Sari Silk doesn't sssssuck after all

Well, I figured out what to do with Sari Silk! I made this cute little purse! I have a pattern for it on my pattern page. I basically just imagined it and then made it. The body is crochet and the handle and ruffle are knit. Crocheting is definitely a lot easier to do with this stuff than knitting - unless you're doing just plain stuff. No fancy stuff with the silk because it doesn't give at all! But I am really happy with the way this turned out. I won't actually use it, mind you, since I don't usually carry this type of bag, but I can probably gift it or sell it. There are more detailed pictures on the pattern site as well. I didn't do a very good job putting the lining in, unfortunately. It's a bit crooked at the peak of the flap. It kind of bothers me so I'll probably re-do it. Other than that, it's pretty nice.

I went, for the first time, to JoAnn's craft shop. I needed to get fabric for the lining and something to use as a backing for the back side of the purse so it wouldn't fold in on itself and also a button. Man, that place is something else! It was PACKED!! As I was wandering around I found some really soft yarn - a mohair blend in a lovely green (I love that color, for some reason) and I thought it would look nice for a ruffled scarf pattern on the cover of IK Crochet - so I bought some of it and made the scarf that evening as well! It's awfully cute, don't you think? I don't usually like crochet but I got on a roll this weekend. And not only that ... (but wait! there's more!) I got the stitches picked up for the other sleeve on the jacket and got about half of it done yesterday evening. Very busy, crafty weekend.

Football news - not so good this weekend. The Huskies played well but lost. The Seahawks gave the FREAKIN' GAME AWAY!!! Oh .. what a heartbreaker. Dang kicker! We could have won it but he missed the kick, it went into overtime, the Redskins won the toss and ... their kicker didn't miss. Oh ..... just makes my stomach hurt to think about it. Next week the Rams and we all know what happens when Seattle plays St. Louis, don't we?? The good news is that the Patriots lost!! Woohoo! And the Chargers were the ones to beat them. More better. So it wasn't a total loss of a football weekend.

Countdown to mini-break. How many more hours until I get on that plane? Oh too many to count now but close. The busy week will go by quickly.

Yay it's Friday!!

Woohoo!! Only one more week and I am going away for a lovely little mini-break. And boy do I need it. This next week is going to be brutal but it's sooooo nice to have something to look forward to, ya know?

AND I am feeling giddy because I just made another stellar eBay purchase .... I have been wanting an iPod but I honestly think the Nano is a bit too small. I found Mini iPods on eBay for a very reasonable price - actually about the same as the Nano but twice the storage. I know that it has a built-in battery but quite honestly I think it will take me a loooooong time to run it out. I don't run around with music plugged into my head all day long - just at the gym and maybe running. I have a little MP3 player but it's such a hassle to change out the music every weekend. This way I can just load that sucker up -- I mean .... 1,000 songs? That's plenty. Thank goodness for that lawyer guy here at the U that I do that consulting for. He and the scientist couldn't figure out how to integrate some of the images I had made for them into their final report, so they hired me for four hours to fix it up for them. Et voila! New iPod. Don't you just love how that works out??

I worked a bit more with that silly Sari Silk last night. I can't let it go. I started crocheting with it to make a small bag and wow! I think that's the key. It still hurts a bit to work with it but not nearly so much as knitting it. It's beautiful - the colors are so vibrant. I am thinking of putting a ruffle around the tab. It's going to be very very cute. Yes Sylv -- I should have done a bit more research before I bought it. I hadn't heard that it was so hard to work with. But anyway - happy ending after all.

And only more thing .... I think this Secret Pal thing is so much fun!! I get such nice feelings when I read on my Pal's blog that she got my card or gift. I sent her some chocolate and candles early this week and she got them just when she had had a bad day and needed chocolate. Bingo -- she gets home and there it is. Makes me feel all niiiiiiice.

My awesome purple cowboy boots!!

I finally got my new phone, the camera works great and I took a picture of my latest fantastic eBay purchase, a pair of purple Steve Madden slouch cowboy boots. I lllllllove these! They're showing a bit red on my monitor even though I tried to adjust the color. They're much more purple - like Welch's Grape Juice purple, or UW Huskies Purple and Gold purple. Just perfect. I'd wear them with everything if I could.

So ... knitting news ... hmmmm ... well, I got the first sleeve done on the basketweave jacket. I really really REALLY want to get that finished this weekend. I should be able to get a good start on the second sleeve tonight if a) the dog is not all wound up and b) my friend picks up her son early enough. Otherwise it's going to be a big push this weekend because I have about a bazillion other projects I need to get cracking on.

School is just about in session - for the regular students anyway - we've been going here at the Med School for a month now. But you can really tell it at the IMA (the gym). Last Tuesday was packed at 11:30 am!! Usually it's a very quiet time to go - that's why I go there on Tue and Thur - less traffic. But the kids don't have much to do now so they're hanging out in the gym making my workout an annoyance rather than a stress reliever. Oh well, it's only for a few weeks, then they'll stay away until right after the Christmas break when it'll get busy again for a few weeks. Like clock work.

Sari Silk Ssssssucks!

I was seduced by the romance of it all ... recycled silk from real Indian Saris worn by who knows who? And the colors .... gorgeous and rich and jewel-like. But the reality? It smells bad. It is scratchy and hard to work with. I tried two times last night to start a small drawstring bag with a very simple chevron lace pattern. But it didn't show the pattern at all and it's so hard to work with! No stretch! My hands are killing me. I don't know now what to do with it. Perhaps a simpler bag. Or maybe I'll crochet one. I saw a women with the cutest crocheted purse a few months ago here at work. Or maybe I'll use both colors and make another chain link scarf. That would probably be very cool looking. Whatever I make, it won't be something that is worn close to the skin. This is definitely NOT "soft as silk" silk.

My replacement phone should be coming today. If they don't take the signature I left on the door I guess I won't get it until tomorrow. I still want to put up a picture of my latest eBay score - the purple slouch cowboy boots. In fact, that's how I found that my camera wasn't working - when I went to take a picture of them at work. I want that Motorola Razr but not for $300 I don't.

Another gorgeous day. Can't believe our luck! I'm going to go out for a run here real soon. I have to leave early today to go to the dentist for appointment #2.

These are TOO funny!!

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again
asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it
by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a
new definition. Here are this year's {2005} winners:

1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you
realize it was your money to start with.

2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops
bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows
little sign of breaking down in the near future.

4. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose
of getting laid.

5. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the
subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

6. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

7. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the
person who doesn't get it.

8. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late. 

9. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness. >

10. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease.
(This one got extra credit.) >

11. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these
really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's
like, a serious bummer.

12. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day
consuming only things that are good for you.

13. Glibido: All talk and no action.

14. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter
when they come at you rapidly.

15. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after
you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

16. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into
your bedroom at night and cannot be cast out.

17. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm
in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature: 

18. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an a**hole.

Another gorgeous day!

I am feeling a bit spoiled. Here's yet another gorgeous day! But that's Seattle in September. I will be complaining soon enough.

I got a hilarious e-card from my Secret Pal, who is also a football babe! yay! Knitting and watching football are great pastimes because you're not JUST sitting and watching TV but you're making something as well. My guess is that most men don't really consider sitting in front of the television for all of the weekend to be a waste. But if I'm not at least doing laundry I feel like a slug. This way I can be working on a sweater AND doing laundry AND being a couch potato. It's the best.

September in Seattle

It's so wonderfully gorgeous!! Whenever I'm away from Seattle and getting homesick, it's this time of year that I think of most fondly. The blue blue skies. The chilly mornings and the warm afternoons. And football, of course! It was a stellar weekend. Saturday was one of those days - and the afternoon was spent at the Fremont Oktoberfest, drinking too much beer in the bright sunshine. It was lovely. And Sunday a football game - and the Seahawks just ran all over the Cardinals. Swwweeeeeet!

