Oh Caesar!

I promised pictures of the show I just finished and here they are.
This is a production of Julius Caesar set in modern times...sort of a Vegas Caesar's palace/Sopranos mafia mix quasi stylized. Sort-of taking reality a step further.

Sorry this first pic is blurry. I have trouble with the full stage shots. And my camera is not the best. The columns and platforms are marble. I don't have shots of the side flipper open (the stone wall shown earlier) but I did take copious shots of the pink marble.
The purple columns are a bit more electric than I had planned. I had forgotten that the dye in the purple paint likes to react with clear sealer. It was a rude awakening late at night, but I didn't stress to much since the whole thing is suppose to be over the top.

The pink marble took up the bulk of my 86 hours of work. And this is where the bit of disaster struck. I paint the majority of the set on stage, having no shop available to me. The theatre is constantly in use for class. This usually isn't a problem since they don't mind working around my presence there. I was painting the final step of marbling on the platforms when the acting class came in. I made the platforms off limits but the purple forestage was all theirs. The assignment for the day was acting out/telling about a day in the life of a superhero created by each student. The first student gets up and starts his bit. I've sat through so many of these that it doesn't phase me much. Some of they are quite good and amusing. Many are not. So the student comes to the point in his story where he kicks at the villain....and off comes his moccasin flying across stage into my paint buckets! SPLASH. Paint everywhere! Long story short, it ended up fairly well. I managed to clean most of it without too much damage to my work. (there were a few drips that I didn't catch in time. I tried working that into the veining). As a gesture of apology the director moved rehearsal elsewhere and I had the stage to myself the rest of the day. So it all worked out. I felt bad for the kid. I'd be more upset with myself than I would anyone else (unless they did it intentionally). We've all done it. My personal favorite is when I was so tired that I hooked up the wrong hose to the paint pot first and sent black paint 8 feet in the air.
So there it is. And that is where I have been. Am I forgiven for being a bad little blogger?

I voted...

Did you??

yep

a lot has happened. Halloween has come and gone. Family has visited and we took the kittens in. The show has opened and closed and I've been a knitting fool...yet I haven't blogged. Sorry. I will have pics and stories and such very shortly.

i promise.

cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.

hAppY HaLLowEeN!!!!!

This lovely lady I found in a book of vintage Halloween graphics. I've been waiting for today to post her. Enjoy the day and the night!!!

So much to say...

So few functioning brain cells left. *sigh* well here goes....

Cats: We caught the last one the other night. So I now have 4 feral kittens living in my garage. Its getting cold out there and I feel horrible keeping them in the unheated garage. They would need to be spayed/neutered (to prevent new litters and spraying) and flea dipped before I could even think of bringing them in. As well as checked for disease that could carry to my girls. If all was well then they could be in the studio until we figure out what to do with them. Though, (shudder) I am seriously beginning to consider starting my life long dream of being the crazy cat lady, but this is a lot sooner than I had planned.

The show: I've done 27.5 hours on it in the last 3 days. I'm very nearly done. I have a great story to tell about today's disaster, but too tired for that. Besides I want to have the pics of the set to show you. Either way my back and knees are killing me from a lot of marbling.

Work: sucks...I am very behind because I keep having to fix things. I love most of my staff but they keep giving me aneurysms on a minute by minute basis. At least the days go fast...so fast I look at the clock and realize I should have left an hour earlier.
At least I make my own schedule (within reason) and I am taking Halloween off....from everything. No work at all. It is Halloween a time to remember those who have left us and a time to dress up, sugar up the neighborhood rugrats and party. If it not about costumes, ritual, chocolate or booze...don't talk to me. I haven't even worked on my costume yet. *sigh*

Well...i'm off to bed with some painkillers...(did I mention my uterus has been trying to rip itself out for the last week?) Have I spontaneously combusted yet????

And then there were three...

My Love came home to this little guy sleeping in the trap cage. One left...but he's going to be the hardest...he witnessed one of his siblings being trapped. (of course all these gender references are made up...we have no clue if they are male or female)

Two down...

two to go.

Well, we just got Floofy with the have a heart trap and add him to the party in the garage. We found a place that will come and spay/neuter and then release but it is $67 a cat. And we are looking at 4 cats.(hopefully)

Anyone want to sponsor a kitty??

Today's adventure

So over the summer a feral cat had kittens under our neighbor's shed. There were early half-hearted attempts to catch them. Our neighbor dropped the ball on the whole thing, except for feeding the lot of them. We have been feeding them as well. I've possibly found a home for one of them...the neighbor lined up some homes but they apparently have fallen through.

We managed to get this one into our garage. We are upping our efforts to catch them due to the drop in temperature and the coyote wandering around our back yard. Yes we have coyotes in the neighborhood...and we are by no means rural. Tomorrow my love is going to see if we can find an organization to help. I did find one online that examines and spays/neuters the feral cats and then releases them into a barn environment. I think this lot would be good for that. They are still very skittish around people.

Mmmmm...brains.

Do you have any because most of our employees don't.

Grand opening was today. I was there at 7am...which wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't been there until 11:30 the night before. And I left an hour and 45 past when I was scheduled today. I am now cozying up to a fire in the fireplace and a bottle of wine.

