cant_talk_knitting

Knitting and Baby update in One Post!

2007-05-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

The little boy is 10 months old and I have finally finished the knitted Blu jeans (from Knitty!)that I started when...gulp...I was about 7 months pregnant! He's still a bit skinny for them (note the fashionable lowrider look on the back view), but I really like how they turned out.

Pattern: Blu from Knitty
Yarn: Rowan Denim in Nashville (body) and Tennessee (cuffs)
Needles: Addi Turbo #6 -- straight needles could have been used, but I used circs

I liked this pattern, even though it was a lot of stockinette. My only quibble is that the Nashville yarn does stain your hands. It washes off easily, but made the project less portable for me because I was always concerned with walking around with blue fingers if no sink & soap were readily available. But you can't argue with the cuteness of the results (model not withstanding).

I subbed gold embroidery thread for the Mango yarn for the seam stitching.

poor little baby

2006-11-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

That little baby pictured in my last post has rounded out quite nicely. He was 4 months old this past Saturday! And, I have completed 2 knitted objects since he was born -- the mate to the pink sock pictured in last post. (1st sock took about 1 month to complete, 2nd sock took 6 months -- gulp! but I did push a kid out in the interim, in my defense) I also finally sewed and felted the Knitty pumpkin, which came out quite cute. You'll have to take my word for it since I haven't photographed it yet!

Nathaniel Oliver!

2006-08-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

Nathaniel Oliver arrived on July 18 -- can't believe he'll be a month old on Friday.

Surprised me by coming a week before my due date. Now my life is filled with breastfeeding and putting down for naps and laundry, so my blog will become even more neglected!!

A few photos -- a coworker from my work knitting group made the little strawberry hat for me.

3 weeks old:

Really, I'm still here

2006-07-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

Poor blog -- I don't even have the excuse that I have a newborn for why I've neglected you too long & I even forgot our blogaversary.

Mainly, I haven't been doing too much knitting, and have been busy with work and have just never been good at keeping up journal type projects like this. Ah well.

14 more days until the due date -- no, we still don't know what we are having. Still working, though my last day is Friday.

I have to finish a second sock for my grandma's birthday present before this kid arrives. Her birthday was May 5th (gulp) and once I realized that I'd miss that deadline, I totally slacked off on sock #2. I think the pattern just wasn't mindless enough given all that I have on my mind.

but, here's a photo and closeup of sock #1. On #2, I've just turned the heel and need to pick up stitches to start the gusset and get the thing finished.

And finally,...Secret Pal package photos

2006-04-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here they are, and once again you can see I'm super spoiled.

First two books for me: Debbie Bliss Knitting for Babies (lots of fun ideas here) and The Yarn Harlot's meditations, which is sitting on my coffee table and making me laugh out loud *everytime* I pick it up! Now I'm bound to go find her other books.

Then, 2 books for baby (whee! another book-aholic in the making), some gummy worms (being rapidly consumed as I type), and some new knitting needles!!

And I got some gorgeous pale green yarn and some yummy foot soaks for when my ankles turn into tree trunks. (And what better way to spend the foot soak time than by knitting?!?)

More yarn -- some soft fuzzy colors that I think would make a great baby blanket. Right now I'm thinking 3 wide strips, but maybe I'll get a little more adventuresome since the fuzziness will likely induce garter stitch.

Also, a skein of brown 100% silk yarn that's all for mommy. I'm thinking some sort of delicate little scarf.

Finally, gorgeous stitch markers (currently in use on socks for my grandma)! There were more than this (but I thought the detail would show better in the photo if I just showed a sampling), all different, and made just for me. Wowoowow! I've never had fancy stitch markers, so these are really fun.

And just to show that I am not the only one in the house that enjoys the packages:

Max really liked the tissue in the box

Apologies for the varying sizes of photos -- I was experimenting with what works best on the blog when I reduce them on Photobucket.

Thanks a million to my brilliant secret pal!! Come tell me who you are now. :)

Quick update on Blu

2006-04-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

One pant leg of Blu is done!! Even though it is a lot of stockinette stitch, I still enjoyed watching this project appear.

Mr. CTK finally said, "Oh, I get it, the light part is where the cuff is supposed to be turned up."

Full leg shot

Close up of the Phony Seam, which was pretty fun to do, once I got over the fear of unraveling a stitch all the way down the side of the leg!

Also, here is the before and 1/2 of the after (for some reason, that photo didn't load correctly, but now I've fixed that through the miracles of editing) of the chair we got recovered. My parents bought this chair early on in their marriage (which hit 43 years in February), so it had sentimental value, but we are also thrilled with how it came out.

Before (old and cat clawed)

After (beautiful, if 1/2 cut off in photo)-- edited to add correct view of chair!

It's a photo party!!

2006-04-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

OK, so I am finally un-lazy enough to post some of those photos I've been promising.

Without further ado,

21 Weeks

23 Weeks

24 Weeks -- I think these maternity jeans make my belly look bigger than the pjs which have no supportive belly band, but you can see my waist losing definition!

OK, I must go get dinner now. But now that I have the photos loaded, I can actually sneak and post at work. Heh heh.

Check out my new button

2006-04-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

OK, no photos yet, but I did add a new "I sniff yarn" button down below.

Thanks to Grumperina for posting them on her blog.

Another faboo package from my SP!

2006-04-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

I have tons of photos to show off my last (sniff!) package from my SP, but have been busy the last several nights, so haven't gotten to uploading the photos to the computer yet.

I also have photos of our fabulously recovered chair (actually, before and after photos).

Plus, belly shots from weeks 21, 23 and 24. My back, however, is kinda hurty, so don't know if I will get to it tonight. Prenatal yoga might be more the order of the day.

Oh yes, and I finished pant leg #1 of Blu from Knitty. I love the way it is looking and am very proud of my ability to correctly interpret the pattern to do the phoney seam -- a technique invented by E. Zimmerman, doncha know?

Happy Anniversary to Me!

2006-03-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

That's right, three years ago since I tied the knot. Hooray! I can't believe it has gone so fast. We mark 9 years together in July. Surprise dinner location tonight -- it is Mr. CTK's turn to plan since we switch off years. Last year was a weekend in Bodega Bay, previous year was a week in Kauai (Hey, I planned both of those trips, so he owes me 2 years!!). This year we agreed on low key since we are trying to save in anticipation of baby expenses. (Though we did get $$ back from both state and fed this year -- note to self: change W-2)

I finished the baby sock's twin last night. They really do go so quickly that I don't know why it took me so long. Pure laziness, I guess. Then I picked up Blu and transferred from my Addi Naturas to Addi Turbos (the yarn was really catching at the join of the Naturas, so I was not enjoying the knitting process that much).

I have yarn to make socks for my grandma's birthday in a very lush pink. I still need to get to my LYS to get some size 0 needles -- am a little afraid since I've read so many stories of teeny needles snapping. I think I could probably control metal needles though, so maybe that would be best.

Sadly, my new love for Lantern Moon is thwarted in this case since they don't go down that tiny.

Then I need to fondle my Malabrigo some more. Do you think if I put it under my pillow, I'll dream of the perfect project? (or will it just act as a cat hair collector?) Supposed to work with wedding cake, though I never understood how that went -- who wants frosting potentially smushed in their pillowcase.

Plans are afoot for baby shower(s)! That is so nice.

Another big thanks to Secret Pal!!

2006-03-11T11:31:00.000-08:00

Wheeee! Another great package arrived from my secret pal this week. It came on Thursday, but I have been too busy fondling the goodies to take photos until today.

First I pulled out some cool books and a journal. I want to make several things from Baby Knits Too -- the little moccasins (I have some of the exact yarn called for in my stash!)and the origami cardigan because it is all garter stitch on size 6 needles, so should go pretty fast.

Then I found some yummy blue Malabrigo which my pal and her LYS describe as "yarn crack" and I can see why! Fondling goodness! Plus some cool sage green cotton/acrylic yarn.

Then some Burt's Bees lip balm (my favorite in the whole world) and hand salve and some Eucalan and #8 Addi Turbos!!

Yes, I was blushing at her largesse by this point.

Finally, a very cute "Parents to Be" ornament, which I was very happy to receive since I hadn't gotten one yet.

THANK YOU!!

I am going to spend some time cleaning in our front room (we are moving our bedroom here, so baby can have our current room -- but I'm keeping the closet!)today, but will surely be contemplating all of my new goodies while I do so!

A tale of 2 socks

2006-03-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Once there was a single lonely sock

Happily, that sock met its mate! (see how they are kissing?)

Then the socks had a baby! Yes, normally, socks have twins when they get together, but baby number 2 is still gestating in the bamboo cradle!

Soooo busy

2006-03-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Have been so busy at work lately that I've had no time to post. At night, its a choice between knitting on the couch or blogging from the cold front room. Guess which one I've been choosing.

Here's the excitement of the day!!

edited to take down photos thanks to some worthy advice :)

Kinda freaky, huh? Top image shows profile of the face and body, bottom image is face shot showing 2 brain halves and freaky empty looking eye sockets!!

Closing the Toe!!

2006-02-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

Hooray -- I started the decreases for the toe of my first sock last night.

SP, I *am* loving the Lantern Moon needles. I need to go get some in size 3 to try the baby socks. I still have an American Express gift card that I won in December so I don't even have to feel guilty. It might even cover another set of Addi Turbos for me.

I have two knitting groups next week, so should make good progress on sock 2 of the pair.

Poor Blu is feeling neglected, but I promise to get back to the little baby jeans just as soon as I get over the sock fixation. I don't really like the needles I'm using, so perhaps the above mentioned Addi's could be bought in the appropriate size.

I need to get on with a more comprehensive catalog of my needles as I forget what I have, and only have that little chart in Stitch and Bitch marked up, but that doesn't leave space for writing in brands so I know where I've splurged and where I've gotten whatever Michael's had in stock in the size I needed because I could use one of those 40% off coupons.

