This is REALLY getting ridiculous!

Anyone who has been reading my blog for a while is well aware of the absolutely stunning bad luck I've been having in the dating realm. It's as if I'm cursed or something. I wouldn't believe it if it hadn't been happening to me, honestly. Let me share the latest chapter.

I had a fun date Wednesday night and we had made tentative plans to get together for dinner Sunday. He called me Friday and said that he wanted to see me again. I said I was busy Saturday (band rehearsal) but Sunday would work and he said he couldn't wait, how about tonight (Friday)? I was a bit tired from a really busy day but said okay, and he said he'd call me when I got home to make definite plans. And he did -- six o'clock he called and said he was going to be a bit later than he had originally thought. He had to have a chat with his daughter which should take about and hour and a half and then he'd come pick me up about 8:30. He said he'd call when he was on his way and I should go ahead and eat and then we'd go out for a drink or something downtown. I had my shower, had something to eat, got dressed and sat down to listen to some music and read the paper and wait for him to call and say he was on his way. And I'm still waiting. He never called. He never even sent an email. Not. A. Word. You know, I'd stop dating entirely but this is getting more and more strange and ridiculous. I just can't WAIT to see what the universe has in store for me!

To add insult to injury, my band rehearsal that I had been SO looking forward to was cancelled for Saturday and moved to next Saturday. Needless to say I had plenty of time to knit and clean house and watch movies. My sleeveless turtleneck is nearly done and I could probably have finished it up last night but I wanted to pick up the gusset stitches in my sock so I would have something nice and portable for the two doctor appointments I have to take my dad to this week. The turtleneck is getting a little big to haul around.

My front garden is half covered with compost which makes it very very messy out there, especially since it was raining most of the weekend. Poor Tink has to be tethered so she can't get in there and roll around. Supposedly the lawn will be laid on Tuesday. I ordered the sod to be delivered. There's still lots of work to be done but just getting the grass down will be nice. And I've noticed that Tink doesn't bark nearly so much at night anymore and I am sure it's because the trees are away from the roof and the squirrels and other critters aren't running around there so much. Even though I am in the city I saw a raccoon in broad daylight sleeping in one of my large trees in the back! I couldn't believe my eyes! I tried to take a picture but when I got out there he(she) had turned its back so it's not very clear. Pretty wild.

I did a little internet shopping for my SP. I am hoping to be able to send her first package off this week. She's very easy to buy for! I was turned on to a sale at a KnitHappens on Friday bu somebody on Craftster and boy was that stuff FLYING out of that store! I got some Noro Silk Garden for half price so I can make the vest More Stripes on Knitty. It uses steeks and I think it would be a good first steeking project. And I got a few things for my SP. I now need to find the yarn for the cute cardigan pattern my SP sent me. I am thinking of a cotton blend -- maybe try Knitpicks Cotlin or ??? Can't decide. No hurry. I've got stash and projects coming out my ears!!

It's a mud pit

Truly ... my whole front yard is bare dirt AND it's been raining. What a yucky mess! Needless to say Tink doesn't get to spend a whole lot of time out in the freshly turned dirt. She lllloves to dig in it. She was my little adventure dog yesterday. The helpers that the landscaper hired are college boys on spring break. They not only left my front gate wide open when they left but, unbeknownst to me, the side gate as well. Tink was outside and very quiet (should have been a tip off, no?) and there was a knock on my front door. Odd ... I opened it up and there was my neighbor, Dan, telling me that he had seen my dog in the alley behind my house. I knew right away what had happened, put on my sneakers and threw on a jacket and took off to find her. Luckily she was still loitering in the alley and Dan just picked her up ("She's a friendly little thing. Came right to me".) and brought her to me. Little devil.

I worked on the sleeveless turtleneck last night. Not too late, since I was still tired from the night before. I'm now working on the ribbed body, so there are about six or more inches to go just round and round k3p3. I put it on last night before I turned in and it is going to be SO CUTE! Fits like a dream. I don't think I'm going to be able to finish it this weekend but maybe. Depends on how much time I spend on chores. And Saturday night I'm going to meet up with my new band guys for the first time so that's going to pretty much take care of Saturday night. I'm just anxious to finish it so I can wear it.

It begins!

The landscaper showed up today with a work crew and they started work on the yard. It's so exciting! First up was trimming the cedar next to the house. And while it is now trimmed so much that my little privacy hedge is compromised, it is just much better to have it cut back. They still need to get the branches that are on the roof, which should keep Tink quieter at night. I think the squirrels and other rodents are using those branches to get on the roof and scurry around up there which drives Tink nuts. Here are a few pictures. Two are the "before" and one of the "during" phase. You can see where they have cut and rolled the old turf on the parking strip.


I didn't get much knitting done yesterday - as in none. I actually had a FUN date! No, really! Talking and drinking and laughing, I lost track of time and thank goodness for my DVR, because I would hate to have missed "Lost". [ooooo, hope I'm not jinxing it. I haven't actually checked that it got recorded....] Unfortunately I'm feeling a bit worse for wear because, since I've been trying to lose those Christmas chub pounds, I've not been drinking and so am pretty much out of practice. It wouldn't be so bad if we had eaten something, of course, but there ya go. Hindsight and all that. Anyway, pictures of the progress of the sleeveless turtleneck from "Fitted Knits". I think it's going to be really useful. Here's a close-up of the neck and then a picture of the side. Nice color, huh? I love it. I originally was going to use this yarn for an intricate cabled shrug from IK a year or so ago, but the pattern was on reverse stockinette and I think it just looks wrong. So I'm happy to be using this yarn finally.

I'm late today!

It's nearly 3 o'clock and I've been running all day! Secret Pal 10 has started and I wanted to make sure to thank my Secret Pal. She has already sent me a gift through e-mail! What a pal -- a pattern that I have had my eye on. Thanks SP!

I've been working on the sleeveless turtleneck from "Fitted Knits". I wish I had checked for errata before I started it however, because there are mistakes in the pattern. I fudged it around and I think it'll be okay (except for the aforementioned increase problems) and not too noticeable. I knit a few more rows on the back portion of it than the front though and I don't know if it's going to lay right. If I had done the increases correctly this wouldn't be a problem because my front would take care of it but .... we'll just have to wait and see.

My landscaping project is starting. Supposedly the woman cut the cedar tree branches away from the house today but I'm not at all sure how much work she got done. And then tomorrow she's going to take up the old sod and haul it away. That is going to leave me with a big ol' front of mud! I won't be able to let Tink out there on her own, that's for sure. I just hope she's quick with preparing the soil so I don't have to live with that for long. I'll post pictures. Should at least be good for a laugh.

No dog

So I drove to visit that dog on Saturday -- 53 miles each way. Everything was going great until they mentioned the adoption fee. $400. Uhhh .... which was a surprise to me. I realize now that at the VERY BOTTOM of the page where they have the dog bios they say that the fees for the dogs range from $100 to $450. I didn't get to the bottom of the page because the dog I fell in love with was at the top of the page, so I was totally taken aback. I had to pass, obviously, since I wasn't planning on spending $400 on a dog this spring. Oh well, it was a nice drive anyway.

I finished up the "Ms Marigold" Friday night. I was not disciplined. I started on that purple turtleneck tank thingie from "Fitted Knits". I got the whole neck done, the back raglan increases and part of the front. One problem -- I couldn't get the left and right lifted increases. Well, I *thought* had them right but then I looked and the sides didn't mirror one another. I finally got on line yesterday evening and looked on knittinghelp.com and found the increases there, but called KLL and KRL, so the back is kind of weird looking but the front will be nice. Nobody will notice the increases (I hope) because my hair will be covering it.

My fancy new running shoes seem to have cause a little problem. I noticed Friday that my right foot pronates with these shoes and that must be the cause of some pain I've been having on that side. Dang! I am not going to use them any more and will go back to my old shoes but now I need to decide if I should run today or lay off again. I didn't run Friday because it was pretty achy and didn't run this weekend. I don't want to cause any bigger damage but there's a race this coming Saturday that I really want to do since there won't be another until May. errrrghghg

The evening just flew by

Sometimes I swear I get into some kind of time warp or something. Yesterday evening just flew by! I got the ribbing finished and bound off [when oh when will I ever learn to just use needles a couple sizes larger to do the bind off!!] and then picked up the stitches for ribbing around the front and neck. Maybe that's where the time went because I swear, I must have picked up 200 stitches. Eight rows of ribbing and bind off and holy crap, it was 10 o'clock! All I have left to do is crochet around the arm holes (because I do not think ruffles are going to work for me on this) and tack down the ribbing in the front and weave in a million ends. I tried it on before I went to bed -- it's form fitting and, because of my bind off, very tough getting it over my chest. It goes on and hopefully I can stretch it a bit when I wash it for blocking. The color is just perfect.

