bread and circulars

I miss my tub....

2011-01-02T19:46:00.003-05:00

In my old apartment, I would sometimes lounge in a tub of sumptuous bubbles and scented salts. I had a collection of my favorites, mostly EO, but some others as well. I love lavender, gardenia, citrus, there were so many. There was one bath salt that had actual tea leaves in it, had to be put in a bag to keep it tidy, but sometimes I would just let the leaves loose to float on top of the bubbles. Now I have a stingy shower stall. After a long day at work, there isn't a long relaxing bath to soothe away the aches of the day. No soft music, no scented candles, no relaxing salts, oils or bubbles. Just a shower. I miss my tub.

tgif!!!

2010-06-25T21:22:00.003-04:00

About to start knitting for the night. Just need to find something to watch while I stitch.

Ate breakfast today, two large drinks (apple, pear, ginger, carrot, beet, spinach). Had my bean dish for lunch, with a very small spoon of pastitsio (gotta lay off that stuff, it was reeeeeeealy salty), steamed veggies and some kinda hard rice. And a vegan ginger cookie. The cookie was totally not worth the calories. Very disappointed. I had a vegan cupcake, too. THAT was totally worth the calories :-). Came home and had a largish salad. Not too bad a day food wise.

Vacation!!!!

2010-06-24T22:43:00.002-04:00

My vacation request was approved!!!!! So, in August I will be heading down to The Big Easy to do my bit for the local economy (that's my story and I'm sticking with it). That week long trip will be followed by a trip to the eastern shore. We are going back to Jane's Island. Mosquitoes, a month of mosquitoes. I will be one giant bump, but loving getting that way.

By then I hope to have finished my tank top, and maybe the second top as well. Who knows.

The knitting is going slowly. Trying to get a bit in everyday, but other things just keep piling up. There is work (as always), the depression (as always), the insomnia (worse now), my cluttered space (always a problem, but it's making me crazier than ever lately). It's the same problem as before. I feel stuck.

The weight loss is stalled. I am stuck in the 184 - 191 area. That's much better than the 224 I started at, but not where I want to be. I am not going for what the Furhman team suggested (121) because I haven't weighed that little since high school (although I was awfully cute :-), but really want to lose another 40 and get down to 140. That's a comfy one for me. My blood pressure was at 117/75 today. Muuuuuch better. I stopped taking my meds about 2 months ago. I have been on the meds for about 4 years. When I started them my pressure was 160/120. I found out how bad it was when I bought a monitor. I had been having headaches for about 1 week or 2, and decided it was probably that, even though the websites said headaches were not a symptom. After the monitor arrived, I took my pressure (twice to be sure) and called my doctor. He told me to come in immediately to compare. When I got there he took his reading, found out that my monitor was correct and sent me off to the pharmacy, script in hand, with instructions to return in a week. I tried dieting, didn't work. Tried to exercise, got discouraged. It finally took a nearly vegan diet to make change happen.

But now, even with the progress, I am having difficulty sticking with it. I need to cook, I can't muster the energy to do it. I need to have snacks on hand, I don't remember to get them. I need to eat regularly, but I have slipped back into the habit of not eating when I should. and falling back on the sugar and starchy stuff. But I am soooooo tired of green salads. Lately I have also been experiencing severe cravings for salty stuff. I think this goes with the stress/depression/anxiety thing. When stuff gets too heavy and I want to hide, I head for the comfort foods. Haven't hit the ice cream yet (thank God!!!!) but I have had a few fries, some cake scraps (I DO work in a bakery after all), and I have upped the meat intake. And how can I forget the fried stuff. Gotta take that back down. Gotta get back to my one day per week of fish or chicken. 8oz per week. That's actually a fairly decent size piece of fish. No more fried fish off the hot bar. No more samosas off the hot bar. Actually, no more hot bar period. Do you know how much all that stuff costs?????!!!!! I did it for almost 6 months. I can keep it up.

grandma

2010-05-22T04:36:00.002-04:00

she is 91. she has lived a long and, I like to think, good life. she is currently hospitalized with failing kidneys and a failing heart. three of the four valves are not working properly. dialysis isn't possible because her heart is so weak. I don't want her to go, but I don't want her unhappy. I don't want her suffering. I hurt for my mom. in the last 10 years we have lost my dad, his mother, his sister, his aunt and my mother's brother. it's hard. I feel so incredibly sad. as I think about her, I think about my boss. his 33 year old wife is dying as well. their 4 year old will be without her mother. her grandchildren won't know her. I feel incredibly lucky that we have the time we do with Grandma B.

better day

2010-05-20T21:59:00.002-04:00

today, not as much sugar, but didn't eat breakfast. soooooo tired! going to bed early tonight! had two salads, much better. no fruit yet, but have plenty of oranges down here so I'll eat one of those before i go to bed. i did have a very large muffin, and a large multigrain roll today. oh, and a piece of salmon.
no knitting at all today. will make up for it tomorrow :-)

SUGAR!!!!!!!

2010-05-19T19:41:00.003-04:00

falling back into the sugar trap. had a macaroon, and two gf choc hazelnut bars today, as well as two really large veggie juices and a nice size salad. no bread today, which is good, but unfortunately too much sugar *sigh* i think i need to go back and re-read my book.
no knitting today, but i am thinking about these. I have all of this red lamb's pride worsted left over from various projects. I think red slippers will be awesome! I also have some black, but I think it's going to be red :-)

I made a cake!

2010-05-18T21:36:00.003-04:00

I haven't done it much recently, but I helped decorate cakes last friday. I only helped with 4 and this was one of them. It was a donation to a benefit for Shepherd's Table, a food bank in the area. I need more practice. I do like it though.
I am not doing as well with the diet. I am not really into the nutritarian thing now. I haven't lost much, I am stressed, my hair is still falling out, and I am not losing weight. My knee is killing me. I need to keep wearing the brace and return to the ortho for follow-up. I missed my last two p.t. sessions.
Knitting isn't doing much better. I am down to the last repeat on Citron, and I think I will give it to my sister. I think I am kinda tired of it at this point. Nope, don't really like this shawl anymore. Lisa will like it, especially because it's purple. She loves purple.

sittin'

2010-05-02T20:17:00.002-04:00

here i sit in borders, with my handy-dandy new laptop. it was my birthday present to myself. unfortunately my lovely 15yo nephew toasted the house internet service by frying his desktop (from which all service emanates) while attempting to jailbreak his ipod touch. the ipod is fine, the internet is done for. I may stop in somewhere to see if i can get an adapter and some cable to hook my stuff up directly. since i have no ipod touch to jailbreak, i think my services as a conduit will be a little more reliable.
anyway, here i sit enjoying my compaq and loving it. probably didn't need to spend the money, but i wanted it, so there.
on the knitting front, i haven't finished anything lately. very dull. still working on the citron shawlette. it's very boring. like miles and miles of stockintte stitch. ewwwww! on little needles, double eeeewwwwwww! and it's too hot for angora!!!
enough whining.
next i think i will wander back to socks. instant gratification.
and i think i will try to finish my brioche tank. i am debating about that because i am now 40 lbs lighter than i was when i started it, so maybe i should frog and start again? in a smaller size? i know it's supposed to be loose, but there is loose and there is whoah!!!
on the eating front, yes, i am almost officially at -40 lbs. it's 39 as of this morning. i have had a few hiccups. there is the chocolate, and the fact that i am getting really tired of salads, and the fact that i am stressed about the moving thing, and the fact that i think my hair is falling out, and my lovely friends at the irs, and i have to rely on my sister and her husband for transportation, and just life in general. very stressed am i, but i'll live.

sigh

2010-04-22T23:28:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it. My cat snores!!! The very loud purring is one thing, now she is snoring. Maybe she has allergies, too! Hey, it's possible.

oh, my knee!

2010-03-21T20:21:00.002-04:00

now that I have broken down and seen a doctor about my knee, it hurts more. he said tendonitis and possibly something else (which hopefully will show up in the mri), so of course I looked up tendonitis. 3 weeks of rest and non-aggravating activities, which in this case is like, walking, standing and any variations of the two. i am not looking forward to telling my boss that. we already have two team members out with broken ankles (one per team member). oh, well.

the citron shawl is coming along nicely. the pattern is confusing and somehow i have two additional stitches. i don't know where they came from. annoying. i'm going to leave them in. can't hurt but so much :-)

total eating breakdown

2010-03-13T02:21:00.003-05:00

Well, I think I am feeling kinda anxious so this week I have returned to the things that make me feel better (well, they did in the past). My bro in law brought me some cookies from a co-worker of his who wants to see if we can sell the cookies in the store. I have eaten about 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies in 2 days. I don't feel so good. My diet has been primarily wheat free, dairy free, very low sugar and very low fat. In two days I have had lots of all of the above. My stomach feels grumbly,and I am feeling a little (pardon my bluntness) gassy. tomorrow it's back to my salads and I really need to get some exercise. Maybe I will start with some yoga *sigh*

I know I am anxious about having to move soon. I don't want to tell the kids because I think they may be sad. Actually, I'm kinda sad, but excited about it so I may be projecting. Went into Target today for storage boxes and just felt so excited about the prospect of shopping for a new space! Rugs! Towels! Kitchen stuff!!!!!! Just the prospect of eliminating the 3 hours of commuting everyday!!!! Really need to work on that. Being close to work will broaden my schedule availability. Less commuting means time to do things with friends. Being a bus or subway ride away from yarn shops!!!!! Like 4 of them!!!!! That makes me happy.

Oh, bought yarn and a book today. Want to do the Citron wrap from Winter Knitty '09. Found a lovely pale plum angora blend to use. Also bought The Enchanted Sole. Found a lot of really neat socks in there!

It's been a while......again.

2010-03-10T19:54:00.003-05:00

Well, I think it's time to revive the old blog. If only to remind myself of progress. And there has been progress. 33lbs of progress!!! That is my official total of pounds lost following the Eat to Live plan. The last few weeks have been hard, in part because I haven't been sticking to the "no food after 8pm" rule, but now I am back on track. Fixing lunches to save money ($12 to $17 per day on salads???? INSANE!!!!!) and control portion sizes and cravings. I will get back to cooking this week, too. Right now I am eating a salad with pomegranate vinaigrette. I had butternut and cauliflower chowder and a sandwich for lunch. The sandwich was arugula, cukes, roasted red pepper and a sort of edamame/mint/walnut pate all on ezekiel bread. Still debating about the pate, it seemed a little strange. The chowder didn't have the body of a more traditional chowder, seemed a little thin, but the flavor was better the second day.

On the knitting front, finished the socks for T. Finally! She chose the yarn, and the pattern. How could I say no? So now the socks can be handed off to Miss T when she comes home Friday afternoon. She doesn't seem to be adjusting to college life very well, but I guess it will take time.

I am making progress on the coworker's baby sweater. Glad I made the 6mo to 1 year size :-)

My next project will probably be the French Press Felted Slippers. I need something for cold tootsies. I have some lovely stuff in the stash that I can use (red, gold, or grey......hmmmmm.....). It should be a pretty quick knit.

Very sad news

2010-01-19T22:04:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite authors is gone. Robert Parker, the author of the Spenser series passed away yesterday. My mother got me hooked on his books. I have most of them, but hadn't read any in a few years. I guess it's time to go back and reconnect. It makes me sad to know there won't be anymore adventures for Spenser and Hawk. One of my favorite characters is now silent.

sp 15

2010-01-18T21:34:00.002-05:00

Well, I signed up for sp 15. It's been a while since I signed up for one of those. They were a lot of fun, though it seems like a smaller group than before. I imagine it was extremely difficult to handle so many folks with the large swaps. I like the fact that there is a dollar range now. Good idea. And the angel fee is a good idea too.

too much work, not enough knitting :-)

2010-01-12T09:13:00.003-05:00

Actually, that's not true. I have been knitting a lot! have finished the Kai-Mei socks from CookieA, and am now starting on a 2nd pair for the daughter of the recipient of the 1st pair. No pics. Yes, I know you can't tell if I actually made them if you don't have pics to oooh (or ugh) over, but I'll do a pair comp shot when I finish the second pair. Trust me when I say the lacy bit on the foot is a beast, and worked best for me using 3 yo instead of 4 on row 6. It's really loose with 4. I think it looks neater with 3. Of course, that could just be the way I knit :-)

Still working on the Baby Reefer Jacket from Cotton Knits For All Seasons for a friend. Should be done by now, but I forgot how boring stockinette can be, especially if you are knitting something that's only 4 inches wide. It's like a super long swatch, I hate swatches. Need some cables or something to break up the monotony. Unfortunately that's not in the pattern, but if I had thought of it before.................................hmmmmm..................................there are more babies coming...................................but do I want to make them something, that's the question......................

