Talk about frustration!!

I was very excited to start my Ogee Tunic this weekend. Saturday I got all comfy, turned on the football game and cast on for the sleeves (I do two at once). The pattern immediate starts out with a motif that is repeated four times around each sleeve. It's an easy 18 stitch repeat involving YOs and p2 tog. I repeat - easy. So if it's so easy why the heck did I have to rip it out 5 times. Yes my friends - FIVE times. My left hand was aching so badly that I put it away and worked on my socks for the rest of the evening. I went back to it Sunday thinking that perhaps my needles weren't pointed enough -- see the problem I was having was getting the needle point through the two stitches to p2 tog. I changed to my Denise needles and cast on one more time. After five rows I still was coming up with wrong stitch counts and having a hell of a time getting my needle through those two stitches to purl them together. I put it down and thought I'd go to the LYS to see if I could find more pointed needles. In the meantime I started a raglan top down with my Noro Kureyon. At 4 am this morning the light went off. It's the YOs. I always have trouble remembering that you're not supposed to put your needle into the wrap on the front of the needle, but into the back of it. This has got to be like the fourth project I've done with YOs and each time I forget and have to start over because I put my needle point in the front of the stitch and the holes are too small. So now I'm excited all over again about starting the Ogee Tunic but I think I'll work on the Kureyon project this evening anyway.

I have always wanted to make a raglan sleeved sweater with a little cable along the edge of the raglan increases. You don't want to make a fancy pattern with Kureyon because the yarn itself is so beautiful so I thought this way I could add a little interest with the small cable and not take away from the beauty of the yarn. Problem is I'm winging it and the cables didn't come out the way I had planned so back to the drawing board. I will just take the needles out and start again. I've only used one skein and working in the round that only is a few hours. I don't feel bad about ripping it out because it's going to be one gorgeous sweater.

Each year I buy wood from my dry cleaner's husband. Jennifer has been my dry cleaner for over ten years (and a husband and a few boyfriends!) and she is just the sweetest woman and she has the cutest accent. Because I don't have a boyfriend in residence at the moment, her husband won't deliver wood to me because he would have to haul it up the driveway with only little ol' me to help and he doesn't want to do that. He told Jennifer that I couldn't do it myself. So how sweet is this? She told her husband to put my wood aside and make small bundles and she will bring it up a few bundles at a time. So Saturday I went by to give her a check. I was wearing my Flower Power Shrug knit in Kureyon and she went nuts for it. I told her I'd teach her how to knit. She sits there every day just watching TV. What a bonanza of time! Can you imagine being able to knit at work?!!?? She keeps saying she can't do it but I think I'll cast on for her and bring her some yarn and needles and let her give it a go. Perhaps she just needs somebody to show her rather than try to get it out of a book.

He's back ... or he never left!

My scary, crazy neighbor was out watering his planter box when I got back from visiting my Dad last night. Eeeeuuuuuwwww! I was SO hoping he'd be long gone. The car(s) are gone from the front of the house but that doesn't mean anything since they can park cars in the back and often have one of their 2 back there. Maybe she's gone and he stayed? I don't know ... that doesn't sound right since he was alluding to the fact that he wouldn't be around anymore, I think. He just smiled and waved like we hadn't had that bizarre interaction a few days ago.

I feel like I can take a deep breath this morning. I don't have people lined up at my office door, I don't have anyplace I need to be this morning either. Just me and my computers and tons of work to do, but I can spare a few minutes to blog. It was a chilly ride in this morning and it is very cloudy, almost looks like rain. Hopefully it'll hold off until I get my run done. It's kind of nice for a change. If it's icky this weekend I won't feel bad about just hanging around the house knitting and watching football. Tomorrow the Huskies are going to play Oklahoma on national TV. Not a good thing considering how the Huskies have been playing these past few years. On the other hand, it would be a nice way to stage a comeback. And then Sunday -- tada! The Seahawks start their regular season in Detroit.

Last night I almost finished the ribbing on my Green Gable. Tonight I should be able to bind it off and do the sleeves and I'll be able to wear it next week. I want to start my Ogee Tunic this weekend. I am going to do the sleeves first, both at the same time. That way I can get used to the first motif and recheck my gauge without committing to the front. I know I would hate to rip out the front of the garment but the sleeves -- not such a big deal. I was itching to knit on something different last night and almost started "Fetching" but I wanted to use two size 6 circulars rather than the dpns and the second 6 was being used by my Green Gable so I buckled down and worked on that instead. I only have two WIPs - my Crusoe-esque socks and the GG. I could also start the plain sweater I'm going to make with my Noro but I don't think it's a good idea to have two BIG projects at a time. One sweater, one pair of socks and a little something else -- tank or fancy hat or like that. (Who says there are no rules in knitting?)

Every year I forget

I forget just how stressful and insane the first week of class is. And this year it's even worse because, while she was often times the worst secretary in the world, I am missing the secretary for the little things she would do for me now. I hit the ground running and don't stop all day unless I think about it -- like now. Stop. Breath. Blink. All will be fine next week - or at least not so frantic.

Good news - I have an appointment with a counselor next week to talk about these issues with my dad. Even just talking with her for a few minutes today put my mind at ease. She told me not to freak out, that she can help me, which is SUCH a load off my mind! Plus my nephew has informed his mom that rather than head down to SoCal when he gets back from Alaska (Sunday), he's going to stay up here and help me and be with his gramp! What a good boy he is. I don't feel so alone in all this any more, which is really good. And I'll have good news for Dad when I go visit him tonight, which is also good news.

When I was up visiting Steve and Ginny I got a little wasp sting on the bottom of my foot. They had an exterminator spray them so it was in its death throes but stung me nevertheless. Here it is Thursday afternoon (this happened Monday morning) and my foot is still itching!! It's driving me nuts. I can't take Benedryl during the day because it makes me too sleepy. I took one last night when I got home from my hair appointment and I was out like a light before 10. Stress combined with the Benedryl I guess.

I got more done on my sock at the hair place. That is going to be one hot pair of socks! The stranding makes the fabric thick and cushy and warm. One of my lunchtime knitting pals gave me the information and sign up sheet for the knitting retreat in November. I sure want to go, but I need to see how things are going to shake out with Dad first.

Okay, that was my break. Back to it.

My strrrrange neighbors

Yesterday morning as I was biking down my street I saw my next door neighbor out walking. This was early - like 7:30 am. He is usually a night owl, getting up and out as I'm coming home from work, typically. If I get up in the middle of the night I can many times hear him playing his flute or guitar or something. He and his wife have lived next to me ever since I've lived there, which is since December of 1992. Also I had heard what I assumed was his wife leave the house even earlier. Anyway, I called out to him and said, "Boy, you're up early!". His reply? "Well enjoy it because it's going to be the last time you see it". I was taken aback. Now quite honestly, he's not a pretty man, so I don't know what exactly I was supposed to be enjoying, right? It is the way his paunch bounces as he walks down the street? The cute, greasy little rat tail hanging off the back of his head? What was I supposed to be enjoying??!!!

When I first lived there I would hear them fighting something awful. I heard things hitting the walls, screaming and shouting. And then they quieted down. She works. He smokes pot and sleeps all day, from what I can tell. I hope this means he's leaving and she's staying. She's nice, although pretty quiet.

Not much knitting done last night. I got the new Knit1 and went through that. Nothing that I am dying to make but I like looking at patterns. I'm not all that crazy about knitting stuff in Lyon Brand Yarns, mind you. The the patterns are sometimes cute.

I've got to get my run in early so I can meet and knit at lunch. I brought my toe up sock.

Can I have a hallelujah!

Oh joy and rapture, I finally found a heel for the toe-up sock knit on two circular needles that I llllllove!! It's not too tricky - you just have to use a third needle to pick up gusset stitches one time. I think it looks much better than the short row heel. I am doing a modified Crusoe and I realized that I should have made a little two stitch border before beginning and ending the pattern on needle one because when I started the gusset and turned the heel you could see where the stranding stretches and doesn't look good. Oh well, live and learn. I don't think I've knit a perfect pair of socks since my first one because I keep experimenting. Oh but this is it, I think. When my camera is back home I'll take some good pictures.

So that's pretty much what I did with my day and evening yesterday - got way into knitting that sock. I did also manage to try on my Green Gable and it's just a perfect fit. I need to do another few rows - an inch or so - but I might be able to wear it this week. AND I swatched for my Ogee Tunic and found that the size four needle and the Elann Devon weren't making gauge. I changed up to a size 7(!) and that worked out perfectly, stitches and rows! yay! I was not looking forward to working with size 4 needles. Sevens feel so much better in my hands. I was looking closely at the pattern chart. Yuk, I hate reading charts! I do much better when the rows are written out so I'm considering doing it for myself. It's such a long and complicated chart. It's hard to decipher the symbols for all of the different cables and twisted stitches.

Anatomy started today and I realize it's nearly 12:30 and I haven't stopped for a second all morning. Zoom! That's the way to make the day go by, huh? Hope the afternoon does as well.

A third!

The shrug is done.

Number 2

Still needs a button but I call it done!

Ta Da! FO number one!

Same dyelot and yet what a difference! Three to go!

Weird AND annoying!!

Dang! I have sent two postings from my phone with pictures of FOs and I just now notice that they haven't come through! I just looked at my phone and both of them have error messages. I wish I would have looked sooner. Oh well, I'll resend them after I'm done with this entry. My digital camera is at work because I'm going to be taking pictures of faculty if/when they come by so I have been taking pictures with my phone as I finish things. I got socks done and started a toe-up Crusoe with that green Koigu I had started my two at a time socks with. It looks good. I wish my camera phone was better. I'll just have to take a picture of it later with my camera.

