as a grad student. Good stars, I've been in how long?

lets just say another semester is over. I thought about writing over the past two-ish weeks, honestly, I did. Then I would realize how much I still had to do and felt the urge to get more of it done. Unlike the English Department, there is not building up to a semester project in the School of Information Sciences (SIS). Which means all the final stuff is comprehensive essays rather than a presentation on a paper that a student has "worked on" all semester and a final draft of that paper (think 15-20 pages) due the day of exams. In some ways, the SIS is easier. Just sometimes it feels like a bunch of busy work. At least all the pre-recs are over, now to get into the interesting part of it.

shock of all shocks, I have not been into a proper yarn shop since Thanksgiving. Translation: I've been shopping in my own stash. I have no clue how many scarves I have made in the last fortnight, just to get rid of some of the yarn.

good news, all Christmas has been bought. Not all of the knitting is done, but the shopping part is. I even sent off a box of gifts to my family living on the east coast. I am a very happy person that it is done. Normally, I have it all done by Thanksgiving.

I went out with a friend last night, nothing special. Just dinner and drinks. Yes, it was a guy. No, it was not a date. But it was fun. There is a chocolate part tomorrow, not sure if I want to go. I'm worn out and have bad luck baking deserts. Who knows.

this time of year

2008-11-30T15:55:00.000-08:00

is not one of my favorite times of the year. Besides the over commercialized of the holiday itself, this is the first year of the copyright expiration of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan. For those among us who have forgotten, JMB is my favorite author. I highly recommend any of his novels or non-Peter Pan plays.

standing in line at Toys R Us yesterday, I saw that once again, Disney has found a way to make a dollar. Aside from the horrible mis-telling of classic stories meant to scare children into obedience, the company now has a whole movie (plus merchandise) for Tinkerbell. Yes, I know they have had dolls, notepads, and stickers about her and her fairy friends. But when no movie came out and their craft line of the characters was in the sale's bin at Micheal's Craft Store, I'd rather thought they had scraped the idea. No. They have not.

and for some very odd reason, I am throughly angry about this. I do not see myself buying Disney in the near future.

long drive

2008-11-28T16:03:00.000-08:00

any way you look at it. 400 miles (or 8 hours) one way. That means 800 miles in 16 hours in 4 days. I am tired.

Puppy curled up on a blanket and my favorite pillow and slept until she needed something. Wish I could have done that. Traffic was not bad either way, somehow I managed to pick the right times for driving.

Puppy's shoulder is hurt but healing. Our Regular Vet thinks she might have scrapped bone when she fell wrong. It is not dense enough to show up on an x-ray (though he took 2 shots to make sure), but Puppy will be just fine. We even have new medicine and will get a phone call on Monday as a follow-up.

I miss my family and all, but I am so glad I don't have to drive back right away. Yes, I did some knitting. No, you cannot see it until January. Not even the dishcloths. It just takes the fun out of the surprise. Sorry!

as written by Puppy

2008-11-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

guess what? All month I've been limping off and on, then back off, a few days later back on. My pet is not amused. In fact, she is skipping class tomorrow so we can go to my regular Vet early Wednesday. I'm hoping to hunt down my chiropractor that afternoon for an adjustment.

my kitten Cable has been terrorizing my pets in Arkansas, so I need to set her straight on the realities of life. See if I can convince her to be more subtle. I hear there is a new cat in the family, one who runs an effective reign of terror to my cousin, Sugar. I swear, I leave town for a few months and already the cats have taken over. Do you think they issue belly-rubs? Maybe they can open the door and let me run around outside. Any cats that can lead a revolution in such a short time must be have working thumbs.

everyone here in Tennessee thinks I am the cutest, sweets little puppy ever. And how true they are. I am just so glad my pet took me to the beauty shop last week. Now I look even better for my holiday debut in Arkansas. So don't get too worried if my pet doesn't show up on the internet for a few days, I have to keep my staff busy to get everything done and back in Tennessee before Saturday. Oh the pressure of being popular!

well

2008-11-19T06:41:00.000-08:00

the boss lady (read: my owner, Puppy) is at the groomers leaving me free to type.

I have done more than knit, despite what I said yesterday. I have also been working, reading, going to class, and cleaning the apartment. And today, I am doing laundry (again, because Puppy is not here).

it is 26 degrees F but no North wind. Back home, it is 40 degrees F with said wind. I wasn't cold until I saw the temperature. Now, my heavy coat is out and the thermostat is set at 60 degrees F.

can't type. knitting

2008-11-18T06:29:00.001-08:00

selfish knitting

2008-11-14T06:48:00.000-08:00

which is about 90% of all my knitting. Selfish Knitting can be defined as (but not limited to) knitting what I want, when I want, why I want to. (All these "wants" feels very toddler-ish, maybe small children are on to something here.) And the Selfish Knitters group on Ravelry further notes that knitting for those engaged in the creation or preservation of life are hereby exempt from Selfish Knitting scorn.

so why bring this up now? Because on of the many online knitting magazines has an article defending Selfish Knitting as the holiday season approaches. I firmly believe that all knitters everywhere might need a quick reminder about Selfish Knitting as we frantically throw ourselves into holiday knitting.

for those engaged in Crunch Time at your respected university, remember to take time for yourself. Even if you do not knit...yes, Miss Pirate Librarian I mean you...take time to be excellent to yourself. It may be the end of the year (soon) but that is no reason to go completely insane. Let someone else use the straight jacket this year. It is very rude to use it for more than one year in a row.

and now that I have finished my lecture (what, you weren't taking notes?), I must be off. I still have an hour of knitting before lunch and homework.

lights out

2008-11-12T06:50:00.001-08:00

last night, but now they are on again. A storm (not even a very big or violent one) knocked out the power last night. But only this building. Everyone around us had lights. Yet another example of how odd this place is. Definitely not my Memphis-Arkansas area. I'm sticking around here for awhile, if only to attend classes and see what happens next.

Puppy is doing much much better. Her shoulder still hurts but she wants her long walks back. The mattress is back on the box springs. Notice: this is due in large part to her love of getting on the box springs and looking down on the mattress as if to say, "why are you down there? You should be up here with me."

no more group projects for the semester. Yea! Now it is time to start all these "big" papers (8 page max) and organize notes for the take-home-essay-finals.

today is my Saturday, so I cannot work on the above homework. I have lots of important errands to run and jobs around the house to do. Oh well.

Puppy says,

2008-11-06T14:31:00.000-08:00

my (left) shoulder hurts. My Person didn't like seeing me limp around the block during our pre-lunch/class walk. I wasn't whining about my shoulder, but she insisted we go see a vet. In fact, she was so worried, that she drove me the three blocks to an Animal Hospital.

there were lots of neat smells in there. I even got to meet some nice dogs who also had foot/leg problems. The mean vet made me yelp when she got to my shoulder but didn't think an x-ray was needed.

now, My Person and I can only go on short walks twice a day. Short walks? Only twice a day? These phrases are very strange and I do not like them at all. I want to go now but My Person is not being nice. She will have to carry me down the stairs, and I don't like that one bit. But it is cool to have the mattress on the floor, 'cause now I don't have to jump up and down so much.

the mean vet even wanted me to be kenneled. Kenneled? I'm from Arkansas Ms. Dr. Vet Lady! Kennels are outside with long dog-runs and a house. Kennels do not belong inside. It's like asking me to wear my fancy shoes to go mudd'n. Yeah, it's that silly. I don't even think kennels exists anymore. Nope. They don't.

this will not be fun...

gunpowder

2008-11-05T08:14:00.000-08:00

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I think of no reason why gunpowder, treason
And plot should be forgot...

ok, so its Guy Fawkes Day. (Don't know about Guy? Click.)

but guess what? It is also crunch time. This conversation took place yesterday after class between myself and I.

This week and next are full of group projects.
What group projects?
The ones assigned right before midterms were handed out like candy on All Hallow's Eve.
Oh, right. Those group projects. Which group am I in? What are we doing?
Look at the assignments on BlackBoard.
Oh. I remember looking at those websites the day after the groups were assigned.
Then why didn't I finish them then?
I had plenty of time.
Well, now I don't.
good point. Better get to them.
Don't forget the Labs and big assignment for "Info Retrival."
Is it Christmas yet?
Close. And yes, I still have shopping to do.
I hate crunch time. Nothing but pressure on gunpowder barrels.

a knitting confession

2008-11-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

since I was so political when I try not to be (on here. Real life? Don't ask unless you want to debate.). So this is pretty much all about knitting.

you see, I've developed what we knitters like to call startitis. I have cast on more projects in October than I have finished. Normally, I have this amazing Works In Progress to Finished Object ratio. No more than 3 projects On The Needles at a time. Granted, this number does not include all the quick knits like scarves and dishcloths. (Think of it like sock yarn. Yes I have it. No, it is not counted as stash yarn. One of the great knitting mysteries that philosophers, scientist, and mathematicians still don't quite understand.)

so imagine my surprise when I discovered all my canvous WIP bags were full and there was no bag to put a new project in. I had to take inventory. Here is what we found:

Something Witty should be done by now. But I'm doing steeks and did not Bind Off for sleeves. Do I frog or what? The question makes me go work on something else for a spell.

one Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket
I am not one to follow trends or Cast On something just because it stays in Ravelry's Top 10 most popular patterns. So how is it that I started this?