On the Furhman front, I have now lost a total of 28lbs since October 17th '09. Very happy! To see that, just as i was bemoaning how tired i was getting of vegetables, and that i wanted a bacon cheeseburger. That gives me the resolve to stick with it, and maybe go through with phase 2 - actually hit Pacers and buy a new pair of running shoes. I want to start running again. I think I may have lost enough weight to not feel so bad when I do it this time. Gotta give that some thought. When I was running with Coach Carla, I got to the point where it was physically uncomfortable for me to run sometimes. I feel better now, so I may be ready. I think as a reward I may have to knit something for me! New sweater? New socks? What to do, what to do.

snow madness

2009-12-19T21:34:00.002-05:00

Okay, the niece went to a friends house last night to attend her birthday part. She arrived late and planned to spend the night. Well, with the forecast for 2 feet of snow, did she think about that? She's 18, do I need to say more? This afternoon she called her mom to come get her. Her mother actually considered this, and went so far as to start the car, clean it off and pull down the driveway. Made it out to the street before she got stuck. She wants her "baby" home. Unfortunately we weren't going to make the mile journey in the (at that time) 12+ inches of snow. My crazy sister.

Then there is her son who was wandering around in borrowed shoes, a borrowed coat, and his pajamas! Oh to be 15 and totally lacking in common sense again.....NOT!!!!! His mother insisted he put on proper snow gear.

Me, I've been sleeping, knitting and watching tv. That's what snowy days are for :-)

Wow, 60 days already!

2009-12-19T00:26:00.002-05:00

Okay, for the last 60 days I have been on a new eating plan. I call it a diet, but I like to think this will be a permanent thing so it isn't so "temporary" as a diet.

It started at work, when my stl told us about this book he was reading, Eat To Live by Dr Joel Furhman. He handed out copies, and I started reading. Now it all sounds very sensible and not too unreasonable. I made a half-hearted stab at it. Then the immersion programs were announced and I was selected for the Furman Immersion Program. Went to Princeton for a week, ate really well, didn't exercise much (6 am yoga, you gotta be shittin' me - i tried the first day but after that....HA!). Had more greens than i usually see in a year during that week. It was awesome! Loved it. It's been two months (well, 7 weeks since I returned from the program) and I have lost 21lbs (as of last week, didn't do my weekly weigh in today). I'm pretty happy with it. The last two weeks though have been hard. Not eating as well as I was in the beginning. Really need to plan my menus better. Haven't been planning them at all. It's also hard to be in a house full of mega meat consumers, when I am practically on a vegan diet. I get 8 oz of meat per week, usually fish. Because I am not eating as well, I think that's why I am not feeling as energetic and clear headed as I was. I also think I need to start exercising. That will really kick up the weight loss (not that I mind the recent 1lb/wk). My goal is to lose 60 more. My stretch goal is to lose 80 more, but I will feel healthier than I do now with the 60.

I'm supposed to be a the no more cravings point, but I am not quite there yet. And it's really hard to go without sugar, white flour, white rice, fats/oils, caffiene and meat, when you work in a grocery store as a BAKERY TEAM LEADER WITH A COFFEE BAR!!!!!!!!! I must have lost my mind.

Knitting is going well. Currently working on a pair of socks from Cookie A's sock book. will take pics later. Need to finish them this week (I am a slow knitter). One sock down, one more to go :-)

why i don't need to have children, little transmitters of illness, that's what they are sigh

2009-09-16T15:45:00.002-04:00

today is my day off. i planned to spend it as i spent yesterday, lounging, with a break to go to the yarn shop to drool, best buy to get a memory upgrade kit for my computer, and the repair shop to sign over my too-expensive-to-fix car. instead i spent it lounging, with periodic breaks to take my nephew's temp. i dropped him off at school, only to return an hour later to pick him up (temp of 99, and stomach ache). well, i guess he wasn't faking 'cause now it's up to 101 and he's vomiting. i am of course sympathetic, i bought him his mother's laptop, i bought him a cold drink, i took his temp. but lines must be drawn. i am not cleaning vomit!!!!! meanwhile, i have called and texted his mom, who is supposed to be on her way home. i don't know how to take care of a sick kid!!! when i'm sick, i call my mom and whine. what am i supposed to do with a sick 15 year old????!!!!!

this has of course given me ample time to work on my 2nd pair of no purl monkeys. i don't know what the yarn is, but it's a pretty shade of blue.

it's also giving me plenty of time to wonder, "am i next????" I just got over bronchitis. I can't get the flu!!!!!! i don't wanna be sick!!!!!

Welcome to my madness! « RocketGirls48's Blog

2009-09-07T02:13:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my madness! « RocketGirls48's Blog

sick sick sick....

2009-09-01T14:58:00.002-04:00

well, not so much now. interesting bout of bronchitis, with resulting lingering cough. ugh.

anyway, life on the home front is boring. about a week ago sunday, i spent the day cleaning. stirring up dust, cat hair and mold - thus the bronchitis. my place looks a little better now, but it's still pretty bad. thankfully my sister l came over to help that day, or it wouldn't be done. because she helped, i have been able to do a little more each week, and now i feel like i might be able to take some stuff to storage. with her here, i was able to toss out a lot. i have also reached an amicable agreement with the irs, so i am much relieved!!! still a little depressed, so not much knitting has been done. several pairs of socks started and frogged. one promising pair looked okay, but turned out to be too big for everyone in the family, so out it came. not sure what to do next......

need to get back to writing.....

2009-07-12T19:48:00.002-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time on facebook recently. not necessarily a good thing, since I spend most of my time there playing Mafia Wars. There are a few folks from work, and my family that hang out there, so it kinda limits what I write about. Also, I am not inclined to write especially long posts.
I have had the last week off and it's been glorious, except for the 29 mosquito bites and their maddening itchiness. The bite sites come in a range of sizes, from tiny to Holy Crap!!! The HC bites are on my index finger on my left hand (thing goodness I am right handed) and on the back of my right ankle. The entire side of the tip of my finger is swollen, as is the back of my ankle. They look kind gross and they itch like mad!!!!! We (the sisters and the neices and nephew and I) went camping at Point Lookout State Park. It's a beautiful, and peaceful place, and the mosquito capital of maryland. After last year, I thought that was Jane's Island, but now I know better. At PLSP we had a lovely cabin in the woods. The 6 cabins in our area were paired, and faced the trees, so you wouldn't have a view directly into your neighbors abode. The 4th area was for a camper hook-up, and was used by the camp host. They had a truely sweet setup. In the center of the 4 areas was the bathroom/shower building. It wasn't the cleanest place (Jane's Island was cleaner) and it was home to a large number of mosquitoes (as proven by the 6 bites on my ass, but only on the right cheek - 'cause I know anyone reading this really wants to know that little detail :-)
We used 2 cabins, one for my sisters, and the other for the 3 kids (18, 15, and 13) and myself.
Point Lookout was a civil war conferderate prison camp (the largest in the civil war) and hospital. It's located where the Potomac River and the Chesapeak Bay meet. There is a lighthouse, although I (snob that I am) don't consider it a "real" lighthouse because it's a house with a light on top, I prefer the more romantic towery light.
We went fishing (I bought the first pole I have had since I was about 12) and fed a lot of fish. That is the purpose of fishing, right? Were we actually supposed to "catch" something?????? We had fun anyway. We had s'mores. One is my limit, after two, I feel a little sick. We had terrible cheap wine. We swam in the Potomac (not allowed to swim in the bay there). We cooked over the fire, and used the propane stove only once. We saw foxes, and I laughed at my sisters who ran away from them, as the foxes ran in the opposite direction. I would go again, with stronger insect repellent and more bite stuff. It was a great time.
I am half-way through my latest knitting project (a tank top) and have started on a pair of socks from the latest knitty.
I have decided I am going to write a romance novel.

been a loooooong while

2009-06-06T00:42:00.002-04:00

Okay, I am still into the bento thing, even though I haven't made myself one in about a month. I have been so lazy when it comes to lunch. I just get stuff at work. They have this crazy gorgeous new hot bar and salad bar thing and it's just awesome! If only the food was as good as the set-up is beautiful. Oh well, they are hiring new folks like crazy, and hopefully some of them can cook. Anyway, knitting has been slow going lately. I've lost my knitting mojo, I think. I am working on the Brioche tank from Interweave '06. It's really cute, and my friend K liked it so much, she is working on it too! Except I started mine first and have completed only 5 inches and she is half done. See, I told you I lost my mojo :-)
Anyway, I spent today helping one of the decorators decorate cakes. It was soooo much fun! I haven't done it in a while. Tomorrow I will help her again, and this time I will take my tools in. I hate looking for tips and spatulas. Fun.
I think the rain is making me crazy.

mdsw, and other stuff

2009-05-08T21:37:00.002-04:00

Well, it's hard to believe it has been almost two months since my last post. Wow, where has the time gone.

The biker boy cardi is done and currently adorning my nephew as he heads off to see Star Trek.

I did the sheep and wool thing with K and we had a blast! She bought lots of yarn. She found yarn for me to buy :-) We ate lots of great food. We saw lots of cool stuff!

I have survived the great flood and am still throwing out stuff as i find it. Just tossed probably $200 worth of books yesterday. I didn't open the boxes except to see that the books I thought had kept dry, were soaked and were now blue. I didn't check to see what they were. At this point it didn't matter. They were a total loss. My next think is to take all the stuff that belongs to my sister that is sitting here, probably contributing to my clogged sinuses, and dump it in the garage. If she wants to go through it, she can do it there.

She gave me some news that didn's suprise me, so I don't know why it suprised her. Her daughter is 17, 5'4" tall, and weighs about 280lbs. Her pediatrician told my sister that her cholesteral is extremely high. This should be a suprise? My sister is in denial.

Anyway, I should talk. I am going to spend more time planning my meals for work. The stuff there has been making me sick lately.

Anyway, I am finishing the red sweater. It's been 4 years now, it's time to put this to bed. It's actually not that hard, the pattern is fairly easy. I picked up with the intention of possibly frogging it, then I noticed the stitch markers and decided to give it a shot again. So, we'll see.

meanderings

2009-03-18T04:32:00.003-04:00

Well, I have been sucked into the phenomenon that is Facebook. I am now totally hooked on Mafia Wars and play everyday. I am also now quite well aware of the drawbacks of this thing. First, I have made "friends" with lots of people I don't know because I have to build up my mafia family enough to keep from being beaten up and robbed by the masses of folks playing. As a result, I have ended up with some weird and wacky folks on my page (had to draw the line at the guy who became a fan of "upskirt.com", the picture showed up on my page and I un-friended him asap). Also, quite a few folks I work with are on it, so I have to watch what I say. Do I really want to talk about my sucky day where there is a chance my boss can see it? He is also on Facebook, but we aren't friends. I am also privy to my niece's more off color comments to her friends. Lordy that child can swear (well, one of her first words was "gah-dammit" - she was about 2 at the time and that is exactly how she said it :-). Trust me, she has progressed (is it actually progress???). I did join a group called "I knit to keep from killing people". I thought the title appropriate. Some days that seems to be the case.