I had lunch with my secret pal 8, Sherrill who drove all the way up to Seattle. She is just as sweet in person! I am so lucky to have gotten another great secret pal. We sat outside and it was such a nice day. She let me whine about Mr. G and was gracious enough not to look bored. (He called me from the road last night -- from Salt Lake City. The flying didn't work out in Oregon because it was too windy so he was just driving back to New Mexico. He COULD have stayed in Seattle and driven up during the week, don't you think? Huh?? Ah well ... ) Anyway, I think this next time around for Secret Pal 9 I'm going to be an Angel because I can't imagine I could get so lucky again. First Nonnahs and now her - it's too much to think I could luck out again. ;-)

I was thinking about work last night as I was driving up to have dinner with Steve and Ginny and realized that I forgot to put in a place for the students to enter their names for the first quiz of the class. Duh. Glad I thought of it before Tuesday morning so I can fix it now. Then I think I'll finish Kate's shrug and then swatch for the Ogee Tunic. I also received the Noro Kuryeon I ordered from Webs on Saturday. They are about as fast as Elann! That Noro is going to be a plain raglan sweater to let the beauty of the yarn show. Maybe a teensie twisted stitch at the raglan increase but nothing more. And then all I have to do is finish up my Green Gable. Oh, maybe I'll try that on after I finish the shrug and before I swatch for the Ogee and then I can maybe finish the Green Gable as well! Woohoo!

Okay so -- fix the quiz and toss in some laundry and get to knittin'!

Let the loooooong weekend begin

Last night I started my nice long weekend. Went to the Seahawks pre-season game. They handily beat the Raiders. Finally they were looking like the Seahawks of last season and that was great! I had, of course, other plans for this weekend but they have gone south (literally) along with Mr. G. Let's all now say b'bye to one of my least favorite mistakes. Will he be telephoning to say goodbye? Shall we make bets? Well the day has just started. I really have no clue if he'll step up or not. I think if he doesn't I'll do it, just to bug him.

So I have made pampering plans. It's a stunning day - not a cloud in the sky. Tink didn't let me sleep very long since she was alone all day and long into the evening last night so it's not yet 8:30 and I'm almost ready to get dressed and go in search of a nice cup of coffee and a scone or something. At noon I have an appointment for a massage. My friend R is an attorney who does some bartering. One of her clients is a massage therapist so I get gift certificates on every gifting opportunity and I have a few stacked up since the masseuse doesn't work on weekends and therefore I must have a weekend day appointment. A nice massage, then I'll run out to see my dad and do a few errands for him, then I'll have all afternoon and evening to start my FO extravaganza weekend. I MAY bind off the socks and cast on for a new pair. Or maybe I'll bite the bullet and finish up the cardigan and then while I'm watching movies tonight finish knitting the shrug for K. See? Lots and lots of fun things to do today and tonight. Plus which I've got 3 Netflix.

Tomorrow I get to meet my Secret Pal. Isn't that cool?? She lives close-ish to Seattle and is coming up to have a late lunch with me after my manicure and pedicure tomorrow (another pampering appointment). I am so looking forward to that. She has been an awesome pal. Now if Nonnahs could just fly up we could have a Secret Pal weekend! I have been thinking about SP9 and I have decided that I am going to volunteer to be an angel this time around. I have been so lucky 2 times out of 3 that I'd like to spread a little of it around.

This weekend marks the end of summer for just about everyone. My busiest time of year at work and football season as well. I am getting my wood delivered on Sunday. Not that I heat my house with wood but I have fireplaces upstairs and down and I found last year that $100 of wood really made a difference in the amount of heating oil I went through since I managed to keep warm downstairs without turning the heat on for quite late into the year. So I'm going to try it again this year. It's cosy too. Oh yes, I'd much rather have a cuddling companion but hey, can't have everything. (And the kid in me is saying right now, WHY?? Why can't I have everything?? I want everything. )

Retail therapy, my darlings

Ah yes -- that quick little feel good shot. Sale yarn. I just bought 10 skeins of Noro Kureyon at Webs on closeout. $5.70 a skein. Mmmmmmm! That should be enough for a nice simple raglan crew neck to show off the beautiful colors. Doesn't cure anything but it's a nice little balm, right?

All of my four projects are nearing completion at around the same time. My cardigan is still awaiting the final seaming. I haven't done any more than that one sleeve. It was such a bitch because you are mattress stitching bound off to edge. It's so difficult, but it looks nice. After that it'll be smooth sailing. So instead of doing that last night, since I was medicating myself, I worked on the shrug for my friend K. I am about 20 rows from completion. Seaming that it easy work. My socks just need to be bound off but I don't bind off until I have the time to cast on for another pair, which I will do this weekend. And last, the Green Gable. That has the most to do but I need to try it on before I can go any further because I want to make sure it's long enough. So. I am going to have plenty of time this weekend to work since Mr. G. is going and/or gone. My goal is to get all of those four projects finished. Frog the X-back tank because I am not going to finish it, might as well make the yarn available. Then cast on for another pair of sox, and swatch and maybe even start my Ogee Tunic. I want to also buy the yarn for the Rock Star Cardigan but maybe I will wait a few weeks until I'm finished with the front of the Ogee Tunic. Once I get done with the trim on the back piece it's just going to be acres of boring StSt so might as well have a brain teaser to work on as well.

Tonight is the final preseason Seahawks game. The weather is nice here. I hope they win.

Trying hard to keep good thoughts

You know when stuff keeps happening and you are just trying to keep it all together? That's me. And no matter how old I get, it never gets any easier -- I'm talking about the love/sex/man/woman deal. I truly can understand why some people just check out of the whole deal. Unfortunately for me I have this stubbon streak of optimism. I don't think my prince is coming though. At least I grew out of that. However I can't grow out of the believe that SOMEONE is out there. Unless he's dead. Or married to somebody else. Or taken a vow of chastity.

No knitting last night. Mr. G. (whose name is soon to be mud) suggested going to the driving range. It was fun. Something I can actually do better than him. Go figure. Good burger for dinner. Then the plans for my weekend are trashed. Ah well. See?

Thank goodness I have lots and lots and LOTS of knitting I can do. I need to finish up that cardigan - just sewing is all. I think I'll do that tonight. And I may be able to finish my socks at the ladies lunchtime knitting today and cast on for another toe-up in my Koigu. And then ... oh then I'm going to swatch for my Ogee Tunic.

Speed blogging

Things are nuts here at work and I don't have time for a long blog today. I had a pretty good weekend. I hiked up Tiger Mountain to watch Mr. G. jump off a cliff. It's called paragliding but ... I call it yikes!! My legs are pretty darned sore today. I think it was the hike down that did it.

I finished up all the pieces of my yellow lacey cardigan and started putting it together last night. Here's a closeup of the sleeve. I sure hate sewing things together. This took me forever but it looks nice. Tonight I'll get the other sleeve in and if my back isn't too sore then all I have to do is the side seams and sew on a button. Let's hope now, shall we, that this DOES indeed look nice with that skirt. If not, I'm going to be very mad at myself and then I'll have to go out and buy something expensive to go with the skirt!

All I hope is that I get through this week without any disasters. It's going to be that kind of week.

It's Friday!!

And gorgeous weather to boot and it's supposed to be gorgeous all the weekend! I don't suppose I'm going to get too terribly much knitting done. I am a bit bummed because I WAS going to go to Mt. St. Helens to climb up to the crater but unfortunately they only allow 100 people a day to go up and all of the permits are taken from now at least through the end of September. So. No big deal. There are tons and tons of things to do in Seattle, especially at this time of the year. Maybe a nice bike ride. Maybe a walk in Discovery Park. There's some kind of festival at Marymoor. On and on and on.

I stayed up too late last night and didn't sleep at all well. Not complaining. At all. Sleepless for a good cause. But still I'm groggy all the same. I took my Dad to a doctor appointment this morning, ran some errands for him and got to work at 11:30 and I'm considering skipping out by 3 for a little nap. The IT guy is home sick and I can't make changes to some documents which is throwing me off. But I got a whole lot of other stuff done so I'm feeling pretty good about myself. Yessir.

Oooo! I love Elann -- how many times have I said that? Anyway, my yarn for the Ogee Tunic came last night. I had to hold myself back from swatching it. I've got too many projects on the needles now as it is. I am almost done with my socks - the toe up ones. In fact I was working on them at the doctor's office and had two people come up to me to look at them. A few more inches of ribbing and then I am going to cast on with the Koigu I tried my first 2 at once with. I was wearing my first pair of top down ribbed socks last night and realized what a perfect pattern that is. I just don't like doing top down for the measuring part. I like to be able to make the top as long as I want it. So I'm going to do toe up one more time and try yet another heel. I have GOT to find a toe up heel I like. The short row one I don't like the looks of. I like the gusset heel. There are a couple patterns out there so that's my quest - the perfect toe up heel. Preferably one you can do 2 at a time. (Although come to think of it one of my knitting companions on Wednesday afternoons is doing top down 2 at a time on 2 circs and she got past the heels. I have to ask her about that. I must have been missing something very elemental.)

"Snakes on a Plane"?? Hah!

