Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Notes on today

Kidney is spectacular as usual. In case anyone was, y'know, wondering. Just low on the magnesium, I'll have to have a pill for that. But everything else is fantastic.

I found Three Wishes after feeling a little like I just finished a lap on the Grand Prix blindfolded on a tricycle. Just a little. Utahns don't understand the meaning of 'cautious driving when there's weather out'. And I met the darling Corgi, my very first ever. I wanted to take her home and she wanted to keep me there, the love was mutual. And there was yarn. Did I mention that there was yarn? After all, why go to a yarn store and not buy yarn (unless it's to pet and adore a puppy)? So now I have some Manos Del Uruguay in my stash. It might be a hat, it might be another scarf (to replace the pretty lace one that *might* be with my Bleach anime CDs at a ward member's house, I don't know, but she'd better return both soon!), it might just be a lovely gem to sit in my lap and be petted and admired like a comatose pet. Who knows!?

And because I don't want to be a wimp no more, I'll go to the Stitch'n'Bitch next week, promise. I think it's good I didn't stick around this time, the roads are kind of a hazard during a storm and boy what a storm! I love storms. Hee!

<3
Today is a SLC day. I've got a kidney doctor appointment (just a check up!) and those always take a bit of time.

You know, I could take a sock with me to knit, but I am really burnt out on socks. Or maybe it's just this sock. Or maybe I'd rather just knit lace right now, I don't know what it is. Socks are right out for now, which is bad because I only barely finished the first sock for my Sockapaloooza pal. Hmm.

And then I'm tempted to go to the SnB because, you know, I'll be right there! But my appointment is at 2:30 and I don't think it'll last up until 7 and gosh that makes for a long long day. And I gotta take my shyness by the horns and make it behave, I can't let it control me, y'know. However, my finances DO kind of control me and if the appointment only lasts an hour or so (they're more efficient there than in Kansas City where I'd get there at 9, get my blood drawn and then not be seen until about 1pm. I love them, but that was seriously a drain on my day), I don't want to go home and then drive back to SLC again.

I do want to check out Three Wishes. It sounds and looks from various pictures like the ol' Yarn Barn back in Lawrence, which is about as cool of a yarn store as I've ever been in.

I need some SLC buddies who would be cool with me dropping by and staying till about, oh, 7. Ah well, I'll go to the docs, go to Three Wishes, then bother someone in Provo to go get some half-price sushi with me at Demae. Mmmm, HalfPriceSushi Tuesdays.

Oh yeah, that sock:


Blocked with two Walmart bags and an empty liter bottle of water.

Friday, February 24, 2006

for the love of knitting

I have grown to love long lines. Walmart, lines that are 20 people long, every one of them seemingly having bought for their 2 year storage AND 72 hour kits? I'm there with my toilet paper and extra can of Stephen's hot chocolate (in Irish Creme or Italian Amaretto, it doesn't get better than that, kids). And why? Why am I the only one not frazzle-haired and stressed in line? Because I have my sock. Everyone else is ready to kick the nearest screaming meemie and I'm merrily wielding my needles.

Thus when I entered the post office at the last long hour of the day, I was cheerful enough to see about six people in front. I grabbed my little silver bag, pulled out the sock and got ready to merrily add another row or two to it. People stole amused glances my way, not everyone sees a 27 year old merrily knitting on a sock of many colors every day. But then it was my turn to send off my package to my friend in Oklahoma (I was sending socks, of course). Post office guy was brusque, short and altogether rude. He made no eye contact, seemed irritated that I had to waste a few precious seconds to find the wallet among the hasty tangles in my bag. And when I finished the transaction, he did not return my cheerful "have a nice day"!

I think he was just pissed because he wanted socks too. Sock envy, now there's a thought.

---

Also, I should keep up with my Link Of The Week:

AllofMP3.com

This is where I get most of my music. It's very inexpensive and though when you enter the site, it confronts you with Russian, have no fear. There is an English mirror site and the link is in plain view. It's one of my favorite places to get music and just recently I picked out a few Nickelback songs (can anyone resist Animals? I LOVE that song!).

However, I highly recommend trying out Blackmore's Night. Celtic/Rock with some AWESOME vocals, I love singing/dancing along to it.

Nervous?

I haven't been to the Stitch'n'Bitch for a while. I've hit a famine spot when it comes to my income and gas is expensive. But, I've realized that this isn't the real reason why I haven't been going. It's because I've become kind of nervous of going. I think I've ticked off some people there and I didn't mean to (look how high I think of myself, thinking that anyone really cares anymore, but that's just part of my neurosis) and now I would rather just stay home instead of face my fears and just going.

Funny, I didn't think I was subject to shyness anymore. I guess we all surprise ourselves every once in a while.