I am putting myself on a little bit of a yarn purchasing hiatus. I have a small cabinet full of yarn, maybe 20 pairs of socks worth, and no plans for any of it. Yes, I know, many folks say sock yarn doesn't count, but if it takes up space, it counts. This may change if I come across some fantastic yarn, a great project, a phenomenal sale, a stupendous sock club, or any other excuse to ditch this plan :-)

Oh, and that brings to mind my original purpose in writing today. I love knitpicks! I broke one of my harmony options, in the middle of one of the sleeves of my biker boy cardi. I was going to blow it off, but then I decided I should replace it. So I ordered another set, and some short cables to work on the other sleeve (two short cables instead of one long). When my new cables and needles arrived, one of the needles was loose and kept slipping out of the base, and one of the cables was defective and I couldn't screw the needles in. Slightly unhappy. Sent off a quick note, they responded with a very quick apology and a new set of needles and cables. These guys have such totally great customer service. And I will continue to get the options needles, even with the arrival on the scene of the addi turbo interchangable needles. $125 is a lot of cash for so few cables and 9 pairs of needles. The options needles come with an additional cable and the same range of needle sizes (but I think the addis have one additional size). There is the nice case it comes in, but I'm not sure if that is really worth the additional cost. The system does sound good, though. The snap on needles vs the screw on needles. The options needles do have a tendency to come loose (of course that could be because I am too lazy to use the little pin thingy to properly tighten them when I connect them).

Any way, it's almost 5 am and I am supposed to be sleeping. Just read an article about the importance of proper rest for women and the link between sleep deprivation and heart disease. Good thing it's my day off! Can sleep all day. Joy!

piffle

2009-03-02T23:57:00.003-05:00

I came home, tired and in a good mood. Until I opened the fridge door, and saw it. Or rather didn't. My freakin' guacamole and salsa fresca, gone. All I wanted was my snack. Instead, those PEOPLE ate it. All of it. They had their own salsa, they could have opened the jar. There weren't even any chips in the house. I left the bag in my car. But they ate my stuff. I am totally beyond peeved. *sigh* Living with family sucks sometimes. My sister wakes me up because she thinks I should be awake and socializing with the family. I work weekends. If I have to be at work at 4pm, I don't want to wake up at 8am, and I don't think I should have to. I'm not digging this right now. And to top it off, my 2nd yarn shipment hasn't arrived. She was sick. Not to sick to collect her paypal payment, but too sick to send out the yarn. She said she "didn't want to include germy special suprises". I guess that was considerat, but a nice short email would also be nice. Just a brief "hey, due to illness your shipment will be late", quick and to the point. It let's me know I didn't just send money to a scam artist. Speaking of which, I have been getting text messages, about 1 every week or so from someone purporting to be from a credit union. They say my card has been deactivated, and I need to call them. Out of curiosity I did call yesterday (from work where we have lots of extensions - I'm not a total dweeb) and the recording asked form my card number. I immediately hung up the phone. The guy sitting in the office with me told me about the newest scam. I am wondering if I should notify someone about this, continue to ignore them, or change my number. It's annoying. Between that and the "you have just won the Irish Lottery" emails, I am a little peturbed.

i must be bored

2009-02-28T06:05:00.001-05:00

it's 6 am and i should be asleep. i must be tired because i am playing mafia wars on facebook, and answering customer comments on the whole foods website. i really need to go to bed:-)

Happiness is......

2009-02-15T00:30:00.002-05:00

finally figuring out how to carry the yarn for the vertical stripe in the biker boy cardi. It's also getting your spring Interweave Knits. Think I'll just take a look at that riiiiiight now :-)

family moment

2009-02-08T23:38:00.002-05:00

Conversation between my sister and her daughter, as my niece lounged on one end of the sofa, and her mother lounged on the other end.

T. I told you hours ago to do two things. Clean the office and finish your homework. You haven't done either one. (pause to stare at daughter) Don't give me that look of suffering!

(niece interrupts) I'm not looking at you. (mother interjects) Yes, you are. (niece replies) You have channels in HD and don't nag all the time? No, I'm not looking at you. (sister stares at the creature she gave birth to, and bursts out laughing).

I'll admit it, I am so totally spoiled.

2009-02-02T19:39:00.002-05:00

That said, let's begin with a sulky "what kind of sock club sends you just yarn and no swag!!!!????" *sigh*

I guess you can tell both of my sock club shipments arrived.

I 'm not really that impressed with the Madeline Tosh. It's variegated, it's called WaterLily, and it's very pastelly. Kinda ho-hum (of course, that could be me sulking because there wasn't so much as a Hershey's kiss, or stitch marker included, not even a note about inspiration for the color choices, and need I mention that the January shipment arrived on February 2nd!!!!). I'll be interested to see how it stripes. I do have to say it is soft and warm, and it will make a comfy pair of socks.

The ZenString yarn is not quite as soft, but the colors are divine (at least this one sent a fridge magnet - advertising her business *sigh*). The colors are very deep, lots of purple, blue and green. It's called Madame Butterfly.

Unfortunately, I can't find my camera right now or else I would post pics. They are both actually quite nice, it's just that when I talk to K about her sock clubs, I turn green. I totally missed on the Deadly Spins, and they aren't doing it this year!!!

I think i'll just sit here and work on my Biker Boy Cardi (whine, whine, pout).

happiness is.......

2009-01-30T20:38:00.004-05:00

finding out that the reason you can't get to the site where your email is located is because you have to reboot the wireless router (whew, I thought it would be something more difficult).

I am scheduled to have 3 glorious days off this week. Slept through day one, totally vegged for day two (I did have to go to work in between those two days :-), and today I was supposed to hang out with big sis, but it looks like she totally dissed me. Oh, well. I am spending the day enjoying one of my favorite movies "Rear Window", and a "Seconds to Disaster" marathon. I'll probably go out at some point, but I think it is kinda cold outside, and I really am not a cold weather person, but I really, really, really want a soda.

Happiness is also finding out that both of your sock club shipments are in the mail. Not sure I am totally digging the Madeline Tosh method. The January shipment mails on the 30th?????? Well, I guess it is still January. Then one of the promised yarns isn't coming, it's coming next month. Did she switch it out for something else? Very curious.

Biker Cardi is up to 9 inches, and knitting is going swimmingly, but tediously. There is a reason I usually go for patterns that do not entail endless rows of stockinette *sigh* Plus the black yarn is picking up every piece of lint and white cat hair in the universe. Not looking forward to seeing what this kid does to the finished sweater.

happiness is.....

2009-01-24T13:40:00.005-05:00

spending time with big sis, having great conversation over a wonderful dinner (her treat!). We went to The Helmund last night. It's this really great Afghan restaurant in B'more. The food was divine and I ate waaaaay too much of it. We talked about things not related that much to WFM, which made me very happy.

Happiness is also getting to the 7 inch point in the biker boy cardi. 10 more inches to go and then it's sleeve time! This one is knit in three pieces, the body and the two sleeves. I think I'm liking this.

No socks on the needles, but sock club happiness is apparently in the mail. Zen String sent an email out stating that the first shipment is being sent out today. Haven't heard anything from the other club (Madeline Tosh), but they did process their payment for the 2nd installment quite promptly, so hopefully that means it's on the way.

Happiness is......

2009-01-18T20:59:00.000-05:00

....a warm hello from a purring kitty. Gotta love Ash

a happy place

2009-01-17T12:17:00.001-05:00

As I sit here, I have just waved goodbye to Artemis (my 98 Saturn). She is on her way to the repair shop, where I am pretty sure they will discover I need a new clutch (and that I need to be relieved of about $800). I live about 20 miles from my job, so this of course (in my eyes) presented a major problem. These aren't 20 "hey, catch a bus to the subway to the bus" miles, this is 20 "hey, get on rt 1 to rt 100 to I95 to the beltway to rt 29" miles. Now normally I don't ask for help. I am not sure why, maybe it's because I want to be seen as strong and independent. Let someone need help, they can ask me, and I will go out of my way, bend into pretzels, to help them. When I need help, I figure the answer will be "no", or there will be complaints or comments (why can't you do it yourself), so I don't ask. I have trust issues, I admit it. Well, I did ask for help. I asked my sister if I could borrow her car, and on the week days ride into work with her. She said let's come up with a plan. I still feel like I am imposing on her. But I guess that is what sisters are for.
On another note, I have been thinking that I need to find my happy place. It's buried in the clutter of my life and I think it needs some sunshine, fresh air and fertilizer to revive it.
So, to that end I need to remember what brings me joy, and makes me happy. The thing for today is the joy of being with my family, having a good meal and great conversation. My middle sister took my mom, my oldest sister any me out to dinner last night (Christmas present) at McCormick and Schmick's ( I am sure that is spelled wrong). We had a great dinner, and just a simply marvelous time. Mom was on her best behavior. It was so much fun. Family can be good.

a happy place

2009-01-17T12:17:00.000-05:00

a little Bacardi.....

2008-12-27T00:08:00.009-05:00

Christmas is over for another year. The crowds at the store were maddening, even my stl was talking to himself. Pretty funny.

I cooked the holiday dinner. We had leg of lamb (first time I have ever cooked one) with roasted root veggies and gravy, wheat rolls (cause you know we all need to eat better), swiss chard with onions and garlic, roasted apple and butternut squash soup, and collard greens (mom made that). The soup was finished with Bacardi, the lamb was basted with bacardi mixed with herbs (dried bottled italian seasoning and Mrs Dash), the pan for the gravy was deglazed with more bacardi. Why rum? Well, I would have used wine or brandy, but I couldn't find any, and I thought "hey, alcohol is alcohol" and I wanted something sweetish and rum is made from sugar cane (yes, culinary school does make you open to trying anything once, even at Christmas dinner for the entire family). It was fantastic! I wasn't sure about tossing the sweet potatoes into the veggie mix, but it worked out well. The caramelization on the bottom of the pan (I laid the lamb on top of a bed of onions which basically disintegrated into syrupy goo - yummmmmm) just bought out the real sweetness of the vegetable, and I like to think the bits of sweet potato that didn't make it out of the pan added something to the flavor of the gravy. The seasoning mix created a kind of crust, which when eaten was very yummy. Even my older brother who told my mother prior to dinner that he wasn't going to eat the lamb, had some, and then some more, and then a little more. Everyone loved the rolls, even with the whole wheat flour added (it's the same recipe we have been using since I was a kid but I subbed half the white flour for whole wheat). It's really odd to have to tell your mom "hey, that's not done put it back". I mean, she is the one who taught me to make bread. She took lots of credit by saying she taught me well. And actually, she did! Thanks mom!

We had a great time. Lots of laughter and jokes and funny stories. When mom called Imani Christmas Eve, she asked where they had been all day. Imani told her she took the kids to the cemetery to visit dad's grave. Mom was immediately guilt ridden, she hadn't gone. I told her to get a grip, it's not like he would mind. I don't really think of the spirits of loved ones hanging out at cemeteries. There are much better places to hang. She would be better off communing with him in the garden. He is more likely to be there. Now of course this means I haven't been to the cemetery since the funeral. And I intend to keep it that way. If I feel the need to commune with dad, I'll grab my 35mm and some film and head out to take some pictures. We always took pictures together.

In a way he was there in the presence of my baby bro. J spent the entire time taking pictures. He said he is planning a photo collection about the family kitchen, showing the holiday rituals of food and cooking, or something like that. Every time I turned around he was there taking pictures. I would be interested to see how they turn out.

I have to get pictures of the cph. T has been wearing it all day, a sure sign that she does indeed love it. I had her try it on a couple of times, telling her I needed to see it on someone with boobs to get the fit, and her mother couldn't do it because she had to give me advice. Hah! She fell for it. When she opened the package (actually it tore when her brother handed it to her) and she saw the color (she didn't even remove all the paper) she jumped up and hugged me and gave me a big kiss. I think that was the first clue that she liked it. She told me (before she ran off to her sleepover/movie night) that it's her favorite sweater and I'll have to make her another one when she wears this one out :-) I used a zipper as the closure and since I couldn't find a zipper of the length I wanted, I used the shorter one (which worked out fine) and put in a little heart shaped hook closure (two hearts that hook) just above the end of the zipper. Putting in the zipper wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, even though I think I made the front overlap just a smidge too much, but ferocious blocking squished it temporarily. I told her when it needed washing, give it to me and I would show her how to wash it. My sister has my great aunt's singer sewing machine in the garage. I am moving it into the basement. This thing sews like a dream. It has to be from the 60's or early 70's, knowing Aunt Kitty it's probably earlier. It flips out of the cabinet top and it's pea green, with a very responsive thigh pedal (or whatever you call it) that folds down from the base of the cabinet, instead of a foot pedal! It's awesome! Using it to put in the zipper was a breeze. I just finished the swatch for nephew's Biker Boy Sweater (from Son of Stitch n Bitch) and it actually calls for a zipper.

pics to follow!

sigh

2008-12-16T20:48:00.012-05:00

I love it when blogger swallows my posts, even though I am saving them all the while.
Anyway. On the 3rd I went to the TransAfrica Gala. It was a lot of fun and I saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in years (like since I was in college and my sister was dragging me off to demonstrations every weekend). The food was excellent. The music was great. There was a mini-concert by Wynton Marsalis. Love him. He is phenomenal. The picture is fuzzy but here he is.
I also got to meet their board chairman. He was incredibly nice.  And he is really tall.

