Working on Christmas Eve

I cannot remember the last time I worked on Christmas Eve day.  I won't be here long.  I don't really have anything urgent to do, but I may have a tweak on a web site to make before I leave.  I'll just stay for a few hours. 

Yesterday was also a short day.  My chairman came in so I was able to get a credit card number and get the booklets ordered for his Hawaii meeting.  And then I went home via the mall.  I wanted to pick up some drawer liner from Bed, Bath and Beyond and since I was there anyway, I strolled through a few stores and found a cute top at The Loft.  Then I got out of there.  It was a  madhouse with about a million crying children.  Tinkie got a nice long walk in what was left of the light - it's pitch dark before 5 o'clock - then I got the yak down scarf to soaking and fetched my blocking pads down from the storage unit.  Pinning that thing out was a chore!  I don't usually block rectangular scarfs, but this one really needed it.  I started out measuring the width as I worked my way down the length of it, but I realized that it was crooked so, duh, I started again and this time pinned one side down, measuring the distance from the edge of the blocking pads, then pinned the other side using the same technique.  That worked a little better.  It should be dry when I get home today.  I'll snap a picture before I unpin it.  I'm anxious to see if it feels as yummy now that it's blocked.

That was all the crafty stuff I could get to yesterday.  By the time I got my hair dried it was 7 o'clock and I had to get some dinner made.  Then I just relaxed with a nice glass of chardonnay and a movie. 

Happy Christmas everyone! 

Cutting the cord!

Today's the day!  I'm going to call Comcast and stop my service on the 28th and go with CenturyLink broadband, stream from my AppleTV and my Wii and get an HD antenna for my television so I can get the local channels.  Ben's signed up for Dish which has the Hopper so I can watch his TV on my iPad whenever I want.  Perfect.  I tell you, I cannot WAIT to call Comcast.  Yahooo!

I didn't get the Texture Study 1 blocked yet, but will do that tonight.  On Friday I got another YarnBox, this one with three skeins of sock yarn in grey, light blue and peacock blue.  I had found a pattern on Ravelry that morning, so after my hair appointment on Saturday I went to my LYS to get a new needle - can you believe I didn't have a 32" size 3 needle?   Anyway, it's Color Affection and I'm doing the lace weight version.  Talk about perfect TV knitting.  Garter stitch.  But it's not totally boring because things are happening each row - increases and stripes.  Like I need another shawl.  I've got to start gifting these before I run out of closet space.

Sad news - the Seahawks lost at home.  This is the first time for Russel Wilson to lose at home.  It doesn't affect our playoff standings, but it means we must win the next game to have a change at the number one seed.  It was a tough game to watch. 

I just have to make it through today and half day tomorrow and then Christmas vacation.  I plan on doing a lot of sleeping. 

A little pre-Christmas snow

It seems the weather service was right for once, and we have snow this morning.  It is not a lot of snow and, also according to the weather service, should be turning into rain in another few hours.  Fine with me.  I'm not a big snow person, unless it's in the mountains, and I've got a lot of running around to do this weekend, as does everyone else in town.

Hurrah for me, I finished up the Texture Study I scarf last night as I watched "Christmas Vacation" for about the millionth time.  As I suspected, I've got a fair amount of that yummy yarn left.  Unfortunately not enough to do anything much with unless I combine it with another yarn.  Which I probably will for some mitts.  I do need to block the scarf so that's why I didn't take a picture.  As I was binding off, loosely as is my wont, I realized I'd have to tighten it up significantly so that the edge would look more like the cast on edge of the seed stitch border.  The first part is looking a little ruffle-y but when I tightened it up it looks fine.  I am hoping that during blocking I'll be able to fix those few inches up.  Otherwise it's a beauty and I'm looking forward to soaking and blocking - if not tonight, then sometime this weekend.

Because of my upcoming January week in Mexico I have to work next Monday and Tuesday.  I am expecting we'll close the office early on Tuesday, but it's going to be a drag having to come in on Monday.  But oh well, I'll have 13 whole days off after that.  Most of it will be spent helping Ben put his house back together .... but I am sure I'll be able to sneak a few days of sloth in there.  I sure hope I will anyway.

But what does this say about me?

Yesterday I clicked on a link on my Yahoo front page for an article listing the 10 worst movies of 2013.  One of the movies on that list is one that I would have on my TOP 10 movies of 2013!  I am not going to say what it is, because this movie was so universally reviled and panned.  I will say, however, that this is not the first time this has happened to me.  I am a HUGE fan of the movie "Ishtar" which was also universally panned.  I, on the other hand, found it (and still find it) hilarious and clever.  I'll fess up to that one, but this current one -- I'll keep my mouth shut about this for the time being.  It's just ... well, I thought it was so funny!  Yes, crude and sometimes over the top, but so are the "Scary Movie" films and they don't get panned.  Or at least not to that degree.  Anyway ... I am still trying to figure out what it says about me.  You know -- me me me, it's always about me.

Our staff lunch was fun yesterday, although two women went home sick after the lunch.  And I am not feeling 100% this morning either.  But I'm here.  Oh and it's getting cold again!  The sky is clear and it's freezing and supposed to snow tonight a little bit.  Not enough to last until Christmas though. 

I only have three more rows to go on the scarf.  I wanted to finish it up last night but I was sleepy from not having slept too much the night before and so I went to bed early to read.  I feel rested this morning, which is a good thing.  Hopefully I can finish it up tonight and get it blocked.  I'd like to have it ready for Christmas giving.  Maybe during my Christmas break I can actually get a few days rest and pick up my Mariah again.  Or ... you never know what's going to be in the YarnBox.  It should be here soon!   I think I'll go over to Ravelry and check out the spoiler thread.

An observance at the bus stop

It used to be you'd see people standing at a bus stop, chatting with each other or maybe reading a book or a newspaper.  Now I walk up to the stop and every single person has their head bent over their phone.  Young, old, and everything in between.  In just a few years this huge change.  Sometimes it just strikes me, that's all.

Warmer weather means more humidity, which is annoying because I was just loving that dry cold air.  My hair looked awesome for days and now, not so much.  But it is better than having one's face freezing off.  It does look like we might get a little snow later this week, but it's above freezing so it shouldn't stick.

I am two rows away from the seed stitch border and finishing up that scarf.  I was hoping to finish it last night but Tink was insistent on going to bed and wouldn't quit whining until I joined her.  Yes - I do spoil the dog.  Thanks for noticing.  But I had a book to finish anyway so I put the knitting aside.  Maybe I can finish it up tonight.  I am kicking myself for not making it a little bit longer.  I have just gotten into the second skein!  I'm going to have at least 100 yards of that gorgeous, yummy yarn left.  I should see if I've got something in my stash that's the same gauge and I can make myself another pair of convertible mittens.  I have nearly gone through the thumb of one of my last two pair.  I guess it's time to get going on another.

Today is the staff lunch.  I hope it's not raining too hard, because I'd like to walk to the restaurant.  Hopefully I can run tomorrow.  My asthma is finally under control and it's not zero degrees outside.  Perfect.  It is going to hurt though.

The weekend - I buy myself a present and make a decision

I was looking forward to my Saturday.  I gave Tink a nice long walk, dropped some shirts at the cleaners and then took a bus to University Village to finish up my Christmas shopping and then a lovely facial and body scrub at InSpa.  U Village was a madhouse!  It was packed with shoppers and screaming children.  All very festive.  There is a new vegetarian cafe there .... well, lots of new shops actually.  It's Vegetarian Grill, and I stopped there to have a little lunch before my treatments.  What a great place!  I had a portobello mushroom sandwich.  I got to the spa, was ushered into my room, undressed and got ready for my facial.  It wasn't until the woman started my facial that I realized I had left my gift card at home!!!  D'oh!  So that's how I ended up buying myself a gift.  The good news is that I've got another visit to look forward to.  Maybe a little grooming before my tropical vacation in January. 

On the way home I stopped at the grocery store for ingredients to make potato leek soup, which I made last night.  It is SO good!  Sunday the Seahawks played the early game - which they won - and so I had the entire afternoon to do chores and make soup and get my presents wrapped.  I am hoping to get them sent off today.  I've already got the Priority Mail box.  I just need to see if they'll all fit.

This morning before I left for work I stopped by the Great Room to talk with some CenturyLink representatives.  I have been trying to decide if I'm going to "cut the cord" and get rid of Comcast.  My bill has now gone up to $200/month and that is INSANE.  Plus their wireless speed leaves something to be desired.  I found out this morning from the CenturyLink guy that the reason it's bad is that I am sharing it with everyone else in the building who has Comcast.  With CenturyLink I can get 40 mbs to myself for $30/month.  Sounds great to me.  I'll just do what so many other people are doing and get a HD antenna for my TV and just stream everything else.  It'll be awesome.

I did lots of good work on the scarf.  I think I've got about 10 rows to go.  The thing about YarnBox is that the amount of yarn is just enough for a small project.  It keeps things fresh.  Although I imagine I'm going to get tired of just small projects.  I really should pick up the Mariah again, although it's rather daunting to think about figuring out where I am.  I remember I had three counters going.  Crazy.

I think this is going to be a long week.   Just a feeling.

Why are they backing in?

What is going on with the backing into parking spots?  I am talking about the mall parking lot, the park and ride lot and the grocery store and even the few thirty minutes spots that line the plaza at Thornton Place!  Oh!  And the underground parking garage where the spots are SO jammed together.  I mean ... is it a quick getaway they're looking for or what?  It's just so annoying to have to wait while one of these jackasses attempts to maneuver their SUV into a spot meant for a compact car, and backing in as well!  It's just something I noticed and it bugs the bejesus out of me!