Please don't expect much on the blog side for a little while. But do contact me if you know of any job openings...let me tell you..the Hooters down the street is starting to look rather promising.

Secret Pal Strikes Again!!!

Secret Pal you so rock!
Saturday I decided to run home after work before running to the theatre on a sheer whim. I thought maybe I'd grab a bite before spending the evening crawling around to paint the brick below. Lo and behold there was a box on my doorstep. Inside the box was this...








And inside was this treasure trove...
There are cookie cutters to add to my vast collection (how did you know??!!) in ghost, pumpkin, bat and black cat. A craft kit for a Bat halloween bell. A foam stamp with a skull, gravestone, spooky tree and ghost. A delightfully creepy finger candle with a skull ring tied to it. Spider shaped glitter confetti. An absolutely beautiful charmed folding scissor necklace...(much needed since my scissors often end up under my butt on the couch.) A Ghirardelli "intense Dark " chocolate bar with espresso beans. I nearly died at the sight of that. It is being saved for some intense me time. Lastly was a crafted halloween mix cd full of some my favorite music...quite a creepy eclectic mix. This will probably be my new painting cd.

Again...thank you thank you thank you. Secret pal you rock. Your gift actually convinced me to stay home and take the night off.

Sunday....

I turned this...














into this.

Busy Season

Did I mention this is my BusySeason? I'm working full time at my regular job. Actually I'm working overtime at my regular job and i'm not sure I'm liking this manager stuff. Then I have my show at the highschool and now I'm doing a overhire gig at a small local professional theatre that I used to work for. Yes I am crazy. But I need new rear tires and I love being in with my theatre crowd again. Though it makes going to my regular job all that much harder.

And I'm knitting when I can in between.

I haven't really eaten today and can't remember when I showered last.

yep...its my busy season.

Plugging away

on both knitting and work. When I'm not here knitting on the shawl I'm turning this hideous mess (you may remember it from "Flash your Stash") into scarves for charity. Kindof a stash cleansing. To make room for fiber I like. I have been good. I went to FabricPlace's closing sale and didn't buy any yarn...nope no yarn...but then again a yarn diet has nothing to say about fabric aquisition, now does it.

Work has been...well...work. Much more physically demanding the usual, we are still setting up the store and a tad behind. I've been sleeping better with all the work. I miss having the physical aspect to my job. I'm also trying to get into manager mode. I never really wanted the promotion. I'd rather be left alone to do my own work then have to deal with everyone. I did manage to close the store by myself without screwing up the alarm, and I got to yell at everyone. I still want out. I've promised myself to them until October 20th, thereabouts, after that I can walk with a relatively clean conscience.

I am painting the fall show at a local private high school. Its about my 6th year or so with them. I've also taken on a quick and dirty paint call for this Saturday. Slowly getting my foot back in the door.

Off to bed. I did 5 hours at work on my day off today. I'll check my spelling tomorrow

The Last Knit

You have to check this out. Its a short on YouTube called The Last Knit . I probably would have done my dress as well. Thanks to Lani for enlightening me to this one.

The Good, the Bad and the Ruffles

Well, in regards to the shawl I have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that I just finished chart eight and i'm to the ruffles.

The bad news is that I'm at the neverending ruffles.

ps Yes we have water again. He came home that night and replaced that. He's going to battle more plumbing today while I'm at work so I don't hear his endless swearing. He holds it well but he's got quite a temper when he loses it, and plumbing tends to bring it out.

Thank you Pally!

I so needed the box that came yesterday. I was having a crap-tacular day. We are a tad behind at work, but I only did 4 hours yesterday. I came home to plumbing half completed (love did some on his lunch hour) which left me with no water in the house. I mean NO water. There was enough for 1 toilet flush which was conserved until absolutely necessary. But then there was no way to wash my hands ( I ended up using some from the lone supply in the Brita pitcher). Nor could I wash the tomato sauce I spilled on my jeans at lunch. I couldn't do laundry or mop or have my usual 17 pots of tea. Grrrr...and to make it worse my period showed up. Which just made me cry (especially since it seems so many of my friends are pregnant now).

Then the mailman came...and he had a box for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


There is a fun little metal lunchbox with the Last Supper on it, filled to the brim with a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in lovely greens, blues, purples, and browns. (I think I have a project for this already!), some black and white mystery yarn accompanied by a little Catwoman (whip included!) Now my WonderWoman won't be so lonely! She also included the movie Diva, which I have never seen. I'll save that for a night that my love is working. And even a present for the cats! A cat dancer which gave them both quite the workout! This was all joined by beautiful postcards that will be gracing my studio walls.

Thank you thank you thankyou !!!!! I love it all.

A door closes

Today is my last day at the old store. There are some people there that I will really miss. And there are some that I wish would be eaten by a pack of ravenous dogs. My last day as a minion and tomorrow is my first as a manager. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I'll be 10 minutes from home now (instead of 45) and I am getting a raise. But I'm leaving behind the people who help me get through the day. Actually on some level that may be a good thing. More motivation to get myself out of this company and out of retail. I tend to loathe the bulk of humanity...retail is not exactly the place for me. So this is my first step towards having a job I enjoy once again.