At the Oktoberfest there was also a streetfair and I bought some sari silk -- two skeins. If I had been thinking clearer (see above re: too much beer) I would have tried to match the skeins, but instead I got a beautiful mostly pink one and then another that has a good bit of white in it. I have always been curious about recycled sari silk. It is much rougher than I had imagined it would be and it smells kind of like twine, if you know what I mean. Perhaps after it is washed with some fabric softener it will be nicer. But the colors are gorgeous! I'm thinking of making some sort of drop stitch scarf out of one and then maybe a little drawstring bag out of the other. We'll have to see how it knits up.

I didn't have much time to do any real knitting this weekend, although I did a good bit on the sleeve of the jacket while I was watching football yesterday evening. I didn't do anything but watch "Desperate Housewives". It's the only network show I watch regularly. And it was goooooood.

I ran errands first thing Saturday and bought a few things for my Secret Pal. I'm going to put them in the mail this lunchtime. Next one will be knitting goodies, but this one is just pampering goodies. I hope she likes it.

New Pattern Blog & stuff

I finished my felted basket and decided to make a blog where I can post patterns only. Here's the link to Shelley's Patterns. I guess I should put a link on my sidebar as well. Here's a picture of the finished basket. I particularly like how I did the handles and that's the main thing I was going for. I think I could have made it a little deeper, but for hauling around unfinished projects, it works. I used purl ridges for dividing the bottom from the sides and for the top to have a good place to sew the handles. It doesn't show after it's felted. I thought it would be more obvious, although I don't mind that it isn't. Here's a picture of the unfelted basket. It measures 23 inches a long side and about 6 1/2 or 7 inches tall. It felted down to just over 3 inches, which seems like a lot. I used Peruvian Highland Wool from Elann and that's the first time I have used it for felting. I like the finished fabric. It's nice and stiff. I used two strands, by the way, because it's not a bulky wool. I'm thinking of using this for that cabled shrug from IK I was going to make for my friend Ruth and now am making for myself. My office gets wicked cold and it would be very comfy and pretty as well.

I got another good bit done on the sweater jacket sleeves but my hand started hurting again. I swear it's the purling. I will be glad when that beast is finished.

I feel like a REBEL!!

I was sooooo out of it when I finally dragged my sorry behind home last night that I forgot my bike helmet!! I have only done that a couple times and when it has happened before I realized it before I was half way across campus. That feeling of the wind in my hair usually wakes me up. But I didn't realize it last night until I was in the house and putting my stuff away! Good lord! And after that crash I had last month, too! So this morning I had to bike to work sans helmet. I felt like I was doing something soooo naughty. Sure that people are looking at me and wondering what kind of a dare devil I am. ;-)

My felted basket is looking very nice but it wasn't quite dry last night so I didn't want to take the stuffing out of it and take pictures. I'll do it for sure tonight and then post a pattern as well. I got the sweater front done and both are now attached and I've picked up stitches for the first sleeve. My hand starting aching again last night. I know it's because of all the purling that needs to be done with this particular basketweave pattern, plus the stitches were very tight after I had picked them up. I just want this thing DONE!!!

If I didn't know better I'd say that the cat and dog are conspiring against me. Last week and even through the weekend they were getting along at night just fine. Both sleeping at the foot of the bed, nearly cuddling! But this week! When I NEED my sleep? Huh-uh. Nothing doing. Tink is like a doggie possessed. She is on that cat every time she makes a move. Makes for a very exciting night. Not a restful one. Maybe they're in cahoots. Figuring that if I am sleep deprived I'll make some kind of big mistake like leave meat on the floor or something. See? That's how nuts it's making me. I am anthropomorphizing the animals!

I'm whole again!

I am so thankful I went to the dentist yesterday! Now I can smile again. I've been taking full advantage of it. Unfortunately since I was an emergency they were only able to do the bare minimum - made me a temporary cap and started the process. I have to go back next Wednesday to get the final impression made and the tooth ready for the crown, then once again in October for the final. But still - yay Dr. Fukuda!

I finished my basket last night and felted it. The Peruvian Wool felts nicely. I took pre-felt pictures and tonight I'll take a picture of the final object. It looks pretty good. And I am now only a few rows away from being done with the second front of the jacket. It's going to be super warm and cuddly.

I'm proctering an exam right now - finally I can use the wireless connection in the lecture hall. For some reason the signal wasn't good enough before. I am SUCH a gadget junkie.

My whine-free zone

Okay, no whine today. I get my tooth fixed in .... just a little more than 4 hours. Or at least start the process. That's good. And then I'll go home and veg and knit. I just need to make the I-cords for the handles of the basket and I can felt it tonight and get back to the sweater-jacket. I guess I'm going to have to take pictures with my digital camera since my camera part of my phone still isn't working. It started to work again Friday night but then Saturday - not. I guess I'm going to have to take a minute or 60 and go to the Cingular store and find out what's up. I use that camera more than I thought I would.

Talk about a string of bad luck!

My goodness - I must say that from Friday afternoon on through yesterday afternoon - it was just one rotten thing after another! Work was stressful, my Dad is making me crazy and I don't even want to think about that . I want do a Scarlett O'Hara and think about it another day. My hair did turn out okay and Lisa Marie had a good idea and turned me on to a woman who is some sort of elder advocate. I just need somebody to talk me through finding another doctor for him, plus which I have to find out just why that other doctor decided he shouldn't be a patient of hers any longer. Ooooo it just steams me, but I can't deal with it now. If I could hire this woman to do it for me, though, how sweet would that be? Anyway -- Saturday I was still upset about Friday and had to go into work to boot. On the plus side the Huskies won! yay! But then I went to the Seahawks game yesterday and while I was eating garlic fries a piece of my tooth just broke off! I mean .... fries!! It's making me crazy. I called my dentist this morning and they can get me in tomorrow at 12:45 to start the crown. I told Janet I looked like a hillbilly and she started laughing! Well, honestly it's not quite that noticeable but if I smile, then you can definitely see it. Thankfully it doesn't hurt much.

In knitting news -- I am a little over half way done with the basket I'm going to felt for the WACDL auction. And I got Interweave Crochet magazine and saw a little shrug/wrap kind of deal that I thought might work for Ruth rather than that beautiful cabled one. I showed it to her and yup, she likes it better! Go figure. It's good for me though because I know I wouldn't actually make two of those cabled thingies and I do so love it, so I can crochet that one for her and still make the other for me. It'll have to go down the list since I already have the yarn for the Alpaca purple one, plus I've got to finish that jacket. But that's a bit of a silver lining.

Now I've got to get to work. Real work.

Oh dang!

I broke a tooth! How messed up is that?

--

Mobile Email from a Cingular Wireless Customer http://www.cingular.com

Arrrghghghgh!!!!

Oooo! Check out the new Flickr Badge thingie!! Isn't it cool? I found it on my Secret Pal's blog. I would put a link to her blog here but I don't want her figuring out who I am until we're all done with it. But ... wow! I lllllove it!!
--------------------------
My camera phone doesn't work!!! I got these absolutely stunning boots from eBay yesterday and I wanted to take a picture to put on my blog and my darned camera won't work on my phone! I deleted all the older pictures, thinking perhaps the memory was full and tried it again. No go. I re-booted the darned thing ... still won't work. Oh I am going to be so mad if my phone is broken!! I haven't dropped in in ages! (No, I'm not kidding. For a while there I was dropping it every couple days ... don't know why). But it's been working and all of a sudden, not. Of course, if it is truly broken then I would have an excuse to buy one of those new Razr phones. Well ... we'll just have to see.

I'm going to get my hair done today so I'll be working on that felted project while I'm there. I'm almost done with the bottom of it and then it goes pretty quickly. Except I've got an idea for the handles that I've got to work out design-wise. What I'd like to do is knit the handle into the bag rim, which is easy enough to do, except I want the cross portion of it to be I-cord. So perhaps I'll just knit two shorter sections and then graft an I-cord to them. Well ... don't know. But it'll be fun figuring it out.