Tonight we are seeing friends that used to live in San Diego, but moved to Chicago. They have a little girl that we haven't met yet, so I'm looking forward to it. We get to tell them in person about the baby because my email to them bounced back, and then Mr. CTK got a note saying they were coming to town, so we decided to wait. It is waaaayyyy more fun that way.

Tomorrow we drop of our old chair to be reupholstered. I am so excited -- costing us way more than it would be to buy a new chair, but this one is one that my parents bought in their early marriage, so it has sentimental value. I'll have to cover it in tinfoil for the first couple of weeks so that the cats learn not to claw it.

The belly is stretching and swelling, but I have felt some somersaults this week for sure, so that was weird and exciting all at the same time.

Booty Photos!

2006-02-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Git yer mind outta the gutter. I'm talking about booty from my secret pal!

Check out all this cool stuff. Two sock patterns, Lantern Moon needles to make socks, THREE different kinds of sock yarn, Belly Laughs, chocolate, a cool beaded bookmark and some yummy raspberry mint bath products. Wowee! I think I've put most everything in use already!!

See, here's what I did on Saturday morning.

And here's where I was on Sunday night - hoo-ha! The heel is turned!!

And here's my other WIP -- the first cuff of Blu. I'm loving doing this pattern -- not because it is so interesting, but because I am excited for the results. It isn't very portable though, since the dark yarn really does turn your fingers Blu!

Back to the socks!

Thank you, Secret Pal!

2006-02-13T14:49:00.000-08:00

Wheeee! I got my package on Friday, and took photos of all my booty, but Mr. CTK was doing computer upgrades, so the photos will have to come tonight.

Suffice to say that I am a very happy camper, and am almost done with 1 adult sock!!

back to the salt mines.

Blog Slacker

2006-02-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

Mostly cause I have been so busy at work. I've also been a knit slacker, but I want to cast on for Blu this weekend.

I told my boss yesterday and my boss' boss today & got warm and fuzzy responses from both. HOORAY! Now I can start spreading the word. My boss' boss said she didn't even think I looked pg at all because I wasn't carrying any extra weight. HA! I've gained 10 pounds and have been feeling rather flabby, so that was nice to hear.

It is raining today & I have no umbrella because I *sat* on my new expensive 2 month old one last Friday and snapped the handle. GAH! I choose to believe it was cheaply made and I hit it at the wrong angle rather than being caused by my expanding girth. Stupid thing! I'm still so mad that I am obstinately walking around in the rain w/out one because I can't bring myself to lay out $$ for a new one.

I called my credit card company but apparently loss protection does not cover human stupidity despite that damn commercial where the guy in the convertible drives into a tunnel and rips the head off his stuffed giraffe!!

Aside to SFK: Work has blocked feminista (though I can still get to blogger, go figure), so I haven't been commenting because of that, not because I don't love you anymore. :)

Secret Revealed!

2006-01-28T10:49:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading closely, you'll already have figured this out, and SFK got it in one guess anyway, but we are having a baby in July!

Yay!!

Y'all will have to wait until late July/early August to find out whether we're having a boy or a girl because we aren't finding out either. :)

Business Trip

2006-01-24T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving on a 3 day business trip today, so am working from home before my flight. And by "working from home", I mean answering a few emails but mostly catching up on my blog reading. The last two days at work were NUTS -- it was good that I brought lunch yesterday because I scarfed it down while I typed an email one-handed. Not such a good policy because I believe you should take a break during your day, but I was hoping not to have to stay too late since I'm leaving Mr. CTK for 3 days & he's going to the symphony with my mom on Friday night.

Knitting update: I got this *gorgeous* aqua color Rowan wool/cotton for the baby hat. Did the whole hat on #5s and then decided the decreased looked really wonky, so I ripped it all back and started over on #7s. Consequently, it was not done in time for the baby shower last Friday, but I will mail it to the mom next week. I'm taking it and a book on tape on the plane, so should get a lot done on this trip. Didn't do any knitting over the weekend -- just haven't been in the mood for it lately. Not sure why, because I enjoy it when I pick it up.

While at LYS, I also found the yarn for Blu from Knitty, so *had* to indulge, even though I forgot the American Express gift card that I had earmarked to buy the denim yarn. I figure if I use the gift card for necessities like groceries, it will all be balanced out. :)

Finished shopping round 1 for my secret pal downstream, so just need to get to the PO to mail things off.

We're home -- Knit Night tonight

2006-01-17T13:56:00.000-08:00

We had a great time in San Diego this weekend -- once we actually got there! Went to the airport on Thursday night only to discover that SD was socked in with fog. They loaded us on the plane & then said that we were on ground hold since there were already a bunch of planes circling.

After about an hour on the plane, we gave up, rebooked for Friday, went all the way home & then came back the next morning. I was so tired from all that that I didn't do any knitting on the plane (either time!). I just passively listened to a book on CD.

Tonight I am going to a knitting group that occurs every 3 months or so. It is kind of nice that it is so infrequent because I could probably never do a regular weekly thing since I go to the gym on Tuesday and Thursdays for yoga. Or I used to. Hopefully I will start again soon. Blegh.

I need to go home and figure out if I have enough of any yarn to make a baby hat so I can cast on before going to knitting. I always like to take something that I don't have to think much about. A friend from work is having a small shower on Friday, so I'd like to get a hat done for that. Love those quick little baby hats! I'll probably do the umbilical cord hat from SnB. If I don't have appropriate yarn, a quick trip to Article Pract for some of my favorite Rowan wool/cotton might be in order. I just adore the feel of that stuff & with my Addi Turbos, I can get a hat done pretty quickly. Will have to remember to take my dpns just in case I get to the decrease part (which I doubt, since I am slow).

I can't remember if I whined here about my TiVo box going kaput. Was all excited because we came home and my neighbor called to say the new one arrived. Turns out the *replacement* was also broken! So now replacement #2 is on its way to my house. Grrrr. I have to miss the first American Idol tonight -- I love the early ones since they contain all of the crappy singers. Mostly I watch it to mock the contestants, but I usually end up liking a few. And then I usually want my favorite to come in second so they don't have to make the schlocky stuff that the AI producers make them do.

Hola, San Diego

2006-01-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

Off to San Diego for the weekend, so I'll actually have an excuse for not posting!

I'll be taking along my orange yarn to work on Knitty pumpkin sections. I decided to go ahead and make the large one before seaming and felting both sizes. The pumpkin sections will be nice easy things to have on a flight -- very simple, so can be put down and picked up as I enjoy the delicious snack of peanuts that Southwest provides.

Don't know if I'll have a chance to visit any SD yarn stores as my SIL isn't a knitter & I'd feel pretty self-indulgent making her drive me all over to find them.

Really, it's only to be kind

2006-01-11T12:43:00.000-08:00

Today I got chicken strips and fries for lunch. It didn't even come with a lettuce leaf lining the box in some sort of semblance of healthyness. 3 strips, big pile 'o fries. At least I had ketchup and mustard so there was some plant based materials involved. (Well, besides the potatoes, which I know come from plants)

At first I told myself that I was only eating the fries to slow myself down from scarfing the chicken strips. Kind of like the fries needed to keep the chicken company. But then the strips were all consumed and I continued eating fries "cause they were still hot". Now all the fries are pretty cold, yet they still sit on my desk looking forlornly at me. Yes, I could shut the box and throw them away, but then I start with the justification.

Potatoes contain potassium. I should eat all those fries because of the *value* they bring my body. While I consume those much-needed vitamins, I could be contemplating my afternoon sugar snacky item. See, I just ate a cold fry just now. And another.

Sigh. At least I ate healthy yesterday for breakfast and lunch. Nevermind that we are going away for the weekend where we will most likely eat out every single meal.
There's an orange sitting at my desk too. Must eat that before buying giant theatre sized box of candy at Walgreen's this afternoon (I really need to buy some safety pins, which is my justification that I'm not just going out for sugar.)

My secret pal has already been shopping for me -- yay! Now I gotta get cracking for my downstream pal!

Secret Pal Seven Questions

2006-01-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? I guess I am a bit of a yarn snob, though I do appreciate some of the Lion Brands -- cotton ease and some of the wool blends. Red Heart just feels too scratchy.

2. Do you spin? Crochet? No, I save all of my time for knitting.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Generally, the packets they came in.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My knitaversary is coming up next month! I'd say beginner-intermediate. I was in grad school when I started knitting, so probably accomplished more projects in my first year of knitting than a lot of beginning knitters.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) Lavendar, Mint, Cotton, mmmmm, lots.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I'm an equal opportunity sweet lover, though prefer things like Swedish fish and Jelly Bellies to chocolate. I could eat candy every day and not tire of it. :)

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I'm more into cooking than crafts beyond knitting. I do sew, but picked up knitting because it is so portable.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like a lot of different types of music. Try me. I mostly listen to 80s New Wave, the Beatles and girl singers from Ani DiFranco to Sleater-Kinney

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? So hard to choose -- I like greens & blues a lot. Have red hair, so I tend to avoid the red family.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Married, two cats, wee one expected in late July!

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Scarves and hats. I prefer gloves. No to the ponchos.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I do love Rowan wool/cotton, but wouldn't really say I've been knitting long enough to have a favorite. More whatever strikes my fancy when I visit the yarn shop.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I'm not really into the novelty yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? I don't really get on an obsession track -- I operate more on finding patterns that I like then getting the yarn for it. I guess baby hats are the one thing that I like to make that I'll freestyle with.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Anything that I don't end up frogging at some point. :) I like scarves and hats for the quick and easy-ness; sweaters for the end result satisfaction.

17. What are you knitting right now? the pumpkins from Knitty.com's fall issue

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? yes

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? circs, but somewhat project dependent

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Bamboo, but I do love Addi Turbos when I feel like splurging

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes, both.

22. How did you learn to knit? I took a class at my LYS, then picked up techniques from books and the web.

23. How old is your oldest UFO? Don't have any currently.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? Rudolph, probably.

25. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

26. Is there anything that you collect? no

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? none. I tried interweave, but probably would never keep up with reading knit mags. I prefer food mags because I don't feel the guilt if I never make a single recipe from them.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? None that I can think of.

