01 March 2006
Yes, I'm back
I'm home. I got in at midnight, home by 1 a.m., in bed around 2. I'm bushed people. Yet I did work today. I must be crazy.
The trip was great. Now that I'm home I'm cold, because it was, like, 70 degrees every day there. And on Tuesday, when it rained a bit, it was still warmer than it is here. Alicia, my best friend, looks great, especially only 1 month after having a baby. She's amazing. 4 kids. Not easy. The new baby is so handsome, he's my new boyfriend. And yes, there's pictures, I've just been too tired to download them. And Alicia took a lot too, so I'll post what she sends me when I get them. The kids (from now on refered to as things # 1 through 4) are brilliant, all of them. Thing #2 (her eldest son) was getting over a cold, but he's just the most amazing 3 year old I've ever met. How many of you know a 3 year old who can actually hit a thrown baseball, and we're talking that he can connect, hit it straight, and FAR. He can also throw a football - spiral and everything, and catch one too. And tell you all about dinosaurs, and count, and he can do almost the whole alphabet in sign language. Plus he's just cute. Thing #1 is too smart for her own good. I did start teaching her how to knit. We got her a book/kit at Barnes and Noble on Monday night, and I showed her a few things. By Tuesday morning before school she was casting on, on her own. Thing #3 is jealous of her new baby brother, and tries on a fairly regular basis to "take him out." But she's still a charmer. And is using sign language to tell you what she wants, and she's not even 2 yet. (They hired a lady, who I met and really like, to come in 3 days a week in the mornings to help Alicia get everyone off to school and stuff, and this lady is teaching #3 sign language.) I mean, hell, its only possible to do so much when breast feeding and that kid eats like every 1/2 hour!
I did get quite a bit of knitting done this trip. I'm almost finished with a pair of Bearfoot Mountain Colors socks, I just have to put in the afterthought heels. And I started another pair of toe-up 2 socks on 2 circulars with afterthought heels in Lorna's Laces Jungle Stripe on the plane home. I have decided to name these socks, The Socks that Barney Shat. You'll understand when I post pictures.
I came to the realization that I have seen more movies while travelling than I have at home. So I've decided to start Sarah's Unplanned Travelling Movie Review. I'll use a set of 5 double-points to rate. Never mind what size! Recently seen: Cinderella Man (on the bus-twice to New York) and Walk the Line (to and from Las Vegas). Originally I hadn't planned on seeing either of these movies. I don't like Russel Crowe or Joaquin Phoenix. But I give them both 5 DPs. I haven't stopped singing Johnny Cash songs yet! Needless to say, Walk the Line made me realize EXACTLY what I want for my birthday - the entire Johnny Cash (and Johnny Cash/June Carter) collection on CD, and an I-Pod. I'll go into further filmular detail tomorrow, when I'm not cross-eyed with jetlag.
Must sleep again. Now.
23:40 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Film , Knitting , Leisure , Travel | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this
16 February 2006
Oh Holy Snot!
I'm so tired its not even describeable. And I don't think that's a word. I've spent most of the beginning of the year out of town at trade shows. Most recently I was at Toy Fair, in New York this past Monday. Yes, up to NY and back to Baltimore in the same day. Why? Because of this.
That's my front yard. Sunday. Wanna see the back yard? I love my back yard. It's like a little piece of heaven. And here it is covered in snow.
Good thing I had finished these.
I made them from some handspun I bought from Lynnell at Yarn Rescue. Just a quick toe up and afterthought heel from worsted weight. I actually wrote down what I did, so I'll post a pattern. Yeah, I promise. I'll get to the damn ducky mittens too.
So anyway, because of the damn snow, I didn't get up to NY on Sunday. Missed the clown parade, my favorite part of Toy Fair. Poo. But I did finish another pair of socks out of Vesper Sock Yarn in Aquamelon. And I re-started a pair of Jaywalkers in Socks that Rock, Queen Rock. I'm not sure I like them though.
Now, there's been a lot going on in the news. I'm choosing not to comment on our esteemed Vice Accident shooting someone, or the completely odd opening ceremonies at the Olympics. Its just too much. But on the home front, Conan is now pneumonia free. And Sydney has developed an abcess on one of his teeth. And he only has like 6 left! The worst of it is that it is in one of his eye-teeth, where the root goes into his sinus cavity, which is why he is so sneezy, and the infection can affect his heart. So I have to go back to the doggy cardiologist with him as soon as I can. There's $400. Then they'll probably have to pull his poor doggy tooth, hoping we can avoid anesthesia, because of how it could affect his little oversized ticker. God knows how much that'll be. I'm thinking of taking up a collection.
This is what he thinks of it all. 
Sweet Sydney-potomus.
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11 January 2006
I'm sorry Secret Pal! I'm sorry!