Funny you should ask. On of my schoolmates (who could become mute and I would rejoice) had a newborne right before the semester started. She asked me to make said baby girl something warm since it will be cold soon. There I was, cursing a garter-stitch dishcloth and dreaming of what next to CO. Next thing I know, I'm counting stitches for the blasted thing.

Since then, I've come to my senses. This schoolmate does not pay attention in class, which explains why she is always asking the rest of us questions the prof just answered. Plus, she likes other people to do the work and correct hers.

Now I'm in no hurry to finish this. In fact, I think it will wait until spring when the Matriarchs back home have lots of baby showers to buy. They could remberse the yarn and add my name to the gift. Hey, I'm not charging them labor. That is my contribution.

I have finially finished the first glove and had a group on Ravlery tell me to CO the second glove. But the progress is slow since I complicated the pattern by making the cables a different color. It can only be worked on at home with as little distractions as possible. I just want enough of the light brown to make the bobbles at the end.

Normally, this wouldn't even count as a project. However, I am making an exception for two reasons.

1) stash buster project

2) it is taking longer to knit than it should

I already have a hat in the blue yarn. So I thought, hey! wristwarmers would be cool to pair with the hat. And since I like to knit in LYS using yarn I bought from them, this seemed like a good project. The blue is from Stash back in Memphis. The brown is from Knitting Nest about 30 minutes from the university. I don't feel bad about knitting this at the Knitting Nest because some of the yarn is from them.

And for the most recent WIP. Yesterday the Knitting Fates let me walk out of the apartment without a project or yarn. I discovered that when I pulled into the Knitting Nest parking lot for a quick, 1 hour vacation from life. Then I discovered I had no plastic card on me, only a $20 bill and some lose change. This is just not right people. Just not right.

The yarn and needles were less than $15. But I had no pattern on me. Luckily I remembered a mitten pattern of roughly the same yarn weight and needle size.

i know

2008-10-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

I don't do politics. But I have to show you this. Enjoy. I did.

SAFF

2008-10-25T16:52:00.000-07:00

rocked! In fact, a non-fiber art person called it a "Star Trek convention for knitting people."

I was overwhelmed by all the color and fiber and animals and people and spinners and...well, you get the drift. The animal that seemed to be highlighted was the alpacas, but they did have other animals of fibery goodness. There was half a huge barn full. My group of 6 spent almost 3 hours wondering around. The crowd seem to be coming in as we were going out. But I am (understandably) sleepy. So enjoy the photos of the day. I'll show you what I bought later. Night!

This was the larger area for us to buy things.

A fluffy rabbit that was for sale

"Hello. I'm an alpaca."

"So are we."

"If you want to pet me, you have to feed me first."

over

2008-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

the elections are. At least for me, I mailed my absentee ballot yesterday. Therefore, all the politicians camped out trying to influence my vote can pack up and leave. This includes "McCain" and "Obama"bumper stickers, shirts, posters...all of it. Just put it away. This election has lasted over a year. Someone just count the votes already.

Good Lord willing, the local folks back home who I voted for will win and the idiots won't. I know, small and petty. Here the world is, watching the presidential race and I just don't want some folks on the city council. What will happen on the national level will happen. My one little vote is just one drop in the bucket. But back home, my vote is one of only a few thousand. I feel somehow that it counts for more on the little race. Votes count on the big race too (Florida 2000 anyone?), so everyone go vote (early or mail-in). Let the blasted thing be over already.

4 days

2008-10-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

since I last blogged and not much has happened until today. Like, I bought some material at Jo Ann's this afternoon and hung it up using Velcro. It's been getting really chilly, and rather than turn the heat on, I invested in some curtain/insulation. The material was 50% off, so I went ahead with something thicker than planed. I took the leftover Velcro and hung up some photos I had enlarged.

turns out this Jo Ann's place is pretty cool. Like Handcocks Fabric but with more space for other crafts. I liked the machine that was embroidering all by itself. Yarn wasn't anything better than a Michael's or Hobby Lobby, but they had alot of 1 lb. skeins. I take that back, the selection here is better than the last few Hobby Lobbies I've been to. I'll probably go back when I need more cotton for dishcloths.

speaking of knitting, I have violently cast someone off my 'knit for' list. A woman in 2 of my classes wanted me to make something for her newborne. No big, I have been wanting to try out Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket anyway and have some Plymoth Encore I scored on sale. When she asked me to knit something, it was in a half-hour long conversation where she said she wanted to see my group's lab worksheet. What she really just wanted was to copy. And this isn't the first time she's done this to me. Turns out, she does most of a class's discussion board rehashing what others have said to make up the minium posts. All this didn't tick me off, it was when she wanted me to restate the prof (who was still talking) had just said. This person then spent the last half of class looking at non-school realated materials on the computer. And she wants me to help her with school work and knit her child something? I. Think. Not. When she brings the subject up again, I'll tell her no.

there is more, but Puppy is telling me it is time for a walk. So, I'm off!

important updates

2008-10-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

in bullet points so I can go knit, I mean, cook dinner.

old glasses broke, eye doctor from home couldn't find my Rx, eye examine, new glasses
Puppy keeps stealing my really soft fleece blankets
she now eats thin rawhide bones (my attempt to get her to quit eating chicken bones off the street)
lab no. 2 for "Info Retrieval" is almost done
"Info Input" prof is getting mean. Everyone thinks so, therefore I am not alone in this.
I have 6 projects OTN, more than I've had in some time now
no more clean socks, must wash tomorrow

so, that should be it. Byeeeeee

and now for something different.

2008-10-14T06:19:00.000-07:00

guess what I've been watching? Monty Python's Flying Circus. Sometimes I forget how funny it is. With the whole, no-tv-in-the-house thing, I've been watching previous seasons of various shows on my little DVD player. So much better than TV.

I love my "Information Retrieval" class. It all makes sense to me. It would be nice though, if I could just sit down and do more 'find the info/data' activities. Hopefully, they'll let me start working on literature searches at work soon. That would be fun.

oh, the Elder Twin finally lost a tooth! I don't know which one, but I know how hard she's been working on losing one. The old wives' tales say she can start reading now.

but I digress, I wanted to blog this morning to show off Something Witty.

problems with the system

2008-10-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

the new hours are going to work out perfectly. Sadly, I was not able to get much homework done today because the Library of Congress Subject Heading Authority Records website did not like the computers I was on. So, I caught up on my newspaper reading. And wow. I am so glad my stash is large enough to keep me knitting for awhile. Asia finally admitted that the financial crises has hit them too, which means the problem is very big and budgets everywhere are going to feel it.

but that is a tomorrow problem. Today's problem (other than my inability to spell) is that Beerfest is going on. For the first time in my not-so-long life span, I am living slightly off-campus in a wet county. (A dry county means no selling alcohol so something like Beerfest does not exist.)With this 'enlightend' experiance, I can safely say that I hope it ends soon. Not only did I have to suffer bad singing of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, as I walked Puppy, it means lots of sirens going past my apartment building. Lovely. Just lovely.

no politics, no politics, no politics

2008-10-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

is this election still going on? When can I just vote and get the blasted thing over with?

on a much happier note, I start Friday hours today. Fun. Actually, it is. But it means I have a few extra hours this pay cycle. Money I did not budget for, so I can take it to SAFF and not worry about buying groceries. Yea!

I've CO another project for me. More on that once I get photos.

and I got an early birthday present from my Paternal Grandmother. Selected Poems and Four Plays by W. B. Yeats. I love Yeats. And now, I have a whole hard-copy book of his. Nothing against getting a Kindle copy, but I'm going to be taking extensive notes/drawings. Besides, you should see how nicely it looks next to James Joyce. Oh! I better print off that poem by Auden about Yeats.

time for lunch and a walk before work.

lazy Sunday afternoon?

2008-10-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

I think not. Lookie what I finished just a few minutes past noon.

ok, so the picture is really bad. But I am so excited to be finished!

I also went to the department picnic for nearly two hours. We had a great time, which leads to another reason "Grad School Rocks."

Grad School Rocks because you get to see your profs in casual cloths and acting like real people. Some of these said profs even look like regular people outside of the ivory tower.

p.s. I'm a bit late on this video, but it is so funny I have to post a link. Just click here.

eek!

2008-10-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

I'm going to SAFF! yea!

gasp. I have to learn to spin. Later...

sigh

2008-09-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

I have my tea.

I have my lemon cookies.

There is just a hint of rain in the air.

Knitting is right beside me.

life is good.

the Pig Bear

2008-09-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

it was suppose to be a hot pink polar bear. If my family wanted a white polar bear, it would buy one. I was knitting it and let the Elder Twin pick out the color. True for any 6 year-old girl in a yarn shop full of colors and textures, she found hot pink acrylic and fell in love with it.

what does one get when making a polar bear in hot pink? A pig-like animal.