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Not that I can think of right now.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Haven't attempted socks yet. Not sure of measurements, but I wear a women's 9.5

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 10/20

Pumpkin Patch

2006-01-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

So, having yesterday off while poor Mr. CTK had to work (don't feel too bad, he gets Friday off), I cast on and completed six out of seven sections for a small Knitty pumpkin. I hope to complete the final section and some of the stem pieces tonight.

Hoo-ha! Now the only question is whether I want to attempt knitting up a couple of them, so I can have one big felting session. I love felting so much that I don't know that I will be able to wait!

I also took Mr. Max to the vet because he started limping around on NYE day on his left front paw. Poor little guy. He will still bear weight on it, and doesn't squirm when I palpate his entire leg, but when he sits down, he holds it up in the air & my heart goes out to him.

Anyway, the vet couldn't find any real reason, so thinks he could have done some soft tissue damage while wrestling with Frances. But, we did find a marble sized tumor right above that leg. The vet drew out some fat, so thinks it is just a benign fatty tumor, but shaved the area so we can watch for growth. Apparently sometimes a "good" tumor can hide a bad tumor. :( It would devastate me if we lost Max -- he is my total snugglepie bunny kitty. But, at least we found it while it was small, so the second any change happens we will cut that bad boy out.

Thoughts to San Francisco Knitter these days too.

Confession Time:

2005-12-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

I have nothing on the needles!

I just haven't been inspired to pick up any of the projects I've got in the backlog. I know it will happen, but lately I've been too tired post-holidays to contemplate looking at a pattern or doing much of anything more than vegetating in front of reruns of "The Surreal Life". Quality time indeed.

I think I will cast on for the Knitty pumpkins next. I can do a segment at a time & still feel like I can get something else going. I will hate all of the seaming involved, but really want the finished product, so there it is.

OK, back to work.

2005-12-20T17:22:00.001-08:00

Sitcom Chic -- almost done!

2005-12-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

2nd view of sitcom chic. The color is a little darker than it appears here. Just needs some pressing and a button!

2005-12-20T17:20:00.000-08:00

wee winter hat. I just happened to be wearing a green shirt when I took this photo. See how you can't even tell the top wasn't supposed to be like that?

Hee-Ah! Take that, Christmas!

2005-12-20T15:07:00.000-08:00

Bought my last gift today, started mailing Christmas cards & mailed off the one present I need to mail.

We send a gift to Mr. CTK's niece. Not his sister or BIL. That's fine by me, since that is the way it evolved. (Niece probably wouldn't get anything unless I initiated the gift buying process.) For a while they didn't send us anything. Now we get Harry and David corporate fruit gifts. I adore his sister, but her gift selection skills are kind of odd. Even Mr. CTK thinks so. I guess she is giving us something that she would be happy to receive.

But let me just say, thank heavens for corporate FedEx rates!! I got 2 day FedEx shipping for less than $7 and no cursed post office lines to stand in. Our mailroom lets you write a personal check & send out whatever you want using the corporate rates.

Washed my mom's Sitcom Chic last night. Just a few more ends to weave in & then steaming of the front edges to determine whether I need to sew on ribbon, adding of the button loop and button.

I finished a little hat for a friend's baby too. It came out really cute -- one of those mistakes (running out of yarn) that was resolved with creative stash usage. And it gave me an excuse to buy a pompom maker (aside: why is it sometimes spelled pom-poN??) Photos soon.

Now I gotta figure out what project to start next - the Knitty surprise pumpkins, or Sweet Mary Jane from Knitpicks. Of course, the SMJ would give me the need to finally use my fancy new swift and ball winder, so that will probably win out!

Hooray -- camera all better!

2005-12-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

We finally took our teeny tiny camera to a repair shop after breaking it in Vietnam. Nikon told us the repair estimate was A)not covered under warranty and B) would cost us over $200, when we only spent $300 on the thing.

I told Mr. CTK that I wanted a new camera for Christmas, which finally motivated him to take ours to a repair shop. It took him a while to figure out, but we got the call yesterday that it is done! And, his estimate was a little over $100, which is a little easier to stomach.

Downloading is so much easier than w/my old digital, so unless I get lazy, my blog photo content should soar over the next coming weeks.

Hurray!

2005-12-13T18:34:00.000-08:00

Another fun FO. Can't wait for next October.

Look at that! A whole mess of pictures

2005-12-13T18:32:00.000-08:00

There's all the stuff I'd been wanting to share since Hello went down.

One more FO coming -- a photo of Yorick!

Then rumbly tummies must be satisfied...hurry up computer!

Tomato soup sounds good tonight. Maybe with some of those little fresh mozzarella balls that I bought for my floor potluck melting away in the mug. MMMMMMM!

2005-12-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

long overdue shot of birthday sparkly!

2005-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Stuff on my Cat? He prefers to sit on me!

2005-12-13T18:27:00.001-08:00

yarn for Baby's First Tattoo

2005-12-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

Tom Swift! Please ignore messy messy desk behind

Yorick, felted, Sitcom Chic, progress!

2005-12-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

Yorick is drying out as we speak -- it was a rough couple of days ;). I threw caution to the wind and felted it all in the washing machine as I couldn't face the hand felting portion. I am happy with the way he came out -- photos coming soon.

Sitcom Chic was also progressed upon. I picked up and knit the two side borders, which was quite easy, considering how I'd been stalling around on it. So, tonight I will try to finish the neck border and the evil underarm seams (where mistakes will need to be corrected as best as possible). Then a wash, a blocking and a purchasing of the correct size crochet hook and a cool button. I also have two little holes in the left front panel, so I am going to untwist a bit of yarn & sew them up with 1-ply.

Oh, and I have to sew in my custom label.

In the post that was lost, I told you how I swatched for baby's first tattoo, which will be done w/out tattoos. I used Art Fibers yarn in a pretty (and I think, unisex) green and the border will be in brown. It is of course, handwash, so I'm sure the intended recipient will barf all over it 5 minutes after it is first put on. Anyway, I washed the swatch so I can check gauge one last time before casting on.

We got our Christmas tree on Sunday! Hopefully, Mr. CTK will have put the lights on, so we can decorate tonight. We have new ornaments from our SEA trip this year, and an earlier trip to Disneyland (in January). On our honeymoon, we started a tradition of getting ourselves ornaments from the trips we take together. Makes a nice souvenier & you can usually find something that works. Our Vietnam ornament is actually a pendant necklace, but I am going to swap out the cord for something shorter.

My final bit of news: I signed up for Secret Pal Seven today, and even successfully installed the button on the first try!! Check it out below.

Just checking out a tip

2005-12-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

Look -- an actual photo on my site. Maybe now I can upload some FOs. Though the problems with Hello might actually be resolved by now, I haven't checked since I was so annoyed with them.

GAH! Just lost an entire long post

2005-12-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

Now I'm too grumpy to write all that again! Stupid girl.

What a bad blogger I am!

2005-11-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

How can I expect anyone to pay attention to hang on my every blog word if I only update once a week or less?!?

I'm not quite sure where last week went. I took Wednesday off work, and then rolled into Thanksgiving, ate too much, and then had the annual tamale fest with friends on Sunday (and ate too much again).

On the knitting side of things, I finished the main part of Sitcom Chic on Monday night!!!

Now I need to sew the armpits, do the neck and front edge borders and find a button I like for the closure. Wheeeee!

Alas, poor Yorick is getting neglected. I'm in that boring stockinette phase, and even though it does go reasonably quick, it is uninspiring. But, I only have a few more inches before I can put side 1 on stitch holders and attempt the other skull. I can't wait to felt it to see if it came out OK. I figure that felting will disappear all of the mistakes I think I see right now and everything will be happy and cozy. Mr. CTK has already asked if he can wear it sometimes.

I also want to knit up a big swatch of the green Cascade leftover from the bag I made my niece. Then I can cut out holly leaves, sew on some mini red buttons and make a holly pin to wear on Yorick for the holidays. If they come out really well, I could do some more for Community Relations here at work. They do holiday goodie bags for senior citizens. All the fashionable ladies could wear my wonky holly pins. I'd have to find a clasp that is easy to manipulate.

Ribbit, Ribbit

2005-11-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

Just discovered that I'd made even bigger mistakes in Sitcom Chic than mentioned below, so will be ripping back quite a bit more than I originally anticipated. Wah!

At least Mr. CTK has to work tomorrow, so I'll have a quiet house in which to knit away. Return of the King is probably coming out for this one -- a nice long movie. I heart my TiVo, but it is distracting to have to put down the knitting to FF through the commercials (though it is probably a good hand break).

In other knitting news, I decided that I couldn't deal with SC last night, so cast on for Yorrick! What a fun pattern -- well, that's probably because all of the shaping happens in the first 40 rows. I have some funny holes, so am debating whether felting will fix them or if I should rip back and see if I can do a little better on a second attempt. The pictures on knitty look like the two skulls felted a little differently though, so maybe I shouldn't worry about it.

Still no photos -- Hello didn't work *again* when I tried it last night. :(

In which I was ready to save you from the tedium of type

2005-11-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

I woke up early this morning (before my alarm, which *never* happens), so I got up and downloaded a bunch of photos from my computer. Alas, Hello did not seem to be working, so I wasn't able to get any of them onto the ol' blog.

So its more reading for you, dear reader, and more typing while looking over my shoulder at work for me.

Two things went horribly wrong with Sitcom Chic last night:

One funky stitch that I tried to purposely drop off the needles to reconfigure correctly ended up in such a big mess that I'm stumped on how to fix it. Will probably have to rip back 5 rows -- scary! I have to make sure I move the stitch markers back accordingly so my decreases will end up coming out OK. And I was one row from starting the neck shaping (read: the beginning of the end grrrr! :(

Then, for some reason, I counted my stitches on the left and right fronts.