Knitwise I'm still in the same place. I'm a few rows into chart 7. Its a little slower going because this is where the pattern for the rest of the shawl transitions into the boarder pattern and I have to pay a little more attention.

Canning i've managed to do 12 quarts of quartered tomatoes in their own juice and 5 of sauce. It took the sauce forever to cook down. I have about 3 more boxes to go. I'm not sure when I'll get to it...probably do a batch or so an evening. I have no clue what my work schedule is this coming week. All I know is that tomorrow is a long day.

I'm also sorting out my studio some more...it is a total disaster lately. Now that the weather is more moderate I can handle the temperature in there.

Thanks for all the feed back on the blog. I'm actually cheating on the font size. In compose mode I am setting it to "large". I'm not sure how to make this size the default size. Pictures next post...i promise.

Don't we look marvelous

So i did a bit of playing around with the blog today before I submerged myself in canning tomatoes...(this is going to be an on going project for the next week or so).
I'm just having a bit of trouble getting the font of the main body larger as its standard. For some reason its code is different than all the others for font size and I know squat about html. I still have to figure out how to do buttons and put a sidebar on the other side too. But what do you think so far? Its my transitioning into fall colors. Like my hair I think they will change with my mood.

However I'm to chart seven and still pondering my next project. That is mostly waiting on me to do a swatch or two to see what in my stash will fit my potentials.

Work Countdown: 16 more hours at the old store.

Ever onward

My recovery time last week yielded a lot of shawl progress. Not so much this week. I had scheduled overtime that made it difficult to get too far. I am about 6 rows away from completing chart five. I have not been bringing the shawl to stitch n bitch. It requires so much concentration that I can't work on it when we all get together. I need to get more audio books as well. I just can't do this in front of the TV either.
No knitting monogomy this time. I am sort of in-between projects in the non-shawl catagory. I've put myself on a yarn diet so I am in the area of creative pairing of yarn I own and projects I would like to do. I also have some baby knitting before me. The first tot is due this month, then November, March and June. Lots of babies coming. I need to dye some of my yarn to get the right colors for the first project. Amy suggested using the Witon paste cake colors with a vinegar mordant. I think I will give that a shot, especially since I already own the dye. I'll probably work on that in my three days off in the middle of the week.Yeah, sucky schedule this week. To date, it is the crowning acheivement in my manager's passive-aggressive campaign against me since he found out I was leaving to go to the new store. I work Sunday, Monday, Friday and close on Saturday, my last day in that store. I was so angry I could spit acid when I found out but enough of that subject.

See the miracle that has happened in our home! They are on the same cushion and LO! they are TOUCHING!!!!! And this phenomenon has been witnessed more than once!

Punk Rock Gift Exchange Questionaire

Here it is ...in all its freakish glory.

1) How long have you been spinning/Knitting/Crocheting?
I learned to knit when I was about 9 or so. I did it on and off but didn't get hardcore until about 2000. I taught myself to crochet about that time as well. I've only been spinning on a drop spindle since last Rhinebeck.

2) Do you consider yourself a beginner, novice, or experienced Yarn Artist?
Knitting- advanced novice. Spinning-beginner.

3) What type of fibers have you worked with?
A fair variety. Lots of novelty, I'm getting hooked into more natural fibers (read: I am becoming a fiber snob).

4) What types are you dying to try?
I am a total silk whore. I guess some of the more expesive and finer materials...cashmere and such.

5) Are you allergic to anything, (Fibers, Food, Smells that make you want to puke, etc.)?
Really strong perfumes...especially the old lady rose scent. You know the one I mean. The one they douse themselves in to mask the formaldehyde smell.

6) Do you have any Disorders, ex: Diabetes?
My husband seems to think my hoarding of books, yarn, fabric and tools a disorder, but i'm not so sure. oh...and depression.

7) What is your Favorite Time/Style period, ex: Romatic, Grecian,Metal, Goth,etc?
I have to narrow it down??!!?? Medieval, Renaissance, 50's retro, some Romantic, Victorian, Civil War era....I like a lot. Actually if I could wear a costume everyday, I would. I love period fashions from most periods. Especially if they involve corsets.

8) What fibers do you dislike?
Things that feel yucky or itchy. I like a soft and and nice drape.

9) Name some of your favorite Artist, Movie wise, Television if you watch it ex: I heart Keanu, some things cant be helped, and Rachel loves Mike Ness !?
Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Joaquin Phoenix, Maura Tierney, Geoffrey Rush, and many more.
The tv shows I HAVE to watch are Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Desperate Housewives, and The Simpsons.

10) Whos your favorite Character ex: Jack or Cpt Jack?
Captain Jack, Batman, Wonderwoman, Catwoman, Tinkerbell, Tigger, Cheshire Cat to name a few.

11) Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?
Both, it really depends on my mood and the colorways of the fiber.

12) What are you favorite colors?
Black, Purple and Red.I like rich jewel tones, or deep earthy tones.

13) What colors do you dislike?
Not too keen on yellow or pink. But the pink has been creeping in bit by bit. I am rather against most pastels.

14) What projects are you currently working on?
The do over of the shawl (see below), baby gifts and about to start a sweater for myself.

15) Do you have a wishlist?
several...should I be more specific?

16) Do you have any other favorite hobbies?
Reading, Cooking/baking, Movies, Sewing, Cross-stitch, Art, and playing the MYST games.