I walked up to Trader Joe's at lunchtime yesterday and, among other things, bought two composed salads.  Last night I had one with pomegranate seeds, pumpkin seeds, roasted squash, goat cheese and of course, greens.  It was delicious!!  The one for tonight is spinach with pecans, bleu cheese and cranberries.  Don't you just love Trader Joe's?  I also got one of the french style flatbread thingies but since I don't own a cookie sheet it didn't crisp up at all.  What a waste.  I'll have to get a cookie sheet this weekend.

I got lots of work done on the scarf, then went to bed to read and ended up buying a Christmas movie on AmazonPrime and staying up way too late.  Which was unfortunate because the premier of the new Hobbit movie let out at 3 am and I had forgotten to close my window so ... I was awake.  I think I got back to sleep around 5 or so.  I suppose that's going to be going on all weekend.   Perhaps I will keep the window closed and just suffer for the sake of some good sleep.

Tomorrow is spa day!  Woohoo!  I am finally using the spa gift card I got for my birthday.  I'm going to have a facial and a body scrub.  Oh I cannot wait!  Plus I guess I'd better try to get the rest of my Christmas shopping done so I can get it sent off to California early next week.  Big weekend.  The Seahawks play at 10 Sunday morning so at least I won't be a slave to the TV and can finish up on Sunday if need be.

Dark days

It's dark when I come to work and dark when I get home.  And we've still got a couple more weeks before things start to lighten up.  It hasn't been too bad during the clear days, but now the clouds are moving in.  Oh well - at least it isn't snowing.  It's warmer.  And also because it's been so cold the fountain has been turned off so I've been sleeping like a baby!  Usually either a truck wakes me at four or the fountain at 5:30. 

I did get some knitting done at noon knitting yesterday.  A couple of rows.  That is all the work I did on that scarf yesterday.  I wasn't in the mood last night.  I just watched awful TV and went to bed early.  I'll bet I was asleep by 9 o'clock.  I had awakened at 4 Wednesday morning and wasn't able to get back to sleep.  So -- well, I'm sleeping like a baby sometimes.  My mind started going and that was it.  So I was pretty tired yesterday.  Maybe tonight I'll read.  I'm getting a little restless.   After all those weeks and weeks of forced togetherness, it's pretty quiet now. 

After a second look

Well, I was wrong!  I was showing Monika the pictures of the Texture Study I that I am making, and when I looked more closely at the end of the scarf I noticed that indeed, the ribbing that I thought was a mistake (and looks bad, IMHO) is how the pattern was intended!  I have changed my to seed stitch, which was too obvious to me.  And look at how tidy and pretty it is. The ribbing looked like a mistake.  I am glad I changed it to the seed stitch.

I've only got a few minutes to get myself together this morning, eat some oatmeal then it's downstairs to proctor a final exam.  Three hours.  I have some work to do, which always makes it a little bit easier to take.  Then I run the exams downstairs and it's time for noon knitting.  I should get at least 45 minutes of it if I hurry.

Looks like we dodged a bullet

Well, that snow that was predicted has conveniently passed us by!  Hooray!  At least my part of the city.  It really looked like snow yesterday and supposedly in the night it was supposed to come.  This morning all we've got is just a teensie bit of icy rain.  Mist actually.  It sure is more comfortable outside walking.  The wind chill yesterday was painful.  I walked from work down to the Office Depot and back before lunch yesterday and it hurt.  Well, it's not even officially winter yet, so I suppose there's going to be a lot more weather to come.

Speaking of weather -- all of the clouds that finally came in yesterday made it so darned dark it was like getting home in the middle of the night.  I had to get Kelli's birthday presents sent off and luckily I had noticed that we have a mailbox/shipping store right nearby, next to the nail salon.  They're open until six, so Tink and I went straight over there after work.  And that was basically the entire evening.  Boring.  Boring.  Boring.  I didn't want to watch Monday Night Football -- I'm out of the running fantasy wise and so I just watched silly TV and knit on my latest scarf.  Now that I've figure out the pattern I am thrilled with it.  It's gorgeous.  The good news is that work is super busy, so I'm tired when I get home anyway.  But maybe I can get an hour or so reading in tonight.  I've got two books going on my iPad.  There's only so much stupid TV a person can watch, ya know?  And my hands are a bit sore from all the knitting.  It's stockinette - stranded.  All that purling hurts after a while.  I'll switch to reading tonight.

It was bound to happen

It has been so cold for so long that my office is actually COLD!  Usually I'm sitting here in short sleeves, sweltering no matter what the time of year.  Not so today.  Actually I noticed it last week that it was a little chilly.  It's kind of nice for a change.

It was clear and cold and sunny for the entire weekend.  Saturday morning Tinkie and I had a nice walk to the Starbucks near where I used to live, since I wanted to drop a couple of shirts off at the cleaners.  There are metal tables and chairs outside of the Starbucks and I tie Tink up to the table, then go in and get my coffee and breakfast and sit outside with her to enjoy it.  Well, I couldn't even sit on the chair!!  It was that cold!  We got to the cleaners at 9:15, they are due to open at 9.  Nobody was there and it was WAY too cold to stand around waiting for the owner to arrive, so we headed back home.  It'll have to wait to next Saturday.  Then I took a Zipcar out to Tuesday Morning for a fun hour plus walking around.  I got a couple of little things - nothing spectacular.  I just like poking around there.  You never know what you're going to find.  Then a quick stop at the grocery store on the way back home. 

The rest of the day was dedicated to college football and knitting.  I have been looking forward to starting the Textured Study I scarf with the yak down yarn.  I cast on Friday night and started the seed stitch border, then continued while watching football on Saturday.  But all was not right.  First I noticed a little section where I had messed up the seed stitch on the border - probably Friday night when I was watching a movie.  It was not very noticeable so I thought I'd just ignore it, but when I got to the body of the scarf, row 7 to 12, things started to look weird.  The pattern is not correct.  By following the instructions the seed stitch edging was now just ribbed and the body did not have the right stitch count.  I couldn't fix it so I had to rip it out.  So Saturday night in bed I started thinking about it and on Sunday, after a little trip to the mall and the nail salon, when I settled in to start work on it again I did a little math and realized two things.  First, the pattern as written is dead wrong and second, the pattern will only work on an even number of stitches.  Odd number of stitches (5) on each end for the seed stitch and an even number between.  Once I figured that out it was smooth sailing and it looks gorgeous!  This yarn is about as soft as cashmere.  And with a slight halo ... yumm.  I am making this for someone else - it's going to have to go away.  But I'm going to get more of this yarn for myself.

So Sunday was a good day, except the Seahawks got beat.  It's not the end of the world but it was a painful game to have to watch.  They should still be okay and get home field advantage if they continue to win.  Two of the last three games are at home so .... that's good.

Monday - cold and cloudy.  It's supposed to warm up and we're predicted to have snow tomorrow but it shouldn't last but a few hours and then it'll be back to normal wet and warm-ish.  I can't wait.

Cookies for breakfast

Oh heavens .... sugar overload!  Yesterday was our departmental holiday lunch and there are piles of cookies in the kitchen.  I couldn't help myself.  There was tons of food there yesterday, so I guess the cookies didn't get their fair share of attention. 

It was cold again yesterday and colder still today.  The good news is that it remains cloudless and no humidity, so my hair looks awesome!  And ... and there's no snow.  That's the big news.  No snow.  It'll be sunny and clear all weekend so I think I'll get a Zipcar on Saturday and do a little shopping somewhere other than the mall. 

I got right to work on my Ombrelone last night after my chores and finished up the last three rows and started the bind-off.  It is a huge, long, 300 stitch bind-off and I lost interest.  I will finish it first thing this evening though and then ... well, I guess I can wind the yak down yarn, but I don't know about casting on. I'm doing Textured Study I and it's nearly 300 stitches since this scarf is knit sideways.  It calls for a long-tail cast on, so I think I'll use both balls of yarn simultaneously - one for the top and one for the bottom.  I've done that before and it works really well.  I should be able to get a good start on that this weekend.

I didn't bother to watch the football game last night, even though I've had a fantasy player on the Jaguars.  I am definitely not going to get into the playoffs but I might as well still play the game.  That being said, I'm much less invested in watching anything other than the Seahawks at this point.

I have a lot of loafing around schedule for this weekend.  And long walks with Tink.  I'm glad the weather will be nice, albeit COLD.

Colder and colder!

Wow!  We are experiencing an arctic front and the temperatures keep going lower and lower.  It's 25 degrees right now and clear.  It makes for gorgeous days but rather uncomfortable walks.  Poor little Tink.  She was not too interested in going outside last night at her 7 o'clock walk.  She got her business done and turned to home!  She was a bit more interested this morning, but that's more likely due to her having more business to take care of.

The Ombrelone is almost up to 300 stitched.  I got four rows done last night.  I wasn't ready to plunge into another (the last though) row of pattern, but that means that if I get that done first thing, say before the football games starts tonight, then I should be able to finish, or nearly finish, tonight.  If not, Friday for sure and this weekend I can roll the yak and start that project. 

Today is the departmental holiday lunch.  I got two big bunches of lovely seedless grapes (black and red) yesterday at lunchtime for my contribution.  I remember last year that they were all eaten right up.  It is just such a hassle to transport a real side dish on the bus and I didn't have any butter to make cookies and this is much healthier anyway.  And easy. 

I have absolutely nothing on my plate for this weekend and I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to that.  I was going to book a little spa time - I have a gift certificate that I've been saving -- but I've decided to do it next Saturday instead.   We are predicted to have clear and cold weather all weekend.  Tink and I will have long walks, and there's football to watch on Sunday and always knitting and chores.   But in the meantime ....

