Sep 28, 2005

Not that this is relevant to anything

But I really hate it when I can hear people chewing gum.
I particularly hate it when I can hear someone who is on the opposite end of the subway car cracking gum.

Moving right along..

I watched the second half of the The Scorcese/Dylan piece on PBS tonight and loved it.
I'm definitely buying the DVD at some point.

Made some small progress today on the Irish Hiking Scarf.
I'm really enjoying knitting this so much! It is so relaxing and it makes me look good! People at work ooohed and ahhed over it, and were very impressed with the cables. I couldn't believe how easy they are to do but there was no telling my coworkers that.
I made sure to credit my SP with the project and they were all suitably jealous.

It is one of these two colors ;) I have no idea how to take pictures.. seroiusly.. I guess the color is kinda closer to the second shot -- but maybe even a little redder than that.




Desdemona is giving it a once over




Ok.. maybe twice..

Sep 27, 2005

Sleep is for the Weak.

And tomorrow morning .. I'll wake up weak.. and need sleep..

Anyway..

Cast on tonight for the Irish Hiking Scarf.
My SP sent me the pattern, along with cable needles and some pretty raspberry colored Lana D'oro. Everything I need to get started.

I can't believe what a joy this entire project is. The yarn is so easy to work with that the scarf practically knits itself. My first cables! woohoo!!!

Here's a pic of my progress thusfar.
Lets hope my knitting is better than my photography

Sep 24, 2005

I Love Lewis Black!

and we're (me and the bf) going to see him tongiht! At carnegie Hall no less!

I'm very excited -- I find him hilarious!

On the knitting front -

The purple Manos is becoming the above scarf which can be found here -- the yarn is so delicious !

Speaking of socks. Someone please tell me its ok to sew up the dropped stitch i found .. oh.. at the point i was picking up stitches, which wasn't discovered until halfway thru the foot and I don't have to frog the damned thing?

I promised an ipod cozy to a friend of mine, I have a worsted- variegated in yellow, orange and pink.. cheapie yarn (not something i'd use for anything wearable, but it works for the subject matter and can't seem to find a pattern thats working for me. Any ideas?

Sep 21, 2005

Gee why can't I function.

Update: Im mysteriously still awake, and plus one blog banner and button.
must.. sleep... soon..

Slept all of 2 hours last night. Non consecutively. Not sure why, just couldn't sleep.

I'm playing on the colors on typepad to get em closer to what they are here, just to see if it balances better.

Pros to blogger:
Free.
Ridiculously easy to use
Free
I'm already here
Free.

Pros to typepad
Ease of three column layout (which i prefer
I find the canned layouts easier to modify.
I like the categories
The sidebars are way easier to deal with.
Seem to be far fewer outages

I'm still undecided. Part of me really thinks i just shouldn't spend the money on typepad and that blogger will grow its feature set eventually.

Decisions, Decisions

So I'm messing around over on typepad to see how that feels to me.
Not making the jump just yet.. but playing around to see how I like the design features.

If you have some time, take a look over there >>Typepadtestblog
and let me know what you think
I'ts fledgling and the colors aren't right.. and I don't have my rings n stuff up.. but I'm tryng to decide if I like their layout flexibility better.

Sep 20, 2005

Whining

Its monday
I worked a 12 hour day
I missed going to the gym. Again.

This guy was in the office today
or some approximation of him anyway.

I don't mind meeces at all but they make my officemates nuts.

I discovered a drop stitch about 20 rows back in my sock (grrr I'm going ot sew it i think)
and a mistake in the very simple scarf I'm making with the purple Manos.

Snarl.
I'm going to bed.

Sep 16, 2005

Manos Desdemona (Desdemanos?)


Desdemona and the Manos pillow

Something fell on my head today.
Don't worry I wasn't hurt.. just horrified.
And I don't know what it was.

It was too big to be a raindrop, too small to be a bird...
and given the humidity in NY today, I fear it may have been a waterbug. (note: this is what we in NYC call the American Cockroach (don't look if bug phobic).

Now I can't say for certain thats what it was, since I just felt something fall on me and shook my head violently to make sure whatever it was didn't stay. But given my phobia, and my luck.. I'm convinced (perhaps irrationally) that it was.
And after something like that, one needs to go shopping.