And yes, that is me with Danny Glover :-)
Today I went to H-mart and bought a little bento box. That is my new passion. Bento. Saving money by taking lunch, spending time creating something tasty and pretty to eat, focusing more on putting good food in my body. Did I mention the saving money part? This is my lunch for tomorrow (part of it). This is the stuff that is going into my udon noodle soup. Green onions, shrimp, egg, fried tofu, and mushrooms. We had the same thing for dinner tonight. Quite yummy.

I also went yarn shopping. Two weeks in a row!!! Last week I bought this. Berroco Peruvia. The picture doesn't do it justice. The brown is like a really deep milk chocolate. and the yarn is so soft and warm. It's going to make great gloves! Well, as warm as fingerless gloves can be.

Now the Berroco came from All About Yarn in Columbia. The lovely, sexy red came from Coverhill in Catonsville. I stopped in there today ('cause I was on my way home from the bank, how fortuitous is that!) and picked up this one for a pair of socks. It's called Casbah, and I don't know if that's the color or the yarn 'cause there ain't no lot number or anything on the label, just the name and composition (81%merino/9%cashemere/10%nylon - 100%glorious). This my not end up on big sister's feet. This one may be all mine! And it's machine washable to boot! And 20% of my purchase dollars went to a local AIDS charity, talk about a win/win. And of course I had to buy stitich markers, just because.

better

2008-12-11T23:35:00.002-05:00

Today I found a new doctor. She's very direct and no nonsense.
I got a great text from a friend, actually I recieved messages from 3 friends. One is enjoying her new job. the second is moving back to dc. the third told me about the new knitty. Wow, that's a lot of socks. And it also told me I really do need to make fingerless mittens for my baby brother. Photographer in New York in winter. He needs fingerless gloves. Something thick and in a nice neutral color...... I am thinking gray.

blue

2008-12-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

Feeling a little blue today. I think my zest for life is at a low ebb. Could be that I am tired. I cooked for the family today. It was my sister & bro-in-law's 22nd anniversary. I made a wonderful dinner as a suprise. Remind me not to do that again. He bought home fried chicken (didn't remember it was their anniversary) which he quite promptly ate and was too full for dinner. She was 3 hours late getting home. It was a suprise, they didn't know, it's no one's fault, but I was peeved. I think I must need some time away from home, doing something rechargey. I need some cheering, I think I'll go watch some Wallace and Gromit.

oh joy, a day off!

2008-11-14T20:15:00.004-05:00

Well, it's two days off in a row for me. It's been an interesting week. I had a customer come up and tell me we had the worst bakery of all the bakeries in the company. I am being sought out by one of our "favorite" customers (he's actually not that bad, and he has a point about the bread). I made plans for my day off and spent the entire day sleeping (I laid on the bed to do a sudoku puzzle and the next thing I knew it was 3 hours later - I must be tired) instead of accomplishing things on my to do list. I am drinking one of the worst cups of tea I have had in a while (Tanganda brand tea from Zimbabwe - very strong tea). And I need to do my hair (two hours with my arms in the air *sigh*).
CPH is almost done, but for the seaming and the closure decision.
New yarn from the elements sock club. I love her yarn. This was an excellent sock club. If she does it again, I am on board.
So here I sit, listening to Tori Amos and "enjoying" a cup of tea.
Life is good. If only I was there, instead of here *sigh*. I love Seattle.

YES WE CAN!!!

2008-11-05T00:24:00.002-05:00

This morning I sit here, almost too overwhelmed to write. I never thought I would see this day. This morning, I almost didn't leave the house, but the roomies badgered me into it. I drove to DC, prepared to wait (I had the ipod, a skein of yarn, needles, and a new sock pattern). I parked and prayed Iwouldn't get a ticket. The line was very long, much longer than in past elections, and I was suprised and pleased by the number and range of voters. Black, white, hispanic, the young as well as the elderly. It has never felt so good to cast a vote. I have never felt so strongly about a candidate. I can say I participated. I voted for the first African American President of the United States of America. I have never felt so proud.

Noooooooo!!!!

2008-11-01T12:47:00.002-04:00

David Tennat won't be The Doctor anymore???!!!!! Oh horror of horrors!!! *sob, sniffle* He's like my 3rd favorite! *sniffle, sniffle*
mmwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!

sooooo tired

2008-10-24T22:12:00.003-04:00

Okay, today I overslept. I had to be at work at 11 am and I woke up at 10:40. Not good. I was about 40 minutes late for work (I have a 40 minute drive). I just felt so off for the entire day, plus I was so tired and sleepy I just couldn't function. There were the usual endless questions from team members and customers, and a few really good custie questions, so all in all it was a good day, just very exhausting. Maybe I am coming down with something, headache, mild dizziness, upset tummy. Who knows.

Anyway, started on 2nd sock and I am about half done. Just finished the short row portion heel and about to start picking up stitches for the gusset. Maybe top down socks aren't that bad after all. Two weeks isn't that bad for socks, is it? Okay, maybe it's actually closer to three, but still, It's not too-tooo slow, I don't think.

Thanks to K I have been up to my ears in Torchwood goodness. She loaned me DeLovely (which I plan to watch this weekend) and she sent me lots of links to pics from the Torchwood conventions in England. I wonder if they will ever cross the pond *sigh*

This week I have also been vastly entertained by the Palin as president site. Everyday there is something new added to the site. Such fun.

Socrates......no, not the Greek, the Yarn!!!

2008-10-16T15:50:00.003-04:00

Okay, when I went shopping with K, I bought sock yarn. I intended it to be for socks for baby bro, then I got selfish and decided they would be for me, then I tried them on and realized that they don't fit over my heel very well, so they will probably be for mom (unless I can block 'em to fit me - selfish little b that I am:-).
I'm not much of a photographer so I can't seem to capture the color correctly, but I tried.

strange day.....

2008-10-13T22:06:00.003-04:00

Well, I arrived at work to find tons of emails. One was from my boss informing me that a tm had come to work, left and not returned. Turns out she quit, and her fiancee called to tell us she quit. Seems the fiancee told her she had to quit because there were too many men talking to her. hmmmmm ;;looking around, checking the date on my computer, the calendar on the wall, the date on the cable guide;; I was right, it is 2008!!! She is a very attractive young woman, and he needs to get a grip. He hasn't married her yet, and he doesn't own her, SHE needs to get a grip. This does not bode well for their future.

Next, another tm didn't show the entire weekend. His last call was on Friday when he told me he would be late, then later, then very late. He didn't show. I called him and reached his girlfriend who said he was in the hospital and couldn't talk. She is bringing a dr's note. I told one of the store managers. His response - "he's in jail". Now does this guy know something, or is it because the tm in question is a young black male?

Next, we had a customer service training. They said give product away. Concentrate on making every customer's visit a great experience. Now, how do you reconcile giving away product with decreasing shrink, when sampled product (both the small pieces and the stuff you sign off on) is all shrink? I'm confused. I don't understand business *sigh*

deep breath......

2008-10-04T21:23:00.004-04:00

stitch markers
check!

Options Harmony needles with 60 inch cable
Check!

Central Park Hoodie in Lambs Pride Red Hot Passion
Check!

Okay, I guess it's time to start that button band!
I checked on Ravelry and found a suggestion to pick up three, skip one.
Guess I better stop stalling and start knitting. I so don't want to do this *sigh*

random thoughts

2008-09-30T11:22:00.007-04:00

Last night my sister, the kids and I spent a little quality time on youtube and a couple of other sites. We watched theSNL Palin skits, as well as clips of the Palin/Currick interview. Then we watched the entire interview. It was both sad and frightening. This is a woman who would be a heartbeat (and let's face it, he in all likelihood wouldn't last the whole four years) from the presidency. I know interviews can be intimidating, but......... she was reading responses from notes, some of her answers didn't answer the questions, her answers about Israel and Iran were terrifying! I can't believe anyone would support McCain, but with her as a running mate that should make it easier to decide not to.
I watched the debates. I was even less impressed by McCain than before. Unfortunately I am convinced something hinky will go on with this election too.
I think I'll buy a lottery ticket today.
Last week went out with a friend. I told my sister it was great to have a friend who could appreciate my interests (knitting, torchwood, firefly, good music, tea). We had a day of all 5! She purchased yarn, I just looked (totally not my fault, no matter what she says, I just took her there :-) We went to Eleganza in Frederick. My favorite part of the store, the sale bins. Gotta love $4 yarn. Then we had tea at Serenity. It was awesome, as always. Love that place. My friend bought tea (again, not my fault - the store does have 53 varieties of loose tea so how could she resist). Great times. Part of the fun was me trying to remember how to get there. Did I mapquest directions, like I usually do? Of course not, so there were lots of wrong turns and a lot of driving around. She took it well (I mean we did both have big Starbucks cups in hand and great music on the ipod) and we found both eventually. I think I did well for having been to each place just once, and not on the same day. Okay, maybe I went to the yarn shop twice, but it was a year ago.
cph is still on the needles. There is something intimidating about having to pick up 300 stitches. Socks are almost done (finally), just need to bind off on one and finish the last inch of the 2nd.
No gift knitting done, or started, or thought about. Okay, not true. I am going to make a scarf for baby bro, as well as the socks. Finally something to do with that dark blue baby alpaca (the scarf, not the socks).
Off to finish the laundry. The kids are home because of Rosh Hashanah. I am ignoring them.

Why?????!!!!!!!

2008-09-27T23:20:00.002-04:00

Why are some men such babies? one of the guys was sooooo upset tonight because I wouldn't change his schedule so he could go home and watch the game tomorrow. Good lord you would have thought it was the super bowl the way he carried on. sheesh! His reasons were perfectly sound. Except this is the end of the fiscal year and tomorrow is inventory. And I have scheduled two people to work inventory who haven't done it before. I have no idea why they made him a supervisor. He's such an ass.
*sigh*

Eureka!!!

2008-09-23T00:04:00.002-04:00

Found new socks for baby Bro!!!

almost done......

2008-09-22T23:30:00.002-04:00

Well, just sitting here listening to Blondie and enjoying the 500 gigs of external hard drive bliss just purchased from Best Buy (oh Joy!!!!). No more evil "you have 200mb of memory, please delete something for heaven's sake!!!!" messages. I put the whole itunes file on there and now I'm crusin'. way cool.

okay, still no pics, but the cph is almost done!!! Unfortunately it fits her (booooooo......um....yea?) so I have to give it to her (my mom said so, 43 and still listening to mom *sigh*). Anyway, now her brother wants a sweater. Kinda nice, huh :-) especially since he doesn't know who the red one is for. Now I am trying to find something for a 14yo boy. It won't fit him by the time I finish it, but whatever. I guess if I make it waaaaaay too big....... But something that he will wear, I am at a loss *sigh* Most of the ones on Knitty don't look very interesting - too fussy, or too many cables (hellooo, just finishing cph and the multi-cabled sweater from hell is still on the needles after 3 years!!!!). Hmmm, need to think about this. Maybe I'll cast on some socks and think it over.

No-Purl Monkeys finally done!

2008-09-09T19:36:00.006-04:00

Feast your eyes. Here they are in all their variegated glory. No, I don't know what kind of yarn it is, just that it is soft and lovely. A little darker than I have been buying lately, but love it anyway.

Who are they for? Why me, of course. I have discovered the joy of making things por moi.

They are toe-up ('cause I just love the toe-up thing, makes the socks go easier), short row toe and heel ('cause I love the short row thing, too), and the bind-off was this super elastic thing I found in one of my sock books (m-1 every other stitch). Now they fit over my heels, and stay up just fine :-)
Finished them off during the NCIS marathon. Super easy (I say that after ripping back two rows with fingering wt yarn and size 1 needles, twice per sock!!!!!!).
Now that I know I need a little looser bind-off, I will definitely make them again.

