The "Big Read" list

Stolen from Yumi's blog - (oh, and by the way I'm over yesterday's upset, don't worry, all is well again).

Books I've read are in bold (52/100).
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D'Urbervilles
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis (duplicate of #33!)
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (that's a lot of solitude...)
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Squished like a bug

My brilliant idea for the betterment of the company and my own position was turned down flat. Status quo is the way to go, apparently. I should feel appreciated that I am needed for my current task-set, but actually I feel more like no one else has time to do the shit-work I do, nor are they interested in trying to make the change. And further, my boss is annoyed at me.

Damn damn damn.

Nerves...

I have a meeting tomorrow morning with my boss, another department head, and a divisional VP about restructuring my job to eliminate (most) of the stuff I don't like and add in some stuff I will (mostly) like. It will be good for me, it will be good for the company, but it will make my current boss very unhappy and they may just say "NO" outright. I am a bundle of nerves right now...

R.I.P. George

I won't post dates or photos or pithy quotes, but just wanted to say that I'm very very sad about the death of George Carlin.

Revised - if you can't say anything nice...

Ok, so earlier this morning I posted about how I felt crappy and sore and whinge whinge whinge. Then I had a whinge-y, largely unproductive morning. Cause and effect. Post DELETED.

SNAP OUT OF IT! I have a well-paying job, a wonderful husband (who also has a well-paying job), a roof over my head, 2 loving (if moderately insane) cats, family and friends who love me and are loved by me, enough to eat, more books than I could read in a year if I had nothing else to do, and enough yarn to knit for another year if I had nothing else to do. There's even a few bucks a week for treats and little surprises here and there, and literally HOURS of leisure time to be as productive (or not) as I see fit. What the heck do I have to complain about?

Anything that I don't love about my life, it is up to me to make it change [1]. Pretending otherwise is a load of hooey. See this? It's my butt. See this? It's my own foot, kicking my own butt.

Ok, pep-talk over. I started knitting the Adagio Shawl (for Carole) last night - twice. Think I misred the pattern somewhat, so will try again this evening. I'm making it in Brett "Marble", which I think is going to be very pretty as it works up into gently-shaded stripes. Had a brief but fun visit at the Bridgehead SnB with the gals, including off-loading some what was I thinking? stash and acquiring some pretty new stash from the traveling stash bag - huzzah for free yarn!

Found out from Peter this morning that our Saturday plans are cancelled but new ones may be in the works - in the meantime, I think I am going to spend a chunk of Saturday morning on some domestic-bliss stuff. I haven't baked in ages, the living-room needs a tidy up, and I emptied my trunk into the porch last weekend to make room for golf bags. I figure a good solid hour of housework, then a couple hours of knitting before lunch, and leave the afternoon/evening open to "whatever".

Tomorrow, Miss Mok goes to the vet for her shots; I can't believe how big she's getting already! Such an affectionate little squirt she is, still working on the "no, we don't eat yarn" rule but she's learning a little every day. I think we are, too.

See, now I'm happy again. Blessings counted, coffee sipped, time to get back to some file management. How's your day?

[1] With the one small exception that my husband snores. Can't do anything about that!

Mid-year resolutions

Last night I was reading a wonderful article by the late Douglas Adams ("it's a sort of threat, you see...") about New Year's Resolutions and why they invariably fail. His main point was that people tend to stick them on random pieces of paper which they promptly lose. I see this point, as it reinforced my own tendency to lose track of stuff unless it's written down, checked and double-checked in a systemic way. This is, I've discovered, WHY I am 80% effective (or better) at work but absolutely a pathetic disorganized mess at home. At work, I have my Outlook, and everything goes in there - tasks, appointments, daily reminders, etc. At home, we have a Year-At-a-Glance wall calendar and a whiteboard in the hall for grocery lists and random notes. Not a real solid system.

So, I am going back to Day-Timer land. I've waffled back and forth from computer to paper-based organizing systems over the past few years and I've decided that I really need to keep 2 separate, but synched, systems. (Say THAT five times fast, I dare you). So for work, I will keep the Outlook system. But on my desk and in my bag and always within reach I am going to start keeping my Day-Timer, for personal notes, and lists, and plans, and maybe even some writing. I want to get back to writing, and I want to spend more time on important things like fitness and keeping the house pleasant (not antiseptic, but welcoming) and family and friends and so on. This requires a plan. Step 1 is get the Day-Timer and Step 2 is start writing stuff in it. Step 3 will be working out how to best organize it, but I think that will evolve over time.

So, some Mid-Year Resolutions:

1. At least 1/2 hour of physical activity per day - gym/garden/walk/yoga/something.
2. Re-evaluate the knitting project list, and estimate time to complete projects. Build a schedule (with some flexibility).
3. More balanced leisure time activities - especially for the summer, get outside more.
4. Write every day, at least 15 minutes. (Blogging doesn't count for this).
5. Cook a healthy meal at least twice a week, and clean up the kitchen immediately afterwards.
6. Go visiting or have company over at least every other weekend.

I've got other ones too about figuring out future plans, career consulting, etc. but there's not a real sense of urgency to those just yet. For the summer, these six goals are enough. I'll track my progress (in my Day-Timer, aha!) and see how I did, come Labour Day weekend.

Staying cool with a blue hue

Or, I don't feel like working so I'm playing with my blog template. :D

Updated the Project List, it keeps growing and growing and I seem to be knitting less and less lately - oh dear! But there's lots of summer left, and Mok will eventually outgrow wanting to eat my yarn, so progress will happen.

This weekend will be busy - this afternoon is our company picnic (whee, softball), tomorrow is the company golf tournament (I'm taking Dad as a Father's Day treat - we should have fun and there are prizes and stuff), and then Sunday we're doing the "family thing" for Father's Day. I expect to be totally exhausted by Sunday night but ah well, it will be good to be active. I've been feeling like a lump lately.

Peter and I have been talking about our holidays in August - we may do some location scouting for a possible change-of-lifestyle move sometime in the next couple of years. We keep kicking around a bunch of ideas but haven't really nailed anything concrete down as yet. I think it's going to be a case of finding a *place* we absolutely love, and building our life around that. Not that we don't love Ottawa, but we're both small-town people at heart and need to figure out what we really want our life to be.

But - deep thoughts for later - it's almost time to pack up for the picnic and then the weekend begins! Hope yours is great.

If I had a million dollars...

(Or another day of stupidity in the office) I'd go be a light-house keeper in British Columbia. Doesn't that sound lovely? Loads of knitting time, I'd bet...

Memo to summer:

The only time I want 100% humidity is in the shower.

Do you know what day it is?

It's June 6th, and this past Tuesday was a new moon, so it's... Convoy Day! (check the link for the lyrics)

http://www.narrowgauge.org/4x4/cw_pages/lyrics/spirit/convoy.html

And guess what I got my darlin' hubby truck-driver to celebrate? Convoy on DVD! Woot! Trucks for him, Kristofferson in a muscle-shirt for me. Oh yeah!

Yeah baby!

And more on movies!

Yeah, just finished a movie post on my blog and then found this on Yumi's:

One movie that made you laugh: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

One movie that made you cry: Truly, Madly, Deeply

One movie that you loved when you were a child: The Sound of Music

One movie that you've seen more than once: The Commitments

One movie you loved but were embarrassed to admit it: The Land Before Time (I flied? No, you falled...)

One movie that you hated: um... hrm. I can't think of any.

One movie that scared you: Silence of the Lambs

One movie that bored you: The Quick and The Dead

One movie that bored you but everyone loves and you don’t see why: Lord of the Rings (sorry!)

One movie that made you miserable: again, can't think of any.

One movie that you weren't brave enough to see: The Exorcist

One movie character that you've fallen in love with: Just one? Silent Bob.

Last movie you saw: The Mission

Next movie you hope to see: National Treasure 2

Your favorite movie: Tombstone

It's alive!