As for my knitting, I'm almost done with sock 1 of sockapalooza. It's survived a ripping and tangle (my mom who came to visit for a funeral this past Sunday and Monday helped me out with that) because I couldn't fit my own tinkerbell foot past the heel. Reknitting it on #2s has made it larger and now it fits better, I can get my foot all the way through!

Um, that's all I have for an update anyways. Pictures forthcoming.

Oh, and if you're interested, I have been drawing, too.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Linkage

Renaissance Festival Music Podcast

I love listening to this while knitting and chatting online. It's all the music you'd expect at a Renaissance Festival and ranges from bagpipes to the bawdy ballads sung by busty beauties. Ever fun, though some of it is the snickering when you don't intend to type fun.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Works in Progress

Sockapalooza Socks: Update 1
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Bittersweet.
Pattern: SockBug's Lace Scallops
Started: Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006

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Fibertrend's Fisher...something stole
Yarn: KnitPick's Shadow in Vineyard
Started: Saturday, Feb. 3, 2006.

Why knit?

My niece's new favorite thing is to ask 'why' with every command directed at her. It could take a philosophical spin, if you consider it.

I have always had a creative bug. It started with playdoh. It went through stringing thread through plastic canvas and making cities for teddy bears, counted cross-stitch, crochet, drawing, whittling, painting clay figures, and finally it has come to knitting. It's been a fun journey, sometimes frustrating, especially when those who were good at it would look at my progression with a sneer.

But I find something about knitting. People don't sneer at knitting, because knitters know the passion and non-knitters are just so impressed with the skillful wielding of sharp sticks.

But I don't do it just because people think it's neat. It's merely an amusing perk. But I don't do it because it relaxes me. Because honestly, knitting doesn't relax me, it keeps me busy.

I hate be idle. It has to do with years upon years of school (ever realize that after you graduate high school, that you've spent 13 years of your life in school, subtracting holidays and seasonal breaks? And then add college, it's 17. And then consider that I've been going for a good 10 years now...TWENTY AND THREE YEARS OF SCHOOL! 23 is my lucky number, I hope it remains that way and I finish up my schooling this year) where I had to write and take notes and constantly keep my hands busy. So, come a movie or television show, I want my hands to be doing something.

I used to draw. But you can't draw and watch television at the same time. Knitting *can* be mindless enough that you can do both (in my case, it's either an easy pattern or mere stockinette). And then, the best part, is that you can USE what you make afterwards. Drawing, well, hang it on a wall or sell it for someone else to hang on a wall. Knitting, you can wear it or use it and ever and always enjoy it.

And so I knit because it is creation. I knit because it is beauty in progress. And I knit because I can.

Why do you knit?

Friday, February 10, 2006

Mad enough to spit

My search for podcasts has lead me to The Renaissance Festival Podcast. And to my delight, I saw that they were broadcasting, for free, a podcast of The Last Unicorn. And so, listening, it was devastating to hear of this injustice. Peter S. Beagle has been cruelly ripped off by Granada and it's just not fair.

Read more here:
http://www.conlanpress.com/youcanhelp/

And please do what you can.

I loved the movie and I've read the book passionately. I am madder than hell that this has happened. I wish I was creative enough to think up of a knit-along or auction or SOMETHING to do more. But all I have is my blog and my livejournal and my small voice. And what money I can spare.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Link of the week.

Okay, so I have a ton of links but I think I should string them out a bit, just for fun.

So, my first link for all of you is:

Radio Rivendell.

You can find them on Winamp, but I find that the connection rate is far better when you go to the website and click on their own player. Mostly their songs are from various soundtracks of movies and video games. Sometimes those video game soundtracks are a little iffy (there's one they play a bit, Zu F...something, I forget. It sounds like that schizophrenia tape they made us listen to when training for work.) but for the most part, they're really quite nice to listen to.

Just thought I'd share.

Monday, February 06, 2006

And here I go again.

What a day. I got this incredible smile from a cute guy today and it made me SO twitterpated. Wow. I think I'm going to have to seduce him now, oh yes.

Anyways, Chef Messy tagged me (I feel so 'in'!) and so I've choosed to answer to this gauntlet!

Instructions: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot.

Knitorious
Woman Obsessed
strange little mama
Chef Messy
Kit Knits

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Hmm, taking the last of my senior classes. I finally was allowed to take a 3-D art course (dad forbade me to take drawing courses where I might have to draw naked people, which is absurd since my job has me seeing more flesh than a day at the beach in Europe...well, almost more flesh).

What were you doing 1 year ago?
Going to school, hoping desperately to graduate while Ivy Hall crashed and burned.

What were you doing 1 hour ago?
Knitting lace and watching The Two Towers. Superbowl? What eez thees 'Soup Or Bowl'?

List five creative things you want to achieve this year:
1. Save up for yarn for a sweater.
2. Use up my sock yarns.
3. Write half of my revised story.
4. Draw for the prompts I've got.
5. Work on getting myself dated so I can experience what that part of life is like. I want to sample the buffet!