Right: 30 or so
Left: 25

GAAAAHHHHHH! I have no idea how or where that happened! I counted the left side as I joined the sleeves, but probably didn't count the right side, since I just finished purling that row. So the mistake could be wayyyyy back in the body of the sweater. I think I am going to tuck in 2 extra decreases on the right side, since I have to rip back anyway, figuring that will balance the sides enough that noone will ever notice. But 5 stitches is about an inch difference, which I think could show. Advice welcome...

In which I have a secret

2005-11-14T14:53:00.000-08:00

I have a secret. Details to follow in a few weeks, when I can safely blog about it without anyone I know IRL seeing it.

(now that should keep you coming back for more!)

Thanksgiving is almost here. I am in charge of bread and a vegetable this year. Mr. CTK is doing stuffing, which I will try really really really hard not to bug him about finding a recipe for before Wednesday night, November 23rd.

More progress on Sitcom Chic yesterday -- but the thing is so wide now (including the 2 fronts, sleeves and back) that even doing one row takes forever!

Bad Blogger, Good Knitter

2005-11-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

What a bad blogger I have been this week. Work was a little nut-so and people were coming into my cube unexpectedly, so I didn't feel like I could risk being caught blogging while there.

However, I have been a very good knitter. I finished sleeve number 2 for sitcom chic yesterday, then progressed through the eyelet rows. Now I just have some rows of boring stockinette with only the decreases to keep me from getting bored out of my gourd.

Friday was the first Lunch and Knit at work. I made a toddler's hat on Thursday night (goes so quickly when using chunky yarn and 10.5 needles!) that received oooos and ahhhs on Friday. Then I completed most of a baby hat in the same pink chenille-esque yarn -- finished that up on Saturday. I was holding my breath that I would be able to get two hats out of one skein. Really didn't want to have to buy more for the last few rounds, but I made it.

Then I knit like a fool for most of the rest of Saturday -- catching up on TiVo backlog.

I kept fondling the yarn I bought for Yorick, but did not allow myself to cast on. I want to try to do 1 or 2 more baby hats since our Community Relations department will take them to a parenting class for homeless women on November 16th. I have some aqua blue yarn that should be good for either boys or girls & should go as quickly as the pink chenille stuff.

Off for a walk to make up for the couch potato-ness of yesterday.

Another (sheddy) FO!

2005-11-07T08:44:00.000-08:00

So this weekend, even though I was busy with all sorts of social plans, I finished my Celtic scarf. AND, I cast on for the second sleeve of Sitcom Chic & did 30 rows. Mr. CTK had to work last night, so I somewhat suspect my progress was assisted by no talking in the house. :)

See, I really cannot talk *and* knit efficiently at the same time. The name don't lie. (though it is really taken from an episode of The Simpsons)

I wore said scarf sans washing or blocking to work today. Fortunately, I made the wise decision not to wear the navy suit I was thinking about. My black pants suffered a bit, so I had to wrap tape around my hand and lift off the pink fuzz. It didn't seem to shed as I was knitting, but since I do most knitting in my jammies, perhaps I didn't notice/care.

This weekend we went to a friend's club on Friday, a joint birthday party at another friend's house on Saturday (where I brought delicious cakes from Sweet Adeline's in North Oakland -- chocolate and a coconut that was to die for), and then got up at the crack o' dawn to drive to Sacramento for a baptism party for another friend's two children. We only got to stay 2 hours because of Mr. CTK's work schedule. So we spent 4 hours plus of driving time, to spend two hours there. Sigh.

But, it was worth it because we arranged our annual TAMALE party with those friends and another family for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We get together, eat & drink all day, and make enough tamales that everyone can take some home. YUM!!

I was reading the rest of the Sitcom Chic pattern yesterday for the 20000th time, and really cannot figure out how the directions create what I see in the picture. At least I know it is a good pattern, so I'll just need to trust in it. But, I will troll the knitty boards just in case before I start on that portion. I'm hoping to complete the 2nd sleeve this week so I can get onto the top portion this weekend. Then I might even have time to make a few more knitted Christmas gifts.

Oh yeah, my other exciting Knitting Knews is that I bought a SWIFT! Joann's had a 40% off coupon, so I snapped it up. Have been bidding on ball winders on Ebay & keep losing, so I think I need to just buy one directly. Ebay frustrates me -- I go on thinking that I can get a bargain, but someone always drives the price up at the last minute. I'd much rather pay one price out right than wait out the auction only to lose out.

xoxo,
CTK

1 Sleeve down, 1 to go!

2005-11-03T21:21:00.000-08:00

Hurrah! I finished sleeve one tonight. Want to know what it looks like? Scroll down, look at photo and mentally add a few inches! ha ha

Seriously though, it just didn't seem exciting enough to take a new photo. I am excited for when the second sleeve is done because then I get to do the detail work on the top portion of the sweater. I am not looking forward to picking up all the stitches on the front edging, but it will be a new technique, so I hope it comes out well.

that's all the news for now.

In which yarn accompanies me to work

2005-11-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

So, I caught back up on my Sitcom Chic sleeve last night. As always happens when I rip back, I am much more pleased with the results than if I forged on with the mistakes.

As a treat for catching up, I knit several more rows on my double seed scarf out of the luscious pink Celtic.

Yesterday I realized that I've fallen into a bad habit of always eating lunch at my desk (my time to catch up on blog reading). But, I really should get away for a bit. Sooooo, today, my sleeve traveled to work with me. I'm going to escape to the lunch room and get some knitting done. I can't knit on BART in the mornings because I generally have to stand and am not coordinated enough to handle dpns while standing.

I usually get a seat in the evening, so will have to see whether or not I feel like I can knit w/out poking my neighbor with my elbows and/or shocking those around me with the funny concentration look I get when knitting. I guess I did knit on BART one day when I was going out to school.

The main reason that I have resisted is not wanting to give up my daily commute reading time, so yesterday I checked out a book on CD from the library to see if I how I like "reading" w/out the tangible of holding a book, turning pages, feeling the heft in my hands, etc. This morning went OK, but I did find my mind wandering, and then would snap back into the story and not know what had just happened. Maybe I should only get books that I've already read?

idea placeholder

2005-11-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

As a reminder to myself for future knitting projects:

I want to see if I can make the Knitty pumpkin surprise pumpkins as a little tote bag format.

I also want to make a little felted holly pin to pin on my Yorick to get some Christmas use out of it (if I even get to it by then) -- It's all about the Nightmare before Christmas vibe, baby. :)

Halloweenie

2005-11-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

Yay -- I picked up my sparkly yesterday -- love it! Photo to come.

Last night we went over to a friend's house in Alameda to help with passing out Halloween candy. I helped with eating some of it too, but those are the perks of the job.

My official job was using my knitting row counter (see, this post *does* contain knitting content!) (really, a tally counter from Staples) to count the number of people we passed out candy to. My similarly A/R friend was *thrilled* with my accuracy as previous years had involved a 3x5 note card and hash marks to keep track.

Here are the stats:

Number of people candy was passed out to: 680 (yes, six hundred and eighty!!) This was over the time period of 5:45pm to 8:45pm.

Best Costume: A kid who came as a whoopie cushion! He was also one of the funnier kids because he was so desparate for a mini bag of Skittles that he dug through his bag for the Heath bar he'd already received to exchange for Skittles.

Honorable mention to his friend that came as a milk carton, and a little boy who came as a bumblebee in a costume that he'd obviously made himself -- a paper grocery bag cut to fit like a vest and colored in like a bee and a mask cut out of more grocery bag with pipe cleaners glued on like antenna.

Most Popular Costume(s): A toss up between A)Batman B)Spiderman and C)the ghost mask guy from 'Scream'

Worst Costume: The teenagers and/or parents who show up with no costume and a plastic bag. I was all for making kids tell me who they were supposed to be in order to procure candy, but my friend was happy to pass out to anyone, and it was her house.

Number of Suspected Repeats: 30-50 people -- though I don't necessarily think it was on purpose as the streets wind around in that neighborhood & it is easy to get confused. However, the house was decorated fairly distinctly.

And that's the report from here.

In which I am tagged and share other news

2005-10-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

The Tag:
What is your all-time favourite yarn to knit with?
Hmmm, I tend to knit with yarn that I can afford, rather than what I fondle in the stores.

Oh, I know: Rowan wool/cotton (out of the yarns I've knit w/so far.)

Your favourite needles?
My 16" #5 addi turbos. One day I'll indulge in more...

The worst thing you’ve ever knit?
I've actually liked all of the things I've knit. Most frustrating? Perhaps Kyoto because of all the seaming.

Your most favourite knit pattern? (maybe you don’t like wearing it…but it was the most fun to knit)
The Saucy Tote from SnB Nation

Most valuable knitting technique?
Knitting in the round

Frogging with the confidence that I can get back to where I left off

Best knit book or magazine?
Book: Stitch 'n Bitch (though we're talking a very limited library)

Magazine: Knitty.com!!

Your favorite knit-a-long?
I really knit too slow to participate, I think.

Your favorite knitblogs?
San Francisco Knitter
Crazy Aunt Purl
Snake Surly

more to come...

Your favorite knitwear designer?
Don't have one yet

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
I've worn Kyoto out of the house twice, which is two more times than Tempting, so I guess that counts. (need to block Tempting to get a curvier shape, I think)

Tag time!

Oh, SFK tagged Laurie, who is about the only person I know enough to tag, I think...

The Sad:

I looked up Sitcom Chic on the Knitty patterns forum & discovered what I suspected: I was doing the increase on the sleeve incorrectly. :( So, I ripped all the way back to the three first ribbed rows and started over. With a little help from Rupert Everett as Sherlock Holmes (ME-OW! Thanks, Masterpiece Theatre! I can pretend he's not gay if I want to.), I managed to get back to round 36 -- only 18 more rows to go before I catch up to where I was before frogging.

The nice thing is that I think I came to more peace with the dpns -- got into a groove and knit all those rows without it being tiresome. So I think maybe I need to not pick it up unless I'm going to do more than 6 rows -- gotta get into the zone and have at it.

Am hoping to do some more today, but need to pick up a book at the library and go to Berkeley Bowl, which is always horrid on a Sunday.