Whoops

Wow -- a lost day.  I woke up in the middle of the night, early Tuesday morning, with a sore throat.  I stayed home and basically slept the entire day.  I guess I needed it.  I feel fine today - just a little froggy.  I've got so much to do .. I'm thankful it was just a day I was out of it.

And boy is it ever cold!!  In the 20's when I woke up.  Tink spent most of the night cuddled up next to me or under the covers.  She was a pain in the behind yesterday though.  Perhaps because it was so sunny and nice outside.  She didn't seem to have an off switch.  Every time I woke up she wanted to play or go outside.  Not that I blame her.  I did give her a nice walk at lunchtime.

The Seahawks played a great game Sunday night, beating New Orleans handily.  So they're top of their division with home field advantage.  People are really talking Super Bowl now.  It seems like a pretty good bet we'll make it, although I don't like to jinx it.

I brought my Ombrelone in for noon knitting today, but I think we're going to have to cancel because I couldn't get a room.  And everyone is so very busy these days anyway.  I can use the time to go get something for the office party on Thursday.  Some fruit or something.  I was thinking of making some deviled eggs with hummus instead of mayo, which is delicious, but it is next to impossible to transport things like that on the bus in the morning.  Last year I brought grapes and they were eaten right up.

Speaking of the Ombrelone - I have to say this is probably the sloppiest project I've done in ages.  I know I've made more mistakes but I am not taking it out again.  The problem with it, for me, is that one can't use markers.  The stitch counts changes all the time and the edging, unbeknownst to me, ALSO changes so I thought I was off a stitch when I wasn't.  It'll be a nice scarf and I doubt anyone will know it is full of mistakes.  Except me.  I'll know.  Basically now I just want to get it done so I can use that yummy yak down yarn.  That is SO gorgeous!  And soft!  Hopefully I can wind it this week.

Now I've got to get to a meeting.  This is going to be a busy rest of the week.

Four packed days

I can hardly believe how much got stuffed into four days.  And there was even room for knitting!!  Perhaps four and a half days is more accurate because I did scurry out of here early on Wednesday.

I was assigned green bean casserole for the Thanksgiving dinner, but I also made a Brussel's Sprouts dish that was just super delicious!  Not a scrap of it was left.  But truly - bacon makes anything taste yummy, doesn't it? 

Before we went to dinner there was a little bit of paint touch up done in preparation for emptying the pod on Friday.  Of course the house isn't done exactly - there is still another bathroom to paint, the second coat on the spare bedroom and another coat on the door frame onto the patio.  But the pod needed to be emptied and so it was done Friday with great success.  And nobody got hurt.  Bonus.

What was not a bonus was my asthma.  I am still learning how to handle it, since it's still rather new to me.  After that horrible episode last winter I was able to recognize the asthma "attack" for what it was.  Both Wednesday and Thursday nights I was up for hours in the night waiting for the rescue inhaler to do its job.  So that I realized I needed to see my doctor on Friday to get a second inhaler to help.  Or go to the emergency room - and that wasn't where I wanted to be.  So Friday as we were waiting for people to help unload the pod I was on the phone with the doctor's office, which was closed.  The on call doctor finally got back to me and ordered my inhaler and for that I was SO grateful! No wonder I couldn't run last week!  It is so slow when it starts that I just think I'm tired when in fact I can't get a lungful of air!  That made the rest of my weekend SO much better.

Friday night there was the Apple Cup to look forward to.  I had set it to record and I am so glad I did.  It was a great game and the Huskies won!  Woohoo!  A perfect ending to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Saturday morning I had to get my errands run because Ben needed to leave, since the shuttle was picking him up from his place super early Sunday morning.  We had breakfast with his brother, did some grocery shopping, then off he went and I got to have my little tiny place alllll to myself!  It has been so long.  I did a little cleaning and tidying up and then went to have a manicure at Derby.  I am so tired of arguing about the cuticle thing with the girls at that other salon.  I will keep going there for my pedicures.

More knitting and stupid TV Saturday night and Sunday watching football and knitting.  I got the main part of the Ombrelone finished and started on the lace edging.  Then McGarrah was in town last night so we went up to have dinner with Steve and Ginny.  That was really fun, and done early enough so I got to bed around 10. 

I won my match up this week - a little too little and a little too late.  But it was good to win.  I don't have anybody for tonight's game - the Seahawks and New Orleans.  It's here and it might be snowing by the time the game starts.  I am glad I'm going to be home and in my cozy spot.  It's a big game.  The Seahawks have the best record in the league, if you can believe that.  !0 - 1.  This is a HUGE game.  I'm excited.  I probably won't be able to do much knitting.

Short week and short day

A Wednesday without noon knitting.  I'm leaving early today since they're closing the office early so we're skipping noon knitting today.  Everyone is super busy anyway.  It's going to be another gorgeous, sunny day so I am really looking forward to being able to enjoy a little more than the typical 30 or 40 minutes a day I get to be in the sun lately.  I am grateful for the clear skies so we get to see the sun at all! 

Last week I was looking at boots on line and found what I thought was the perfect pair of casual boots to replace the ones I bought two years ago in Trier.  Or was it 3 years?  No ... 2.  Anyway they came last night and they're going right back to the store.  Luckily I can return them to the physical store even though I bought them on line.  They're cute boots, but they're too tight at the calf to wear with pants tucked in, or with leggings.  And that's what I need, not another pair to wear with skirts.  I have three of those already.  So, cute as they are they go back and hopefully I can find a suitable replacement at the store.  I did find a pair on line and they have them at the store.  I should probably call to have them hold onto my size.

So I've got tons of work to do in half a day.  That means it should zip by!  I'm hoping I can get some knitting done tonight.  I got nothing done last night but chores and silly TV.  Tomorrow I've got to get up and get my vegetables made for the dinner, then a quick stop at the house to do a little touch up so that furniture can be moved in on Friday and ... and I can finally get my little teensie place back to myself.  I can't believe it's been four months I've been sharing this tiny space.  I'm lucky to be alive.  Or somebody is. 

Thanksgiving weekend is upon us. It's so late this year though!  But it's here and that means football and plenty of it!  The Apple Cup is Friday so I'm going to have to record it since we'll be moving furniture and boxes.  And then I'm done futzing with that house until Ben gets back from his 18 day business trip.  And boy oh boy do I need a rest from it!  Frankly, I cannot wait for the boredom to set in and I believe it will take a long long time for that to happen.  I envision lazy weekends and evenings lounging on the couch with my iPad and silly movies playing on the TV.  Endless QUIET hours of knitting.  Ahhhhh  All I have to do is make it through Friday afternoon and I'm home free.  Nice.

The worst ever

Every week I see my fantasy football team get beat.  This week was no exception.  Terrible.  But you know what?  There has to be a last place every year and I have been lucky in the past years.  It's my turn.  Next year I will prepare better and, hopefully, get a better place in the draft.

So that was basically my evening - watching the Redskins get beat by San Francisco.  I, unfortunately, have two players on the Washington team, neither of them making any appreciable points.  I needed extraordinary production.  I got, as usual, sub par.  No matter.  I shall look forward to next year.

The Ombrelone is getting quite large.  The rows are now over 200 stitches so it takes quite a while to get through a row.  Hopefully with this long weekend I can get it finished and start my next project with the gorgeous Yak down/Bamboo mix I got in my YarnBox.  I think I'll keep up the subscription for another few months.  It's fun.

I worked hard yesterday.  It was super quiet and I got a lot done.  I want to get the program booklet for the Hawaii meeting all done but the details before the end of next week because I have things I need to get finished up in December before the holiday.  It's nice to be this busy because all I can think about otherwise is vacation.  And how I need some. 

The fog this morning is further delaying the light.  I can barely keep awake.  Time for another cup of tea I guess.

Super duper quiet

Wow ... talk about quiet.  I am alone in the office suite, the chairman's secretary is out down the hall too.  The administrator is here, but she's down the hall and around the corner.  So I should be able to get lots and lots of work done today, and I've got plenty to do.  It's a short week (woohoo). 

Wing span 61"

The weekend felt short too, but Saturday I didn't have to paint so that was nice.  I got some time to do a little cleaning, a little laundry and, most important, got to block the Juneberry Triangle!  I still regret the yarn choice, but with some good blocking the pattern is a little more obvious, as are the "berries", AKA bobbles. 

 This is the detail of the knitted on edging.  I just love the swoops and bobbles, like little waves.  Oddly there is a mistake that I see and I cannot for the life of me figure out how in the world it happened.  I truly did not know I was off while I was knitting it.  I don't think it would be obvious to the untrained eye.  Can you see?

And here we have all three patterns showing. I am very very pleased with how this turned out.  I wore it today as a scarf.  It is so soft up against my skin.  And the blue does look nice up against the black of my coat.  Just lovely!  And I've got yarn left for a  pair of mitts, which I may try to get done before it gets really really cold.

And now ... to work on the project that would normally take me to Hawaii.  Ah well ... January and Mexico will be here soon enough.

Another awesome YarnBox

My November YarnBox arrived yesterday.  I wasn't expecting it for another few days so that was a nice surprise.  While not even 1/2 way through my latest project using YarnBox yarn I was happy to see it come.  Who doesn't like a surprise?  And what a nice surprise this time - a luxury yarn.  This box came with two skeins of a creamy colored yarn that is 75% yak down and 25% bamboo.  It is the softest yarn, and looks like it might even have a bit of a halo.  Only 360 yards of sport weight, but plenty for a nice soft, warm scarf.  It would be a nice gift.