17) When your birthday?
Janurary 8th, the same as David Bowie, Steven Hawkins and Elvis

18) What is your favorite food, candy, scents that you love!! Etc.?
Scents:I love lavender and vanilla, and Drakkar
Foodstuffs: chocolate covered expresso beans, jasmine tea.

19) Are you pierced at all? Any tattoos? Can you/would you wear jewelry that isn't real?
Use to have belly ring, would like to get it done again. No tatoos, yet. Sometimes non-real jewelry bothers my ears but otherwise ok.

20) What do you like Culturally, ex: Celtic, African, Devil Worshiping, Kidding!?
Celtic, Ancient Egyptian

21) What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
An old fashioned Mason jar...the ones with the wire and the glass lid (though I don't use the lid, obviously) My circs are a set of interchangeable and they live in their case. The dpns and hooks have a roll but they keep poking holes in the bottom. Tools (stitch markers, scissors etc) have a crappy too small case that is going to die sometime soon.

22) What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I can play mp3s. I like Greenday(I have the biggest crush on Billie Joe), NIN, Rob Zombie, System of a Down...Love the 'modern rock' of the 90's when I was in college. I often paint to Pink Floyd and Korn. I also love opera (Verdi and Mozart) as well as classical and baroque. Medieval Babes are high on my list as well as Loreena Mc Kinnet. As you can see its rather eclectic.

23) What's your favorite season and why?
Autumn...the smell, the feel in the air, the crunching sound of walking through leaves, apples galore, and of course Halloween.

24) What season do you abhor?
The season I like to call "oh my god its STILL winter!!" basically the time when snow has lost its charm and I want to see green but all that remain is slush as far as the eye can see!

25) How about Sports, any that you just cant get enough of or do they make you throw up in your mouth just a little?
Hate them except for hockey. Don't have a team I just like to watch it, but my love limits that because I yell too much. (and lack of cable tv)

26) What is your family situation Do you live alone?
I am very happily married to a hottie and we have two cats and no children. We are attempting to work on that last part.

27) Do you have any pets?
Two psychotic cats, Isis and Loki.

28) Do you like handmade gifts?
Yes if they aren't tacky.

29) What's your favorite thing to make, knit/crochet or other craft wise?
Can't say I have a favorite. I switch depending on the mood. I am getting into socks.

30) Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I like dpns for socks. I'm slowly shifting over to circs for other things.

31) Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yep, both.

32) Tell us how you learned to knit/crochet?
My grandmother first taught me the basics(knit, purl, cast on, bind off) when I was about 9 or so. I retaught myself in college. It didn't become a passion until 2000 or so. I really took off when I had an internet connection and found a knitting forum. It really encouraged me and gave me a resource for new techniques.

33) Do you enjoy getting helpful hints from others or does it just piss you off?
As long as it is delivered in a non-condescending way, I don't mind at all. We all have different strengths and should share our knowledge. How else can we learn and grow?

34) How old is your oldest UFO?
a year or so. I went through a period where I finished all of the PIGS (projects in grocery sacks) before I would let myself do something new.

35) Is there anything that you collect?
Books, tea pots and cups, absinthe spoons, patterns from Folkwear and I am starting one of paperdolls...ones with the period costumes and movie ones (gone with the wind, Elizabeth Taylor with costumes from some of her more famous movies), and witchy stuff...I have a new fascination with the Wicked Witch of the West from Wizard of Oz.

36) Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I've a new fetish for Silky Wool, Debbie Bliss Baby Knits, Vogue Stitchionary I, II, & III, and my ultimate quest lately has been for a silk or silk blend DK yarn in a deep blood crimson color....for a very long scarf.

37) What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have if any?
I don't subscribe but I ususally pick up Interweave Knits and Vogue knitting if there are enough patterns that interest me.

38) Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to do more color work (fair isle and intarsia) and just about everything in spinning and dyeing.

39) Do you enjoy knitting socks? How big are yer boats (feet)?
yes and freakishly small....size 6.5/7.

40) When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
Didn't you ask this already??? 01/08

Its Deja Vu all over again.

Well I decided to bite the bullet and reknit the shawl. It is actually going quite well. I dropped down two needle sizes and doing my best to knit tighter. Normally I knit quite loose. I started Sunday and I'm already into chart four. I'm knitting off of the old shawl instead of frogging the whole thing at once. I'm not even past the ruffles yet. I think I have enough for another (different of course) shawl in there! I also think it is going faster because I know the pattern now. The repeats are very familiar to me and I find myself having to consult the chart less. I'm also not doing it in front of the TV, but while listening to books on tape. First was Vittorio the Vampire, now I'm onto The Devil Wears Prada. In the wings waits Emma and Mansfield Park. Unfortunately the last two are abridged (the first two aren't despite the links), but the library had slim pickings.

I helps that I'm home sick for much of this week too. Since my boss is back I told work that I was taking time off to recover. I nearly ended up in the hospital the end of last week. My body just wouldn't rehydrate, not until the antibiotics started kicking the sinus infection. Now I'm left with this nasty cough and chest pain. I've been sleeping for long stints and taking it easy the time I am up.

I'll have pictures of the shawl and of my next project the next post. I currently have no clue where the camera is.