Finished "The Great Stink" by Clare Clark last night -- if you like historical novels, go get it. Reminicent of Dickens a little (and speaking of which, do you like my David Copperfield-style title today?) Also just finished "The Devil Wears Prada", which was cute and skewer-y in the same vein as "The Nannie Diaries", fun to read, but ultimately forgettable.

I am picking up "Onions in the Stew", which I discovered through Snake Surly's blog archives. It was written by Betty MacDonald, who wrote the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books which I loved loved loved as a kid, and can't wait to buy for my children. So, thanks to SS for the recommendation. Onions is a memoir, but I expect to enjoy it nonetheless.

And for a truly geek moment:

Last year I kept track of how many books I read -- 2004 was 127 (Hello, luxuries of grad school). To date in 2005: 72. The Difference? I learned to knit this year, so now books don't always have my undivided attention. However, I read each and every day, which cannot be said for knitting, so they will always be my first true love. Ah, well, once we have kids, it will be on the order of 5 books and no knitting, I guess. :)

2005-10-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today's buying spree! The dark yarn in back is actually brown, though it looks black here.

Wheee -- more new yarn!

2005-10-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

So Mr. CTK woke up sick today, so I ran errands to get out of the house.

Felt totally virtuous as I picked up drycleaning, bought healthy bread at SemiFreddi's and bought coffee -- so many things off the checklist!

Then I went to Sweet Adeline's and ordered cakes for a party next weekend and hopped over to Michael's and used my 40% off coupon to buy some size 6 needles for Sweet Mary Jane. I also got 2 skeins of baby type yarn to do some charity knitting at an upcoming work "Lunch and Knit".

AND THEN, I took myself off to Stash! on Solano Avenue. Totally beautiful store & I loved the way they had the yarn arranged (stacked so the colors go from dark to light up the shelving). YUM! I got yarn to do 2 of the surprises from Knitty -- the pumpkins and Yorick. I ended up buying a cheaper yarn for Yorick, since it would have cost $40 to do it in Classic Elite Lush. As soon as I asked for Lush, the woman at the store said, "Oh, are you making the skull scarf on Knitty?" ha ha.

Although I swore my stash wouldn't ever grow beyond a project or two out from what I was making, I guess I can confirm that my yarn buying habits are akin to my book buying habits -- can't go into a store without coming away with something!

Thanks to SFK for the tag -- I'm going to answer it tomorrow. Now is time for yarn fondling and matzo ball soup that I bought for Mr. CTK. I also got him some flowers to cheer him up because he is too sick to go out tonight.

Dishcloth Cotton?

2005-10-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

What? Hmmm, several of those quiz answers were tough to choose. I really think I should be a yarn that attracts a little more attention!

So, I changed a few answers, and got this:

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

2005-10-28T18:36:00.000-07:00

Proof that Kyoto is finally done!

2005-10-28T18:28:00.001-07:00

Do not taunt the Happy Fun Ball!

2005-10-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Ooooo-wheee! That's some mighty purty yarn!

2005-10-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

Here's the unending sleeve for Sitcom Chic -- a nice blueberry color for my mom

2005-10-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

Mr. CTK as Paul Stanley -- note the realistic chest hair!

Don't worry, photos on the way

2005-10-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

I had to endure Mr. CTK's laughter and taunting last night as I photographed:

My beautiful new hank of ArtFibers Celtic & new gigantor #17 needles

Said hank wound in to center-pull ball

Sleeve of Sitcom Chic that I've been whining about

Body of Sitcom Chic

But, he calmed down enough to take photos of me in my finished Kyoto!

To get back at him, I'll also post some photos of him as Paul Stanley from last weekend's pre-Halloween party.

Two big YAY!s for Monday:

Get to pick up my new sparkly ring from its sizing appointment

Get to go over to a friend's house where she gets over 300 children and pass out candy while maintaining an accurate count with my little tally counter (normally used for counting rows of knitting).

Got to put my first paycheck in the bank today, so celebrated by buying new black socks that hopefully won't fade to grey-ish black since I got trouser socks rather than regular cotton socks.

we interrupt our regularly scheduled work for yarn therapy

2005-10-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

So I found myself bouncing from task to task in the late afternoon today without accomplishing anything, so decided that I needed a break.

Since I am attempting healthy eating habits lately, my normal answer: "Specialties cookie hot from the oven", wasn't going to cut it.

I decided I deserved 1) a quick project to free me from the tedium of sleeves on dpns and 2) a scarf that actually coordinates with a coat that I usually wear some poorly matched color

Answer: Artfibers Celtic in *gorgeous* pink! Had been dreaming about it for several weeks, and figured since I was getting paid on Friday (tomorrow!!!), I could go for it. And I need the size 17 needles to go with it. YAHOO!

Too bad I need to wind the hank into a ball, or I would be tempted to cast on while on BART tonight.

back to your regularly scheduled working....

Another quickie post

2005-10-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hello? hello? Is this thing on?

Sitcom Chic progress: I did 12 rounds last night, bringing me past the halfway done point on sleeve 1. (or, 1/4 done if you could all dpn knitting for both sleeves). Can't wait to attach to the body!

Also, earlier this week I got my knitpicks order with the Sweet Mary Jane pattern (100% of proceeds go to breast cancer research!) and the recommended yarn to knit it with in Jewels. The pattern was a tiny bit more complicated than I expected. It will be my first lace project.

Am wondering if I shouldn't try to do a lacy scarf first. But, the cute thing is that you make a sachet bag as your swatch for SMJ, so I can try my technique out there. 4 skeins to wind into center pull balls before I get to that point (plus finishing Sitcom Chic).

Wow -- Extraordinary & Scommesse!!

2005-10-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

Someone called my blog extraodinary! I am so excited!!!! Wowee-zowee!!

And, I can find all about Scommesse if I click the extraordinary commenter's link.

Scommesse!! How have I lived without it for so long?!? Especially when such wise and wonderful people like those that call my blog extraordinary clearly are in the know!!!

Extraordinarily yours,

CTK
(soon to be arrested by the punctuation police for overuse of exclamation points, but really, can you blame me?)

Web Ring-a-ding-ding

2005-10-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

I joined a web ring, so now I truly feel a part of the blogger culture. Except I can't figure out how to log on, so perhaps I should be feeling all kewl and hip so soon.

A little about knitting so I don't get kicked off the web ring before I even get started.

Worked on Sitcom Chic some yesterday. I have finished the body up to the armpits, and am now working on the sleeves w/dpns. UGH! I have so much dpn anxiety that I am going to wind up with big holes from not pulling tight enough at the joins between needles that it takes me quite a while. And when I'm done with this one, I get to do it all over again. I guess I need to keep the end goal in mind.

I'm blogging right now because I am procrastinating on doing some mindless work that I don't really want to do. But, it does fill the time, and I am going to leave a little early today to schlep the booth display for a recruiting night I am going to tomorrow home on BART -- don't want to be on BART with this behemouth (sp?) during rush hour. I only have 1 short flight of stairs to navigate & then I should be home free.

The best news is that this Friday is MY FIRST PAY DAY! Woo Hoo! I haven't received a real regular paycheck since last summer and that was only for a 3 month internship. Really, I haven't had a real paycheck since August 2003! But them student loans is all tax-free, so I can't complain too much.

ok. on to folder stuffing, even though I am missing one of the pieces I need.

Quick at work post

2005-10-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Ooooo, I'm sneakily posting from work for the first time, just to satisfy Ms. SFK! :) I haven't been posting much because I've actually been pretty busy with work tasks -- and then the last thing I want to do when I get home is to get on the computer.

Yesterday was my birthday, and it was a very nice day. Even though I am so new at my job that I had no work celebrations. I finally broke down and let people know so I wouldn't get the "why didn't you say something?" down the road.

I left work and did a little shopping (a new shirt from Talbots and a new sweater from Ann Taylor). Then Mr. CTK picked me up and we went to dinner at Le Charm, a little French bistro type place in San Francisco. It was quite romantic -- we had Kir Royals to start off -- yum! Then I had their incredible French Onion Soup, and Duck Confit for my entree and Tarte Tatin for dessert. Delicieux!

Mr. CTK got me a gaw-jus pearl ring with little diamonds on the sides. I'm sure he spent waaaayyyy too much, but I love it too much to feel more than just a tiny bit guilty. (Especially since his birthday present was a humble knitted hat). Had to take it to get it sized, so I don't get to fully enjoy it until 10 days from now. Boo hoo.

I guess I have freak fingers -- he bought a ring that fits my left hand, but not my right. I'll post a pic once I get it back.

Tonight we are going to see The Briefs at The Bottom of the Hill, and then tomorrow we are going to an early Halloween party at a friend's place. I haven't ever seen their apt, but I guess it is pretty tiny, so we may all be squished in like sardines. No big costumes allowed. I'll probably do last minute costume lameness since I've never been all that into getting dressed up for Halloween.

Back to the salt mines!

Yay -- blog stalking works!

2005-10-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

My first comment from someone who knows me IRL. I was really only posting in her sister in law's blog so she'd come find me. hee hee hee

No, really, Breed Em and Weep is hysterically funny. Everyone go read it right now -- it takes the pressure off of me to come up with anything witty today.

I finally got my computer at work! yay! Now I need to get one of those rearview mirrors for your monitor so that people cannot sneak up on me. Why to they design cubicles so sitting at your computer makes you sit with your back to the cube hole? How's a person supposed to comfortably noodle around on the web if anyone could sneak up on you and catch you reading blogs when you are supposed to be working?

Tomorrow night we are going to a ukelele and musical saw concert put on by two of our friends. Woo Hoo! They are really quite funny together.

Today we have some exciting trips planned: Target for a baby gift and Berkeley Public Library and Berkeley Bowl. The baby gift is for a shower tomorrow afternoon. I knit the little umbilical cord hat pictured in a previous post, but thought I should also get something a little more practical. We must be in the first round of showers for the couple because there are still a lot of things left on the registry.