The event in the Great Room was really quite fun last night.  It took a bit of time to get going because most people were treating it like a party (arriving late) rather than a class, which is what I thought it was going to be and what the presenters thought as well.  But as soon as there were 20 or so people there it really got rolling and I learned some new things about cocktails.  One of the most surprising is that gin isn't have bad, especially if it's good gin.  And my newest favorite cocktail is the Aviation cocktail.  Oh my goodness is it ever good!  And gorgeous looking because it has a dash of creme de violette so it's a light purple color.  I suspect the ingredients are a bit pricey but oh so worth it.  It would be a lovely cocktail to serve at a dinner party.

It was over by 8:30, then Tink got a walk and I was ready to curl up to read for a little while.  After the cocktails about half of the people went to see the premier of "Catching Fire" which, from the noise I heard at 12:30 and 2:30, must have played several times in a row. 

Yesterday felt like Friday.  What a let down.  But it's another gorgeous sunny day today and it is, in fact, Friday.  And a short week next week!  This weekend I am determined to get my Juneberry Triangle blocked.  I shall put it on top of my list for tomorrow.

Sniff Sniff Sniff

My nose is running like a faucet!  It is so very very cold outside - not even 30 degrees!  I sure wish I had taken the time to go upstairs and get the lining for my coat.  I have got to do that tonight when I get home.  I bundled up in one of my super wraps - the Kureyon one I made last year.  But I still need that lining.  I also need some boots so no more procrastinating.  I've got to do it tonight.

Also tonight there is a drinks party in the Great Room.  From Sound Spirits someone is coming to teach us how to mix festive holiday drinks.  And we get to drink them.  Perfect.  Hopefully the snacks will be sufficient for dinner and I can have a night off. 

I didn't even pick up my knitting last night, although I got a couple of good rows done at noon knitting.  I was just tired and wanted to veg in front of the TV watching nonsense.  Then I looked for some new boots on my iPad.  Perfect girlie slob night. 

My eyes burn - oh man ... I've got a long day of staring at the screen.

Crisp and clear

Wow!  Is it ever bright outside.  The clouds are gone and the temperature has plunged to the 30's.  Tinkerbell is much more sprightly in the cooler weather, not stopping to sniff quite as much.  And good thing, because I overslept this morning and we didn't have time to dawdle before I had to get the bus.

I didn't do much knitting last night - a couple of rows maybe.  The rows are getting longer and I don't like to be stuck in the middle of a row when the time for bed strikes me.  I went in kind of early last night and had a good read.  I was very tired for some reason.  I didn't run because it was raining again, but I did get a nice walk.  Hopefully I can run tomorrow.

I have been so blue lately, perhaps that's why I'm tired.  A combination of the weather and missing my friends.  I'm trying to snap out of it.  The sunshine will help a lot.  And I don't have to paint on Saturday because I've got a hair appointment so that's also something to look forward to.  Although the Seahawks have a bye this weekend so I'll be painting on Sunday.  It'll soon be done.

Talk about luck!

Every couple of years I help out with a meeting, mostly getting the abstract booklet together, and helping out with other meeting details.  My reward for this is attending the meeting in Hawaii.  Every two years I look forward to it, because it happens in January and I always want to get away in January.  So guess when the meeting is this coming January.  Go ahead, guess.  Right.  It's the exact same week as the Mexico vacation.  Since my boss isn't directly involved in the meeting this time I didn't think I would be called upon to participate, but he came into my office yesterday to ask me if I would do it.  Oh I was SO bummed all day I could barely work.  Of course I'm going to do the booklet anyway, but it just KILLS me to miss a free trip to Hawaii.  I lllllove Hawaii!  I know I'll have fun in Mexico, but it's not going to be the same.   I told him they could send me to Hawaii in March instead.   We shall see.

I cooked an awesome dinner last night, if I do say so myself.  I had a bottle of Italian sparkling wine that definitely needed a spicy hot meal because I knew it would be rather sweeter than I am used to.  I found a great recipe for shrimp fra diavolo and it turned out quite well.  I think next time I might cut the onion down a bit, and maybe add more tomato.  Otherwise, it was just yummy and as I had hoped, the sweet wine was just fine with it.

I needed Tom Brady to get 20 points so I could win my match up but of course he did not.  Twelve points was not enough and now I am dead last.  This is the absolute worst I have done in all the time I have played fantasy football.  And it really speaks to the fact that I did absolutely no preparation for the draft.  I have learned my lesson. 

I finished up the first portion of the Ombrelone and started the first of the stripes.  It is such great TV knitting.  And I am loving this yarn.  I hope I can get the other blocked.  I don't know when though.  Well, I'll figure it out.

It was pouring rain yesterday so I didn't run.  I hope it slows down a bit today so I can get out there.  I need my endorphins.

Perfection!

Yesterday was an absolutely perfect day from top to bottom!  I got to sleep in, did a little grocery shopping, then got some new clothes - which I have been needing for months, frankly.  I didn't get new boots, which I also need desperately since my casual boots that I bought two years ago when I was with Emma in Trier are quite beat up.  And I also needed a new sweat shirt or hoodie.  But otherwise I got some pants and a dress and a couple of tunics, two blouses and a couple of other tops.  It was quite satisfying.  After that it was laundry and football.  Ahhhhh .... perfection. 

I had intended to block the Juneberry Triangle but Saturday was spent painting - still lots and lots to do, unfortunately.  Perhaps I can get to it this week.  I had started the Ombrelone a few days earlier but I made a mistake about 15 rows in, then another at the 30 row mark and I decided I would just take it out and start over.  I am very glad I did.  I got caught up and a few more rows in.  It's a simple knit but you can't put in markers really so you have to be on your game.

Only nine more weeks until our trip to Mexico!  I didn't realize it was that close, but after painting Saturday we went to a wine tasting that my friend Steve was pouring and he pointed it out.  Wow .... I guess I'm going to have to go fat.  Now to find a bathing suit to hide the pudge.  The good news is that we're all in the same boat.  Winter beach vacations ... yipes.  Steve says never mind - we'll all be waist deep in the water anyway.  I like the way he thinks.  I had better make sure I can put my hands on my passport.

Ridiculous people

I marvel sometimes at the pure idiocy of some people.  Or ... what is the word?  Maybe not idiocy, maybe a death wish.   It is something I've seen happen again and again, usually at the Transit Center.  Basically the transit center is a long island set with six bus stops - little shelters with benches - and surrounded by parking lots.  To get from the parking lots to the island there are four cross walks.  A bus only go one way around the island, and of course they are going slowly.  But would you step out in front of a bus without looking?  If it was moving?  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people do that.  Not even wait for a second at the crosswalk, but just step out right in front of the bus, causing the driver to slam on the brakes if the person has, say, just run out of nowhere (like the parking lot) and across the street.  Obviously the bus drivers are aware of these idiots and their tendencies so they seem to take it with a certain amount of stoicism.  People!  What if the bus driver is looking away for a millisecond and doesn't quite register that someone has darted out in front of him?  I swear, some mornings I just wish for a little bump.  Not enough to kill somebody, but just a reality check.

There - I feel somewhat better.  I had SUCH a frustrating evening yesterday.  I had finished up the Juneberry Triangle during noon knitting.  I so wanted to block it but that is something better left to the weekend (not that I'm likely to have any appreciable free time this weekend either).  I decided I would roll the two latest YarnBox yarns, the Afghan Hound, and start the Ombrellone.   I did all my chores and set up my swift and ball winder and rolled the first skein, no problems.  Well, I did have to oil up my swift, but otherwise no problems.  The second one - the beautiful blue one - was a mess!  I've never had this happen before but I guess perhaps I wasn't paying strict attention when I put it on the swift.  I tried to fix it but I could not and ended up getting less than half on the ball winder and the other half having to do by hand, passing the ball under and over the twisted threads.  That got me in a terrible mood, as you might imagine.  I was able to calm down a bit and get the Ombrellone started.  I think I got about 15 rows in.  That yarn - wow.  It is going to have an incredible drape and the sheen is out of this world. 

I have also been having dreams.  Dreams about travel.  I have gotten my Thanksgiving trips so deeply ingrained in me that when I have to miss, well this is what happens.  Dreams.  Frustrating ones.  Last night I couldn't find the wee little piece of paper I had written my return flight information on.  In reality of course I have that information on my iPhone and memorized, etc. etc.  But in my dream I needed to find that paper and I had no idea at all when my flight was taking off.  I'm a mess this morning.

The great cuticle debate

Because my weekends have been so busy lately, I've taken to getting my manicures on Friday after work.  My regular salon has opened another place walking distance from my apartment, so it's quite convenient and then that chore is out of the way.  The owner of the salon, Jenny, knows my idiosyncrasies and lets her technicians know that I don't like to have my cuticles cut.  In fact, it's not necessary at all unless you have a hang nail.  But they tend to do it automatically and it hurts, since they actually rip at them rather than cut, so I always tell whoever is doing my manicure to just push them back.  Well, Jenny doesn't work at the new salon on Friday evenings.  Her husband is there to supervise.  So last Friday I went in and told the woman to just push the cuticles back.  She argued that she had to cut them, and I said no, just if there is a piece on the side that is sticking out.  Okay, she says.  And then proceeds to cut the cuticle on top of my nail.  So again I had to tell her not to cut them.  At this point her boss spoke to her in her language and I am assuming he told her to listen to me and not cut the cuticles.  Then she starts complaining back to him and pouted the entire rest of the manicure, which was very uncomfortable for me.  I mean ... WFT?  I am the customer, and I tip well.  What is the big deal to NOT cut the cuticles?  When I got home I looked up some articles because I know I've read that it's not necessary and sure enough, I found tons of articles about it.  Not a single one said that it's a good thing.  So --- now what do I do?  I guess I need to go there some time when Jenny is working and give her the things I've read on it.  Her English is very good.  I doubt if I brought articles to the salon that the tech could get much out of it.  It really takes the fun and relaxation out of the experience if I'm fighting with the technicians.