The Secret Pal thing

Oh my gosh! I feel like a silly girl, but we got our Secret Pals today! For those of you who don't know, "Secret Pals" is a group that are anonymously matched with another person. For three months you "pamper" this person, sending gifts, emails, etc. What we have in common, obviously, is knitting. Also I think that the vast majority of us are women as well. But anyway - it's just goofy and fun. I got matched with a really cool woman and unbeknownst to her we have lots in common, so it's going to be easy to pamper her. It's the old do unto others thingie.

No knitting last night. I was out. Perhaps tonight I can do some more. I slept like hell last night so I'm pretty darned tired.

What it is about the thumb

The thumb. On my left hand. It's still feeling weird. I have come to the conclusion that it's the combination of the crocheting I did and the basketweave pattern of the sweater jacket I'm making that is causing the problem. I overdid it with the crocheting and the purling motion just aggravates it. Its the big needles, I think, plus the fact that there is more than 50% purl in that darned pattern. It looks nice, but ouch! I worked for a while last night - got a good start anyway - on the felted basket project for the auction.

I also heard last night that we'll be getting our secret pals soon! Silly me though -- I was trying to figure out how we wouldn't know our secret pal's identity because after all, we'd be reading their blogs and we'd have to have their address to send them things. But then, after describing it to my BF the penny dropped. We aren't matched! We each get a person that only we know to pamper. They aren't pampering us back!! Duh, huh? Or as Carlos Mencia says it ... "Doooo da dooo".

Let me just say this .....

I want an iPod Nano. I crave an iPod Nano. I covet, I desire, I feel like a kid that has just found a new toy and must have it or life will be over. It's just so darned nifty looking!! I could put audio books on it and pictures as well as 1,000 songs. Jeez, how many CDs is 1,000 songs!??! Anybody? Anybody? Oh well ... once the novelty wears off I am sure my craving will subside. But for now ...... NewToyItis.

My thumb is still sore. I had to practically sit on my hands last night in order to keep from picking up that stupid sweater jacket. I want to finish it because I have a couple of pretty things I want to do, plus which I have to make something so I can write out a pattern. I can't say what the "something" is because it's for one of my secret pal gifts. That's going to be taking priority this weekend so .... thumb, heal thyself!!

How strange ...

I was trying to log in this morning earlier and I couldn't. Strange. Well, seems to be okay now. Not that I have anything truly earth shattering to talk about, mind you. It was football weekend. The Huskies AND the Seahawks both lost - the Huskies worse than last year even. It's going to be a looooooong season, at this rate.

Again, three cheers for Rowan Big Wool. That jacket I am doing is working up so very quickly! I got the back done, the left front done and the sleeve seam done, plus I could have finished up the right front yesterday evening but my hand was hurting! I wanted instant gratification so I crocheted a looooooong purple glittery scarf on Saturday - doing most of it while the Huskies were losing - and my left hand got a bit over used. I think it was still sore from the previous weekend when I made the cat bed. I had to make myself stop yesterday. I am now super keen on getting more of that yarn and making the Vogue sweater I marked earlier. Mostly because it will go so quickly. That's always nice.

I am soooo boring

Or at least that is what it seems like if one is reading this. Work has been just extremely busy and insane and I'm exhausted when I get home. I did get the back of that Basketcase Cardigan done last night and got a good start on the left front. I'll take a picture. Other than that ..... NFL football starts tonight. Yeah see? Booooorrrrring.

No knitting news

Loooong weekend. And I did not knit! I did make the cat a bed though - crochet. Very veerrrry kitschy. It had to be done -- she had comandeered my down cuddle blankie that turns into a pillow. The weather is starting to turn and I wanted to use my blankie but the cat has gotten it all furry. So I found an old pillow and this weekend made a fuzzy cover for it. My hand hurts! I'm not used to the crochet movements. Anyway it's all done and now I can get back to making that jacket. I'm almost done with the back.

I took this picture on a walk in Discovery Park on Saturday. I tried to send it to Emma (Emma!! where are you??) from my phone but the call didn't go through. I don't know if that means she's got a different number or what. I was able to text her when she was in Australia so one would assume that Luxembourg would be no problem either. But then again ..... Anyway the walk was lovely. I was thinking of you Em ... it's been since Emma visited that I had taken Tink to this park. It's a wonderful walk and the weather was just fabulous. This picture makes it look much darker than it truly was. It looks like it's threatening rain in the picture but in reality it was much more blue. Oh ... and so we're walking along and all of a sudden a couple comes up behind us and start making over Tink ... "Oh, what a CUTE puppy!" I looked at the woman and immediately saw it was my second husband's girlfriend and sure enough, bent over Tink cooing was Andre! He looked up at me when I said "This is Tinkerbell" and just about swallowed his tongue. She said "Oh, nice to see you again." and off they went, walking as if Satan was at their heels!! Verrryyyy funny!

College football season has started and the Huskies made a brave start and even lead Air Force but choked and lost the game. Still it was a nice long holiday weekend. Now back to reality.

Never say never??!! What the heck ....

Daily Leo (by Astrology.com)
When it comes to romance, never say never. While recent developments may have convinced you that you're better off playing solitaire, a breakthrough is about to come your way. The impact of this event is not only memorable, but may shape the next few days with its cavalier and exciting energy. Be patient and remind yourself that the things worth doing right are worth waiting for -- especially when it comes to love. -

Oh for a good night's sleep!

I am so sleep deprived right now I am seeing double. Well okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but still, I am t-i-r-e-d! Huge long day yesterday - straight from work to a dinner party that I helped put together, then of course, I had to stay for the dinner. I hardly got in the door and got changed before my phone rang. It was a friend needing help putting together a wine list. It didn't help that he must have been drinking the wine for a couple hours before he decided he needed to make the list. He needed help formatting his Word document, so two or three email exchanges later I had fixed the list enough so that he could finish it. I hope. I quit checking messages at 9. Oh all I wanted was to sit down and read the paper in peace, then fall asleeeeeeeep. But little Tink needed play time and you can't blame her. Cooped up all day with a silly cat that refused to play. So we played "chase the squirrel" until I was cross-eyed. I had to wear her out so she would sleep. I did fall asleep but must have awakened 3 or 4 times during the night thinking about work. Thank goodness it's a 3-day weekend coming up, is all I can say. And I'm hoping for bad weather so I can't work in the yard, because that's really what I should be doing. It's not too hot here - only 65 today. It makes for perfect running weather, especially when it's a bit cloudy and even though it's a bit early the leaves are starting to fall on the trail because it's been such a dry summer. I love running in this weather. It's very very hot in Paris though - 91 today. Even so, I am homesick.

Friday Night's concert AND Why I prefer to knit in the round

I finally finished that cashmere cardigan. Basically I just sacrificed my whole Saturday and got it done. And it illustrates perfectly why I much prefer to knit in the round. First it took me two solid hours to sew the shoulders, set in the sleeves and sew up the sides and sleeves. That is a picture of it put together and ready to pick up the 223 stitches around the front and neck. I got wise this time though and used a crochet hook to help me pick up the stitches. Time elapsed -- 1 hour. By that time my back was just screaming from being hunched over the table for so long. But did I quit there? Noooooooo, not by a long shot. Those 223 stitches had to be turned into 446 stitches if it was going to be a ruffle like the sleeves and back edging. Luckily for me it was preseason football and the Seahawks were playing, so I headed downstairs and kept at it. I almost ... almost ... made it but I ran out of yarn at about 10:30, 1/2 way through binding off. So I finished it up Sunday and here it is. It's really cute on, although rather snug. But so is the other one and I think that's partly what makes it so cute. I was going to make I-cord ties, but I think I'll just fasten it with a pin if I fasten it at all. I have a black V-neck shell that will look fine under it (the ruffle is predominantly black) but I would like to whip up a matching shell for it sometime. It shouldn't take too long. It' s just finding the time. Putting it into the queue, as it were.