Yes, I'm feeling better today, thank you. Soup and sleep (aka rest and fluids) is the best prescription in the world - though of course adding some Tylenol to zap the fever was necessary! Went to bed at 7 last night and slept like a rock, feeling fine this morning other than a slight achiness, but I think that's mostly inactivity - I haven't been to the gym in forever.

I need to upload kitty and knitting pictures but I'm posting from work, so instead I will give you some movie reviews! Recent stuff we've watched, and what I thought of it, just for a change of pace...with knit-ability notes, of course! ***SPOILERS***

Hot Fuzz: From the "Shaun of the Dead" guys, if you liked SotD you'll like this one - lower gore level, slightly smarter jokes, and lots of the same types of setups. A fun little twist towards the end made for a nice surprise. Not good for detail knitting, as lots of the fun is visual so you need to pay attention to the screen.

Sense and Sensibility: Yes, it's taken me over a decade to get around to seeing this - and honestly, I probably wouldn't have except I heard that Hugh Laurie was in it. Turns out Alan Rickman is also in it - woot! Lovely film, lots of pastoral scenery and sharp, really REALLY good dialogue, which (in my opinion) elevates it above the normal tragedy-with-a-happy-ending. Great knitting film, as I only needed to look up when Alan Rickman or Hugh Laurie were on screen. Got most of a leg of sock done.

The Mission: Jeremy Irons, Robert De Niro, and a very-much underused Liam Neeson trying to save "new world indians" from the combined forces of the Catholic Church, Spain and Portugal. You know they don't, you know that going in, but you still hope and hope... Gorgeous scenery, very understated performances by Irons and De Niro. Sad, sad movie. Lots of knitting, as most is dialogue and the battle scenes are pretty gruesome.

We Are Marshall: As I said to the family, "Football for dad, sad story for mom." This delivered both in spades - a real tear-jerker and bone-cruncher in one movie. I particularly liked the way the plane crash was handled at the beginning of the film - because really, the movie's about what happens AFTER, and it was well done that way. Not a lot of knitting, because this one calls for close attention to facial/body language and the football was edge-of-your-seat stuff.

The Number 23: Ok, this was equal parts cheezy conspiracy crap and creepy pyscho-manipulation crap - but still watchable and actually kind of enjoyable, if you can just get beyond the sheer coincidence levels. Convincing performances by Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen (I like her anyway, don't see enough movies with her) - pretty good knitting flick, most things can be listened to rather than watched closely.

And... that's lunch! Back to work time. Have a good day!

A *slight* case of plague...

Yesterday dawned fresh and crisp and I greeted the day well-rested and full of enthusiasm. Met Carol for breakfast as usual, got some work done, met the new co-worker (Virginia, who shows every sign of being a fabulous addition to our team), and then somewhere just before lunch - blargh. Fever. Chills. Dizzy spells. Muscle aches. Oh good LORD what the hell is going on with me? Home again home again, to curl up under a blanket and be brought eggs and tea by my hubby, and cuddled by the cats. Early to bed, skipping the Detroit/Pittsburgh game.

5 a.m. Alarm goes off. I rise, feeling like I have a MILLION blankets on me when in fact there are none. Bathroom, thermometer, temp of 102 degrees. Oh good LORD what is going on? Dizzy as hell, phone the office and back to bed after a glass of juice and some Tylenol. Slept to 11 a.m., temp down to 99 degrees. Better. More juice, Tylenol and couch time. Knit a big chunk of Peter's new sock. Watched "The Mission" with Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro (depressing movie).

Now it's almost a quarter to seven and I am TOTALLY wiped out - I had a sandwich and lots more juice and even a half-mug of half-caf coffee to prevent the caffeine withdrawl headache. One more dose of juice and Tylenol and I am going back to bed with my hubby and my kitties (did I mention the girls are getting along ok now? As long as Mok doesn't steal Squeeky's treats, they're happy to be sharing space now). And tomorrow, I will go to work. And if this crap happens again, I'm calling the doctor, because mysterious high fevers with no other apparent symptoms are scary- especially if you watch "House" (which we do). On the plus side, I'm pretty sure it's not lupus.

PSA - It's a Girl!

Yes, apparently we were misled as to the gender of our beloved little Mok - she is without question a GIRL kitty, not a boy kitty. Peter had her napping on his lap Friday night, looked down at the fuzzy little belly and pointed out that the equipment was not correct for a boy kitty. Oops! Ah well, we love her anyway, and now she and Squeeky are starting to get along better too.

Busy weekend, full report later (I need to take pictures and put up links and stuff). Happy Monday all!

Maybe I should rename the blog "Life with Mok"?

So, after 48 hours the cats are getting closer to a rapprochement - last night I had Squeeky sleeping at my feet, and Mok sleeping on my head! What a truly bizarre sensation that was - of course, this was after an extended "settling-down" period where we had to keep retrieving him from inside the night table, the recess in the headboard, under the blankets, etc. (Under the blankets is *bad* place for small kitten with very pointy claws, if you know what I mean). But they are getting better - as Peter said, if Mok would just stay still for awhile so Squeeky could get a good sniff of him, she'd probably relax, but the little guy is just in CONSTANT motion, except when he's asleep.

He's a climber - up the couch, up the bed, up the (bare) legs [ouch!], up the chair to the desk - he walked across my keyboard last night while I was fishing in WoW - thank heavens it was fishing and not a battle of some kind! He likes the images on the computer screen, and TV - if he wasn't such a hyper little monster I'd worry about him becoming a couch-potato kitty.

The upside of this all, other than the utter adorableness of things, is that it's forcing us to keep a much tidier house. We can't leave ANYTHING out that he could get into, need to be sure and keep closets and cupboards closed, no stuff on the floor, etc. Who knew that having a kitten was good for your housekeeping skills?

Weekend coming up - huzzah! Big yarn trip to Perth this Sunday, and I think tomorrow I will try and get Dad's sweater fixed (assuming I can keep Mok from eating the yarn, of course). I can't believe May is over already, my God this year is flying by!

Our new addition

Mok'Thar, Eater of Worlds.

"Mok" or "Demon" for short. He's 10-12 weeks, irresistable, very energetic and pointy. I have scratches to prove it, but they were in playfulness, not anger. He's also very talkative, so he gets the sub-nick-name Squeeky Two. Squeeky One is not terribly pleased with the wee interloper, but they will make friends, I'm sure. Little Mok has one *minor* flaw - he likes to play with string. Yeah, I've locked up the knitting. *sigh* He will learn, in time, that yarn is not a toy. But for now he's exploring, and we are trying to just keep him from chewing all the electrical cords in the house, never mind the yarn. Cute, isn't he?

It's all in the presentation

There is not a hat in the WORLD that doesn't look good on Yumi. This one, however, looks TOTALLY adorable. Really - I mean, look at it on the table -


- still a cute hat, but not irresistable. On Yumi, it is *irresistable*. By the way, this is the fabulous Golden Snitch Hat (click link, scroll down) from Marian's super-clever brain, knit in her ever-wonderful hand-dyed Suffolk Wool. Go buy some!

The baby blanket pictures came out bizarrely blurry, so will follow later - I'll ask Peter to reshoot. The ones I took look eerily like an acid flashback.

Go Speed Racer!

So last Monday, we are at a bbq/party partly for Victoria Day but mostly for Scott & Laurie, who are departing soon for Toronto. The guests of honour were absent as they were busy at the hospital having a baby! Woot! She's cute, they're all happy and healthy. Go them!

So meanwhile, the rest of us are feasting and gabbing, and there with us are John and Barb, who are ALSO about to have a baby (in fact, I think she's due this week). And they are sweet and wonderful people too, and so - I knit them a baby blanket. Started it Tuesday (as part of the Great Stash Sort Project), and finished it just this minute. Pictures to follow, they're on Peter's camera, along with the GSSP photos which I hope to get up on Ravelry soon!