I am glad the Yarn Haven carries the same line and color or I would have had to import more yarn from Stash in Memphis. Normally, I would have anyways. But with the Younger Twins' impending surgery, I wanted to ship the doll off ASAP. And anyone with siblings knows one does not send one gift without something for the other as well. Hence, a quick stop to a LYS here in town.

all I want at this point is for her to like it.

Toys for Twins...with Pictures

2008-09-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

I like to think this is a knitting blog, so I will post this before I read the newspapers today. Thus, I advoid politics stuff. I left the English Department thinking I would be leaving behind a world of paper-induced stress. Should have known librarians are very politically active.

I finished the faery for the Younger Twin and in a moment of guilt, threw a bear on the needles for the Elder Twin.

1st, the faery (with hair). This is too cute, in a handmade sort of way. This is an Alan Dart pattern featured in a Simply Knitting magazine this year. He rocks as a designer but he is so British. As in every little piece was to be knit flat, making dozens of little pieces to sew.
The finishing took an eternity and a half. Yes, the finishing would not have been half as bad if I just sat down and took care of it.

now, for the bright, 7 year old girl pink polar bear. The color doesn't show up very well in photos, just take my word for it. It is the shade of pink all girls love when they are six-ten years old. Seven year-olds just take it a step forward. Hey, I did not pick out the color. Not surprised that she picked it, but now I'm knitting a pink polar bear. The pattern comes from The World of Knitted Toys, a book that is wonderful. Where else can you find a wallaby, seal, and a moose pattern in the same book for less than $20? I don't imagine many places.

p.s.-I cannot tell which end of the bear I am knitting on right now. It might be the shoulders....but I wouldn't argue if you said hips.

Friday is my Saturday

2008-09-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

seeing as how I now work all day Saturday and need a day to clean house and such. I spent most of today working on a doll for the Younger Twin. She is having her tonsils out next month and I want to do something for her. I cannot go home for the day, so the obvious choice was to knit something. And here she is. The only thing lacking is hair.

meanwhile, the Elder Twin bought a kitten. A friend of the family recently had a population increase of them, and Elder Twin had seen them. Mom said "No more animals." So naturally the kid called Her Dad and negotiated. She talked him into agreeing about having the kitten if she bought the cat. Then the little miss went to the family friend and offered 2 quarters for a kitten. 50 cents now buys a kitten. And to think, Puppy picked up Cable for free (before the vet bills). Turns out, Elder Twin is picking up after the kitten and everything. Didn't see that one coming, given how hard it is to make her pick up anything.

Puppy got a hair cut this week. Now all the neighbors think she is a cocker spaniel whereas before, they thought she was a lab. I think she looks more lab now and cocker spaniel when she is more fluffy.

the before picture

she was a little camera shy after her hair cut

but I finally got a shot in

speaking of Puppy, she is trying to tell me it is time for a walk. The whole looking longingly at the door is suppose to be a clue.

very appropriate

2008-09-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

in more ways than one...

Neutral Tones
by Thomas Hardy

We stood by a pond that winter day,
And the sun was white, as though chidden of God,
And a few leaves lay on the starving sod,
--They had fallen from an ash, and were gray.

Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove
Over tedious riddles solved years ago;
And some words played between us to and fro--
On which lost the more by our love.

The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing
Alive enough to have strength to die;
And a grin of bitterness swept thereby
Like an ominous bird a-wing....

Since then, keen lessons that love deceives,
And wrings with wrong, have shaped to me
Your face, and the God-curst sun, and a tree,
And a pond edged with grayish leaves.

10 days of nothing new

2008-09-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

except just about everything.

the Med Library I work at is now open nights and weekends. Tons of practical, hands-on experience and homework time. No knitting, since I am at the front desk and it might look like there is nothing to do.

homework is still the same 3 projects due by the end of the month. 1 of which is almost done, and another of which will be done tomorrow when I am at a computer that can read the work I've done. No clue what the last one is.

lookie! Pictures of the glove I am working on. I would have finished it by now, if it was the only project I had OTN. Ha! Like that is ever going to happen again. BTW, this thumb rocks. Best thumb I've ever knitted.

I have thrown a quick little vest/waistcoat for my in-class knitting. Ignore the yellow there, it will not be part of the project.

well, Puppy is hiding in a closet (some jackal downstairs is shooting off firecrackers) and I better go get her out. Till next time!

quick update

2008-09-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

because I have lots of stuff to do.

I love my work study. Finding articles and pulling journals is so much more fun that what it sounds like. You just have to trust me on that one. Next week I start nights and weekends. On the plus side, classes should be better (one has to suffer the intro weeks before getting to the good stuff).

it is bloody September already. If you haven't thought about Christmas knitting, now would be a good time to start. My gift stock overflows with scarves, it needs more dishcloths but I can knit almost a complete one of those up during one class session. I so need to finish some WIPs. But when did I have so many?

this past weekend was spent in Memphis. I had all these wonderful plans, but family stuff came up. Like we had an impromptu birthday celebration for me (silly me thought it was next month). My Maternal Grandmother dropped me off at Stash and let the ladies there baby-sit me for an hour. I was pick-ed up before I had even started seriously looking at yarn. (Expect pictures on Friday.)

break timer just went off. Guess I better get back to homework.

shock

2008-08-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

I was going to tell you all about spending the day in the Graduate Lounge and what we did in class today. After all, it is not everyday that I turn a sock heel.

but, I just got off the phone with KMB who had the best piece of gossip and I'm still not quite over it. There are many details but the sum of it is: a chit neither of us cared very much for finally got caught up on the bad karma coming her way. Or as the Germans say, I am enjoying Schadenfreude.

enjoy your evening. I am.

better understanding

2008-08-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

of the courses I'm taking this Fall. Each of the following points has its own class.

What is information?
Where does it go?
How can I get it?

oh yea, this is going to be fun. The entire faulty here works really hard to make sure each class, no matter the prof, gets the same information. Pretty smart, actually.

my work study at the Med Library will be tons of fun, once I know what I'm actually doing. 1st day today and there is alot to learn. Who gets what and what to charge them. How the databases and computer programs work. Where to park. I feel like the world's biggest scatter brain. Luckily, I'm not the only one in the office with this problem. It will make sense...someday.

meanwhile, I passed both my TB tests. This is good to know, for a moment there I was so worried...not.

tons of homework, another day of learning tomorrow, and several people I need to email. However, I have been up since 4 this morning (no clue why, I just was wide awake). I'll deal with the world in the morning. Better take a sleeping pill before bed, just in case my brain wants to pull that trick again.

still here

2008-08-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

...just feeling really low today. As in, wanting to scream at Puppy over nothing. Everything seems to be wrong even when it's not. Caffeine migraine. Want to cry. Yeah, that low.

Thursday's class was cool. Friday went well, all set to start the work study tomorrow.

lots of stuff OTN. No pictures, haven't felt like it. Hope to feel better in the morning. Think I'll go shower so I can watch movies and knit.

bus 'n knits

2008-08-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

I rode the bus today for the first time that was not for a school trip. What can I say, public transport just hasn't been a realistic mode of transport up until now. Not sure how everything works. But, I do have a semester-long pass. It stands to reason, then, that eventually I will figure it out.

in other news, I found a Josh Groban video on YouTube. Yes, he has quite a few on there; however, this one differs from the ones on my iShuffle in that I do not have it yet. This is just one of those songs that even without knowing the words or seeing a video, you just know what the singer is saying/feeling/all that other stuff. I may have told you this before, but StepSister no. 2 does not understand how I (or anyone for that matter) can like a song in a different language. But there are times when understanding the lyrics is simply not needed.

in any case, here are some knitting pictures:

to make-up

2008-08-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

...for yesterday's long, rambling post here are some photos of Puppy, a flower, and my visible stash (the rest of which is saving itself for Flash Your Stash Day).

yea!

2008-08-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

I survived orientation without being bored to tears. Eye-rolling was involved many, many times. But no tears.

my new Master's Program (School of Information Sciences) has its own orientation for incoming students that is mandatory attendance despite campus or distance education status. We were shown where to get our passwords changed, how to work BlackBoard, and what services are at our disposal. Most of it I had already figured out, either through a previous class (BlackBoard) or just surfing the website (password change and Inter-Library Loan).

today was much better than yesterday, except when it came to lunch. Two panels were presenting, one of our peers and the other librarians in a certain field. The latter was a lot of information to digest all at once. I now know for certain that Public Library and School Library are not for me (yeah and standing ovation to those in these areas). I liked what the Archive Librarian talked about, it would be very cool to be a part of that. And while the Special Librarian was focused in an area that does not thrill me, I like the general concept of it. Looks like I might be blending the two. My work study in a Medical Library will help me make that choice.

I am currently sewing the sleeves of a pullover (pictures of the FO tomorrow when it is done). I also threw a scarf OTN for orientation, no use messing up a WIP just because I had to listen. My Profs now know me by my knitting and all are cool with me knitting in their classes. Good, I might not have to use the letter my Shrink wrote up.

also happening this past week: I bought a bus pass that is good for a semester and have started reading my text books already. Thus far, it is way better than the previous prep I've put into my classes. Backing up for a moment, all the buses are back to normal schedule starting Monday. After I make a few calls that morning, I plan on riding the buses around town to see exactly where they take me. (Hoping against everything that one will take me to Yarn Haven.)

speaking of LYSes (you should have seen this coming). I have now been to all the major ones in the area. IMO (and high standers) they are as followed.