"witty title goes here"

My life is just a bizarre mess. My love hasn't had a day off since we returned from vacation on the 13th. Actually they still made him go in after we landed 7 1/2 hours late. I've not slept in my own bed for the last 3 nights because of the pain and not wanting to wake him up. Pain, you ask, yes...pain. It feels like a urinary infection (of which I get about 1 or 2 in a good year). The doctor says no. She says I'm severely dehydrated and have crystals. Actually her quote was "I usually see urine like this in a pregant woman who has been vomiting constantly for 3 days." I have no clue how or why I am so dehydrated. I've been drinking like crazy...non-stop water and tea. And no i'm not pregnant....she checked. And the sinus infection...while better (goo has gone from green to clear) is still around. And for much of the day my internet browser keeps increasing the size of my text....from normal 12 pt to somting like 140 pt. Hard to do much with that...and won't let me switch it back. How's that for a computer glitch.

So with all of this not much knitting is getting done. Hard to keep track when running to the bathroom constantly. But I have a stack of knitting magazines scattered around the living room area. I'm looking for a new project...(like I need another one). I really want to do a sweater vesty type thingy. Maybe it's from reading this blog. Or maybe that its a tad crisper in the mornings when I leave. Or maybe that I need to tweak my work wardrobe now that I am going to be manager. Less jeans and t-shirts and more dressy. (I REALLY need to find some pants that aren't jeans, look good on me, are comfortable and durable and NOT dry clean only.) So my quest begins....the tough thing is to do it out of yarn in my stash....or out of yarn I can trade something in my stash for.

well my blue nail polish seems to be dry...I'm off to look through more patterns.

Update

Wow! an actual post about knitting.

Well we got back from vacation and managed to develop sinus infections. I have been the living dead for a week now. Since my boss decided to give himself a two week vacation, I have been alone at work, therefore unable to take sick-time. I spent the weekend sleeping and lying on the couch. As a told a co-worker today, I was so sick I didn't even want to knit.

But now I am on the mend and the urge is back. So here is an update on my projects...

Kyoto is awaiting its sleeves and the neckband. I want to do the sleeves in the round and I'm having a few kinks in that plan. The sleeves are too small to do on circulars but too big to do on the dpns I have. I'm passively looking for longer US#4 dpns. I really don't want to knit them straight and seam them.

These are the socks that I started on my trip. Just a basic sock pattern in Cascade 220.

And then there is the shawl. *sigh* Or rather my absolute disaster shawl. Yes I finished it. But it is huge....then I went to block it thinking that might help...once it hit water it became beyond huge. I just don't know what to do about it. It is too large to leave as is. I have two options.

1. I did wet and then toss in the dryer one of my swatches. The swatch shrunk about an inch. It felted slightly but not in a disaster sort of way. The yarn lost its smooth look and the pattern some of its definition. I could do this to the entire shawl. Or...
2. Reknit the whole thing and drop down 2 needle size and make an effort to knit tighter. But the original took about 2 months of hardcore knitting and do I really want to do that again?

what would you do?

Famous last words

Your Famous Last Words Will Be:

"So, you're a cannibal."

What Will Your Famous Last Words Be?

Apparently I'm Snape

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

hrm... I guess it does make sense. I just accepted a manager position at the new store. Not really because I want it, but because it is the best step in my current plot.

I'm back from vacation...the times at places were great. the times traveling were sheer hell. And now I have a rash on my face and can't breathe. So life continues on as normal

I'm ok

Thank you everyone for your encouragement. The night I got the news I went out on the patio with a drink, built a fire in the firepit and cried my eyes out. I have to say most of my disappointment is not tied to that particular job. It was more that I am back to square one in my search to get out of my current situation. And a job painting would be my prefered choice. Well, second to just getting paychecks. To make a long story short (too late), I'm mostly over it, I didn't hang myself in the basement and I'm working on an ulcer trying to figure out what is next.

Oh...and I'm currently on vacation hence you not hearing from me. I'll be posting more when I return. I've a bunch of knitting to post about. and my adventures at Ozzfest on the full moon.

caio

for anyone who cares...

I didn't get the job. Don't really know why I thought I might. One would think that I would have learned by now.

hot

its hot....very hot

I sit here in my underwear and a bikini top (sorry no picks of that) printing pictures for my portfolio and listening to Weezer.

The shawl sits on the end table waiting for tomorrow. I did two rows in one evening and hurt like hell. I've decided to cut 4 rows from the ruffles so after this next wrong side row I will start the garter stitch border.

Meanwhile I am working though the fug of my stash for charity scarves.

No word on the job yet. I am trying not to despair but its difficult. I need to get out of where I am now....I mean REALLY REALLY NEED to get out. Today my boss called saying he was going to be about 4 hours late because he felt like going to the museum! WTF!!!!! This is a sign to cut and run. At this point I'm ready to say screw it, screw health insurance (and trying to have a baby) and just start freelancing again. or maybe Assassin school...that's my ultimate dream job.

Did I mention I'm an idiot?

First of all, I became an artist so I wouldn't have to do math. I so messed up the math on the shawl...and NOT in my favor either. Here are the updated stats:

2,235 per row
29,055 remaining in the shawl.

*sigh*

I'm Back...