The specs on the blanket are: 2 skeins Freshisle Fibers Suffolk Wool, colourway "The Island" and a few yards of the same yarn in the natural (undyed) for the edging. 6mm Addi Turbo, 80 stitches in basketweave as borrowed from Laurie Perry (Crazy Aunt Purl)'s "Magic Scarf", although I'm sure it could be found elsewhere. Finished size 19" x 28", unblocked, because it's machine washable (hooray!) and should be washed with only baby-safe soap for the wee one - which means the parents have to wash it, not me. Mwahahaha! Now, to get it to them!

It's been a weird but good weekend - yesterday was weird, today is good. I sat in the garden (appropriately sunscreened and bug-sprayed) for about an hour and a half, with first my knitting and then my book. So peaceful, so sunny and wonderful... and then I had to come in because Peter is roto-tilling the garden, which is not peaceful. :D Next weekend, we will plant! Tomatoes and Potatoes and Carrots and ... other stuff. Who knows, whatever strikes our fancy this year. But definitely LOADS of Tomatoes and Potatoes.

And now, as the roto-tiller is tilling merrily away, I am going to watch King Kong and knit on my cardigan. Happy Sunday!

Things that make you feel old...

A new co-worker is inquiring about recordkeeping from 20 years ago, and the department head says, "Oh, we have these on microfiche." New guy: "What's microfiche?"

Oh. My. God.

Look! Socks!

Ok, so in truth these socks were completed in March - BUT - I just got the pictures off Peter's camera. Look! Socks!

Good Idea, but...

Eyes bugging out from the computer. Body tired from the chair. Think to self, "Aha! Go have a nap in the truck at lunchtime, get some rest and fresh air and sunshine."

Walk to parking lot. See no truck. Do mental head-smack when realizing that truck is at Park N Ride and you took the bus to work today.

*sigh* no nap, revised plan, read Kinky Friedman novel. Hilarious. Sunshine good. Back to work. Note to self: take the bus home tonight, you have no truck today.

I hate shoes

You ever reach into your closet, pull out a pair of last year's sandals, put them on, and have blisters on both sides of both feet by noon? Yeah. That's my day. That's two pairs of last year's sandals that have injured me (the first, a really expensive pair of Dr. Scholl's, had a piece of fishing-line stitching that cut open the top of my big toe at the base of the toenail).

So I have a scruffy pair that are not fit for work, and a reasonably good pair which, it appears, I can't buy again (last year's shoe remember? argh). So now I have to buy new sandals because I can't wear the same ones every day, they are leather and will get stinky in a hurry if they don't get aired out between wearings. Argh and argh and argh again.

Maybe I should invest in a good pair of Birkenstocks - do they last more than a year? *sigh* I hate shoes. But I love socks!

Monday Monday

Did you ever notice that the stereo quality on that track (actually, on all Mamas & Papas tracks) is really poor? The guys' voices are in one ear, the gals' in another. Probably means something deep. Maybe not. Dunno.

I did finish mom's Mother's Day socks on time, however we didn't do the Mother's Day thing yesterday because Peter had worked 16 1/2 hours on Saturday and just needed to not go anywhere yesterday. All good, I got more knitting done! The first Golden Snitch Hat is complete except for 1 of the 2 I-cord ties off the earflaps. For my first try at intarsia, I'm reasonably pleased with it, although I think I goofed on the chart a couple times, but I fudged it with backstitch so it looks ok. The second one will be better. Pictures to follow. I think actually with the second one I may add a few stitches as well because it is VERY snug at pattern size, and I think one of my recipients has a slightly larger head than I do. I think another inch will do it. Fun, quick knit though, even with the fiddling around with three colours. Yay Marian!

Today seems to be 2 steps forward, 1 step back, so I am making progress but slowly. One task that should have taken all morning took less than an hour, so I started on tomorrow's work but keep making stupid mistakes. My head is not in the game today, and I don't know why - I'm well-rested, well-fed, and in a pretty good mood. Must be the weather.

Tonight I am going to my first Ottawa Knitting Guild meeting - should be very interesting, it's the election of Officers night and I think you learn a lot about an organization from that type of meeting. Plus so many of my local knitting friends are members, it just makes sense that I join so I can see the gals more often! Looking forward to it.

Speaking of looking forward, next week is mine and Peter's 1st wedding anniversary, and because of his work schedule being a bit weird, he gets Tuesday off (because the guys he depends on for his work get Monday off - bizarre but whatever). So I'm taking the day off as well - YAY 4-day weekend! - and looking forward to some quality time together. Weather permitting, we will probably get the garden in and the flower beds cleaned up and annuals planted. If it rains, well... there's always Warcraft and movies. And knitting! I got an early anniversary present, some pretty alpaca-blend sock yarn, but first I want to finish off some of the existing UFOs. Starting the second Globe sock tonight. Woot!

What did Barbra sing? I'm still here?

Yes, I live. I've been busy, I've been sick, I'm getting better, life is generally ok. The Habs are out of the playoffs (boo), the Wings are in the Conference Final (yay!). I am 2 weeks away from my (ok OUR) first wedding anniversary. I've been knitting! Someday I will liberate the photos from Peter's camera... suffice to say the project list for the year is ticking along nicely.

Hm, what else? Spring has sprung, I am wearing skirts to work when weather permits, and Peter and I are back out having a bit of a social life again (when I'm not in bed with the Tyrolean Death Flu, like last weekend...). We are going to be tackling the garden soon. I have plans to play golf with Dad the weekend of Father's Day (hopefully sooner also, but that is PLANNED). Work is work, busy but I'm mostly keeping on top of things. I'm enjoying taking the bus to and from, catching up on a lot of reading (which leaves evenings and weekends for knitting!). Very much looking forward to the upcoming long weekend and the start of our summer hours (yay Friday afternoons off). Oh, and I got a new haircut - think 80s short spikes. Very easy, very Vogue (ha ha yeah right). And my Paladin is one good afternoon away from 70.

There - summed up. I live. How are you?

What a difference a day can make

So yesterday, yeah, I was feeling kind of frumpy and frowsy and whatever. Came home, had a GOOD dinner with Peter, and crawled into bed to listen to the last bit of "The Book Thief" on audiobook. I cannot recommend this book enough, I think EVERYONE should read it (or listen to it), it is FABULOUS. Sad and sweet and hopeful and just wonderful beyond words (although words, largely, is what it is about). SO glad I joined the Ravelry book group who picked it as this month's book, otherwise I would probably never have heard of it. Wonderful, wonderful book, and I managed to not cry but came close at the end. And that's all I will say, because you should go read it and I don't want to spoil it for you. Go get it. Really.

Today was great at work, I got a lot done and had two productive meetings! I went for a walk in the sunshine and bought a new book I've been wanting to pick up for awhile. And on the way home, stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up something for Peter and found THE BAG. The perfect commuting bag. It's the right size, has dividers and pockets, is firm-sided (not hard, but rigid, if you know what I mean), zipper top, and *gasp*! It's RED. Honestly, this is about the girliest bag I have EVER owned (and I have a pink gym bag, so that's saying something). It literally snapped my head around when I caught it in my peripheral vision and I intimidated another woman out of buying it. (She was looking at it and I came up RIGHT BESIDE her and wouldn't move until she put it down and went away. There was only one bag. I NEVER EVER do that.) It made me feel good in a way that material possessions very rarely do, like I could build a whole wardrobe (from Value Village, etc.) around this bag and actually look swanky and attractive.

And now I'm home and Peter is about to make me dinner, and the whole evening is ahead to relax in (well, and deal with one load of laundry, but that's minor). I may knit, I may game, I may surf Ravelry and blogs. I haven't decided yet, but I do feel awfully good right now. What a difference a day can make.