A very short and pictureless knitting rant :-)

2008-09-04T11:58:00.005-04:00

I have started sleeves on the cph. I really want to keep this for myself, but I told my sister I was making it for my niece.
I finished a pair of socks (yea!!!) it's that something or other waves socks on the cover of "favorite socks". Unfortunately I can't get them on because I have to take out the last two rows and use a more elastic bind-off. grrrrr, wanna wear 'em now!!!

a very long non-knitting, work related rant

2008-09-04T11:25:00.004-04:00

Each day I go to work, and wonder, do I really like this job? The answer can be complicated.
One aspect of my job that never really bothered me in the past but now drives me bonkers is the endearing (NOT) behaviour of our customers.
We have two cake sizes and about 12 flavors of cakes and tarts in our case. Our case is about 5 feet tall, and I am about 5 foot 4. I can't see through the glass at the back to the glass at the front. Now here is a typical situation. Customer comes up and from 3 feet away says, what kind of cake is that (did I mention the signs with cake name and price next to each cake). They are pointing and I can't tell what they are pointing at so I ask which cake. They say the one with the fruit on it. I tell them it's a fresh fruit cake. They ask the price (did I mention the sign???). I tell them. They say can I have that one (again with the pointing). I say which size, large or small. They ask, which is the large. Now on a good day I say the one on the front row, on a crappy day I say the larger one is the large, and the smaller one is the small (I used to ask if they wanted the 6 inch or the 9 inch, but that just confused the heck out of all of them, did I mention tha the sign gives the size!!!!). Now sometimes this is the end of the transaction, other times when I get out to hand them their lovely boxed cake, I get:
I don't like that one, I want an different one
can you write "happy 20th birthday john dick and harry" on a 6" cake in flaming violet, or better yet can you fit all that on a 3" diameter cookie
can you get me the smaller one, that is too large (or can you get me the larger one, that is too small)
can you put extra______ on it, why is that an extra charge
What spawned this today? I had a customer call to complain about a cake. She had gotten a different flavor than she asked for (I will admit we have screwed up a cake or two, but usually not that badly). She said the team member that took her order "spoke really bad english" and she didn't think they understood what she said. Now the woman who called was obviously not a native english speaker, so that bothered me (pot, meet kettle). She wanted something (I didn't ask her what), and mentioned that her cousin worked for my company and told her the rules. I asked her to return the cake I would check it out. She said no one liked it so she threw it away. Now to some this may seem like a reasonable story. The me this screamed they ate the cake, she told her" cousin" (or the little voice in her head) she wasn't happy with it, her cousin told her to come back and get whatever she wanted in return. It was the next day, not the day of the cake pick-up. I told her that since she waited so long I couldn't really check her story and it would have been helpful if she had called the same day. Well, I talked to the team. They told l me she didn't place the order, her husband did. And he ordered the fruit cake first then changed it to cappuccino. We gave her a cappuccino. We also had to fix the spelling of the kids name, because the guy misspelled it, twice!!!
This just bothered me.
The other thing that bothers me is when did "would you like your bread whole or sliced" become a yes or no question, or require so much thought?
*sigh*

forgive me friends, I haven't blogged......

2008-08-08T03:43:00.008-04:00

Okay, vacation is over. Took four, count 'em, four whole weeks off!!!!
Now I am back at work. I have decided I hate customer service. Actually, I just dislike stupid people, who ask inane questions. Maybe it isn't stupid to walk into a grocery store and ask someone at the bakery counter "What do you have here that a diabetic should eat?". My response instead of an annoyed sigh, should have been "you need to consult your doctor or nutritionist, I am not qualified to dispense nutritional advice". I'll have to remember that.  Then there was the customer with the 30 minute cake consult, she wanted to taste different cakes, even though she said she had tasted them all before and knew which one she wanted.  Then she decided she wanted a strawberry and cream cake, with out the strawberries, but she wanted us to dye the whipped cream different colors.  She didn't seem to grasp that wasn't going to work very well.  Then there was the color explanation.  Folks just don't understand. All natural plant based red does not come out red.  No matter how much red color you add, it will still be pink, not bright red.
Anyway, today we had at company picnic, as sponsored by out cheapskate store team leader. They had trivia questions, and the prizes were $10 gift cards, FROM OUR STORE!!!!!!! Like he couldn't spring for gc's from like Borders, or B&N, or Target or something? Or if they had to be from our store, maybe for more money than ten bucks? That will pay for lunch, barely. And he wonders why the team members think he's a loser. Sheesh!  Oh, I won two gift cards.  What will I do with my 20 bucks?  Two gas cards would have been sweet!

Well vacation was great. Got a little knitting done, but no pics of the knitting. Just finished one of my no purl monkey socks, and immediately cast on the second sock. It's knits really fast, so I could be debating who the reciepient is by the end of next week!!!! I seem to be running about 1 week per sock.
Did work on cph, have gotten up to the arm holes on the back, and ready to bind off on the front panels. What a neat sweater. Took it to the eastern shore and got quite a bit of work done. We went to Jane's Island State Park for a week.  Five days of eating crabs for dinner, and being eaten for dinner by dozens of mosquitoes and bitting flies.  It was great!!!  Gotta love that deep woods Off.  If only they could make is smell better.
This is what we saw when we sat in front of the fire each evening.

This is what I woke to each morning. TLG (the little general) starting the fire for breakfast.
This was the day the pancakes actually came out as pancakes. The next morning...................that batch was a little......................strange :-)
We did the whole touristy thing. The museums, and other strange places. Janes Island is near Chrisfield, MD (like 2 miles away). Chrisfield calls itself the Seafood Capitol of the World. Major Maryland crab and oyster processing town. Very quiet.
We also visited Princess Anne, nice town, lots of historic victorian houses.

Did I mention the canoe?

Then I returned home, where I slept and read for a week. My sister (the other one) did manage to drag me off to the beach, where her daughter got caught in the rip tide, and when her father swam out to rescue her, they both had to be rescued. Thank heaven for surfers, bless all four of 'em. They went out and bought them back. Totally cool.
I did go back to the beach, but I didn't spend much time on the sand, or in the water. It was nice anyway.
Enough for now. Must sleep :-)

sweet cafe.....

2008-05-13T00:09:00.004-04:00

Okay, I need to blog more, if only for my sanity. today was kinda freaky. it started when I jumped out of bed (at 8:15 - the time i was supposed to be leaving the house to go to work) and stepped right into a nice cold puddle of water. my first thought was "Ashleigh, why did you pee on the floor!!!!!!!" (sorry baby), but with my next few steps i discovered it wasn't the fault of my falsely maligned kitty, but the lovely rain that had seeped under my door and covered my floor, in strategic areas, like every other tile. Okay, so I leave the house (after moving a few books and extension cords, and surge protectors to higher ground), with sister in the passenger seat (she of the moaning guilt about my stuff getting wet, that dissolved into gentle snores halfway to dc) and call the job explaining that I was late for work due to the flooding apartment (liar-liar pants on fire, partly). I get to work late and get my stuff done, then leave early. just as I am about to leave i am questioned by a rep from the regional office about some investigation into some weird cake underpricing thing at the store (which I think was actually an investigation into morale issues since the unions are sniffing around trying to get in again). Well, i drive home in the (still) pouring rain and find there are no new puddles and the old ones have dried. But best of all, i find that my yarn cafe package has arrived!!!!! Yippeee!!!! Now I was expecting this because darling Kay had spilled the beans and bought hers in, so I was in a properly yarn-lusty state when I got home. She really made me jealous when she showed me her new Neighborhood Fiber co yarn, that stuff was.... like whoa, it was just awesome. I really hope Karida gets her act together soon 'cause the girl has mad skills in the yarn area. Anyway, back to yarn cafe. I'm thinking anastasia socks for the yarn. I feel that designers need to be compensated, must be compensated, but i don't currently have the seven bucks to spare to buy another sock pattern (car window needs repair, check engine light is on, have fall hiking trip to save for, not to mention the summer driving trip with big sis, priorities must be set), so i'm going for the freebies. enough rambling. think i'll go charge the camera batteries so i can take pictues of all my recent yarn purchases. oh, almost forgot, bought bryson rosewood sock needles at sheep and wool. 10 bucks!!!!! compared to 20 for lantern moon that's a steal of such magnitude it cannot be properly described. so i bought two pairs.

spring????

2008-04-28T11:43:00.003-04:00

spring has sprung, and with it has come the md sheep and wool festival. I have taken the weekend off to properly pay homage to this event. I have invited family and friends. We will of course travel on separate days. I can shop with friends, but not with family. Family, not being knitters, will be obsessed with prices. Friends, being knitters, will be obsessed with shopping. See the difference?

I have also completed (sort of) a 7 day total body cleanse. I won't bore you with the details, just let us say it went fairly well. I am trying to start a healthier eating regimen, less red meat, more fish and veggies. If you have ever watched "You Are What You Eat", you can probably understand where this is coming from. Plus my cholesterol is waaaaaay too high. Exercise is next on the to do list.

Since moving into my sister's house, life has been a little different. Some of my favorite foods are a little harder (meaning impossible) to find (like good thai and good chinese), but really bad stuff (like burger king and mc donald's) are a lot easier to come by (we are off of the highway - meaning near one of those handy-dandy blue exit signs reading gas, lodging, and cheap food). The family doesn't have any sort of eating plan except to get whatever is easiest. It's hard. I mean, I wasn't the healthiest eater before, but this is ridiculous. There is pizza, every week. Even on my own I didn't get pizza more than once per month, and sometimes not even that frequently. There is Wendy's or Mc D's practially every week as well. The amount of soda consumed is staggering. I am, I don't know what I am . Anyway, my sister suggested I cook whenever I feel like it. Actually, I suggested we come up with a menu and shopping plan. She told me to plan away. She didn't actually say anything about the shopping. I can't afford to to the shopping for 5 people on my salary, I guess we need to have a more serious talk about it. Either that, or I will continue to buy my own stuff, and take a friend's advice and get myself a small fridge to put downstairs in my space for stuff I want for myself. I already take the fruit I want downstairs because if I don't it will vanish with none left for me. It's hard. Thank heaven for knitting. It's keeping me sane.

can't wait!

2008-04-18T19:25:00.003-04:00

okay, this has been an eventful week.

missed my pal Justine due to food poisoning (i really have to teach my housemates/family about the evils of leaving food out all the time)

almost fired two team members (my team leader is such a sucker for a sob story and a snow job)

had a birthday lunch with my mom (my birthday is monday, but she took me to lunch today - soup for me due to the still weak stomach)

i have started my cph again, and it's going like gang-busters

i have invited mom over for lunch on monday (did i mention it's my birthday). i plan to make my own cake, 'cause nobody knows what I want more than i do :-)

back in the saddle, yeeeeehaaaaaa!

2008-04-08T11:10:00.002-04:00

well, after an extended hiatus, i am blogging again.
the move was more expensive than i thought it would be, in many ways, but i am now relatively comfortably ensconced in my sisters basement.
i have good and bad feelings about this, but hey, it's $400 a month, plus an extra 10 for they y membership. not a bad deal.
my computer isn't hooked up, so i am forced to use the kids'. they have like no memory on this thing so there may not be pictures for a while.

now for the important stuff, the sock clubs.

i oh so love twisted fiber arts yarns!!!!!!! her selections for the club have been fantastic, and the ravelry group is great. everyone gave out great suggestions for patterns. i made two pairs of socks from the yarn she sent, and i ran out of yarn for the 2nd pair, but purchased a great lovely 100% bamboo in a slightly brighter pink from this place, my new favorite yarn shop (i'm a sucker for a shop with a couch :-). it's less than 15 minutes from my house. how cool is that! back to twisted. the second sock installment has arrived and the colors are darker, but fabulous!!!! i love it, have i said i love her yarn?

ooooh and the yarn from jolly jumbuck was equally fantabulous!!! they sent this wonderful stuff in the most wonderful shades of blue. it was called mermaids ........um, don't remember the rest, but i think you get the drift. anyway, they sent a list of pattern suggestions along with it. love it. they also sent stitch markers, hand crafted, and a baby sock blocker key chain along with a baby sock pattern. and chocolate eggs, too! I can't wait until i get my next installment of this sock club. the next one if from a different dyer. will it be as great as this one??? who knows.

the last club was the eleganza club. it included a binder, newsletter with pattern included and, of course, the yarn. the yarn was a very bright kinda cottony thing for ankle socks. it was very nice, but i am not much of a lacy top anklet kinda gal. i'll probably look around for something else to mix it with.

on the other knitting front, I started and finished my noni triangle bag. what did you say? what noni triangle bag? what happened to the cabled sweater from hell and the central park hoodie projects???? well, the cable sweater is still lying around, incomplete. the cph has been frogged and is awaiting a restart. i found this pattern while searching through the noni website and decided i would order it one day. well, while perusing the shelves at my new favorite shop, i found it! i decided it would be a great bag to have. who cares that it's april and the weather is about to change! i am going to make me this bag, in charcoal and tan (because i have this yarn i bought for another project and changed my mind and used another yarn for it) lambs pride bulky. i haven't started felting it yet but i am way happy with it so far. it's going in the washer tomorrow night after work. it was a little tight on the tan yarn front, so i made a few changes (very minor - the strap has a stripe instead of being a solid color) but i think it's going to be great! i am going to line it. my other sister has a sewing machine! can't wait to add pictures!

blech...