What about "Mosquitos in the Bedroom"?? Now that's scary. And annoying. I had not one, but two freakin' mosquitos dive bombing me last night for almost an hour. PLUS (oh yeah, there's more) about 1:30 AM one of them came back, hoping to catch me asleep and maybe finding a limb out of the covers. No such luck. It was cool enough last night that I managed to stay covered up and I woke up with no new bites. Cold comfort considering I have at least 5, maybe more, scattered all over my body. The one that is driving me nuts is the one right in the middle of my back. Watching me walking down the hall must be a treat as I twitch and reach my arm back to try to ease the itch. Didn't that used to be a trick boys would play in high school - having you reach behind your back for something. Not that it was an issue when I was in high school. I'm a "late bloomer", thank goodness.

Got another package from my sweet SP. This themed "Back to School" with primary colored sock yarn, a cute little lamb pin and a nifty pattern/card thingie. I love it! What a great idea. Oh, and some Peppermint Patties. mmmmmmmm

I got a little bit of knitting done last night on the "A Bit of Lace Cardigan". I have finished the sleeves and back and am nearly done with the right side. I had to wind another ball and did so while I was cooking dinner (which is another story), then after I ate Tinkie needed to have her ball thrown, then the phone rang and before I knew it, there was bedtime. Oh well, maybe tonight.

Dinner: I went up to the grocery store to get a couple things for my lunches and a piece of salmon for dinner. The "meat guy" was cooking up these lemon pepper chicken vegie skewers for samples and they were just really yummy. So I bought a couple of them as well as the salmon. I was going to have the salmon and vegetable rice mix for dinner but then figured I could have the salmon next time and eat the chicken and vegies then. So I cooked them up and took them downstairs to watch a bit of TV while I was eating. OMG! They were too hot! I mean ... I have a pretty high tolerance for heat in food but this .... dang! Somebody obviously over seasoned them. I ate a few pieces and then threw in the towel. I saved it though. I think I'll mix it with the rice and vegetable mix and see if that doesn't calm down the heat. I sure was disappointed though. That's why I ate the two Peppermint Patties. To cool down my mouth. yeah

I told my Secret Pal that I ordered the yarn for the Ogee Tunic from "Knitting Nature". Here's a picture. Size 4 needles. Straights. It's going to be a tough go. I'll tell you what I think it going to be the worst though -- the back. Inches and inches and inches of StSt on size 4s. ooooff

I feel naked!!

I forgot my phone! I LEFT MY PHONE AT HOME!!! I swear I put it in my pocket when I put on my bike jacket but you know me, one little deviation in the Dance of Getting Out the Door and I'm screwed. So I get to the office and start my Dance of Getting Changed Into Work Clothes and as I did the pirouette after putting down my helmet and gloves I realized that my left hand was coming up empty. Dang. I feel ... rudderless. Cut off. If I lost my internet connection now I would be pacing and sweating. Thank goodness for small favors, eh?

No knitting last night. I wasn't even done with the crossword puzzle when I got company. We watched "Any Given Sunday". Ahhhh football! Today is Lunchtime Knitting with the Ladies so I will get some work done on the shrug. I ordered yarn from Elann yesterday for my Ogee Tunic. I am psyched about that.

Now -- back to work!!

I'm all over the place!

Instead of knuckling down and finishing my Green Gable, I worked instead on the yellow cardigan. Big needles. Need I say more? Talk about instant gratification after working with size 2's and 6's. I finished up the back, cast on and did about half of the right front before I got interrupted. A couple more good sessions and I'll be able to wear it this week! Which basically means I'll finally have something to wear with that kick a** skirt I bought two weeks ago. It's so annoying to buy something that looks great on and yet have absolutely nothing to wear with it! Well, I have one sweater but it's too warm for that still. So I am truly inspired to finish it.

AND ... I hear that my SP8 finished her Green Gable but decided on longer sleeves so technically it's not finished yet. We want pictures!!!

I didn't get around to ordering the yarn for my Ogee Tunic yesterday. I am just so busy at work it's not funny. I think I just may wait for a week or so until I've got time to breath.

Made it through the weekend

Indeed. I made it through the weekend. I had chores to do for my Dad and I got them done and rewarded myself with a manicure and pedicure. Unfortunately the salon was so busy that I got a crappy manicure - she didn't even put a top coat on it! A dull French. Not good. I have some top coat so I guess I'll do it myself.

My Secret Pal is going to scream, unless she's been hitting the Green Gable herself, because what with hanging in the ER last week and football last night I've got maybe 2 inches left to knit on the body! yay! That's one of the things I love about football season. I can sit and knit and knit and watch football and really get tons done. I also watched a movie Saturday night and knit on it then as well. That's what comes of not having a social life too, of course. When that changes my knitting output is going to plummet.

The heat is going to get turned up here in Seattle again. It's supposed to be 87 degrees today. I'd better get out and run before it gets too hot. I MUST work out and run every day this week. I have gained about 10 pounds since I got back from my vacation. Not good. It's easy to ride my bike but running in this heat is tough. Oh well, no more whining.

It's been a wild couple days

Well ... the good thing is that everything is fine. The bad is that I spent all day yesterday going from doctor's office to ER to hospital with my poor Dad. He's just fine now but it was a little scary. Now with his meds adjusted should be just fine.

I got lots and lots of knitting done, as you may imagine, since I was sitting and waiting for about 5 hours or so. I got the decreases done on my Green Gable and now I just have the rest of the body to knit. I'm still upset about the little mishap on the front of it but still hopeful that once it's washed it'll be fine. Or at least not so noticeable.

And yesterday I got another package from my Secret Pal. This one the cute pattern from Knitty and some yarn to make it. Thanks SP! I will definitely make these. I'm a huge fan of fingerless mitts. I made the "Hurry Up Spring" armwarmers a couple times - once in a green similar to the green in the Knitty picture. I thought they showed the cables better than Noro.

Last night my friend Mike took me out to eat and drink. He was visiting and he's the type of friend that I always get in trouble with so I am happy he no longer lives close by. Last night was no exception and I am hurting today. But we had a fun time. And I needed some fun after yesterday.

Multi-tasking

What a morning. Here it is nearly 10:45 and I'm just eating my breakfast raspberries. It's that time of year when we all start freaking out about getting the Anatomy course ready for September 5. Actually, syllabus, etc., needs to be finished like at the end of this week or early next week so people are starting to get wacky. And I'm right up there with them. Well, this is not the forum to whinge about the job so ..... next topic, please!

Here we have a picture of my latest WIP, a lacy cardigan made with some cotton ribbon yarn I bought at Elann. What you are seeing here are the two sleeves on top and what I've gotten done on the back below. This is going quickly because the lace is done on size 11 and the body on 13s. The only problem is that my hands hurt after purling a few rows with those larger needles. It's going to be cropped so not a huge problem, eh?

And last, but not least, say hello to my Super Secret Pal 8 at Baa Bonny Belle. She is a super talented and sweet person and a wonderful Secret Pal. Click on over.

I am too busy really to go on much more today. I feel guilty for not having my nose to the computer screen.

I have NO discipline!!

In case there is any question about it. No discipline at all. Yes, I truly wanted to finish up that shrug but instead I picked up the yellow cotton ribbon yarn and made two lace sleeves and started the back of a cute little lace trimmed cardigan that will match my new skirt. Well, I don't have anything to wear with it!!! I HAD to.

I got lots of work done on my Green Gables today as I was waiting for my dad at the doctor's office. I probably only have 3 or so inches to go before I do my decreases. I must say I really do like that yarn.

I'll put some pictures tomorrow. I have only just got to work and it's 2:30!!

And now it begins!

I posted this from the game yesterday. The team was just running onto the field. It was so exciting! Even though the stadium wasn't full it was still very very loud! They lost .... oh well, it's preseason after all.

I've got a hankerin' for some wool

I was fondling my yarn last night. Currently I am working on a cotton yarn project and a ribbon yarn project (I haven't picked up my socks for weeks!). And I was thinking that I am anxious to get something wool on the needles. I think it's probably because it's not been very sunny or warm lately. You know ... cooler weather, warmer projects.

Speaking of projects - here are pictures of my current WIPs. My brown "Green Gable" is coming along nicely. The hole in the front where I mistakenly picked up an extra stitch is visible but gets less so as I go down the body. I imagine that when it's on it won't be so bad because as I stretch the fabric down it disappears. Well, we'll keep our fingers crossed, shall we?

The ribbon shrug is like a scarf at this point - a stockinette scarf. It goes pretty quickly but is not really a TV project because the ribbon is a bit tricky to knit with and you can't do it by feel or you end up poking the needle through the ribbon. I don't know what I'm going to do tonight, but if I end up staying home I'll most likely get a few more inches done on both of these projects.

Tomorrow is the first Seahawks preseason game! Woohoo! I am excited!!!!

And around and around

My brown "Green Gable" top is taking shape. I got lots of good work done on it yesterday while I was waiting around and in the evening I watched movies and got the sleeves on holders and started working on the body. Now it's just around and around and around ...there is some shaping to look forward to but other than that, the ultimate mindless knitting project. My goal for the weekend is going to be finishing up that ribbon shrug. And I am now almost 100% sure (how's that for ambiguity?) that I'm going to frog (yet again) my x-back top and use the ribbon for something else. I am just not feeling it and I refuse to knit on something when it feels like work. I don't like having a bunch of stalled projects laying around. I like to keep things tidy.

I spent a considerable amount of time daydreaming about what I wanted to do with the beautiful pink yarns that my SP sent me. They coordinate beautifully and the lighter one is a bit fuzzy. I was thinking that a raglan pull-over with the top and sleeves the lighter color, might just be the thing. Ideally I'd like to put small cables or twisted stitch patterns in the contrasting color but I don't know if it would be viable. Maybe not anything too fancy. Well I'm going to have to think about it a bit. Maybe one going down each arm to bring the colors together. Sky's the limit, right?