I had a nice relaxing evening last night, doing nothing but cooking up a pot of yummy bean soup and watching stupid TV.  I needed that.  Today is noon knitting and I'm going to be able to finish off the Juneberry Triangle, I'm pretty sure.  Maybe I can block it tonight!  And then my next project, using the yarn from my latest YarnBox, is going to be Ombrellone.  I'm not crazy about the colors in the pattern picture, but I think my new yarn is going to be perfect for this.  I'll use the multi for the brown in this pattern and then finish up with the blue.  I am hoping I'll have enough blue to make the bottom lace bit larger.  I'll just go until I'm out of yarn.  This will be good TV knitting and then I can start back up with the Mariah at noon knitting.

I had an absolutely terrible run yesterday afternoon!  I was so looking forward to it because the sun had come out, so I even got out there a bit earlier than usual.  I remembered to take two puffs of my asthma inhaler, as usual, but for some reason I couldn't get my breath!  Maybe I started out a bit too fast, and when that happens I can usually just walk for a few yards until I can take a full breath and then start back out again.  It wasn't working for me yesterday so the entire 30 minutes was uncomfortable.  I never got the floating, endorphins are running through me feeling, which is what I live for.  Never mind.  Thursday will be good, I'm sure.

Long lost weekend

Who doesn't love a long weekend?  I am a HUGE fan.  What's not to like?  Lazy days, sleeping in, an extra day for chores or just being a slob.  Except that's not the long weekend I got.  It was a painting weekend, all three days.  Although there were football evenings and both my teams won (yay).  My fantasy team, on the other hand, is in the toilet.  I lost another squeaker.  Oh well, there's always next year.

So - painting.  Who knew it would take so long to paint this house?  I guess that's inexperience talking.  But lots of good progress was made.  During those three days I painted ALL the molding for the entire house, plus all the window frames as well.   This was done of course on saw horses.  I think I would have killed myself if I had to paint all of that installed.  Thankfully it was done before installation.  And if that wasn't enough I did more cutting of the other rooms and yesterday came that close to finishing up the first coat in the office.  I would have finished it entirely but I ran out of paint.  That in itself, that one room, took about 4 1/2 hours.  The closet alone took a lot of time.  The fact that the ceiling is white and all of the walls are colored makes for a pretty challenging project, especially with the highly textured walls.  My poor hands, but especially my right hand which I used for the cutting. 

Did that stop me from knitting?  Hah!  I got SO much good work done on the Juneberry Triangle this weekend.  Saturday evening watching the Huskies play, and then again Sunday evening watching the Seahawks and then last night the Monday night game.  Although I must admit that I had to stop last night because my hand was really hurting.  But I have only three more repeats of the 12 row edging pattern and I am done.  It does need some rigorous blocking but I am SO loving that pattern.  Gorgeous.

It's sprinkling today but I very much need my run, so let's hope it's not pouring in a few hours.

A little better this morning

I guess I'm getting used to it, slowly slowly.  I don't feel quite so groggy this morning.  Although maybe it's because there is a bit of sun peeping through the clouds.  It was blustery and rainy yesterday and my knee was a bit tweaky.  I needed to get something notarized so I skipped my run and instead walked up to the bank and back.  It's not quite so far as the run would be, but it's uphill on the way so I felt like I got a bit of a work out and didn't stress my knee.  I've no excuse today so I've got to run.  I just hope the rain stays away until after noon.

I was quite ready to sit and knit all evening while the football game was on, but lo and behold, when I got the mail what was in there but a new knitting magazine.  So - reading about knitting rather than doing.   I didn't see anything in there I really wanted to make, but that's just first time through.  I always go through them a couple of times at least.  I seem to be on a real scarf/wrap/shawl thing though, don't I?  Perhaps because it's always so hot in my office that wearing a sweater is right out.  I should get back to the Mariah though.  It's more of a jacket and I know I'd wear it.  When I finish the Juneberry Triangle I think I'll make it my noon knitting project until I get the tricky, intricately cabled arms done.  Everything else then will be TV knitting.

My weekend will consist of painting and watching football.  A three day weekend at that.  But it's got to get done so there's no reason to complain.  And when it's done ... ahhhhh ... I get my little space to myself again.  It hasn't been as tough as I thought it might be, sharing my little teensie space, but it will be nice to have my closet to myself so I can have ALL my shoes and boots instead of having to go up to the storage closet when I want a different coat or boots or whatever.  And to have my hats accessible again instead of in a laundry basket on top of the dryer.  Well -- you get the idea.  But it will be a couple more weeks at least.  In the meantime, think of me with paint in my hair.

It takes some getting used to ...

this "fall back" thing.  It's funny how one hour can make such a difference, but I am dragging again today.  Even though it's a bit lighter in the morning, the weather has been so bad, rainy and cloudy, that I don't really even feel the extra light.  And I'm tired all the time too.  Oh well, I'll get used to it soon enough.

Noon knitting was very productive yesterday.  I got four ... or was it five? ... repeats of the edging done.  I was going to spend a good amount of time Wednesday evening on it as well, but I simply wasn't in the mood to cook so I went out instead.  Tonight ... ah dang!  I just remembered I've got to go with Ben to buy paint for the weekend tonight.  Maybe I can get an hour or so in on it.  The weekend is going to be so busy I'll be lucky to get any knitting time. 

I've been thinking about blocking this Juneberry Triangle and I'm wondering if the fact that the yarn is super wash is going to make a difference.  It is going to need to be really stretched out for the pattern to show up at its best.  I hope it doesn't just spring right back.

I got a late start today.  I could hear the rain pouring down when my alarm went, so I turned it off then made the mistake of turning over and having a little cuddle with the dog.  zzzzzzzzzz    I'd better buckle down.

You did that on purpose??

There is a woman here on my floor who has an incredible sense of style.  And by incredible I mean bizarre.  Her thing is the visor.  She wears one all the time.  Seriously.  A visor.  Today I saw her walking down the hall with turquoise stretchy pants, a ruffled lighter turquoise top and on her head a sequined turquoise visor.  Just to finish the ensemble off.  Obviously she does that on purpose.  For just one second I thought perhaps it was a costume but nope, Halloween is over.  I guess for her it goes all year long.

Meow

I forgot to grab the last box of oatmeal from the cupboard this morning so I've nothing for breakfast and a meeting at 9 o'clock.  I'll have to run downstairs for a scone or something.  I don't like their oatmeal down in the cafeteria.  It's too gummy.  I guess they have cold cereal as well.  I've got to eat something.  I won't be able to stay awake during that meeting without it.

It was a quiet evening last night with stupid TV and lots of knitting.  If I keep this up - even one hour or so a night this week - I may be able to finish this off.  I did find the reason for that big hole.  I had dropped a stitch but was able to fix it up Sunday night so now there's no big hole!  I'm just keen on blocking this thing.  The yarn is superwash and very squishy.  I am concerned that I won't be able to block it out far enough or that it will shrink back in on itself.  Only one way to find out.

I had a tolerable run yesterday but not great.  I had a better one on Monday.  For some reason I was just dragging even though I had a good night's sleep.  Maybe the rest day today will help me on the rest of the week.  I was considering signing up for the Thanksgiving 5K but not if I can't get a good pace going.

Now -- food!

Just blowing through the stop signs

I am happy to live so close to the transit center, since you have so many options for different routes.  However, it has its drawbacks and that is the Park and Ride lot and the late people trying to catch their bus.  Yesterday morning I stopped at the intersection to cross the street into the lot, which borders the transit center.  A woman had just finished her stop at the sign and was going through the intersection as I stepped out into the crosswalk, knowing the person behind her had to stop to let me go through.  Except, she did NOT stop but blew right through the intersection and came that close to me.  I was so astonished!  If I had thought a half a second quicker I would have swung my (heavy with a week's worth of breakfast and lunch) bag at her car.  As it was it just angered me.  Not only did she nearly run me down but at this time in the morning it's not easy to find a parking spot.  What did she do?  She parked in a ride share spot, then dashed to catch her bus.  I should have gotten her license number and reported her for that at least.  But .. I didn't think of it until just now.  Ah well.  But it really made me mad!!

Talk about mad - I was winning my match up and ended up losing by two lousy points because my opponent has Eddie Lacy!!!  I figured once Aaron Rogers went down I'd be fine but not.  So here I am stuck at 11th place.  There's always next year though and hopefully I don't get such a sucky draft pick.  In the meantime I get to play spoiler!

I got to work a lot on the Juneberry Triangle and finished up the first half of the edging and got the corner turned.  It's almost done!  Maybe I can finish it off this week.  I didn't pick a pattern for my new yarn yet.  There is only a little over 400 yards so that makes it more difficult.  I just know I want to make a ruffle, maybe a lacy ruffle, from the blue and then fill in the triangle or crescent with the other, maybe throwing in a row of blue in there as a garter ridge if I have enough.  I thought I'd check out the Mochi shawl I made a couple of years ago - or maybe it was only last year? - but it does have a big ruffle and maybe I can adapt.

I was very happy to get to run in the autumn sunshine yesterday.  I thought I might be a bit sore from the awkward angles I had to put myself into for painting on Sunday but I wasn't.  It was a slow run, but satisfying.  Today will be better.

Back to reality again

It's always so difficult to come back to work after a vacation.  And really, a week is never ever EVER long enough.  It seems I just start to relax and then it's time to head back to work.  But on the plus side, it was a really fun week off and the weather was absolutely spectacular when we finally did get out of town.