I am so sorry Secret Pal! I'm going to give you the answers to the Secret Pal 7 Questionnaire just as soon as I explain why I haven't already done them. Oy. First you'll probably laugh, but then you'll want to cry.
Here goes my week:
On Friday I was in a car accident. Actually, I was hit. It was a low impact thing, no one was hurt. I was in the left lane, advancing to turn, and the guy in the center lane decided he needed to be in my lane, where I was, but he didn't look before he turned. So he got my car on the passenger side, from the front all the way to the back.
I had to drive up to Ft. Washington, PA with my father to go to the Philadelphia Gift Show (which OBVIOUSLY isn't actually in Philly, but who's really paying attention) on Saturday. We came back the same day, so its a looooong day, with just me and dad, which usually leads to some sort of unpleasant fireworks. Fortunately there really weren't any, which is odd, considering I had a headache that had been around for days AND I got my period.
I spent Sunday doing paperwork that I had been putting off.
Monday, I was supposed to go to some customers, but I never made it out of the house. I was on the phone with the company I lease my car from, and the insurance people all day. I have to go to the Geico insurance adjuster NEXT WEEK. Sheesh. That and I had to get plane tickets and a hotel room so I can fly to Atlanta this weekend for the Atlanta Gift Show. Yes, I could've booked earlier, but my father didn't make his mind up until late last week that I was definitely going. It'll be Saturday to Sunday, but now I've lost yet another weekend. And there's basically trade shows every week from now until mid February, so I don't know when I'll see another.
Yesterday, I was everywhere, trying to make up for Monday. Which wasn't so bad. I just didn't get time to go to the grocery store, but hell, that'll wait.
Today. Today's the kicker. We went to bed late last night, I've been struggling with the Crusoe Socks. Had to frog them once, and I had finally casted back on with 60 stitches yesterday and started again. I'm using Fleece Artist merino for this and she originally used Koigu, so either Koigu is much stretchier than I give it credit for, or she has teeny tiny feet, because 40-44 stitches never made it past my toes when I tried to try the first go on. Anyhoo, we went to bed around 1:30 am and I was woken up by Conan around 4:30 am. Usually this means he just wants to get off the bed and get a drink of water. Well, around 5:30 am I was awoken to a horrific smell and an upset Conan. He had had an ass-splosion on the bed (he's done that only once before, both times I didn't get up when he tried to get me to, and both times he didn't mean it). So of course I get up, take EVERYTHING off the bed, clean clean clean the floor and take the dogs out. I start the washer and that's when I notice, WATER COMING FROM UNDER THE WASHING MACHINE. That's not good. So I check the hoses, I look everywhere, hoping its coming from the back, or something, because UNDER is never good. Nope, its coming from under the washer and its a fairly good amount of water. So I finally find someone who can come out tomorrow to look at it. Just the "diagnosis" is going to cost me almost $100. And on top of it all, I think to myself, oh self, maybe I should move the basket of clean laundry off of the floor and out of the way of the potential water. So I do, but somehow manage to poke myself in the eye with my laundry. So now my eye hurts too. Geez. And Conan has started coughing on top of everything, and he's a bit out of it, so I'm even more worried about him. I'll be sleeping light tonight, huh?
On the upside, I DID get that paperwork done finally, and faxed off to the people it needed to go to. But I didn't get to go to the post office, which I desperately need to do. And I still haven't sent off the crappy 2006 Pattern a Day Calendar that I promised to swap with this woman on the Knitlist. I received the handspun yarn she swapped for it today. Crap. So, now I have to do that tomorrow too.
So anyway, hopefully you are only on the laughing stage.
Now I'll post the SP7 stuff.
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
Yes. I admit it. I've been known to use acrylic stuff, but I much prefer natural fibers. Blends are ok, but more wool than nylon/acrylic/poly-crap please.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Yes. I do both, though mostly I knit. But I have a wheel and once in a while I'll spin something. Just not recently.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Storage? What's that? Actually I have a Circular Solution and a Double Point Solution, and my straights are kept everywhere and in some needle rolls.
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been seriously knitting for about a year now. I'd consider myself to be of an intermediate skill level.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
You bet yer bippy I do. Here.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Coffee. But I love white gardenia too.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Too much so. I'm trying to cut down. Momma's gotta diet. But you can't go wrong with chocolate. Or chocolate covered coffee beans....mmm. I also like Goldenberg's Peanut Chews. But who doesn't?
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Not much. I can fix things, and once in a blue moon I'll make a card or something, but mainly its fiber stuff.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have an MP3 player and I'll listen to just about anything. I haven't been listening to much music right now.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love green. But if its bright or has a sparkly thing running through it, I'm hooked.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm single, with 2 fur children. Conan and Sydney. Both boys.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Anything but ponchos.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
ALPACA ALPACA ALPACA. Did you get that? I'm in love with handpainted and/or handspun stuff.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Polyester. Rayon. Man made goo.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Socks and lace. This week.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything. I haven't found one that I don't like to knit yet. But I haven't tried everything, so I also don't have a favorite either.
