It was a pub night ....

Yeah .. kind of a spur of the moment pub night because some old colleagues were in town for a meeting. Just four of us, but we had a great time! I didn't get to sleep until around 1, so getting up this morning was a challenge. I made it, even biked in. I'm just a little sleepy. Then I had to sit through 3 more hours of meeting with nothing but a cup of coffee and half a scone in my stomach. There was lots of talk last night about what to eat and where to eat but when push came to shove we just ended up ordering more bar snackies, which didn't really appeal to me. Therefore I woke up starving! So again, no knitting. Much chattering and drinking of beer. It was hot again yesterday so it was quite tasty.

And it's a hot and lovely day again! I'm going to skip out early and enjoy the sunshine (and maybe catch a nap). I really want to finish up that one front piece of the Airy Wrap-around so maybe I'll watch a movie tonight and do that. I sure as heck don't feel like going out.

What a painful mistake

Yesterday was, indeed, record high temperatures. It hit 87 degrees. Since I had accompanied a friend to her infusion appointment there was no bike riding so I just thought I'd have her drop me at the office and then I'd walk home after work. To that end I wore low(ish) heeled slip on shoes which were very comfortable and also cute and no stockings, because it was hot. Things are really busy around here this week -- finals, meetings and the guy I'm attending the geek meeting with in late June was also around starting to get stuff together for our little show and tell. Anyway I finally headed out around 4:45 to walk the 3 miles home. Oh it was gorgeous! Just a little breeze so it wasn't stifling hot. I had my iPod and I was just walking along, enjoying the scenery and the music. I did have the foresight to put a couple of band-aids in my purse just in case my shoes might rub a spot on my feet. The walk from my new office to the top of the campus is a mile, maybe a touch more. And sure enough, about that time I needed to stop and put a little band-aid on the top of my foot but it wasn't bad. In fact I was doing just fine until maybe the end of mile 2. That's when I noticed that the balls of both of my feet were feeling a little odd. And by the time I hit 65th, where the 3rd Place Books is I was definitely in pain. I started taking my shoes off at this point and walking in the grass parking strips whenever I could. I've rarely been so very very happy to see my own front gate. Yes - blisters on the bottoms of both my feet! I could barely hobble the rest of the night. Lesson learned: Never walk any distance in bare feet in any kind of heels!! And oh yes, there were running shoes in my office I could have put on. Don't think that thought didn't cross my mind about a million times.

And hobble around I did, because when I got home my new plants were in several different states of heat exhaustion. My rhodies were drooping and they looked the worst so I started with them. I had purchased a flat hose with holes in it which is much more efficient for watering the beds than the back and forth model I had for the lawn. They perked right up and this morning look like before. I also had to get the window fan from the basement and put it in my bedroom. Since it was the first very hot day it wasn't that bad in there, but I do enjoy having the fan and now I don't have to worry about it.

When I finally settled down after all my chores and paper reading and dinner I thought I'd finish up that first front of the Airy Wrap-around and I almost got there. I have about 5 rows to go. But Tink was wanting to play and it was almost time to go to bed anyway so I left it for tonight. I hope I can get the second side done more quickly. Now that I know how many eyelet repeats to do I won't be stopping all the time to measure. I must say I love the detail in this pattern. It really doesn't come through in the pictures in the book and, as someone else observed, when you do have the ties wrapped around you the cable work on the lower back is mostly covered up. But YOU know it's there. I wish I had it today. It's cooler today and it would be perfect with what I'm wearing. Instead I'm using my Kureyon Flower Power shrug. I sure have gotten a lot of use out of that.

I have to proctor an exam this morning - only 45 minutes of it, which is pretty sweet. And a late meeting at 3:30, which is going to throw my whole evening off! Work - I hate when it cuts into my social time, don't you? I am meeting some people at 6 and I don't know when I'm going to have time to walk Tink. Well, I won't is the thing. Maybe I can go home at lunchtime and let her out for a while ..... I probably should do that.

And speaking of things I probably should do - got to start thinking about my June gift for my secret pal!

Hot hot hot!

Yes ... it's hot today! I was reading that we may set a new record, it's going to be that hot. And then, in the same article, it was saying that they are expecting a cooler than normal June. Now June around here is usually not the best month anyway. It's usually pretty rainy and stays that way until after the 4th of July, when it starts getting nice. Typically. So today we'll really be able to tell if the air conditioning in my little temporary office is going to cut it or not. So far I'm comfortable but it's not even noon yet. Plenty of day left.

Tink and I took advantage of the nice weather yesterday after work and walked down to the Ravenna Ale House for a Stella. I had a good book to read and Tink is always such a good dog when we're out. It was very pleasant. And then it was cool enough to water the flowers. I got some plant food and a nifty spray attachment. I'm waiting until the purple Clematis blossoms open up a bit more before I post more flower pictures.

There was no knitting last night - I read and ate pizza. I did get some good work done on the fronts of the Scoop De Jour this morning while I was at the infusion place with my friend. Only about 1 1/2 inches to go of ribbing. And this time I won't overshoot!

The mystery of the 4 am bird

I'm sure I've complained plenty about the birds in the morning. Once the weather is warm enough to have my window open in the bedroom the days are lengthening and the birds are starting to welcome the day earlier and earlier. Now it's more or less 4 am when the singing begins. Since yesterday was a holiday I wasn't all that disturbed, knowing I didn't have to get up at any particular time, so I listened. I have been curious where that little bugger is sitting because it sounds so close! There aren't any trees outside my bedroom window and I never see birds perched on the fence for more than a few seconds. I listened as the bird's song got more and more complicated and intricate - just one bird. Where are his birdie buddies? Enjoying the concert? I just ... well, maybe I should Google it and find out what the heck is going on because it's just odd to me that I can't hear any other birds. I can hear multiple birds later in the day, but in that early early morning serenade it's a solo performance. Aaaanyway, I was mostly wondering where it was because it sounds as if he's sitting on my windowsill! I figured it out later in the day when I was out fiddling around in my garden. I noticed before that my Rose of Sharon shrub in the corner was a bit yellow and I was concerned about it. I took a close look to see if the buds were withering or more leaves were turning color and that's when I spotted it - bird poo! I looked up and there's a wire. That's where that little singing devil is in the wee hours - so it is practically on my windowsill!

All in all not a bad long weekend, although I might have wished for a little more social activity. Friday was a quiet evening at home, practicing for my Saturday rehearsal. Saturday I got the lawn mowed, having read in the paper that rain was likely for Sunday. I don't DARE miss mowing that grass. As it is, after 6 or 7 days I can barely push the mower through it. Saturday evening's rehearsal was good. I went out afterwards to my local pub but it was dead! There were so many things going on this weekend - the Folklife Festival and Sasquatch just to name two. So it was one pint and home. I wanted to do some gardening on Sunday but the day turned out to be SUPER crappy! Pouring rain and in the 50s. Yuk. It was a knitting day after slogging around the garden store. I was trying to find a replacement head for my Weedwhaker, thought I had purchased the correct thing but turned out I hadn't. I went back to the store on Monday, which was a lovely day, and again purchased the wrong thing! So no edging. But there was some weed pulling. My back garden is just out of control. I think I'm going to have to get some professional help. It's too daunting a task for me. I got some done. I'll just keep chipping away at it.

Knitting-wise I finished up the back of the cardigan and got a start on the ribbing for the fronts. Knitting a sweater in pieces rather than top-down just seems so complicated! But the yarn is yummy (Rowan Calmer) and it's going to be a very wearable garment so I keep at it. Also worked a bunch on the first of two looooong front pieces for the Airy Wrap-Around. Each front piece is more than 50 inches long ... so it can wrap, of course. And it's not just plain knitting (thank goodness) but an eyelet pattern worked in a 12 row repeat to keep your interest. But still, regardless of the large needles it's slow going. It's going to be cute though.

Short and busy week - plus it's nice outside and warm! Tomorrow it's supposed to be downright hot! I've got to get back into my running routine. It's been over a week but my schedule has been so messed up. Hopefully I can get back on track this week. If not - next week for sure. Come to think of it, this week is going to be tough ... I won't get into work tomorrow until after 12 and Thursday and Friday are meetings .... oh well, I'll work it out.

La la la ....

Oh yeah, it's going to be HOT today. And so far they haven't turned the air conditioning on in my little cubby hole so it's stuffy as well. No matter. I'm going to work here this morning and get everything done that absolutely needs to be done and then take off and play with the doggies and, perhaps, do a little knittin'.

I got some wonderful news yesterday with regards to my dad's care for the foreseeable future and I am relieved and haven't a care in the world! Oh yay me! It's astonishing how much better I sleep when I don't have any worries. Now my biggest worry is am I going to get all three of my new songs down before Saturday night as well as the back-ups for the other two. Small worries. Not real worries. Isn't that nice?