The weekend started out with a little painting.  Saturday we couldn't do anything because the electricians were there, but we did a little bit Sunday and a little more on Monday.  I had no idea it was going to be so difficult.  Think highly textured walls and white ceilings and colored walls.  Add in fancy moldings and you have a nightmare for non-professional painters.  Oh, plus I'm not real good with heights and there is a cathedral ceiling and guess who is the only one who can do a decent cut?  The floors weren't due to be finally finished until Wednesday so we were going to paint again on Tuesday but instead we headed to Port Townsend for a day and night before our two days in Sequim.

The weather could not have been any more perfect.  We got an early start, dropped Tink off at the Dog Resort and took the ferry to Kingston.  We stopped on Port Gamble for the best breakfast I have had in recent memory.  I can't even describe how crazy good the corned beef hash was.  We found a cute little hotel in Port Townsend and walked the galleries, had a drink on the balcony at Sirens, where it had to have been nearly 60 degrees.  Our dinner was just so-so but we found a perfectly awesome little band playing in a cellar and drank cocktails and listened to music until they were done.

We went through Port Angeles on Wednesday, visiting some thrift stores and ended up at an art park.  I wish it had been as sunny as Tuesday because I think it would have been a bit better considering all of the mirrors and shiny things stuck in the trees.  But it was very cool nonetheless.  Wednesday night we heard a very strange band.  Sequim is a big retirement community and the band was made up of retirees.  It had been billed as a bluegrass band but they were playing mostly country songs.

Halloween night we dressed up a bit and went back to the same place, hoping to get in some dancing, but I didn't care for the DJ so we didn't stay long and had a nice rest before heading back home on Friday.  Tink was SO happy to see me. 

November is known for its wind storms around here and Saturday was no exception.  It was so windy that the 520 bridge was closed.  I got some great knitting done on my Juneberry Triangle and am nearly to the center where I will "turn the corner" and I cannot wait to block this.  Although I did make a little mistake Saturday night. I have just one place where the hole made from a double YO is a bit bigger than it should be.  Hopefully it won't be too noticeable.  Or maybe I can figure out how to fix it.  I couldn't at the time so I put it away.  And the Seahawks game yesterday was just WAY too exciting to do any knitting at all. 

Before I left on my little adventure I received my second yarn box and I love love LOVE this yarn!  I have an idea for a wrap.  I'm going to try to design something specifically for this yarn.  It's 50-50 merino and silk, from Fiber Hound.  I'll bet the drape is going to be wonderful.  I'd like to do something like the Brown Eyed Susan pattern from Juju's Loops. Wouldn't this yarn be perfect for that?  Or maybe I should just get the book.  It's just that it's the only pattern from that book that looks at all interesting to me.  Well ... I'll think on it.  In the meantime - work.

Satisfaction

Ahhh .... finally I was able to sit down with my Juneberry yesterday evening and really work on that edging.  I got one repeat done.  There are only 21 stitches to be worked and actually I can see myself doing this while the football games are on.  It's not that complicated and it is absolutely gorgeous!  I love the pattern and I am really kicking myself for using this variegated yarn for something so intricate.  I will, of course, block the dickens out of it to stretch the lace to the max, but I still think a plain yarn would show it off better.  I may make another one.  I absolutely adore knitting on the edging.  There will be no bind off except the 21 stitches of the edging.  Sweet.  Especially on a large piece.

All I can think about now is my week off.  A little trip to Sequim and otherwise lots of work but it will be so satisfying to get that house painted and done.  If all goes well (and really, when ever does that happen when there are contractors involved??) Ben should be able to move his furniture in there on the 2nd or the 3rd.  But that's a big IF.

It is hard to work on the Friday before vacation and I'm going to cut the torture short by getting out of here around 2:30 or 3.  The weather is ugly but I do not care in the least.   Not the least!

My love/hate relationship with fog

Again this morning we have fog.  I think we have had it in the morning every day this week so far.  Traffic has been awful, my bus late arriving at work, accidents tying up the freeways.  But in the afternoon we get sunshine and beautiful clear blue skies.  I don't mind it.  I love running in fog - not dense fog but misty.  My hair on the other hand does not react well.  No matter how sleek and shiny it is when I walk out, when I get back indoors it is frizzy, which isn't a good look for anyone now, is it?  Nope.  But I would gladly trade frizzy hair for afternoon sunshine.

At noon knitting yesterday I did indeed finish those last two chart rows and got started on the border.  Oh I was so excited and really looking forward to working on it at home.  It is going to go quickly I think.  It wasn't until I was seated in the bus and it was pulling out of the stop that I realized I had left my knitting bag in my office!  Arghghghgh!  So no knitting for me.  Instead I did some laundry and explored a couple of shows on HBO I've been wanting to check out - one starring Steven Merchant called "Hello Ladies" (hilarious) and another with Chris O'Dowd called "Family Tree", also funny.  I watched both pilots.  Thank goodness for HBO Go app.  I wouldn't have found them otherwise.

Only two more days until vacation.  I have mixed feelings about it.  There is going to be a lot of work.  Painting is never fun and painting textured walls is even less fun.  Throw in some cathedral ceilings and you're talking zero fun factor.  But there will be a couple of days in Sequim on the beach thrown into the mix and there won't be painting every day AND I saved up my birthday 90 minute massage so ... there's that.

How to clean greasy dog ears

It doesn't sound very appetizing, does it?  Tinkerbell sometimes gets inflamed ears and the medicine that my vet prefers is oil based.  Twice a day I squirt the oily goo deep into her ears and massage them and in about a week her ears are clean and pink but her fur around her ears is black and greasy.  The ears itch when they're inflamed and she scratches.  So there I am with a cute little dog with lots of ugly, dirty and greasy fur on her face and I could never figure out how to clean it without taking her to the groomer, which is where I got this fantastic advice on Saturday!  I asked Kristi how to clean that mess and she says they first rub in corn starch and then wash the area with undiluted Dawn dish washing soap.  She says that is what the rescue workers use when there is an oil spill to clean the animals!  That is some good information and next time I will use that method.

Hooray for noon knitting because I still haven't had the time to get those last two rows done on the Juneberry.  There was too much to do when I got home and by the time I finished drying my hair and walking Tink and cooking dinner and talking on the phone .... I didn't have any energy for anything but reading.

Oooo ... I have to rant though. How difficult is it to go to the counter, get a paper town and squirt cleaner on it and just rub it on the handles of the Precor elliptical that you've just been sweating on for the past 30 minutes?  Really??  You're too busy to do that?  Pigs.  Here it is the cold and flu season and these people can't take a minute to clean up.  Rant off.

How can I fix my Fantasy team??

I had one guy in the game last night but he wasn't much help and I lost big.  I'm not last but I have moved down to 10.  Players are dropping like flies and my bench sucks.  Well, I'll tinker this afternoon but I don't have any great hopes.  I'm not giving up, but I don't think this is my year.

On a positive note, I had an awesome run yesterday afternoon and I feel so much better.  I slept better, my attitude is better.  I just don't do well when I'm not working out.  I got into the grove there with the morning work outs but once I hurt my ankle and got OUT of the grove ... well, it was just not happening.  But yesterday was wonderful.  It is the weather I adore running in - a little chill in the air, and some moisture.  I wasn't setting any records, but I actually ran my 30 minutes yesterday at a faster pace than my last 5K, which was six weeks ago. 

As much as I wanted to get the last two rows knit on my Juneberry, I couldn't get to it before it was time to watch Monday night football.  I wouldn't have bothered but I did have Victor Cruz.  And then I just went to bed to read.  I should have picked up my knitting at that point, but I was a couple of glasses of wine in and didn't feel like doing lace knitting at that point.  No purl row to skate on.  If I don't get it done tonight then there's noon knitting tomorrow.

Only four more days until vacation!  Mostly it's going to be work but there will be two days in Sequim for a nice break.  And I'm hoping it'll be decent weather so I walk on the beach.  Tink is going to be at the kennel so there will be plenty of sleeping in as well.  Woohoo!

A really good massage chair!

My regular nail salon has opened up a second shop, which is very close to my apartment.  Since I had such a big weekend ahead of me, I went to get my nails done after I walked Tinkerbell on Friday.  The chairs they have at the other salon also have a massage feature and I cannot stand it!  It hurts my back rather than making me relax.  Well, the chairs they have at this new salon are incredible!  They're called "Human Touch" or ... something like that.  But really they do feel like a human is massaging your back and neck.  It is delightful and oh so relaxing.  They were busy and it took them about 30 minutes longer to get finished with me but I didn't mind a bit.  I just let myself get massaged into a puddle.  Plus they've started doing a hot stone leg massage along with the pedicure.  Ahhhhh ... seriously.  It is something I look forward to every two weeks and now more than ever.

The rest of the weekend was a blur.  Tink to the groomer, a trip to an art show, an appointment with a color consultant, pick Tink up at the groomer and then an hour to get ready to go out for the silent auction.  And that was so much fun, although I still don't know what I actually won.  I thought I had purchased a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and some fresh oysters at least.  Oh well, if they want their money they will call, right?

I was hoping for some relaxation on Sunday and I did get to sleep in a little bit, but then it was more shopping and running around.  Finally around 3:30 I managed to get the apartment kind of cleaned up.  Cleaned up well enough so that I could let myself sit and relax and do some serious knitting.  I have only two more rows left on chart D and then I can start the edging! 