Loopville: amazing yarn (Shetland anyone?) but not a strong Sit 'n Knit following due to its location (surrounded by restaurants and limited parking). They have toys to occupy small children and husbands while one shops. And apparently their new location is larger with elbow room to spare.

The Knitting Nest: hard to find, but really cool atmosphere. New yarn coming in (they recently moved and wanted to be settled in before new shipments came. Lots of "exotic" fibers, even a wool/yak blend 50/50. Also, they have a balcony you can knit on with a non-city view.

The Yarn Haven: again, I love the atmosphere. They have sofas and chairs in front of a huge TV, all on a rug, giving it a living room feeling. Interestingly, they sort their fiber by weight and have a large 25% off bin that could get me in trouble fast.

except for Loopville, I do not recall seeing any Rowan fiber (and even that was scarce). Seems like Cascade and Plymouth are their staples. What a strange place I have come upon.

2008-08-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

I bought books today. Grand total: less than $300. I was excited since this is a Science program and science books are usually $100-150 by the time one adds the workbook. The girl at the cashier's desk thought I was being sarcastic. Obviously, she's an undergraduate whose books are usually $200 total.

deadlines

2008-08-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

and they all start Wednesday.

in no particular order: send StepSister1 birthday gift, finish pullover, write postcards, fill out paperwork so I can work, orientation (for my program), buy bus pass, get books.

it may not look like much, but in my head it is. I'm excited about the Student Work, it will be lots of fun. And orientation will be nice, if only to see who else is in the program. The biggest worry I have is the pullover. I'm on sleeve two, but I was hoping to be done long before now. Wanna see a picture?

I did a quick bind-off to free up the needles. Obviously, I have to go back and do it properly.

also on my camera was one last picture of Cable, whom I hear is adjusting well. She is doing a wonderful job monitoring and managing the family's lives. Good, someone has to keep everyone else on task. Puppy has her hands full with me.

bad moment in life

2008-08-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

so there I was unpacking the yarn and organizing it by fiber, when I realized I needed to check out one of my yarns on Ravelry. I knew it had a greater purpose, that I had seen it knitted up and fell instantly in love, but looking at it in the skein was doing nothing for me. When my homepage came up, I saw the news that Russia and Georgia were fighting.

I just went cold. Not for a single moment did I think the press was talking about the North American state of Georgia (which could have happened). Instead I remembered my elementary geography, and how I would check to see if the maps showed the U.S.S.R. or Russia and the smaller Slavic countries, East/West Germany, and the Czech Republic. I was always interested in how the maps changed and what that change meant. Stars, I played U.N. with my non-Barbie dolls. So, I nearly had a panic attack when the news sunk in and I realized the larger implications of these actions.

needless to say, I turned off my computer and got out of the apartment (my shrink would be happy). I ended up at a LYS (the peanut gallery may now roll its eyes) and bought some necessities (tape measure and needles). Puppy must have been worried, because she jumped around and did her happy dance when I walked back into the apartment. We went for a long walk.

Puppy really helps me feel better. I am so glad she is here, even if she gave up a nice backyard, grandparents, sisters, cats, and chasing squirrels. I think she is happy here too.

finally

2008-08-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

I have a new timezone that has upset my internal clock.

everything is almost unpacked. Unpacking would go alot quicker if I could ever stop reading books I've rediscovered.

Puppy is very happy, in fact, she is wearing me out on our walks.

my internet is working (let's not get into that story).

I have a student job at the Reference Desk at the Med Library, or will after all the paperwork is done.

driving around this new town only gets me lost, upset, and on the verge of cussing. So today I am buying a bus pass. Both a Kroger and yarn shop are on the route and seriously, what else do I need?

that's been my life in the fast lane. Hopefully I can find my camera soon and take pictures of knitting, Puppy, and whatever else inspires me.

cliche

2008-07-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

you know the one about "not the heat, the humidity." Yeah, that one. My lungs are in complete agreement with it. Funny, when I was little I loved the muggy air. Not so much anymore. I hope Knoxville doesn't have this problem.

Mom, The Twins, and I are off to the Pink Palace Museum this afternoon to catch an IMax film and then a Planetarium show. It's been awhile since I've been to the Planetarium, my favorite part of any museum. The standard show when I was in elementary school was the one that outlined the major constellations and a synopsis of the myth behind the name. Our chairs would lean back, and it felt like we were really looking up at the sky (only we could actually see the stars). This was long before we had ever heard of the IMax and Jim Hanson's The Labyrinth was the movie with the coolest special effects ever. No wonder the Planetarium was the greatest thing ever. Kinda explains my fascination with mythology that has continued to this day.

what I've been doing

2008-07-25T16:27:00.001-07:00

knitting. (duh) Turns out, when you knit on only one project (as often as I knit) a lot gets done. Who knew?

packing. And this is only my room. There is also a room at Mom's (formerly my study) and a carport full of boxes and stuff.

and I've been envying Cable for sleeping through it all. She thinks she's royalty or something.

not

2008-07-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

it is the best word to describe today.

I did not stay in the budget at Yarn-to-Go's Christmas in July sale
I did not get as much done packing wise as I had planned
I am not getting a new Feeling Doctor, instead I am going 3 times a year to the current guy
I am not on any new meds, nor did we adjust any current ones
I am not dog-sitting anytime in the near future
I will not have the current dog I am sitting in a confined space ever again
Especially not when said space is my car
Unless I am able to do some serious sweet-talking, I will not be having a going-away party at Stash next week

the dog I'm caring for while its owner is away is a big, smelly, overweight, under-groomed lab. The Maternal Grandmother, upon hearing the living conditions of the dog (garage with outside tempters over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, wanted me to bring the beast to our house. I did not think that would be a good idea, but I had her put all our animals inside. Out voted, I fetched said dog. It took the Maternal Grandmother 15 minutes to realize that the dog would be better of not chained to the fence in our shaded, small waterfeatured backyard (which dog swam in). Once inside the house, she came to the conclusion that the dog would tear up her garden. The dog's owner called and offered a few suggestions as to the dog's care for the next day and a half. I then took the dog back to its house (tempter was cooler) and nearly gagged on both legs of the trip.

before 5 of the clock, my day was excellent. After 5, it has been horrid.

well that was stupid

2008-07-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

I was on a roll packing up books. Taking it? Into the box. Leaving it? Place on seperate bookcase. Not sure? Put back on the shelf.

guess what? I decided to take all my knitting books. Meaning, every book for the projects currently OTN is safely packed away in one of four or five boxes surrounded by yarn to keep from shifting. For the non-knitters out there, this means I have no pattern for any of my projects I was actually using a pattern book for.

what was I thinking? That I was taking my knitting books with me to the uni later this month. Luckily, the newest Knitscene was in my car and there are several projects I'm just knitting sans instructions.

sad, no? Not to worry, somehow I'll survive this knitting drought. Cable is doing wonders for my spirit. See, here she is sleeping on top of a bush in the backyard:

not so bad

2008-07-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

...this packing thing. It would be so much easier if I knew for sure what books I'm taking.

Puppy hasn't started packing, in fact she is waiting till the last possible moment to do so. Good thing she isn't here now, I would hate to guilt her into this horrid chore. She is currently at the vet's office for a chiropractic session. I know, I know, "why does she need a chiropractor" and "that seems like a waste of money". Her arthritis is starting to get to her and this is suppose to help out. And while the money could be going elsewhere, all I can say is that she is still cheaper than a child. Then again, she is my baby.

does this thing still work?

2008-07-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

hopefully so. Sorry about the long absence, if I wasn't studying I was knitting to keep my sanity. The knitting was mostly mindless, but I did learn a new technique: entrelac. Lookie, a picture.

I was taking the photo outside on a glass table and Cable got a little curious.

I passed my Reading German class. Yea! I now feel confident in saying, I have a Master's degree. But it will not be official until I have my thesis and certificate.

What else? Oh, I went with Mom, StepDad, and Twins to a Stitch 'n Pitch on June 28th. It was so much fun. And we all needed the break.

My brain certainly thought so this weekend. I had one of the most painful migraines I have had since my Neurologist and I found the right medicine and dose. Still feeling sluggish and all.

Only two weeks until Puppy and I go away to Library School. That just happens to be the exact same time that my Full-Blooded Sister and her boyfriend are moving back East.

so sleepy

2008-06-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

my German class is fun. I'm talking, real fun...after she started reading the sentences in the book and we told her the English version. To be completely honest, she may have done that to save her ears from my very poor reading-aloud skills. It was badbadbad. We cover a chapter in class and another chapter for homework. Then, we briefly go over homework and work out the issues we have before starting the next chapter. How can this be fun? I get to knit and use my 6 years of higher education in the English department for grammar and vocabulary. See, it is fun.

however, I am very tired. My brain wants to curl up with Puppy and sleep 14 hours. (Not going to happen.)

lots of good stuff is coming into Stash in the coming weeks. But this week she is putting all sock yarn on 25% off. Treason, sheer and utter treason to my lovely (and comparatively small) collection of sock yarn. Some of this yarn even knows what pattern it wants me to use. Then again, some yarn that I don't have already knows what pattern it wants me to knit it up with.

and now, a slide-show and a big kiss good-night.