If I can just make myself pick up the TDR turtleneck tonight and start on the sleeves. It's such chunky yarn that it'll go quickly. I truly would like to finish that before it gets too warm to wear because it's very pretty. We'll see where I am with my discipline tonight.

I heard from the doggie adoption lady last night. The dog I put in the application for has one already pending from a person who has adopted in the past so if the dogs get along then I'm out of the running. Oh well ...

Impulsive behavior

Yesterday afternoon I was taking a little break and just for fun decided to look at dogs up for adoption. I saw a dog -- oh my goodness! -- I just knew I shouldn't have been looking! She is so adorable that I'm sure she's going to have a million applications but I put one in anyway. I haven't heard anything and it's probably for the best. Maybe Tink wouldn't want a baby sister. Although she's so happy to have Shadow or Jasmine come visit. Two dogs = twice the mess, I know. And twice the expense, also I know. BUT, twice the doggie love! Well, I'm not going to get my hopes up.

I did some great work on the "Ms Marigold" last night, getting all of the ribbing done, pretty much. I've got one more row, then bind off and then I can pick up the stitches around the neck. Looks like I should be able to finish this off by the weekend. I'm looking forward to wearing it. Such a pretty pink.

I stayed up too late last night watching "Lost" and now I am just dragging! I know I could record the show but it's just so good lately that I don't want to wait. Oh lord -- I need a social life!!!

I may have a new addiction

It's a little early to tell, but I might have a new one. I had been hearing about a new television program on FX starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver. It's call The Riches and I taped its pilot Monday night and watched it last night. It is SO good! It's right up there with "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives". I have been crazy about Eddie Izzard for years. His stand-up is wonderful. But now? Now I am really crazy about him! His acting in this show is just awesome. Catch it if you haven't already.

So watching that new show it was round and round some more with the "Ms Marigold". I tried it on before I went to bed and it looks like I've got about 2 more inches of straight knitting on the body and then 2 inches of 2x2 ribbing. Then it's picking up the stitches for the ribbing around the neckline and I'll be done. I tried it on over a heavier T-shirt and it didn't itch at all so there's hope. It's very cute. I am definitely going to wear it.

I brought the "Fitted Knits" book in to work today (since I drove) and brought it to noon knitting to let the others take a peek. I am going to make three things out of it for sure. Here are pictures. I have the yarn to make the turtleneck and the mohair wrap. A deeper purple for the turtleneck and either light blue or a khaki green for the wrap. Then, there's the green cropped sweater with the cutest little leaf ties. I want to find a yarn that's a little less apple green and more peridot. So I've got my spring knitting cut out for me! Plus which let's not forget the TDR turtleneck that's half done and the sleeves that are that close to being done for the Ogee Tunic. I lack discipline, people. I'd feel bad about it, only most of the knitters I know suffer from the same thing!

And around and around

and around and around. About four more inches to go on the "Ms Marigold" body. It will be a relief to get to the ribbing. I should pick up my sock tonight. I have only one more row on the heel flap. I could get it turned and get all of the gusset stitches picked up tonight so I could start on the cuff ribbing and have that to take with me to Dad's doctor appointment tomorrow rather than try to take the larger project. The yarn is such a light pink for the "Ms Marigold" that I'm afraid I'm going to get it dirty or stained so I don't really want to be dragging it around with me. The sock I can fit into a Ziplock plus it's darker colored.

It's truly chaos here at work. Me, I've got plenty of time since there is still no place to put me(!), but the other women in my office suite have to be ready to go now by next Tuesday. I'm going to start sorting the "garbage" from the "keeper" anatomy props and other than that I'm just about ready to start tossing things into crates. It is just amazing to me how much paper I've thrown out (recycled, of course). Stuff that was important enough to keep and now I look at it and wonder why the heck I even bothered.

Oh it's going to be a looooong and boring week. I need something to look forward to. A vacation! I need a vacation to look forward to! My sister is coming in April now it looks like, to help me with the landscaping. But even if I take time off work it's not really going to be a vacation because I won't be going anywhere and will in fact be rooting around in the dirt. Well I'm going to have to think about this some more.

Just a few rants for a Monday morning

This is starting out to be a frustrating morning so I'm taking a little break, trying to get my heart rate down to something close to normal range. Because we're moving to temporary quarters I'm trying to consolidate my two PCs into one machine so I will only have one PC and one Mac rather than 2 PCs. To that end I downloaded my Palm Desktop software onto my newer PC on Friday afternoon and tried to HotSync my Palm. It wouldn't work and it was Friday afternoon so I just left it, re-booted the new computer and went home. This morning I'm trying to get the darned thing to HotSync and it won't!!! I have gone through the Palm troubleshooting info and it's useless and I am getting more and more frustrated. Hopefully the IT guy can give me a little help. I know he's done the switch. It's probably just one little thing that I'm overlooking.

So let me rant a bit about the St. Patrick's Day Dash. First of all, it was a great experience on the whole and I was totally in the zone. I mean .... I felt like I was running the best I've done so far in any race! Unfortunately I should have gone with the first wave (the "green" wave) rather than the second wave (the "red" wave) because even though it was timed the people were not really into it. Each hill they were mostly walking and I had to weave and excuse myself through clots of people. I was all set for a great push at the end and again, kept running into people! It was annoying. Next time I will not be intimidated and I will go in the first wave. 15,000 people showed up to run in the rain. It was incredible. But what I have to rant about is the people who don't think the rules apply to them! On the brochure and in the web site numerous times it was printed "NO dogs and NO strollers in ANY wave". Over and over and over again. Were there any dogs? Nope. Not a single dog. Were there any strollers? Hmmm? Oh yeah. Strollers all over the place and mostly in front of ME!!! What is it about certain parents that makes them think the rules do not apply to them?

Other than the race it was a relatively quiet weekend. I worked on a friend's web site a little. I took Tink to the dog park on Saturday and let her get very muddy and gave her a bath. And I knit and knit and knit on the "Ms Marigold". I'm in the round now and it's just knit knit knit for 10 inches, which takes a bit of time on size 5 needles. In fact I had to stop yesterday evening because my hand was getting sore. I tried it on Saturday night after I had done an inch or so in the round just to see how it was going to look. It's very cute and sexy. But alpaca! I just figured since it wasn't 100% alpaca but has some Tencel in it that it wouldn't be so itchy but that is not the case. I am hoping that after I wash it it won't be so bad. How can something that feels so soft on my hands be so itchy on my torso?? Even through a cotton T-shirt I could feel it. I was hoping to be able to wear this with just a cami underneath. Maybe after I wash it I will be able to wear it more comfortably. I know that the asymmetrical pull-over I made out of 100% alpaca is wearable if I have a T-shirt underneath so .... I will keep a good thought.

Duh

Boy is my face red. I emailed the people at Zephyr yesterday because I couldn't wrap my mind around the pattern directions for part D of my Ms. Marigold. Now, I should have stuck with my instinct which is to actually wait until I was at that point in the project and see what was what. I don't know about you, but usually things that are muddy while reading miraculously become clear when you have the needles and yarn in your hands and you are ready to execute the tricky bit. And so it was with me last night. I finished up the left front armhole knitting, slipped the stitches back onto the needle holding the other two parts and then knitted them all together just as the pattern said. I had incorrectly concluded that since each of the three pieces was originally ending with a knit row the next row had to be purl but ... no. Since they were all separate and the yarn had been cut at the end of each section I just turned the stuff the right way and away I went. So .... whoever read that email must have been rolling their eyes forever. I've got a few more inches to go back and forth and then I can start in the round. It is so pretty! I hope it looks good on.

The forecast for Sunday is heavy rain. I am not too happy about that, but forecasts are so often wrong. I'm going to do it no matter what, but it would be SO nice if it was sunny or at least not pouring rain.

No further word from the band guy. I was hoping to get together with them this weekend but I know he's trying to replace the lead guitar player and that could take some time. I'll try to be patient but each day I get more and more eager to at least meet with them and sing a few songs. I am very grateful to Lisa for suggesting they call me and I'll have to do something nice for her. Hmmmmm

A "Lost" night

Wednesday is "Lost" night. It doesn't start until 10, which is usually when I head to bed to read for a while, but I was knitting away on Ms Marigold, which doesn't need a lot of attention, and so I stayed up to watch it. Ooooo -- it was a bit brutal last night. But good. It kept my interest. But then I couldn't get to sleep and therefore ended up turning off my alarm and sleeping in this morning. Oh well, the work isn't going anywhere.

Today will be my last training run before the race on Sunday. Currently the forecast is for rain, which is a big huge super drag. Oh I'll go, but it is truly no fun to race in the rain. In that case it's just picturesque exercise.