Blegh -- blog spam

2005-10-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

I get all excited to see that there are comments in my blog, and recently several of them have been spam. Ugh. What a let down.

What on my site indicates that I'm terribly interested in debit cards?!?

I'd forgotten how starting a new job makes you feel lame. Noone knows you exist, you sit staring in the distance for several hours trying to pretend you are wisely contemplating your new duties, and you have no security badge so you have to knock on the door to the floor until someone takes pity on you and rescues you from the elevator area.

On the bright side, I should have a computer soon, so I can do some "research" about my new position and best practices on the internet. (read: catch up on personal email and blogs until some actual work is generated for me)

Start my new job today

2005-10-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

I start my new job today -- don't have to go in until noon, because my boss is arriving on a flight from Atlanta at 10:30am. That's rather nice. So I slept in for about an hour after I will need to normally start getting up, then got up and went to the grocery store to stock up on food for the week -- hoping to avoid expensive and fattening restaurant meals now that I'm working.

I finally finished Kyoto -- YAY!!!

Was going to leave you all a photo, but I didn't like any of my self portraits -- they didn't show off the sweater too well, and weren't very flattering of me. Then my camera batteries died, so I took that as a sign to wait for Mr. CTK to come home and take a photo tonight.

I wore it out on Friday, and it was quite comfortable. One of my best friend's was in town for a medical conference, so we went out to eat with him, and then met some of his doctor friends at the Redwood Room at the Clift hotel. It was filled with 20-somethings and the uniform of the evening was (women) -- tank top with sequin details, (men) -- metrosexual patterned shirt left untucked (to hide burgeoning beer gut??).

Saturday night was New Wave City's 13th Anniversary party -- they always do a preparty, which I have catered for the last six years or so. This year we expected a smallish crowd so I made fewer dishes than I normally do. All was very tasty & it was a much lower stress day than usual, when I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

The next day I wanted to cut my head off for real -- I'll spare you all the ugly details, but let's just say I met this very nice bartender who poured me VERY STRONG drinks. Ugh. I hated life all day until Mr. CTK took me to Saul's for some matzo ball soup.

Was supposed to go over to my brother's to watch the Blue Angels, but decided black rooftop + sun + loud planes flying overhead == more disasterous than I could contemplate. I don't really get the Fleet Week activity appeal -- how many loop de loops do you need to see a plane do anyway.

My high school was near the Navy base in Alameda, so we always had some assembly involving the Navy Singer or some such when Fleet Week took place. The Blue Angels cost some enormous amount of money everytime they get into the sky (because of how much fuel they burn, I think), plus the training costs, so they haven't been a part of Fleet Week here for the last couple of years. My dad was a Navy pilot, so I guess I would have gone and been supportive if not for the hangover thing...

I'd better go figure out what I am going to wear today.

A post about knitting idiocy

2005-10-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

So I've posted that I finished putting Kyoto together, tried it on, and discovered taht it was a wee bit too tight under the armpits.

After crying on Knitty.com about it, a poster helped me see that I needed to take the sleeves off, rip them back and work in some increases.

Tuesday I took off one sleeve, carefully ripped back so as not to end up with holes in my sleeve, worked in some increases, sewed it back on, and tried it on. Hooray! That worked! I am so great and smart and knitting proficient that I can hardly stand myself.

So then I was sick of seaming, so I put the sweater down. Tuesday evening, while in front of the TV, I took off the "second" sleeve for corrections. I think I was watching a rerun of Friends, so its not like I can blame what's coming on an engrossing show like "Lost" or anything. Then I undid the cast off row, threaded my needles through and put it down again.

On Wednesday, I started ripping back a few rows, and then realized I couldn't remember whether I ended up knitting 6 or 7 rows from where I did the increases. Look at "first" sleeve -- can't find where I increased. Turn "first" sleeve around and around in puzzlement -- how did my increases disappear so completely??

Look at detached sleeve in my hand -- Ohhhhhhh, there's the increases! Yes, folks, I managed to detach the sleeve I'd already fix *and* rip it back a few rows before I discovered what I'd done. DUH!!

So, I decided to rip back until the increase row and change from M1 increases to inc1 and add two more increases as long as I was already an idiot. Sewed that sleeve back on, and then got smart enough to stick a safety pin in it so I couldn't get confused again.

Detached true second sleeve, ripped back, increased, and casted off without incident. Now the last bit of seaming and some weaving in of ends, and I should be all set to wear it. (though I am afraid that I am so sick of this sweater that the wearing isn't so appealing right now).

I did cast on for "Sitcom Chic" last night in Cotton Ease Blueberry for my mom for Christmas. If I don't finish in time, her birthday is in March, (and better cotton sweater weather), so its all good. Later I plan to make one for myself in black, but may have to do a few projects in between.

2005-10-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Mr. CTK's birthday hat. This yarn is yummy though the hat came out a little big since I swatched on 10.5 needles and knit most of it on 11 -- bad bad knitting habits!!

2005-10-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

another view of the bunny hat

2005-10-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

bunny hat from SnB Nation and umbilical cord hat from SnB. I can't decide whether to sew the face on the bunny hat or just let the child's face stand in for the bunny's. Umbilical cord hat is for a friend's baby shower

Well, Where the H*** have You been?!?

2005-10-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sigh, it has been many days since I updated my blog, probably losing any regular readers that I might have had out there in cyberspace.

If its any consolation, I've been making up witty posts in my head while I've been away (through no fault of my own -- see story below). Of course, I've forgotten most of them now, so it's not like you're getting any benefit from all that thinking.

So on September 15th, I'm heading out the door for yoga, and my neighbor stops me to ask if I've changed my phone number. She said she got the disconnected message when she tried to call me about how the person delivering the new phone books just threw one set in the yard, when there are two households here. (I love my neighbor to death, but sometimes her rants are a little too motivated out of boredom, or concern for trivia).

Anyway, I assume that she misdialed or something, and go off to yoga and forget all about it.

The next morning I check my email & my dad has sent an email saying that my phone line is down. This takes place about 45 minutes before my new boss is supposed to call me about details for the new job. So I call SBC and find out that my "landlord" -- some name I'd never heard of -- put in a cancellation order because I had "moved" and a new tenant was going to be moving in and getting a new phone line. In the midst of the hour long conversation (thank goodness for cell phones), I find out that the phone cancellation also involves cancellation of our DSL. Supposedly, SBC sent me a letter on the 9th saying if we don't hear from you by September 15th, we're cutting off your phone service. This letter in fact arrives at our house on Saturday the 17th!!!

I was freaking out a bit -- identity theft issues and all that. Fortunately, I already have fraud alerts on all of my credit cards because a UC Berkeley computer was stolen that contained personal data on hundreds of people.

So, the upshot is, my DSL was turned back on on September 28th -- that's the accelerated plan, folks. My days were sad and long without internet service. A friend said "Can't you go to the library or something?" But what you really miss is all of the dinking around you can do when the internet is coming straight into your house. I'm not going to the library to look up some guest star on an episode of "Little House on the Prairie" on imdb.com, yet I feel perfectly justified doing this in my own home because it only takes a few seconds.

On the brighter side of things, I did a lot of knitting over these weeks. Pictures coming soon.

Mr. CTK and I went to the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, CA last Friday. They have a tour and you get to sample all the newest flavors -- roasted garlic and baked bean, yuck! Mint Trio and Blackberry, yum!

I was also going to post about my...um, friend, yeah, friend who had an ass zit that was so huge you could see the lump when she had on underwear and khakis, but I'm, I mean, she's over that distress, so why talk about ugly ugly things in life like that?!?

What else, dear reader? Oh yes, I called my soon-to-be new boss yesterday because I hadn't received my offer letter, or, more importantly, papers to go to my drug screening. She called this morning and said Fedex showed delivery last Thursday to my front porch. No documents to be found under my doormat or with my neighbors (though I doubted they would hold on to them that long anyway).

So between this, and the phone line thing, I fear I may be coming off as the World's Biggest Flake to soon-to-be new boss. In an effort to make it up to her, I offered to take BART into San Francisco to pick up the necessary paperwork -- especially since I need to get this drug screening done or it could push back my start date. Still waiting (slightly anxiously) for her to call back and let me know if that's possible. Thank goodness I've worked for the company before so I have some stored up credibility with others that work there. Blegh.

I am almost almost done with Kyoto -- I put the whole thing together only to find that the armholes are a wee bit too tight. So, I have to take off both sleeves, add some increases, and resew them, weave in those ends, and I'll be done. I'm disappointed that I still have more work to do, but figure it's better than never wearing the sweater because it is uncomfortable. Thankfully, the way it is constructed I can expand the sleeve holes without having to redo anything on the body of the sweater.

Job Offer!!!!

2005-09-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hooray -- I shall soon be gainfully employed in a rather dreamy dream job. Not only will I be bringing home some bacon again, I think I am really going to enjoy this position, enjoy the people I work with, and be progressing in my career goals.

More details about the position to follow soon -- I don't even know the job title, since it will be a new position, but will learn more on Friday. The need is urgent enough that they are going to bring me on board in a contractor position until they can get approval for the head count, and make it a real full time position. I just need to get something in writing about when that might happen, and if there are any guarantees about whether I would face any competition when that happened.

But, for now, I just want to enjoy the euphoria. And maybe some new shoes.

I'll need to wean myself off of my diet of "Little House on the Prairie" that being unemployed has allowed me to indulge in. I watched some of this series while growing up (but only when my parents went out for the evening, since we weren't allowed to watch TV on school nights), and of course read all of the books. TIVO figured out that I liked LHP and now I seem to get 50 episodes a day in TIVO suggestions.

Yesterday I watched the episode where Nellie Oleson is pregnant and her mother and father-in-law fight over the religion of the baby (Jewish vs. Christian). In the end, they agreed to raise a boy Jewish and a girl Christian, and Nellie nicely complies by having one of each. This seemed like such a nice compromise when I was young, but as an adult, the reality of trying to have separate religions for your children seems far too chaotic. Raising them both in an interfaith way would seem much more practical to me, though I'm sure that would raise objections by families that are more religious than I'd consider myself to be.