It was a most satisfying day

It was a GREAT birthday. Just wonderful. Massage, gifts, flowers, food, tequila, cake, company and lots and lots of laughs. Who could ask for more? And my wonderful Secret Pal sent me a beautiful birthday box filled with pink yarns! And "Welcome to the Knit Cafe" book, chocolates, lavender sachets for my wool and a card. Secret Pal, THANK YOU!!!! If you don't win that contest I will be very surprised.

Yesterday was also eventful in a knitting sense because I joined my very first knitting group. One of my friends at work introduced me to a woman who knits and find out she has a couple other pals who meet once a week at lunchtime to knit and chat. It was just nice. Can you believe I've been knitting seriously for two years and this is the first time I've actually sat and knitted with other like minded (addicted) people. I was a little intimidated at first but I got over it.

I am not actually working today. I figured I wouldn't much feel like getting up this morning and I didn't. This is like half a vacation day because I have to take Dad to the doctor this afternoon. I was working on my brown Green Gable top yesterday and I think I'll stick with that today.

And now I seriously need coffee.

Happy Birthday to meeeeeee

Yes indeed, another year gone. I can hardly believe it. I was remarking how one's perspective changes over the years regarding birthdays. When you're young you're excited because you're one year older! And when you're a bit older you're excited because of the gifts and the fun you are going to have at your party. BUT after you hit a certain age .... yikes. The years move by too quickly. That's not to say that I'm not excited about the gifts and the party. And thankfully I've trained my friends over the years not to question me about my age. Nothing can ruin the party mood faster than that horrible question, "So Shelley, how old ARE you anyway"? Not so old that I can't kick your butt for asking such a nasty question!!

I like to spread the birthday celebration out as long as possible. This one started last Friday when my friend R took me out for dinner and a movie. We were going to see "A Prairie Home Companion" but it was gone from that theatre so instead we went to see "Little Miss Sunshine". I just howled! It is the funniest movie I've seen in ages and ages. Definitely I want to see it again.

I had a wardrobe crisis this morning that almost put a crimp in my happy day. I had gone shopping Saturday and found some great goodies at Macys and I planned on wearing my new skirt, top and sandals today. Well it is cloudy and significantly cooler today than the weekend so I decided to forego the sandals. I wore my new top Sunday night and, unfortunately, got a bit of dinner on it. I just figured I'd spot clean it this morning but the spots turned out to be a little more stubborn than I had imagined so there I was going through my drawers trying to find something to wear with this skirt. And then had to find shoes to go with it. Well ... it's a girl thing, what can I say? I did end up getting myself together finally and was only 1/2 hour late to work. So for the rest of the day - the fun part - I am going to skip the gym today and meet a group of women to knit at lunchtime. Could be fun! Knitting in the daytime on a weekday! And then I've got an appointment for a massage at 3. And after that a little party tonight with my Pub Night pals. It's going to be a good day.

I got a lot done on the shrug last night. A couple more good pushes and it should be done. I'm going to work on my Green Gables at lunch today. Once I get the sleeves on holders that thing is going to just practically knit itself.

Stereotypes - alive and well

I ran into that "YOU knit?!??" stereotype for the first time and I was rather taken aback. "Yyyes!," I sputtered, "It's cool and fun and .. and". No need to get defensive, right? But wow! I read an article in the latest Vogue Knitting, an interview with Tracy Ullman (1 "L" or 2?). She was talking about how she knit a tie for Jay Leno and he wasn't impressed at all. She took it back and gave it to someone else. Her message was "Guys just generally don't get it. If you're single, HIDE your knitting!" Not that this person was a romantic interest, but a guy with a guy's perspective. I wanted to haul out some of my more gorgeous things - my "Banff", my "Simply Marilyn" but it wouldn't have impressed him I don't think. It's the stereotype that knitting is for grannies. Jeeeepers!! So that's going to have to be a calculated step - the first time he sees me in my glasses, the first time he sees me with no makeup and in my sweats and last but not least, bring on the knitting!! If he still wants me after seeing me with pointed sticks in my hands I will know I've found a winner!!

I had a busy and productive weekend. Sometimes I think that heaven must be Seattle in the summer. It was just perfect this weekend. Not too hot, blue skies and a big ol' sale on at Macy's!! I had to go to the mall to pick up some scarf valances to finish my little redecoration of the living room. Well not really finish ... not really, because the last of the blinds needs to be put up but it has got to be cut down a bit, and also a curtain rod needs to be moved down. My friend A is helping me out of the goodness of his heart so I'm not bugging him. But it's MOSTLY finished and it looks lovely, if I do say so myself. Very girlie. Anyway, I went for a specific thing and didn't mean to look at the sales but I was on the phone with my sister and spied a white skirt, on sale, and I had to find a top to go with it to try it on with, right? And then I was still talking to my sis so I stopped by the clearance rack and found a pair of Calvin Klein sailor pants in that light, drapey denim marked down from $98 to $18. Uh huh. And a very cute almost madras plaid skirt. As luck would have it, everything fit. Swung past the sale shoes and lo and behold, the very same pair of 9 West rope soled wedgie shell strap thongs that I had been coveting all season were also there, in my size (how's that for fate?) Snapped them up as well. VERY satisfying shopping expedition.

The only knitting I accomplished this weekend was a good chunk of that ribbon shrug. I have decided since my friend K loves it so much and I sure as heck don't want to make another one, I'll just give this one to her. I mostly use my Noro Flower Power shrug anyway. I have to bake my B'day cake tonight and other than that, I'm going to work on Green Gables.

I found out what stash is for besides looking cool on a shelf. The skirt I bought has some very odd colors and I don't seem to have a top to go with it - at least not a transition top. I have a pink sweater that will be perfect but not for a few months. BUT I have some cotton ribbon I bought for a little cardigan and it would be PERFECT! I had to stop myself twice from casting on for it. Three projects at a time is my limit.

Not a single stitch

No progress yesterday on any knitted items. Nope, not a stitch. My hands are a bit twitchy this morning. I wanted to smuggle a WIP into work with me today but I would be sorely tempted to spend too much time in the ladies room ... just one more row!

My pathetic attempts to find a mate (sometimes also known as "dating") - doesn't that sound like a great title for a book? Okay, maybe a pamphlet. Here's what doesn't help: my sister reminding me that she went through a 2 year drought not long ago and then had two bad boyfriends in a row! Uhhhh yeah, great sis. My latest greatest thing is to actually get out and socialize rather than sit in my house knitting and listening to music every night of the week. I know I know ... it sounds like heaven to me too, but that's not the way to find love, or even like. I've lowered my expectations a bit these days. Now I'm just looking for a man I can STAND and that I want to see naked. Love? That'd be nice, sure. But there is the chance that I actually used up all the love I was allotted in this lifetime so I'm not going to hold my breath for the fireworks any more.

So - the point is that last night I went out for drinks after work with a woman I re-connected with at the reunion/golf thingie a few weeks ago. We had such a nice time. I never kept up with anyone from high school. I moved to the city, traveled, lost touch. So it's fun to hear the gossip about people I haven't seen for years and years. And just to connect with another woman in pretty much the same position I'm in, except she has a fabulous job, makes TONS of money and is dating 3 or 4 guys. *sigh* I think in my case I just have to be patient. And to tell you the truth, that is definitely not one of my strong suits. Again, as my sister says (are you tired of her words of wisdom yet?), "Go out with your girlfriends!! They have brothers and friends!" It just seems so contrived somehow and yet when you think about it, not any more contrived than when I'd dress up like a floozy and go out with my girlfriends dancing in hopes of meeting Mr. Right. It's funny when I think back on it the disconnect my brain would make. We, all of us girls, would dress up in what we considered sexy clothes, smear makeup on so we looked like junior hookers and then get angry if guys treated us like objects. I must be making another kind of mistake these days but I sure can't put my finger on it.

It's like she's reading my mind!

My Secret Pal is very VERY cool! Look at my goodie box that arrived yesterday. She made me a CD ... you probably can't read the label since the picture was taken with the dreaded camera phone, but it says "All Purpose Music An SP8 Production". A terrific selection of music! My musical tastes are all over the place and this has stuff I am familiar with and new (for me) stuff as well! Good job! Also in the box is a pattern that I had noticed and thought I might make called "Marigold" and some Endless Summer yarn to make it! Wow! Thanks Secret Pal!! You are incredible!!

I, on the other hand, am most certainly not incredible. What a bonehead move I made yesterday! I took my "Green Gables" in progress with me to the hair salon. I had needle protectors on the ends of the needles but didn't bother putting it in a basket or bag since it's relatively small and I wasn't going far, just to the car. One of the needle caps came off (of course) and I noticed it as I was getting into the car. I replaced it but thought I might have dropped a stitch. When I parked and before I went into the salon I looked more closely and was pretty darned sure I had dropped a stitch. So I picked it up and went on my merry way. After a few rounds at the salon I noticed a hole where there shouldn't be one. *Sigh* Had I dropped 2 stitches? I am very happy with how perfect my "Green Gables" is so far. I didn't make a single mistake in the lace portion. It's perfect. So I was so upset that I had made this stupid stupid move! When I got home I knit up to the offending hole and, thinking that I hadn't picked up enough stitches, let the four rows of that stitch unravel, got out the trusty hook and started making the ladder. Ahhhhh and then it dawned on me. I hadn't dropped a stitch!! I just thought I had!! ARghghghghgh!!! And now I have loose stitches in the front. I pulled them up on the inside and I'm hoping that I can kind of spread out the damage as I go along so it's not so noticeable. Good heavens!! Just when you think you've made every stupid mistake in the book, huh?