17. What are you knitting right now?
3 pairs of socks and a lace shawl. Don't ask. Just know that I'm going to stick to Queen Kahuna's way of doing things, or I'm using dps from now on.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YES. I. DO. The more useful the better, because I like to show them off.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circs.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Give me my addis. Otherwise I'll use my Denise set, thank you.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both, but I'm looking to upgrade to a wood swift and a jumbo winder.
22. How did you learn to knit?
When I was about 6. My mother and my grandmother. But I had no concentration then, so I was never any good.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
I guess about 6 months. Maybe longer. Its the Bevin Tank.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I like my dogs. Otherwise, armadillos.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween, or the 4th of July.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Armadillos.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave, Vogue Knitting
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I want Big Girls Knit when it comes out. And I want to add Elizabeth Zimmerman to my knitting library.
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to start doing intarsia and fair isle.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I wear a 7 1/2 to 8 shoe. I have an almost 9" ankle, and the same with the ball of my foot. I have better measurements someplace.....
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
March 18th.
There you go Secret Pal! Hope that helps. Now stop crying about my day and get back to knitting!
21:40 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting , work | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
31 December 2005
HAPPY NEW YEAR
May all your puppies be fuzzy and may your yarn have no knots.
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22 September 2005
Ok. So I may never pass creative writing....
I swear I think about blogging more than I actually do it. I have all of this great crap floating around in my head, but it likes to flitter away while I knit instead of blog. And I have no idea whatsoever which one should take precedence. You tell me. I had this great post all ready last night, I had typed it up and uploaded some pictures, and then I accidentally hit the wrong button and *poof* there it went into computer Never-Never land. I actually thought about crying. So I'll try to start again.
By the way, I am collecting patterns for baby boys. That's right, Auntie Sarah's Swirly of Love, which is currently OTN, but only being sporadically worked on until Sprout is finished (mainly its become my travel project, because I can stuff it into a bag, so it goes with me to doctors offices and such), will be going to a baby boy. 
I think I mentioned before that my best friend, yup the one who just moved to Las Vegas, is percolating baby #4. Who woulda thunk it? Look closely, you can see the gorgeous detail. I hid a little heart in there, but the picture is so blindingly red, that I don't think you'll be able to find it. I promise I'll have it done by the time I go out to Las Vegas next month.
And then here I am, with only fur-children, and nothing on the horizon. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys 
, but do I really have to say it? And as much as people say "Oh, you're only 30-whatever, you have plenty of time," or "there's nothing wrong with being a single woman over 30," its bullshit. They all jump to conclusions or look at you funny. I really don't mean to go on a self-pity thing, but for all of the rest of us out there you know what I mean. I kind of brought this one on myself tonight. I was reading the 2 blogs that I need to get my daily fix from, Knit and Tonic and Stitch Marker. Wendy and Larissa, I love you guys, but after reading about Girlfriend (I need one of her so I can knit cool stuff!) and Sebastian (just the babiest of babes), I really feel like I'm missing something. That, and you guys write so well, it well, makes me realize why I never got far in creative writing.
Ok. Back to random knitting. Almost done with 2nd side of Sprout (you may know sprout as Orangina. My Orangina #2 actually). I was going to take a picture of the big pile of yarn that will become Madeline, but the batteries in my digital camera died. I know! How very convenient! But its the truth. So I will have to post that gratuitous yarn pic later.
Meanwhile, I got an e-mail from Nick and Vivi and the kids yesterday. They made it to France ok and the kids are enrolled in school for about a month. 
Apparently, our Nina is the most popular girl in town! I am told that many of the boys have already declared their love for her and all the girls are inviting her to parties. (Nina is the one in the bottom, right-hand corner)
Wish I was there.
I'll close with some pictures of my fur-children. I have no life. Just knitting and my boys.
Conan Sydney
21:45 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
13 September 2005
A-doo doo doo, a-dah dah dah
Thats all I have to say to you.
Actually, no its not. I really have been lax in talking about my knitting. And idiots, but we'll leave those for later. I've actually been a finishing beyotch. I finished the Cable Eight sweater from the Spring 2005 IK yesterday morning. I'll post pictures once I've blocked the cable-y mess that it is, otherwise I just look like a cabled blob. But my big pride and joy is the Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi shawl that I finished! Had to frog a few times because I lost track of my stitches, but the end result is gorgeous. And huge. I'll have to take pictures of that too. Hah! I'm such a tease, aren't I?
Here's a picture from my cousin to cheer you up. Its dumbass and his dad on vacation.