I've been back for nearly a week now...i did attempt to blog but the bloody computer shut down on me again. It seems for some reason whilst in my account it starts up a program in my husband's account and pushes the CPU beyond its capacity...therefore it shuts down. This machine has never liked me.

The wedding went very well, despite a few set backs...but I shall tell that story when I have the pictures back. I did manage to get from the hotel to the airport, fly back here, and take a cab home all by myself. This is a big deal for me, especially since I hate, (HATE) flying. I had no problems knitting on the plane...even with a big fat sweaty guy next to me.

And the answer to the burning question is.....No. I didn't get the shawl done on time. I'm still working on the thing. I am at the end, it is just straight knitting and purling now but there are now 1,125 stitches per row. I have about 12 rows left. That's 13,500 stitches left. If there was ever a moment for the little elves to show up and finish my knitting this is it. I did bring it and show it to her. She likes it, and I will send it out as soon as it is done. Besides...there's a heat wave all over the country...who needs a shawl right now anyway.

No word on the job yet. Since I am an external canidate they can't tell me anything really. Which translated into "stop calling us you freak!" I'm using my frantic energy to get my portfolio together, catch up on house stuff and knit. Aside from the shawl I am working on the second red/black pedicure sock and charity scarves from some of the more heinous yarn I own. Amy asked if I was knitting a Muppet as well. Yes, it feels like I am knitting with recycled Muppets. But its for a good cause and makes room in my stash.

Sorry for the lack of pics.

C is for....

Cupcakes? Here's a pic of the cupcakes I made for our 4th of July potluck at work. Yep Cookie Monster cupcakes....with homemade chocolate chip cookies of course. I was one of the few shmucks stuck working all day. We designated it "Ignore the Rules" day at work. Many of us rebelled against the dress code. I barely worked in my department, instead setting up the Halloween (yes HALLOWEEN) village and decorations. I also wore my WonderWoman Underroos with jeans, and my hair in pig tails. I was in 4 year old mode most of the day. That's what they get for making me work on a holiday WITHOUT holiday pay.

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

I've been lacking in updates but I have been hardcore knitting. Like staying up really really late knitting. I sent out my resume for a job that is all that I am looking for right now and all my luck seems to be with it. I've mananged to get bruised, forgot my lunch, forgot my tea break things, fall, dump an entire mug of water in my lap while driving, have a hellacious time at work (more than usual) and then there is this:


AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Yep. and the f*bombs were dropping left and right. So I pulled out the T-pins, a glass of wine and started working. It was too far up to rip back to the life line. This also happened the day after I realized that the long edge of the triangle on this shawl is 6 feet! Not including ruffles. What the hell had I gotten myself into?

I knew I could manage this. If this could be done (this woman deserves a medal or something)...I would be fine. Should I mention that my love decided to run away during all this? Yeah, off to the sanctuary of BestBuy. I did encounter a bit of yarn bizarrely placed. It was somehow twisted extra or something. I worked it in a place I thought that wouldn't be noticed. Can you see it?So there it is. Proper one on the left repaired one on the right. If anyone notices anything...its a needle in the eye for them.

I am still plugging away on it. Charts 7 and 8 are done. I'm into the ruffles. I have a feeling that this will be finished in the car on the way to Maryland and blocked in the hotel room. Not really what I had planned. I had really thought I would have this one done. I've been doing my best, forsaking all other projects and aspects of my life. I think my husband resents the shawl. He told me tonight that after the wedding no more projects for a while. You think by now he would know better. oh well.

ever onward

6 is done despite having to rip back to the life line 3 rows in. If it weren't for Amy I would have burst into tears. Yeah its only 3 rows but there is something like 400 stitches to a row. ...7 is about a third completed. I just moved up the lifeline and I am going to bed. The next section is a funky decrease...

oh and the room looks good except for one thing...the tape is pulling the paint off the ceiling.

Shawls OH MY!!

(apparently it was all too much for one post)


IT'S A BLOB!!!


but it's a blob with inner beauty.


Chart 5 is finally done. Today's second mission is to complete chart 6. (yes I realize i'm smoking crack on that one). Chart 6 is the last in pattern...the next two are border and the last ruffles. Well i'm off to start chart 6. I just need to figure out what movie to pop in while I work. Last night I finished off 5 with An Affair to Remember (I love this movie...if nothing else for the clothes) and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Hrm...I'll think of something.

skunks and paint and shawls OH MY!

Where does one begin?

Monday night we were awoken at 3:30 by this little guy trapped in the window well below our bedroom. The board you see was put in hoping he would find his way out. No such luck. Thankfully he is too young to spray. Not knowing this yet nor knowing if Mama was around we left him their hoping he would make it out on his own. Nope...and he kept us up the rest of time until dawn. In the daylight we attempted to usher him into a bucket but he just huddled in the corner. Finally a towel was thrown over him and he was picked up. My love released him behind the back shed. I hope he found his family. It was exhausting excitement.
And where were the girls during all this you ask?? My viscious hunters? ASLEEP ON THE BED. Isis was even snoring. I'm thinking of demoting them.