Men & women are SO different!!

I know that's a trite sentiment, but sometimes it's just comical to observe such vastly different mindsets. It is indeed quite astonishing that we ever get together. Yesterday evening as I was walking Tinkerbell we passed our local pub, the Ravenna Alehouse. There are tables outside and from time to time I go there when the weather is nice because I can sit outside with Tink and have a beer. I have become acquainted with a group of guys that hang out there regularly after work - a low brow, working crowd but very very nice guys. So I'm sitting there last night with two of the guys, one of which has long hair in a pony tail. Guy A is teasing guy B about getting his hair cut. Seems that guy B is cutting off his pony tail after many years and the bar owner has offered to pay if he'll actually do it. It's all a big joke and we're laughing and egging him on. While he is next door arranging for his shearing I asked guy A what was up? Why was he cutting his hair after all this time. Guy A shrugged and said he didn't know. I said, well it must be a woman! Did he get a new girlfriend or break up or something? Hmmmm, guy A is thinking ..... ah! Yes, he said, he thinks he broke up with a woman. These men hang out regularly, get it? So guy B comes back and I ask him what has precipitated this change. Did he get a new girlfriend, or ??? And he said well he'd been brutally dumped less than two weeks ago by his girlfriend of 5 years! He said he should actually still be in the sweat pants stage but he was trying hard to get out, etc. Ladies, are you with me? Can you imagine hanging out with a woman most nights every week and NOT know that she'd been dumped? And not know every freaking detail?? The conversation then veered toward brutal dumpings and we all tried to out do each other with the heinous crimes perpetrated upon us by various ex-boyfriends and girlfriends. Quite entertaining. And eye opening as well.

Football -- yesterday as I was leaving the IMA (the gym here on campus) I saw Coach Willingham in front of the Athletic Building talking with a woman. I must have gotten a goofy grin on my face as I passed by because he smiled and nodded at me. Ooooo! I almost squealed like a schoolgirl! Football season. yay!

I didn't knit at all last night. I stayed at the pub, had pizza and came home and read and went to bed. This evening I'm getting my hair done so I'll have plenty of time to work on my Green Gables. I'm going out tomorrow and Friday nights and having company Saturday so I won't get much done. Maybe Sunday I can do a little yard work and then have the whole rest of the afternoon and evening. Sounds like a plan.

My contacts are in backwards

I am not joking. It is the weirdest feeling! Somehow I put the wrong cap on the contact lens case and voila! I don't know why I didn't catch it this morning but I didn't. Too busy rounding up all my gear I guess. I noticed it when I was biking in, looking out ahead of me. I can't switch them because I don't have stuff. Whooooo ... it's strange.

I was home yesterday with a tweaky back and did a bit of knitting but not too much. My foolproof, TV knitting - the shrug - got somehow messed up! I am just furious about it but I don't think I'm going to try to rip it out because it's frayed ribbon. Impossible. How did I mess it up? Well the only sure way to tell front from back was where the tail was . If the tail was on my left it was a knit row, and on my right a purl row. However, when I put the second ball of yarn on I left a tail that was too long and I must have misread the signal so I therefore purled when I should have knit or the other way around leaving me with a 3 row garter ridge. It's not stunningly obvious and I think it would be much easier to ignore than try to fix, ya know?

My new favorite TV show is a British program (or should I say programme?) called "Life on Mars". It's a great replacement for "Lost" until they start up again. I believe there are only about 8 episodes of this program for it's first season. The premise is cool - a police detective gets into an accident and wakes up in 1973 and works for the police again. It's kind of hard to explain but he wakes up dressed in 70's clothing, etc.

I did a few rows on Green Gable last night as well. Tonight I should be able to get some good work done on it, maybe even get the sleeves on holders. I am anxious to tackle something difficult. I can't decide if it will be the Rock Star Cardigan or the Ogee Tunic. I found a Knitting Nature KAL that I am going to ask to join.

My Secret Pal kicks a@#!!

Well, she did it again! There was a lovely package waiting for me when I got home Friday afternoon and when I opened it I actually let out a little scream. Very unlike me. She got me the one book that I had been coveting and it is simply gorgeous! If you haven't had a chance to look through this I highly recommend it. It not only has the most wonderful designs but interesting stuff about designs and shapes found in nature. I already have one project picked out - the Ogee Tunic. I am definitely going to make that. Oh THANK YOU, Secret Pal!

This weekend was all about pleasuring myself (oh, get your mind out of the gutter!). Friday of course I just curled up in my comfy chair, poured myself a drink and read that lovely book cover to cover, then ordered pizza and started to watch a movie - "The Matador", which has Pierce Brosnan playing an assassin and it's pretty good. I didn't finish it that night, but had another go on Saturday.

After running errands on Saturday I worked on the ribbon shrug and finished up the movie and the pizza. I could live on pizza. Sadly I don't think it would be the healthiest move, but .... it is my guilty pleasure. The ribbon shrug is mindless knitting, perfect for movie watching, but the OTHER ribbon garment has been nagging me. I came to an interesting conclusion this weekend about finishing projects. [CAUTION: major rationalization ahead] Here's how I feel about it -- it's like when you're skiing and the weather turns crappy or the snow is slushy or the wind picks up or you can't see because of the clouds. Well that just sucks all the fun out of the day for me. I can't enjoy myself and then what's the point? Some people feel that if they've spent the money for the lift ticket then dammit they're going to ski no matter what! Not me because skiing is all about fun for me. And that's how I feel about knitting. It's enjoyment, pure and simple. I'm not saying that I enjoy every last second of a project. I pretty much hate seaming and weaving in ends is no picnic either. But I was thinking about the X-back top and realized that I was going to have to do some severe threatening of myself to get it done and that's not what it's about. I was, for example, going to make myself finish that top and THEN cast on for the Green Gables. But I was not feeling like it, so rather than not knit at all, I did cast on for the Green Gables and had a lovely Sunday afternoon knitting. And I was happy.

Sunday was a great day except for the fact that I tweaked my back when I was lifting the second 3-shelf bookcase up on top of the other. My yarn shelf looks good now and I've divided up all my needles (boy, I sure have a lot of dpns) and got the yarn off the bottom shelf, which is a definite playground for Tink. I knit on the Green Gables until I finished the lace portion. I'll take a picture when I get it on larger needles. The brown yarn (Elann Sonata) is just yummy. And then watched another movie (!), this one "Mrs. Henderson Presents" which was pretty cute but sappy ending. How long before "Desperate Housewives" start up again??

It's going to be a good day!

For those of you sweltering, I apologize. Today in Seattle it is overcast and barely 60 with the projected high today of 71 or so. As you may imagine, it's a sweet respite. I actually wore my jacket zipped up riding in this morning. And I'll be able to have my run this lunchtime without the heating sucking my energy. I have lovely raspberries to eat with my oatmeal for breakfast today. And, when I got to work the phone was in my left pocket and .... tada! my keys were in my right pocket! But these are not the reasons why it's a good day. That, my friends, has to do with the sport page. Oh yes yes yes ... the Seahawks open training camp this weekend and the poor Huskies had media day. Not that excited about the Huskies, although I am sure they will do better this year than last (how could they not?). It's just that football season is just around the corner! August 12 is the first pre-season game and from now on there will be more to read in the sports section than baseball. Ahhhhhhh ....

As for knitting news - not much today. I visited my Dad yesterday. It was his 78th birthday but he didn't want to go out! Nor did he want me to cook for him. But he was interested in fish and chips, so that's what he got. I spent a little time on the ribbon shrug and then at home took the evening off from knitting and read. I have yet to master the reading/knitting thing. I don't want to listen to books on tape, preferring my own little voice in my head. I can put books on my Palm Pilot for kind of hands-free reading but the screen is small. It would be too awkward to have my laptop on my lap while I knit. I tell you, somebody somewhere is going to make a bloody fortune when they come up with the solution to this problem. Yeah?

A creature of habit

It is just frightening how much a creature of habit I am! Or is it that I just go through much of my life in autopilot? Whichever it is, because I altered my routine just the teensiest bit yesterday afternoon I forgot not only my riding gloves but my helmet as well! And this morning as I got to the bike rack I reached into my right jacket pocket for my keys to lock my bike and what did I find? My phone. Hmmmmmm ..... phone in keys pocket. Well then the keys must be on the phone pocket. Nope. Keys must be on the table because I somehow altered my routine while leaving this morning and got the keys/phone/out the door dance wrong. Oh ... AND I made super positive sure that the front door was locked when I left today. THAT I remember. *sigh* Let's not even talk about how I'm going to get into the house this afternoon. Maybe I can get Tink to open a window and toss me my keys. heh

So. Let's talk a little about body image, shall we? I came home from the concert last night (which shall be another topic of discussion) and since I had promised a picture of my finished "Something Red", thought I'd get that photo done and then sit and read the paper and have a drink. I took ... what, like 5 pictures. In each one I looked like a huge fat HOG!! I finally gave up and just read the paper and pouted until 11, fat fat fat fat echoing through my brain. This morning I was a little less insane and after I got my bike pants on I thought hmmmm, let's try another picture while the light is good. I had to put a cami on under the sweater so excuse the cleavage, but at least you can get a good look at the finished product. I like it a lot! The one side is really NOT that out of whack, it just got twisted up a bit before the picture was taken. Unfortunately I did miss a couple stitches at the bottom of it when I was picking up the stitches around the band and I didn't even notice it until it was all done. It's not quite so noticeable when it's pulled down even with the other one. But this body image thing .... why do we do that to ourselves? Or why is it that sometimes you'll (I'll) look in the mirror and see someone a whole lot bigger than I really am? It's wicked.

