Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Slump

So working on DH's sock - boring. Plain stockinette. Need another project. But one that I can drag back and forth to work. Cannot afford yarn for other shrug ($15/ball), looked for a long time last night for what would seem to be a good substitute online (since I have no LYS), and hate that I can't feel the yarn through the computer! When will w have that capability? Huh?

Want to make the two-tie cardigan from Summer IK (speaking of IK, the freakin' fall preview is up already? It's MAY! Slow down!)

BTW, did anyone else notice that in the time it took me to complete a teeny tiny shrug, someone knit an entire intricately cabled sweater? Yeah, I feel really good about my abilities as a knitter now!

Thinking about sockapalooza 2 - since I can "enter" as a "beginner." Makes me feel a bit better about myself. I have until September, I can knit some socks in that amount of time! Plus, it would be fun to get socks I didn't have to make that came in the mail! Yea for mail!

Off to contemplate/cull the knitting books.

Monday, May 30, 2005

Details

I forgot to give the details about my shrug in the last post. So here they are:
Pattern:Staff Shrug Project from IK Summer
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Bubblegum - just over one skein.
Needles: SZ 10 US circulars
Started Monday May 16, Finished Wednesday May 25.

I'm a little disappointed in this project. It is very cute, and I was worried that I would dislike the color (too pink) I ended up really liking it. And I love me some cotton-ease! (Which Lion Brand does not say is being discontinued on its website - odd?)

But it's a bit small. Of course, I got gauge with my 10s, then, when I measured halfway through the project, my shrug was 1/2 inch narrower than it was supposed to be. It also ended up not reaching all the way to both elbows when on - kind of drives me nuts.

So, gift it or rip it?

Thinking that this might be the answer to my chilly factor at work. Looking for a substitute yarn though, so it doesn't cost me a fortune to make.

Saturday, May 28, 2005

shrug it off


shrug
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.
So - here is the finished shrug in all it's slightly blurry glory - I was trying to take the picture myself and don't know how to set the delay/timer on the camera - however, I did finally discover why digital cameras take so long to take the picture - they are waiting for you to push the button and pose! And yes - no head. Wouldn't want to scare y'all.

Trying to find the energy to go to work. It just stopped raining. Now, I love the rain (however, I HATE driving in it with all the other morons who live in Texas). I love to sit in my living room with the windows slightly cracked so I can smell the rain, drink tea and read. I don't even mind working on a rainy day because it keeps some of the crazies away. But right now I'm ticked off.

Because it's stopped raining - just in time for me (and everyone else who was waiting it out) to go out. And come to my place of business (retail - of course). Double that fun with the holiday weekend, add a dash of "school just got out for the summer", a pinch of "it's raining/might rain again, so we can't go to Six Flags" and it's enough to make me feel the need for a tranquilizer gun.

Started on DH's socks - chugging along. But camera died as I was posing for my fab photo, so pictures will have to wait until tomorrow.

Friday, May 27, 2005

Summer blues


deck 1
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.
So school's out for summer, and everyone is sad. DD was crying last night because she wanted to go to school today, but today she's already bored. Great.

And I'm blue because of the boredom and because I miss my kiddos.

My older nephew is staying with us today as his parents have to work, and all he and DD do is fight. Then they fight some more. They are best friends, but boy does he know how to push her buttons. He's also 4 1/2 years older than her.
I've drug them to my MIL's house b/c she has a pool - should keep them occupied for a while.

In knitting news - the shrug is finished! But I didn't have a chance to take a picture (due to an extreme case of laziness) so I'll try to get off my butt tomorrow and do that. I found a copy of the Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns at a used bookstore, and can't wait to put it to use. I'm going to use their sock pattern for DH's socks - I feel more secure with it, and it allows me to not do all the math I was facing (again with the laziness).

I'm having a strange urge to knit lace. I've never done a lace pattern before, but I'm craving a lightweight shawl and I love the Knitpicks laceweight yarn - so pretty! Any recommendations on a good beginner lace shawl pattern?

Two of my friends are suffering from SBS (second baby syndrome) and are due in the fall. One is having a boy and the other is being surprised. So, what to make for the surprise? Everyone keeps suggesting green/yellow, or waiting until after the birth, or making something blue and something pink and saving the extra item. But I can't decide. I don't really want to make another blanket right now, and this is a great time for babies - both are due in the fall, so I can make something they can actually wear in Texas!

My Tivo is suffering from depression. With the exception of one Knitty Gritty episode, it has NOTHING on the to-do list. All of my shows have ended - even my reruns of Felicity are back at the beginning. How am I going to knit all summer? I have the first disc from season one of the OC in the Netflix queue, and DH suggested we start watching 24, so that gives us some TV/knitting time, but not enough! My fingers are crossed that they will rerun season 4 of Alias, as we just started watching Alias via the Netflix in the middle of this season, so we didn't watch any of the current episodes.

This is turning into a novel (that's what ya get when I don't post for a week, and I actually have time to sit down and say something), so I'll say goodbye. Oh, before I forget, the picture is from the deck that DH is constructing over the mudpit in our backyard - he decided on Sunday when it was 99 degrees out that we needed a deck. I'll keep ya posted on the progress!

Friday, May 20, 2005

Hot, hot, hot

So, I told the DH that I was going to "pause" on his sock (I was trying to make surprise socks and he found the SIP - damn him, so this is his punishment) and make that shrug because, and I quote myself "If I make it now I might be able to wear it before it gets too hot." Current temp: 95°F, Feels Like 98°F.