Today's top mission includes all this. I am finally painting the trim in the back room. The weather isn't ideal for this type of work (more rain) but it is my only free day to do so. I'll do the second coat this afternoon and pull all the tape. That leaves a few wall and ceiling touch ups and the shoe moulding. That I will paint in sticks and he will install it. I'm rather happy how the room is coming out. I sense I will be spending copious amounts of time this winter because it is so springy looking. Plus it is now the only room with insulation in the walls. I need to get this done soon though. I'm tired of it's half finished state. Especially since I need the beds to block this...

i'm a schmuck

I don't have the promised pictures. It started raining friday...and I mean go gather the animals and have the boy draft ark plans raining. Not good weather for taking pics. I much prefer the natural light. I am behind on the shawl. Chart 5 should have been finished last night but I am still about 9 rows short of that. I am working on a non-knitting project that if it works out could mean great things for me. I don't want to divulge but it has me nervous and excited and a borderline wreck. I will try for some pics tomorrow.

An open letter to the man i saw jogging yesterday

Dear Sir:
While I admire your commitment to physical fitness, (and indeed you do look fit) I have a few suggestions for you. Firstly, I would recommend burning your white running shorts and buying something in a more opaque color. Granted the color white will keep you cool in this heat, it does not suit this type of garment, especially when you are drenched in sweat. Secondly, if you insist on wearing above mentioned shorts, please, PLEASE, PLEASE do not wear black bikini briefs with them. If you are confused as to why, think to a wet t-shirt contest and the answer should become clear. These are things I do not need to see while stuck in traffic. Thank you, and ever onward for your quest for fitness.

Sincerely,

Gothknits

Hockey and Shawls

The Hurricanes Won!!! Woo Hoo!!!

I know what you are thinking. I'm not really a sports person at all. I hate most of them and most of their fans...but for some reason i LOVE hockey. I love to watch it and I really, REALLY get into it. I once turned down a guy asking me to dance (which never happened to me) because I was watching a hockey game. Game 7 was an exciting game to watch and I was able to keep my stitches on my needles. However, when the Hurricanes made the third goal to an empty net I cheered so loud that I scared the cats. Poor kitties.

AND I managed to get 5 rows done on the shawl. I'm behind where I would like to be. I have only 5 rows left in chart 4; a chart I had hoped to complete on Sunday. Chart 5 looms before me. It is the largest of them all...requiring to be copied, cut and pasted together because it couldn't fit on one page. After 5 it looks quite managable. Chart 6 is only 10 rows and 7 starts the border pattern in one of my favorite stitches. I don't have more pics because its just a blob....i swear there will be some at somepoint this week. I the mean time is a pic of me knitting at a goth club taken about a year and a half ago. Enjoy!

Tonight I learned

that i cannot knit with charts and watch hockey. It's just not possible. My love even threatened to turn off the game if I did not calm down. I only did 2 rows throughout the whole game.

Hrm.....

Anyone notice that NyQuil is green and anise flavored like Absinthe?....minus the wormwood obviously but it makes one wonder. Or is it just the cold medicine?

:P

I'm sick today. It is my day off and I hate being sick on my day off. I always feel that I'm owed a healthy day off to make up for it. I did go to work sick yesterday, because I was the only one in my department all day. I came home, ate dinner and proceeded to mimic death so well that my husband kept waking me up to check on me. Summer illness is the worst. All colds/flu/sinus infections should strictly be a winter thing. I had tons planned for today but kept it tame...a few loads of laundry, a sink full of dishes, swept the house and shawl knitting galore. All this while doped to the gills. Don't know if I'll make it to work tomorrow. Not sure that driving all that way at night while on cold meds is the best plan of action. We will see how I am tomorrow.

This poster found here about sums up my feelings about my job search.

Not much to blog about

The sun finally came back out. And this is what my roses look like. If anyone knows what kind of roses they are please let me know. They came with the house. I know squat about roses. My love handles those while I tend all the other green things. This particular rosebush hates me and always pulls my hair when I weed near it. The first pic is in the morning about 10am. The second is about 4 or 5 pm. Not bad shots for how incredibly windy it was. I am trying to work more color in the garden. All the plants that came with the house are either red or pink. I've added the purple irises so far. I'm definately putting in some marigolds as well. They are just too useful not to. I can't wait to get my full garden going...to bad there is a bunch of poorly laid asphalt in the way.

I've been plugging away (faithfully I might add) at the shawl. I'd show another pic but it would just look the same but bigger. I shall do some more artistic shots of it soon. Grocery shopping was the main focus of the evening. I don't think you'd really enjoy a pic of the lovely brie I got at a fabulous discount. Not quite the same is it?

ugh! and something completely hysterical

That's about how I feel about the weather (we might see the sun on Saturday) and work. It went from the most boring day ever to the most boring week ever. I really can't take it. They are just wasting my time. I could be off doing more productive things...like doctor's appointments, or finding another job. And frankly at this point if my boss were to spontaniously burst into flames I would grab myself a stick and some marshmallows.

Did everyone enjoy 6-6-06? I sure did. And after my book club I took my love to see The Omen. It was good for a remake, though I still don't understand why they remade it. I know they wanted to take advantage of the date but why not restore the original and re-release it in theatres. It must be infinately cheaper. They did justice to many of my favorite scenes. I loved Mia Farrow as the nanny...the whole Rosemary's Baby connection just tickeled me. I really found the soundtrack lacking though. It was very unimpressive and usually find the music to be the heart and soul of a horror movie. Oh and I nearly bludgeoned to death some morons who wouldn't SHUT THE HELL UP during the movie. They really ruined it for us.