Cable's latest place to hide.

Laze Daze Alpaca 2 ply worsted yarn (120 yds). Believe it or not, they are located in Summerville (is there a town called that, 40 minutes or so from Midtown?). They now have 27 alpacas, as one of their mamas had a baby girl this morning. All natural colors, and sooooo soft. I wore mine as a flapper necklace around Stash (which has a few hanks for sale) and the house.

and lastly, my first attempt at knitting toys. Little Puck, as he/she/it has been named, is currently reclining in the scarf gift stock. I need to block his/her/its coat and make a broom to complete the look.

1st day of school

2008-06-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

is tomorrow, for those among us in summer school. I am looking forward to the big jump, get the first day out of the way and the mental battle is half over (the other half is the finial).

I finished Alan Alda's most current book, Things I Overhear While Talking to Myself on my Kindle. Had I known it was a collection of his thoughts on some of his speeches, I probably would have waited abit. After all, why would I want a book that is essentially a commencement speech when I barely listened to the last one I heard a month ago? That being said, I did enjoy the read. More than I enjoyed Neil Gaiman's Stardust. Did not see that one coming.

Hopefully, I can finish Anthony Trollope's He Knew He Was Right by the middle of next month. I have no clue as to how long this text is, there isn't a "Table of Content" page on my Kindle for it. Then I can start on Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) or Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett).

Knitting wise...well, give me a day or two, I want to surprise you (and myself).

Warning: Mostly Knitting Content

2008-06-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

you have been warned.

I feel a little "not-in-charge" today, so you get to listen to me rant and rave about knitting.

first up:

I finished the Fish Washcloths yesterday(-ish). Take that off the WIP list.

secondly:

Clown Sock number one is finished. To avoid SSS, I'm taking a break from this one. I love the way the yarn feels knit up, but the colors...not so great. Everyone says they like them, but I'm undecided. The pattern is cool, I like what it does for the sock. Maybe it would look better in a solid color.

and last is:

I threw a pair of cotton socks OTN. I figure I need to knit something up for my Full-Blooded Sister, since I abandoned the cardigan she wanted. Hope she likes this, but wish I had just bought her a gift card to somewhere.

And, as I was bored watching Wheel of Fortune, I poked about the people on Ravelry. They are highlighting some Nordic Knitters. Why God, did you not make me from a Nordic Country? Their projects are unbelievable and their stitches! Good stars, I now have a knitting ambition. See what I mean? Mustaa villaa and Heidi's knitbits are just two of the many, many talented knitters from that corner of the world. Though I cannot read Vestanposturinn's blog, the pictures are outstanding, check her out on Ravelry as HarpaJ to see her knitting projects. Trust me, this is just a very small portion of them. In fact, I am off to admire some more.

dance

2008-06-01T15:11:00.001-07:00

we got just a wee bit scared. Both at Dress Rehearsal yesterday and at the Recital today. The teacher helped us out. It was our first number without the class on stage as well. However, all is great in the world. Why? Dance is over for the summer and we don't have to suffer this for another year.

who is THE Big Blue Bird? My very own StepPaternal Grandmother. Would the camera crew please come out of the bushes now?

personal revolution

2008-05-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

on Tuesday, I took the advise: "Stop bitching. Start a revolution."

so, after running some errands in Memphis, I took a timeout at the Botanical Gardens.

I'm thinking about making a poster out of this picture.

then, I decided to frog somethings that needed it and took advantage of a really good sale at a LYS that I do not care to patron. But, 50% off is 50% off.

now, I am back to my normal life. Sisters, yarn, reading, etc. The Twin's dance recital is this weekend. (read: lots of knitting time while waiting to watch them twirl.)

I guess that sums it all up for now...

nothing new

2008-05-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

nothing old either. I'm still working on Icarus the II and socks for the Twins. I would be knitting more, but I have been reading on my Kindle. Sadly, I have nothing OTN that is mindless. So it is either read or knit and my books are a bit engrossing. Sure, there is the gift stock that can always grow some more but I don't want to make another scarf or dishcloth for the rest of the week.

the Step-Paternal Grandmother and I saw the new Indiana Jones movie. Despite the obvious historical inaccuracies, it was a good movie. And what did I expect out of an Indiana Jones film? A garter stitch scarf came out of the film with me for the stock but I don't really like it too much.

odd

2008-05-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

I've been working. But I feel so much better these days. I actually had blood drawn without crying, screaming, or someone to hold me down. Do I want to do it again anytime soon? Are you joking? I hate non-craft needles. Despite these new pills, I am still afraid of needles that go into the body. This is coming from the person who couldn't wait to dissect animals in Biology.

socks for children are proving more exasperating than adult socks. I should know, I have both OTN (On The Needles for you non-knitters). My Sister's Birthday present isn't working at all, so I am opting to knit a pair of thick, green, cotton socks for her instead. I don't like cotton, it has absolutely no memory. I'm modifying Debbie Tomkies' Feet First pattern to get the job done. No clue what I'm doing with the Twins' socks.

lastly, I am going on a short vacation. 3 days and 2 nights at the Paternal Grandmother's house, located in a town that brags about its 3 working stoplights. Pure bliss for the over stressed me.

not very long post

2008-05-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

between work, Full-Blooded Sister in the hospital, and sleep, there hasn't been that much going on.

thankfully, my Sister is back home after spending almost five days in the hospital with a bladder infection.

I saw the second Narnia movie today. Considering I haven't read the book to this one (and only half of the first book), I thought it was a good movie. Even with the Imperialist overtones. I'm not a big fan of C.S. Lewis which is slightly odd considering my (current) favorite lit-movement is based or written in the Colonial Context (a big word that proves I actually paid attention in class). Oh well, can't like every author out there.

knitting wise, I remember why I don't like knitting socks. There is just no room on them to have fun on the kid sizes. Let's not even count the cast-ons and frogging that took place this weekend. Best forgotten, but to sum up: I have to follow a pattern. And all the sock for kids patterns go cuff down rather than toe-up. I thought to make my own...too much pain on my part. Maybe next year....

fresh off the needles

2008-05-13T14:43:00.001-07:00

I feel like I've been fraying at the edges lately. Sunday I did not even feel like knitting. Nevertheless, I did manage to finish my own socks. And take pictures of them.

I am so glad

2008-05-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

...that I decided not to become a professor. Better yet, I will never be a teacher. To all those among us who fulfill those jobs, I give you a standing ovation. Here in the States, it is teacher appreciation week. And after working at the local intermediate school (4th and 5th grade) for the past 4 days, I can truly say I admire the men and women who teach.

Wednesday was really exciting. My standing Wednesday job, answering phones, was canceled. This gave me no excuse why I shouldn't sub all day. I was emotionally fried at 3 of the clock, so I grabbed a hot fudge Sunday on my way to Stash. Debbie Macomber was signing copies of her new book, Twenty Wishes, at Burke's Bookstore and I was able to pick up a book for Mom. Afterwards, she and about 5 others walked the three blocks to Stash. Let me say, she was one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to meet. I did not get my photo taken with her (no surprise to those who are acquainted with my disdain of photographic proof of my existence). It was cool. But more importantly, Mom was thrilled with the book. She is currently reading that series and will not let me start until she is finished. Something about wanting to read a book before me.

Yesterday, was long. Today was longer. The difference being, I worked last night at Stash. I was inspired to knit socks for the Twins. I know, I know, socks for kindergardeners. The Maternal Grandmother thinks leg warmers for dance class would be better. I'll think about it.

may or may not

2008-05-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

it is that wonderful time of the year again. The local public school where I sub is experiencing Spring Fever with its teachers. This means I am on call for the rest of the semester. And I may or may not be working everyday for the rest of May. Lucky me.

I got a call this morning, so I packed my sock and we were off. These pictures were taken this morning, before I went in. Ta-da!

I have no clue what tomorrow's plan is. But it should all work out.

Aftermath...

2008-05-04T19:19:00.001-07:00

graduation is not how I would have pictured it. Not all the family could make it, but lunch was a very pleasant affair to all who came. I wish that my Paternal Grandmother could have stayed around a little longer. All the same, it meant a great deal to me.

I knit during most of the ceremony. Icarus/Daedalus is in the last repeat of Chart I.

I might add another repeat, I have the yarn and time... Well, I have the yarn in any case. Although I have discovered something: one knows one knits to much when ones friends no longer blink when one takes out one's WIP.

Cable has discovered window ledges exists outside.

her opinion of them remains unformed at the present time. I, however, think she will be back up there soon enough. She does admit to liking the older cat in the family, Buddy. He is great to take naps with. (No worries about future generations, both cats have been made "it"s.)

believe it or not, Buddy is actually bigger than Cable.

Puppy does not appear jealous. And why would she? We're going to Library School this Fall. I know who I belong to.

while I am in a much better place than I was this time last year, I am still getting back to me. A long process to be sure, but well worth the effort I think.