I hit Knit NY which was just a block away from the falling bug zone. I'd heard negative things about it, but I didn't find them to be true. People were perfectly friendly and accomodating. I consoled myself with two hanks of Manos (which i wound in-store)

one in canyon multi



and one in aster:


plus two hanks of cascade 220 in burgundy heather -or something like that:


Desdemona approves:


Now what to do with the yummy yarn......

Sep 14, 2005

You mean it stripes by itself?

When I first went into IT, and I would fix someone's computer, I was always amazed that they were blown away by things I found simple to fix and completely disinterested in the stuff that I thought was impressive.

So I just learned to knit in April. And I'm happily plugging away at socks, on progressively smaller needles. And my stitches look better all the time, and i no longer get ladders... and I'm all proud of myself and stuff.. and when I show my work to a non-knitter what is it that impresses them?

The fact that the yarn is self striping.

"how do you get stripes like that?" "how does it know how big its going to be so it knows where to stripe?" argh.

Anyway..this is the sock, in progress

the brightness is off in this shot..



and this one shows that I can't keep my hand still..


and then this happened...


I really need a photo editor.
Or a door that closes well ;)

Sep 13, 2005

KIP with DPNS on the MTA

Love them acronyms.

Anyway, during my morning commute, I was knitting on the subway (workin on a sock), and dropped (as I seem to do a lot) the newly freed up dpn (size 2, silver colored aluminum) went skittering across the floor.

I don't know why I can't seem to hang on to them. I once had Metro North dismantle a seat for me to find a lost dpn. Anyway - I usually use bamboo for socks and have a hard enough time hanging on to those, but these were aluminum, and way too slippery and well.. gone it was. Plus.. its silver color blended into the (weird black speckled linoeleum) floor, well enough that finding it on a crowded NYC subway was not an easy task.

Fortunately many of my fellow passengers jumped in to help, some even went so far as to crawl around under seats to find it for me, and we were eventually successful!

And they say New Yorker's aren't friendly!

Sep 12, 2005

Secret Pal Revisited

I can't believe how cool my SP is!
She (she revealed that in this letter :), sent me a lovely note, with a lace pattern (and a sample).
I'm feeling very special.

Cast on last night for my mini-ringel socks. I'm using one of the patterns from the book my SP sent me, and they're coming out great so far.

You know how they say "join, being careful not to twist the stitches?" well, I said to myself the other day, after casting on in the round numerous times, "I never seem to have a problem with that."..

I jinxed myself. I've twisted on the join every time since.
Add that to accidentally knitting with the yarn tail, and its a wonder I ever actually knit anything.

Last night, I finally had a moment of inspiration (that I'm sure was obvious, but eluded me up until now), to use the yarn tail to tie the dpns in their proper place and direction until I finished the first round (gotta make sure to do it in the right direction tho so you can unravel it as you go from needle to needle). First time I didn't twist the join in weeks.

Sep 11, 2005

My first tag!

I got tagged by Domestic Overlord! I feel very official now :)

Ten years ago: I was married, living in an apartment I hated that had waterbugs, and obsessed with online trivia. I'd just started my present job, and I was probably a basket case. Took antidepressants for the first time around then. (i'm a big fan :)

Five years ago: I was just getting used to being single, Living where I am now, and making a lot of new friends. I was probably traveling a lot then, though I don't remember clearly. I started seeing a lot of live music around then, and learning who I am. 2000, as a I recall, was a good year.

One year ago: I had just started dating my boyfriend. (a few months at that point), and exercising regularly. I was in the midst of a successful diet (some of which I've undone), so a lot of time was spent at the gym. I was pretty damned happy this time last year :)


Five snacks:

  • fla-vor-ice
  • skinny cow ice cream sandwiches
  • laughing cow cheese on tlc crackers,
  • soy crisps
  • peanut butter filled pretzels

Five songs I know all the words to:

  • Dead Flowers, The Rolling Stones (covered by at least 10 different artists that I can think of offhand)
  • Suspicious Minds - A Mark James song that was made famous by Elvis
  • Love Hurts (any version that isn't by Nazareth, I'm particularly fond of the version by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris , and the version by the Jayhawks
  • Highway Patrolman- Bruce Srpingsteen (though I love the version Dar Williams did)
  • The Last Thing On My Mind- Either the Tom Paxton original or the one by Cry Cry Cry

Trying to narrow this to anything less than 200 was a challenge.