But here is your bit of the hysterical. My love and I were watching TV and an ad for the Nintendo DS came on. The familiar Mario Bros. music prompted him to ask me if I had seen a particular video yet. I immediately ran to ifilm to view it.

A Capella Nintendo themes! Not only are they sung a capella but the are chorographed!!!! The Tetris section was my favorite. You just have to go and see it. This totally turned around a horrible day.

Knitting...i'm plugging away on chart 3, which by far is my favorite so far.

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a shawl picture. So there!

I am rethinking this knitting monogamy thing. Today we got new computers at work (woo hoo!) It's lovely having an operating system that isn't older than my car but it took until 3:30 pm to get it fully funcioning. THE MOST BORING DAY EVER! I couldn't do anything and really could have used some knitting. Damn I could have done a whole sock! But nooooo, I have to go and be faithful with all my other knitting packed away.

Rain rain go AWAY!

I had meant to write more on my last post but the thunder started to rumble. And it hasn't really stopped raining since. Which has totally obliterated my irises. But the roses are starting to bloom so I will have some pics of them soon.

June 1st was our 4th wedding anniversary. It was quite wonderful. We made breakfast of waffles and sausage. Then we went to Dinosaur State Park where we saw the exhibit and then hiked the trails. Then we came home to a light lunch and some lounging, showered, changed and off to dinner at our usual anniversary haunt. Then back home again. I think next year we are going to spend it in NYC which is where we got engaged.

I had a question or two about the pedicure socks. Well here they are. Mine are out of Cascade 220 since I have a bit of it on hand. Like I said, I have knit only 3 socks...not 3 pairs. All has been abandoned for the shawl.






Speaking of the shawl...it is going fairly well. I did have to tink back 2 1/2 rows last night but otherwise it is not that bad. (i know i just cursed myself). It is a bit of a struggle with the lace weight on circular needles. My style of knitting doesn't exactly suit itself to circs and I'm not use to the lace weight at all. The yarn is delightful however, and the charts aren't the hassle I thought they would be. I'm a few rows short of finishing the second chart. I would post the pic but blogger apparently hates the pics of my shawl.

I finally ordered my shoes for the wedding in July. I'm rather picky about shoes. The MUST be comfortable. So these are my first try. I hope the red works with my dress, not that you will really see my feet anyway. Now I need to find a bra. I'm actually looking for something a little more corset like. It has to be strapless and I don't want it to go low in the back. They stay up better if they don't, but its hard to find a strapless bustier without the low back. And my sure thing store has gone from independent to chain and their stuff sucks now. I hate that. I swear once they find out I like something, they change it. Like the good staple pullers. Grrr

The Lusty Month of May

Tra La!
(bonus points to you who know what that is from)

I'm back...well I have been back. I did start a blog post this past weekend when the darling computer shut down on me...losing everything. It didn't crash...just shut down. The CPU was overheating and apparently we have a failsafe...and apparently it doesn't include saving whatever you were doing at the time.

But to happy thoughts here is a beautiful Iris from my garden from the lot Woolybuns gave me last year. My tulips may have been a bust but these are just to die for.


May was a long and insane month. I was out of town the first three weekends, and when I wasn't out of town I was at work. The trips were my best friends bridal shower/bachorlette party, my dad's retirement party, and wedding of my love's highschool buddy. The month was filled with the good (seeing friends and family, a riotous live performance of the Full Monty, a huge knitting sale, bartending for drunken firemen, meeting my friends daughter for the first time, reading several books, boat loads of knitting, and lots of time with my love) and the bad (lots of rude, obnoxious screaming customers, driving, grandma in the hospital, shattered hopes of a pregnancy, exhaustion, driving, an unwanted job offer that set my life off kilter for a bit, and more driving).

It did inclue a bit of knitting though:

• I finished the 'm' bag
• I started and finished a 'j' bag (this was started monday night and the zipper was installed in the car on that very say friday...felting and all).
• 3 pedicure socks.

Right now I am in a bout of knitting monogomy...the shawl for my best friend's wedding gift. The wedding is July 16th. It is a Fiddlesticks pattern with 9, count them 9 charts. I'm not exactly a chart knitter but I am turning into one. The gauge swatch was a bit of a trial. I knit it with the suggested yarn on the suggested size needles....stitch count too small, row count too big. WTF!!!!! ok.....jump two needle sizes....stitch count too big, row count too big (actually the same as the other swatch) Again WTF! So I went to the size in between the two. I didn't swatch again. I figured that was the close as I was going to get and I am not getting out the micrometer to make in between size needles. Its a shawl, not a bra...I do have some leeway. This is how it looks halfway through chart 2. Notice the lovely lilac life line. I may be crazy but I'm not stupid. (photo loads but doesn't show. See my invisible shawl)

So that's a quick and dirty update.

I'm not dead....

just really really really busy.

...

I know I haven't blogged in a while...i'm a bad little blogger.

but this is how I feel right about now so I hope you'll forgive me.





















i wish someone would steal me