There wasn't much knitting done last night. I tried to do some on the front of the Air Wrap-around but I was listening to the back-ups on a song and got off by a stitch on the eyelet row so I put that down. Can't listen and count at the same time, for some reason. Next up was the back of the Scoop de Jour cardigan but again I was trying to watch a show I had recorded and I am at the point where I bind off for the shoulders and work the two halves separately so there's counting to be done and so I'm going to have to dedicate some quiet time to get that finished so I can start up on the other parts. I think this time for a change I'm going to do the front pieces together the way I do the sleeves. Usually when I'm doing a pieced garment I do the sleeves first, together, then the back and then the fronts. This time I started with the back - just a little change up. With a long circular I can easily do both fronts at the same time. They're really not any bigger than the sleeves, odd as that may sound.

Fingers crossed for a nice weekend so I can get some gardening done!

Oh what a gorgeous day!

It is just beautiful outside today. Not too hot, although tomorrow it's supposed to get nearly 80. Just in time for the holiday weekend! Let's hope it stays nice and that the forecast is off. My computer weather forecast says it should rain on Saturday but still be warm. It would be nice to just have a warm and dry weekend for a change.

My June is shaping up nicely. I have decided to go down to California for a weekend to attend a big major birthday bash for a friend. His wife is going crazy - it's like it's a wedding or something! So it'll definitely be a wonderful party and I haven't been down there for a whole year. I can't remember going a year without at least two visits in a long long time. I'm hoping to extend the weekend on one end or the other - hopefully staying over Monday because we will be out late on Saturday and I don't expect I'll feel much like hurrying to the airport Sunday. And as an extra added bonus I will finally be meeting my sister's boyfriend. Although we won't be getting off to the best of starts because she will be taking me to the party rather than him. And then when I come back I'll be at work for a day and then off to the party capital of the world, Salt Lake City, Utah for a meeting. At the very least it'll be wonderful scenery and usually these meetings are quite interesting, in a computer-geek way.

Tink and Jasmine were good doggies last night as I sat and watched "Lost" for (oh this sounds sooooo bad) 3 hours! There was an hour pre-show retrospective thingie and then the two hour finale. We took a little break (thank goodness for the DVR) and went outside for some fun doggie romping and then they just settled down. I didn't get much knitting done. I frogged the portion I needed to of the Scoop de Jour and got the armholes finished and thought I'd better stop because the directions were getting complicated and I was otherwise occupied.

Totally odd week

I am so wacky this week .... kept feeling like Friday to me all morning! I have a friend doing a non-cancer chemotherapy, so I was moral support this morning and I'm working from home this afternoon. And when I work from home it makes me realize how desperately I need to invest in some more RAM for this machine. It is sssssslow when I'm using my web site program. Quite frustrating. I can get the work done but it's as if I'm on dial-up or something. A bonus now that my garden is cleaned up -- I can open the curtains here in my office and look out to flowers. Nice.

I was watching a movie last night and working on the back of my Scoop de Jour. I measured before I went down and figured I had about 8 more rows to go before I started my armhole decreases. Imagine then my surprise when I measured the back and found that I had overshot it by one whole inch!! That's not something one can ignore, so I started picking up stitches so I could rip it back. I wasn't doing well - it's not something you can do with half an eye on the TV and with your work in your lap, so I put it down and that will be my chore this evening before "Lost" finale starts. I took the Airy Wrap to chemo to work on, but there was much too much chatting going on to concentrate on it. It goes quickly though.

Tink and I are hosting Jasmine for the long weekend. We got her today and we'll have her until Monday evening. Let's keep our fingers crossed for good weather the rest of the week. I am hoping to also get some gardening done since I'll have Sunday AND Monday. Saturday I'll have to practice for rehearsal ... since I haven't even downloaded the lyrics for those 3 new songs yet, let along started learning them.

A resting day

The sore throat turned out to be a real sore throat and not just too much singing. Swollen glands, headache .... you know. I gave myself a break today and just stayed in bed. I actually slept until nearly noon! It's been pleasant outside so Tink has been happy laying in the sun and barking at the construction workers across the street (my neighbors have started adding a master suite to their house - a new floor) and the odd dog or jogger. I finished the sleeve of the Airy Wrap-around and picked up the stitches for the right front. I don't know that the yarn fuzz is doing anything to help my headache but I don't feel like reading. What I wouldn't give to be on a nice warm beach, listening to the waves. My friends Steve and Ginny are in Hawaii and every evening at cocktail hour Steve sends me a picture of his current umbrella cocktail, blue skies in the background. I can almost hear that cheesy Hawaiian music.

I had such weird fever dreams last night. The one I can remember best involved being a house guest at Arnold Schwarzenegger's beach house. I kept making fun of his accent(!) ... couldn't stop myself. And cozied up to Maria, asking her if she baked much. Where does this stuff come from??

I have three new songs to learn for Saturday and backups for another two but I don't feel much like doing that either. I was hoping to be feeling much better by now but here it is nearly 5 pm and I'm still dragging. I've got lots of stuff to do tomorrow and a meeting with the chairman on Thursday so I'd better get it together, right?

I was tagged AND had a fun weekend

First time this has happened to me. A meme tag. I'll do the tag first, then the weekend update, such as it is.
-----------------------------

I have been tagged by Baa Bonny Belle!
Here are the rules:
Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.
Here goes...

1. I have never watched "The Sound of Music."
2. I can't swim.
3. I adore peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches.
4. When I was a little girl I begged my parents to change my name to Kathy.
5. I still have my senior prom dress .... AND my junior prom dress.
6. I collect heart shaped things .... boxes mostly, but I'm hoping to one day add a diamond. ;-)
7. I only wear Chanel No. 5 perfume.
   

Now, time to tag...

Nonnahs
Sylvie
Karen
Tammy
Kerry
Nic
Shar
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Okay ... now for the weekend update. Friday evening I started getting my house back in order. I tidied up the downstairs mostly because that is where my nephew was staying. I got a good start on the "Scoop de Jour" cardigan (pattern thanks to my Secret Pal). I'm using Rowan Calmer in an icy blue - I guess I'd call it aqua maybe? It was an early night and therefore I woke up super early Saturday. The weather report was for partly cloudy with showers and it was windy outside. I knew I had to get the lawn mowed at least and I read in the paper that if one was planning on doing outside chores then Saturday was the day to do it. It was also the weekend for the University District Street Fair and I wanted to take a walk over to people watch but it was rather chilly and very windy so Tink and I just walked down to the bookstore and I had a coffee and muffin and Tinkie got loved up by everybody coming in and going out of the bookstore! I did something I haven't done for a long time .... I just laid on the couch and read for hours. No knitting. No housework. Just reading and it was lovely, although the book had a very sad ending. But what a nice way to spend the afternoon. I did, in fact, also get the lawn done and not a minute too soon. Of course it started raining in earnest around 3:30 so I was very smug about getting my grass mowed.

Sunday it poured. I mean POURED rain all day, which was fine. I only had a couple errands to run and then spent a couple hours working on my songs for the band rehearsal Sunday night. After a three ... no four week break(!) it was fantastic to get back to work and we had a GGRRRREAT rehearsal! I have gotten a lot of my range back and felt more confident. It has been so long and I truly didn't know if I had it in me still to belt it out. I sure hate rehearsing on a Sunday night because by the time I could get to sleep it was after midnight. Next week we're doing it on Saturday night so it won't be any big deal. I have a terrible sore throat this morning. I don't know if it's from singing so hard or allergies or what. I was awfully cold last night. Well ... I guess we'll see. Fingers crossed it's just over use and not a virus.

Taking one for the team

I got up extra early today -- got into the office before 8. Both of the women who occupy the "main office" (such as it is, since we are all scattered for the remodel) are out today so the Administrator was asking for volunteers to sit in the office for 1 1/2 hours at a time so packages could be delivered, people would have access to the mailboxes, etc. Since I have to go out to see my Dad and take my nephew to the airport I figured I'd volunteer for the first shift so I could take off for most of the rest of the day sans guilt. So ... here I sit in a fishbowl. Only one more hour to go and the coffee is nearby and very good.

I drove in, of course, since I am rushed and have a party this afternoon so I don't want to be all sweaty and icky. Anyway, as I was walking to the building from the garage I noticed a man on a bicycle pedaling with the middle of his foot! Why oh why do people do that??? I see people using their heels as well! It's just plain wrong.