Five things I'd do with 100 million bucks:


  • pay off debt
  • buy an apt. in manhattan and a condo outside the city
  • give money to everyone I know and love to solve whatever their most pressing financial issue is and make their lives easier
  • start a foundation to donate the annual interest earned on about 50 percent of it to the charities that matter to me
  • Spoil myself and my boyfriend.


Five places I'd run away to:

  • The primary answer to this used to be New Orleans. I hope it will be again.
  • Chicago
  • the Berkshires
  • San Francisco
  • My friends' homes

Five things I would never wear:

  • jewelry or garmets that proclaim a religous affiliation (no offense to anyone who does, just not my style)
  • a tube top
  • anything in pastel yellow or green
  • a plaid mini skirt (or any mini skirt)
  • a flowered housecoat

Five tv shows:

  • West Wing
  • Gilmore Girls
  • Roseanne reruns
  • Mary Tyler Moore show reruns and
  • Jeopardy

Five joys:

  • Joy (my best friend for the last 20 years)
  • My boyfriend, my friends and the people in my life as a whole
  • Animals
  • Music
  • Good food

Five things to do, just for me, before I die:

  • Travel
  • Learn to sing
  • Arrange it so I really believe I can take care of myself properly
  • Visit everyone I've promised I'd visit
  • I'll come back to this one

Haven't figured out which 5 people I'm tagging yet, but I'll figure it out shortly!

Sep 9, 2005

I have the best Secret Pal ever!

(btw. I'm playing with template colors so forgive the constant changes)
Oh.. My...

I'm one lucky woman!

It is my first SP - SP5 and I got the best box of treats a girl could want today!

First of all - I have to say that the box was so well packed that the shipping dept. in my office was admiring how well they fit everything in!


First we have a lovely handwritten note - from which I'm learning of some common ground :)

Then we have the makings of this wonderful
cable scarf pattern that he/she sent -
  • 3 skeins of Lana D'Oro in a beautiful cranberry color.
  • 1 Irish Hiking Scarf Pattern (directions thereto)
  • 1 pair of Addi Turbos - size 8, 40 in!
  • A nice set of 3 Brittany cable needles - which came in...
a lovely (crochet i think) notions zippered pouch
(in many of my favorite colors) which was ALSO stuffed with goodies
  • assorted stitch markers, safety pins, stoppers etc
  • yarn needle
  • the aforementoined cable needles
  • a lovely clover yarn needle
  • pretty hand designed stitch markers
  • woolwash and gloves in a bottle!
Then we had reading material:
  • Cults in our Midst (which I'd mentioned I wanted)
  • Lucy Nealtby's Cool Socks Warm Feet - a great book of sock patterns which was
  • autographed no less!
  • Two brochures/maps of the local area (a clue!)
Last but not least - some pretty flowered tissues and funlight hoop lightstick earrings in blue!
One of my coworkers, who is not a knitter, said it was the most fun present she'd seen in a really long time! And she doesn't even knit!
I'm very grateful, very happy, and overwhelmed by the generosity of my secret pal!
Thank you thank you thank you!

Sep 8, 2005

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

A late post tonight, courtesy of a long day at work. My apologies for the lack of clarity, but I'm pretty damned fried.

First - a recommendation :
Richard writes a very well thought-out column called "Loose Cannon" every week for Direct Mag. http://www.directmag.com His column is generally on the front page, and is worth a regular read! More on this later (including a regular link on the sidebar) but in the meantime, just go check it out!

And some actual knitting content..
The pictures are very dark, I know. I'll fix them tomorrow when I'm in the office and can get to photoshop.

I am 3/4 of the way through sock number 2.



























It is by and large coming out better than sock number one, I'm getting used to the double points and now dont find myself laddering so much. I am, however having some difficulty picking up stitches evenly so I don't end up with these holes (as shown on sock #1)

But all in all I think I'm getting better at it.
I think some fingerless gloves may be next.

Here is a decent pic of the finished first sock


Sep 5, 2005

Flesh and blood need flesh and blood

So I gave blood yesterday- first time in about 20 years.
I'm very glad I did.