And here's a joke from Nick and Vivi, newly arrived in France.
Q: What is George W. Bush's position on Roe v. Wade?
A: He really doesn't care how people get out of New Orleans.
17:23 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
31 July 2005
I coulda lived my life happily forever....
Without ever knowing that Jane Fonda had threesomes.
Sheesh.
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30 July 2005
Ahoy-hoy!
Well hello again! I know its been a long time, but I have a good excuse. I'm back, lighter one gall-bladder. Amongst other things. I had gall-bladder surgery on the 8th. Laparascopically (god only knows if I spelled that right...). I have 4 little scars on my stomach right now. The picture I put in my last post was only a few days after getting home. Its not so easy to take a picture upside down. I've had so many posts planned, but its been exhausting here in Puppy-topia.
Not only did I cast on for a sock pre-surgery, but I knit the little bastard in the recovery room and then in my room, until I got home. It was finished not long after, and so was its leetle friend.
Needless to say, I spent a lot of time knitting, or sleeping, mainly on my back. Which gave me the opportunity to take some of these pictures.
In the meantime, Auntie Peggie became a GRAMMA! So I had to knit up these for little Gwynneth.
I forgot to take pictures of the finished pair....poo.
I went back to working a bit too early, but no worries. But not a week after my staples were removed...and trust me, I had a whole SWINGLINE (that's a stapler brand for those of you who've never had to work in an office :) ) full of 'em, I had to go back to manual labor big time, for the Washington Gift Show. Trade Show from hell. Louise (and you know who you are..) if I had shat something up as well as you have this show, I'dve been fired long ago. We've been doing this trade show since I could stand, and now its a joke. But that was over this past Wednesday. Now I'll be working this weekend to catch up. I have to go out to 2 customers. But thank goodness for Sunday knitting group! I'm working on a Pi Shawl, but I'm prolly gonna have to frog it, because I screwed up the lacy part somewhere. So I'm not going to take pictures of it. But I will say that its being done in cream colored baby ull. Soft. Mmmmm. I did finally finish the Branching Out Scarf. And blocked it.
Now to package it up and send it off to Miss Glory, Duchess of Toys. Its a thank you for having my back and also the pink magic fairy wand (WITH MARIBOU!) that you see in the bottom of the picture. And yes, yes that is another Clapotis that you see there. I'm doing it in K1C2 2nd Time Cotton.
In newsier news, Conan is going to be a big brother! Actually, he's getting a big brother, but since he was here first, he'll be the big, little brother. See how that works? His name is Sydney
, and he's 10. We're getting him on Monday. So hopefully I'll have more updates soon!
In the meantime, I will leave you with what I call, MEDITATIONS ON A GREENIE.
Good night.
00:35 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
12 July 2005
Just what this world needs
I have staples in my stomach and some yahoo decides they need to leave religious tracts as commentary!?! What the eff? I've already deleted it, shoulda kept it and blog-spammed them back. Oh well.
Fun shit to come later. Right now my staples itch.
18:50 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
17 June 2005
And where have I been this time?
Ok. The reason I haven't been blogging this time is really cool.
(Excuse me while I fall off of my chair in hysterics for a second...I just watched Conan go into the yarn room and make himself at home on one of my knitting bags. Now he's just looking at me like I'm interrupting him, and what the HELL is all this yarn doing around him!)
Back to my excuses.
So the reason I haven't been blogging is because I made a little stop at the Hadassah shop around the corner (thats like a Goodwill for us Jews, which in my case the Goodwill is about 4 miles up the road, this was closer) to see if I could find a sweater or 2 to recycle. Everything in the store was 1/2 price! After I piled up about like a gazillion recycle-able sweaters on the counter, some of the old ladies there commented about how ready for winter I'd be. When I told them that I planned on ripping them all apart and knitting them into something else....well, you'da thought I just came up with proof of Cold Fission or something. They all thought it was incredibly neat that I was doing that, and then one of them said, "But we have yarn." BUT WE HAVE YARN!!! I had walked past this basket of yarn like 3 times and didn't see it! All of the yarn in there was at most $3.00 a bag, some was even 50 cents. And that was before taking 1/2 off. I bought it all. The whole escapade cost me like $44. Needless to say I've been spending time unravelling sweaters for the past few nights.
Plus I started 2 toe up socks. That's 2 socks, 1 each of 2 different types of yarn. One pair will be for me and one for my mom. I'm trying the Pom Squad pattern from MagKnits. Though if I have issues with that pattern, I'll try this.
Wish me luck!
10:05 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
12 June 2005
Of Fireflies and Taxes...
I bet you're expecting a poem of some sort. But no. I was just thinking about the fact that I saw fireflies in the trees again tonight and that my quarterly estimated taxes are due.