1. It looks stupid
2. It's totally inefficient
3. It looks really stupid!!!

I finished up the Noro bag and felted it Wednesday night. It only shrunk 2 inches but it's a perfect size for projects. Here are before and after photos. I haven't cleaned up the fuzz yet but you can get an idea.
This is prefelted (obviously).

And this is felted. I will carry this. But oh heavens, I just couldn't WEAR it! Perfect colors for a bag though.

My garden in May

What I like about spring

It's unpredictable. Yesterday it was nearly 80 degrees. Today .... about 20 degrees cooler. I don't mind. It lets us ease into summer.

And speaking of ease -- that's what I took yesterday. I felt a strong need for a "Shelley" day and so I took one. I slept. I wrapped and sent my Secret Pal's gift. I did one thing for work. Otherwise it was all about enjoying the sunny day and not worrying about anything or anybody. I did a little knitting on the soon to be felted bag. I'm almost done with it and if I had stayed up late I could have finished the knitting but the fun part is putting it in the washing machine so I figured I might as well go to bed and read and finish the knitting part of it during Wednesday noon knitting and felt it this evening. It looks like it's going to be a useful sized bag. If it turns out nice I think I'll put it on my pattern page. I haven't put anything up there for ages and ages.

I'm trying to decide about vacation. My sister reminded me that it has been a whole year since our cruise! I have spent all of my vacation time in the last year (with the exception of that oh-too-short-but-awesome week in London & Paris) at home doing decidedly NON-vacation type things. I have some friends who live in Paris and every year they rent a gite (a country house) in either the Loire Valley or Normandy for the week of October 27 to November 4. They've invited me again this year to join them but it's right in the middle of autumn quarter. I would so love to go and I have until the end of July to let them know, but it seems pretty unlikely. I'll have to take a hard look at the class schedules and see if it's even possible. I am not at all keen on the professor I work with at the end of Autumn quarter so I wouldn't mind too much disappointing him, it's just the mess that I would have to return to .... well no sense borrowing trouble. I will for sure look into it. But that's a LOOOONG way away and I need to be looking for a break a little earlier than October or November. Well at least there's a 3 day weekend coming up at the end of the month. Looking on the bright side.

The best laid plans ....

Yes yes I know I said I'd have close up pictures of the growing garden but it just didn't happen. I had a crazy weekend. Friday afternoon I had a couple of appointments and by the time I got home it was nearly 7 pm and I was hungry and exhausted. I just made a simple dinner for my nephew and myself and watched basketball with him as I started frogging that Noro sweater.

Saturday I was determined to use the weed whacker to edge my lawn and garden before I mowed it. I had to run out to visit my dad, ran a few (million?) errands, but then got home and got to work. Oh, but could I get that edger to work?? What do you think? I remembered the guy I hired last summer using it and him not being content with the line on the spool and winding a larger one on the spool. I thought that might be the problem so I found other stuff AND dug out the directions and rewound the spool with smaller, recommended sized line. But it still wouldn't feed. I think I'm not installing the spool correctly. I tried and tried and TRIED but the written directions didn't speak to me - I couldn't get it. I finally gave up and put it away with the intention of going to the hardware store to purchase a pre-wound spool and get some hands-on assistance on Sunday. So I just mowed the front AND back and watered and that was enough.

I had big plans for Sunday. I was going to get up early and do some work in the back jungle before heading over to my little nephew's for a Mother's Day brunch, then hardware store for an edger tutorial ....HAD big plans. What really happened was that I had insomnia Saturday night, finally got to sleep at 4 am Sunday morning and didn't wake up until 11:30 Sunday morning! Because I had gotten up in the middle of the night Tink got an extra piddle and so she just slept along with me! I was due for my brunch at 11:30 so .... well I was only 45 minutes late. Quick trip out to see Dad for a few minutes and it was nearly 3:30 by the time I got back home. And cloudy to boot. So I said the heck with taking pictures and, having finished frogging the sweater, I started work on a felted bag and just relaxed. My nephew came home to watch to the basketball game (oh how I hate basketball -- the playoffs go on for ever!!) and I made a nice dinner and that was it. I did have a great night's sleep for a change.

Now let me make just a small comment about musicians. Perhaps it could even be called a rant .... No matter if they're 15 or 50, musicians are by and large flakes. I was SO looking forward to rehearsing this weekend. It's been 3 weekends that I haven't been able to get out there because my sister was in town and/or they (the guys) were working on their "guy" songs On their own time they're supposed to be learning the "girl" songs. The bass player's wife had been out of town for a week or more in China, and he was the one that needed the most work on those songs. But he admitted to the leader on Friday that he hadn't even worked on them once all week, so a Friday rehearsal was out of the question, Saturday the leader had plans that he had already canceled once before AND the bass player couldn't come to rehearsal on Sunday after all because his wife was coming back to town. So no rehearsal this weekend. Ah well, at least we don't have an imminent gig.

It's going to be nice for the next couple of days - in the 70s. So I brought shorts to run it. That'll be the first time this year. I felt a bit out of place last week when I was the only person I saw running in long pants.

I'm working on my second package for my secret pal. I am doing a red theme and got something really gorgeous in the mail for her Saturday. I'd better pack this stuff up before I change my mind!!

It worked!!

I stuck something in the ground, watered it and *presto* ... flowers!! Actually .... Kelli put it in the ground but the reason I'm so excited is that we bought two rhodies that were just full of buds but looking a bit stressed. They were large and the price was right so we took a chance and yesterday evening as I was watering I noticed that they both are starting to bloom! I'm going to take my fancy camera out this weekend and take some close ups of the flowers. The pictures I posted of the whole yard really aren't very pretty because you can't see the flowers. The Columbine are just so gorgeous! And the red red crimson red carpet roses .... well hopefully we'll be getting some good weather this weekend and I can practice with my camera taking close nature shots. I haven't even scratched the surface as far as that camera is concerned!

I visited my LYS yesterday for their Mother's Day sale. All regular priced yarns are 20% off and then there are clearance boxes. I was just intending to get the Koigu KPPPM for the trim on the Tahoe cardigan and the Rowen 4 ply for the Isabella tank but then I couldn't resist two skeins of sock yarn that I had meant to purchase before and they were out (must have had more in the back) .... really cute combo of self-patterning in purples and pinks that I loved. And .... I couldn't pass up 8 skeins of a Bouton d'Or linen blend in (what else) a green-y golden color. It would be perfect for a little cardigan or shrug. I'd rather have a cardigan but I don't know if 800 yards is going to be enough. Because of the fabulous drape this is going to have I thought some belled sleeves would be nice. This is so lovely that the pattern needs to be simple to show off the yarn so what I'll probably do is just wing it and do a raglan deep V cardigan, stop the body when the raglan is complete and do the sleeves like I want them, then finish the body making it as long as it'll go with the yarn. That's how I did that TDR turtleneck (of course I won't make the same mistake of the HUGE armholes). It's more important that the sleeves are the way I want them. It doesn't really matter how long the body of the cardigan is. So .... one more project to my already too long list.

And I have decided to dismantle the raglan and cabled Noro Kureyon sweater I made last autumn. Here's the deal --- it's UGLY. It's toooooo much. The sweater itself, the design, is nice and it fits well. But every time I even think of wearing this sweater and I put it on ... I take it right off. This is not the case with the striped scarf I made from Kureyon nor the vest that I just finished and I have figured out why. It's alternating two different colorways that makes it wearable and not so circus-y. (I'll take pictures of that finished vest this weekend too.) The alternating every two rows makes it colorful but because there are always neutral colors in the skeins it somehow tones it down into a garment that is interesting, not scary. You can see that from the back of the vest here - there are bright colors but it's muted and toned down by the neutral other stripes that show up. So I'm going to frog this whole thing and make a felted bag or two out of it. Then at least I would be getting some use from it, rather than shuddering every time I look at it!

Things are calming down

I am completely moved into my office and even have laminated a sign for my door. Not the last time but the time before I was in Paris I had purchased some cards with old photographs of the city and one of them is just so beautiful that each time I would try to send it to someone I would stop and put it away. It's a picture of the Eiffel Tower with some sort of parade underneath and clouds of birds flying around. In reality probably not so nice - it's most likely a military parade from WWII and those are pigeons, but when have I let reality ruin things for me, eh? I like the picture and it's something nice in an otherwise dreary hallway. I am at the end of the hall and therefore can use the side entrance, which is handy. The only thing ...(and it's a huge thing in my opinion) .... is this odor that comes and goes. It's a very very nasty smell. I am going to get some incense to burn in my office although I suspect that someone in the building will complain because that's what people do, isn't it? Will I have the guts to ask them the question? "So, you'd rather smell that horrid smell than incense???" Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Yesterday I spent the morning being moral support for a friend having a (not for cancer) chemotherapy infusion. Thank goodness it went well - better than expected - and it gave us a couple of hours to chat, which we haven't had for a while due to the weirdness of our lives these past two weeks. One of the strange things is that my ex-husband (her brother) died very suddenly Saturday before last and we hadn't really had a chance yet to talk about that. Anyway .... I got some knitting done and we got some good chatting done and she had a positive experience. Life, while weird and capricious, isn't so bad.