I got quite a few hours in on the Ms Marigold last night, finishing up the armhole part for the right front and back. Tonight I should be able to finish the left front armhole and join the pieces back together. I will be happy to get to the part where it's in the round because purling hurts my hand. I am a little bit concerned that my gauge is going to be off when I start in the round. It usually is, especially since it's slippery yarn and I'm using my Denise needles. I might have to buy size 4 Addis if it looks too weird. Or, I might keep it as a design enhancement. That's more likely, knowing what a lazy knitter I am.

I was thinking last night (when I couldn't sleep) that now that I have a sewing machine I have no excuse to not make myself something to keep my circulars organized. I have a friend with a new fancy computer sewing maching and I could embroider numbers ... I know for sure that I'd never take the time to hand embroider numbers and that's really the important part. Maybe I'll look around for a pattern, although I have an idea in my head that shouldn't be too hard to realize.

SP 10 is about to get off the ground. My hostess contacted me last night and we should be getting our pals on the 15th.

Pretty close to instant gratification

I love Elann. Maybe it's because I live so close to their shipping location, but I ordered yarn on Sunday for my "Ms Marigold" and it was sitting on my doorstep yesterday when I got home from work. This Quechua is incredibly beautiful yarn! It's baby alpaca with some tencel in it so it's very very soft and it has a lovely sheen to it. I gorgeous light pink with just a hint of lavender. I maybe should have lightened this picture up a bit because on this monitor it looks a bit darker than it really is, but still you get the idea. I started my "Ms Marigold" last night and got through part B. I don't know, maybe I'm becoming a more mature knitter, because I find that I like fabric that is knit on a smaller needle. I think it's more wearable or something. Or maybe it's just the spring thing. Anyway, here's the start of my top. Now that my hairdresser has toned down the red highlights in my hair I feel more comfortable wearing my favorite color, pink!

I am loving my new camera! It is so much faster downloading pictures. I had an errand this morning so had a few extra minutes at home and took advantage of that to take more pictures. I've got my "Cozy" along the back of my couch, just marveling at the size of it!! And here's a close up of the pattern. A very easy lace which was forgiving of mistakes.

And finally ... I saw this Hummer parked in a handicapped space when I took Dad to the doctor this morning and I just HAD to take a picture of it with my phone. It is so outrageous I couldn't help myself. Plus which, inside was a tiny, yapping dog. Check out the custom paint job. Hearts! Not that I don't love hearts, mind you, but on a HUMMER?? It was all over it but the front was enough to give the idea. What a country.

What a GREAT weekend!

It was nothing huge, just a lot of good things that happened this weekend that made it so good. Actually it was mostly Sunday. Saturday was just errands and a manicure and pedicure and knitting on the "Cozy". I stayed up late watching TV and then read in bed until after midnight. Tink, bless her doggie heart, got up to do her thing at 7:30 Sunday and then came back to bed and let me sleep in until 10:30! I couldn't believe it!! What a treat.

I had some breakfast and a chat with my sister and then had a fabulous run, and when I got back the phone rang and it was the guy my hairdresser had suggested call me to sing with his band. And .. he was calling! Cool! He's the drummer and says he doesn't know the names of any of the songs they need a girl singer for, but will get back to me this week and I'll meet with them and sing a few songs. Just doing that is going to be so much fun! If there are jobs, so much the better.

For my post-run cool down I took Tink for a walk and we passed a garage sale where I found a sewing machine for $10. I bought it. It's old, but in good shape. It's heavy compared to the new plastic ones but it's much like the one I learned to sew on. Great buy.

And then the landscaper came over to look at my yard and make a plan. She went nuts over my back garden, telling me the names of all the birds she had sighted. She kept saying it was like a wildlife preserve. But we're going to concentrate on the front and then go from there. She's going to cut the cedars back from the house and take out the lawn and clean out the flower beds and lay new sod. I'm going to take lots of pictures to document the renovation.

And finally ... finally ... I finished my "Cozy" yesterday evening and washed it and it's drying now. It's not perfect, but the flaws are hard to see. I really wanted to make a vest this weekend and tried to get gauge for "Ms Marigold" with some stash yarn but couldn't so decided to order some Elann Peruvian Quechua in a pretty light pink. My SP8 had sent me Sonata for it but I wasn't feeling the purple for that pattern. Right .. so with the "Cozy" monkey off my back I should really finish up the TDR turtleneck. It will go quickly since it's so chunky. I'll start on the sleeves tonight and then I'll know how long I can make the body. That's my plan anyway.

Geek magnet

I'm going to change my name. Geek Magnet Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it? Oh I guess it's a bit of an over reaction. But really! One more bad date and I'm going to seriously look into it!

I got corroboration yesterday evening for Tinkerbell's devilish behavior Thursday night during the snow. I met a neighbor walking -- Shadow's "mom" -- and she said that Shadow was doing exactly the same thing Thursday night. We agreed that it must have been the sounds. She was an angel last night to make up for it.

I got to get caught up with "Lost" last night. This show has really turned around! I am llllloving it! I didn't knit but tried to untangle the "Cozy" yarn. When I started the penultimate skein I couldn't find the end, pulled out much of the middle and somehow it got very tangled. I nearly just cut the tangle out but it was good therapy while watching the show and didn't distract me. I am almost untangled. Afterwards I just did some soothing sock knitting.

Winter is back ...

with a vengeance! As I write this it's only 3 degrees above freezing. The wind chill this morning was painful. Last night is snowed but thankfully it didn't stick on the streets in town, so I rode in this morning. Up north the streets are covered. There's something about the snow falling that makes Tinkerbell crazy. Last night she was a devil. I think that the sound it falling -- it was not soft, fluffy snow we were getting but more sleet-y so it was making a noise as it fell through the trees. My best guess is that the noise imitates the sound of squirrels or other rodents rustling through the trees and shrubbery because she was acting like something was out there and she wanted to get it. If I let her out she would bark. So I'd have to bring her back in and then she wouldn't stop whining at the door to go out again. She's be fine for a while and then start with the barking. I tried to get her interested in her ball or her other toys and that would work for a minute, she'd get distracted and I could go back to what I was doing and then .... back at the door. I finally threw in the towel at 10 right after "Lost" had started since I realized I wasn't going to be able to sit down and enjoy the program without having to get up a million times to deal with her so up we went to bed. I thought she'd calm down and I could read for a minute before I turned out the lights. No go. She was insistent on getting up, so I turned out the lights. That worked for oh .... about a minute, then she was off the bed and scratching at the door to go out. It was SO annoying!!! I finally let her out into the living room where she sat at the door to the deck and whined and barked for about 10 minutes before giving up and coming to bed. Thankfully she was up only once more during the night what that routine. I was at my wits end! I really didn't know what to do but let her sit there and make noise until she got tired of it. I just hope it doesn't snow again.

Needless to say there wasn't much knitting being done. I did start on my penultimate skein of yarn for the "Cozy". I could have gotten much more done had Tink behaved but oh well ... maybe I'll get something done tonight.

'Twas a dark and stormy morning!

And cold. And wet! The rain on the way in looked like it was mixed with snow and it's only 4 degrees above freezing as I type. And there's no getting away from it. I must run today. Only 11 days until the next race and Monday's run was NOT powerful, to say the least. I got my race T-shirt and timing chip in the mail yesterday. I like that - very convenient. Especially since on race day we have to park at the finish line and take a bus to the start line unless someone is driving you. And since nobody is driving me -- I'm going to have to get up super early and go park and ride. All that for a T-shirt. BUT the bonus is that I get to run on the city streets and over the Alaskan Way Viaduct with the beautiful view of the water and the Olympic mountains. It's going to be super cool.

Yesterday I got a call from one of my old classmates. She came up with the idea for our annual class reunion golf tournament, which was so much fun last year. This year I'm going to be helping with the organization and setting up a web site. AND, I'm going to actually take part in the tournament. Last year I wasn't sure if I should golf, since I'm so bad, so I went shopping before the dinner and ended up with two Coach bags. Since it's a best ball type of thing it doesn't really matter how good you are, plus which everybody's drinking all the way anyway, so I'm going to golf this year. (Whee ... new shoes!) It's not until the end of July but it takes quite a bit of organizing.

Not much knitting yesterday. Worked a bit on the sock while dad was at the doc but it was a quick appointment so I didn't get much done. I brought it today for our Wednesday lunchtime knitting and I should be able to bind it off and start the other one in that hour. I worked mostly on the "Cozy". Nearly finished with the current ball and that leaves only two more to go when it's done. Maybe I can finish this weekend.

You really just never know!