So that was the biggest part of my weekend. Friday night though we went to a concert - a trio made of Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clark and Bela Fleck. Of course I know they're not exactly mainstream but I always liked Jean-Luc Ponty (back in the day) and Bela Fleck is pretty cool. Oh but the three of them together .... painful. One hour of it would have been fine but two? Torture. Too avant garde. Too out there. Too boring. And then to top it off, Seattle had to come off looking like a hick town. The last thing they played was a suite in 3 movements. Stanley Clark introduced it as such - a suite in 3 movements. Now we have all learned in grade school that one doesn't applaud between movements! Oh but of course, people couldn't keep their hands from clapping in any little bit of silence. It's embarrassing!! And don't even get me started on the ridiculous practice of giving everyone a standing ovation. That sends me right around the bend.

Well, anyway.

Nothing Compares To You

It's funny how a song can come on the radio & just send you back in time.

--

Mobile Email from a Cingular Wireless Customer http://www.cingular.com

A perfect fit!!

This is the swatch I made last night for Ruth's cabled shrug out of the Peruvian Highland Wool. The gauge is absolutely SPOT ON! I have never knit a swatch that matched so perfectly as this does. I am thrilled! Now I just have to get her to pick a color. Of course, I want to start on this right now, but I am going to be strong ... ;-). I won't be able to work on the cardigan tonight because I'm going to see Dad and cook him dinner and a smoke filled apartment is no place for a new garment to hang out. And tomorrow is the Jean-Luc Ponty concert at the Pier so nothing Friday night. But this weekend for sure I'm going to sew that baby together and pick up those stitches and finish it up. THEN it's Erik's sweater jacket, the felted basket and THEN Ruth's shrug. I swear ... if only I didn't have to work all day......

Ooooo look what I got!

I ordered some of Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool and received it yesterday. Again, a bad picture. The colors are a dark brown and the ones that look blue are really more of a dusky purple. I am going to use it to make a felted basket that I'm going to fill with some luxe wool and needles and donate for a charity auction in a couple months. I wanted to try out this wool for the cabled shrug that I'm going to make my friend Ruth. I am going to swatch it tonight - a BIG swatch with one of the cable patterns. It probably won't work because it looks to be true worsted weight and the pattern calls for chunky. But really, you never know with gauge and it would be a wonderful yarn for that pattern. I know it'll work for the felted basket, so I can swatch all I want and then frog it and use it for the bag. I am going to make it with two strands. It should be nice and strong. Don't you just love felting?

I wanted to start my swatch right away yesterday evening, but I made myself finish the sleeves to that cardigan! It's all done and ready to be put together. I probably won't get to it tonight though because I want to play with this yarn. But it looks like I'll be able to wrap up that project this weekend. Woohoo!!

More on Monday Night Football

I know -- another crummy picture from my cell phone. But it's so COOL to be able to post to my blog from wherever I am! That's a picture from my seats at Qwest stadium. And oh they are p-o-s-h!! Comfy and cushioned and covered -- in the club level. We have a VIP entrance as well. I still can't say that they're worth the price ... but almost! Now if they threw in a massage or something like that, then definitely! There are other good things about the club level - the food and drink areas are also inside. Well, it's just nice. Too bad the Seahawks couldn't win, but oh well, it's only pre-season. It doesn't count!!

Monday night football

You should be here!

How did I do that???

I've got to quit taking pictures with my camera phone. They just don't come out well in the house. But anyway, I think it's clear enough to see what I did. I was working on my sleeves yesterday. I really wanted to finish them. I always knit my sleeves at the same time, just working two balls of yarn. That way they're always just the same because if I'm going to goof up, I will do it to both of them. And also there's just something so daunting about having just one more sleeve to do. Anyway, what I did was knit not one, but two rows on a sleeve with the other sleeve's yarn!! So I had to frog two rows. Now not normally a big problem, except that I'm working with three strands of fingering yarn on each sleeve. HUGE hassle! I managed to do it without dropping any stitches but I had to put it away after that even though I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was too nerve wracking.

Tonight is the first home pre-season Seahawks game and I've got tickets. It's a Monday Night Football game, so it starts at 5. I can't wait!!! Yay football!!

Tink looks like a lion

Poor little Tink. I took her to the groomer yesterday. Now that her skin is better and her hair is growing back she can get groomed. Unfortunately, because her hair got so long there were mats that I couldn't comb out on her behind. She just had to be shorn but they left her head long like a Westie. I think she looks like a lion. Cute, but .... odd and very teensie. This is not a very good angle but maybe you can see what I mean.

What I learned yesterday

I was tinkering with my template yesterday, adding some links, and I was looking through some of the other options that are available for this blog. One of them is a yes/no toggle to let your site be catalogued by a particular blog site. I said yes and wow! what a mistake!! In a matter of minutes "comments" were coming in. They weren't really comments but spamming from commercial blogs! I have my comments set for "anyone" rather than the other option which is that one must be a registered user of this blogger to comment. I turned off the option as soon as I could. What a hassle. All is well now.

I thought I was going to have to work this weekend but just found out that I don't have to work after all! Yay!! That means that I should be able to finish up this cardigan. The sleeves have about 3 or 4 more hours to go, at the most. I'd say I've got about 8 more hours to go on this one. I think I'm going to time myself for the next project, just for fun.

Just a little teensie rant

I've been thinking about something I read on a knitting forum ..... people were talking about projects they're starting for gifts for the holidays. One person complained that her friends didn't seem to "appreciate" the gifts they had received from her and so this year she was going to knit things and donate them to charity and present them with a card saying that such and such was knitted by her and donated to such and such a charity in their name!! Now I don't know about you, but for me knitting is pure self indulgence. I do it because I enjoy it and it gives me pleasure in many ways. Sure, I do indeed give hand knit gifts BUT you have to know your recipients. I either ask the person beforehand if they would like and wear whatever I have in mind for them, or I make them something very unique and luxe - not just any old garter stitch scarf out of acrylic yarn. [Not that I'm saying that is what she calls a gift, mind you.] Taste is such a personal thing and that's why I usually ask before I go spend countless hours and lots of money for an item someone isn't going to appreciate or wear. I think it's just a tad bit ... snippy and selfish to say that you're going to indulge yourself by making something YOU want to make and then donating it in another's name just because they didn't happen to go all crazy about whatever little scarf and hat duo you happened to give them last year. Well anyway ... just had to say it.

I don't know if my cat and dog read this blog or not, but in any case:

NOTE TO THOSE ANIMALS SHARING MY BED

Just because the clock says AM it does NOT mean that it's morning!!! Four o'clock is not morning. It's the middle of the freaking night! Let's all try to get more sleep, eh??

Oh joy! It's raining!!

I know I know ... it's Seattle and it's supposed to rain. But it's been ages and ages since it's rained and also it's been very hot, so this is a nice break. I haven't been enjoying all this hot weather. I know I am lucky that it's not humid as well, like on the east coast, but still .... Anyway, it was a lovely bike ride in this morning. The rain has mostly stopped so it was just misting a bit. Very refreshing.

I only got a teensie bit more done on my sleeves last night. Now I am determined to work at this thing and get it done so I can start work on Erik's big sweater/jacket thingie. I have so many projects that I want to do and I would start all of them and end up with like 8 projects sitting around in various states. So I need to discipline myself to finish. I don't let myself have more than 3 projects going at a time. That way I don't get bored and 3 is an acceptable number is works in progress for me. I may have to work this weekend though, so that's going to seriously cut into my knitting time. Oh well.

Tink's visit to the vet

Hooray! Took Tinkerbell to the vet yesterday and she's doing very well. The mites are gone and her allergies are just being managed by the Benedryl. We just have to wait and see if she gets worse or whatever. Not excellent news, that, but since things are okay now we'll take it. She can get groomed again and get caught up on her shots and she's not too itchy, so things are definitely better. And she and Wendy are getting along better every day. Last night they slept on the bed without incident - Wendy up top and Tink on the bottom or in between us. I will throw a party the day they play together.

I got some work done on the necklace idea I had - I managed to copy that one from Anthropologie right on the first go! So I'm going to get some fresh water pearls and make a couple for gifts or maybe to donate to an auction.