I worked from home for what was left of the afternoon since my dad was having surgery and I wanted to be closer to the hospital in case I was needing to run over there. Things went well for him and I got some work done.

Last night I finished up the stripped vest and got all of the ends tucked in. I need to photograph it but it's lovely, it fits and I have a green linen shirt that exactly matches one of the greens in the colorway. And I mean exactly. Pretty smooth.

This lunchtime I'm going to walk up to the LYS, which is having it's annual sale. I need some Koigu KPPPM for the contrasting color for the Tahoe cardigan I'm making from Knitty. I got some gorgeous powder blue Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora on sale at Webs and it's going to make a great cardigan. Then I also will look at Rowan 4 ply Cotton to make the Isabella also from Knitty. Two patterns from the same issue .... well, I'm not totally 100% committed to Isabella. Size 3 needles, people. That is just one size bigger than my sock needle. Yikes.

I'm also going to order some yarn from Elann for my Secret Pal's next package. I've got a couple things at home for her but I need some more yarn and then, hopefully, I can get that off to her next week early.

Just a wee bit of knitting for a change

Oddly, since I have professed time and again how much I HATE gardening, I have been fussing around my little renewed garden quite a bit and keep looking closely at the plants for growth. In the pictures it looks so bare and sterile, even after all the hours of work, but I am going to try to hold off planting any more until things start growing. I have plans for a bit more clean up in the front and then I'll tackle the back jungle. I suspect that is going to cure me of my current gardening love affair. What I truly NEED to do, and soon(!), is "man up" and use the weed whacker. The lawn is growing so quickly and of course I can't mow close enough to the fence on the south side of the yard so I'm going to have to scary, noisy thing. Better do it this weekend before it gets too tall.

I did get the front of the Morestripes finished last weekend. Then I took out my "new" sewing machine for the first time and sewed the steek. And then, by golly, I cut it! I have a picture of that too but it's not very good because I was taking it on my own, one handed and the camera was a bit unsteady. It wasn't difficult. Two lines of sewing on each side made it easy to see where I should be cutting. I picked up the stitches and just last night finished up the 8 rows of ribbing around the V-neck. Now to do the armholes and I'll be done. It's going to be nice with a little white tank under. And I'm not scared of steeks anymore and in fact can't wait to do another one. This time I want to do the armholes as well.

Yesterday I got pretty much settled into my new office and today I need to finish unpacking (one crate left). It's not so bad, actually. I thank whomever was in charge of leaving the trees in front of my window. So I don't need to stare at the trucks and such (seems the crane is not going to be outside my window after all - whew!). There will be truck traffic and I can hear the street noise because I need to keep my window open since there is now ventilation to speak of. It's a much smaller office than I had before - only 9x9. Plenty of shelving and I'm at the end of a hallway so it's quiet except for the aforementioned street noise. Always got the iPod if I'm going crazy with it.

I had an AWESOME run yesterday lunchtime after a week off. The weather is absolutely gorgeous for a change so I think I'm going to run again today, just because it's so beautiful outside.

Garden Before and After

My sister is gone. We had a pretty nice week. There could have been a little more fun, but that's life. We did get the garden done and some excellent shopping. It was amazing how quickly we get the yard in shape. A couple of afternoons of hard work. It looks a little sterile and bare but once the plants get growing it's going to be lovely. Right now it looks clean which is a wonderful change.

This first picture is my sister, Kelli and the red arrow is pointing to the bed - not yet prepared for plants. Here's the after of that side. There is a purple clematis far left and far right a pink peony. In between are two types of lavender plants with some purple lobelia and some other white bedding plants.

Here is a before picture of the area by the front fence. It was a mess and there was nothing planted there. The garbage and recycle cans stood there and it was such an eyesore! I still don't know what I'm going to do with the yard waste can - probably keep it in the back. I've also moved the garbage and recycle bins to the side of the house where I used to keep them. Now it is all cleaned out. There is a white climbing hydrangea in the corner, two pink Rhodie's (which probably won't bloom this year) and two orangie/purple clematis plants. They should bloom this year but won't be spectacular until next year (I hope).

Along the north fence there were some iris plants that I could never get to bloom and bulbs and lots of weeds. Now there is a Rose of Sharon in the corner, pink Azaleas and scarlet carpet roses. This isn't a very good shot but when there are blooms I'll take more pictures.

Finally, in front of the windows I left the big pink rose bush, we scored my favorite rose (Angel Face) and also planted some purple and cream colored Columbine and white African daisy plants, which would spread out.

The grass is growing like crazy! I have to mow it every five days now or it gets too tall. I am grateful that it took so well.

So .... I did do a bit of knitting but I'll leave those pictures for later. It's 5:30 and I haven't even gotten to read the paper yet today. I have to go back to work tomorrow and it's going to be crazy. My stuff was moved into my new office but I will have to unpack.

How's this for bad luck

A house full of people and my dryer breaks AGAIN! I can't believe it but it's true. Last night I'm getting ready for my nephews to fly in and I'm doing laundry and the clothes were not getting dry. It took a while for the penny to drop since I just had it repaired about six months ago. Ah well. So as I write I'm printing out instructions on how to repair a dryer because I' m pretty sure that between my sister and my two nephews we can do it ourselves! Oh yeah!

No knitting except a bit on a sock. Too busy running back and forth from the hospital, etc. Got the garden done though and it's gorgeous! I little sparse but it'll fill in. I'll get pictures up this weekend I hope.

Time for a little vacation

There will only be sparse blog entries for the next week since my sister is coming in to visit for a week starting this evening. It's been a rough couple days. My dad got pneumonia so I've been spending a considerable amount of time dealing with that, visiting at the hospital, etc. Looks like things will be fine but my sister is coming up a few days earlier than planned. It'll be lovely having the company and help in the garden!

I'm getting close to finishing the front of the stripey vest. I will definitely take pictures before I cut the steek.

Now I must gather myself and get my house in order! I've been slacking off.

I just want to say ....

I think it's totally unfair that Europe is getting SUCH a nice spring and we're not. Well sure, it's nice for them --- and I guess I should be happy that people I know and love are enjoying a beeee-you-ti-full spring. But mostly I'm just envious. And wet. It's very difficult to keep an upbeat and positive attitude when you don't see the sun or blue skies for days on end. On the other hand, at least the plants and flowers are doing their bit regardless of the cloud cover so my back garden is doing its crazy jungle boogie. The dogwoods are in full bloom and the big azalea is just starting to bloom. Tomorrow is Emma's birthday and it always seems to bloom on her birthday or close to it. It's a big birthday for her .... and oh I wish I could be celebrating with you Em!! Luxembourg though .... I don't think I could make it there in time.

Last night was Pub Night (also known as Complain About Work Night). We met at the pub at the end of my street - not the Ale House but the 3rd Place Pub under the book store. I was sceptical when it opened last year that it was going to make it because the ambiance is so cold. But it has really taken off. They need to do something about the food though. We just had appetizers and snackie bits with our beer and wine but oh my goodness, my stomach is still not feeling right and it's not from the drink. Too greasy. It was a fun time. I didn't have much to complain about, as usual but I'm a good listener. And I got home in plenty of time to see "Lost". In fact, I got to watch the second half of the repeat episode which I like to do just to keep up to speed. That show is always so confusing.

I'm still working from the cafe. This morning somebody is setting up for some sort of trade show or something. I understand that starting tomorrow there is going to be an open house for school kids and so I think I'll just work from home tomorrow rather than try to get anything done in this echo chamber.

A close call

My bike route to work has changed a little bit since I am moved out of the H-wing. My parking space is now across Pacific Avenue and down on the street level. What that means is that I ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for a few more yards west to a bridge that takes me across the street and down to the street level via ramps. The B-G trail is a wonderful paved path that runs for literally miles and people use it to commute to the U of W and other work places, I jog on it as do many thousands of others. In a word, it's busy. We must use common sense and courtesy, especially in the busy morning hours when people are in a hurry and groggy to boot. It is also common for people to call out when passing - "On your left" or "On your right" to alert the bicyclist or pedestrian that you're coming by. All this to say that some jackass was tearing down the trail so fast today that as I was turning to cross the street via the bridge he rear-ended me! I was going slowly because I was getting ready to make a sharp turn and there was a jogger coming at me and I was trying to calculate her speed so I wouldn't make her slow down. This guy had to have been really screaming down the trail because I had looked behind me when I got on the trail and he was nowhere to be seen. Luckily I only slightly bruised my knee. Not enough to keep me from running or I would really be mad. Why would you try to pass someone on the right when they're going slowly, they're right in front of a bike rack AND a bridge so they're likely to be turning into one or the other? I think it's a pretty easy assumption to make that one is going to either be parking or crossing the bridge. But whatever. He's lucky I was in a good mood.