Non-knitting (dis)content

So I'm wearing my new sweater today, getting some nice compliments, but my pants don't fit right so I don't feel as good as I could (waist/hips ok, but about 1" too short on the inseam). In fact, I have ONE pair of pants that fit comfortably AND look flattering, and they're jeans. I need pants. I also need new shirts for the office, all my golf shirts are at least 2 years old and starting to look bedraggled. I would like some skirts that are both comfortable and flattering, because Peter likes it when I wear skirts. :)

Basically, I want a whole new spring/summer wardrobe. However - not really in the budget, unless it's done Value-Village style and I have SO little patience in thrift shops. And I would really REALLY like NEW. But unfortunately the quick look I had at Wal-Mart last week shows that this year's "fashions" are totally not my style (or at least, not my comfort level). I don't wear cap sleeves because they make my upper arms look fat and I'm always cold in them. I don't wear Empire waist stuff because (IMO) that makes people look pregnant, and I definitely don't need that. I don't wear anything that shows my belly button. Basically, nothing new (that I can afford) is going to fit and flatter me.

That's my little gripe for the day. I like my new sweater (not love, as it too is about 1" too short for my comfort), but am pretty much on the point of hating every other piece of clothing I own. Someone send the money truck please?

Sunday sunday...

And things are good. Finished my Cotton Sweater yesterday (Yumi is sending pictures), both my teams are winning their playoff series, and we've had some quality weekend relaxation. Not quite enough time on chores but will deal with those this afternoon - food and friends and fun come first. And today, for extra fun, there is a NINE HOUR Beethoven marathon on Radio 2 - all nine symphonies, in a row. As I said to Peter, "We are so *bleep* cultured." Really, it's awesome. AND the forecast for the week is sun and temps in 2 digits! Woot!

Ok, a small rant

Three blog posts in one morning, good grief.

What does it say about me that after reading half-a-dozen knitting blogs that are more about people's babies than their knitting, that I switch over to the gay male knitblogs for relief, and am then ANNOYED AS HELL when they are featuring baby pictures also?

Good grief.

For N8an and Kid

10 Things that bring me Joy (in no particular order) - actually, mine are more experiences...

• Waking up before the alarm, and really WANTING to get out of bed
• Driving with the windows open and the radio cranked
• Turning a sock heel
• Baking bread
• Napping in the sunshine
• Finishing stuff... laundry, dishes, work assignments... stuff being DONE
• Eating really GOOD chocolate
• Drinking really GOOD coffee
• Watching movies or hockey with B&K, and totally failing to watch the movie or hockey
• Falling asleep with Peter and Squeeky curled up next to me, and knowing they will be there in the morning.

Ok, sentimentality over for now. :D

Shh! It's Spring (I think)

Yesterday (Saturday) went almost entirely according to plan. I got up at six, baked an apple crisp, did a load of dishes and 2 loads of laundry whilst listening to "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" on the TV - after re-hooking up the TV of course, we moved it when we rearranged the living room Friday night. Nice.

Then breakfast and I settled into my comfy chair with the Audiobook of "The Book Thief" and my Cotton Sweater. Listen, listen, knit, knit, from a little after 8 to about 2:30ish. With snacks and things of course, but I got a sleeve and a half done and then a lovely chair-nap while Peter watched "Donnie Brasco" (how I slept through that movie I do not know).

Then for a change of pace I logged into the Draenor server and played my little Horde characters for awhile, including rolling up a new alt (I'm getting alt-itis on that server, I swear!). Great folks in the Twisted Stitches guild, though I did feel a smidge guilty for not playing my Evil Monkey toons with the family. However, lots of time for that today!

Today's plan is up early again (duh, it's 7 a.m. on a Sunday), breakfast with Carol and then yarn shopping for her new project, then back home to put away the clean laundry and dishes before I game with Mom for the afternoon. Peter's on a road-trip (training) today leaving late afternoon, so I'm pretty much on my own for the evening. Knit or WoW, knit or WoW... ah, I'll decide later.

Happy Sunday!

Wherein we contemplate public transit

Well good morning! (to quote Norm)

Yesterday and today I'm on a training course and rather than pay $12/day to park my car, I left it at the Park'n'Ride (free parking woot!) and took the bus. It's been about 5 years since I rode the bus and I'd forgotten how relaxing it is (when the bus is on time and the weather is good and there's no one stinky next to you, of course). I can read and sip my coffee and not worry about the traffic. Nice.

However - knitting, not so good. I tried working on my sock-in-progress a bit on the way home yesterday and with the constant jerking at stops and whatnot, it was just not flowing. Might work for something small on a circular perhaps, but bamboo DPNs and sock yarn? not so much.

Hubby and I talked about it and I'm going to investigate the cost of an EcoPass vs. the cost of running the car all the way downtown and back every day. It will probably add 15-20 minutes to my morning commute but will likely reduce the afternoon commute by the same amount (which is nice, because at the end of the day I just want to GET HOME, you know?). To be considered.

Meanwhile, it's Friday, and I'm in this course again all day (and poor Stephen next to me is wondering what on earth I'm typing so furiously this early in the morning), which means lots more sock-knitting time. Woot!

OH - and word of advice - if you're in a 2-day computer course and are prone to backache, getting those Thermacare heat wraps is a GOOD idea. That and my knitting got me through the day yesterday.

Found!

Crisis averted, earrings were found. :D

Today I'm on day 1 of a 2-day MS Project course, and from start time 8:30 to lunchtime 11:30 I've achieved about 2 1/2" of sock. Not bad for a morning's knitting with frequent interruptions for keyboard tasks!

SO looking forward to the weekend, Peter and I have been very diligent on our household chores this week so the laundry is all clean (needs to be put away some) and the kitchen is spotless, the house is vaccuumed and reasonably tidy... weekend is going to be all about the knit, and a good book, and some baking and relaxing. Mmm. Relaxing.

Back to the sock!

Uh oh

I can't find my earrings for 2 days now. Seriously worried I left them at the gym, but I called down and they haven't been turned in. Hoping they are at home somewhere.

This would not be a crisis except that these are the earrings Peter bought me for Valentine's a few years ago (after I lost one of the pair he had given me for our first Christmas...). They are not expensive but are the only ones I wear.

ARGH!

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled Wednesday.

Out like a (soggy) lamb

So this morning, March 31st there is a freezing rain/snow/hail/ice pellet/rain warning on the radio. But it's supposed to be +4 by lunchtime and I'm safe warm and dry in the office, so no drama.

A good weekend - finished Peter's boot socks (just in time, for all the rain forecast this week and his rubber boots DO leak), organized 1 of 5 bookshelves, did some household paperwork and cleaning and laundry. Spring is definitely in the air!

Looking forward to starting Mom's mother's day socks this week, I got the yarn out of the bin Friday and it's sooo pretty, nice warm caramel brown and soft grey with touches of purple. I will have Peter take a picture of the skein before we wind it up for knitting. I have 2 days on course this week so that should give me a good jump on the socks!

Looking WAY ahead...

Looking ahead to the 2010 Knitting Olympics - I was thinking about it driving in to work this morning. I am going to take the whole time off from work (2 weeks of hibernation and knitting in February? check!), and knit Peter his Fisherman Sweater. That gives me LOADS of time to work out the pattern (I'm going to design it myself) and to save up my pennies for the yarn. I've decided I'm going to use Marian's Freshisle Fibers natural Suffolk wool, and while it's not expensive, a sweater's worth will be a (reasonable) investment.

The extra-cool thing about this plan is that Peter's 40th birthday is within a couple of weeks after the Olympics, so I can give him this sweater for his birthday!

I love making big plans. :D

Easter review

I think Spring has arrived at last, and I think spending a good part of the long weekend with various family members helped enormously! Good Friday we had a nice lazy day at home and then spent the evening with Mom, Dad, Karen, and Michelle, eating finger foods and watching the HORRENDOUSLY BAD (but funny as heck) Stargate: SG1 movie which just came out. Bad movie, good times. I finished the Tequila Sunrise socks and presented them to Mom, and immediately started in on sock #2 of Peter's Suffolk Wool Boot Socks.

Saturday we noodled around the house a bit and in the midafternoon headed out to the country to spend the night with Peter's brother and sister-in-law. They have a lovely place in a conservation area, so loads of birds and squirrels and bunnies and deer in the backyard. Very cool and very restful, plus a fabulous Easter dinner of baked ham with all the trimmings. Mm good.