On to the concert. It was Dar Williams and Shawn Colvin at the Zoo. We (Kate, her daughter and her daughter's friend and myself) arrived in plenty of time and got pretty good seats. It's a scramble. People bring blankets and sand chairs and picnics and .... oh yes, and their children. Children under 12 are free. Woo flippin' hoo. I came to enjoy one of my favorite artists and for that privilege (and $30) had to put up with 3 hours of rude, self-absorbed, pseudo-Seattlehippie middle-aged, I-have-a-child-so-I'm-above-the-rules mommies!!! Sure sure .. I think it's lovely that people have a place that's child friendly where they can also enjoy some music but good heavens, rein those monsters in!! I was kicked in the head by some child being carried by some oblivious lout, stepped on by kids gone wild on a sugar high, had my view obstructed by the lesbian mommy couple who spent more time passing the child back and forth and eating and chatting and playing patty-cake than watching the concert!!! Arrughghghghg!!!! Crap! Never again will I go to Zootunes when the artist is a woman. Blues only. I think in that case one would be less likely to get the crowd like last night. I should have spent the whole concert in the beer garden but there were no seats in there, just tables and I didn't want to stand the whole concert. As it was, we didn't have sand chairs and so had to sit cross-legged or lounge on our elbows. My back is a bit sore today but I took some Naproxen so should be fine by gym time.

Well -- that's a bit rant-y isn't it? Ah well ....it's better that I get it out then get an ulcer!

Oh this is soooo much better

Sorry to all you people out there still sweltering in the heat wave, but it has cooled down a bit here and we're lovin' it! Yesterday it stayed overcast all morning and in the evening it was cool enough for me to sit upstairs to read the paper, for a change. And today it's not cloudy (gorgeous, in fact) but not hot either. More seasonal, although it should be getting into the 80's later. That I don't mind. The 97 .... now that's a bit much.

My "Something Red" cardigan is all finished -- button and loop on. I did, however, put them on the wrong sides. No matter. I'm NOT taking them off, since I sewed both of them on very very securely. Quite frankly, I don't think I could take them off if I wanted to. If I were to make this again I would get a smaller button and put in a button hole. This button, while quite pretty, is a bit heavy for this garment. I was too lazy last night to take a picture with it on, but I'll try to do it this evening when I get back from the concert. This sweater actually looks pretty good on! Bonus, considering all of the garments I have made that I have either given away or which reside in the top of my closet. For example, I made the "Simply Marilyn" in Cashmerino Super Chunky --a gorgeous lavender, but it looks like crap on. I might just recycle that this fall. ANYway ... pictures tonight of a flattering garment! As I was saying to Nonnahs, the nice thing about this pattern is that it looked like it would cover the waistband pudge, and it does! Okay, I could lose 10 pounds or wear loose tops ... hmmmmmmm.

I was going to swatch for the "Green Gables" top last night but instead watched a movie (Failure to Launch) and did mindless knitting on the shrug I'm making out of the "Fringe" ribbon. That stuff -- the colorways are absolutely stunning, and it knits up light but warm. It's great for a shrug but it feels kind of weird. It's hard to explain but it's almost plastic feeling. I realize it's polyester ribbon but should it feel like plastic? Soft plastic, but still.

Tonight I'm going to an outdoor concert at the Zoo. Shawn Colvin with Dar Williams. I've never seen Dar Williams but I saw Shawn Colvin at Bumbershoot a few years ago and she was great! The only thing I don't like about outdoor concerts is sitting on the lawn without a little beach chair. You can't sprawl because, obviously, you can't see. So you've got to sit up and it makes my back sore. Oh lord ... it's that freakin' age thing. I guess it catches up to all of us, if we're lucky!

Ahhhhhh .... clouds

Thank goodness, it has cooled down a bit! I even wore my bike jacket - unzipped, but it was on me. Tomorrow I'm going to an outdoor concert at 6 and I am hoping that it's not blazing hot because that would be pretty uncomfortable.

Tink has learned to use the Doggie Door! Wow! I gave up on trying to get her to use it last September, but yesterday I heard her little sharp "I want to go out" bark and she wasn't at the front door and she wasn't at the deck door, but she was sitting on the landing in front of the doggie door! I took off the metal cover and out she went with just the barest push. After that - she just pops out. She doesn't quite have the getting back in part down yet, though. It's probably because unless the lights are on downstairs she is pretty much jumping into darkness. I'm convinced now that she's going to get it, finally, which will be really nice.

All best intentions, but I didn't finish my cardigan after all. It dried nicely. I really like that Micro Cable - machine wash and lay it flat and it's dry in no time and the fabric has some drape and motion to it. It was just too hot to knit last night again. I did do a few rows on a ribbon shrug but nothing serious. Tonight I'm going to do the I-cord and get that button on so that my treat will be to swatch and maybe cast on for my brown "Green Gables". I can't wait! And I realized that the blue yarn my SP sent me with the ChicCami pattern goes perfectly with my light blue suit so I want to get that going too.

I'm tired. I'm so tired. I could sleep for days. I'll bet I could put my head down on my desk and nod off.

Everyone is talking about the heat

It's the number one topic all around the country. My sister is in Valencia, California and Saturday her "official" temperature around 4 o'clock was 112. Yes. O.M.G.! Needless to say it's practically impossible to knit in this weather, which is annoying. Friday was the first of the really hot days here. It got to 97. I retreated to the basement where it stays cooler even though it gets morning sun. I finished up my "Something Red" cardigan and I am ecstatic that I successfully hid my wraps! It's got a lovely short-row collar done in ribbing and lo and behold, NO HOLES! I want to give the short row sock heels another go now that I believe I've discovered the secret. Well on second thought, maybe I'll just do a swatch with sock yarn and needles and make sure I've got it. It could be just too difficult to do properly on small needles.

Anyway .... As I said I decided not to make a buttonhole because the button is just too big so I washed the cardigan yesterday and this evening, hopefully, I will make an I-cord and put the button on and take pictures. My only regret is the color. It's steel gray. I'll most likely get lots of use out of it but it is rather drab.

I SO wanted to knit some more this weekend since I was just lazing around most of the time but it was too hot to hold the yarn. You know, your hands get moist and then your tension gets all screwed up. So I did a few rows on a shrug with the new ribbon yarn and it's going to be nice. Now I REALLY MUST finish the X-back top!! Somebody police me.

I had a wonderful time Saturday. My high school class has reunions, or semi-reunions. This year we had the first annual golf scramble and dinner. I skipped the golf and went instead to the outlet mall, since I rarely go that far north. Oh man ... that place is crazy! It was PACKED! But I did manage to do some serious damage at the Coach store before I headed back to the Club for the dinner. And I had a wonderful time hanging out with my old friends, despite the audacious question from one of the girls, "Hey, Shelley! Where'd you get those boobs?" Can you believe it!??! I guess I didn't have much of a chest when I was 17 but hey, who did? We grow, we mature, we work out .... Pretty funny.

More goodies from my Secret Pal!

Wow! Another great box of goodies from my sweet Secret Pal. This one has a great cami pattern from Chicknits, a beautiful blue cotton to make it and some wonderful gadgets we all use so often, PLUS (what, there's more??) a copy of "Wendy Knits" ! Yay! I started it last night before I went out. Looks good. I loved the last one she got me and devoured that in an evening. I'm looking forward to the cool of the evening and a good read today! Thanks Secret Pal! You are SUPER!!

And speaking of Secret Pals, I have to get another box off to mine. I have found that it is very easy to spoil this one and I keep getting stuff that *I* want! But I must be strong... and then go back to Amazon and buy a second copy for myself. Yesterday I got one of the Stichonary books from Vogue for her last package and woowee, it's fabulous! I hadn't looked into any of those before but this one on cables is awesome.

Didn't get the cardigan finished last night because it was pub night with my pals from work. We didn't go out, but went to one of the guys' house and had margaritas and food on the deck, which was nice and cool. Lucky for me it is walking distance and he has a dog, so I brought Tink and we're babysitting Jasmine again so all three dogs played and played and PLAYED and, *sigh* slept, which is more important. Ahhhhh ... I do feel rested today, thank goodness.

It's hot today and going to get hotter. Right now the furnace man is doing the annual maintenance and so the furnace is running! I want to yell at him, "Turn that thing off!!" Oh well, won't be long.

Happy weekend! And keep cooooooolllllll!

I must rant today

You know how there are things that are so annoying they are like fingernails on a blackboard? We all have them and mine (for today at least) is the sound of someone shuffling along in their flip-flops. This is an affectation that crosses all boundaries - no matter race, gender or sexual orientation, these slobs can't seem to muster the energy to lift their feet! And it's not about flip-flops. I have them, flat and high heeled, designer and discount. I wear them. It's just that certain type of person scuffing along like they're in bedroom slippers that I want to grab by the throat and yell, "Pick up your f***ing feet, moron!!"

Ah, better.

So I pretty much finished my "Something Red" cardigan last night! I got all the stitches picked up around the front, and learned something spectacular. This pattern has short rows along the back of the neck to shape the collar. It's really nice and I followed the directions closely which resulted in me finally getting the hang of hiding my wraps. It's much easier to figure out how to hide them with larger than size 2 needles. And the pattern had a little inset with explicit instructions, which I needed. When I got the ribbing 3/4" the pattern had you making a buttonhole, but my button is rather large so I decided to finish all the ribbing and then make a loop - either an I-cord or twisted cord. That will also allow me to place the button just where I want it. A couple more inches to go and I'll be done! Of course I won't be wearing it any time soon with this heat that is upon us.