I see on my Yahoo weather that it's hot in Paris and Amsterdam and a friend just got back from London and said it was hot there as well! What the heck?! Usually spring in Paris is just like it is here in Seattle except for more thunder showers. I am just hoping that it'll be nice for Kelli's visit next week because knowing me it's going to be hard to get any real gardening done if the weather is bad. More likely it'll be shopping and sleeping late. Kelli is so tired of hearing me gripe about my lack of a social life that she says we're going out every night. We'll see.

Tuesday I finally finished the monster turtleneck. As I figured, it's practically tunic length but will be handy when I feel like I need camouflage in the winter. I started weaving the ends in last night but two phone calls derailed me and I will just do it in fits and starts. There are so many ends even though I had forgotten that I started weaving them in at the start.

I got a good start on the steek portion of the stripey vest last night. I makes more sense to me now that I can see the steek itself and the edge stitches. I was wondering how exactly I was going to pick up stitches but the pattern has you making a knit stitch before the steek on either side so there will be a nice place to pick up the stitches. I'm bringing it to "show and tell" with the knitting ladies at lunchtime today.

WIP

In this case it stands for Working In Public. I am set up in the Rotunda, which is a cafe/meeting space with wireless access. It's not so bad except now it's getting a bit noisy because it's coming up on lunchtime. I'll be going home to work in peace and quiet. It's kind of nice to sit here and say hi to people as they come by and accept their pity ... "Oh, poor you! No office and stuck in the Rotunda!". Truly the worst part of it is that the wireless connection sometimes cuts out causing my program to crash or grind to a halt. And right now the aroma of garlic and cheese ... I'm hungry!

I was fairly productive this weekend. Friday night I had a craving for sushi, so walked down to the local sushi place and ordered some to go, then Tink and I went to our little local for a drinkie while the food was being prepared. Nice. It was sunny outside, although not too warm. Saturday after errands and doggie walks I dug out a small flower bed and put down papers and compost. In the nick of time, I might add, as it started to rain just as I was pouring out the last of the compost. Then it was time for Tink's bath. Rather past time, actually. She was dirty! I used that nice soap my Secret Pal sent me and then I had to keep her inside for the rest of the evening because she has this naughty habit of going outside when she's newly clean and rolling in the dirt.

Sunday was going to be rehearsing with the band but there was miscommunication going on between the drummer, who usually gets the schedules together, and the leader. I got smart and called the leader and found out that the guys needed an evening to rehearse just their stuff, so he and I clarified the songs I am to learn for next week and I asked him what direction he wanted to take this band. He had asked me if there were some songs I would like to do and yes,there are .. so I put together a CD with about 12 songs NOT from the 80s, which seem to be where most of his song list comes from. So we'll be getting together this weekend and I've got to get serious and learn 3 more songs this week and solidify the 11 I'm already supposed to know.

I have two more rows of ribbing and then bind off on the TDR turtleneck. I also started the front of the Noro stripped vest. I was seriously considering trying to match up the striping pattern with the back, like Nonnahs would most likely do. It just seemed a touch too fussy so I skipped it. What I did do though was take out a beige-y bit of yarn so that I don't end up with too much brown. I kind of like to let Noro just do what it does but sometimes you end up with brown or beige or grey where it just doesn't work if you're using another colorway to make a stripe pattern. So just a teensie bit of fussing.

Secret Pal strikes again!

Another cute package from my secret pal came yesterday! Sorry for the bad photo but I was in a hurry this morning (well ... when am I NOT in a hurry in the morning?). This she calls the "Pampered Pal" package. Not too easy to see in this dark picture but there is a bottle of hair and body wash in the yummiest rose scent and a scented candle and matches from .... oh gosh I can't remember now ... something Goth. Anyway, really nice and very cute. The scent of the candle is Funeral Flowers! Also the box with a bow is some special oatmeal doggie soap. Saturday is bath day for Tink, so we'll definitely be using this. Thanks SO much, Secret Pal!

My office is looking awfully bare and by the end of the day will be all packed up. I never have had so much company during the workday as I have in the last couple of weeks when I've been the only person in this hallway. People stop by all day to make sure I'm not lonesome! Good heavens, when the place was full I'd go days and days without speaking to anyone face-to-face. Now? Can't get a moment's peace. Even the maintenance men stop by. Funny.

Only did a little knitting yesterday. I've got about 5 more rows of ribbing to do on that huge turtleneck and I can wash it and put it away. It's going to practically be tunic length which, when you think about it, is pretty cool because next fall it'll be right in fashion.

It's sunny and going to be in the 60s today. I hope it lingers over the weekend so I can do a little more yard work but I'm not counting on it.

There IS light at the end of the tunnel

Despite Tink's neediness last night, I worked and worked on that turtleneck and now I have two more rows to go before I can start the bottom ribbing! I tried it on after work last night, fully expecting to have at least two cable repeats to go. But, since I made the raglans so freakin' deep I was fooled by the length I had knit from underarm to bottom. Trying it on I saw that I only had to finish the final 11 row cable repeat and it would be plenty long enough. I mean PLENTY. What was I thinking??? I have no idea in the whole wide world why I made those raglans so deep. I know that I wanted a big sweater but this one ... holy cow, I'll be able to wear a sweatshirt underneath it if I want! I don't even know if I have a jacket that will fit over it, it's that big. Ah well .... it will be useful and by gosh, it's gorgeous if I do say so myself. I didn't mess up that cable one time! It's perfect. I will post pictures when I finish up with the ribbing. Maybe tonight but more likely the weekend.

I need to get serious today and pack up my office. The movers will be here first thing Monday morning. My desks will go in the hall. My books and software and computers and other odds and ends will be stored in the corner of some room or other and I will be using my laptop and floating around the campus and home for a week. Not so bad. The person in my office is moving out sooner than originally thought so when I get back from my little mini-vaca on May 7 I'll have a proper office again. Except .... I chose this particular "surge" space because it had a window that looked out onto a lawn in front of the Rotunda, a cafe of sorts. However, they have since dug up the lawn and are pouring cement so that a huge crane can be erected. This, unbeknownst to me, is to be the staging area for the earthquake retrofitting remodel of the H-wing of the building (which I am vacating). Oh joy. Can you imagine the noise? And dust? It's going to be brutal this summer. On the plus side, there is covered parking for my bike right outside the Annex door. This is a good thing.

I charged up my GPS and today, finally, I will be able to run with it and hopefully have it tracking the whole 30 minutes. I really do think it's going to help me get faster. I sure hope so.

Something else that bears looking into ...

the lilacs. My neighbors have a lilac tree that hangs over into my yard and I look forward every year to this time when it blooms and I can help myself to a bouquet or two .... or three. But this year there are hardly any blooms on it! I am so disappointed because the man I hired in the summer to help out in the back trimmed my old lilac so far that I don't think there are any blooms that I can reach. I know he didn't touch this one in front and I can't figure out why it didn't bloom. I am going to have to roam the alleys and get sneaky I guess, if I want some flowers. I plan on planting some new ones in my garden this year but it'll be a few years after that before I'll be able to enjoy them. Oh well .... lots of them around to look at but I guess there won't be any in my house to sniff.

I used my GPS thingie for my run yesterday and find that I get a great signal running west on the trail. Unfortunately I must have accidentally left it on the day before because there was no battery left. But tomorrow I'll be able to really see what it can do.

Last night I worked on the turtleneck. Boy, that's a lot of sweater in my lap! It's heavy. I guess I'm lucky that it's still rather chilly because it keeps me warm while I'm knitting on it. I am determined to finish that albatross up. I know for sure that if it gets warm I'll put it away and never pick it up until the fall, IF I do. And I don't want to waste all this nice yarn. I'm going to try it on tonight and see how many more repeats of the cable I need to do. I think I'm getting pretty close.

A cheery little morning ride

Well, it was! The sun was shining. It was nice to ride in the sunshine, although it was cold and windy. And that wind blew the clouds back in to cover the nice sun. Oh well. I realize that all my whining about the weather is stupid. It could be MUCH worse. I got a little note from my secret pal who lives in Chicago and she was saying she was hoping it wouldn't snow again. So yeah, we don't have it that bad here.