Sunday morning watched "The World's Fastest Indian" - terrific movie, Anthony Hopkins was wonderful in it and a great (true) story. Then home again, with a stop for brunch along the way, and some chores and such before a CSI marathon. Pretty much a perfect long weekend - I even got Jake (my WoW main) to level 68!

So now, back to work yesterday and today, and even though I am stupidly busy, I'm feeling good and in control. There's lots to get done but it's manageable. AND - the air *feels* like Spring. It's still cold, and blowing, and supposed to snow a bit tonight, but I can feel the Spring coming on. Is good.

Will post pictures of the socks and deer ASAP - meanwhile, have a terrific day!

The cure for winter

The cure for winter is as follows:

Mix 9 good friends with one prima donna cat in a comfortable living room. Add finger foods in generous (but not gluttonous) amounts, sprinkle liberally with good stories and laughter. Finish with decadent desserts and hugs all round.

Winter is SO Yumi's bitch. She and Bundy kicked winter's ASS last night. What a lovely lovely party - I was having so much fun I forgot to knit.

Kudos, kiddo!

Still not spring yet...

Ok, work and money stresses aside, I think I've got a serious case of the late-winter blues. I've been home all week and the longer I am here the less I feel like doing. Haven't knit in 2 days. Haven't done laundry since the weekend. Haven't cooked a real meal since Tuesday (and that was slow-cooker cooked, so hardly counts). Been in my PJs all week (yes, I'm bathing). And I just don't FEEL like doing anything. Been playing WoW yesterday and today and today I don't really even feel like doing that (besides I have a pounding headache again today).

I am catching up on rest, yes. But I feel like a lump, torn between the need to rest and recover and the need to actually get stuff done. At the same time I'm almost at the point of not caring if it gets done, which is BAD.

So I give myself the rest of today to wallow in whatever this funk is, and tomorrow morning I'm setting my alarm and Getting Things Done, enroute to getting back to social life and work. But for right now - maybe I'll find an old movie on TV and eat some popcorn. Peter's napping so I have to be quiet anyway.

How many days til Spring?

Argh

Ok, this is going to be short and whiny. I had to frog mom's tequila sunrise sock #2 again - argh. I've got to take the rest of the week off work due to IBS flare-up of doom - argh. I can't have coffee due to the IBS so I've got an extended caffeine-deficiency headache, compounded by snow blindness every time I look out the stinkin' window. Argh ARGH ARRRGH!

That's all, I'm done. I'll be back when I'm in a better mood.

We're still here

Well, the scary weather forecasts were right, and if I look out my back window, I see snow that is up to the tops of the 5' tiki torches around our back deck. I'm trying to not look, because frankly that's just too damn much snow.

So, happy thoughts. Sunday is a new week and that calls for new perspective, so I wll take a moment to review happy things from last week:

1. I got a raise at work, and assurances that they LOVE me and never ever want me to leave. Which is nice, because things are finally getting to a point where I can't really see wanting to leave, not for a good long time anyway.
   
2. Had a lovely knitting lunch on Friday with Nancy and Kathy and Carol. Kathy is moving to Ottawa, her hubby just recently took a job at my company, so this was a "welcome-to-town" informative lunch. Nancy got a new job (yay!) and Carol finished her 2nd-ever project (1st ever FINISHED), and I worked on mom's Tequila Sunrise sock #2. A great lunch.
3. Peter, also on the work front, has been told that he's in line for a promotion of sorts (change of run from local to daily linehaul) as soon as they can get the logistics of it worked out. They LOVE him there too.
4. Leftover news - my niece is going on an archeological dig this summer in England. Hadrian's Wall! I'm beyond jealous and so very very proud of her. She's 20 and knows what she wants to do with her life. Who has that kind of certainty at that age these days?

Other happy things... ok, I admit it, I ran out. It was a rough week and today is the time change so I'm an hour less well-slept than usual. However, I get to spend all day with my hubby and that is always a happy thing!

I need to finish the 2nd Tequila Sunrise sock by the end of this week to stay on schedule - I'm almost back at the heel turning so this should not be too difficult to manage. Then on to boot sock #2!

Happy Sunday everyone.

Beware the "weather bomb"

Ok, Environment Canada and the Weather Network and all the local media outlets are conspiring to scare the bejeezus out of everyone with the upcoming weekend's forecast. Anywhere from 5-50cm of snow, wind, "storm that will make you re-think the word 'storm', " plagues of locusts, fire and brimstone... you get the idea.

Now, I admit that I am tired of winter and not a fan of blizzard-y type weather. HOWEVER - they've been tracking and "warning" about this storm for 2-3 days (since the last one, actually), and none of the numbers add up, or even come close to agreeing. It's like they're trying to cause a panic, but the kicker is THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW! Frustrating, scary, annoying - pick your negative adjective. I'm tired of it. Yes, I will pick up extra food on the way home tonight so that Peter has a full lunchbox for his overnight shift (stopping at a drive-through won't be an option, I suspect). Yes, the pot-luck of birfday goodness is being postponed a week for collective safety. However - I am not going to be panicked. I'm going to knit, and game, and cook, and blog, and watch TV like any other weekend. And I'm NOT watching the Weather Network. Phooey on them.

March - ugh

Freezing rain, snow in the forecast, and all hell breaking loose at work again. *sigh* AND I had to frog the pink sock #2 back to zero 'cuz I messed up the heel. *sigh* On the bright side, Mom wants the pink socks, so they will be a belated birthday present - she still wants the other ones for Mother's day. They suit her much better than me, anyway, and will make her happy.

Other than that, let me see... well, N8an's birthday is this week and Peter's is next week, so those are happy things (and there will be a potluck-type dinner and movie on Saturday night). And Easter is this month, so we get another long weekend soon. And my raise (whatever it will be) takes effect on the First Day of Spring! There, nice positive happy thoughts.

In like a lion, out like a lamb... only 28 days 'til the "out" part. :D

Woohoo on schedule!

All the February projects are finished on time, and there are two days left in the month. Woohoo! So, today and tomorrow lunch/evening will be blanket-square knitting, which makes me feel good. Then Saturday I tackle into that 2nd pink sock (yes, I am knitting *mostly* pink socks - for me. You may now giggle if you like).

That's the knitting update - the rest of life is being life... work is very busy right now, and I somehow pulled my IT band at the gym yesterday so it's VERY sore and I didn't work out today. Will try for tomorrow, and I'm scheduled for a 3-mile walk on Saturday. I think the trick may be some extra stretching and perhaps epsom salts baths after my long walk. Hoping to spend some quality time in the kitchen this weekend too, get some big-batch cooking and baking done, and Friday night we're taking my paladin and Dad's out for our Epic Mount quest! Woohoo! AND - tomorrow is the end of February. Yay for the end of February!

Happy weekend early!

Palindrome and getting back on track

Hey there hi there ho there, it's the weekend and there is knitting! First up, FO pictures of Neill's Palindrome, which he likes very much (yay!):


Again, a million thanks to Kraftie for her lovely handspun, which made the pattern really work up beautifully.

Next, I'm pretty well on track with the "schedule" for February - I did a whole one of Erika's slippers this morning and have the other one underway (frogged the original in LB Homespun, restarted in Patons Shetland Chunky), and Peter's first boot sock is heel turned and almost done the gusset, ready to get the foot rolling. Should be done in plenty of time for the slipper and sock classes, respectively.

The rest of February knitting is going to be blanket squares, and there's a reason why. Yesterday morning I dropped off another batch of blankets to the shelter, and one of the young men waiting outside (for breakfast, I believe) engaged me in a brief conversation:

"Good morning miss, bringing more blankets?" (he remembered me from a previous delivery)
"Yes, a few."
"Oh, I hope I get one this time..."
(Sound of my heart breaking)

It cannot be overstated how much these blankets (hell, ANY blankets) are needed, and more, how much they are APPRECIATED. So this weekend in addition to knitting more squares, I will be doing a linen-cupboard purge to pull out some extra 'commercial' blankets that we don't use/need, and they will go along with the next delivery. There's still a lot of winter left.