2008-02-09T10:46:00.000-05:00

I have the flu. next year I get the shot, I swear. I know I have been saying that for the last couple of months, but this time I mean it. Anything to avoid having someone stick that little swab up my nose again, yech. What makes the whole thing worse is that I can't find my knitting. I am surrounded by boxes, but I can't find the one with my cph in it. *sigh* The last thing I want to do right now is unpack. Not much of a post right now. I feel sooooo tired. I think I'll go back to sleep.

woohooo!!!!

2008-01-31T20:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, my apartment is half packed, I am almost out of boxes, and the movers are scheduled to be here in 12 hours. This should be fun.
Meanwhile, I have completed the first 3 1/2 inches of my niece's Central Park Hoodie.
It's coming along swimmingly, but I guess it should be since at this point it's just rib :-)
I must say I love the options needles. They feel great, look great, and the sharp pointiness is divine.
I have also taken the plunge. It pays to stay off the computer at 2am, I have to say that first.
This morning at about that time (actually it was probably closer to 1am), I joined 3 (count 'em, 3!!!!!) sock clubs. The Eleganza Yarns Sock Club, the Yarn Collective Sock Club, and the Twisted Yarn Club. Totally cool! Very excited. Well, I think I need to stop procrastinating and start packing :-). If I get a solid hour of packing done, I will allow myself a 30 minute stretch of knitting :-)

ain't life grand :-)

2008-01-21T17:42:00.000-05:00

Here I sit, I have The Matrix on the tube, my new phone on mute, my new options needles on the sofa sitting with my 10 skeins of lamb's pride wool/mohair in red hot passion (lot 020) and my central park hoodie pattern in hand. I must say, after the minor (HAH!!!) glitch with the post office, knitpicks and ups came through with flying colors!!!!! I may have mentioned that the wonderful people at the post office lost my package (expletive deleted because someone may actually know a good postal worker), the folks at knitpicks in response to my email requesting aid, sent a new package ups. After a couple of misses with the delivery guy, and a bit of misdirection (my request to come in and pick it up somehow was changed to a request for a new delivery), I have my new toys and it's time to play. I must say I gotta recommend knitpicks for their great customer service. I also recieved the yarn samples I requested and now I think my own cph will be knitted in the superwash merino. It feels yummy, and I think I found the color I like.

postal blues........

2008-01-14T19:23:00.000-05:00

*sigh*
It's been 10 days since my knitpicks options harmony needle set left ohio, and according to the usps
tracking thing, my needles are 8 blocks away at the Brentwood
Road sorting station.
They have been there for 7 days.
I have emailed the postal service (for all the good that will do),
and I am tempted to email knitpicks (which will do absolutely no good what-so-ever).
I want my new needles. I want them now.
Unlike Veruca, I don't want the world, I just want my needles. *sigh*
I also want my other new item.
I am due for a new phone (razr is doing that "I'm about to fall apart because
you know I wasn't meant to last for more than a year or two anyway"thing)
so I ordered this. According to the amazon site, an item that I purchased
Friday evening, and paid for 2nd day service for, hasn't even been picked up yet!!!!!!!!!.
How can they meet a guaranteed delivery day of the 16th if it hasn't even
left the warehouse yet!!!!!!
It's active (I just left a message for myself *giggle*),
but I can't use it (whaaaaaaaaa).
I bought it through Amazon because I saved $100 for the same 2 year
contract I would have had to sign up for if I had gone through t-mobile.
Well, patience is a virtue. It's just I'm not all that virtuous ;-)

Happiness is.......

2008-01-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

.......................stitch markers!!!!!!!!
Okay, raved about this hat pattern, then I got to the lace part.......several attempts later I thought "you finished an entire lace shawl, two of 'em, what did you do different from this little hat??!!!!!????" And then it came to me, STITCH MARKERS!!!!!. What a difference. Now I know when I have added a yo or fogotten one. whew! Almost done. But because of my hair, I am making the hat using bulky yarn, but following the instructions for the worsted. Hopefully this will add the extra 2 or three inches of hat I need to cover my hair, otherwise I will have a really big hat :-)
Oh, and the yarn is Araucania Copihue.

Resistance is Futile!

2008-01-03T11:07:00.000-05:00

I did it! I went shopping, in a fun and fab way. One of my co-workers is a knitter (yea!) and yesterday I grabbed her and we went shopping. We stopped at Inez's Stitchery and she bought a skein of something for a hat. I left empty handed. Then it was on to a tangled skein. There I ordered 9 skeins of lambs pride worsted in a lovely shade of deep, dark red for my niece's central park hoodie! So glad they came out with the plus sizes.
Also, I purchased (because I couldn't leave a 2nd store empty handed!) this fabulous yarn
that I am using to make a hat for me.

I'm making this one, Kay's suggestion, and it is fun and easy!
I also purchased needles to use to convert the lovely sockyarn from Suzanne into actual socks. I bought circular Addie Turbos (insert light saber sound effect) in size 1. They feel fantastic, much better than the size one bates circs I was using before.
The bates had this nasty little bump just behind where
the needles joined the cable, as well as this nasty tiny hitch
just at the join.
The yarn would alway get caught there and it made knitting socks such a chore, the other pair I started just stayed on the needles.
I also drooled over the Lantern Moon sock needles, in their cute little bags, such lovely wood.
And the best part of all is the impending arrival of my Options Needle kit!!!! It's on the road and should be here within the next few days!!!! Ain't life grand *sigh*

turmoil

2007-12-16T00:10:00.000-05:00

Well, my life seems a little chaotic right now. There is the holiday, settling into a new job, packing and moving, it's Christmas and I have neither the time nor the energy
(nor the money) to go shopping, or to get people the things I want to give them.
I have lost my creative flow with the completion of baby brothers socks and cozy.
I guess I just need to cast-on, but I can't seem to get into the flow.
I went to StitchDC thursday night and bought some Cascade Baby Alpaca. I was looking for inspiration and was listlessly poking around the shelves when some novice knitter and one of the sales divas came up beside me. They were talking about scarves and baby alpaca. The knitter was asking if it would be too scratchy for someone who didn't like scratchy wools. I told her about my last b.a. scarf experience and she quite promptly bought the yarn. Then some other chick bought the same color, then I found inspiration. Unfortunately, they bought the last 4 skeins of the color I wanted. bummer. So now I have 4 skeins of baby alpaca in a very deep navy, or maybe it's black, it's so dark I can't tell which I suppose means it's black. I guess my sister would like a little black scarf *sigh*.
I think part of the problem is also because of the upheaval I haven't been sleeping well, and I have a sore neck (this is day 4 of the sore/stiff neck saga), as a result I think I am really tired. To make things even worse, I have just 2 See's truffles left *sigh*

I'm in lust sigh

2007-12-12T23:15:00.000-05:00

I have been lurking on the knitpicks website for the last few days. I'm talking stalker calliber lurking. I want these!!!!!!! I saw them at stitches and I really liked them. Now granted they do only come in sizes 4 through 17, and I do have most of those in either dpns or circs, but I like 'em. *sigh* I guess its a good thing that they are out of stock until January.

Thank you so much Suzanne!!!!!

2007-12-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

The boxes were so pretty, I was almost hesitant to open them. I mean, they did have Christmas wrap on them. And so nicely done!

Now, the observant will notice a few things. I said "almost" and "did".
Hah! Like I was going to wait. Puhleeeze!!! Let's get real here.
Of course I opened them, like immediately. One of the items didn't make it home unscathed (it's hidden behind the nicely wrapped ones).
What did I get, you ask? Weeeeeeelll........TADAAAAAAA!!!!!

There was chocolate. The blue one, the chocolate hazelnut thing, was gone like 15 minutes later. I opened it, broke off a square, neatly folded it closed and savored my first portion. Then I said screw it, and sat down with the remainder. I briefly
considered fixing a nice cup of
tea, but hey, life is short and chocolate must be eaten :-) Haven't tried the other bar yet, but it's time will come *eyes raised and hands folded piously*
The Earl Grey with Lavander is divine. The Twinings Christmas tea went to work, it too is wonderful!
And the patterns!!!! The snowmen made me laugh, the tea cozys......well, I have never wanted to knit a tea cozy, but now that I have a pattern I have to (just to see if the darn things actually keep the pot warm :-) They just look so cute!!! I love the green striped one and that's the pattern I am making. Mine will be blue and white.
As for the backpack, I have been thinking about trying entrelac, and now I have just the pattern to start with.
Last, but not least, there is sock yarn and Favorite Socks. She said to jump start my sock knitting. I am off to get new needles. The yarn is divinely soft and I love the colors. The book is great and I am trying to decide which pattern to start with.

Suzanne, thanks so much. You have been a great pal. I hope we stay in touch. And you have a standing invitation to visit next time you are in the Baltimore/Washington area :-)

nummmm-scarf-snarfle-nummm.......

2007-12-10T17:39:00.001-05:00

..........mmmmmmmmmmmmm.....I guess you can tell I got my last package from my pal. Thanks Suzanne! Pics to come, I need a breather right now, just a moment to recover. I am savoring the last lingering traces of a Sees Truffle (Sees is her favorite local candy shop, and a big favorite of mine too, I always go there when I am in Cali). I think it was something lemony coconutty, all I know for sure is it was chocolate and the flavor lingers on, mmmmmmmmm....... I think I need a sip of my lavender earl grey tea, too *sluuuurp* ahhhhhhhh.........

well, nothing new

2007-11-26T23:35:00.000-05:00

Nothing new to report. My internet at home is out so, I have to blog at work. A pesky situation since I am not supposed to be doing it :-)
I am debating about sending my sp a final package. She hasn't blogged much, which has been a disappointment. She never posted pics of my first box, and just wrote a "hey I got my box, will post more later" kind of thing, and never got back to it, yet she finds time for ravelry almost everyday. I am a little bummed about that. Can't decide if I am going to do this again next round or not. I did get some great pals the first two rounds, and my upstream pal is pretty great. *sigh*
Well, the socks for baby bro, as I mentioned were a hit. He wants elastic in them because he is concerned about stretching them. I think I'll just make him another pair. He says he wears them to bed every night and he plans to take them when he goes to shoot at Sundance. My socks hit the slopes!!!! um, make that the lodge, he doesn't ski.
I am making gloves for middle sis. They will match her hat and purse.
Big sis.......don't know what she gets.
Big nephew will probably get a hat. I think I know just what to use.
Stash reduction is the name of the game this year.
I think Big Bro will get socks too!

sigh

2007-11-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

I wasn't going to do it, but when one of the chicks on the team guessed my age at 52, I had no choice. Dark Chesnut, here I come.
Also, I am frantically searching for a christmas project. I think I have found a couple for me, but I need stuff for the family. What to do? Suggestions helpful.
Last year it was hats and scarves and purses. I think this year a purse for the older sister, a bigger hat for mom (yeah, I know I said she was off the goodies list, but she does wear the socks, and she is my mom after all). The little girls are getting money. Basic, and I don't have to worry if they like it or not. Hmmmmm, that leaves about 9 other gifts.........