I also got the latest IK and found a shrug in there that I so want to make for my friend Ruth. I think it would really suit her. Here are a couple views of it. It calls for $300 of a cashmere/silk blend yarn. It think I'll find a substitute that is a little more cost effective, eh? Although wouldn't it be wonderful to do it in that yarn. I'll bet it's amazing.






I got a good bit done on the sleeves of the cardigan. It's getting to be football season - great for knitting because I can sit and watch games and not feel that I'm wasting time. Here are the sleeves. With any luck I should have this thing almost done by the weekend.

Busy weekend

It was a H-O-T weekend as well as busy. Thankfully this weather is supposed to break this week and we may even get some rain. Hooray! I was in the car for much of yesterday, traveling to a memorial picnic and back again. I had planned on getting TONS done on the sleeves of my cardigan but the air conditioning didn't work, so it made it a little difficult to get going. We took the ferry one way and so I was able to cast on and actually made some progress last night after I got home. Kitty loves to play with me while I'm knitting. Go figure - a cat that likes yarn! She's just as bad as the dog though, because Tink also likes to play with my knitting. She destroyed a couple of projects in the works before I learned to put my knitting up off the floor if she was going to be unsupervised. I'm going to take pictures of the sleeves tonight to post. This cardigan is going to be so cute! I think that I might make a shell from the left over Optiks that I'm using as trim (as suggested by Sylv). It would make a cute set and if it doesn't suit me, it would be good for my sister.

On Sunday I also made a quick stop at the bead store to get some beads to experiment with copying a necklace that I saw on the Anthropoligies site. Theirs uses pearls but I just got some glass beads to fool around with. If I can make it look like I can picture it in my head, then I'll get pearls.

Saturday.

This is the picture that should have been up Saturday. Waiting for BB King. The concert was good. It was hot outside but it got better once the sun went down a bit.

Sunday

Waiting for the ferry.

Just a quick observation

I was thinking - writing in this blog is so reminiscent of when I was living in Paris and wildly in love. I would blather on in daily emails about the minutiae of my life, confident that the reader was spell bound and eager for more. And I guess it's with that confidence that I continue to blather on. And on. Stop me if you've heard it before.

Oh this dog and cat thing!

I can't describe (though I'll try) how strange it is sometimes to have a cat around. Poor Tinkerbell - I feel sorry for her sometimes. Wendy is becoming a bully, although I know it's just her survival instinct. They are getting better at being in the same room together but when the cat is on the couch and Tink comes by, for example to perhaps get up in my lap, the cat just pounces! Last night the cat was in the corner by the TV and Tink was playing ball with me, but when she would get the ball she would go to the kitty and make a play posture. She wants to play with the cat! But the cat is afraid of her and so goes on the defensive and attacks. It's less nerve wracking than it's been though because they've been making progress. When I go to bed I leave the door open to the upstairs. Last night Tink decided she wanted to start the night out under the bed. I was nearly asleep when the kitty jumped on the bed! But then Tinkerbell sensed she was there and SHE wanted on the bed. Off goes the cat, on goes the dog. Everything was just getting settled and I was almost asleep when the cat comes back and peeps up onto the bed. Tink's head came up like a gopher and away went the cat again, only to come back in a few minutes and up she came! She stayed WAAAAYYY up top and Tink went from the bottom to the middle, but everyone was quiet and happy and mostly slept through the night. Now if only they could get along that well during waking hours.

It was much cooler yesterday, plus the air conditioning is on in my office and can't be turned off, so I was actually cold! I ended up working on my mohair blankie last night. I'm going to be slipping it onto my longest circular needles so I'll take a picture of it's progress. I am quite please. It's going to be very pretty I think. The colors are super. And I've got a long car ride on Sunday so I'm going to wind another ball of that Optiks and make the two sleeves for the cardigan - or rather, start them. I should be able to get a good start on Sunday.

Woohoo!

Well hooray! I actually rode my bicycle to work today, finally. It's been one week since the dreaded door incident. No problems although I was just a little more careful than usual. And my bruises and swelling are getting much better as well so hopefully I can have a run tomorrow. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is glad that I'm getting better. I can get a little cranky when I can't run or ride.

I bought this yarn from ebay for that sweater from Vogue Knits. It looks a little bit darker than the picture but who knows really. All the pattern says is purple and it's purple. Could be last season's purple but I like the color. I think it will suit the pattern well.

I only worked a little bit on my orange cashmere whatever-it-is. It is such a portable project because it's in the round and I'm just working on the body so I take it when I can knit but can't count, like when I go visit my Dad. It's looking really big though so I think I'd better try it on and see what's up. I might have to frog it and try again. I cast on a large neck opening because I wanted it to be off the shoulder a little bit, or at least to the edge, but after making all of the increases down to the arm pit and putting the sleeves on waste yarn, the body looks pretty large. Well, I never know until I try it on so I should do that tonight.

Wedesday blues

I'm going to try again to post that picture of the swatch. Let's see if it works ...... Ah ha! it worked. Don't know what was up with my laptop yesterday but I was in no mood to sit there and try to figure it out. I should have had a hand or finger in this picture so there would be some perspective. But it's about six inches long and about 3 high. It's going to be quite spectacular when it's done, if I do say so myself.

And this is the sweater I was talking about from Vogue Knitting that I'm going to do next.










Bleh. I still feel icky but I am at work trying to get my engine going. At least it's cloudy today and therefore not so hot. Only 62 and it shouldn't get over 75 today. That's a good thing anyway. I am tired of sweltering.

The cat and dog thing is starting to wear on me. I wish they'd just figure it out. Still Tink feels invaded and the kitty seems to think that the basement is her private domain since we've had her spending most of her time there. Yesterday afternoon we were all upstairs and then we all came downstairs so I could get the laundry. The cat made it down first then turned and just attacked poor little Tinkerbell! Tink doesn't want to attack the cat, she wants to play! I am sure they'll figure it out, but not soon enough to suit me.

Was it the yummy dinner?

No work today. I am not feeling at all well. And no I don't think it's because of too much celebration. I've managed to keep a cup of cocoa down and a piece of toast. We'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully this is a 24 hour thing. I've got stuff to do!! At work, I mean.

I swatched the Basketcase Sweater I'm going to be making for the BF. It's going to be very cool. I've never worked with Rowan Big Wool. In this case it's going to make the project bearable because it's more of a jacket than a sweater - I mean it's huge. So it won't be dragging on forever if I'm using size 15s. Well for some reason this won't let me add a picture today. I'll try later. I need to go lay down.

Birthday dinner.

Yum! See what my baby cooked!

Happy birthday to me!

It's my birthday and I'm having a vacation day. I slept in and ran some errands and now I have the whole rest of the afternoon to knit or read or take a nap ..... whatever I want! Maybe a little of all three. I finished up the left front of the cardigan yesterday. Those front pieces go very fast.

Things are still strange and noisy in cat and dog land. The cat did come upstairs last night. She is getting bolder. Tink just can't get over the fact that something else is in HER house but it seems that she is getting a little more used to her. At least she doesn't bark continuously any more. That was wearing a little thin, for sure.

My bruises are getting very colorful. I was in the bagel store yesterday morning and it was hot so I was just wearing a little camisole top. As I was leaving I noticed this woman just totally checking me out and I couldn't understand what was up with that until I caught a glimpse of my arm in a mirror. Dang! I look like somebody beat the tar out of me! Today I wore a little shrug to cover it up. It's embarrassing!

Cats & Dogs & Dogs & Cats

Well it's not going to be easy. We tried to get the two together last night by just opening the door between the upstairs and downstairs and letting things flow naturally. Wendy the cat was upstairs when Tink came in and she promptly went under the bed where she hid for about an hour. Tempted out by a piece of cheese she joined us downstairs because Tink was outside. Once she came back in though the cat hid behind the couch for the rest of the night until I took the dog upstairs for bed. I guess this is going to take some time. At least the cat stood her ground. They don't have to be buddies. I would just be happy with them each giving the other their space and peacefully coexisting. Is this too much to ask? I sure hope not.