It's alive!

Ok, I've managed to survive a whole day in the office and ready to head out for my sock class tonight. I even felt like eating real food today. All better!

Blargh...

Ok, I went to bed 8 hours ago feeling absolutely FINE. I've woken up with the BLARGH on me - can't breathe, drippy nose, sore throat, everything hurts, including my eyes to look at the computer. Crap crap crap. I may have to cancel going to the birthday party, I absolutely cannot make a cake, and I feel like curling up under a blankie and just sleeping all day.

Not fair - to be sick on a long weekend? - totally not fair. Everytime I sneeze it puts my back into spasm. OWIE!!!

I'm done.

The list is getting out of hand...

Ok so I'm sitting here tweaking format and updating sidebar and so forth and I see that my project list is growing daily. Which is normal of course for a knitter (hell, for a HUMAN - we're walking to-do lists, aren't we?). However, I fear it may be getting out of control. And since I like things to be reasonably well-organized, I am going to set a *gasp* SCHEDULE for the projects I've committed to, to date. So, here we go, starting from today - I am being good and setting only 2 per month (except for this month, which has 2 classes running and a scarf emergency). Anything above that will be a bonus!

FEBRUARY

1. Complete Neill's Palindrome by 02/23/08
2. From MP:2008 list, complete Slippers for Erika by 02/26/08 - class
   
3. Complete Peter's Boot Sock #1 by 02/27/08 - class
   

MARCH

1. From MP:2008 list, complete My Tequila Sunrise Sock #2 by 03/15/08.
   
2. If sock class @ Michaels or school board is a go, complete Peter's Boot Sock #2 by end of class - if not, complete by 03/31/08.

APRIL

1. From MP:2008 list, complete My Cotton Sweater by 04/15/08.
2. From MP: 2008 list, complete Mom's Mother's Day Socks by 04/30/08.

MAY

1. From MP:2008 list, complete My Globe Sock #2 by 05/15/08.
2. Complete Golden Snitch Hat #1 (for Potterfiend) by 05/31/08. If, as anticipated, this is a quick knit, complete Golden Snitch Hat #2 (for Yumi) also.
   

JUNE

1. Complete Dad's Cardigan revised by Father's Day (date?)
2. From MP:2008 list, complete My Wednesday's Cardigan by 06/30/08.

JULY/AUGUST

1. Complete Carole's Shawl by her birthday (August).
   
2. From MP:2008 list, START Michelle's shawl. Finish in September.
   

SEPTEMBER

1. Complete Michelle's Shawl by 09/30/08.
   
2. Complete Carole's Sweater by 09/30/08.

OCTOBER

1. From MP:2008 list, complete Peter's Mega Boot sock #2 by 10/31/08. This sock will probably take a whole month.
2. IF the sock does not take all month, complete Basic Cable for me by 10/31/08.
   

NOVEMBER

1. From MP: 2008 list, complete Yumi's Fleece Artist Shawl.
2. From MP: 2008 list, complete Angel for Donna.

DECEMBER

1. Complete Lilac Socks for Yumi by Yumi's birthday.
2. Start Peter's EPS sweater.

So there, that's my whole list. Not counting stuff I've queued in Ravelry that I don't already have yarn picked out from stash for. Toss in a couple of dozen squares for the charity blankets and I'm going to have a full and satisfying year of knitting!

Happy half-price chocolate day!

EDIT: New template. Like it? Hate it? Comment please!

Yes, it's the day after Valentine's, when you can buy twice the love-expressions for half the price. I may pick up a box of chocolates on the way home, not out of any romantic impulse but just so we have some in the house. :D

Things have been hectic this past week and the weekend is shaping up busy too, so grabbing a few minutes to update. Work's been crazy - one of our two co-managers quit last Friday so all this week it's been "what happened?" questions coming at me, over and over and over... here's a representative conversation:

Them: "Where'd he go?"
Me: (with a shrug) "Away."
Them: "He didn't say?"
Me: "No, he did not share that information with any of us."
Them: "Well, why did he leave?"
Me: "Why does anyone leave a job? He wasn't happy."
Them: "Why not?"
Me: "You'd have to ask him."

About 30 times this week I've had that time-wasting chat. I should have just posted a sign. *sigh* This too shall pass.

In other news, a dear friend and co-worker has gone in for surgery to remove what might possibly be a cancerous growth on his thyroid. So, in good knitterly response, I'm knitting him a Palindrome, out of the lovely handspun Kraftie sent me during SP10 last year. (Kraftie, if you're reading, what's the fiber content on that? It's deliciously sproingy and the stripes are coming out beautifully, I'll post pictures when it's done.) I just finished the first of three skeins, and I'm calculating it will come out to about 6 1/2 feet long x about 4.5" wide - a bit narrow, but long enough to wrap around a couple times. That's doing the pattern as written with 40 stitches on 5.5mm needles. It's pretty without being girly and I think he will like it very much.

Happy things - my niece and mom both have birthdays this month, so we're doing a family birthday party tomorrow, to which I will bring cake. I'm thinking marble cake with some pink and green springy-type colours for the frosting. And lots more knitting on the Palindrome.

Also this week I've had class #2 with both my Knitting 101 and Sock-knitting students, and they're both good groups - a couple of the ladies are struggling a bit but they're all determined and patient and very, very nice. I will miss having students when I stop teaching in April but will LOVE having all my evenings free to spend with Peter again. Speaking of whom, I started him a new pair of socks - the Hunter's Socks from Freshisle Fibers, in Marian's own hand-dyed Suffolk wool. They will have pale yellow (almost oatmeal-y) legs with mid-yellow feet - the Coreopsis 3-skein dye progression that I bought oh so long ago - finally it's getting turned into something! (well, 2/3 of it anyway). The darkest yellow I will hold in reserve for something else - probably a hat. The Suffolk wool is SO warm, and really lovely and fluffy once it's gone through the wash/dry cycle a couple of times. Hm, I bet it would cable beautifully... maybe I'll make myself a "Basic Cable" - I've been meaning to. Add it to the list!

Have a great weekend - pictures and things Sunday or Monday (yay long weekend!)

Insomnia meme

Yes, I'm not sleepy - again. However, Yumi has provided me with entertainment. Yay! She says this:
1. Go to photobucket.com.
2. Type in your answer for each question into the PhotoBucket search bar.
3. Only use the first good answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. You can only answer in picture form.

What is your first name?


What kind of car do you have?


Where did you go to school?


Who's your best friend?


Favourite colour?


Celebrity crush?


Favourite song?


Favourite movie?


Favourite clothing line?


Favourite vacation destination?


Favourite dessert?


Favourite letter?


Biggest fear?


What do you want to be when you grow up?


Who do you love most?


Fave accessory?


A word to describe yourself?

Knitter down!

So I'm working merrily away this afternoon, reach for my calculator, and hear this "pop". Ow - my hand hurts! Put hand on mouse - hand REALLY hurts. go to clinic, sit around (Little Mermaid movie, start to finish), doctor confirms a "minor" sprain of the right hand. Rest it at least 48 hours. No typing (this is all being done left handed), no mousing, no KNITTING!

The kicker? I'm teaching a sock class tomorrow night. Going to be interesting talking my students through the "join, being careful not to twist, " etc. However, I will do as I'm told because if I don't it will hurt for longer. Argh.

On the bright side, at least I don't drive a standard. Gripping the gear shift would be brutal. And I have a good book-in-progress, Ken Follett's "The Third Twin" so I at least won't go insane for not knitting or playing WoW for a couple of days.

So, how was YOUR Tuesday?

A few days late

Ok so I missed the silent poetry reading thingy on the weekend, but I just now wrote a poem. I used to do this a lot (teen angst, mid-20s angst), then just - stopped. Anyway:

It's getting past the point of going to sleep, that
Space
Between night and morning gets narrower each second
I stare at this screen
And read other people's thoughts
To avoid my own
Monday thoughts.