It's too hot to move, more or less knit. I feel like I'm going to melt.....

On a more humorous note: When I got home from job #2 last night at 11 pm, DH told me I had an email from my sister, with a subject line "It's a miracle" (yes, he can read my emails if he wants too, luckily, he refrains, or at least I think he does!). He was pestering me to read it because he wanted to know what the miracle was (he thought maybe her house had sold the first week of the listing). I delayed reading the email until this morning, and had quite a hearty chuckle when I did read it, and I hope he read it, as I left it up on the screen.

To: Jenn
From: Sis
Last night, all by himself BF loaded the dishwasher, ran the dishwasher, took the garbage out, put it out on the curb! All without me asking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See, it really was a miracle!

Off to job #2 - too hot to drive in the car....

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

shrug take one


shrug take one
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.
So here's the shrug - it is obviously the shrug from IK with the ruffled sleeves. So far, so good. Love the way the cotton ease knits up, and I'm actually really liking this color - I was a little apprehensive at first.
Blogging may be light for a few weeks - I'm about to start working two full time jobs, so I'll be busy! But only until the end of June.

In other news I may throw my GD Tivo box out the window, as it cut off the crucial moment during Gilmore Girls last night. Had to surf the 'net to find out who said those words, and it's just not the same as seeing it. Cried when Lorelai watched Rory unpack - hate that they're fighting and "the Gilmores" took her side again.

Tivo better not mess up Lost tonight!

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

R-I-P


Miles 6 months
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.
So, I ripped out tempting last night. It really seemed like it was going to be too big. I'll decide later if I want to re-knit it. I did start on socks for DH over the weekend, but I'm not very far, so last night I decided to swatch and cast on for one of the shrugs from the new Interweave. I'll post pics tomorrow. But for now, here's my baby - my valentines day gift - he is 6 1/2 months old. His name is Miles Davis. Isn't he cute?

Sunday, May 15, 2005

FO!


Crazy Kitty
Originally uploaded by jenn_tx.
And I don't mean F*** Off........Finished Object, Finished Object, Finished Object!
It's been WAY too long since that happened! But it's true! It gets mailed off tomorrow! And all the angels in heaven sang!
But sadly, no photos, as to not ruin the surprise when you can purchase the pattern and all.
So instead, I give you kitty. Her name is Cocoa. She likes sitting on mommy's lap and biting (attacking) yarn. And sleeping like this until mommy wakes her up turning on the digital camera!
Tomorrow - new object on the needles and puppy pictures!

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Bad Bad Blogger

So apparently, I am still counted amongst the living. I myself am not really sure about this, as I feel mostly dead. But, as I have made it to work every day this week, I must be partly alive - at least enough to drive to work and function there.

These past two weeks have been CRAZY! Two weeks ago my week was like this:
Monday - work, work, class
Tuesday - work, company over
Wednesday - work, clean house, company for dinner
Thursday - work, work, class, start swatching for Amy, company over
Friday - work, work, coffee night, continue swatching
Saturday - knit for Amy ALL DAY
Sunday - knit for Amy ALL DAY with one hour break for groceries

Then, last week went:
Monday - work, work, final presentation, knit all night
Tuesday - work, knit all day, SnB
Wednesday - work, plan engagement dinner for friends. cancel engagement dinner. (they had other plans, not no engagement), knit all night
Thursday - pack, work, fly to Indiana, cast off on front
Friday, Sat, Sun - Indiana - knit in car between activities. enter 150 test grades in small chunks as server goes down over and over again. fly home

This week -
Monday - work, baseball game with DD, knit at game and after
Tuesday - work, engagement dinner (FINALLY), knit after
Wednesday - work, knit, company over, cast off on back.
Today - work, enter 150 final grades. enter 150 attendance grades. remember that have not written final paper for one class. S**T. don't want to.

But, big problem. I cast off on the back of Amy's project last night (after being in a state of dizziness from knitting back and forth too fast), started to seam, front and back DIFFERENT SIZES. S**T. Waiting to hear how to fix this (not me, pattern mistake). You would think I would have noticed this, but by the time I got to the back, I was ignoring everything and knitting as fast as I could. That's what I get.

Also, in the madness of the week came much summer job upheaval. I was supposed to work for a company I had worked for some years ago again this summer. I had been "hired' but no one ever called and told me when to show up. So I started calling. And calling. And calling. Finally spoke to underling who had no idea who I was...reassuring, right? Short end of story is that I am told I can work one shift a week. ONE SHIFT. Is that going to pay the mortgage?
So I call one of my old bosses who gives me a job immediately, 40 hours/week. Lovely company to work for. But I called first "boss" back, to tell her to take her job and shove it, and she has not returned my calls (again) for over a week. So I'm thinking letter to the district manager and not showing up for my ONE scheduled shift.

Anyway, enough ranting. Some things have been good. Saw a four-day-old zebra at the Indianapolis Zoo - so cute. Bought a cute purse at the Dollar Tree (my favorite store), got some Vera Bradley goodness from mama, and got this as a present from the professor I worked for this year. I love it, and it has my name embroidered on it!

I guess I should go write the damn paper. If I get it done I'm having bean and cheese burritos from Rosa's for dinner!

Friday, May 06, 2005

I'm alive

I'm alive. That's all I can really say. I finished the front of Amy's tank top as my plane lifted off from TX last night. I've finished the seed stitch bottom of the back. Miles of boring stockinette to follow. Woo Hoo.