2005-09-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Awwww, the little future bunny hat. Started decreasing last night, so this part should be done today.

2005-09-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Kyoto pieces before blocking and seaming. Please ignore messy coffee table.

Oh yeah, about the knitting

2005-09-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

I have two projects going right now -- Kyoto is finished except for the blocking and seaming and I started the SnB Nation bunny hat to have a small project on the plane. I should finish up the hat portion this evening, and then will have the I-cord, ears and face embroidery left.

Pictures of WIP coming later today, after my call about job details (Wheee!).

My knitting may slow up a bit since I have had several reserved books from the library all come up at the same time. So, the stack includes: finish "Dreamland" by Kevin Baker, finish "Bless the Child", thriller from the plane trip, and then start on "The Historian", new literary vampire novel, "The Mermaid Chair" by the woman who wrote "Secret Life of Bees", and "The Undomestic Goddess", by the Shopoholic chick-lit writer, Sophie Kinsella.

I question how I can possibly squeeze in a job around all this busy-ness. heh heh.

Iowa makes everything better.

2005-09-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Just back from 5 days visiting my alma mater, Grinnell College. Ah, I got to live in the Grinnell bubble for several days and it was wonderful.

I do admissions volunteer work here in California, and you know Iowa is a tough sell to California 17 and 18-year-olds. But, it does tend to be very self-selecting and since I made the choice to leave the Bay Area for 4 frosty winters and hot humid back to school days, I can talk to students about how the choice is not as crazy as your high school classmates (and neighbors, and Nordstrom sales people) will make it sound.

The downside? Iowa still allows smoking in bars. I went with some classmates to "The Bar", or "The Pub", as it is now known (they get real original with the names there) and had some pitchers and talked about how pitchers were $3 when we first started. And got to hear Bad Company's "Feel Like Making Love" on the jukebox, which always takes me back.

But the following evening we could not handle the smoke again, so drank beer at The Depot, which is new to town since I graduated, outside on the patio. It was one of those lovely, sit outside until midnight and never feel chilly kind of evenings that happen approximatly once a year in the Bay Area.

I got to visit with my advisor, attend several classes, and start planning my 15 year reunion (ack!). Actually, it will only be 14 years by the time I go, since they hold cluster reunions -- this upcoming time with the classes from 91 and 92. These tend to be more fun since, at Grinnell, most people live in the dorms all four years, so you know people in the six classes on either side of your own class.

THEN, THEN, THEN, my husband and I are sitting on the couch last night, catching up on "Rock Star:INXS" (ha ha ha, yes I totally got sucked into this show, even though I think the whole premise is slightly creepy, but I totally want Marty to win.) and I get a call from the aforementioned person who had agreed to "scout around" for me at a particular company -- and she's got a very interesting job that is really going to happen and she'd like me to start fairly soon. YAHOO!!

I won't go into all the details for fear of jinxing myself, but it looks quite positive. (and oddly, another contact there called on Friday to talk to me about a only slightly less desirable position -- raining, pouring syndrome, I guess). I am so looking forward to going back to work, and getting a paycheck, but don't remind me that I said this when I'm bitching about having to actually get out of bed before 8am.

(and shhhhh, shhhhhh, shhhhh, but this also means Operation Wee One could start in a few short months... not that I didn't already purchase a Grinnell T-shirt this weekend or anything)

Ouch! Rejection!

2005-08-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

So I got an email from the second interview place letting me know they'd gone with another candidate. That sucks! It would have been a hellacious commute & I wasn't all that sure I really jibed with the person who I would have reported to, but I still feel sad and rejected.

But, "I got to have faith" (George Michael, where are you now??)and realize that the right job will come along. I just hope it is soon!

On the brighter side of things, I do have three days of work next week to get me out of the house, and another 3 days in September. So, at least a little income will be arriving soon -- but more importantly, it will provide me with a few days of distraction.

Perhaps the person at the other company who is "scouting" for me will find something wonderful -- or at least a foot in the door there. But, I must also plug along with purusing other opportunities.

I keep thinking about one of the final "Sex and the City" episodes where Charlotte tells her husband that God will send them a baby -- they just need to do their part by filing all the necessary paperwork.

My sweet husband reminded me that he is making enough to support our little family of two & not to worry. Even before I heard from this job, he said "Don't be hasty & take the first thing that comes along. We have enough money to survive while you find the right thing." I need to not let fears of never being able to find a job/buy a house/afford to start a family get in the way of staying positive.

Sick Kitty Gets Mail

2005-08-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

So, my poor kitty Frances has been struggling with bladder issues since we got back from Southeast Asia. She's been on two rounds of antibiotics, but a week after finishing the course, she's back to rushing back and forth to the litter box and piddling on the bathroom floor.

So I took her back to the vet again where they drew a sample of urine -- involving sticking her with a big needle -- she was NOT happy about this. The yowls were heard round the world.

Turns out the sample showed no infection, so she is on a drug which reduces inflammation of the urinary tract for 20 days. If she has problems after that, it may be that she has a bladder stone, so I am holding my breath that that isn't the case.

Anyway, on Saturday, a get well card arrives from the vet's office. So totally sweet. We happened to run into the vet on Sunday at Jupiter & I thanked him for the card (though I suspect that one of the vet techs initiated the gesture).

I made a photo card with a bubble coming out of her mouth that says "Thank you for the card" & need to take it by the office today. I keep meaning to make cookies too, but suppose that store-bought will have to do.

Tomorrow we are having friends for dinner, so I am going to spend the day cooking & attempting not to stress out about the job hunt.

Had a good second interview on Monday, but don't know what's going on with that time frame. I think I am going to call & ask the guy to call me back -- maybe if I don't leave specifics on his machine, he'll actually get back to me. Also had a good conversation with a senior-level person at another company. She is going to do some internal scouting for me -- hurrah! It would be really nice if something happened at that company.

Also got a rejection postcard from another interview -- I had suspected that I was going nowhere with this job, but had checked in with the woman this week. She gave me these really vague answers & I just question why she just didn't tell me over the phone that I wasn't what they were looking for. Kind of lame.

Friday Night....and its alright!

2005-08-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

So last Friday, Mr. CTK and I went to our friend's club in San Francisco. It was "Guilty Pleasures" night, and I thought I'd post the set list so you could see what I rocked out to (though we missed the last hour since we got sleepy). Every new song that came on was an opportunity to shout "Oh, I LOVED this song! (in 8th grade or high school or whenever)

In honor of Crazy Aunt Purl since she so bravely admitted that she still owns Milli Vanilli and Whitesnake on cassette tape!

DECADE
"Guily Pleasures" Night
Catalyst Cocktail
August 19, 2005

9-10pm
1970's Neil Diamond vs. KISS
DJ Skip (New Wave City, Transmission)

Neil- Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon
KISS- Detroit Rock City
Neil- Kentucky Woman
KISS- Calling Dr. Love
Neil- Sweet Caroline
KISS- Beth
Neil- Shilo
KISS- Strutter
Neil- Red, Red Wine (he wrote it)
KISS- Shout It Out Loud
Neil- I'm a Believer (he wrote it too)
KISS- Christine
Neil- Cracklin' Rosie
KISS- I Was Made For Lovin' You
Neil- Cherry, Cherry
KISS- Rock and Roll All Nite
Neil- Forever In Blue Jeans

10-11pm
1980's Hair Metal
DJ The Melting Girl (Death Guild, 1984)

Skid Row- 18 & Life
Guns n' Roses- Welcome to the Jungle
Quiet Riot- Bang Your Head
Van Halen- Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Scorpions- Rock You Like a Hurricane
Def Leppard- Photograph
Night Ranger- Don't Tell Me You Love Me
Ratt- Round & Round
Motley Crue- Looks That Kill
Poison- Talk Dirty To Me
Bon Jovi- Runaway
Judas Priest- Another Thing Coming
AC/DC- Touch Too Much
Ozzy- Crazy Train
Guns n' Roses- Sweet Child of Mine

11-12am
1990's Dance Cheez
DJ Tomas Diablo (Strangelove)

Jump Around - House of Pain
Jump - Kris Kross
Back to Life (Club Mix) - Soul II Soul
My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) - En Vogue
O.P.P. - Naughty by Nature
Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli
Tom's Diner - DNA feat. Suzanne Vega
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic
Show Me Love - Robin S
Bust a Move - Young MC
Everybody Everybody - Black Box
Poison - Bell Biv Devoe
The Power - Snap
Gonna Make You Sweat - C&C Music Factory
Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

12-1am
1970's Disco
DJ Andy T (CW Saloon)

Abba- Dancing Queen
Bee Gees- Stayin' Alive
Frankie Valli- December '63
Barry Manilow- Copacabana
Rod Stewart- Do You Think I'm Sexy
ELO- Don't Bring Me Down
Shaun Cassidy- Da Doo Ron Ron
Captain & Tennille- Love Will Keep Us Together (I think this song gets the award for "Most Cheesy")
Rose Royce- Car Wash
Earth, Wind and Fire- September
KC & the Sunshine Band- Get Down Tonight
Trammps- Disco Inferno
Village People- YMCA
Donna Summer- Last Dance
Charlie Daniels- Devil Went Down to Georgia

1-2am
1980's New Wave / Top 40
DJ Skip (New Wave City, Transmission)

Night Ranger- Sister Christian
Rick Springfield- Jesse's Girl
Wham- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Secession- The Magician
Men Without Hats- Safety Dance
Book of Love- Boy
Madonna- Get Into the Groove
Corey Hart- Sunglasses At Night
Hall & Oates- Kiss On My List
Rod Stewart- Young Turks
Baltimora- Tarzan Boy

2005-08-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

Kids in Cambodia -- they were so cute!

2005-08-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

Pig Sty at Tonle Sap, the floating village. These piggies live on a little floating raft sty. hee hee hee

2005-08-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Angkor Wat relfecting pool by sunrise

2005-08-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Monkey tying my friend's shoe in Angkor Wat

2005-08-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

Me & Mr. CTK at the Royal Palace in Bangkok

2005-08-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

View from Mt. Phousi in Luang Prabang, Lao

2005-08-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Mekong River in Laos

2005-08-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

after loooong flight to Bangkok

Yay-- my first official, non stolen tag!