Karen Carpenter sang rainy days and Mondays always get me down;
She nailed it.
I feel the edge of Holly Golightly's Mean Reds
Creeping up -
There's that shiver -
But maybe I'm just cold because I'm tired
And I'm late for bed.

It's February!

I admit it, I sort of missed Groundhog day. The past week at work was ... well, sometimes work gets - interesting? - and you can't talk about it. Plus it was busy, and I had only a 4-day week because of being on course Monday. One great thing I learned in this course:

Q Quit
T Taking
I It
P Personally

This has now become my office motto, because to be honest I am the QUEEN of taking stuff personally - my work, my coworkers, my company are all very important to me and I take things to heart. Trying to not do that so much. The theory was tested a few times this week, let me tell you!

Ok, so work is - work. Home is good. Peter and I are working out the numbers and timelines for a move in the Spring; it's time to get out of the Park (and away from the idiot landlord), and into something a little more convenient to our respective workplaces. And where the front porch won't collapse when you step on it. Etc. Been knitting steadily on blanket squares and this week took a batch of blankets down to one of the local shelters, where they were VERY glad to have them. Felt good. Also over 1/2 way done the shawl for Sandra's mom, which is AHEAD of schedule - yay me! - mostly because yesterday I spent a goodly amount of time just sittin' and knittin'. And reading, too - I've read two books this week, haven't done that in ages.

Tomorrow night I start my school board class of beginner knitting and Wednesday night I start my sock class, and those both run for 4 weeks. So for February I'm going to be pretty much hibernating on the weekends (except this coming Saturday, which is HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA and we'll be spending at B&K's).

Today - Peter is making homemade scratch pancakes for breakfast, then I'm going to start a batch of bread and get some chicken stew in the slow cooker before I get my course materials together and laundry away, etc. Good domestic-y stuff. Yesterday was mostly rest, did get out for groceries and some library-time with my niece (term paper hell, poor kid), so today is about gettin' er done.

I hope your weekend is going well!

It's Thursday, someone pass me a coffee!

So this morning, our whole department trooped off on a field trip. We left the office at 9 a.m. and returned about a quarter to noon. In that time there was (a) no coffee, (b) no bathroom breaks, and (c) a stupid amount of climbing up and down stairs. This is, in my universe, an unacceptable way to spend a morning. So now, returned and (somewhat) refreshed by pizza, chocolate cake, and coffee (lunch of champions!), I can tackle into the afternoon's to-do list. I'd rather be napping.

In knit news... well, squares are happening, and I am making progress on the lace scarf sample, though it's slow. I changed from the Heart pattern to the somewhat-simpler Crest of the Wave, but it's a slow grind. And I'm really wondering if it's worth it, because odds are pretty high no one will sign up for the dang lace class anyway. I'd rather be doing something else. Which reminds me, I need to add projects to the list. But - tomorrow is Friday (huzzah!), so let us be happy and enjoy the sunshine. And this last bite of chocolate cake. Yum.

EDIT: Got a note from the class coordinator at the store, need to get the sample in this weekend. Time for more lace knitting.

EDIT #2: You know, half a lace scarf is enough for a sample. If someone signs up for the class, I will finish the scarf, otherwise I will frog it and repurpose the yarn. It's not really my style, though a lovely pattern. What do you think? Note the ever-present charity-blanket square on the right. Computer knitting.

EDIT #3: Ok, picture time! Lots and lots...

This is my Winter 2007/2008 Toque - Patons Shetland Chunky, 84 sts on a 5mm (6mm?) needle, ribbed all the way up. Swirly!

These are the matching mittens (matching, in that I used the same yarn. Not Swirly).
A finished (but pretty unsatisfying) crochet scarf, Lion Brand Homespun. I swear by all the gods, aside from one current WIP, I will NEVER use this blasted yarn again. I hates it.


Cedar's Neckwarmer. Funky neon, perfect for a little boy. I wish I'd taken a shot of the matching mittens, they've got green lightning-bolts around them. Very fun. Mystery yarn.

Safety Baby Hat! You will NEVER lose your baby in a snowbank if they are wearing this hat. Originally intended for charity, this will be going along to some friends who are expecting in the fall.

Yes, I'm turning into one of those knitbloggers who posts pictures of their cat. Here is our Squeeky, very comfortable on top of my socks, which I had spread out on the headboard to warm and dry in the sun. They are now warm, dry, and covered in cat hair. Speaking of that, isn't it amazing how much our Squeeky looks like Laurie's Sobakowa? (scroll down to the January 10 post).

OK that's enough for one day. Now over to Ravelry to update my project page!

Happiness Is...

- Sleeping in an extra hour on a workday
- Being woken by a kitty licking your hand
- Pants that didn't fit 2 weeks ago, fitting (yay weight loss!)
- Beethoven's 4th on the drive to work
- A *really* good cup of coffee
- Homemade bread with a schmear of Laughing Cow cheese for breakfast

So yeah, today is starting pretty well, for a Tuesday. Hope yours is, too!

Blargh

Chest congestion, sinuses blocked so bad I can hardly hear, sneezing, freezing, everything aches, and running a fever.

And, I'm at work, because stuff is happening today I HAVE to be here for. Tomorrow, however, I intend to stay in bed, drink soup and tea, and sleep and knit and read.

Hm - maybe I caught it off Yumi's blog?

Blargh.

Plan the work, adapt the plan, work the plan...

Two projects have to be added to the list and started right away - one due to a lack of foresight on my part, and one to help out a friend. See, I'm teaching a class on lace next month, and have given away both my previous lace samples. So since it's February, I found a nice lace scarf pattern with hearts in it which I think will work well - but I need to knit the sample, and by this time next week (if not sooner). Oops. So MP2008 will have to be on hold for a few days.

And then, a friend needs a Moebius shawl for her mother's birthday, 3rd week of February. She handed me the yarn tonight. Now I know I can knit this in a week if I'm dedicated to it, so that's not too bad, but still - that's another week away from the original "whip the WIPs / MP2008" plan. Argh.

Nevermind. I'm adaptable and I had an itching to start something new anyway (besides blanket squares, of course). I'll take the Zen attitude - "when the knitter is ready the project will appear"!

Getting things done

Three FO (ok 2 finished and 1 frogged) in 2 days!

Last night: finished the Crochet scarf, consulted with Peter on the neckwarmer and decided to frog it. Today at lunch: finished the baby hat. That's 4 projects in less than 1 week - go me!

Photos of the scarf and hat to be posted probably tomorrow evening - I'm teaching tonight, huzzah!

And, being a very good girl with the food and exercise. Go me - again!

Ok, enough rah rah. Back to work. Have a great day, all.

Sunday photos!

Yes, I'm keeping my word and posting photos of my lovely FOs today - including the first FO of 2008, the Lilac Socks! (apologies if you don't have Ravelry, there are non-linked photos here also).

So, photos! First up, the aforementioned Lilac Socks. Started August 2007, finished January 12, 2008. *ahem* These are knit in Marian's Suffolk Wool, which is a real delight to work with - springy and yet firm - it's what I would call a "no-nonsense" yarn, you can tell it's going to stand up for a lot of abuse, and yet it's so pretty the way she dyes it! Look at the neat pink/purple/green/white going on here, just lovely!



Next up, the Wedgewood Socks - Patons Classic Merino, colourway "Wedgewood" - started April 2007, finished December 2007. *ahem* I've already raved about the Classic Merino for comfy socks, the only small drawback is that it tends to "fuzz" a bit after a few washings and wearings, but it's still warm and durable and comfy, so all good.






Third, the Rosewood Socks - also Patons Classic Merino, colourway "Rosewood" (gee, I'm original!) - started May 2007, finished December 2007. *ahem* Are we seeing a trend here? More warm happy feet.