Actually, I kind of miss the 2 trees that were taken down recently. Last year there were fireflies galore in them and I would sit outside and just look at the trees lighting up. It was beautiful. There's not as many fireflies this year. Maybe its the heat?
I'm not going to expound on taxes. Why bother?
In good news today, Conan started going up and down steps again. And running.
I finished the front (or maybe its the back?) of Orangina today, and cast on for the back (or is it the front?). I've finished 2 repeats of the lace pattern so far....
And yes, I know that Honfest was yesterday. And no, I didn't go. It was too hot. But I DID go to Cloverhill with Peggy and bought some SoySilk. And then we found a new bead shop nearby and I bought some beads for the Lace and Agate Scarf. Of course now I'll have to figure out what yarn I'm going to use for the scarf itself.
Anyway, its back to the grindstone tomorrow. Poop.
23:59 Posted in Blog , Books , Doggie-poo , Knitting , Leisure | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05 June 2005
I had a whole great blog planned yesterday, and then the 'puter crashed
Yes, THIS IS WHAT YOU THINK IT IS...
Friday night I cast on for a sock. This would make my 3rd try. (Always got intimidated by turning the heel.)
You can't see it, but Conan is rolling his eyes at me. "Geez mom, ANOTHER sock?"
But, this time I was triumphant!!! My Everest has been climbed! The HEEL HAS BEEN TURNED! The gussett has been decreased! I'm on toward the toes!
I reached heel turning late yesterday afternoon. Happy dancing and general merriment ensued, along with a lot of phone calls to fellow knitters to alert them of said turned heel. Even NB (new boy...see previous posts) was proud of me. He saw it last night, after dinner, which it took us about an hour to get to. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
So all other knitting progress has been halted 
whilst I toil obsessively on THE SOCK.
Ignoring all else, and everything around me.
I wish I could say that I haven't eaten or had coffee, but who are we kidding? I can't live without my coffee. I did dream knitting last night though.
Oh yeah, by the way, meet Wendy!
11:05 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
01 June 2005
Now really, can one ever have TOO much knitting?
Why, oh why did I decide I had to frog my original attempt at the Branching Out Scarf, which of course is the yarn that I frogged from my original attempt at the Ripple Scarf from Scarf Style....oh why did I decide I had to frog and then start it all over again? Because I'm a damn perfectionist, thats why. Or at least a damn almost-perfectionist. I'm glad that I put in life-lines this time, because I've already had to rip out an entire pattern repeat. Of course this means that I haven't worked on Bevin since last week, and I'm ignoring my Orangina. Stupid, stupid, stupid. But we all know one can never have too many UFOs.
In the meantime, I'm trying to keep myself on a strict yarn diet. No more for at least....well I haven't decided that yet. But I should at least try to finish SOMETHING before I buy any more. Shouldn't I?
Like a lazy bum my best friend's birthday sweater is still in pieces on one of my chairs, waiting to be blocked, sewed together and then I can finish the ribbing. Her birthday is only in like what, 9 days? Where the hell did May go? I've got to frog the gift bag I was working on from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Guess what, couldn't quite make it work last minute and I didn't finish it in time. But I like the yarn. Maybe I'll use that to make Branching Out.....
I'm not happy with the yarn I've spun so far on Wendy, but I can't seem to get the tension just right....
And why, you may ask, am I so unable to concentrate? I think its all because of a boy. And no, not Conan. I've been seeing this new boy (who I will refer to from now on as NB), for about a month now. Infrequently. He's not really a boy, he's 40. And why have I not mentioned him before? Well, because I can't quite figure his shit out. I'm not really sure where I fit on his scale of importance, but when we're together....its, well...its yummy. And he did come over and hold me while Conan was having his surgery. And he's a good kisser. Rilly rilly good. I could get more in depth, but I dunno.......Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh! And they say WE are confusing. Bah.
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30 May 2005
Dumb bird
No. Really. There is a bird that used to keep flying into the window in the front of my house. Over and over and over. Every day. You'd think he would learn after a while. He'd do it for like an hour straight. After a short breather, back he'd be. Thwack...thwack...It got to the point that Conan wasn't even surprised by it. He'd just look at me like, "dumb bird momma." And I'd say,"yup, there's the dumb bird again." Its gotta hurt. Flying beak first into a window for hours on end.
Well I had the tree in front of that window taken down a week or so ago. Dumb bird went away right? Wrong. Now he's doing his same dumb bird routine in the back. I tried to take a picture of it, as proof, but all I could get was flash reflecting from the window and blur. So just take my word for it, we've got a dumb bird.