2005-08-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

Tag...
Rules:
List 5 things you enjoy, even when no one is around and you want to go out and play. What lowers your stress/blood pressure/anxiety level? Make a list, post it to your journal… and then tag 5 friends and ask them to post it to theirs.

1. Reading, especially chick lit. Fun and fluffy without being brain taxing

2. Knitting, sometimes -- that all depends on the project. :)

3. Snuggling with my cats -- I think I could look at them endlessly.

4. Painting my toes, preferably though, having someone else do it (when the pocketbook is full)

5. Yoga -- even on a bad day, I know if I just get to class, I will be glad I went.

I got a second interview for the job I interviewed last week, have an appt. to apply for another job tomorrow and a contract position possibility. Plus, I met with a professor today & she has all sorts of ideas for people she can contact for me. Hopefully something will work out soon. I am trying to keep my chin up & back away from the computer when I get in a tizz. Still, a job would greatly increase my chances of a good night's sleep.

Anybody Home?

2005-08-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

My poor neglected blog. I was home for a week, and then went to Iowa for a cousin's wedding, then have been doing the job search thing. Plus, my keyboard space bar is screwed up,so I have to hit it twice, which greatly reduces my desire to type anything long and detailed. Hopefully one will be on sale this week at CompUSA or someplace like so my fingers can fly freely again.

...and she's back!

2005-07-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

Back from three lovely weeks in Southeast Asia.

We saw a lot of really cool places and people and ate a lot of yummy food. The weather was only brutally hot a couple of days, so that was good.

Good Stuff:
Saw Angkor Wat at sunrise -- our awesome guide in AW who was very good at selecting times to visit temples when they weren't over run by tourists.

Increased my "merit" by rising at 4:30am in Luang Prabang and giving alms to Buddhist monks

Air conditioning at all hotels

Cool souveniers, including a custom made silk jacket. (and I flexed my bargaining skills all over the place!)

Food in Vietnam -- yummy, though we ate at fairly sanitized places most of the time. Never got traveler's tummy, which says to me that we played it a little too safe and probably missed out on some really good food.

The sticky rice in Lao -- if you've been, you know what I'm talking about. Its served in these cute baskets & you grab up a clump of it, and dip it in the food you are eating. so so good.

Lots of stuff that I am sure I am forgetting. Must review my travel journal for more.

Coming home to the kitties

Bad Stuff:
Weather was totally brutal on some days -- no clouds in the sky, sun beating down, huge humidity factor and no breeze to speak of (plus, stupidness in itinerary planning so we were walking around at the hottest part of the day)

Wearing 100% Deet in Siem Reap to ward off Dengue Fever due to recent outbreak in area -- very nasty to the skin

Dehydration factor

I was way, way, way overly ambitious about how much knitting I'd get done. Took three projects totally about 10 skeins. Got through part of one of the front panels for Kyoto, using about 1 skein of yarn. Ha ha ha.

Our new baby camera was dropped and BROKE!! :( (But at least it happened on the second to last day of the trip)

Coming home to the kitties -- because one had diarrhea attack in the last 24 hours before we got home (when there was no cat sitter in the house) so we spent first jet lagged hour home cleaning up cat poop from the cat and the carpet.

Brought home cold from Vietnam

Realizing I have to start the job search again.

Off Off and Away!

2005-07-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Wahoo! We leave today!

Mr. CTK is running around trying to do everything at the last minute. Yours truly packed yesterday, but of course I cannot truly relax until *he* is ready.

Thank goodness BART doesn't potentially go into strike mode until Wednesday as that is how we are getting to SFO.

Flight/Trip Provisions:

Snacks: Jelly Bellies, Swedish Fish and Wine Gums. Luna Bars, Almonds and Dried Apricots to balance out all of that sugar. We are flying business class, so I probably don't need all of these snacks, but I'm sure they will be consumed over the trip.

4 books -- I hope this will be enough, though I've found an English language book store in Hanoi just in case (and it could help ease my one big regret about this trip -- we will not be here on the day HP6 comes out!! I'm thinking the Hanoi store would probably carry the British edition, so that could be a cool consolation prize for missing out on the midnight shopping trip on the 15th.)

3 knitting projects -- Kyoto, the bunny hat from SnB Nation & a teddybear from Berrocco that only takes one skein so I could justify it as an "emergency" knitting project. Plus it uses #11, which will be a nice break from the #5s that the other two projects use. I upgraded my unused 16" #5 bamboo circs to AddiTurbos yesterday.

Here's a great way to justify the expense of AddiTurbos, for all of you out the in yarn & needle diet land.

1. Purchase size you'd like in Addi Turbos in another brand, costing, oh, $8.25 or so.

2. Wait a few weeks while you knit things with other needles.

3. Go back to LYS & exchange bamboo needles for Addi Turbos.

4. Pay $6 difference.

5. Compliment yourself on how inexpensive the Addis seemed to be since you spread the cost out over a couple of weeks. :P

Only 2.5 hours until we leave! Mr. CTK is traveling for three weeks with only a smallish rolling suitcase!! Clearly I didn't give him enough of the common items to pack! I am not a heavy packer, but at least I know how handy it is to have a carry on.

At least I have a collapsable duffle bag in my suitcase. He doesn't believe we will acquire enough goodies on the trip to necessitate bringing a carry on. Silly Boy!

OK, I may try to post while gone, but have often encountered awful keyboards in foreign countries where it takes you 30 minutes to type:

Dea& MOm,
We aRe here%. It i? hot. See YOu.
lOve*
c+K

Chinchilla Mania

2005-07-01T08:53:00.001-07:00

So my friend Amy used to have two chinchillas -- Spoon and Jasper. Spoon got knocked up and gave birth to Ivan (who they later found out was a girl). Jasper passed away one extraordinarily hot evening in San Francisco. :(

Recently, Ivan had some health problems and died too (after living 8 years or so, a pretty good run for a chinchilla, though still very sad).

I learned to knit. You've seen the magic scarf below. Then Amy's birthday was coming up and I thought I could knit her a chinchilla. So I made the little knitty baby pictured below -- it came out so well (esp. for my second item) that she asked where I bought it.

She sent me these photos yesterday, which she said was Spoon reenacting the end of "The Velveteen Rabbit". Amy has already loved an eye off of the knitty chinchilla.

You can't tell from the photos, but I used Bernat's Boucle in a heather grey along with some fluffy black-ish yarn to give it chinchilla like fuzzy-ness. There is also a little pom-pom tail which is pretty akin to what a chinchilla tail really looks like.

Spoon will eat sunflower seeds from your fingers if you stick them in the bars of her cage. Knitty Chinchilla doesn't live in the cage, it lives on Amy's bed. Awwwww.

2005-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Reenacting the end of "The Velveteen Rabbit"

2005-07-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Spoon and her knitted chinchilla buddy

Readers -- I've got readers!

2005-06-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

Much props to Crazy Aunt Purl who let me know that Blogger's default is to only allow comments by registered blogger people. How lame! I just thought I was babbling to no one but SF Knitter all this time. (and we *will* attempt an SnB when I get back from my trip and you are done unpacking 1 billion moving boxes)

Our cat sitter came over yesterday for instructions, so I feel a little better about leaving, but it is still hard. I'm excited for the trip, but I know that my little furry babies will be looking around the house for me.

Well, so we did not win the Mega Millions lotto this week. I almost don't know if I would want to win this close to our trip. I wouldn't be done freaking out before we left! We bought tickets on Sunday and then discussed what we would do with the money (which is why I waste the $1 in the first place). My fantasies run along the lines of: "Pay someone $5000 a year to take our garbage cans out to the street." and "Buy vacation homes in New Orleans and Italy that our friends can use whenever they want."

Mr. CTK goes off about how he'd like to donate a bunch of money to improve the Oakland school district. OK, now I feel lame. I'm paying someone to take out the garbage, and he's fixing education for children. He is a much better person than I. I said that we could adopt a kindergarten class and promise to pay for college for any of them that want to go, which is nice, but of course only popped into my mind once Mr. CTK shamed me with his far more altruistic money fantasies. :)

I am getting a little stir crazy having no job. My big plans for today are getting my eyebrows waxed and depositing some rebate checks at the bank. Woo hoo. I have semi-purposely been stretching out my errands to give myself something to do. Yesterday the excitement involved buying potting soil and some jelly bellies to eat on the plane. I did watch "Fellowship of the Ring" the other day, so I can watch the other two movies today and tomorrow, which kills about 8 hours, since I have the extra nerdy extended DVD versions. Oh yeah, I have an episode of "Lost" and one of "Sex and the City" on TiVo to watch. Ah, variety, the spice of life.

I understand why rich people with no jobs shop all of the time -- it kills the hours in the day that would otherwise be spent lying on the couch channel surfing.

And, of course, blog reading -- hooray for blogs because they can suck a lot of time in the day.

Sunday (when we leave) is the 8-year anniversary of our first date. Hmmm, Mile High Club? I think I would be too paranoid about getting caught by the flight attendant and getting disapproving stares (though I'm sure they've seen it all). And we'd probably get the same flight attendants on the way home, and they'd refuse us extra water and cheese and crackers because we'd been so naughty.

OK, and how's this for awful? We leave Hanoi at 11:30pm, arrived Seoul at 5:30AM(!) and then don't leave for SFO until 6:00pm at night. So we will have approximately 12 HOURS to kill, coming off of a red eye flight. Ugh! I need to do some research today to see if there is a quick sightseeing jaunt that we could make w/out visas and such to use up some time.

2005-06-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Finally -- a photo of the finished Tempting!

2005-06-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Kyoto Back and Sash

2005-06-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

can't leave Frances out -- fresh from a bath in this photo. I caught her mid-lick & you can just see her tongue.

2005-06-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's the first new camera downloaded picture -- of my cat, naturally.