Since the Seahawks played on Thursday night I didn't have a game I really wanted to watch so that was good.  I did end up turning on the Sunday night game between the Broncos and the Colts.  My fantasy guys didn't do much of anything this weekend.  Tom Brady again, even though they won, only got me 5 of the 15 points he was projected to get!  I was projected to beat my opponent by almost ten points and has me by over 40 now and I only have one player in tonight's game.  Looks like I'm on a losing streak.  Like the Huskies.  I don't even want to talk about that .... I am glad I couldn't watch that game.

My morning running routine has taken a big hit.  Since I hurt my foot I haven't been down there even though I could have been doing it the last week.  It's just that it is darker now in the morning plus if I wake up before my alarm goes off and I don't get back to sleep I just cannot get myself out of bed!  So, today I threw in the towel and put my running clothes back into my drawer here at work and I'll run at lunchtime again.  It won't be so bad now that it's not so bloody hot.  And maybe it'll help pull me out of this funk. 

My friends in France - the ones I went to the gite with the spring before last - texted me on Saturday saying they were staying at the same place and were thinking about me.  That was very sweet and I will have to send Deidre an email soon to thank them and let them know I won't be by this Thanksgiving.  But I am looking forward to that great week in Mexico in January.  It's just the way it is this year.  Hopefully next year it'll be Thanksgiving in Paris.

I'm dragging

It's foggy and dark and boy, am I ever having a hard time waking up!  I was awake at 3 am, then again at 4 when a truck came for a delivery and then again (still?) at 5 when Tinkerbell decided she needed water.  I don't even remember turning off my iPhone alarm but obviously I did.  I finally woke up at 7 am when Tink started snoring loudly.  I was only 25 minutes late to work -- not bad.  But I am so groggy.  I didn't even stay up too late last night.  I watched the Seahawks beat Arizona and went to bed to read after that and must have fallen asleep at the normal time.  But right now I feel like I could sleep for days.  Good thing it's Friday. 

It should be a pretty fun weekend if I can manage to sleep in and carve out some quiet knitting time.  Tink is getting groomed tomorrow but I don't have to have her there too early, then while she's getting her hair done I'm going to an art fair, then in the afternoon meeting with a colorist to help Ben with picking out the paint for his newly remodeled house.  That is going to be awesome!  And in the early evening there is a party at the Derby Salon, a benefit for breast cancer research.  There will be a silent auction and all sorts of fun things.  I'm looking forward to it.

Since the Seahawks played last night I don't have to watch football on Sunday so I can get a good housecleaning done on my apartment and watch bits of games as the day goes on.  I have most of my fantasy points in the Sunday morning games -- all in fact except for one player on Monday night.  He's a good one though.  Fingers crossed I win this week or I'm sunk!

But I've got to get through this day to get to the fun, so I'd better get crackin'!

I love these autumn days

It never really got sunny yesterday, but it will be nice today and it is just perfect right now.  The leaves are still on the trees and turning gorgeous colors.  I suspect the reason I'm really noticing it this year is that we haven't had much rain yet.  We can miss the really beautiful part of fall if there is too much rain forcing those leaves to the ground.  I like it when they sprinkle down like snow.  I will have a nice long walk at lunchtime - I have to go up to the store for salad ingredients.  I will walk through campus on my way north to get the full effect.

Noon knitting was fun and I got two or three rows done and another one last night.  The Seahawks are playing at 5:30 tonight so there won't be any knitting on the fancy stuff.  I am hoping I can get a few hours to myself this weekend to finish up the last body chart and start on the edging. 

I have been trying to avoid thinking about my sister in London.  No use fussing about it.  I'll just have to start making plans, saving up and saving vacation time. 

Tinkie is going to the groomer this Saturday and boy, she really needs it.  I was going to bathe her last weekend but I figured she could wait another week if I could get an appointment.  Yay me!  Her ears were in need of medicine for a week or so and the medicine is oily.  She then scratches her ears and spread the oil outside of her ear and scratching with dirty feet means that she has oily grey patches on her face.  Not a good look.  But she'll be right as rain on Saturday and pretty again.

Not quite cold enough

Not that I'm complaining!  No no no .. it's just that I wore my Mobius Cowl in today to show at noon knitting and it is a bit warmer of a scarf than I need right now.  I didn't even double wrap it.  Since I'm wearing brown boots and tights I thought it would look good with the outfit.  It works.

I'm anxious to finish up the body of the Juneberry Shawl and get on with knitting the edging.  That's going to end up being the toughest part of this entire project, I think.  I has gotten me thinking about tackling next one of the complicated shawl patterns with the knitted on edging.  Now I can't remember the name of the book .... Anyway they are mostly stoles, which prefer because they're just huge scarves after all.

Usually this time of year I'm getting ready for the Dawg Dash, but when I run this race I can't attend the benefit that my salon does, and the girl who does my hair is in charge of it.  So this year I am forgoing the Dawg Dash and instead going to the benefit Saturday.  And it's actually turning out for the best since I haven't been able to run these last couple of weeks.  I did put my running shoes on and walked for an hour at lunch yesterday and so far so good.  I may even run on Friday.  Today I'm going to look around for a race in November. Usually there's one around Green Lake.  I just hope it's not too early in the month.

The leaves are so beautiful and perfect right now.  The golden ones are starting to drop like snow flakes in places.  It's very pretty and makes me think of wonderful wonderful trips I have made.  November vacations with lots of autumn light and falling leaves and blue skies.  Not this year.  That vacation in the sunshine is going to be very very appreciated in January, I'm sure.

Another bad football weekend

I have been laid up with a cold these past few days.  Thank goodness it didn't get into my chest, like last year.  Just nasty head cold yuckiness.  I worked from home on Friday and actually did a little knitting on the Juneberry, which is a most awesome pattern.  Saturday I wanted to lay low and get over the cold, but my services were needed in picking out hardware for cupboard doors and lighting and ... and ... stuff.  So I allowed myself to be dragged around from store to store.  Everything got done and picked out and I was feeling bad again.  I ended up working from home yesterday as well and today I feel pretty good.  I can breath and that's always a nice thing.

I finished up three charts (although C hardly counts as it is only 3 rows) and am working on chart D.  When that is finished it is just the lace border.  I absolutely adore the yarn I got from YarnBox that I'm using for this project.   It is soft.  What I don't really care for is the variegated colorway.  That just says "granny" to me.  But for a fancy scarf it's perfect.  I finished up with one skein and I've got ten or eleven more rows to go in this last chart before the border.  I doubt it'll even use two entire skeins so I'll have enough for mitts and this soft yarn would be perfect.  I lost my first pair of fingerless mitts when we were in Silverdale a few weekends ago.  The pair of Fetching I knit up ... wow, how many years ago?  Five?  More?  Well, I got my use out of them and they were looking a bit ratty so I didn't even bother searching for them.  I am sure I left them at the hotel bar.

So here it is Tuesday and my days are all mixed up.  But two weeks to work and then I get a week off, although I'll be helping paint and put things away, so it's not that much of a holiday.  But on Wednesday and Thursday we're going to Sequim to stay on the bay and that'll be lovely.  Just to get away in the middle of the madness and relax.  But there's much madness to be had before then.

I had a bad football weekend again.  The Huskies lost badly, the Seahawks played badly but won and I lost two in a row in my fantasy league.  Every one of my players but one performed WAY below projected - as in project 7 points and got 2.  I don't even want to see where I am today.  Let's hope for a better week this week!

ESPN on campus

An email was sent out to all faculty, students and staff about ESPN being on campus.  This Saturday the UW is where College Gameday will be, starting at 6 am.  So they're setting up the set today and tomorrow.  The email also said that student seating (around the set) opens at 3 am Saturday morning!  Yipes.  I am going to be happy watching that game in my own comfy house.  It will be madness there!  Plus, the Huskies are playing the Ducks.  It could be a bloodbath.  Maybe I can record it.  Sometimes it's better to be able to fast forward a college game.

I haven't finished tinkering with my line up yet.  I should do a little studying.  I believe I could have made a few better choices last week if I had taken a little more time to think about the games themselves.

I had reserved a conference room for noon knitting, but when I got there someone else had taken the room and started a meeting!  My name was on the schedule!!  The nerve.  So we had to meet in the lunchroom.  Luckily it was only three of us, but still.  That is so rude.  I did get four good rows done on the Juneberry.  I love how the charts are written out and that they change every 40 rows or less.  It keeps me interested and it seems to go faster.  I sure hope I can find some quiet time this weekend.

The let down

After five weeks of crazy-ness I guess it's natural to have a little bit of a weird feeling when things do finally slow back down to normal speed.  And it's darker in the morning, and much chillier.  Pretty soon we'll be turning the clocks back.  I think that this is hitting me more this year because I don't have my Thanksgiving trip to plan and look forward to.  In fact, I know that's what it is.  If I could run, it would be easier on me, but my foot/ankle is still not right and I am afraid of making a bad situation worse by jumping on the treadmill too soon.  I took a long walk at lunch yesterday and it wasn't feeling quite right all night.  Maybe Friday I can try it.  Worst case I might have to walk part of the time and best case, I'll get some much needed endorphins!

I was too tired for much of anything last night when I got home.  Tink got her walkies, I put away the clean dishes, watched a little TV and was asleep by 10 or so.  For noon knitting today I brought my Juneberry start and hope to get four rows done at lunchtime.  It is not TV knitting - it's lace knitting, every row except once in a great while a plain purl row.  It is going to be stunning though.

I tinkered a bit with my lineup yesterday and may take another look today or tomorrow.  I don't like to tinker, I like to get it right and keep it that way.  But injuries abound this season and I got a terrible starting lineup to begin with.  I haven't given up yet.