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28 May 2005
Updates updates updates
Well, I got my boy back from the vet on Friday night. He was a bit doped up still, but happy to see his momma! It was a BITCH of a weekend though. First of all, he kept standing up and even walking, which the doctor said he'd never seen a dog do so fast after this kind of surgery. Of course I was freaking out every time he did this, so I hardly left his side. Plus I was so worried he would be in pain. I had to feed him by hand all weekend too, he was hungry, but didn't want to make too much effort. That whole process was kinda iffy, because the week before the surgery he had had colitis, which gave him the explosive diarrheas. The cost for that trip to the vet was the impetus for his new nickname, Conan of the Golden Anus.
So, anyway, back to the knees. Saturday and Sunday nights he didn't sleep through the night. Poor baby couldn't find a comfy way to sleep. Needless to say there were a few hours there where I was sleeping sitting up with him in my arms. I had created a little sick room in the living room, and I was sleeping next to him on the floor, since every time we tried to sleep in bed he would get distressed. Part of the distress was that he couldn't stand up to pee on his own, and since he HATES to mess in the house, he would hold it and hold it and hold it, even though I'd take him outside and support him. He'd pee all over himself while he was asleep, which made it hard to keep his bandages dry, let alone anything else, even with Depends mats and wee-wee pads all over the place. Thank god for my next door neighbors. They have been so wonderful, with him AND me, during this whole ordeal. Peg and Jerry, we love you!!!
I had to go to Delaware on Monday for work, and I didn't want Peggy to have to worry about taking care of him, so I took him to stay at the vet. Which was good, because I was worried about one of his incisions, his cough, and also he hadn't pooped since the surgery. They gave him an enema, how embarrassing! But ever since Monday night, everything has been so much better! Now I just have to keep him from trying to go up and down steps. His stitches come out on Tuesday night, and then we start physical therapy.
I didn't get too much knitting done, mainly just working on Bevin. But my new spinning wheel got here yesterday!!!!!!!!! Its a double-drive Ashford Traveller. I put her together tonight. I have named her Wendy. 'Cuz she's windey. Windey-wendy. Tee hee. I've already spun a little bit on her. Pics later.
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11 May 2005
Lookie at my loot!
Check it out!
Lace weight from Morehouse Merino
It comes with a nifty pattern for a scarf/shawl, that is knit in the round, with drop-stitches, and then cut to create fringe. I'll post pics when I'm done.
I'll use this to close it with.
Then I bought some roving...
Look at those colors!
I plan on making beads with it, a la Lili La Malice...I love her stuff. I bought almost a full pound. But I may actually spin with it too. Yes, I am buying a spinning wheel! Weehee!
Ok, so I went to MDS$W both days. On Saturday I met up with my cousin and her friends (my cousin is actually about my father's age), and "shopped" with them. My cousin bought over $200 of Koigu at The Mannings, amongst other things. I crapped out after about 4 hours (granted, I got there when the gates opened, my cousin didn't show up until almost an hour later), plus Conan was home alone.
I went back on Sunday and met my mother there. She'd been giving me crap about wanting a spinning wheel, until she got a chance to try spinning, both with a wheel and with a drop spindle. Now she says I should make sure to buy a good one, that is also pretty. Needless to say, by the end of the weekend I was suffering from sensory overload, but I was happy! I don't know if Conan was.
And to top it all off, I stopped at All About Yarn on Sunday afternoon, to partake in their sale, but I ended up buying non-sale stuff. I'm going to wing a tank pattern with this....
On the flip side, Conan has had the flaming shits for the past 2 days. For those who don't know what that is, its really bad diarrhea. My poor boy's tiny tushie! Just as upsetting, he's also limping and I can't figure out why. I don't want to take him to the vet if I don't have to, since he's getting his knee surgery on the 19th. But he's been sleeping like a rock, and really listless....I can hear his poor tummy from here...
Just so you know...on this site, my stitching name is High Priestess of Costly Overdyes .
And you should look at this.
Ok. Goodnight.
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10 May 2005
I'll get around to blogging 'bout MDS$W, but first....
Read this. I can't decide if its flattering or not. I kind of think it almost makes me sound like a crazy-woman. Which I am, but I'll do the advertising myself, thankyouverymuch! What do you think?
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06 May 2005
What we will do for fashion, huh?
Feast your eyes on this! 
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Guess who's part of the girl wide web?
Me.
And just in time for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Woo hoo!
Really.
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27 April 2005
All alone....all alone.....
Everyone is going away!!! I just got word today that yet MORE friends are moving out of the country. First its my knitting buddy, Michelle, and her family. They're moving to the Virgin Islands. And now Nick and Vivi and their kids. They're moving to New Caledonia. Ok, so I'll have great places to go on vacation...(hah! that's funny! I haven't taken a vacation in years!), but I'm going to miss everyone. Plus, it makes me re-consider moving out of the country too. And I haven't thought seriously about doing that in years. But if my best friend's husband gets hired too far away and they have to move, I might just do it.
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26 April 2005
...I gots nuthin here people!