What a whiner

I feel like a big ol' whiney baby but .... ooooooooch! I am more sore today from that crash than I was yesterday. I worked a little bit on my orange cashmere T-shirt while I was getting my hair done, but other than that it was just too hot to knit yesterday. I am going to have a long weekend so I hope to be able to get the back of that cardigan done and get a good start on the fronts. I am very anxious to get that done. I think it's going to be one of the best things I've made. Ooo! And I bought the yarn for one of the Vogue patterns - the purple lace peplum thingie. I got a great deal on the yarn it calls for - Alpaca Regal. I must make myself wait to start that though, because I promised to start the BF's big jacket first and I do have all the yarn for that so ... it'll have to wait. But it'll be nice to have the yarn to look at. It is going to be super soft.

Our new cat!

Wendy the cat. Already at home.

Crash and owie!!

The bicycle gods are out to get me. Perhaps because of my rant Tuesday? I don't know ... but I got whacked pretty good yesterday on the way home. Thankfully I had met up with a friend along the way so we weren't going very fast, since we were chatting. As he stopped to go up the hill I was just starting to accelerate when I noticed a car door opening. The door stopped, so I figured the person had seen me since I saw his head in the mirror and so I kept going. Wham! He opened his door right as I went by and knocked me over. He was hesitating not because he had seen me but because he was picking up an empty chips bag!! Thankfully Andy was still close enough to hear the crash and he came and helped me out of the street and walked me and my bicycle home. No blood, but bruises. Lots of bruises. Of course the man in car was very apologetic. I just wanted to get off my back, out of the street and on my way. I felt very undignified. Cars stopped. People came out of their houses. I hurt then but oh dear, it was much worse later and today I feel awful. I wish I didn't have to be at work, but I do. Oh well. I could have been worse.

The good news is that we get to break a cat out of jail. Here she is. No name for her yet although 'Wendy' is the current favorite. I took this with my phone last night at the shelter in their "Get Acquainted" room. It is very strange there - little rooms for people to try out the cat and see if it's a fit. This is my first time at adopting an animal. Since there are so many adult cats around I just think it's the most humane thing to do rather than go looking for a kitten. She's a very nice kitty. Now hopefully Tink won't go totally bonkers with an addition to the family. It's going to be interesting.

Tink's ears

Poor little Tinkerbell!! I just seem to get one problem under control and another pops up. I noticed a couple days ago that she was scratching a bit at her ears, mostly her right one. I took a peek inside and it seemed okay so I thought maybe it was because we were switching from one antihistamine to another. But the next day it seemed redder and, remembering the problem I had with Jack's ears when I let him go swimming, I thought I'd better take her up to the vet. Sure enough, she's got a yeast infection in both ears! Not bad, thankfully, but still. I have to bathe her twice a week until we can get the skin problem taken care of .... and really, she's looking MUCH better these days ... and so perhaps I got some water in her ears and that's all it takes, especially since she'd been on antibiotics for two weeks. I just want to find out what she's allergic to so we can stop this cycle, but I won't be able to do that until August 15, which is our next visit to the dermatologist. Until then ... ear drops and massage twice a day along with all of the other stuff we're doing. She's such a good dog though -- just takes it with a doggie smile.

I got a lot of work done on the back of that cardigan last night. Hopefully I can get it (the back that is) finished up tonight, or nearly so. It's going to be a bold little cardigan even though it's a muted yellow. I hope it's not too circus-like. I don't fancy looking any more like a clown than I already do.

Just open your eyes

Today is a rant. Not a major one but something that really irks me. I ride my bike to work everyday, year around. It's not my exercise - I go to the gym or run every day for exercise - it's how I get to work. So I'm not out there racing or anything, I just ride. Once spring and summer show up here in Seattle we get the "fair weather" bicyclists. They're easy to spot. Their bike clothes are trendy and new as opposed to my beat up bike shorts, mismatched t-shirts and road-oil stained jacket. Their bikes are shiny and their panniers spotless. They also are clueless how to ride and share the road with cars. It's no wonder that people driving cars hate bicyclists when there are these idiots out there! My biggest complaint is the person who bikes up to an intersection and leans up against the curb, effectively blocking the intersection so the cars behind them can't come up and make a right turn. At the end of my street this is what most of the cars want to do because if one goes straight, like I do to, only pedestrians or cyclists can get across the bridge. So, to get to the freeway they must turn right. It's a simple thing, people. If you're going straight, be polite and put yourself in the middle of the street so cars can get around you!! Or if you're afraid of cars, get on the sidewalk and press the crossing button to make the light change even faster! Some girl was blocking the intersection today and I know I should have said something, but it's just so freaking obvious! There were THREE CARS BEHIND HER!! She's lucky it wasn't me because I would have honked!

Whew. Okay, rant off. On another note I worked some more on my yellow cashmere cardi last night. The back is the worst beccause it's just essentially a large rectangle. Once that is done the front sides go quickly beause they're triangles - start out with a few stitches, increase up to a point and decrease back down. Then the sleeves - but I do them together on long needles so it seems to go faster. I am so into this one project that I don't want to work on anything else. Not enough hours in the day.

Inspiration

I was selling some stash on eBay and some went and some didn't. The Berocco Optik didn't get a nibble. It had been sitting in a pile with other odds and ends and it was next to a bag of yellow recycled cashmere I had bought a few months ago and hadn't decided what to do with yet. But as I looked at them together I thought how cool that Optik would be as a ruffled trim. I get so many compliments on that Knit1 cropped cardigan I made that I decided to use the yellow cashmere as the body and instead of ribbing use the Optik as a ruffled edge. I started right away and it's looking awesome and the drape of the fabric is just wonderful. This picture was taken with my phone - which takes good pictures depending upon the light and the light wasn't that great but it gives the general idea.

I received the latest issue of Vogue knits and found two sweaters in there that I really want to make. So that makes 3 projects for myself that I still need to get the wool for. The Loop-d-loop Lace Leaf sweater is the one that I had been planning on making next. I am waffling a bit though because 1) the grafting of the body right in the middle of the chest seems a dicey proposition to me and 2) I am now totally in love with these two sweaters!! So we'll see. I'll most likely make the purple one first unless I can score some Rowan Big Wool at a good price. I'm not thinking of doing this one in orange though. Maybe blue.

Also I finally finally finished my Branching Out Scarf. It needs blocking though. The fuzzy yarn (Reynolds Frisky) wasn't the best choice I know since the lace pattern is mostly obscured. Probably when it's blocked it'll look more lacey. On the up side it hides the multitude of mistakes I made. I am not all that keen on lace knitting. I mean it looks nice but it is not a social project. No chatting. Just knitting. Not my style. I like to multi task.

Sunday

Ballard Seafood Festival. See food?

Who put this cat in jail?

We're working on a jail break!

I wish I could write like this!!

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Microsoft analyst has won an annual contest celebrating bad writing by comparing fixing carburetors to fondling a woman's breasts.

"As he stared at her ample bosom, he daydreamed of the dual Stromberg carburetors in his vintage Triumph Spitfire, highly functional yet pleasingly formed, perched prominently on top of the intake manifold, aching for experienced hands, the small knurled caps of the oil dampeners begging to be inspected and adjusted as described in chapter seven of the shop manual," went Dan McKay's winning entry in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

McKay, 43, of North Dakota was said by organizers on Thursday to be visiting China "perhaps to escape notoriety for his dubious literary achievement."

This is kinda fun

My friend Michael McGarrah forwarded this to me. I got a 44. The following is what he sent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is Dr. Phil's test. Dr. Phil scored 55; he did this test on Oprah (she got a 38.) This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept. at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and prospective employees. Some folks pay a lot of money to find this stuff out. Read on, this is very interesting!

Don't be overly sensitive! The following is pretty accurate and it only takes 2 minutes. It's only 10 simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question. Answers are for who you are now… not who you were in the past.