And speaking of heat -- I love my dog. Everyone knows that, right? I LLLLLOOOOVE my Tinkerbell. But she is turning me into a crazy person. The poor little thing sleeps all day because of the heat. When I get home she takes her walk but not at her usual pace since it's right in the middle of the worst of the heat. She'll snooze again once we get home until 7 or so when it starts cooling down. And then .... she's awake! Woohoo! Wheeeee! I try to wear her out but it's practically impossible to do it in two or three hours, especially if I'm knitting. I played ball with her. I played fetch until she was not interested. But she was like Count Dracula last night -- I don't know when she slept. She was out in the front from 11 to about 12:30am when she started barking and I had to get her in. Oh and that's not an easy task, my friends. SHE wants to play, remember. I come out, stumbling and stupid with sleep and she plays chase. I had to bribe her with a goodie. I got her to settle down but it only lasted for less than an hour. I opened the door to the deck and let her sniff the air out there until I guess it was 3, when some wildlife got her barking again. AND sometime in the night she decided to have another go at my stash shelf! She takes the ball bands off but still, it's a mess. I think I'm going to have to get another one of the shelf units and stack it on top, use the bottom shelf for books or something.

Nnoooooooo!!!

No 'Lost' reruns tonight! Rats!!!! I have been loving having those recorded for knitting sessions. Especially now that it's going to be so amazingly hot. I'll be spending a lot of time downstairs in the coolness and now I'll have to watch movies. Oh well.

Last night I spent 4 hours on the cardigan and finished the second sleeve. Why does it take so long, I wonder? Must be the wrestling of the DPNs. No matter - it's all done now except for the picking up of 200 stitches to do the band. That'll be pretty fast after I get the stitches picked up of course. That's always a headache. I need to feel like I'm doing everything in my power to get those stitches picked up evenly, so it's a laborious process of measuring, placing pins, using math(!!) but I've been happy with the results each time and that's what counts, right? I want to be able to wear this masterpiece!

I have a new sweater obsession (what does that make now? I've lost count.) These "obsessions" are garments that I really really REALLY want to make. Like the Rock Star Cardigan. I have chosen the yarn, bought the pattern, swatched it and now must make a decision to commit myself to a difficult but potentially massively rewarding project. Some obsessions just fade away, replaced by the ever growing number of fun and easy projects that take up most evenings. For example the Lace Leaf Pullover from Loop-d-Loop. But I got an email from Berroco a couple days ago and just fell in love with this sweater. It's got to get in line.

Tink had a wonderful morning at the doggie spa (aka Krisiti's Grooming) yesterday. Now she's white again! That's not going to last long since her favorite place to lay is IN the dirt. As the temperature climbs she will be spending more and more time under the bed. We get to have Jasmine again for a couple nights and I'm looking forward to it.

A will of iron!

How good am I? I'll tell you. Yesterday I didn't run -- pulled muscle -- so instead I walked up to the Ave to get a pair of running shorts and hey, I was that near to the LYS so why not stop in and get the needles I needed for my next SP package. And lo and behold there were three boxes of sale yarn sitting right outside, one of them comprising gorgeous silk ribbon in lovely colorways and nearly half price. I fondled it. I picked a color. I walked away, inside the store. I came back out. I fondled it. I. Walked. Away. Sure, it was lovely. But when I thought about what I could actually make out of it, the only thing is a scarf. It's ladder ribbon yarn and would be too garish for a garment. Whew. It was tough though. Instead I bought a button for my cardigan. I was going to go with either silver or black but came upon this beautiful teal dragonfly button and couldn't resist. I took it with my camera phone this morning and it's a little blurry but the detail is there. Nice, huh?

All good intentions last night of getting that sleeve done, or at least started, but I had gotten into a book and thought I'd just press on and finish that to give myself a clear road for the rest of the week. Unfortunately, the best laid plans ..... the phone rang, and then I got settled and somebody else wanted to borrow my car to move a piece of furniture and oh, could I watch the dog too? Not that I mind - I love having playmates for Tink. But one thing led to another and I didn't get the book finished. Tink is having her "spa day" and I'll most likely have to go pick her up around noon or 1, so I think I'll be naughty and go home afterwards and see if I can't get a few hours to myself to finish that book! [Okay, yes - I do have it pretty easy here at work right now, but I tell you ... just wait until September! It'll be ugly.]

Sunday blog for a change

It's a gorgeous day. A little hot, actually. Too hot to work in the garden, thank goodness! My Secret Pal sent me a "Fill your bookshelf" gift that I received on Friday, so I think I'll take it easy this afternoon after a morning of errands and just read! Here's a picture - I think I'm going to love it!

One of my errands today was to find a shelf to organize my stash, which I did. Once I got it on the shelf, however, it seems a pathetic little stash compared to some of the photos I've seen on other blogs. No matter - It is filled with more projects than I could finish in months - lot of it thanks to my GREAT Secret Pal. The bins hold weird stuff - mystery yarn I bought on eBay before I knew Noro from Lorna's Laces, coned chenile (why oh why??), acrylic, several items in the midst of being recycled, etc. But the shelf is where the good stuff resides. I feel good about getting it organized, that's for sure. And it makes me smile when I walk into the room to see my embarrassment of riches, so to speak.

Friday night I got my 'Something Red' body finished, tucked in all the body ends and started on the sleeve, and by golly, finished one of them to boot! Unfortunately the body was knit on my Denise needles and I used bamboo for the sleeves. It is quite evident because the texture and tightness of weave are different. Oddly, the gauge doesn't seem off. It doesn't pucker like one would imagine it one were using smaller needles. I don't get it but I am not going to frog it. I will take a page from the programmers book and pretend it's supposed to be that way.

Time = progress

Hoorah! I had all evening yesterday to work on my 'Something Red' cardigan and two episodes of 'Lost' to keep me company. I have about 2" left to go on the ribbing. Looking pretty good, I think. And I tried it on - one more thing I love about doing top downs. This is a wonderful pattern. The ribbing is set to start right under the breasts and gradually widens from k2p2 ribbing to k2p4, to give it some shape. The Micro Cable is a little heavy but with short sleeves it's going to be perfect to wear with a tank. Getting the perfect button is going to be fun. I am working from home today so just maybe I can get a head start and finish up the ribbing early enough to start a sleeve. Originally I was starting each new ball at the edge because it's slippery yarn and I was thinking that picking up the stitches for the ribbing around the front and neck would be extra insurance to keep the ends in. But for these last two balls I've just started where it ended and knit a few stitches double which should be just as good as far as keeping them from slipping out.

Here are pictures of the two yarns I got in the mail yesterday. Jam is described as a mohair but it has come looking more like eyelash yarn so rather than trim, which is probably what I was thinking of it for, it is more likely to be a scarf. The colors don't come out here so well but it's that lovely green that I love so much. The Fringe yarn is colorful ribbon with a frayed edge and I do definitely see it is a shrug. It's main colors are blue with green. It reminds me of water - tropical almost.

I will take a long lunch and hack away at my backyard for a bit before it gets too hot. That place is a jungle and I must get the blackberry bushes hacked back before they get real and more intimidating than they already are.

Does accumulating stash make you feel guilty?

I got a little package yesterday - an order I had made of some stuff I bought a few weeks ago in a fit of .. well, not pique exactly but I was feeling in the need of some comforting so I got online and bought yarn. Well, makes sense to me! But anyway, I felt somewhat guilty. What the HECK is wrong with me?? I didn't NEED it. Where does this come from?!!? I really really need an enabler so I can establish a stash like I see people posting on their blogs. I'm a rank amateur, let me tell you. I have so many cool projects lined up from my SUPER secret pal that I am finding it rather easy not to succumb to the siren's song of a close-out or yarn sale, although I must confess to being rather compulsive about checking Elann. I think I have my yarn accumulating under control because every yarn purchase has a project attached to it - if not literally then in my mind. I don't buy yarn willy-nilly and then hope to find a project because I find it very uncomfortable when I'm knitting along and then think I won't have enough yarn to finish a project. It makes me crazy! That's not to say that I don't have a few balls of this or that picked up because they're pretty. I bought some stuff in Paris just because it was pretty and on sale. And the same for the stuff I got yesterday - ribbon that I intend to use for a shrug like I made K out of the Micro Cable. But I also got 3 balls of "Jam" - a mohair blend with bits of colors. Why did I get 3? Who knows.

Well I have to get serious about buckling down and getting some stuff finished. Again I didn't knit last night. I had a visit from G, the sailboat guy, at work yesterday wanting a tour of the campus. What the heck - it wasn't raining so I gave him a quick tour. Then changed into my bike clothes and we biked down to a little restaurant on the water to watch the boat go by. Well, no boats were going by because the weather was nasty. So then we biked to my place and after walking Tink he asked if he could take me to dinner. Are you kidding? Uh .. yeah! I drove him home so he wouldn't have to bike - it is pretty far for a bike ride. Then he picked me up and we went to U Village where there was a band playing outside the restaurant we were going to so we started outside, but then the clouds moved in and it got cold, so we moved inside. It was perfect because I had been craving a burger and I had a good one. Anyway, next thing you know it was 10 and no knitting was done. My cardigan was calling me but I was beat! I have 2 episodes of 'Lost' on the DVD recorder so I am hoping that tonight I can just veg out in the basement and watch TV and knit.

I will make goals and tempt myself so I can finish something this weekend.

• When I finish the X-back Tank I can start the brown 'Green Gables' that my Secret Pal sent me.
  