I'm going to run today after a week (or is it more?) off. I'm going to have to run west, which means I'll be running above Lake Union and the wind is always cold coming off the water. In the summertime, of course, it's most welcome. But this time of year .... biting. I sure hope my GPS thingie works going that direction. I'm going to be pretty upset if I find that I can't use it consistently from here!

I am procrastinating .... I really really REALLY need to start packing up my office and, more importantly, transferring files I need and use from my old PC to my new PC. The old PC will not be coming on the move and so I must make sure that I have everything I use and might possibly use from this computer. And that's the thing. The MIGHT use stuff. Oh sure, I could just move all of it over to my new computer but some of this stuff is junk and I'd like to do a little purging of useless files. And so I do everything BUT get to work looking at files. Time is running out and I don't want to be doing this on the weekend so ........ here I go.

A full weekend and a present from my SP10

First of all, thanks VERY much, Secret Pal, for the cute little gift I found in the mailbox Friday when I got home. There's a button, a magnet and two stitch counters. One of them says "knit" and the other "Secret Pal 10". What a clever package. Thanks so much! I took the exhortations to heart and knit Friday evening. (Big surprise).

I was determined to get some gardening done this weekend but Saturday it was raining almost all of the day and the grass didn't get to dry out. I let the doggies drag me around the neighborhood, finished up the back of my striped vest, finished my second sock I've been working on since I was visiting Arizona and cast on for another. Oh. And I worked on the TDR turtleneck while I watched movies. As you can see, the knitting frenzy continues.

Jasmine was picked up by her family Saturday evening and then it was just a one doggie house. As much as I adore having a second dog around I've pretty much decided against getting another dog. It's the dirt. One dog is bad enough but when there are two .... they don't just bring in twice the dirt, it must be about four times! Especially when it's damp outside and they get muddy paws.

Amazingly enough, the sun decided to have a visit on Sunday (quite appropriate) and I did the first mowing of the new lawn. It does look nice! I also made a trip to a garden store to pick up some more compost and just about swooned at all of the lovely plants and shrubs and trees .... I am SO glad my sister is going to come help me because I don't have a clue where to begin! I want it all.

The weekend ended with another fun rehearsal. Things were much better this time. It took me longer to get hoarse. And my range is expanded as well. It's just fun. But the time goes by so quickly and I need time to decompress when I get home so I didn't get to sleep until VERY late for me. I am groggy today. Time for another cup of tea!!

Are we tired of this yet?

I just can't quit harping about the weather, can I? It's just so .... so perverse! Last night when I let the dogs out it was beautiful! You could see the stars, just a few wispy clouds floating around. And now? Cloudy and dark and ugly and getting ready to rain. I just want to climb back in bed and pull the covers over my head.

I took a walk up to my LYS at lunchtime yesterday after sending off the bag o'Noro and bought six balls of Calmer in a lovely blue-y almost azure color. It will be absolutely perfect for the Chicknits Scoop de Jour cardigan. I positively will finish one of the 3 ... no 4(!) sweaters I have working now before I cast on for this. I was thinking last night - I don't know what is going on with this knitting frenzy I've been in for the past month or so. I have finished things -- the Ms Marigold and the Turtleneck Tube Vest, so that's not the problem. It's that I haven't done anything AT ALL but knit! I have periodicals stacking up. The only thing I've read lately has been my "Runner's World" and quite honestly I just skimmed it. I just got the latest issue of "Vanity Fair" and I haven't even unwrapped the last issue! Does this phenomena bare reflection or should I just go with the flow and figure I'll get back into reading and other things when the time is right? Maybe because everything else about my life is so messed up I can create some sort of order by knitting? Fiddling as Rome burns? I could create some sort of order by cleaning my house too but I don't do that! Well ... I'll think on it some more.

The thing about a brand new lawn

It grows. Quickly. I realized today that I'm going to have to actually mow the thing this weekend! It's going to be much easier to mow than the mess I had, with all the holes and weeds. And it's going to smell terrific. I need to get one of those little sod cutting tools though because the people who laid the sod forgot to cut around the water meter and I got a little notice on my doorknob a couple days ago from the meter reader saying that he pulled the sod back very carefully but I would have to cut it before he came again. Easy enough mistake to make. And there's one little stripe of sod that's not doing as well as the others. I suspect it's from the batch that the landscaper had to get at the last minute. The sod company shorted me 10 rolls of sod (what? They thought we wouldn't notice??) and so there are a few spots with a totally different look about them. It'll blend in eventually. Someone jogs on the parking strips on my street though and I'm afraid they're going to run a path into my new grass. That might be why that particular piece is not growing as quickly as the others. Hmmmm Maybe I should put a few little doggie bombs out there to discourage them.

I seem to have successfully fought off that little virus. It was "Lost" last night but I was just so tired I couldn't stay up for it. I went to bed very early and still didn't want to get up this morning. Of course that could have as much to do with my state of mind as with my state of corpus. My Achilles is all better and so I should be able to run tomorrow which always puts me in a better state of mind. I was hoping to have a reason to take a nice long walk up to the post office today. I sold the bag of Noro but the silly woman hasn't paid me yet. What's with these people?? It takes two second to get on Paypal and send a payment. If it's not raining I can take a walk anyway and check the GPS signal in the other direction that I usually run.

My sister has finally been able to get her work schedule sorted and she's coming up to visit for the first week of May. That'll give us plenty of time to work on the garden and goof off. She's also going to help me do a complete wardrobe purge. It's been a couple of years since I've done that and it's long overdue. It's just much more fun to have someone to do it with, and my sister is the best. She's always watching those shows ... you know .. "What Not to Wear" and things like that. She's ruthless! Now I just have to save up a little money for a trip to the outlet mall because I'm liable to be left with a couple pairs of jeans and skirt or two and not much else.

As for knitting news --- I worked a few rows on the TDR turtleneck and that's it. My goal is to finish something this weekend.

Crrrrazy morning

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Not that I hadn't had a pretty good sleep, I just didn't want to get up! I had double the doggie love, since I had picked up Jasmine last night while her family is in Mexico for spring break. Two dogs on the bed, even little ones, make for a warm sleeping environment and I ended up on the whole other side of that bed, trying to find a cool spot. I just don't understand how one little 6 pound dog and a 14 pound dog can put out so much heat but it's just astounding! So anyway, there I was hitting the snooze alarm until I just HAD to get up if I was going to get in before the student rush. I like to get across campus before the students are all rushing for their first class. And I was going to make it, too. But then the phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but since it was early in the morning I thought I'd better answer it. My friend H, the sister of Jasmine's owner, is house sitting while they are gone and she had locked herself out of the house, with the kettle on the stove, boiling. Luckily I was already dressed and just getting stuff ready to go, so I grabbed the extra house key and shot out of there. Traffic wasn't too bad, considering the time of morning and I was doing pretty well. I was about one mile from the house when the phone rang again. "You can turn around. I heard the smoke alarm going off and I had to break in. Thanks anyway!" Now that's a bad way to start the day, don't you think?

So I got back home and finished getting ready and took off. I missed the students because I was too late, which is fine with me. It's pretty cold this morning still. It looked nice but ..... oh I am SO SICK of this cold!!! The weather man predicts that it's going to warm up soon but according to my extended forecast on my desktop here it looks like rain and cool weather all through the weekend. Let's just consider this blank space a whole long rant on my state of mind regarding the weather and leave it at that. --------------------------------- --------------------------- ---------------- ----------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------

I finished up the second sleeve on the TDR turtleneck and now I've got six ball of yarn left for the rest of the body. Short yardage ball (Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky) but they should get it long enough so it's not a cropped top. Tonight is "Lost" so I will be up late and maybe get a good chunk of it done. I really want to put that one to bed. Although consider the weather I will be able to wear it anyway.

Missed Monday

I took yesterday off - I called in sick, actually. I slept almost all day. And couldn't wait to get into bed at 10 and slept the whole night. I'm feeling pretty good today, as one might expect. I used my running computer last Friday at lunchtime and was looking forward to trying it out again yesterday but it's better that I didn't. My Achilles was still sore Friday and it's just today that I notice that it's not hurting so it's better that I took yesterday off. The Forerunner was a little disappointing on the first go Friday. It was not getting a clear signal for the GPS satellite and therefore kept stopping and starting so it was only accurate for the time and not distance or lap time. Tomorrow I'll try changing my route and running west along the trail. There are more open spaces and hopefully the signal will be stronger. I also used it on my bike ride home and it worked better, so I am sure it's just that my original running route is too sheltered. I should be in good shape tomorrow for a really good run. No pain and lots of rest usually mean a good workout.