Back about .... oh ... a bazillion years ago I used to be a singer. One of my bands was a show band that covered old girl groups from the 60's, among other things. My hairdresser, who is a notorious matchmaker/busybody asked me a few months ago if I ever thought of coming out of "retirement" with regards to the singing. I said sure, if the circumstances were right. In other words, somebody had a band and gigs and all I had to do was show up to rehearse and do the job. So just now this guy called, they've got jobs and want me to meet with them this weekend. It could be fun! Now I just have to figure out if I've still got any chops left.

Oooo! I got the new Stefanie Japel book yesterday! It's a pretty good book. I love the top down thing, obviously, since that's about all the type of sweaters I make. The designs in this book are pretty cute, all in all, and the yarns are mid-priced, which I must say is quite a nice surprise. I don't know about you, but it seems to be that most books and magazines (with the exception of KnitScene) are recommending such astonishingly expensive yarn for their projects that it makes substituting almost mandatory. She has used Cascade yarns almost exclusively except for a couple Lyon Brand things for the super chunky stuff. Interesting side note - I was reading her forward and come to find out she's 6 feet tall! Yikes! I would never have guessed from her pictures, would you?

I did absolutely no knitting last night. I had SUCH a headache yesterday. I made it 3/4 through my run at lunchtime but then lights started flashing in my head and I had to stop. I thought I was just hungry but it kept on and on and on and on ... I finally gave up and went to bed around 9 and read for a little while (yes, I know it's odd to read when you have a headache but it didn't seem to bother me). I finally drifted off and, while it's still present, it's at least not debilitating like it was yesterday. Maybe I can knit tonight.

Aaaaand it's Monday again

This time is year is always so strange ... still definitely winter and yet little signs of springs poking up here and there. It is cold and wet and windy though. And it was raining all weekend with the exception of a few odd breaks during the day on Sunday. Tink got a long overdue grooming on Saturday and she looks adorable, as she should. I needed to do some easy training this weekend for the upcoming March 11 race, so on Sunday I put on wet weather gear and took Tink with me to Greenlake. I figured a little run/walk around the lake would be good and I wanted to see how she would do as a running partner. Well, she was GREAT! I got a nice easy workout and she had a wonderful time as well. Of course there weren't nearly as many dogs and people as there would be on a sunny or even non-raining day and she got distracted a few times but when I was running she just really got into it, either keeping up with me or dashing on ahead as far as the leash would permit. As an extra bonus, it tired her out and she spent most of the rest of the afternoon quietly snoozing, her little head in my lap.

I got lots of knitting done this weekend as well as a working out. My sock is pretty much done and I am going to bind it off and start a second one tonight so I'll have a small portable project for sitting around while dad is at the doctor tomorrow. My "Cozy" is growing and I only have 2 3/4 balls of yarn left to use on it. And I even worked a bit on the TDR turtleneck. I was sorely tempted to start a vest of some sort this weekend but resisted. I ordered Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits Friday and so I'm going to wait and see what's in that.

Won't be long now that we'll be starting SP10. Hope I get good ones again this time. I was SO lucky the last couple of times.

I lucked out

Or maybe it was getting right on the zinc treatments. Either way my "cold" is gone. Today I'll take my new shoes out for their first run. I didn't really think my old ones were in that bad of shape until I compared the two side by side. I think I'm a bit overdue, actually. Maybe new shoes will make me speedier! Ya think??

It's cold today and I had to put my extra layer back on for biking in. It had seemed like we were getting an early spring but it's back to being seasonally cold. I don't mind. It gives me a reason to light a fire at night, which I like.

Work is busy busy busy! And my work days are flying by! We will be moving during the quarter break and that means I need to have my office all packed up and ready to be moved on the 16th of March. It's just a mess with book shelves half way sorted, and piles of props for anatomy class. Oh well, I've got three weeks to get the sites ready for next quarter and get myself organized. At least I don't have to actually physically move my computers, which was the original plan. Still it's a big undertaking. My temporary office is in the Annex, which is just a fancy word for a construction trailer that has been fitted out with individual offices. I chose one with a window facing out onto a big grass lawn, which I thought would be a nice view for a change. I found out Wednesday that it is not to be. That area is going to be paved over and be the staging area for the renovation of the H wing and there will be a huge crane sitting there. Looks like I will be working from home a lot!

Next week starts the new Secret Pal so I guess I'm going to have to get on the stick with my knitting! I was looking at my Ogee Tunic sleeves last night. Maybe I'll pick that up again or .... or finish up the TRD turtleneck. So many options. But for tonight I think I'll just pop in a silly movie and work on my "Cozy".

One more time .....

When I got onto the plane yesterday to come home from Phoenix I started sneezing and sniffling as if I were having a huge allergy attack. I couldn't figure it out - I couldn't smell any strong perfume or dust or anything at all that could have got me going like that. But as astonishing as it sounds, I seem to have caught another cold! As soon as it became apparent last evening I started up with the zinc again. It's so very annoying because I can't run when I have a cold! I barely made it up the hill on my bike this morning. And I was SO looking forward to trying out my new running shoes today. I just can't figure out how I managed to catch another cold so soon after that first one! And it had been so long since I'd had a cold anyway. My next race is 18 days away so I hope this zinc does the trick again and I can get out running Friday at the latest.

Yesterday day then was almost totally taken up with travel. Phoenix airport was busy and the security check line was nearly 30 minutes long. I wanted to work on the plane and I did manage to get some stuff done but the woman in front of me reclined all the way back and this particular plane was not very generous in the leg room department which meant that I could barely fit my laptop on the tray table. I must have been quite a picture - nose dripping, frantically trying to type away with my computer crunched up practically against my chest. I was jammed up against the window because the girl next to me turned herself in her seat so that her back was toward me and then she leaned back! Anyway .... enough with the travel whinging. We all know how ugly it is to fly these days, unless you can upgrade and even then it's no picnic.

I didn't get home until nearly 7 but I was looking forward to watching the episode of "Lost" that I had recorded last Wednesday except it wasn't on the DVR! I don't know what happened but at least I'll be able to catch up because they'll run the episode from last week before the new episode at 10. Don't know if I'll be up for the second one but at least I can make sure it records this time!

Knitting-- I worked more on the sock. Got the gusset all done and now it's just the k2p2 ribbing. No more fancy socks for me! I just love a plain sock. It flies by and there's very little thinking. Perfect portable project.

The wild wild west

I'm still in Arizona. I'm having a nice time - except today has been a bit frustrating dealing with getting my friend's website up. I finally got it done and published. It's going to need some more tweaking since the content is not all ready but at least the design and framework are finished.

Yesterday we took a break from working and drove to Tuscon to see "Old Tucson" which is a poor man's version of Universal Studios. Way out in the desert, it's where many of the old western movies were shot. It's totally corny but the area around it is very cool. And I got to use my new camera. It's going to take me some time to figure out everything it can do but here are a few pictures I took yesterday. When we were leaving, in the parking lot was a coyote! Just standing there ... strolling around a bit. Most likely looking for food. And a picture of a cactus alongside one of the buildings and here's a shot of the countryside. I'm not yet used to sizing these. I thought I had them bigger but, as I said, it's going to take me a while to get used to the new camera and downloading pictures.

I've also been working on a sock and here's a picture of it. I've done the foot and the heel flap and I'm getting ready to do the gussets and turn the heel. Maybe this afternoon.

Coundown ...

Less than 8 hours and I'll be on my way to sunshine and warmth. It's a blustery cold day here in Seattle. I wish I was going to Hawaii but Phoenix will do nicely. I will be doing a bit of work -- I am going to be making my friend's website for his business -- it won't be all work and I won't be here!

My camera did arrive yesterday and it's so cool! I didn't even get to look at the manual last night but I've packed it with me along with the software so I can do that while I'm on vacation. It is so much tinier than my older camera and lighter. I can't wait to learn to use it. I was just so tired when I finally got home from work and then taking Dad to the doctor and then stopping at the grocery store. Poor little Tink didn't even get her evening walk. It was raining and I had packing to do. I did a little laundry, got packed, took the lace socks off the needles but didn't have time to start a new pair. I'll do that when I'm there as well. By 9:30 I was just exhausted so I just let the DVD record "Lost" and I'll have that to look forward to when I get home Tuesday night.

I took Tinkie over to Ruth's this morning and she was off and playing with Jasmine without even a backwards look. I think one of the reasons I'm keen on getting another boyfriend is so I can get another dog as well! Maybe that's why the romance gods are conspiring against me -- my motives are less than pure. Well hey! It's gotta be something!! Here's just a little rant: If I go out with one more guy that says "How are YOU still single?" and then doesn't call me I am going to scream, hunt him down and say, "Well, you seem to know the answer to that question now. Care to enlighten me???!!" Rant off.

Happy Valentine's Day!