However,

I had what they mysteriously call "a reaction" afterward, which involved a bit of dizziness and possibly fainting, and that wasn't much fun. But the people at the NY Blood Center in Elmsford were right on it, and wheeled me quckly back to a very comfy chair (seriously, I want one at home, its like a craftmatic bed but its a chair and they let me play with the controls and everything. I'm like three years old so that really appealed to me ;) and got me all fixed up in no time. Evidently all I needed to do was put my legs higher than my head. I should be good at that.
If that's the worst that could happen, I'm glad to give again and often.

They need blood. Go donate!

I showed my finished sock (I'll post pictures later), around the office on friday.
Most people were very happy for me and I got the following suggestions

  • You should stuff it with potpourri and use it as a sachet
  • You should frame it
  • You should hang it off the side of your computer and use it to hold pens

At no point did anyone say "that should be a sock" ;) I don't know how to take that.

Sock number two is underway now. Maybe as a pair their use should be more obvious :)

Sep 3, 2005

Crafting Results

Well todayI woke up to discover
  • a. that my bathroom sink is leaking - not a big deal, its an exit leak and not using it takes care of that
  • b. that the light in the shower was burned out- not a big deal either, except that I can't change it by myself because I'm a moron.
What this adds up to mean is that I needed to shave my legs in the shower (not the sink as I usually do), in the dark, without my glasses (becuase they get wet).
I'm suspecting I missed a spot ;)

Here are some more online-crafty fundraising efforts for Hurricane relief

  • http://craftrevolution.com/craftersunited.htm
  • Knitwhits will donate 20% of all proceeds from online sales to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina Relief from Sept 1st through Sept 10th. Knitwhits will also match the first $1000 of funds raised.
  • Little Knits is donating all net proceeds for the next week and has a corporate partner who will match funds 100%.
  • the proceed for the sale of this pattern will be donated to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina aid.

Please give generously to your charity of choice.

Quickly- before I depart town..
Desdemona took her second treatment like a trooper - this time i succeeded in getting more of th
e fluid in her than on the couch.
My SP5's package is nearly ready and should be heading out this week

and I began my next pair of socks using this:

Regia Mini Ringel in 5219. A genuine sock yarn instead of the dk weights i'd been using.
I'm saving the Lorna's Laces until i get a little more adept.

A really nice person on the knitty board made some avatars for me, not sure which i like best yet- they are all very cute! I thank whoever it is (he/she is anonymous) very much!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Image hosted by Photobucket.com Image hosted by Photobucket.com
The same incredibly nice person made me blog buttons!
They're off to the right near the bottom!
Thank you wonderful avatarmaker/benefactor person!




Sep 2, 2005

Knitters - doing something

New Orleans...

I have visited the city 5 times I think. I felt at home there from the first visit, seduced by its one-of-a-kind charm, the fabulous food, the warmth of the people, and its walkability (a big plus for a New Yorker like me.) Every time I went I didn't want to leave and it was only necessity and an expanding waistline that got me to go home. It is hard to believe what that beautiful city and its people are suffering through now.

I've spent the day glued to my computer, squeezing in work between reading the news.
I don't know what I can say about the situation in Louisiana and neighboring states that hasn't been said already. It's unbearably, horribly sad. I'm wildly angry that there wasn't a better plan in place, I'm wildly angry about how it is being handled, and I'm wildly angry at the aftermath.
And I feel completely helpless to do anything.
Except make donations, and hope they help.

Someone on the Knitty boards had the (very good) idea to post knitting related fundraising efforts for hurricane relief. I'm reprinting them here in case anyone stops by.
Some really good ideas here. And of course there is the Red Cross (over there to the right>>>), and the UJC (mentioned in the previous post).

Katrina Relief - Knitters Unite to Help!
Webs to donate 10%
Full Thread Ahead - Knit A Teddy Bear

Do what you can.

Sep 1, 2005

Do Something

As posted on my office website today -


In light of the terrible pain and losses suffered by the victims of Hurricane Katrina, NJOP urges all its members and supporters to contribute directly to the United Jewish Communities which has the resources to deliver aid. Donations to the UJC Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund should be made payable and sent to UJC, Inc. Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 30, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10113. Donations may also be made online at http://www.ujc.org/

Additionally.. ABC news has a nice list of sites accepting online
contributions - tis here
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1083674