6 weeks of madness, and so it begins

2007-11-12T17:17:00.000-05:00

For anyone who has worked in retail, they totally understand. It's actually 7 weeks because it all began today, or maybe 8 weeks because it started a bit last week.
What am I talking about? What we generally call "THE HOLIDAYS".
It's that rush of 4 holidays in a 6 week period, starting with Thanksgiving and ending with New Year's Day. I had a customer get a little miffed because I told her we didn't carry cocktail loaves except during the holidays. She informed me that Rosh Hoshana (forgive my spelling if it's incorrect) IS a holiday. I tactfully left it at that. Unfortunately for her, when it comes down to it, it's not a major holiday as far as the retail market is concerned.
The biggest holiday of the year in a grocery store is Thanksgiving. The next biggest is Christmas. New Years is usually pretty big too, with Hannukah thrown in tasty, sweet icing for the cake (a roving bonus holiday since the dates change every year - it's based on the Jewish calendar).
I can't tell how much my dept in my new store is going to make (company policy), but we are talking more than I have ever participated in making in a dept. It's stunning.
New store? I left my old store like 3 weeks ago, and now I am working in a lesser position in a store closer to home. I am enjoying not having to work as hard, and not having to work as long, and the shorter commute. I like my new crew. I like my new team leader. I don't like the decreased pay, but life happens. I don't have to do all the work, and it's a revelation.
It's also giving me the chance to actually be an assistant, something I never did. It is actually kinda fun.
But this weekend it's all about pies.
Hundreds and hundreds of pies.
I will be so sick of pie, it won't be funny.
I may not have time for knitting!!!!!
I'll be working 12 hour days!!!!
Oh well.  I can knit now.

Finished baby brother's socks.
Well, they started out as baby bros, I thought they were
too girly a color for him, and then decided to keep them,
then I thought I would let him decide if he wanted them.
I mean, I really wanted to give him some socks, ya know?
I showed them to him, asked him if he liked them,
and told him I had made them for him, but if
he didn't like them, I would keep them.
He smiled and put them on.  He liked the stripes, the fit
and the thickness.
He slept in them the two nights he was at my house.
I felt good to have made something he liked.
Nothing like knitted love :-)

And here, finally, is cozy in all it's knitted glory. Pictures don't do it justice.
It is indeed, very cozy :-)


Oh, and here is my Fantine, from French Girl Knits.
The color won't come out right.
It's actually teal, not the blue it appears to be in this picture. Very bulky, very warm.
Needs a button :-)

how lost am I, Hah!

2007-11-04T02:10:00.000-05:00

I was sitting here, for like an hour, trying to figure out why it was still 1am. then I looked at the tv schedule and I was still confused, why was Cowboy BeBop on???? Then I looked up the usno clock, it's two am. um, shouldn't it be later. Well, I finally looked up daylight savings. Cheesy-peesy, today is fall back day. I could have enjoyed an extra hour of sleep and I spent my time watching anime!!!!!

2007-10-29T23:01:00.001-04:00

$4840.00

Free Florida Personals

2007-10-29T22:55:00.001-04:00

48%

Free New Hampshire Personals

sock one, almost done

2007-10-27T22:07:00.000-04:00

Wooohoooo, whatever my problem with youtube was, it's now fixed and
I am once again back in the Naruto saddle!!!!!
I've been watching my favorite anime on youtube (yes, it is a cartoon, but this ain't buggs bunny - not that I have anything against him, he's my fav!), I love anime!

I am also working on my first toe up sock for me? This one is in a thinner yarn, not quite fingering and its on us 3 needles. I had planned to give it to several different people, then I decided I needed a pair of socks. Pics later. I have discovered I really like the provisional crochet cast-on. It's so easy!

Happiness is......

2007-10-24T01:10:00.001-04:00

.....a new package from you secret pal!
Yes, I am happy. Wanna see why?
Now, to sorta give you a little bit about this, I have little sheep push pins (small row of 4 sheep traveling sideways). They are adorable. Love the sheep. I have this delightful, yummy, soft, sensual, sensational Malabrigo in Tuareg (can we say oooooooooooh?!). There is a little sheep note book (very cute, and quite handy). And now we get to the spooky part. Why spooky? Well, this weekend I was in NY (no, didn't get to go to Rhinebeck, even though I was only 100 miles away!!!!!!) and I was in this Japanese bookstore. My neice and nephew and I were poring over the gummies. We debated, strawberry, kiwi or peach???? Well, peach lost (I wanted peach, out voted by teenagers). Well now I have a bag of peach all to myself!!!!!
Also, last week at Stitches East I fondled the Interweave Holiday issue. Decided no, I am not getting it yet. This weekend went to Purl (great yarn shop, friendly staff) and again fondled the mag, decided to pick up yummy red silk/angora/wool instead (gloves for moi). Glad I didn't get it, 'cause now I have it!!!! Thanks so much pal! Feeling quite spoiled, but concerned about the mind reading thing.

cozy

2007-10-17T21:34:00.000-04:00

Project Cozy complete, but for the blocking. Now we will see if my idea works. Taking a page from Mistress Brenda D I trotted off to the HomeDepot and bought some small rods, 3 feet in length (3 bucks a rod, 6 rods). I need to wipe em down and then its on the bed they go. my makeshift blocking tools. I am determined this baby is going to New York with me this weekend.

12 more inches!!!!

2007-10-14T17:22:00.000-04:00

Yes! 12 more inches to go on Cozy. That's only six more pattern repeats, followed by the final 3 rows of garter stitch. I could be finished tonight! Then it just needs blocking. I am thinking of taking it over to A Tangled Skein to have them block it. I have neither wires nor space enough to block it myself. It's going to end up about 6 feet long, my bed isn't quite long enough.

I am thinking of making a sweater for my nephew. He is such an adorable boy. He was so happy yesterday. His football team won 30 - 0, and he sacked the quarterback!!! Yippee for him!

Heard from my pal again, she is plotting another package :-)

well....

2007-10-08T23:24:00.000-04:00

Off to the post office tomorrow morning to mail my pals first package. Not going to post pics, in case she sees this, but I
think she will like it.
She likes socks, and there will be a sock pattern and yarn included. I tried to find stitch markers,
but no luck yet. I may have to try my hand at making some. I have included a book from her wishlist. I hope the list is up to date.
on the knitting front, I am 3/4 done with cozy. I will be so glad to be done. Can't wait to block it.
on the personal front, job issues I won't discuss.
on the physical front, it is so freakin' hot I can't stand it! Where is fall!!!!?????

The stash moves out of the closet.........

2007-10-03T00:42:00.000-04:00

Well, I have probably missed the deadline, but here are pictures of my stash anyway. There is more, it's just scattered all over my apartment right now and I don't have the energy to look for it.
I keep it in the closet to, well, I was going to say keep it away from the cat, but since she sneaks in there anyway, I guess that's not exactly how it's worked out. I keep it there to keep it off the floor, basically. The Namaste bag was a gift from a friend who has a friend who gets this stuff for FREEEEEE!!!!!! How cool is that! She has all this stuff and when she found out about me, she gave me the bag and a needle case and the bag was overflowing with yarn goodness. Needless to say I was very happy :-)
The yarn in the bag with the ribbon was from my trip to NOLA last year. I bought this lovely hand dyed and hand spun purple and red yarn at this shop, The Quarter Stitch. Wonderful shop with a lot of great yarn. If anyone gets a chance to hit the big easy, drop on by. The staff was great and the selection wonderful.
Yes, there is the infamous pink and black bag I felted, I still
need handles to finish it. See Justine, I did make it :-) Still need to add the flower too, and the leaves.

I am on vacation!!!!

2007-09-27T15:35:00.000-04:00

Hmmm, I wonder if I can figure out where Kelly stored the pics on her laptop...............................................................................................................

Aha!! Here we go, me, gasping for breath on the trail. Yes, I know it looks like I am laughing, but trust me, it was the proximity to death in the form of the crumbling cliffs over the waters of slightly frigid Lake Superior.

Now I am currently ensconced in a lovely room in the Hilton something or other in Cincinnati. Very nice. Ooops, it's quarter to 4 and I promised to take something over to the center where Kelly's massage conference is taking place.

Gotta go!

Hey Shelby!!! Don't end the contest before I get home!!!!!!

I got goodies!!!!

2007-09-17T08:30:00.000-04:00

Got my first package from my wonderful sp 11 partner. There is tea, cookies and a cute little mug from her trip to Hawaii. Yes, this tea is going with me to Wisconsin :-). Can't wait to try it.
There is beautiful yarn in my favorite colors (silk and wool, yummmmmm). A tin of baby altoids (yummy). Bath salts. I was longing for a relaxing bath *sigh*, what timing!And chocolate, two chocolate bars!!!! They are going to be savored, ahhhhhhhhhh. Thanks so much for the package. I love it!

WooHooo!!!!

2007-09-15T19:28:00.000-04:00

I finally have a Ravelry thingy. My name is Sakurak (i meant to make it Sakura-K, except it didn't quite come out that way, oh well).
This afternoon I left work and found myself about to start singing. I am officially on two weeks vacation!!!!!! Soooooo glad to be able to sleep in tomorrow, sheesh!!!! No baking, no problems, yes i have to send an email to my atl, but after that, all done (talk about your run-on sentences :-)
I leave for the Apostle Islands on Tuesday, then it's on to Cincinati (don't ask, I have a friend who is going to a conference, I am hitting the tea shops and book stores, and museums). It's all about the leisurely drive. I do have to return for inventory, but it's all good.
Now I have to run to the post office to pick up my first package from my pal!!! Luckily it's at the main post office and they don't close until midnight. Can't wait to see what it is!

why i love/hate cozy

2007-09-03T10:52:00.000-04:00

I love the color
I love the yarn, soft and silky
I love the pattern
I hate the pattern
I hate the fact that at least once every two pattern group repeats I end up with either 14 stitches when I am supposed to have 12, or 11 stitches when I am supposed to have 13
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
And now I can't find that blasted usb cable for the camera *grumble, grumble*

no pics, buuuuuuuuuut......

2007-08-21T19:12:00.000-04:00

I just got a prezzie in the mail from Justine (sp 10 pal)! I almost snatched it from the postal worker (not a good thing to do), and then I started opening it on the way out of the post office (first flap was undone before I hit the vestibule, second flap just as I hit the door), then in the middle of the street I opened it up (the light was red, I was fine) and when I hit the car I cheated and started reading the first chapter of my new JD Robb (it's now put away, becuase I have 6 more books to go before that one, but I ain't makin' no promises it's gonna stay put away ;-). I love the magnets, the note pad, and especially the felted "k". The little stickers are way cool (they all have little k's on them - woo hooo!!! yea for k!!!), perfect for that photo album I have been meaning to finish up.
Thank you so much, you spoiled me rotten!

What am I doing up??????

2007-08-19T23:49:00.000-04:00

Haven't the foggiest. I have been having difficulty quieting my mind to sleep for the last couple of weeks. Maybe I should see my doctor.

Anyway, tomorrow is the first meeting of the very small snb group I started. We will see how long this lasts. It's basically a group of people from work, getting together to talk and have coffee at the local starbucks. I hope we stick to it. They are really cool women, all team leaders at the store, I get along with them well and I think a few of us need an outlet. We will of course be knitting, or something.

Making great progress with Cozy. The socks, um, haven't really done anything with them. Still just toes. I am doing a toe-up sock, but I don't have a pattern in mind and I need something simple. I just purchased Interweave's "Favorite Socks" and I found a pattern in there that might be easy enough (need something challenging, but not frustrating) since it says for beginning sock knitters. It's top down though. Hope that doesn't matter. I guess the lace pattern will be fine, and no one will know but me anyway, so who cares.
So, that's what's on the needles!

As for what I did today, here is a picture of the cake we (my decorator and I) did for my Store Team Leader's daughter (she's 3 and today was her birthday party).
The theme was butterflies (bet you couldn't guess that).
The mom bought in all of these little paper butterflies that she had cut out (better her than me). The cake is peaches and cream (sliced peaches, yellow cake and sweetened whipped cream).
I did the writting and the design, Bishnu iced the cake. It was fun.

Games? I looooove games!!!