And ..... it looks like it's going to be a Happy New Camera Day for me as well. According to the UPS tracking my camera will be delivered today so I am all woohoo about that. VD .... well, not so much. But hey! It could be worse! At least I can remember some awesome ones and one in particular will always be with me so ..... for what that's worth.

I have been really getting into the "Cozy" knitting. I'm on my 3rd ball of yarn. The lace pattern isn't difficult and it seems quite forgiving since I've made a couple mistakes and can't even find them! It's going to take a while to finish since it's got to be 68". Well of course I guess if I think 50 inches is enough I can stop but the pattern calls for 68". We'll see if I have enough yarn. I think I'll just knit until I run out of it.

Here is my current boring dilemma (I really need to get a life!) What knitting should I take with me to Phoenix? I am thinking the lace knitting would NOT be a good idea since there is bound to be some sitting around with cocktails at the elbow. I need something plain and easy, preferably in the round. Therefore I am going to take the heart lace socks off the needles and start some plain ones. I find that I wear the plain ones. I can't get into the fancy sock thing. It doesn't make sense to me to spend so much time with a fiddle-y fancy pattern for something nobody is every really going to notice. That is unless you wear them with sandals and shorts which is not my style. But plain socks I will wear. I love the feeling of hand knit socks. Tonight after I get my laundry and packing all done (maybe while watching "Lost"?) I'll cast on for a simple pair of socks and that will be easy to put into a Zip-lock and toss into my suitcase. Then if I make a mistake it won't be a huge deal.

I finished something!

Isn't that amazing. I have a bazillion WIPs and felt I had to pick up another. I finished it though. The Sunflower Tam from "Knitting Nature". I used Elann's Pamir in what I thought was a nice yellow but turned out a bit green-y. I was in such a rush to start the thing I didn't check my gauge (I know .... rookie mistake) and it is way too big for my head, so I brought it to work and gave it to someone. I just wanted to make it. It's all right turns and left turns -- pretty easy except now and again a left turn would get a bit dicey. That's an I-cord tassel on the top.

That's mostly the knitting I did on the weekend. I did knit a few more rows on the "Cozy" and tried to get a quick picture of it this morning but it just didn't turn out. I wish I had my new camera. It looks like it's not going to arrive until the day I leave this week, which is a shame because the UPS guy comes late to my house so I won't be able to have it with me on my vacation! I'm really disappointed. Well I haven't checked the tracking yet this morning so it might yet surprise me and get here early.

I had a nice race on Sunday. Although it was another race where they didn't have a real start, but only a "gun" start and I HATE that!! Why do we wear chips if we're not going to get a real start time?? It's only good for the very very few people that are actually crossing the starting line on time. I have no way of knowing when I crossed the starting line. Next run on March 11 and that one will be timed.

I had a really nice dinner Friday night at "Mona's", a restaurant near Greenlake. Saturday was a fabulous day -- I ran errands and knit and then watched my "Extras" DVDs. Hilarious!! I think there's one more in the series. And yesterday was cleaning and hanging out with the dog. It's going to be a fairly busy week and then Thursday it's off to the sunshine and I can't wait!

No going back now

So I just did it -- I registered for the Love 'em or Leave 'em Valentine's dash this Sunday. I haven't exactly been training, but I don't feel bad and although I'll be slow at least I'm doing it! I think there's a St. Patrick's dash in March and I'll be in much better shape for that. This Sunday I'm just going to concentrate on making it around the course before the walkers!!

The second half of the "Lost" season started last night and I thought it was fabulous!! I worked on my "Cozy" earlier in the evening but I can't knit when I'm watching "Lost" unless it's just a plain knitting in the round thing. I get too caught up. I can knit through "Desperate Housewives" and football, but not that. The wrap is coming along nicely. I'm on my second ball of yarn. I've never knit a wrap before. Thankfully this is a very simple lace pattern - 8 row repeat with EOR being a purl row. So far I've not made any mistakes, fingers crossed.

I am getting the first season of Ricky Gervais' "Extras" from Netflix today. Since I don't have HBO anymore I haven't been able to see any of it, but I so enjoy his acting so I'm sure I'm going to love it. I'm going to dinner tomorrow night so tonight will just be some funny TV and quiet -- ah, well much like the rest of the week as been, eh? I could very well be the most boring person on the planet. No, really.

Oh this is torture!!!

I have a "Best Fare Chaser" widget on my desktop listing my top favorite destinations and the lowest fare (obviously) that day. This morning .... London $338!! Paris $410!! I am almost sorry I committed to visiting Phoenix next week over the President's Day holiday. Of course, those fares are deceptive since they don't show the $200+ in taxes and fees etc. Still though ... that's cheap. And after having had a lovely long conversation with my friend Pat who is now living on Oakham, I am so missing her! Maybe if I win the award I'm up for I can hop over there in April for a quick visit. AND maybe a show or two in London. I really want to see Spamalot. A lot! (I couldn't resist)

I did run yesterday and it wasn't nearly so bad as I thought it would be. In fact it was almost painless. Yay me, huh? So maybe I will do that run Sunday after all. I still feel like a huge piggy, but healthy anyway. Six or 8 weeks of non-piggy ways and I should be back in form for the springtime unveiling. You know -- when you can't get away with baggy sweatshirts and sweaters. I wonder, if I lived in California would I still get the winter chub?

I signed up for Secret Pal 10 yesterday. I've had such fun with the others I have done. I took a break from Secret Pal 9 -- just too much stuff going on. But this is a perfect time. Last night I started one of the projects from my sweet Secret Pal 8. Oh I know I know .... I already have too many things going but I didn't have the heart to frog those socks and I wasn't in the mood for a big sweater. I was thinking of a hat from Knitting Nature but then came upon the beautiful plum colored yarn and pattern that SP8 sent me for making Knitty's Cozy and did a few pattern repeats. The color is just gorgeous. Picture soon.

In fact, speaking of pictures .... guess what I did yesterday! I bought a new camera!! I have been thinking and researching for weeks and finally pulled the trigger and bought a Canon A510. My old camera I bought right before I moved to Paris -- December 1999. It's an Olympus Camedia and it's only 1.3 megapixels and big and heavy to boot. I don't take many pictures because it's just so clunky and I never want to take it with me. The new one is just super! It takes video and I am getting a 1 gig memory card with it. Oh I just can't wait!

So quiet!

It's been foggy these past two mornings and so quiet! Almost as if snow had fallen. Thank goodness NOT. It's just weird and eerie. I know it won't be long before the birds are singing outside my window and I won't be able to keep hitting the snooze button on the alarm. It's still totally dark and still outside when the alarm goes off. But I heard a different birdsong later in the morning so I know it won't be long before I'm covering my ears for another few minutes of peace.

My head was still stuffy yesterday and I didn't run at lunchtime. I must go this lunchtime because I need to decide if I'm going to sign up for the 5K this Sunday or not. Since I haven't been running for a week I'm leaning towards not, but if I'm feeling good out on the trail at lunch I might as well give it a go. It's not like I'm going for some world record or anything. I've just got to get serious about getting rid of this winter chub! I feel like a whale!

Now that my entrelac bag is finished I can't decide what to pick up. I did work some on the cabled turtleneck Sunday but last night I just watched a movie and read. I wasn't feeling any great pull. And I most definitely am not feeling the heart lace socks. I don't think I'm a lace sock knitter. What I like about socks is that you can toss them in your bag and just pick them up anywhere, anytime. That isn't the case when you're working a complicated lace pattern on the instep. I want a simple sock. Let the yarn do the work. Soooooo ... looks like I'm going to either put it on holders or frog it and start a simple toe up plain foot with ribbing on the cuff. Something I can do without thinking about it. It'll be perfect to take with me to Arizona. It's going to be warm there so I can't have a lap full of sweater.

That stuff totally works

The zinc kicked my cold. It's amazing. By Saturday there was just the barest trace of a stuffy head. Really fabulous. It made my weekend. I certainly wasn't looking forward to being down. Save that for the weekdays, right?

Friday after my nap I had an appointment for a facial. I was feeling pretty good so I went ahead with it and it was lovely and relaxing. Saturday was more pampering, after loading my car up with wood that is. [Next year no matter what I am finding someone willing to deliver the wood to my house! This has been ridiculous -- me picking up loads every few weeks.] A manicure and pedicure and then a quiet evening at home with a pizza and a movie and a nice fire. I got the entrelac bag finished and felted and bought rattan handles for it on Saturday. I still need to trim the fuzzy stuff close because even though I folded it to the inside it still shows. Look how cute the bottom is. It doesn't show up clearly here but there's a little I-cord nubbin at the bottom as well. And here's a side view. See what I mean about the fuzzy bits? I don't like them. This bag is the perfect size for toting around socks in progress. As you can see it's not huge. And it took quite a long time to make as well. But it looks pretty good - if a bit garish. School colors anyway.