I finally watched "The Departed" last night. I had it from Netflix for about 3 weeks and hadn't been in the mood for it but my friend Mikie came by for dinner so we popped it in. Wow ... it is a pretty violent movie and you really have to pay attention because it's complicated! Partly the problem for me was that I kept getting Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio mixed up. Great ending though.

That wonderful warm weather on Friday is still such a lovely memory. It's now bloody cold and windy again! I must make a vow to plan a vacation to some warm and sunny spot next year so I don't get so deep into these crappy weather blues.

My Secret Pal package was sent on Saturday and she got it Monday! Wow, good work USPS, huh? I forgot to include a card in her package but she liked it, so that's what matters.

Busy and fun weekend

It was a GREAT weekend and even though I was busy having fun I also had time to knit. I received my package from the Knit Happens sale on Friday. There was something for my Secret Pal and so I managed to get her first package in the mail on Saturday. There was also six skeins of Noro Silk Garden for the Manystripes vest and so I couldn't help myself ... I started it. The pattern calls for a needle size 3 smaller than the recommended 8 .... so that's a 5. It makes a lovely dense fabric and Silk Garden is softer than Kureyon. It's going to be a very cute vest totally wearable with jeans. It will be my first steek project as well, now that I have a sewing machine. I intend to try Eunny Jang's Deep V Argyle Vest, which is done in the round. I just wanted to make sure I could actually DO a steek properly before I tried on something that intricate.

Friday night my friend Mike, vising from Arizona, came by and we went out to dinner at this cheesy Chinese place down the street. In the back there is an equally cheesy bar where we stopped after dinner because we heard music. Mike sat in and it was a wild evening.

Saturday was my first rehearsal with the new band. I was excited and nervous since it had been too many years to count since I'd been in front of live musicians. But, like riding a bicycle, once I was in front of the mic it was perfectly comfortable. Of course, my voice is a bit rusty but by the end of the evening I had expanded my range a bit and was getting hoarse to boot. The musicians are just a bunch of nerdy middle-aged men who have been playing since high school. They've got great equipment and a nifty little studio for rehearsing. They had chosen some songs for me to learn (or re-learn) but I get to pick out some of my own which I intend to do this week.

The weather was not too cooperative after that unbelievable Friday but Sunday after I took my nephew to the airport I managed to get some compost and newspapers down on the largest of the cleaned beds. Six bags of compost didn't go nearly as far as I had hoped but it's a start. The grass is really taking hold nicely.

I decided to sell off a bag of Kureyon in my stash that I had earmarked for a cardigan that I am never going to make. Might as well turn it into cash and then I will splurge and get some really nice yarn for the Chicknits cardigan that I want to make. Something good like Rowan Calmer or maybe one of the new bamboo or soy yarns. I want it to be nice becuase it's something I could really use a lot.

It's officially here

Spring! It's gorgeous outside! And warm!! I wore my fingers-free bike gloves on my ride in. And the air smelled soooooo wonderful. All the things blooming in the gardens along the way - not yet the type of thing that gets my allergies going. I will definitely have to work in the yard tomorrow but I won't mind. It'll be worth it. The grass is looking so nice EXCEPT for that spot where Tink dug a hole. I plugged it up with some sod but it's a different color -- doesn't look like it's taking. I think I'll have to be a little more scientific about it. There are still some pieces of sod laying around. I'm going to remove the little plug I put in there, spread some nice soil and cut a piece to fit and hope that it takes a little better than this interim fix.

My walk up to the LYS yesterday at lunchtime was fruitless. I did get to fondle some wonderful natural fibers and quite fell in love with the bamboo and soy and rayon. However, at $10 - $12 a short skein (76 yards??? Come on!!!) they were destined to stay on the shelf. Maybe for a tank top. OOoooo! Oh yeah, just what I need ... another project on the list. But really, that little tank from Knitty would be great in bamboo. Oh well.

My Forerunner 201 came yesterday. I had plans and so I didn't get to do anything but charge it up. I want to use it today at lunchtime and I am torn. My Achilles is still hurting a bit. Well I'll probably do what I did on Wednesday which is to run and if it hurts, stop. It's just not very satisfying.

No knitting last night. I was at my friend's house having dinner and girl talk and watching a movie. I will be able to finish up the sleeve on the turtleneck this weekend and maybe even the body. Oh, while I was getting my hair done I pulled my sock out of the bag and saw that I had dropped four stitches! Gaaaaahhh! I HATE that! Little teensie stitches. I didn't have a crochet hook with me so I just stuffed it back into the bag. I am usually so careful about pulling the work through the needles so it's not near the end. Don't know how it happened. At least it's on the cuff and won't show if I make a mess of picking up the stitches. I also received the new Vogue knitting book from Amazon. It's got articles on finishing and customizing and stuff. I also didn't get to do much more that a cursory flip through. Lots to look forward to this weekend including rehearsing!! Woohoooo

Buying yarn

I've been going back and forth about what to buy to make the green cropped leaf tie cardigan from "Fitted Knits". The recommended yarn is Cascade Indulgence, which goes for about $10 a skein and my size would use 7 skeins. But I don't like the green color they have! And since the top has ties that end with a leaf I really really want to make it in green, plus which I just love the color for spring. So I just bought the yarn on Elann - the Peruvian Highland in Peridot, which is exactly the color I want for this sweater. The sleeveless turtleneck I made with Elann's Peruvian Highland. It's a nice, plain yarn and the colors are terrific. How can you go wrong. Plus which -- bonus -- there's always some left over for making felted bags!

I am going to go up to my LYS this afternoon at lunchtime to check out yarn for the Chicknits cardigan pattern my Secret Pal sent to me. I really want a cotton blend but blended with what? I am not sure. And I'm going to do my darnest to get away from green. I'm thinking either a nice soft yellow or a light light lavender or periwinkle.

I had a terrible run yesterday at lunchtime. Somehow I have inflamed my Achilles tendon on my left leg and it is SO painful! I would run for about 5 minutes and then have to stop. I have iced it two nights in a row and right now it's not painful. But if it's sore at all tomorrow I'm going to lay off and see if I can totally get rid of the inflammation. I am expecting my super new GPS gadget and I am just so anxious to use it. I just don't want to hurt myself any further and not be able to run for a whole week! It makes me very crabby.

Looks like I'm not going to have any excuses for skipping yard work this weekend. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 76 degrees high and Saturday about 70. Even though it says showers I won't mind working outside if it's not freezing cold.

A funny surprise

Yesterday I was in the worst mood! The sun did finally come out in the afternoon and I was feeling a bit nicer. I got the sprinkler going on my lawn and took the dog for a nice walk. My nephew wanted pizza and that was fine with me - no cooking. So we were just chilling downstairs - I was working on my sleeve and he was doing what he does when he's on vacation, which is laying on my couch channel surfing. I got a text message from my friend Mike -- the one who lives in Arizona -- asking if I felt like going out for a drink. So I text messaged back -- Sure!. Of course, I really didn't want to go out ... I was exhausted from a hard day with a bad mood. So then he sends another message -- "Good. I'm on your front porch." I'm kind of dense, I still didn't get it. So I text back -- "Yeah, sure. Liar" and I get one more message back rather quickly ..."Champagne". Ah! Magic words. Up I went and sure enough there he was sitting on my porch. What a crazy guy. I was, unfortunately, too tired for champagne but didn't mind some conversation. He just wanted to get out of town so went to the airport on the spur of the moment and bought a ticket. He is making a record [They still call them "records" when they're in the studio. Isn't that funny?] and can't get along with his producer in Arizona so really came up to lay down some tracks that he hopes to be able to use (one at least) as a ghost track. But it's nice to get a visit and I'm sure we'll be able to spend a little more time before he heads back. I just wish I was down there! Nice and hot and sunny.

Actually wearing the stuff

We knit and knit and talk about it and buy yarn .... but it's all about wearing it and using it, actually. Today I'm wearing my new sleeveless turtleneck from "Fitted Knits" and I love it! It fits perfectly, looks great with this black pantsuit and I've already gotten a compliment. Perfect. Now if the rest of the day will follow as nicely.

It's sunny and very cold today. I heard on the radio coming in that it's supposed to warm up to nearly 70 by the weekend but I don't really believe it. In the paper last night I read that the record high for yesterday was 82 degrees in 1987. I sure could use some nice warm weather. At least today we've got sun, but I've still got the "enough with this crappy weather" blues. I'm jealous of my nephew -- he's flying back to SoCal Sunday. And my friend Ruth -- off to Mexico for a week on Friday. Maybe I'll just start wearing long underwear under everything and pretend it's hot outside.

I worked a little bit on the second sleeve for the TDR turtleneck. I'm not entirely sure I'll get to wear it this season but on well.

I was THAT close!!!