Ouch! I didn't want to look

I knew I had a terrible week but ... wow, I'm down to 7th in the fantasy league!  Dang!  Well, I'll fiddle with my line up and hopefully I can get a better score this week.  My quarterback situation sucks bad.  I have Tom Brady but he doesn't have any receivers.  It's crazy.  Oh, yes I do have one on the bench - Matt Schaub.  Not any better.  In fact there is talk of benching him.  Maybe I'll try to pick up another QB today.

Yesterday was a huge day, I got home late.  But anatomy is over and now it's on with the rest of the autumn quarter.  There are a few loose ends yet to pick up but for all intents and purposes, finished.  And I didn't get sick (yay!) and nobody failed.  All good things.  I was pretty darned tired when I got home and very happy that I had put what turned out to be an awesome stew together.  The hall smelt of goodness when I got out of the elevator.  I had a nice glass of Cabernet, an early dinner and then read until 10 o'clock.  Nice quiet time evening.  I was going to knit but I couldn't get up the energy to do that.  I just wanted to read in silence.

I am hoping to get back on the treadmill tomorrow.  It's been nearly two weeks since I hurt my foot or ankle.  I've got to get back on it now.  Before I know it January will be here and I've got to be bathing suit ready!  Scary.

We knew it would happen sooner or later

Ah ... the agony of defeat, I guess this should be titled.  It was a losing weekend all around.  The Huskies got beat by Stanford in a terribly exciting game that went down to the wire.  The soccer team got beat and then, on Sunday, the Seahawks finally lost.  It was a very close game as well, on the road.  Their 4 and 0 start, the first time in its history, is gone.  They played well but couldn't come up with that last minute magic.  Oh, and my fantasy team?  VERY badly beaten.  I have two more guys tonight but there's no way in the world that I'm going to win this matchup.   There is nothing for it.  I just have to look forward to next week and a better outcome.

Friday I worked from home.  I had to make sure I could connect and do everything I need to do from home, since I have a new (well new to me) laptop for home.  It was perfect.  Everything worked seamlessly so I feel much better.  The cold and cough going around here is spreading like wildfire and I need to be prepared since this is such a busy time for me.  Speaking of busy, I was working like a crazy person Friday.  I couldn't even take a break until 1:30.  The weather was lovely and Tinkie and I got some nice walks. 

Finally in the late afternoon I was able to stop and get my yarn wound and start the Juneberry Triangle.   It is a shame that they sent hand dyed yarn in a variegated colorway because this yarn is lovely and I'd like to have a cardigan made from it, but I don't like garments made with variegated yarn.  It just screams "homemade".  So a scarf/wrap is the ideal accessory with a soft yarn like this.  The Juneberry has quite a few charts but it's moving along nicely.  Unfortunately it is one of those with charts for both sides of the thing - like the Frost Flowers shawl I did a few years ago.  I do prefer having a plain purl row but I am committed to this project now and it is really a gorgeous pattern.  I will soldier on.

Besides knitting and (bad) football this weekend, I visited a new farmer's market on Sunday in the heat!  I was wearing a skirt and T-shirt, it was that warm.  I got some nice carrots and some fingerling potatoes and got a stew going in the crock pot this morning.  I visited the new nail spa that my regular place in Lake City has taken over.  The massage chairs are actually comfortable for me!  They are awesome!  So I had a lovely hour pampering after the market.

Today is the final exam for anatomy and then tomorrow starts histology.  I am pretty much ready for that.  Pretty much.

I did finish

Whew!  It took me all of the hour to Kitchner that cowl together but I got it done, despite breaking the yarn about a million times.  And oh is it every cozy.  I should have snapped a picture.  Well, I'll do it tomorrow.  I anticipate using this a lot this winter.

I didn't get the yarn wound last night.  I was SO exhausted yesterday, I could barely make it through the day.  Here's how tired I was -- I had to make myself stay up until 9.  I could have easily walked Tink and gotten right into bed when I got home, but that would have been a disaster.  We had a great walk - made even better by the note I found in an envelope on my apartment door.  My lease is up at the end of next month but when I read the letter it didn't look like I was getting an increase.  Off I went to the office to check on it and indeed, that is the case!  Woohoo!  Considering all we have heard lately in Seattle about rents going up, I was expecting a big jump.  Great news has a tendency to energize.

I caught up on silly TV and played with my iPad and, as I said, made myself stay up until 9.  I must have been asleep by 9:05 and today I finally feel like I've caught up a bit.  So tonight I would love to wind that yarn and start the project.  I can stay up a little later tonight since I'm working from home tomorrow, so I'll be able to sleep in until 7:30 at least. 

Trying to keep ahead of things, I got the final exam copied and ready for Monday's last Anatomy exam.  Only to find out yesterday that it was not actually the FINAL version!!  Arghghghg!  That's 160 copies of a 10 page exam that I had to trash.  This morning I'm going to do it again.  What a waste.  But then anatomy will be done until next year, and I'm not unhappy about that.

Today I will finish it

I brought my Mobius Cowl in for noon knitting today and I'm going to get it Kitchner stitched up and it will be out of my basket!  It was a good TV knitting project but I've been sick of it for a while.  I don't think it's quite cold enough to wear yet.  I think I'll use it a lot this year though.  It is cozy even though the colors aren't exactly what I like to wear.  It'll look fine with a black coat.

I wasn't even aware of it, but Eastbound and Down has started a new season and since I had it on my DVR it got recorded and I watched the first episode last night.  I've got lots of stupid TV saved up and I think I'll dig into it tonight.  Tomorrow is football - I am not sure though if I've got a player in the game or not.  Well, I'll tweak my line up one last time tomorrow morning and I'll figure it out.

Anatomy is winding down, thank goodness.  I finished up the final exam yesterday.  I'm still going to be pretty busy for the next week or so, then it'll calm down.  I feel like I could sleep for a week and I haven't been able to run because of my ankle.  I will have to give it another try on Monday and if it's still feeling weird I'll have to go to the doctor.  I really don't want to have to do physical therapy again, but it sure felt like it did while I was rehab-ing it all those years ago.  I sure don't want to have to go through that again.

The wind had a particular bite to it yesterday that I noticed while Tink and I were having our walk.  It is supposed to warm up here a bit.  We did have a pretty spectacular summer.

My plan is still to wind that yarn tonight.  I would love to get the Juneberry started but I also want to slob out and watch stupid TV so ..... there's always tomorrow.

Decisions decisions

Monday Night Football -- it was a squeaker but I won my matchup and I'm 3rd out of 12 now!  Oh but this coming week is going to be very tough.  I have two players on a bye week and nobody really good to bring up.  This is going to take some time, but I don't have to have it done until Thursday.  Although ... if I have to get another player I had better carve out some time this morning to check the waiver wire.

While watching football I finally finished the last four rows of the Mobius Cowl an so I'll bring it in tomorrow and sew it together at noon knitting.   I have decided on the Juneberry Triangle for my next project with my super soft YarnBox yarn.  I very rarely - as in never - purchase a pattern because I have so many magazines and books, plus there are so many free ones on Ravelry and Knitty.  But I just love this pattern.  There's so much going on and the little wave action on the bottom will be perfect with the color of yarn I have.  So, Wednesday night I'll wind it and maybe even cast on!

I had one of those nights -- I woke up and my mind started going.  I hate that!!!  But the weather has finally changed and it's not so hot in the apartment so I didn't have to deal with that.  I finally fell back asleep after a half hour or so on my iPhone (gloating over my Fantasy Football win).  I feel okay but oh my goodness -- I need a vacation.  Or even a few days in a row when I don't have to do anything and can sleep in.  I know I just got back from a weekend away but that's not really a rest, you know?  Oh well ... onward.

Mother Nature going nuts

Friday I did manage to get out at noon, but I had to take my computer with me because there was work I had to get done and it wasn't ready when I had to leave.  So I had that hanging over my head.  The good news is that by the time I was checked into the hotel it was ready for me to do, so I poured myself a drink and settled in.  It didn't take long, thank goodness, and then the weekend could begin.  

But there was a storm predicted and what a storm!  Well, I guess it was two storms that blew through this weekend.  The first one came in Saturday morning with high winds and plenty of rain.  I didn't even get close to the water, except to look at it from the hotel windows and run through it in and out of the car.  It was truly too wretched to take a walk without foul weather gear from top to toe so we went to the mall for a while - I did need some mascara - and then to the one and only gallery in town, which looked much more interesting from the outside.  It was a glass gallery and studio and had mostly WAY over priced things that you see at any other "gallery" - stained glass hearts and starfish.  There were a couple of bowls that I did like but, as I said, they were unrealistically priced.

And so what did that leave?  Football!  After stocking up on fresh bread and things for sandwiches and snacks we settled in to watch the Huskies play Arizona at 4 o'clock in Seattle in a terrible rainstorm.  They Huskies won.  It was especially sweet since the Arizona team beat us so terribly last year.

Since there really was nothing going on in town and another storm on the way, we headed out nice and early, just in case the ferries would be shut down from the storm.  Sunday football.  The Steelers lost in London - ha!  Unfortunate for those Londoners who bought tickets to that game.  Both teams had a losing record, so I don't suppose it was much of a game.

The Seahawks game on the other hand ... that was exciting!  They were on the road in Houston and it looked like they were losing, then down 20 to 3, they scored 23 unanswered points.  Took it into overtime ... but won!  Wow.  And it looks like I won my matchup this week too!  I am up 15 points and we each have a guy in the game tonight.  Fingers crossed - I need to win this one!

I forgot to bring knitting so I couldn't wait to grab it yesterday, but then the game got so exciting.  I want to figure out which wrap I'm going to knit this week but I don't know -- things are going to be super busy - again.