The Super Bowl party yesterday was quite fun. Alas I didn't win any money but the Colts won and it was a good game. And now the Pro Bowl on Saturday and then football is over for another year.

I was right

It's a cold. I can't remember the last time I had a cold. Not fun. But my sister used a zinc product the last time she had a cold and it was gone in three days, so I ran right out and got some yesterday and I've been using it so fingers crossed I'll be allllllll better tomorrow. I sure could use a bit more sleep about now though.

Oh happy day, I finished that bag yesterday. I've still got the handles to do and Tink would NOT let me knit last night after a certain point. And when she thinks I should pay attention to her it's pretty hard not to. Anyway, the bottom of the bag is really cute. I'll take pre- and post-felting pictures. I'm still undecided about the handles but I am definitely going to sew the fuzzy portion down on the inside so it doesn't show. The bag looks much better without the fuzzy bit.

Oh man I feel like I need a nap. Hopefully I can take off out of here early today and get a nice snooze in.

Oh no! Not a cold!!!

I woke up last night sneezing and sneezing. I thought maybe it was some sort of allergy attack (well .. I was asleep and not thinking that clearly) but I am still at it this morning. Will I be able to run a race in 11 days if it's a full blown cold?

Here it is February already. I'm not too keen on this month. Football is over as of Sunday and there's Valentine's Day to (not) look forward to. At least I have my mini-vaca in Arizona to look brighten the month. And I've got a fun Super Bowl Sunday planned. My local pub is having a party and pot luck. I stopped by last night and signed up to bring food and also took two squares on a football pool. That'll be fun. If the Seahawks couldn't make it I am glad that the Colts did. It's about time Peyton Manning had a go.

Two appointments to haul my Dad around to this morning so I'd better get to it. Fingers crossed there will be no surprises and I can be back at the office by 1 or so.

HooooWeeee

Boy is it ever cold outside! It was below freezing when I biked in this morning. Clear as a bell, but yikes! It's been an hour and I'm still thawing out. This is not complaining. I much prefer cold and clear to snowy.

Yesterday was a very good day. I worked at home, waiting for the upholsterer to come fix my couch. I was busy all day so it wasn't boring and, when he finally did show up, he did a wonderful job! Here's the guy coming in -- I mean not at all what I expected -- reeking of cigarette smoke, tattoo showing on his arm and carrying a small paper bag. But he sure knew his stuff and you would be hard pressed to find evidence that it had been damaged. Very pleasant surprise.

I must say that I am sorry I ever started that stupid Entrelac felted bag! It is taking for-freaking-ever to do! I had no idea it was going to be so slow. Usually a felted bag is a two day project. And then I am really sorry I put the fuzzy stuff around the top. NOT loving it. I'm thinking that I'll put the handles down inside the bag a bit and then after felting the heck out of it I'll just cut off the top where the fuzzy bits are. That might save it. I mean, I'm sure it's going to look really cool when it's felted but it's just a total hassle to do this much detail for a felted bag that I am just going to tote WIPs around in. Ah well, live and learn, eh?

The slowest knitter in the world

That's what I feel like. It has been so long since I've finished anything! I really wanted to finish that bag that I'm going to felt, but this weekend was not conducive to knitting. I did work some on it Friday night. Saturday I just did a teensie bit because I had to run errands and then I went to the Olympic Sculpture Park and afterwards to dinner so there was not much knitting at all. Here's a picture of one of the pieces there. I just love it! Is it my favorite? I don't know .... everything is so beautiful and different. This one stands out for obvious reasons. The park is not yet finished but close enough to let people in and it was packed this weekend. As you can see, it was a sunny and gorgeous day (both Saturday and Sunday). Every other party had a dog with them so Tink was in sniffy heaven.

Unfortunately the day (and the weekend) was marred by a back tweak of epic proportions! I haven't had one this bad for ages and ages. Saturday walking around the park was painful and it got worse as the day progressed. Sunday I could barely get out of bed. I went to the store and bought a new heating pad, this one with a built in massage. I dosed myself up with Naproxen and laid flat on the couch for the whole day. What a waste of a gorgeous spring-like day! It was killing me. Tink was enjoying just laying in the sunshine but got a little bark-y in the afternoon. I took pity on her and about 2:30 I was able to walk around a bit without limping so I took her for a little walk. Then right back flat on my back when we got home. I can't knit when I am reclining. If I'm sitting up in bed, fine then I can knit. But when I have to be flat, can't do it.

Today it's not so bad, thankfully, since I've got to take dad to an appointment which means wheelchair in and out of the car (and that thing isn't light!). I am thinking it might be wise to skip the run today. I should be able to go to the gym tomorrow though because the elliptical trainer isn't as hard on my back as running.

I did a fair amount of daydreaming about redoing my front garden. I am VERY excited about it. I'm going to take out all of the old lawn and re-sod it. It will be flat and the grass will be green. And all new plants and trees -- lilacs for the front fence area and more roses and flowering shrubs. Things that are easy to take care of and that I can't kill. And climbing, flowering vines at the gate. Of course the hard part is going to be picking out the right plants but I'll have plenty of time and my sister will come up to help me. It's going to make my house look so much nicer.

Well ... it was raining!

It rained yesterday. I did not put the boards back on my fence. I had the time but I wasn't going to do it in the rain. Good news is that it's supposed to be sunny and decent all weekend. I'm going to go to the Olympic Sculpture Park Saturday. It just opened last weekend and I am really looking forward to that.

After my chauffeuring duties yesterday I was beat! I got some nice work done on the bag. It is going quite slowly though. I need to buckle down and get some inches done on that thing so I can pick up a project that I'm going to wear!

Tink the Adventure Dog

I am a terrible procrastinator. No .. strike that ... I'm a very GOOD procrastinator. I still haven't replaced the 3 or 4 slats from when my fence blew over. They are sitting by the fence or still in place for when the cement was setting for the new posts. I keep saying that I am waiting for them to dry out but actually I just keep putting it off. There is one place with a rather large hole and I have been putting bricks and things there to keep Tink from getting out. This morning someone was walking a Golden Retriever by the house and I heard her barking and then as I looked out of the window I saw her slip out through the hole!! I was only wearing a bra so I threw on my robe and shoved my feet into my slippers and went dashing out of the house and out the gate. It was a man and woman walking the dog so the man was standing at my gate calling Tink, "Here fella". She was ignoring him and was dancing around the Golden and it's "mom" a bit further down the street. I called her and she came running back. Now no more procrastination!! Tomorrow between Dad's appointments I'm going to nail those boards back up. It's lovely and sunny and dry today and I expect it to be dry tomorrow as well.

We got home at a decent hour from B.C. yesterday and I just sat around, enjoying being in my own comfy chair and read the paper and talked on the phone. No knitting. Did a little shadow knitting at lunchtime but tonight I think I'll work more on the entrelac bag. I want to get it done. I have too many WIPs. Too many. I need discipline.

I have allowed myself the teensiest bit of daydreaming about winning that award. $5K would come in pretty darned handy. I would love to do some landscaping, or rather have someone do some for me. AND paint the house as well, but I don't think I'd be able to do both of those things. But some decent landscaping would make that stupid paint job look a little less stupid.

It's blowing in Europe

I read in the paper yesterday about the terrible winds in Europe. It sounds much like what it was like here last month. I am hoping all is well with my friends over there. Since I haven't heard anything I can only assume no news is good news, but I think I'll send out a few emails this morning just to check in. It's hard when you can't telephone someone just to say I hope everything is okay. [You know who you are ... yes you do!]

I stayed up way too late last night, working on a new felted bag for carrying around my stuff. I wanted to try something different and thought Entrelac might felt cool so I did some searching and came up with the Entrelac Suki. This bag shape is not what I'm looking for but it gave me enough to go on so that I can make it the shape I want -- not as long and a bit wider. Hers is quite pretty, isn't it? I understand she used Noro Kuryeon but it must have been a chore to separate out the colors each time. I'm using some green and purple yarn I bought on eBay to make a bag. In the picture the green looks more yellow than it is in real life. Anyway, here's how far I got last night:
That's a bit of "Jam" around the top. Just a few rows. I was surprised by how cool that yarn is. I want to make a hat with it. It has little nubblies of green and pink velvety stuff with just the barest bit of eyelash. Just a little accent there for the top of the bag. It also might make a nice accent on a cardigan down the button band or around the cuffs. Hmmmmm

It's gorgeous outside today! I am just a slug - it's 10:45 and I'm still in my jammies. I woke up really early this morning, like 4 am, and couldn't get back to sleep so I read for a while and then I couldn't wake up this morning! Thank goodness for the weekend. Nothing I must do today except get a manicure and meet someone at 7. Not a bad day.