It seems to be a comedy of errors - getting together with my new band mates. We had it all set up for Saturday but then it got cancelled at the last minute because something came up for one of the guys. The guy I have been talking with asked if I was free on Sunday, I said sure and he said he'd get back to me. Sunday came and no word. My nephew and I went out to have a late lunch and do a little sport shopping when we got a call from my other nephew who had been stranded with car trouble and needed a little help. We went to pick him up and I had Omar drop me off at home so the guys could do the car thing and I wouldn't have to hang out in the cold. Of course, this is the time when the band guy decides to call to tell me it's on and I had to tell him that I had just given my nephew the car so I had no transportation. He was going to come pick me up but then decided that it wouldn't be a good idea because after we ran over some of my stuff the guys were going to want to work on other things and I'd be stuck with no way to get home. Soooooo .... now I've got the telephone number of another guy in the band -- the one who has the studio/rehearsal space. I think guy A is getting tired of trying to corral everyone and I'm going to call the other one and perhaps between the three of us we can get it straight! I was so disappointed!!!

I bought THE COOLEST thing on Amazon.com yesterday afternoon. I had been reading my latest issue of 'Runner's World' and was intrigued by an ad for a GPS device for recording your lap time and calories burned and all sorts of stuff. I am trying to improve my time and it's so difficult when I don't know exactly how far I'm going. Running on the track is a) boring and b) not always possible. And while I mostly run the same route when I'm running at lunchtime I still don't know exactly how far it is. I did some research on line and found the Garmin Forerunner 201 Wrist-Mounted GPS Navigator and Personal Training Device. Oh I just can't WAIT for it to arrive!

My new lawn is looking pretty good, although Tink dug a hole in it. I suspect the fertilizer under the sod was just too tempting. I have some bits and pieces of sod left over so I can patch it, but I was pretty upset!

I did plenty of knitting this weekend since the weather was not conducive to gardening. The package I picked up Friday was some yarn I had bought on eBay that I had hoped would work for the little green cropped cardigan from "Fitted Knits". Unfortunately it's more mohair-like (synthetic and angora mix) than I had hoped and it just wouldn't do for that particular sweater. It is, however, perfect for the airy wrap sweater so I started it Friday and did more work on Saturday. It's done on size 11 needles so it really goes quickly. In fact, I even had to rip out about four or five inches of work because of a mistake I couldn't live with and I still finished the whole body and am almost done with one sleeve. I imagine the true test for this garment is going to be the two 44" fronts.

While I was taking a break from the airy wrap I worked on the TDR turtleneck. I finished up a sleeve yesterday evening and started on the second but my nephew told me finally that he thought I had done enough knitting for the weekend. I think it had more to do with cursing that was going on because for some reason the Denise needle I was using for one half of the sleeve (I'm doing them on two circulars) kept coming apart and I'd have to pick those stitches back up. It was annoying. Some of those joins are just looser than others. I'm going to switch back to the cord I used for the first sleeve since it never once came apart.

They finished

Oh joy! My lawn is all laid out and it looks so nice! I didn't take any pictures yesterday but I will certainly put some up this weekend. I've now got to finish cleaning out the flower beds and laying down compost (NOT mulch! .. compost). I am SUCH a dope when it comes to gardening. My main focus is going to be not killing that new lawn. That would be a tragedy. I am actually hoping for a little rain this weekend, even though I have been watering it these past two evenings.

My work environment is stunningly awful these days. I am the LAST and only person in my whole wing on this (the 5th) floor that is still occupying her office space. I have until April 10th and then I will be just wandering around with my laptop until my temporary space is vacated. The good news is that the bike racks by the Annex, where I will eventually land, are covered! Bonus! Also we all know that I love working from home so it's truly no hardship to have to come in during the mornings and work from home in the afternoon. That makes the most sense for me since the two major classes I'm doing sites for meet after lunch.

When I got home yesterday there was a package notice in my mailbox. I just couldn't figure out why there was a package notice in my box! I swear, I thought and thought for about a half an hour because it dawned on me that it's most likely from my Secret Pal! Well, I won't know for sure until I go to pick it up after work.

And speaking of Secret Pal packages -- I got a notice yesterday that the stuff I ordered for MY Secret Pal has just been shipped! So I won't be able to get her first package off until next week. Hopefully early! (EDIT: Nope! Can you believe it??? I forgot that I was expecting some yarn from Turkey. It's for the little green sweater from Fitted Knits. So I'm going to gauge it this afternoon.)

I'm so proud of myself!

No new yarn arrived yesterday so I picked up my TDR turtleneck and got one arm nearly finished! Just a couple more rows and I will knit the cuff and then on to the second arm. It goes so quickly when you're working with chunky yarn. I tried it on to see how much more I needed to knit on the arm and was surprised (and disappointed) to see that it looks too big on me! I am sure I had a reason for making the raglan so deep (probably the extra poundage) but now it looks a little TOO deep and therefore the top of the arm doesn't lay right. On the plus side, it'll be a great winter sweater and I'll be able to wear a T-shirt underneath. And the cable is perfect and looks really nice. Love the Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky - superwash so I will be able to wash it in the machine. BUT I hate those short skeins of hers. 50 meters just doesn't go very far so it seems every time I turn around I'm changing skeins. I'm going to have 20 ends to weave in.

I finally used the movie feature of my new camera yesterday and took a little video of my nephew. I posted it on my Photobox account and then sent the link to my sister and other nephew. It is so cool to be able to take little movies!!

The larger portion of the front lawn was laid yesterday and I gave it a good watering. It's a beautiful sunny day today so I am expecting that the rest of it will be done today. Now fingers crossed I don't kill it!

I hope my yarn purchase comes today because it's holding up my first package for my SP. I don't want to say what I've got stashed away for her just in case she happens to stop my by site by chance and put two and two together. I will say that I bought a book for her and love it so much I'm going to have to get myself a copy! I'm just waiting on another skein of special yarn for her to go with a pattern and I'll be finished with this first box.

Closer and closer

See how we're progressing? Like little slugs sitting there -- the rolls of sod all in a row. Yesterday they put the compost on and rolled it out with a big roller. Oh how lovely it's going to be! I'll be able to walk across the lawn and not turn my ankle in a hole! This weekend I'm going to have to dig out the flower beds and put down cardboard and mulch until I pick out plants. No hurry but I do need to do something to keep the weeds from taking over the fresh flower beds. Hopefully it'll be nice this weekend. I do NOT like to garden, and I especially don't like to garden in the rain!

I finished my Sleeveless Turtleneck. See how pretty. I was going to wear it today but I'm working from home and so maybe tomorrow. It fits perfectly! I should have a picture with it on. Maybe since Omar is here I can have him take a picture of me. I haven't yet figured out how to take self-timed pictures with my new camera. So ... what should I make next? Maybe I should pick up my cabled TDR turtleneck and work on that. It's size 10 1/2 needles so it goes pretty quickly. I really really do want to be able to wear it before it gets too warm. Well if my recent yarn purchase doesn't show up today then that's what I'll do.

Three more to go

Three more rows and I can bind off my sleeveless turtleneck! I am hoping I can wear it tomorrow. It'll be perfect with black pants and a jacket. I worked on it last night and if I had really pushed I could have finished it, but Tink wanted to cuddle and who can resist doggie love? Well okay, lots of people can, but I couldn't last night.

I didn't have a very restful night because at 11:30, just after I had fallen asleep, the phone rang and it was my nephew, back from Alaska. He's so sweet - he always calls before he comes over just in case I've got "a dude" there with me. As if! Or should I say, if only! I told him the coast was clear and he said he'd be over after going out with the boys. Obviously, they don't drink while on the boat and he's been gone since the first week of January so pretty thirsty, I imagine. Anyway, he came rolling in at 2:30. Surprisingly sober, but he said that two beers pretty much lit him up since he'd been not drinking. He's such a sweet boy - first thing he said was "Wow, you've lost lots of weight!" Well trained, that boy. Of course, on the other hand it means I was a huge fat giant pig in December but oh well ... thankfully I'm not now.

I got him settled and went back to bed and I think I got back to sleep pretty quickly but early early EARLY I heard a big noise outside. I thought it was a lawn mower -- before 7 am? But when I did get up and go to get the paper I saw that it was the delivery of my sod. So hooray! Now if only the landscapers get there and get it finished. She's kind of flakey though - I'm not holding my breath. The neighbors must truly be cursing me. First of all there's the mess on the sidewalk, and the unsightly parking strip with piles of sod covered by blue tarps and then, my landscaper just parked her truck, which is full of garden refuse, in front of my next door neighbor's house and left it there!! It's been there since Thursday! Well they will all be happy when this year my place is looking nice, rather than like a dandelion field.