Take this test for yourself and send it to your friends. Make sure to change the subject of the e-mail to read YOUR total. When you are finished, forward this to friends/family, and also send It to the person who sent this to you. The person who sent it placed their score in the subject box. Don't peek but begin the test as you scroll down and answer.

Ready? Begin...


1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon &and early evening
c) late at night


2. You usually walk...
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly


3. When talking to people you..
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth
your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with..
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out or straight
d) one leg curled under you


5. When something really amuses you, you react with...
a) big appreciated laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile


6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed


7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're
interrupted….
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) vary between these two extremes


8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) Red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or gray


9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are....
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers


10. You often dream that you are...
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) you usually have dreamless sleep
f) your dreams are always pleasant



POINTS:
1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2 . (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

Now forward this to others, and put your score in subject box
"Dr.Phil's Test -- I scored ___ "

This came on my phone last night

Can you tell what this is? It's quite obvious here, but when I received it on my telephone yesterday evening it was still quite bright outside and there was glare on the phone screen. My contacts were blurry so I was squinting at this and moving the phone back and forth trying to see exactly what the heck Steven sent me. I am not kidding, it looked to me like a dog with sunglasses on!! I can't EVEN see now how I came up with that except that the olive in the bottom of the glass was the dog's nose. Once I got home where it wasn't quite so bright and I could take care of my dry eyes it still took me a while to figure it out because I had "dog" on the brain. What a crazy guy.

It was Dad's birthday yesterday so I took him and Aunt BettyJo to dinner at the Salmon House. Since it was "geezer time" I was still home before eight. Plenty of time to work on one of my three projects. But it was soooo hot still! I worked a bit on the blankie but I just couldn't cool off. At least the dog slept better last night because she slept UNDER the bed, where it's cooler and therefore didn't keep me awake, so I slept better. Hopefully it will be cooler today.

Hot in Seattle??

Well sure -- it's a relative term you know. It gets into the mid-80s a few days in a row and people start complaining. Thankfully my basement stays relatively cool but still .... the heat takes its toll. First on my knitting because it's too hot to have a lap full of knitting unless it's a little cotton top or small project and I don't happen to be making any of those things right now. Just how it happened. I did manage to do a few rows on my DYI afghan last night. I think it's going to be soooo pretty! I probably won't want to give it away but I kind of have it earmarked for gifting so I'll have to enjoy it while I can.

Poor little Tink though, that's who gets the worst of this weather. She doesn't really perk up until it cools down, which is about the time I'm thinking of bed. Last night I only slept in fits and starts. I was just about asleep when she needed to go out. Fine, I let her out. One hour later I woke up because she hadn't come back in and she was barking! Not good. I called her. She wouldn't come. I went outside and that's when she decided she wanted to play and absolutely would NOT come in. I had to go get cheese to bribe her. Then she wanted to bring her bone on the bed. I let her - I'm a sucker, I know. And she calmed down and slept for a while because there is a fan there that blows on her. But then at 2:30 she woke again and started gnawing on that bone, so I put her down. After a nice chew - just long enough so I'm asleep - she's barking at the door to be let out. AGAIN I get up and let her out but at 3:45 she's barking outside at the paperboy or something and AGAIN I had to bribe her to come in because she's going puppy nuts, running around wanting to play. Oh mannnnnnnn. I can't get mad at her though. It's only natural that she'd want to play when she feels good and not when she's hot and uncomfortable. But still.

Okay so, 4 or 4:15 we're back asleep but then Erik's alarm goes off at 5:30. erghghg I've managed to "nap" most of the night but I wasn't rested at all so I turned my alarm off because typically I don't really sleep much after he gets up and starts making noise so I figured I'd just "nap" a bit more and get up around 7 when I usually do. Huh uh Not today, ladies and gentlemen. I didn't awaken until after 7:30! Then it was just a mad rush and everything went wrong including getting some strawberries on my top and having to change right before I went out the door! And to top it off, little Tink was still feeling her oats. As I was putting on my makeup I kept hearing this strange noise, like something was hitting the outside of the house. I went out and there she was all cute in the garden with half her body down a hole she was digging, presumably, to China! *sigh* Come in the house? Oh noooooooo, not Tinkerbell.

I got to work nearly 50 minutes late. And I have to leave early because it's Dad's birthday today and I'm taking him and Aunt BettyJo to dinner, geezer time. I need to figure out a way to get my attitude back on track.

Cruel Cruel Cruel!!

Oh the tricks one's mind plays. I got up at about 12:30 am, quite groggy, stumbled to the bathroom and did my business. And as I was sitting there I'm thinking, "Ahhhh, tomorrow is Sunday. I can sleep in." D'oh! Then of course it dawned on me that it was, alas, only Monday and tomorrow was Tuesday as in today. Lordy this is going to be a looooooong week.

Stash busting

I put some of my stash on eBay this weekend. Odd how tough that is! I love having this backlog of yarn. However, I realized that I just wasn't going to use it and there are projects that I want to do that need yarn that I can't afford. So - yay for eBay!! I even found four skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Super Chunky that I forgot I had.

Here's the Berroco Optik. I thought I was going to love this but once I swatched it I realized it was too busy for a whole garment. It would be good for cuffs or stripes or something but I'm going to try to sell all but one of the 10 skeins.

I bought some Portofino Paper about a year ago to make a cardigan with fun fur cuffs and collar but I haven't done anything but swatch that so I know I'll never get around to it. It's pretty cool yarn though.

The fun fur is just gaudy. I know I'll never use that. Plus which the Lion Brand is a little scratchy. Not like Apart, for example.

And finally the Cashmerino. I think it's my favorite yarn except it pills a bit. But it is oh so soft.

A creature of habit

Yahoo mail was acting up this morning and threw my whole morning off schedule. I like to do things in a certain order - read and respond to emails being the first thing. Oh well ... I'll try to overcome.

Running the gauntlet and Bernie Bott's Beans

I just got back from a quick trip up the Ave (University Way, for the non-Seattle people) where I was accosted several times. "Hi, can you spare 5 minutes for the environment?" What I said was, "Not today". And what I got back was, "Well, enjoy the sunshine". What I should have said was "Oh, I can spare more than 5 minutes for the environment. What I can't spare is any time for sarcastic little twits who are trying to guilt people into donating to their cause." That just annoys the hell out of me! Here's what I observed today at lunchtime - in Seattle, one of the "greenest" cities, in the University District, one of the most liberal neighborhoods in the city, no one, it seems, could spare 5 minutes for the environment. Everybody, on the other hand, was enjoying the dickens out of the sunny day.

And, completely unrelated topic here, I tried Bernie Botts Every Flavor Jelly Beans this weekend. In case you're one of the 6 people who haven't heard or seen any Harry Potter, they're jelly beans that come in every flavor, even disgusting ones. Being a jelly bean fanatic I thought I'd give them a try and, quite honestly, I didn't really think that they would make the nasty tasting ones. I looked on the back of the box and there was a legend, kind of like when you get Jelly Belly beans showing what each color meant. Besides more normal flavors like cherry and toasted marshmallow there was also listed black pepper, soap, earthworm, ear wax, vomit(!), booger(!!), dirt and grass. I looked carefully at the list of ingredients and the only thing that made me think that perhaps they might be nasty tasting was that black pepper was listed as an ingredient. I was cautious but first off mistook an ear wax for a toasted marshmallow. Eeuuuuwwww! I spit it out. Thankfully the booger and vomit are pretty easy to pick out and pick them out I did, not even daring a nibble to double check that the vomit wasn't tutti frutti, it's closest lookalike. It was actually pretty funny and fun too, although Erik thought I was being a bit wasteful, since I was tossing away every 4th or 5th bean. I had a big laugh. Well worth the money.

Oh can you BELIEVE this???

Check this out:

Jul 20, 9:02 AM (ET)

LONDON (Reuters) - The word "fail" should be banned from use in British classrooms and replaced with the phrase "deferred success" to avoid demoralizing pupils, a group of teachers has proposed.

Members of the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) argue that telling pupils they have failed can put them off learning for life.