2007-08-17T11:56:00.000-04:00

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? Well, I would have to say stitch markers, especially after working with cables and lace patterns. It makes life sooooo much easier.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project? I do take a project with me, and it's whatever I happen to be working on. Don't care about the size or the type.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Hmmmmmm, that's a toughie. I loved the Outer Banks, but what's not to love about sitting on the beach in the fog at sunrise. I also loved Mesa Verde. But the Cali coast is probably my real fav. I love the drama of the coast, the sound and sight of the surf, and the peace of all of it. And San Francisco is not bad either.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? In the past I have really used those Elle knitting books that came out in the 80's (I think they are all out of print now). I made several projects in those, and I return to them often for inspiration. I don't think I have a current favorite.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? I think my favorite knitting podcast is Cast-on.

So psyched!

2007-08-13T17:56:00.001-04:00

Heard from my sp11 pal yesterday. I'm excited all over again. I have new friends (Lynda, Justine, Shelby, Katie and Sabine) and now I am getting what I hope will be two new ones. I can't wait to find out who I am going to spoil. I also love the fact that Shelby is my hostess again. I had such a great time last time.

sp 11 questionaire

2007-08-10T15:25:00.000-04:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Not overly fond of acrylics, hate fur, not overly fond of eyelash either. Like simple straight forward stuff (mohair, angora, 100% wool, silk, cotton and the like).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Right now I am using a looseleaf binder with page pockets for my circulars, a roll up needle holder for the straights, and a canister for my dpns.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I have been knitting off and on for about 20 years of so, but I still consider myself an intermediate beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? yep!

5. What's your favorite scent? Love gardenias. I also like jasmine.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Yes I have a sweet tooth. I like caramels, gummy stuff (like bears and fish), almost everything. Just a reminder, chocolate is not a candy, it's a food group and I am a firm beliver in consuming as much as possible of that particular group :-)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin, but would love to learn. I do a little beading sometimes.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like classical, rock, jazz, r&b, lots of indie (like ani difranco), cajun is a new favorite, I have pretty open tastes. I like very little country.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love blues, reds, jewel tones mostly.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have a cat named Ashleigh.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Love hats, scarves and mittens. Ponchos are not on my list of favorite things. Shrugs are good though.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I like knitting sweaters and mittens.

13. What are you knitting right now? I am currently knitting Cozy (starting it for the 3rd time, but this time is the charm) and a pair of socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Love handmade gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Prefer bamboo to aluminum, aluminum over plastic. Like circs over straights, because i have a tendency to lose needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Nope, would love either.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? 3 years, still working on that sweater.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Tea pots. Love tea and the pots you brew them in (or cups you brew them in too).

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I lust after Lantern Moon anything. The needles are beautiful and feel so wonderful in your hands.
I fondle Alchemy yarns on a regular basis.
I have subscriptions to Interweave Knits and Adorn.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Intarsia. I have a few patterns I would love to try. Spinning. Would really like to learn to do that. Lace. I get really confused with all the counting, but I love the end product (have finished only one project).

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am a sort of sock knitter. I like to knit big easy fast socks, although I fantasize about finishing my multicolor bluey-red stripey socks *sigh*
Foot measurements are 10 inches long and 7 inches around.

23. When is your birthday? April 21st

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? i'm on the list.

Proud Auntie Moment

2007-07-24T18:32:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to an article my niece wrote after working at the Bill Southerland conference in Atl.
What a smart kid! She makes me think there is hope for the world, in spite of what I see around me.

Wow!

2007-07-23T05:07:00.000-04:00

It took me 12 hours, but I finished it, all 759 pages of it. Wow, I loved it!!!!!!!! What a great ending to the saga, and I only cried a little.
*sigh*

arghh!!!!

2007-07-14T00:32:00.000-04:00

Okay, felting has begun. I washed and washed in Kelly's washer (thanks Kel!) and felt that I had overstayed my welcome, and that the bags were small enough, so I came home. Decided to do a little measuring and they are not the right size!!!! Still too big!!!!! *sigh* So tomorrow it's back in the machines *grumble, grumble*
No pics yet, but almost there!

Oooh........ if you insist :-)

2007-07-08T20:57:00.000-04:00

Let me preface this by saying that I am not giving in to bribery or coersion.
I am far above all that (she sniffs haughtily).

Here are pre-felt pictures of my Noni bag (a gift from Wierdling).

I think I'm afraid to shrink it. What if it shrinks too much????? I decided to use the washer in the laundry room in my building, which should work fine, especially if I stand there with it. Also, I don't want to mess up any of my friends' washers doing this. I'm going to felt both bags, and my tote exchange buddy's bag is made from lamb's pride mohair/wool yarn. It's very fuzzy and sheds a bit during felting.
I should finish the pocket tonight (about 2 inches away from finishing now - thats about 6 rows). Of course, this is no longer a suprise to my pal 'cause she is the intrepid sort and has already figured out who I am :-)

I'm loving both bags. Mine will be cute and petite *sigh*.
Hers will be honkin' huge!!!!! I think the next time I make this bag, I'll make the smaller version.
The good thing about hers, straps are made with the bag.
The frustrating/fun thing about mine, must find handles!!!!! I found the cutest pair last week, but I figured the black with white polka dots would not go with the pink and black striped bag (bummer). I think it's going to be either really cute bamboo or plain black. I can't find any pretty pink handles *waaaaaaahhhh*.
I've decided to hunt for a paler pink cascade 220 (yarn shopping, such a hardship :-) to make a lighter flower 'cause the purple won't cut it, and I think the bag is cryin' out for more than two flowers, 'cause I'm sure you know how it is when you learn how to do something new, you just go crazy and I went bonkers for flowers. I may make purses for family and friends for christmas and I think the purple flower will go on one of those.

Okay, tomorrow I take the plunge and finally felt it.

Alright Justine, where's my chocolate!!!!!! And that goes for you too Shelby:-)

I will not be bribed....... unless chocolate is involved

2007-07-05T19:08:00.000-04:00

Pictures. Hah!!!!! No I haven't felted it yet. And NO, no pictures yet......but only because I have to find the camera :-)

Got this from Justine!

2007-06-29T19:50:00.000-04:00

You Are Aphrodite!

A total shining star with a ton of admirers
And no wonder: you live life to the fullest!
When things get bad, you can easily take off to a happier place
But occasionally, you need to deal with problems head on

What Goddess Are You?

2007-06-29T10:11:00.000-04:00

Well, sp 10 is officially over tomorrow and I have revealed myself to my pal. Hi Lynda!!! It was fun. I got to spy on her in the sock knitters message board *heehee*. She never knew I was a member. I commented on her blog, and had the wonderful opportunity to view her beautiful pictures. She's great!
I also have to say thanks to Justine for being such a great spoiler. No, I am not going to put up new pictures of my bag until I have felted it (which should be this evening), so there! Well, off to have my boobies squished. Reminder to all over 40 to schedule your mammograms regularly!!!!
Ciao!

Tease!!!!!

2007-06-18T19:24:00.000-04:00

HA! Now this is a tease!!!!!

ugh!

2007-06-12T23:58:00.000-04:00

Well, got a call from mom today. She has officially been diagnosed with diabetes. Now my mom walks on her treadmill, or in the mall everyday. She weighs about 70lbs less than me. Her blood pressure is lower (although we both take meds). Her cholesterol is much lower than mine. And let's not forget she is 72. This lets me know I need to get to work. I looked at the handy bmi calculator they were handing out at work, and my weight doesn't even appear on the chart!!!!
gotta start getting healthy!

almost finished!!!

2007-06-09T19:43:00.000-04:00

I have been a knitting fiend these last few days. I have finished my purse and now I need to felt it, and finish the flowers.
Yea!!!!
will post before and after pics later.

The postman knocked thrice.....

2007-06-06T00:43:00.000-04:00

And I opened the door to......

Part two of gifts from Wierdling! I told her the box was like one of those little clown cars, where suprises just keep coming!
There were these great needle holders

stitch markers that are so cool they could be earrings (I'm almost reluctant to use them,
they are so pretty)
a big K magnet
lip gloss (all of them didn't make the picture because two of 'em are in my purse)
a lipstick holder (I've always meant to buy one of those)
pretty pretty sock yarn complete with needles (yea!!!!)
lovely bracelets (the woman is scary, they match a necklace and earring set
my sister gave me a couple of years ago)

thank you cards
shopping list pad
wonderful note cards (one of the girls almost looks like me ;-)

gardenia air freshener (I love gardenias!!!)
cute tissues (they go in the purse too)
ribbon
there is this bracelet, that I think is a stitch counter, am I right?

and.........
the complete Lime and Violet on CD, a pretty and whimsical spinner thingy (I haven't had one of those in years,
takes me back and makes me smile, love the peachy color), and the answer to the cascade 220 question - a Noni purse pattern!!!! I am
making the one on the right, love that pattern!

She also introduced me to the novels of JD Robb (for that I won't thank her, I now have another series to begin collecting - I finished the book the next day and I am off to begin purchasing the rest of the series) She and I have very similar tastes in booksso she knows what I like.
Thanks so much!!! You made my week!

the post, um, person, brings goodies!

2007-06-01T20:51:00.000-04:00

I have goodies from my pal. Also, my pal's cover was totally blown by her sister *giggle, giggle*. Thanks Wierdling!!!!!
I love the flip gloss (wearing it now, yum, strawberry). Ya know, I really gotta say, get out of my head would you!!!! How did you know that I have been searching for lip balms, lip glosses and lip sticks for the last few weeks?
That totally sexy bit of green and red loveliness is a Lantern Moon needle holder, lovin' it!
There is also licorice. Already had two pieces and working on a third.
There is a cute little snail plant buddy, who will soon find a home. Hmmmmm, the orchid or the spider plant, decisions, decisions........
There's a bright orange pencil case, a pair of beautiful butterfly bookmarks, and........Cascade 220 in black and a marvelous shade of pink. Beautiful. She says there is another package, and I think she said it's the rest of the yarn. Thank you soo much, I love it all!!

On the knitting front, I bit the bullet, pulled out the size 2's and started a pair of toe ups. I started them using the magic cast-on, and I am knitting using two circs. It's actually not that hard and with toe up it seems like I am making progress. Don't know why I was so hesitant.
I'm not really following a pattern, just generic toe up sock instructions I found on knitty.com,
and I am using a lace pattern I found in the 365 stitich a day calendar, it's a january leaf lace
pattern. More to come, especially when the next package arrives from Wierdling :-)

bread and circulars

I miss my tub....

tgif!!!

Vacation!!!!

grandma

better day

SUGAR!!!!!!!

I made a cake!

sittin'

sigh

oh, my knee!

total eating breakdown

It's been a while......again.

Very sad news

sp 15

too much work, not enough knitting :-)

snow madness

Wow, 60 days already!

why i don't need to have children, little transmitters of illness, that's what they are *sigh*

Welcome to my madness! « RocketGirls48's Blog

sick sick sick....

need to get back to writing.....

been a loooooong while

mdsw, and other stuff

meanderings

piffle

i must be bored

Happiness is......

family moment

I'll admit it, I am so totally spoiled.

happiness is.......

happiness is.....

Happiness is......

a happy place

a happy place

a little Bacardi.....

*sigh*

better

blue

oh joy, a day off!

YES WE CAN!!!

Noooooooo!!!!

sooooo tired

Socrates......no, not the Greek, the Yarn!!!

strange day.....

deep breath......

random thoughts

Why?????!!!!!!!

Eureka!!!

almost done......

No-Purl Monkeys finally done!

A very short and pictureless knitting rant :-)

a very long non-knitting, work related rant

forgive me friends, I haven't blogged......

sweet cafe.....

spring????

can't wait!

back in the saddle, yeeeeehaaaaaa!

blech...

woohooo!!!!

ain't life grand :-)

postal blues........

Happiness is.......

Resistance is Futile!

turmoil

I'm in lust *sigh*

Thank you so much Suzanne!!!!!

nummmm-scarf-snarfle-nummm.......

well, nothing new

*sigh*

6 weeks of madness, and so it begins

how lost am I, Hah!

sock one, almost done

Happiness is......

cozy

12 more inches!!!!

well....

The stash moves out of the closet.........

I am on vacation!!!!

I got goodies!!!!

why i don't need to have children, little transmitters of illness, that's what they are sigh

sigh

I'm in lust sigh

sigh