May Day!

2008-05-02T15:23:00.000-07:00

one day late, to be sure. But still, Happy Dancing Around a Large Phallic Symbol with Flowers.

the whole graduation thing is starting to be real. The strangling bit of cloth did that to me.

more later, my friend Purl Fiddlestix is here for the weekend and we are catching up. Pirate Liberian is swing through town around lunch, therefore she'll be able to celebrate with us.

this is so cool.

Ingoring

2008-04-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

for the record: I have not been ignoring everyone...I have been ignoring life outside of the academic tunnel. Ya'll know the one. Last minute papers, failing French translation test, graduation stuff, and a trip to Knoxville. What does that mean? Well, 44 new emails, delayed correspondences, and a pile of papers on my desk that I have no clue what they are for.

Major Highlights

Cable is now hooked on catnip, in fact, she gets high on it.

I am looking forward to Knoxville, and Puppy might come with me.

we'll know tomorrow if I can walk on Saturday (failed French exam means summer classes that I need to resister for).

this great new bag came in just before the Maternal Grandparents and I left for our trip. Every[knitting]one loves it. Turns out my Pirate Librarian friend sent it as a graduation present. It so rocks!

I like small needles. Lace. Socks (good stars! I cannot believe I just wrote that). Ok, so I've redone the heel of My Socks three times...and it is only the first sock. It will hit me soon enough.

Tabula Rasa

2008-04-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

for those among us who are a little rusty in their Latin, it means "clean slate." Usually, this refers to a child, especially one starting school. Their minds are literally a blank page to be filled with knowledge by teachers.

in my case, Tabula Rasa means my jumpdrive broke today. Thankfully, it was after my Power Point presentation on Ophelia. It contained every paper I have written since my High School Senior English paper and all the horrible poetry every teenager writes. All of it, gone. Tabula rasa.

I know, I know. I should have backed everything up at least five times. Next time I will.

thankfully, my thesis is turned in. An extra copy on the correct paper is in my car, as is a copy in the cheap, mass-purchased paper. Because the most up to date draft was on the jumpdrive. My Shakespeare paper is not due until next week, so that's no big. I need to start at the bottom again anyways.

oh, my car. Funny thing about that. It died again. Not even a week after a new battery. Mommy had to take me to school. The Maternal Grandfather picked me up, but did not take me to my LYS.

obviously, this was not a good day.

is it over yet?

2008-04-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

nope. Not by a long shot.

I wanted to visit the Paternal Grandmother this past weekend but I was emotionally drained and had high levels of anxiety (thank you neurological chemical imbalance). It didn't help that my battery died Thursday night, no worries now I have a new one.

Saturday I worked at my LYS all day; very last minute deal. It helped to get away from life and help other knitters.

the "can you translate French?" test was today. I thought they wanted a word-for-word transliteration and spent two hours struggling over half the passage. I tried so hard to give her a near perfect translation. This was difficult, seeing that my French is worst than I thought (which wasn't much to begin with). Oh well. It's out of my hands now. Deep, cleansing breathes.

I also intended to turn in a re-formatted thesis today. Printed it off in a computer lab. Took it to be printed on the special paper. Paid for 4 bindings at the Burster's office. Then I realized I had left the page of signatures at home. You know, the one that says everyone liked it enough for me to graduate next month? Yeah, that one.

obviously, today was a lesson in letting things go. I am an examine supervisor this week for the local public school. Lots of knitting time as I walk around to check on people. I get paid to walk around and knit. Naturally, there are some kids that just don't get:

how important the test is
how to manage time
the value of taking as much time as possible
how to write neatly

like I said, this is just another lesson about letting things go.

before I sign off for the night, Sister and her Boyfriend are still here. She is sick and he is taking care of her. This means there is no parking in the carport and I am having control issues. Thanks panic disorder, I really needed the help.

it finally happened

2008-04-10T09:10:00.001-07:00

...I caught myself looking at sock yarn and thinking, "That would be pretty on my foot." Then, I flipped through the recent issue of Simply Knitting (it's a UK published mag) and there was a pattern for a toe-up sock on four double-point needles (dpn). My first thought, "Ooooo. I wonder what it would look like in green."

sure, I've knit up socks before (4 pairs) and I'm working on the 5th pair now. But they've all been knit for my Maternal Grandmother. I have smaller feet, and would be promoted to carry a sock project around if it were mine....There I go again! New subject.

I should be able to finish up my Pooka Gloves today. And, I finally cast on the second sleeve of my Lent project. I've also come to the conclusion that Lent 2009 will be charity knitting.

in other news, I take a French test (to complete yet another piece of paper that will get me a degree. Strangely enough, a degree is a piece of paper) on Monday. Then present on Hamlet on Wed. Visit doctor on Thursday. And work every morning either at the Public School as an unbiased adult for yearly exams or as a receptionist. Fun stuff.

needless to say, I am running away this weekend. Haven't done that in ages. Well, at least not since early in the semester. Warning to all future Grad Students: Thesis suck the life out of you.

lookie! Pictures...

2008-04-07T16:14:00.001-07:00

The Scarf Tree/Arbor/Whatever

For one of the members of my Thesis Panel

For another member of the Panel

Yarn I bought to celebrate Thesis Defense...don't look at the price

A scarf for Thesis Adviser

Cable likes knitting

I would give you violets, but they withered all

2008-04-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

besides being a part of my Shakespeare semester project, I like this line.

actually, I feel like this line. The de-stress after the thesis defense, lack of sleep, and other stuff has left me feeling very much like Ophelia these days.

I've picked up Daedalus again (the Icarus shawl from Interweave Knits) and so far we are flying well. My Pooka gloves are also coming along quite nicely. For some odd reason, I just cannot work on my sister's birthday gift. Maybe it will be Christmas instead of birthday.

but, I'm off again. This time to research Shakespeare.

Big Paper Trumps All

2008-04-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

ok, so apparently when you pass a defense you have to spend four or five days revising it. It is still not where I want it, but my Thesis Adviser is willing to sign off on it. I am not sure how I feel about this, I'll talk to him about it via email today.

I finally bought StepSister no. 1's graduation present yesterday. It became one of those errands I needed to do but could never remember to.

now I must go get my homework done. The non-thesis kind I've been putting off.

did ya miss me?

2008-03-29T06:12:00.001-07:00

I know I've missed me. But all the hard work I've put in this week with getting a topic for my Shakespeare's semester project approved and preparing for my Thesis Defense has been well worth the effort.

because yesterday afternoon I passed my defense with "minor corrections."

I knew they would want to see a conclusion (still haven't written that) before I turn it in for good. Not to mention the formating which is easier for writing but not to guidelines. Meaning, I have to turn in a 'perfect, completed thesis' to my Thesis Adviser on Monday.

guess what I'm doing this weekend? Working today at my LYS (have to work off my celebratory yarn) then promptly returning to my study to work.

but I passed the defense.

you do not have to read this

2008-03-24T07:57:00.001-07:00

so, I was catching up on some of my Ravelry friends' blogs when I discovered one friend was talking about a friend's new blog. A Slice of Liberal Tongue on Wry, how could I not click over with a title like that? (and the rest of the world says in a big voice, "Quite easily actually.")

the March 19th post is interesting, if only from an English perspective about the current use of the word "romantic." Anyways, I do not normally pull the politics of the world in this space. There are plenty of other people to do that and they enjoy it.

why bring this up? (and feel free to quit reading at any time) Because I am knee deep in the humanities and the aforementioned blog reminded me of a poem by a trench-war poet, Wilford Owen. Dulce Et Decorum Est is not my favorite of his works, though it is probably the one read most often. I found Owen in my English Lit 2 survey class as an undergraduate, and haunted bookstores for two years looking for a complete collection because I have been burned by those "complete works" before. My copy is currently standing beside Virgina Woolf on my bookshelf, but in any case I am rambling.

shortly after reading Owen, I better understood how people felt about the Great War. I mean, for the first time, the western world saw the damage science and technology could bring about. The people before then could boast of all the wonder things that the modern world had and think themselves superior. Science and technology were suppose to make life better and cure just about anything you had. But then the complete and utter destruction of war came about. War was no longer glamorous and played by a code and play book.

let's all be honest, war has not improved much since then. Sure, we have better toys and weapons, but it is still devastating even with the reduced body count. I admit wholeheartedly to being a pacifist and anyone who knows me in real life is not surprised by this admission. After all, my dolls were ambassadors from the U.N. who negotiated trade and water rights. Still, Owen's poetry confirms my belief that peace, not war, should hold the title of 'romantic.'

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.

2 things...

2008-03-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

that happen every Spring. Finals are coming up. And the Maternal Grandmother has Spring Break. Compared to the latter, the former is so much better. Why? Because she turns the house upside down to clean and rearrange just about every room we have. It is worse than a 7 novel comprehensive essay exam when you've only read 4 of the books. At least you walk in knowing you need some serious BS skills. Here, you never know where things are going or when you'll be able to find the stuff you need to.

yesterday, when she started talking about moving more furniture pieces into my room, Puppy and I left. And Puppy had one big adventure. We went down to Mom's house where I played sister/knit. She played in Mom's backyard with that home's resident hyper-insane dog. When the dogs came in, they played with the Twins who took them for a walk in the front yard. Then Mom, the Twins, Puppy, and I went to give StepDad and crew lunch. I ate a sandwich while walking around the developing subdivision with Pup. From there, we all went to Mom's office where my dog was able to drink some pond water (she tells me it is so much better and does not compare with the nasty tap water I give her). Needless to say, Puppy slept very well last night.