Yay! It's Friday!!

Why is it, do you think, that Friday is that much nicer on a short week? Well I'm glad it is Friday. We had a fun pub night last night although the place started up with live music early - like 7 pm. It's wasn't too loud but it makes it difficult to have a conversation because you don't want to be rude to the musicians. But we had plenty of fun and interesting drinks and lots of laughs and I was home before 9. No knitting though. I got 3 books from Amazon yesterday so I indulged myself and just read.

I'm going to stay in tonight and knit and watch TV because the rest of the weekend is going to be busy. Saturday I've got a bazillion chores to do, I'm going out Saturday night and Sunday my friend Andy and I are going up to Vancouver, B.C. to spend Monday and Tuesday with some people at the U of BC. It'll be nice to get out of town and stay in a fun hotel. Vancouver is a cool city. Just keep your fingers crossed for NO MORE SNOW!

It's melllllting

Finally it's warmer and the snow is melting. In fact there are only one or two little spots of it left in my yard. Can't say that I'm upset about it. I can say that this weather is getting me down. I could definitely use a little more sunshine in my life, ya know what I mean??

We started little shadow knitting projects yesterday. It's amusing but not something I'm all that keen on. I'll finish my little project anyway -- it's only 100 rows. Maybe I'll make a pillow out of it if it turns out cute.

Now that the streets are cleared I'm back on chauffeur duty. I had to switch a bunch of appointments for my dad, but I can't get out of this one today since I've got no excuse! Hopefully it'll be quick and painless and I can always use the time for knitting.

It's "Pub Night" tonight with my gang of misfits from work. We're going to a Cuba/Mexican restaurant that I visited with my nephew. The food is really good - incredibly good - and we always like to have interesting snackies. Something more than chips and salsa.

Oh poo ... no more procrastinating!! I've got to get going.

Back on the road

It has warmed up. Well of course that's a relative term considering it's only 36 degrees right now, but hey! it's not freezing! That's a bonus. So I rode my bike this morning and made it to work without falling down. The streets were quite dry and the only place that was the least bit scary was going over the bridge, which was still covered with slush. Let's keep our fingers crossed for warmer weather for a while, pleeeeze.

I didn't do any knitting last night. Tink and I stopped in at the local pub on our walk and we just stayed. It was nice to get out. I haven't been in there for quite a while so there was lots of gossip to get caught up on.

Today in my lunchtime knitting group we're going to all start shadow knitting projects. One of the girls got a book with some really lovely patterns in it, although they're all done on size 2 needles! I found a pattern for a shadow heart pillow and I can do it on size 6 needles, which makes a lot more sense to me. I mean ... I can't even imagine making anything but socks with teensie needles like 2's and in that book she's got not only pillows but sweaters and jackets! Good lord, that'd take months and months. Not for me.

More snow!!!!

Arghghgh! I am so sick of this snow! Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous! Blue blue skies. Cold, yes, but the snow was disappearing. I had an incredible run around Greenlake, too. I wanted to see what my time is so I'll have something to work with. I can do the course several times before the actual event and keep trying to get faster. I want to beat my time from the Dawg Dash. Since there are no hills to speak of around the lake I should be able to do it.

I finished up my Fake Isle hat yesterday and wore it today when I walked to work. Isn't it cute? I made it with size 8s rather than the 6s called for and I like it because it's bigger. These types of hats don't usually look good on me but I think maybe I've been making them too small. Since I've got all this hair I need a bigger hat so my hair can be poufy around it. I roll the brim up and it just seems to work. It's kind of like a flower on the top. It's kind of a fuzzy picture. Took it with my camera phone here at work. I loved doing the stranded knitting. And it makes for a warm hat too. I'd like to try it again sometime.

Oh poo!

The Seahawks lost yesterday. What a bummer. I was being very careful not to listen to the radio or anything, sent emails telling people NOT to send me football spoilers because I was recording it since I had stuff to do in the morning and I wanted to be able to speed through it later. But when I got to the grocery store they had the overtime on the radio and they were playing it over the PA system. Dang! Well, at least it saved me a lot of time wasted in front of the TV. Next year.

Totally inspired by Nonnahs (and the cold cold weather) I started the Fake Isle Hat Saturday night. It is going very quickly. I have only spent a couple hours at most on it so far. What I am really loving is learning the Continental style of knitting, since you have to hold both yarns at the same time. I have never had the patience to teach myself but this way is painless. I can see how it could be faster. I'm not even thinking about the stranding either. It just seems to happen.

And finally .... my last two pair of the fingerless gloves. I don't even need the pattern anymore, I've made that many of them. I sure hope they get a good home.

I switched over to the new Blogger today. Maybe later I'll fiddle around with my template and see what other cool stuff they have. But right now I'm waiting for the guy to come fix my couch. It's a gorgeous (if frigid) day and I'm going to go run Greenlake when he's done with my couch. I want to find out what my time is so I'll have something to compare it to when the race comes up on February 11. No work for us today. Hope you're all having a holiday as well!

The good thing about Omar being gone

I really really enjoyed having my nephew around. It's felt a little empty around my house. But the one good thing about it is that now I don't have to finish watching "Jackass 2". Holy crap, what a waste of film!! That movie totally illustrates the HUGE differences between men and women. Those guys are idiots! No woman in her right mind would do anything like that. No, I'm not saying that there aren't jackass women out there. Just think of any "Girls Gone Wild" commercial you've seen. Same mentality. It's just that women don't risk their lives! Or mutilate themselves! Or think getting punched in the face is funny. He's sitting there chuckling like a doofus and I'm just sitting there with my mouth agape! Well ..... it went back to Netflix and good riddance.

It is still effing cold here. Right now it's 24 degrees. I walked into work again. The streets are a little better but it's not only the ice on the roadway but the wind chill that gets to me. It hurts. I am wondering what it's going to be like running this lunchtime. Maybe I should take a bandana to wrap my lower face. It's cloudless so I know it'll warm up in the next couple hours. When I was walking to the gym yesterday the trail looked relatively ice-free so that should be a problem. It's just, again, the wind chill. At least I won't be sweating so hard.

Worked on the mitts AGAIN last night. I called it an evening and 9 and went up to bed to read. I will be able to finish them this weekend for sure.

Gonna be a good weekend. Dinner tonight. Football on the weekend and I'm going to run around Greenlake either Sunday or Monday. That's where the next 5K I'm running is going to be and I want to check my time now to see how much better I can get in 4 weeks. No hills, so I should be able to do better than the Dog Dash time. Hopefully.

My winter wonderland!

I took this with my camera phone this morning about 8 am just before I took off for work. Walking, yes. Although I did see a few people on bikes. I would much rather walk than risk falling down on the icy streets, like my friend Andy did this morning! And I like to walk so it's a bonus. I just dress warmly, plug in the ol' iPod and away I go. You can't tell in this picture but the sky is clear so it was just gorgeous coming in -- blue sky and white snow. I'm thankful I don't have to drive anywhere. Because I wouldn't!

I drove in yesterday because of errands I had to run for Dad. I left work at about 4 or so and it was just starting to snow and by the time I got home it was really coming down! I took pity on Tink who hadn't had a walk the night before and bundled up and away we went. About half way through the walk she was ahead of me, high tailing it for home. Enough of this mess!! But she was rambunctious for a good portion of the evening. I don't know, there's something about the cold weather that just puts the dickens into her! Needless to say what with throwing the ball and the sock and talking on the phone, I didn't get much knitting done on those blasted mitts. I finished the penultimate one and got 3 cable repeats done on the last. If I can get serious I can finish them up tonight, but I've got to just buckle down and knit and knit and knit. We'll see. I am pretty motivated to finish these buggers.

My weekend is shaping up to be a good one. In fact, I am actually going out Friday night. No lie. To a restaurant. Swear to god. Plus there's great football on Sunday. AND Monday is a holiday. Woohoo

Those silly weather guys!

Getting everybody all scared about snow and ice and nasty weather. Okay, it's only 36 degrees, but other than that, no big deal. There was a little bit of snow-ish material on the ground this morning but the streets weren't frozen. Which was a good thing, since I had to run errands for Dad and I couldn't have even gotten down his street if it was icy.

As much as I am looking forward to finishing up with those mitts, I just couldn't knit last night. I had to relax after that stressful day dealing with Omar and his car troubles, plus work was so busy I didn't even make it to the gym! I got home around 5:30 just as Omie was arriving. He got his stuff together and I took him over to Tem's and then I went home and read the paper and did the crossword puzzle and talked on the phone and drank a really lovely martini. But no knitting. I'm really going to dig in tonight and make a big push to get them done. I might be able to do it tonight but more likely I'm going to finish them up tomorrow night. What's today ... Wednesday. So maybe I can have them done Friday and then I can start finishing up some of MY projects!