A spokesman for the group said it wanted to avoid labeling children. "We recognize that children do not necessarily achieve success first time," he said.

"But I recognize that we can't just strike a word from the dictionary," he said.

The PAT said it would debate the proposal at a conference next week.

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I'm sorry, but that is about the most asinine thing I've read in a while. In a very long while. Failing is part of life. What next? Assure the little darlings that they'll all live forever? Good gawd.

Omar goes home

I had to take Omie to the airport this morning. We had SUCH a good time while he was here. Here's a picture of him and Ruth at Ray's Boathouse yesterday, where we went for lunch and to discuss his Johnson O'Connor stuff. I think he had a good visit. I know we sure enjoyed having him around. I hope he is serious about moving up. It sure sounds like it.

Omar & his thiz face. Not really sure exactly what it is supposed to convey. But we were having fun drinking and playing pool last Tuesday night.

How many projects can YOU count?

The stash

Tinkerbell at the lake

It is sooooo bright at the lake. This picture didn't come out too well. This is another mobile blog. It's Tink at the water's edge. She just loves it there. She doesn't go out too far in the water, preferring instead to just paddle at the edge and then lay down in the shallows.

My Omie

This is pretty blurry, but Omie at the dog park. It is hot hot hot hot today. You can see what a big boy he is.

Too much going on

Omar has been visiting and I've taken time off work and not been spending too much time at the laptop. I have been trying to get my mobile blogging deal going but I think there's something wrong with my phone. It won't let me send pictures, which is weird. And it won't let me receive them. Time to go to the Cingular store I guess. Plus which it's HOT and I haven't been knitting too much. Maybe this afternoon I'll go downstairs where it's cool and do some stuff. Crazy wanting it to be cooler so I can knit.

Guilty pleasures

Oh this is terrible. More terrible than sneaking a peek at that Nanny 911 show. I have been just scanning through blogs and it is just ... well, kind of like looking at something really awful. I can't stop after one. I go on and on. It's just insane what people write. And I have noticed a similarity in templates. The religious ones go for that parchment look. Many of the political ones go for the black. Weird. What is embarrassing though is that many of the young girl ones read just like my old diaries. How incredibly self-centered girls are. Or I was anyway. I shudder. I am so very very thankful I don't have any children.

I am ready to tear my hair out!

I hate hate HATE Internet Explorer. And Microsoft. I am going crazy trying to get some quizzes made and I have to use IE rather than Netscape to do it and it freaking thing keeps crashing! Arghghghgh!!!!!! I spend so much time dealing with brower issues and compatibility issues and I'll bet that 99% of them are non-issues and simply Microsoft or Mac being pissy with one another. No wonder I want to knit all of the time. It's meditation. Rather like sucking one's thumb.

I had to change my blog template. I was looking at random blogs last week and realized that I have the template that is used by all the little girls. So, as much as I love pink, green is a good second.

It could definitely be worse

Last night was Ginny's night out with the girls. Kind of a bachelorette party without any tiaras or strippers. Plenty of drinks though. I had the foresight to book a Doctor's appointment for 11 am so I didn't come in to work but rather slept in a bit and left from home. I actually don't feel too bad, considering I drank 5 martinis. I did eat though, which is key. I would have been in serious trouble if I hadn't been eating. So, of course, no knitting last night for me. I managed a couple minutes with my orange sweater while I was waiting for the Doc. I was thinking of maybe putting in a row of eyelets and threading a ribbon or I-cord under the bust. Kind of making it an empire type thing. It could be cute. Can't decide. I want to do something though because I think that unrelieved orange might be too much, even though it's off the shoulder. I tell ya what though, I sure as heck don't feel like working. urgh Maybe I should get some lunch.

I love mohair! And felting too!!

I scored big yesterday. I can't remember how, but I found this place called Paradise Fibers. They have mill ends of some odd ball yarns. I bought some mohair because I had finished up that Flower Power shrug for my sister and loved it so much that I thought I'd like to make one for myself. Even though this mohair is blended with synthetics I thought I'd give it a try. Can't beat the price. It is $10 for 1500 yards! Here's the colors I got. There isn't much of a selection but I originally thought I'd make another Chain Link scarf with three colors and, while it doesn't show up very well here the color on the left is green and it looks lovely with the two blues. But then I got to thinking that maybe I'd like to make a throw. When I was making the latest felted bag I noticed how pretty the pattern was on the bottom of it. When you knit in the round and increase once at the beginning of each needle (you're using 4 dpns when you start out) a wonderful swirl pattern automatically happens. I thought it was so pretty and that it would make a great blankie. Especially since this mohair is washable because of the acrylic content. I also figured that in order to make it reversible - the only problem with knitting a throw rather than crocheting it - I'd have to stripe it by knitting a few rounds then purling a few rounds. Well, here's the very start of it. Can you think it a sillier time to start knitting a blanket?? But I like to have a few projects going so I don't get bored and this is a mindless type of project that I can just sit and do while watching a game or having a drink. No counting.

I whipped out another felted bag. This is another version of Sheree-Lee from Spun. I had knit one that looks exactly like the pattern and then branched out, using stash. Unfortunately I didn't make the handles long enough to put over the shoulder, but at least this time I put rubber tubing through the eyelets so that when I felted it they didn't close up and now I can use the handle as a drawstring, which I couldn't do with the first one. Prefelted it looked like this. And after felting like this. I love making felted bags because not only can you use up stash, but they go so quickly and you don't know really what you're going to end up with until you take them out of the washing machine. Each one is unique. I also finished the BF's guitar strap and felted it. I haven't put the holes in it yet. He loves it. I can't wait to see that on his guitar. I guess we'll have to do that this weekend. It looks pretty darned good though, just laying on his guitar case.

Doggie Dermatology Day!

Yay! Today is the day I take little Tink to the dermatologist to find out what the heck is wrong with her skin. I can't wait and the poor baby, I am sure if she knew she'd be like calling me every 10 minutes to ask if it's time yet. I feel like a criminal though ... I forgot that she wasn't supposed to have any food in case they need to sedate her for testing. So as usual, in my groggy state, I filled her bowl with food and she ignored it until I was getting my breakfast stuff ready to take to work. I heard her crunching and that's when the penny dropped. So I had to pick up her food. At least I think she only got a couple mouths full so it shouldn't be a problem. I just felt so bad! Talk about insult to injury - there she is, dirty because I haven't been allowed to bathe her, and itchy, and HUNGRY and mom takes the food away!! I'll make it up to her tonight for sure.

I'm also going to take pictures of my finished bag and post that tonight or this afternoon. I actually did NOT knit last night! I read magazines. My magazine stash is getting out of hand. Funny how I used to read all the time and now ... I knit all the time and my magazines are stacking up and I haven't bought a book (other than a knitting book) from Amazon in ages. Oh well. I think I'll look into that audio book thingie that runs on MP3 players. That'd be cool.

More FOs

What a great weekend! I finished the BF's guitar strap and made a whole purse, which I felted up last night. Unfortunately I think I should have made the strap longer, but it'll be useful for carrying WIPs. I took pictures but didn't load them onto my laptop. Maybe I can do that tonight if I'm not too tired. I was disappointed the first time I made this bag because the pattern said to thread the i-cord through the eyelets and THEN felt it. Well, you can guess what happened - the i-cord just felted itself into the eyelets and you can't use it as a drawstring, which is what I wanted to do. So this time I threaded some rubber tubing through the eyelets before I tossed it into the washer and then pulled it out when it was done. Voila! Patent eyelets.

I don't know why this should bother me

It's the Tom Cruise thing. He's obviously crazy as a .... as a ..... I don't know what. I read somewhere lately that the reason we're all hearing more about his Scientiology is that he fired his old publicist and hired his sister and now he's just going around talking about all this stuff he wasn't allowed to talk about before. And now we know. He's a looooooon! I don't usually get caught up in the celebrity thingie but dang .... Now everytime I look at him I hear cuckoo clocks in the back of my mind, like in a cartoon. I'll never be able to watch "Risky Business" again.