Cable is making new friends, but does not want these cats to come over to play. The new house layout is cool in her opinion, great big empty boxes, scrap paper, and new places to climb and/or hide. Other than being really cute and active, nothing much has happened to her.

school is going to be interesting this week: get a topic for Shakespeare's big essay/paper, nail down a defense date (or have one), figure out when I can take a test proving if I ever got lost in the back vineyards of France I could communicate (if only on notebook paper), and finish my homework/readings for the week. Wow. That is one long sentence.

as far as knitting goes (oh come on, you were expecting this part sometime), I've actually run into a snag. My Full-Blooded Sister's gift is hurting my hands to knit. No, I am perfectly serious. I thought the problem was the double-knitting the sleeves, a new technique for me and well there is a learning curve at times. Hence (such a lovely word that is starting to fade away) I frogged what I had done. Still hurts, so I went up a needle size from a US size 8 to US size 9. No improvement. I don't get it. I mean, the Pooka evening gloves are on a US size 3 and they don't give me any pain. The Xylem shrug was on a US size 10 and 10.5, they did not hurt. I could try knitting looser and less often. Or I could say the knitting deities do not want me to finish it. Either way, I am adjusting the pattern and sleeping with an IcyHot treatment.

my friend the Pirate Librarian (no, she doesn't knit so don't try to find her on the Pirate Knitters Group on Ravelry) sent me some wonderful pictures of her vacation. Never had the desire to see the desert first hand before, still do not want to buy the ticket but am more interested in the possibility. I really should write her an email tomorrow. You know, when I am hiding from the house make-over.

in any event, this post should be long enough to make up for the lack of post recently. So, night ya'll. BTW-the Easter Bunny brought my "Carpe Lanam" (Latin: Seize the Wool) shirt from the Sticks & String podcast. Very cool.

the wait

2008-03-19T06:04:00.001-07:00

I dropped off copies of my working thesis to my panel. It is approximately 53 pages long. Without a conclusion. Oh well. It will come together somehow.

needless to say, I dropped down asleep before nine last night. My mind was just tired. Body could have run a marathon. Which is a good reason why Puppy and I went for a walk this morning at 6:45.

and I finished the body of my "Xylem" shrug. Too tired to model for the camera, but I should have something up in a few days. My "Pooka" gloves have been cast on. Yea!

i got in

2008-03-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

that's right. I am accepted to Library School in TN. Just thought I'd let you know.

Now, back to the Thesis.

Happy Ides Everyone!

2008-03-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

and if your name happens to be Julius Caesar, I hope you made it through the day. If you've made it this far, you have a pretty good chance of making it.

I have spent the day reading Marx and applying to 2 of 3 Chapters. Had I not been knitting, I would not have made it. In fact, I present to you: Marx

In Knitting news, my Icarus is looking good...not on camera. But Daedalus will fly! Yes, I named my shawl after the father instead of the son. That shows how much faith I have that this project is going to be beautiful. And I will fly away with it. No crashing into the sea.

I balled the yarn for my Pooka gloves, the pattern is actually from a book I already had. The only modification I am doing to it is knitting it in the round. Pictures when I CO. I am also nearly ready to figure out the math on a glove design of my own. Now that I know they are not hard, I want dozens.

In Cable news, she goes outside as often as she can and comes back when called. It hailed last night, in addition to the rain. The backyard is swamped, and she did not really like that all too much. Nothing stops this girl for long.

Puppy feels better now that the weather has warmed up and we can take walks again. She did not like the storm last night but we all made it through.

great. just great...

2008-03-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

two hours spent on a revision when I realized it had nothing to do with the thesis as a whole. Cut. New Document. Paste. Save As: Chapter 3 cuts. It even had Marx in it. (I am a close-reading-and-add-theory later kinda person.)

but I found a new podcast. Y Knit (it's genetic). A duet of guys with really great sound effects. This episode has a pretty cool interview. It just came out, so not a whole lot of back episodes to listen to. Lime & Violet has tons that I have not listened to out of time issues.

when I need a break tomorrow, I'll take pictures of some new things I've been working on. (I really just logged on to add the link.)

Sorry...

2008-03-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

...about the swearing. Stress bites.

good news, Chapter 1 is completely revised. Intro is written and in my Thesis Advisor's hands. Chapter 3 is waiting for me on his door.

Stars, I am so tired.

Please forgive my Early Modern English

2008-03-08T14:35:00.000-08:00

but by all the p*x*d ridden gr**n w**stc**ts, my thesis has to be defended and corrected and turned in by when? Bl**dy April. Z**nds.

what b*s*b*rn* fool came up with that date? That lowly s*rp*nt must have r*t for brains and a c*dp**c* full of stockings. Obviously, they have no sw*rd for any sh**th. Their lover gave that r*ng to another, crowning them with h*rns. Their mother's h**r reached her kn**s, her breath smelt of foul enough to keep the bravest soldier home in bed, and her teeth are green!

St*rs have mercy on my d*mn*d hide. S*n of a wh*r*.

if no one sees me, either in person, email, blog, or Ravelry; do not take it personally. I have to finish my bl**d*ng p*x*ed thesis. This coming week. P*ss*ng, bl**d*, n*n*th circle of h*ll.

snow

2008-03-07T12:57:00.000-08:00

Ok, so this is no big for most of the country, continent, world. But here in the land where "hills" are called "mountains," this much snow is enough to cancel school and make all the grocery stores run out of milk and bread. Naturally, I took Mama Puppy and her foundling out to explore.

We were not outside more than a few moments. It is cold.

good news

2008-03-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Chapter 2 revision: done

Presentation (20-30 minutes) on Barrie: date set

3rd Person on Thesis Committee: found

My Lent project: 54% done

KAL knitting: started and making good progress

Life is very, very good.

stupid clouds

2008-03-04T07:34:00.000-08:00

I had the most perfect day in the whole wide world planned yesterday. Like, going to the bookstore and pick-up a new knitting magazine followed by knitting at the Botanical Gardens. The past 10 days have been tough, between pushing myself to finish Ch 3 and turn it in before the break and the normal stress of family drama and...well, you get the idea. I am worn thin and needed a day off. There was some overcast, but I thought the rain had a 4 o'clock appointment. Therefore, I started strolling along my favorite paths. Then the clouds did one of the following things:

Lost their watch
Forgot when they were suppose to rain
Came really early, like 10 o'clock in the morning early
Thought it would be great fun to ruin my day

However, there is a structure in the Japanese gardens where you can eat, sleep, chat, or wait out a storm. On the way to said shelter, it started to pour. Then thunder. I had to go home.

Needless to say, the rain made things a bit cooler. For the past few days prior to yesterday, the weather has been around 70 F (21 C). It is now 32 F (0 C). Cold enough to spit snow, yet not nearly enough to make it stick. No snow day for us. Ha! I am on Spring Break this week so it does not affect me.

One good thing did come out of yesterday's not-so-perfect day, I found a new knitting podcast. Sticks & String is by this Australian guy. Now normally, I do not care for a single person podcasts. In fact, I like the duets so much more. This proves to be the exception to prove the rule. Must be the accent.

What else is happening in life? Oh, new favorite song to add to the list of favorite songs. PBS was having a fund raiser last night featuring The High Kings of Dublin (no website that I could find). They sang, "Black Velvet Band" and I swear if they had performed "My Lagan Love" I would have made a pledged to get front row seats. The new song is about a girl "with diamond eyes" got him in trouble for stealing. Lovely vocals, after all it is a group off 4 tenors/high baritones. So what did I expect?

a new world

2008-03-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

The star of my blog, Cable the Fearless Kitten, has discovered the outside world. Our lives will never be the same again.

happy leap year

2008-02-29T19:14:00.000-08:00

hehe. I don't get to say that very often so I am taking full advantage of it now.

My Thesis Adviser told me Chapter 2 was a good first draft. He is doing a talk tomorrow night and my English buddy KMB and I are going. As of tomorrow, Spring Break has come so she is off to a concert in Chicago late next week. Lucky. I'll be here, in front of the computer screen. Doing homework.

Stress levels are through the roof, which means I have been "picking" myself. Major problem as the bottom of my lip really hurts. Therefore, I am wearing gloves until I break the habit or stress goes away. Knitting gloves really was not so horrible. Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, the pair I am wearing are the first pair and there are so many mistakes. Live and learn, as the slogan goes. The next pair will be in black. On really small needles.

Puppy got a hair cut yesterday. She looks so different without her broom-like-tail. But she is cute and happy and so soft. What else matters?