• When I finish the socks I can start my Knitty submission.
• When I finish my 'Something Red' cardigan ... oooo, I guess I'll do the shrug I bought the ribbon yarn for.

That sounds reasonable. Dooable? We'll see.

Well finally!

Yay! I got to knit last night! Whew! I was getting a little .... itchy. I have lots and lots of 2 x 4 ribbing left to do on the Something Red cardigan, so that's what I worked on. I'd say about two more solid evenings and I should have that part knocked out, then the sleeves (which are going to be super quick since they're short) and finally the picking up of a huge number of stitches and doing the ribbing AND short rows around the collar. Yup -- I guess I have a good bit of work left on that beauty. But I have so many cool projects from my Secret Pal that I am most anxious to get finished with some things! [Do I even have to mention the X-back tank that's sitting in it's basket about 3/4 finished?] Every day since I've received it I coo over the box containing the 'Green Gables' pattern and the gorgeous brown yarn. "Some day soooooooon", I say as I caress the skeins.

Crappy weather is back to Seattle and as a result I had a good night's sleep last night. Tink only got me up once, if you don't count the 5:45 am barking incident. Must have been the newspaper. When the weather is warm the fan is going and the white noise drowns out those little noises that make her barky. Unfortunately, cooler weather means no fan and so for some reason lately she's taken to barking at the newspaper guy. Well, I'm assuming that's what it is. I can't hear it but she's got super keen hearing.

Well I am not sure if knitting is on my agenda for this evening. Plans are up in the air. I'm giving a campus tour to a friend this afternoon and don't know if it's going to spill over to dinner or not. Now here's a conundrum - how to have a rich and... ummm... satisfying social life and still have time to knit! Oh - okay, I should quit my job. Yup, that'd do it. [If only]

Ooooo I'm bad

I forgot my bike helmet yesterday when I left work. I was sleep deprived and realized it when I got out to the bike rack but I didn't go back and get it. I drove without it. I must say, it feels pretty nice to have the wind in your hair but I was extra careful.

Not a single stitch knit yesterday! I came home and crashed out for about an hour, then walked Tink and picked up a birthday present for my friend, then it was time to go to the party. And when I came home, well it was bedtime! Zoom -- there went the whole day AND evening. I am hoping I can have an evening to myself to read and knit and clean up my kitchen .. you know, important stuff!

I got this cute picture last night. A couple months ago I went with little E to her school for Special Friends Day. She's wearing a shrug I knit -- my first Deco Ribbon shrug that I love, but it was just too small for me and made my arms look like little green sausages. It's perfect for her.

Okay now --- everybody send good thoughts that I get to KNIT tonight!!

I am SO sore!! And my Secret Pal strikes again!!

Wow, I had a fun fun fun weekend but I'm very sore today. Well, that just proves it, I guess!! Saturday I went with a friend to pick up a sailboat he had bought on Friday. It was on Vashon Island, just a short drive and a short ferry ride from Seattle. It was also the 89th Strawberry Festival and I was looking forward to buying some fresh strawberries and maybe some other goodies like honey or something. Well, unbeknownst to me they haven't grown strawberries commercially on that island for a long time so there were no strawberries to buy! Oh well, we got to watch a very funny little parade and eat pizza and that's just fine by me. As long as pizza is involved, I'm happy.

Saturday night was a girl's night - dinner and a movie. We saw "The Devil Wears Prada" which was really good! Except the theatre was so hot! I don't know why they didn't have the air conditioning on - it was brutal.

And so the reason I'm sore today is that Sunday we took the boat out and sailed it from the boat launch to his house on the lake. We took our time - I think we were out there for about 3 or 3 1/2 hours. I can still feel that rocking, actually. It was glorious! Perfect day for a sail and it didn't take us long to remember what to do. I hadn't been on a boat like that for I can't remember how long, but pretty soon we were switching sides with no problems. I'm covered in bruises and scrapes but it was so worth it.

And so with a weekend full of summertime fun there was very little knitting accomplished. I worked on my second sock on Friday and am almost at the ribbing part. Hopefully this coming weekend I can get the stuff and start fiddling with my Knitty idea. And ... AND my Secret Pal sent me yet another fabulous package that I received on Friday. It's the Green Gables pattern and some yummy chocolate brown cotton to make it, plus the needles as well and a nifty gauge measurer! Secret Pal you are too much!! Thanks SO much - I love it!!

Late start

Gosh .. I turned off my alarm this morning when it went off at 6:30, like I usually do. What I don't usually do is fall back asleep until 8 am!! Yikes!! And it was one of those deep deep sleeps, with weird dreams. I don't know why I was so tired - I turned off the light last night before 11 and I got a great night's sleep, as in I didn't wake up to take an allergy pill for like the first time in days and days. But there I was stumbling around trying to get ready and having a hard time keeping my eyes open. But I made it here by 9, which is pretty darned good I think.

I had an early dinner last night at a neighborhood Thai restaurant that I hadn't tried before. It was nice, if a bit sterile. Food was good though. Then I got to work on my sock, which is a good TV watching project. I have 'Lost' episodes to finish watching. I got one done and still have a second sitting there like a piece of chocolate cake. ymmmmmm I am very disappointed in my second short row heel. I simply don't like the look of it, besides the fact that I screwed it up again. I wasn't clear on the whole wrap and turn concept and didn't realize that I had to wrap and turn again when I was increasing the stitch count. *sigh* So this second one instead of being better than the first is worse. I have a link to a heel flap, gusset done toe up that uses a third needle for a row and I'm going to give that a try next time (after I work on my Knitty project) because I just like the way a gusseted heel looks versus the short row one. It's tidier somehow.

So ... fairly busy weekend coming up. Out to Dad's tonight to cook for him. MUST clean house tomorrow, and then tomorrow night a girls night with my friend Ruth. Maybe dinner and a girlie movie. Sunday I must work in the yard some and I have to do birthday shopping for a birthday dinner Monday. When will I be able to squeeze in some knitting????? See? That's why I never get any yard work done!! Priorities, baby!

Lazy lazy

It has cooled down considerably and after putting in a full day of work (the first one in what feels like a week!), having a GREAT run as well as my normal biking both ways, I didn't feel like cooking or knitting or anything! I read the paper. I went to the store and bought a sandwich and I read for a while and then watched 'Lost'. I should have been working on a sock or the ribbing on the cardigan, but I find that it's so difficult to knit while I'm watching that show. Not mindless enough, I guess.

I'm glad it's a short week. I am so tired today. Tink wanted to go outside last night at 3 am. Little bugger. So I just slept fitfully. I need to be sharp today though .. isn't that always how it goes? It's the frantic scramble to get the anatomy course ready. It starts before regular medical school, right after Labor Day. People are starting to go nuts already, as usual. And it's hard not to get caught up in the hysteria.

Looking for an "ah ha" moment

Yesterday was the 4th and, true to form, it rained. Not only rained - thunder showers. I woke up early in the morning to the sound of rain and it hasn't rain in ages! But it was the 4th and that's what it always does here in Seattle. It wasn't so bad though. It was partly cloudy so the sun would peak out from time to time and by the time it was dark it had been dry for some time. I do imagine that quite a few of the folks who had staked out spots to watch the fireworks got soaked. I was not one of them. I had a less traditional 4th, spending it in the company of some fantastic Australian women. I took them to that funny bar I went to Sunday night to give them a taste of country music. I thought it would be interesting to them and we had a ball! Unfortunately it wasn't very busy, being a holiday. But they all got to dance and had a good time. Plus on the way home we saw the fireworks in the sky.

I am all keen to finish up my second Lorna's Laces sock and to that end got the heel done and now am just working on the leg portion. I am not any happier with my short row heel this time than I was the first. I seem to be missing some key bit of information as regards the old wrap and turn, because I ended up with holes and I was positive that I had it right this time! So while I love doing socks toe up I don't like the short row heel. The gusset one with the slipped heel flap just looks better to me. I did find directions for doing that toe up and unless I can find out what I'm doing wrong with the short row one I think I'm going to have to try this version next time. It just looks stupid having holes there plus you just know that it's going to wear out quickly. So I either need an "ah ha!" moment with regards to short rows or I'm going to give it up.

Almost too hot to knit

Almost ... but I did get some good work done on my cardigan all the same. I've gotten all of the increases done and now just have to do about 5 or 6 more inches of ribbing. It's going to be a bit tedious but I just know I'm going to wear that sweater to death so ..... I will keep slogging away on it.

What I really really need to do is get those socks finished because I came up with a KILLER idea for a submission to the winter edition of Knitty. I am really excited about it but I need the two size 2 Addis that I have tied up with that second sock so I'm super motivated to finish them and go search out the perfect red red lipstick red yarn for my project. It's unfortunate that I can't blog about it in detail because that's one of the things with a submitting a pattern - it can't have been published on your blog or anything. So let's see if I can actually keep my mouth - or in this case my fingers - mum!

I'm taking this day as vacation since tomorrow is a holiday. I couldn't see going into work, especially since it's not that busy. Plus which I went out last night and I think I would have had a very difficult time getting myself up and to work in time this morning. I met some girls out at a bar and I danced! It was SO MUCH FUN! It was kind of a country place but the guys are great because they just want to dance and dance! I loved it. Definitely going to do it again.

I found a couch this weekend after looking and looking and they just delivered it so now I've got to continue shifting furniture around. I am not sure exactly what I'm going to do yet but it's going to involve moving a big wall unit and I'm not too excited about that. There are felt pads on the feet of it so I think I can just take the books out of it and push. Let's hope.