I got an official letter in my office mailbox today. It's a huge suprise. I got nominated for the Distinguished Staff Award. I don't know whether to laugh or what ... but there are 5 "winners" and the prize is $5,000. Niiicccce.

Late post

Blogger has been out of commission most of the day today ... most of the morning, I should say. I am looking forward to being able to migrate my blog to the newer Blogger. I've wanted to make a few changes to my template. I guess that's going to be easier with the newer version.

Poor Omie had his car stolen from in front of my house last night! I can't believe it. Statistically, my neighborhood has one of the lowest crime rates in Seattle. And it's just a crappy Honda -- beat up. I guess they steal them for parts. I haven't had a call from him so I suspect the police haven't found it yet. It's funny, we were having dinner last night and I was remembering the time my car was stolen in LA from in front of his apartment when I was over visiting. At least I had theft insurance. He does not. And he's due to leave tomorrow (weather permitting) or the next day. One more day, that's all he needed. Lost all his CDs too. Bastards -----------------Just got a call. they found it in Everett, stripped! It's in an impound lot and he has to get it towed out of there and it's going to cost him! How unfair is that??!?! Oh that sucks.

Incredible!

The Seahawks won their playoff game! It was SUCH an exciting game. Right down to the last second. The Cowboys quarterback ... I feel so sorry for him. So it was a great weekend. Even though I was dog sitting and had two dogs Saturday morning, I got to sleep in until 10! It was a miracle. I gave them breakfast early, let them out for the call of nature and then they were happy to come back to bed. It was such a joy for me to sleep in. I can't even remember the last time I slept that late.

I had company for the game, so spent what was left of the day before 5 putting the house in order and walking the dogs and going to the grocery store and fixing dinner. During the game I knit on the fingerless mitts. I had Sunday to myself - just little Tink and me. After breakfast and shower and walkies she got a much needed bath and I treated myself to a much needed manicure and pedicure. I was hoping to take Omar out for a goodbye dinner, since he's leaving at the crack of dawn Wednesday but he didn't show up until nearly 10 so I think we're going to have to do it tonight because I think he'll be spending Tuesday night on the boat. I finished up the second green mitt and started on the first of the last pair of these mitts I'm making this year. I think I can get them done by Wednesday night. I hope. I am then going to make myself get the sleeves done on the Ogee Tunic before I forget everything about it and maybe even start the front.

It might snow on Wednesday. It's going to be cold this week anyway. ick

Doggie sitting

Oh I love having Shadow around. It keeps Tink occupied and they're so much fun to watch when they are romping and playing. But, since Shadow has a tummy upset and is on a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice and since whatever one of them is eating the other one must have the same, Tink also got a dinner of chicken and rice. Shadow was fine and Tink had a growling, gurgling stomach for a good portion of the night. Poor little thing. And it was entirely my fault. I should have just given her the regular stuff and stood there to make sure Shadow ate her own and not Tink's. But I didn't and I paid for it. Oh well, at least I'm not doing brain surgery today and it's Friday after all. I'm sleepin' in tomorrow!!

I am flogging myself over agreeing to make more mitts so I am going to try to keep the complaining to a minimum. I have so many projects on the needles that I am keen to finish and wear, for cryin' out loud! Plus I really need to make another felted basket for carrying around WIPs. I have lots of little wicker baskets for keeping them separated at home but they're not conducive to travel.

Fingers crossed for the Seahawks playoff game Saturday night. They're playing the Cowboys. Totally depends on which team(s) come to play.

The good thing about company

My 23 year old nephew has been staying with me since Christmas. He'll be leaving next week Wednesday or Thursday for Alaska. He's fun to have around in small doses -- a few weeks works out great. I get to cook all of those guilty pleasures. For example, last night we had tacos for dinner. I can't even remember the last time I had tacos but they were tasty, if a bit salty. Whatever I cook he loves, of course, since HE didn't have to make it nor buy it nor clean it up. I made turkey and dumplings with the leftover Christmas turkey. Oh yeah. Good? yup. Would I have made it had I been alone? Not on your life. And I have a pal to watch football with. Although he's been working gawd awful hours -- 5 am to 4 pm so he's asleep by 9.

Not much to report knitting-wise. I tried to cast on two mitts to do in the round on two needles. I know I have done it before but couldn't for the life of me get it right. I finally got on Knitty and downloaded some pictures. I'm taking dad to the doctor so I'm going to get it done while I'm waiting for him. I am making MORE mitts for friends. I know I know I said I wasn't going to do any more but I'm a sucker for a compliment. Anyway I am thinking if I can get them going two at a time it shouldn't be as painful.

Just a leeeetle bit sore

Well what did I expect, going back to the gym after a month off! Oh and it was an ugly day yesterday to boot. The walk to the gym from my office is just about a mile and it was pouring rain and there were puddles the size of ponds on the Burke Gilman Trail so my feet were soaked. But it felt good working out and I'm not that sore -- just feel it a bit in my chest and shoulders. Today I will be running for the first time in ... oh gosh more like 4 or 5 weeks. Shame on me! I'll take it slow. I've got some new music on my iPod to look forward to. I got a Beatles CD for Christmas and I also downloaded K T Tunstall's latest from iTunes. I love new music!

I did a few more rounds on the TDR turtleneck. I think, at the rate I'm going through that yarn, that I'd better stop the body for now and do the sleeves. I don't want a cropped sweater but I don't want to run out of yarn half way through the second sleeve either, so doing the sleeves before the rest of the body just makes sense. Then I can make the body as long as I can until I run out of yarn. Genius!

No rest for the wicked

Or even the mildly naughty. I'm back at work after two weeks and two days. It does seem longer than that. It's very dark today and windy. It is the first time I've been on my bike for nearly three weeks and I almost got blown over! I'll be glad to get to the gym today since it's been an even longer time for that. And Wednesday I can run again -- and I think it's been since the day I left for London that I've run!! I've got the full Christmas pudge going on. Too little exercise and too much food and drink. It can't be as bad as I feel it is because my doctor just shrugged when I complained about being fat and said, "Oh, it'll go away as soon as you get back to working out". Men have noooooo idea, do they? They can just decide to lose a few pounds and *bang*, it's off. It's a little harder for women for some reason. It will take at least a month but oh well, what else do I have to do? I'm going to sign up for a race on February 11, the Seattle Valentine's Day Dash . That gives me six weeks to get back into shape and ready for the race. This one is going to be fun - no hills!!

I got the sleeves of the TDR turtleneck on holders yesterday and did a few rounds on the body while watching two of the BEST college football games I've seen in a long time. First the Rose Bowl, which I had recorded on my DVR while getting my house back in order and then later the Fiesta Bowl. I miss Keith Jackson but otherwise, just stellar bowl games. I've got to rant a teensie bit about the yarn I'm using. Does anybody else think that Debbie Bliss yarns are overrated? I'm using Merino Chunky, which is a superwash wool. Yes, it's soft. Yes, it's chushy. But it's put up in 50 meter skeins!!! It seems like every other round I'm starting another ball! Plus, at least a third of the balls I've used so far have knots. Maybe it's my bad luck but for that kind of money and that length of skein ... don't you think we could do without the knots at least? And since it's superwash you can't spit graft so it's weaving. I've gotten pretty good about stopping every once in a while and weaving in a few (hundred) ends so that at the end of the project it won't be quite so daunting. Well .... anyway ... rant off.

Happy New Year!

Yesterday was a very busy day but I felt it was fitting to work my little tail off and get this chapter over and done with. Then I can start clean and fresh on this January 1. My nephew and I managed to get my dad and all of his stuff moved in two trips. We were done by about 3 and neither one of us had eaten so I took him out for a nice lunch. We chose a Mexican/Cuban restaurant nearby and it was very good.

My New Year's Eve was quiet even by my standards. I watched the Seahawks game I had recorded and knit on my turtleneck. I was pretty tired from all of the work during the day but resisted turning in at 8 pm .... I watched a movie, knit some more and then did a little reading. I feel like the most boring person on the planet but ... but on the other hand I have been under a lot of stress so I'm going to cut myself some slack. I do have lots and lots of things to get done today. And I find pleasure in getting my house back in shape after the holidays. I'll take the tree down and put everything away and move my furniture back in place and it'll be like it never happened.

I read somewhere that iTunes was very slow after Christmas. Almost at a standstill with the traffic from all the new iPod owners. It seems to be doing okay today. I got a Beatles CD for Christmas and I'm putting that on my iPod and I think I just might buy an album today as well. It's amazing that I get sick of all of the songs I've got on there. Just goes to show that I need a bigger one, huh?