And so, before I sign off for the night...I discovered this week how Cable has been stealing my yarn. The Little Imp has been climbing up to what was once a safe place for a bowl of yarn. No worries, all is now safe and secure.

cats. They never have gotten over the whole Egyptian god thing.

it's happened again

2008-02-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

ever since I started knitting, I have said the following: "I will never knit ________."

insert the following: cables, lace, socks on needles smaller than 5, design a garment, gloves.

I have now done all of the above. Maybe I should never say that sentence again.

In non-knitting news

Yesterday was not a good day. In fact, it resembled a Monday in all its glory. I do not want to go into details. Sorry.

Puppy is getting groomed today. Cable gets her staples out tomorrow.

Spring Break is next week but they still excused me from jury duty.

chapter 3

2008-02-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

has now been written. Which should explain my silence.

I have two, count them two, KALs* starting this week. And there is another on going on that I want to participate in. But I only have two hands and limited time. Plus there is still Lent to do.

Stars I am beat. I think I'll buy yarn tomorrow.

*--Knit-A-Long: where a group acts as a pep-group to each other as they work on the same pattern, with each member having their own project

just 1 of those days

2008-02-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

you know those days when you should get a metal and dinner just for getting out of bed? That would be me. Today.

I blame all the med change in such a short time.

Cable is feeling so much better. She has already climbed up the entertainment center several times. No pain pills after the first post-surgery day (and even that was half of what we could have given her). Right now, she is licking at her staples. It's been five days, so some of the skin should be knitted by now. She spent all day on her sunlit perch on my window.

I went to Mom's for my computer and to pick up some letters she wanted posted today. Ended up staying most of the day with her. She is getting the "crud" as we call it here. Though she is feeling better.

Tomorrow I will finish Chapter 3. Right now I just want to look at yarn. See what came in yesterday:

The coral is actually my Lent this year. Rather than giving something up, I am doing a project I normally would not do. Same amount of suffering goes into it, so I am more than set for the year. I was sick when I was officially suppose to start, but I think God would understand. No, I am not Catholic, however, Lent is just something I do every year since my undergraduate years. Understanding through suffering.

I fully intend to call it an early night. My Black Adder III DVD came in on Thursday and I have yet to see all 6 episodes more than thrice.

due cover your ears

2008-02-20T17:39:00.000-08:00

...as I scream out bad words.

Spring Break is the first full week in March. Not the third. I had wanted my thesis to have a rough draft by then. Guess that won't be happening.

Ah!

Oops, low battery.

Bye

no more pain pills for the cat

2008-02-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

Cable was "fixed" today. Kinda short notice/last minute but she pulled through like the survivor she is. In fact, we felt so bad for her (and her obvious pain) that I gave her one of the pain pills the vet gave her.

I took advantage of the poor thing and got out my drop spindle. (Let me just say right now: I love spinning, I am just not very good at it. Yet.) Well, pretty soon Cable was watching me. Then, when more of the meds kicked in, she started attacking my roving. I should add that this roving is in individual baggies inside a zipped, clear bag. She then began to attack the knitting I had in my purse.

I vote, we not give out the pain pills.

But here is the very lumpy ball of yarn that I spun. It's a single ply, meaning I am a lazy person and I feared for the life of my creation. Yes, it is the work of a person spinning for the first time. And I will knit it up into a scarf for myself. It will drape on some chair, its sole purpose of existence will be the proof that I did it. Think of the first scarf you ever knitted, and how proud you were when you wore it. Then you got better at this whole knitting thing, and before you knew it, the scarf served only to remind you where you started. That is this ball's mission in life.

chapter 2

2008-02-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

is written! Yea! Yahoo! Ha!

ok, so it is only a rough draft. But....Chapter 2 is written!

I feel so much better. Which is a very good thing, as now the remaining adults are down for the count. Good thing there is no school tomorrow, the Maternal Grandmother can now be as sick as she wants without wondering how her school is doing.

Now for the semi-bad news. My Full-Blooded (FB) Sister wants a cardi wrap for her birthday; but she is gracious enough to take it late. NO wool. :blinks for a moment: No wool? For someone who deals with 93% of her knitting with that wonderful fiber, this is horrible. Have I brought this up before? I know, it has all the flashing warning lights (she hasn't liked or used previously knitted gifts). So why am I searching WEBS (aka: black hole in my checkbook if I let myself stray too long) for cheap acrylic? Because she by all accounts is still my sister. And one day I might need her kidney. Scratch that, she'll need some of my liver first.

still

2008-02-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

So, I have been better; but you know how it is after you're sick. You play the catch-up game. I'm still playing that game. But things are looking up. The following pictures were my biggest entertainment for about a week. Exciting stuff, huh?

I finished "Viola's Waistcoat" for the 12th Night KAL. It looks amazing, if I do say so myself.

I've written 5 pages of Chapter 2 of my thesis. Chapter 1 is back with many marks.

I worked at Stash last night, mostly last minute since the owner was still doing the stomach bug thing. In about 2 hours, I go sub. Such is life, non?

stupid flu

2008-02-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

After uncounted amounts of days in bed, I finally feel human. Having a doctor tell you to stay in bed would be wonderful...but I felt too bad to even knit. Bad.

And I had to miss the Knitting Retreat the MemphisSnB had this weekend. That is just beyond bad. We can even call it a Very Bad Thing. I was really looking forward to it.

On the plus side, I will be well enough to present on Wed. No make-up presentation. This is a Good Thing. I might want to take care of that. Like now.

when does the carousel stop?

2008-02-05T17:50:00.001-08:00

because I would really like to get off now.

Three of the last 4 school days, I have been substitute teaching in the special needs, non-verbal class. Talk about emotionally exhausted, next up morally bankrupt (season 4 of MASH joke, in case you missed it).

My Sister's First Generation American boyfriend has been in town all weekend. The two of them went to see our Paternal Grandmother yesterday and got back sometime today. However, on Super Bowl day, family dinner was awkward. It's not like we hate the guy, we just do not know him and know little about him and not sure where the relationship stands, so what do we talk about? I gracefully went to Stash and blew off the afternoon (not really, it was more of a push out the door by the Maternal Grandmother but this way sounds better).

Now the Younger Twin has the flu, no surprise there based on how she's acted lately. The funky weather has the Elder Twin's knee acting up and not in a good way. Cannot say I am faring any better, but no flu.

In some good news, I have a desk in my study room and a very rough draft of Chapter 1 of 3.

the good and the bad

2008-01-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

thankfully, there is no ugly.

There is, however, another irritating person in my Shakespeare class. The last 10 mintues or so of class, I spent 'angry knitting.' The five other girls who could see what I was doing were shaking with an empathic laughter. I say empathic because one or two of them were seriously eyeballing a golf club someone left in the room. Oddly enough, that person was sitting right beside this new person. Everyone was in a hurry to get out of that room. And not because it was ho and stuffy, which it was. A horrid thought: who will be paired with this new person for group presentations? Not me. I have sharp, pointy sticks.

In better news, I can spin. Somewhat. Think two seperate motions instead of one fluid one paired with uneven yarn and that is me. On the plus side, I bought some roving from BlueGooseGlen earlier this week and it came in today. I swear that I ordered it late Monday and it was in the mailbox today. I found them on Ebay while doing a search for roving within 200 miles of Memphis and their name popped up. Let me tell you, this stuff is gorgeous. And sooooooo soft. From what I have seen just window shopping on Etsy, Blue Goose Glen is priced reasonable. Here are some pictures of the roving. As well as the progress I've made on the Viola Waistcoat/Vest for Mom.

Karma is so going to be after me

2008-01-28T17:42:00.001-08:00

I've been busy. See?

In addition to The Twin's cardis, I am on page 8 of my thesis. That means I have 7 more pages for Chapter 1 and 52 pages total left to write. Is that not wonderful? I have also been working and knitting. Lots of studying. And knitting. Long hours on the computer and no blogging. No clue why that is.

This past weekend was a knitting blast. I worked all Saturday at Stash where a rather large bookshelf of Rowan yarn and pattern books fell down. No one was hurt. Yarn is a little dusty but is now safe in boxes. Yesterday, I drove to Jonesboro for a Knit-n-Meet and meet some knitters from Ravelry. I would post a picture, but that would be verifying my existence. My buddy, Purl Fiddlestix showed up as a complete surprise and I have talked her into knitting Icarus. You must see it to understand. Here is one version of it.

This will all come back to get me, do not mistake me. But what will get me the most is that that person, whom will not be named, is not paired with me for Shakespeare presentations. I am with my second string designated smoker from Canada. My friends smoke, I knit, we talk, we put up with each others' addictions. Sadly, the new guy in class had no friend to sign his name. He has been paired with that person as the last group presentation of the semester. I feel slightly guilty for pairing up so early. But I honestly could not take it this semester. Karma will make me pay later.

cables of all kinds

2008-01-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

So, I could be writing about how cool Macbeth is, because it is. The performance yesterday, a modern interpretation, was nice; not as good as the one I saw before, but still good. Or I could write about how I am enjoying the last few moments free of little girl giggling (the Twins have their BFF and her little sister coming over).

Instead, I am posting these pictures of Cable's three new hobbies:

1. Watching basketball on TV

2. Playing basketball with people in the TV

3. Knitting

I knew she was a smart cat.

But I must wonder back to other things. Like homework.