Sleepy
Sleepier
Sleepiest
Asleep
With my Clapotis 2. Notice the color. Notice how she ripples.
00:34 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
22 April 2005
Just a thought....
This has been on my mind for a few days now...
Do you think dog's don't fart out loud because they don't really have butt-cheeks?
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18 April 2005
>>>Bang Head Here
Ohhhhh so busy! I've got blog stuff just whirling around in my head, but I have no time to write it!
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01 April 2005
Bad PuppyMomma, bad, bad! Write! Now!
Yeah, I haven't written in a while....But I have been knitting! Actually I've been up to quite a bit. I'll tell y'all about it now and then post the piccies later. I finished Clapotis, started another swirlie, needle-felted a Peep for my next-door neighbor/puppysitter/knitting-pal/all-around-great-person, Peggy.
Its been hectic since my birthday, with work and trying to get my taxes done, and scraping up the money to pay for them. On the good side, I have managed to get approved for a home-equity line, which is not so easy because I'm self-employed and have only been so for about a year and a half. The house was appraised just the other day, and I'm waiting on pins and needles to find out the amount. The money'll help a lot. I've got shit to take care of, and Conan needs knee surgery. On both knees, though we're going to start with just the right one.
I ran into a woman I used to be friends with (and her little girl) at Target last night. It was kind of upsetting. We were friends for at least 10 years and then all of a sudden she decided that she couldn't tell me anything and just up and shut me out. When I finally confronted her about it she admitted then that she knew she was wrong and it was cruel, but oh well. I hadn't seen her since like last May until last night. She acted almost like nothing had happened and she was glad to see me. Her daughter, who has known me since she was born and is now 8 was there, grinning from ear to ear, happy to see me. I realized how much I missed that kid last night. None of this is her fault and she's such a sweet girl. At the same time, you have to be a friend to have a friend, and I give myself balls-out to my friends and this woman just shat all over me...as you can tell this still hurts a bit.
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19 March 2005
Ahem! Hummmmmm.....mimimimimimimi!
Happy day after my birthday to me!
Happy day after my birthday to me!
Happy day after my birthday to me-e!
Happy day after my birthday to me!
I am now older, but not necessarily wiser. And I have a new drivers license photo again. To think, that just 2 licenses ago I was finally legal to drink. Time flies.
I actually had a great birthday. After calling my mom to wish her a happy labor day and my dad to congratulate him on the fact that its a girl, I went and got my license renewed at the MVA Express in Towson. I was in and out in 15 minutes! It was great! I wish I could say the same for my photo. Oh well. Then I met my knitting buddy Michelle and her daughter for some lunch. They brought me a present of coffee and chocolate. Does a girl need anything more?
I took me a little drive after that to All About Yarn because I had to return an extra skein of Lopi that I had bought. I ended up buying some stitch holders, the winter Vogue Knitting magazine and some books. Conan (my official yarn taster) got to taste some yarn, and have some pets. They love him there. And he loves them.
My next door neighbors, Peg and Jerry (and their 2 dogs, Toby and Conan's girlfriend, Molly) gave me presents too. A gift certificate to Cloverhill Yarn!!! Needless to say, I spent it all in the same place today. Today was Cloverhill's birthday. Peg also bought some Carvel ice cream cake which we had last night. I brought the last piece to Michelle's house and we knit until after 1 AM. I helped her felt her first purse. She used some Wool in the Woods yarn and it turned out wonderfully. Now she just has to make 3 more.
And yes, she went to the Cloverhill sale with me today. Along with her daughter and sister-in-law. Oh, the self-control I exhibited! I just bought some sock patterns and a little bit of yarn. Oh, god, it was so hard not to buy a couple-a skeins of Henry's Attic. I love me my Henry's Attic. Usually I'll just walk around the store holding him to my cheek and talking to him about what I would make out of him.
So now, I'm off to go and use my other gift certificate, the one Michelle gave me, the coffee gift....watch out Starbucks! I'm getting in the car now and I'm on my way!
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17 March 2005
Clapotis and puppy butt, mmm mmm good!
I just HAD to post an updated picture of mademoiselle Clapotis! I dropped the 7th stitch tonight, so I'm about 5 more away from moving to the next section. Slow going, but fun.
And yes, that is my Conan's bum there in the corner. He's resting after a busy evening of protecting momma from behind her ankles and then wrestling with giant carrots. 
As you can see, he won. 
Thank you Copa Judaica for the great tsimmes. And also Shleppie Ben Shekels (as I have named him), the camel. Hours of entertaining entertainment for my boy.
Today I finally said "uncle" to the sinus infection from hell. My allergist proscribed some more antibiotics. I hate being sick.
No other random knitting has been done, all attention is focused on Clapotis. I'm counting the hours until my birthday, and then the hours from then until the Anniversary Sale at Cloverhill!!!