And finally, yes you've waited over a year for this... Peter's v-neck cabled sweater. Front and back views here, there are a couple more shots on the Ravelry project page. I can honestly say I am VERY pleased with this sweater, not least of all because Peter is VERY pleased with it - it's his default "wear around the house because it's a bit chilly" sweater now. It's very comfortable due to the sweatshirt-type styling and he likes it a lot - immediately after putting it on he requested another, in a crewneck style. Not quite what I had planned for his next sweater (a Shetland Chunky sweatshirt-style), but there are many years ahead for many more sweaters. He also wants a traditional Aran-style cabled cream wool fisherman-type sweater. Put it on the list.

Actually, thinking of lists, did I mention that I joined "Mission Possible" yesterday? Same basic idea as my UFO sidebar, but with a twist - you have to finish / deal with 12 knitting/yarn-related things from a list by the end of 2008, or else donate them to charity! Eek! So, more motivation, more accountability, more excuses to spend time on Ravelry... uh, did I just say that? Heck, I spent 3 hours reading knitblogs yesterday morning, so why not. I do LOVE LOVE LOVE not working weekends anymore!

Today is about laundry and taking down the tree and a raid on Sunken Temple at high noon. And knitting on a new blanket square for the charity project - one of my volunteer "joiners" has finished a whole blanket this week and started on a second. So we need more squares! Nice.

Have a lovely Sunday!

Saturday Morning...

What is this, the blog week of song titles? Apparently. "Saturday Morning" is one of my favourite Harry Chapin songs, let me give you an excerpt:

Saturday morning, and it's growing light.
I look out my window, and remember the night;
The story is starting, as this story ends,
And I feel like I need you again.

That about sums up this morning for me. It's quiet, I feel well rested and content, and it's the first of many Saturdays that I can spend on things that are important - household, family, friends, knitting, etc. Non-income-earning but important. And I can tell you, that feels pretty darn good. Today's agenda involves baking a simple white cake for my big sister's birthday (shh, she's 41!), which will be served unfrosted, with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. This comes AFTER the hoisin-bbq spare ribs, salad and baked potatoes. Oh man, I'm hungry already thinking about this dinner, and I'm still having breakfast! Then go fetch said sister, do the "girls' afternoon out" thing, and fetch hubby (and the food) before spending the evening with the rest of the (in Ottawa) family, with knitting and hockey. I expect to finish my 2nd Lilacs sock tonight, so Marian, stay tuned, pictures of your lovely yarn knit up to come tomorrow!

Oh, something I forgot to put in yesterday's post - about healthier eating and better food choices, etc. I can see where making small changes can make a big difference, but it's also important to ENJOY what I (you, anyone) eat, so certain concessions to "dammit, I like it that way" need to be made. For instance, coffee. I like coffee, I like being able to drink it again after not being able to for a couple of years due to the acid reflux/IBS combination. Now I can have it in moderation, and I like it with cream and sugar. Three of each. I tried cutting back on a sugar, I tried switching cream for milk, and I didn't enjoy my coffee. Blargh... heck with it, 3 and 3. Now, this is only at work. At home I have vanilla soymilk, which requires no sugar, and at mom & dad's I have milk & sugar, just a splash and one teaspoon full - because dad generally makes flavoured coffees which don't need much enhancement. But at work, where the coffee is free and (to be honest) diesel-strength, I like it with cream and sugar. So there. Over three cups in a day, that's 147 calories but I really ENJOY those 147 calories.

Peter heard something on the radio about the shift in our culture between food as food, and food as nutrients, and how we break things down to their component parts, yadda yadda. Sounds like it would have been interesting but unfortunately I missed it. Oh, and in case anyone's interested, I'm using www.myfooddiary.com for the food/exercise tracking. It's a good tool and I like it.

And now, I should get that cake happening, so I can get myself organized for the day. Tomorrow will have pictures of knitting, I promise! Have a great Saturday.

One Week...

(with apologies to the Barenaked Ladies)

It's been one week since I said "hm, I need to do something about this extra weight". Here's the progress report:

1. I've been following my training plan at the gym which feels good (a little sore on the muscles but it's the good sore that says I HAVE muscles, not the bad sore which says I've INJURED my muscles).
2. I've been trying to add one serving of fruit and/or vegetable per day (so as not to shock my poor delicate system too much), and am currently having 4-5 where I used to have 1-2 (maybe, if Peter hid them in my dinner).
3. I've been cutting back on sweets and other junk, not entirely, but to a more moderate level.
4. I've upped my water intake to the point that I am wearing a path to the bathroom.
5. I've been spending more time knitting and reading, and less time playing WoW (this is not STRICTLY a weight-loss thing, more of a "life-balance" thing).

Here's the results:

1. I feel stronger and am sleeping like a log at night. Reward: I bought new Nike Air Pegasus for walking in. SOOO cushy!
2. My system is, so far, happy with the changes and not rebelling.
3. I'm very very tired in the late afternoons from not having had my 3:00 chocolate fix. Need to work on that.
4. I haven't weighed myself but judging by the "pants test", I've peed out about 2-3 lbs. (ew, I know, but loss is loss!)
5. I've finished a fabulous book (review on the weekend) and almost a whole sock (2nd of the pair, photos on the weekend), started another book (also pretty fabulous) and had a lot more quiet time with Peter. We've started listening to CBC Radio 2 in the evenings. We feel Smart. :D

So overall, it's been a good week. Tomorrow I take my big sister out for a round of birthday yarn shopping and a decadent dessert, then we have a big family dinner for her birthday and watch the Detroit/Ottawa game on Dad's big-screen TV. Sunday we take down the Christmas tree and do chores, and putter a bit. So tonight - ta da! - I'm playing WoW. It's my Re-Ward for being a (mostly) good girl all week.

More on the weekend. Stay warm and dry!

Oh dear...

Well, I went to the gym yesterday all full of motivation and vigor. Had a great workout, nice hot shower, and then got dressed... except my pants were very tight. Oh dear, perhaps not being sick over the holidays for a change has resulted in a slight weight gain? Hm.

Had a Dr.'s appointment in the afternoon (routine, nothing to worry about) and thought, "I'll just pop on the scale and see..." 167. Yikes. That's 22 lbs over my top-end "healthy" weight range. No wonder my size 10's were pinching!

So, rather than get all weird and depressed, I got more motivated. Signed up for My Food Diary.com, where I can track all my food and activity and get encouraging little smileys when I do good (and frownies if I do bad). It has pretty comprehensive reporting and a good interface, and the food database is much better than the one at Fitday.com (which I had used before with mixed results). Set a weight-loss goal of 1.3 lbs/week; HOWEVER, I do not have a scale at home, nor do I intend to buy one. I will go by how I feel (and how the pants fit) until I see the doctor again in 12 weeks. I should be down by about 15 lbs by then. Between now and then, it's all about following the training plan and making better food choices.

Oh, and no eating at the (home) computer. I've a sneaking suspicion that at least 5 lbs of the excess is "Gamer's Gut" from scarfing potato chips and cookies whilst playing Warcraft. Oops.

Have a great weekend all!

The week of many posts...

Or, Kit goes back to work tomorrow. :(

Today was snowy and blowy and we spent it inside "in the warm". A little gaming, a little knitting, a major OH CRAP! as the Clapotis slipped off the needle and started to frog itself. CRAP CRAP CRAP! I took it as a sign and put it out of its misery. Frogged to zero and the yarn rewound and put away for a future sweater. I had intended it for a sweater in the first place, something slinky and v-necked, so maybe this was the yarn's way of telling me it didn't want to be a dang trendy shawl/scarf? Perhaps. Anyway, that takes it off the list too, ha ha!

Been knitting away at some garter stitch 'squares' for Blankets for Canada - actually one long strip, nice soothing garter stitch (albeit on 4mm needles which is a bit tight but it's prescribed gauge). The office group to put the blankets together is starting up next Monday, I'm really looking forward to that. Actually I'm looking forward to getting back to work and some semblance of a routine again. I hate to admit it, but I do need structure in my day/week/life or I get all weird and out of sorts.

Oh, a New Year's joke to share - this was SLAYING people last night:

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Interrupting Cow.
Interrupting cow -
MOO!

It's important to time your MoO! before they can say "who"? Got it? Share and enjoy!