List five snacks you enjoy:
1. Chocolate
2. String Cheese
3. Fuji apples.
4. Baaaaby carrots
5. Celery.

List five things you would do if money were no object:
1. Move into a nice little house filled with cozy furniture and things that make a house a home but doesn't clutter it.
2. Buy a horse and someone to teach me how to ride the dang thing.
3. Spin, knit, walk in forests, and read to my heart's content.
4. Buy my parents a nice house built by people who have a passion for architecture and make sure it's close to us kids.
5. Pay for a really good lawyer to sue the jerk who ran Ivy Hall. And then also pay for the surgeon to harvest one of his kidneys. The lawyer would find a way to make it right, bwahahaha.

List five bad habits:
1. I tend to rationalize bad habits.
2. I don't like to admit to bad habits.
3. I deal with bad situations, my own and others, with stupid humor.
4. I am irritable in the mornings.
5. I am late for most things EXCEPT work. Never late for work.

List five things you like doing:
1. Walking at twilight.
2. writing stories with my closest friend, Briana.
3. Taking long baths and reading.
4. Cleaning the kitchen...don't know why, it's just easy to do and there's satisfaction that comes with it being clean.
5. Listening to Radio Rivendell. With your Winamp, click on ML, then Shoutcast Audio on the left. On the right top corner, click on the Genre menu, then to Fantasy. There you go, you're welcome.

List five favorite gadgets:
1. Kitchenaid Mixer
2. My Olympus m:robe
3. My camera.
4. The electric tea kettle
5. Hermes, my hand-me-down laptop from my mom.

Name one thing you like about yourself:

I strive always to be better than I am and to learn from past mistakes.

People to tag: Jessimuhka, Heather, Dani, and Becki. :) Have fun, I'm off to bed!

Sunday, February 05, 2006

WIPs

Sometimes you feel like a knit.


Sometimes you don't.

Thank you

Many thanks to Heather and her beautiful poem with gorgeous dew-sprinkled green grass.

A hearty thanks to Becki and those awesome sweaters and sock cuff. The cuff is particularly colorful, I do like it, it looks nice.

Thank you Laura for your absolutely gorgeous flower and warm, welcoming looking coconut tree.

There were a few others from a lass named Rebecca, but I wonder if she erased it and thus doesn't want me to post the pictures**

From the lovely Rebecca, we have some some fall flowers, so pretty!, a really neat boat, and a most brilliant sunset. :D Gorgeous! Thank you so very much!

Anyways, thank you all so much, I think I'll make it a little longer. *smiles*

**Apparently Blogger ate her message. I've been noticing this happening, but no worries, Yahoo catches a copy before they are consumed.

Friday, February 03, 2006

This could be a meme...

My friends, lurkers, passers-by: I need help. Winter is finally getting to me, I think. Spring can't come too soon and I am dying for some color.

Please post something beautiful and colorful and then link to it here. I'll put up a big post with all the links so we can all have something to tide us over until Spring comes.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

for my Socky

I did write this up earlier but since I have to work, I'm waiting till now to post it

Dear Sockapalooza pal,

Can I call you Socky? Excellent, I knew you wouldn't mind. I can't remember quite what I wrote in preferences, but from what I know about myself, it was more than likely unsatisfactorily bare bones. Shall I give you a few more hints about what I would love? Of course, anything made by anyone else will be loved and tenderly worn until the things are more hole than sock, but this will help ease the perplexity of knowing what to make.

1. I can handwash anything. Have sink/tub, will wash.

2. I DO like pink in moderation. But I love amethyst purples, peacock blue, emerald green, bright colors, etc. I love vivid colors.

3. I have the most ordinary feet/ankles/legs. Most patterns will happily fit on my feet, so don't stress about that. I do have some powerful muscular calves so if you are going above the first (or is it last?) 1/3 of 'em, let me know and I can provide some accurate measurements. :) I can't fit into boots.

4. My experience with sock yarns hasn't been terribly expansive, but I've 'groped' a few to see what they are like. I've worked with: Regia, Mountain Colors, Lorna's Laces, and Knitpicks' Sock Garden. Of them all, I liked Regia the least and Mountain Colors the most. Regia was just so...stiff. It felt a little like acrylic, though it assuredly is not. I have some Koigu, but for some reason, I am kind of turned off by its lack of lovely 'halo', though I'm sure that it does come up later as a good thing since it lacks pillage (and not the pirate sort) later. Maybe. I don't know. I would love to see what Socks That Rock are like, I've yet to see any physically, though the Pebble one looks so pretty. The Cobalt one, too. I'm also intrigued by the Cherry Tree Hill and the Art Yarns. So, open my eyes, widen my horizons, I'm all for it!

You have my email, ask away and I look forward to May!

P.S. Is Sockonious T. Pal something like Crow T. Robot?