00:15 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this
14 March 2005
Sick Sick Sick.....
Sick...so sick.....
Having a sinus infection is like swimming in snot. I had to drive to and from Ocean City, MD this weekend and tomorrow I have to drive to Delaware!!!
Other than that, I've been working like a demon on my Clapotis. Dropped 4 stitches!!! Yay! Its taking forever. Conan's feeling ignored.
23:37 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
09 March 2005
The blog heard 'round the world
So, did anyone see this evening's Nightline? Or should I say last night's? All about blogging and the impact it is having on politics and the media. As a Mass Comm major, I'd say it was purty interesting. But that's all I want to say about that.
The big news is that I'm almost finished my Mag's Bag (see earlier posts...I'll link later...)! I'll take pictures later. I plan on starting Clapotis this week. Or Belle Epoque. Haven't decided.
00:18 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
01 March 2005
Ha Ha!
I just heard the greatest term! Craftsterbate! Maybe I'll change the name of this blog to knitsterbate. Heehee.....
13:20 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
Where HAVE I been?
bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /
Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.
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27 February 2005
Shiny, happy babies
Yay! I finally got to go see my best friend Alicia, her husband Adam and their kiddie-o's. I know its February, but OBVIOUSLY that's the best time to exchange Chanukah presents. They live only about 45 minutes away, but its durn near impossible to get our schedules to mesh. Hell, Adam only just got back from Antarctica, yes Antarctica, just a week or so ago. All I can say about those pictures is, WOW. And now I'm trying to convince him to take me along on the next expedition. I've already promised not to complain about the cold. Alicia and the kids met him in Hawaii when he got back. Those pictures weren't too shabby either. (Adam's a geo-chemist, so thats why he gets to go to all the fun places.) Before they arrived Adam even had time to visit a live lava flow. He says you really need to keep an eye on it because it moves quicker than you think. I could go on and on about all the stuff they told me about last night.
I crocheted all my presents this past holiday season, so there were hats and mittens aplenty. But for the baby, my very own Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring, I got the pink, fake fur coat from Ann Taylor Loft. 
Thank goodness she hadn't already grown out of it. She's got a few teeth is actually already starting to stand. 
Amazingly enough, the kids actually liked their Auntie Sarah-made mittens. They gave me the best present, a new picture of the kids. And they even got a little something for Conan. He loves it, but was just happy to play with the baby and eat all the crumbs their son left behind. 
Got the pre-requesite bathtub pictures. 
Even better, got the pictures of their eldest's snaggle-toothedness (she lost 2 on the bottom).
Needless to say, I took a lot of pictures and got back late. Stayed up even later to work on my damn socks. So tired.
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26 February 2005
WIPs
Stayed up late again. Or should I say staying up late. Its 12:30 am. I tried my hand a second time at spinning with a drop spindle. 
Yes, I am self taught. Don't laugh. Worked on more sock. 
Conan slept. 
He woke up with a bad-ass hairdo. 
I started working on my Mags Bags bag. I'm only about 10 rows into it.
I got word from my mother (who is also my boss, or one of them, I work for the family business) that my commission check is going to be small in March. Now I'm panicing. I hope that the dog sweaters that I knit will sell at Pet Chic. I'm going to need the money. I still have to pay TAXES!!! And to top it off I'm even going to be poor for my birthday! (I'd insert a frowny face here if I frickin' knew how) If anyone out there loves me, please send money or yarn (or yarn in the form of gift certificates to yarn stores). Crap, now I've worked myself into a worry tizzy. I'm going to bed.
00:40 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
25 February 2005
Yay! Snow day! Oh Wait....I'm a grown-up.
So, we had a bit of a snow yesterday. They closed schools yesterday and today even. Perfect time to curl up with a cup of coffee, Conan and my knitting, right? 
Well last night I went to Michelle's (my knitting buddy) house and I knit there. Didn't leave until after midnight. And after Conan had peed (at least we think it was him) on the floor. I taught Michelle the pattern for the ripple scarf from Scarf Style. 
I gave her some yarn that I had bought on Wednesday from Keep Me In Stitches in Frederick. It looks cute. These pics are of mine. I'm doing it in Araucania wool.
I also worked on my socks. Sock. Fuzzy pictures. 
But my real pride and joy is the Felted Lopi Tote that I made from Hello Yarn for my friend Kathy's birthday. I modified it with a button closure and then I needle felted a 'K' into it. I'm so proud of me!
This morning Conan played Conan Von Conan, arctic explorer and conquer of the frozen tundra. Basically he romped in the snow until he was too cold. Now he's zonked. 
09:37 Posted in Blog , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
22 February 2005
Look Ma! New Blog!
So....here I am. No longer a bloggin virgin. Now what?
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