but if you want to see all the pics of what happened, go here. 
Same pattern and yarn as above, but in hot pink... This one was for my friend Monica, as part of a small Gift Exchange we do every year.
More to come soon.
So, tomorrow, Annie and I pack up and hit the road back to DC. Anyone want to drive me so I can work on this sock I just started? Grandpa got me a bunch of Socks that Rock for Christmas and I'm trying out the Magic Loop way of knitting socks...
While I don't think all my gifts are going to fit the bill, I think its fair to say a large number of them are. I love this movement, it makes so much sense to me. Isn't Christmas about giving from the heart and not about the biggest, shiniest, most technologically advanced thing out there? Maybe that's just me.
(Photo is courtesy of knitty.com and saved to my server. )Photos after Christmas people!
Week- end re-cap...
This is going to be a little all over the place...
I spent the better part of the day yesterday reviewing applications. Let me tell you. Its not glamorous. That said, I was reading one and at the end of the cover letter, in the closing it says: "God Bless You". I'm having trouble verbalizing why this is so bothersome to me, but it is.
I'm a little nervous. I'm 90% through the Harlots hat in baby alpaca and seem to get a headache everytime I knit more then 10 minutes. Am I allergic? Oh lord. I hope not!!!!
What's important to you in the Nation's next president? The Tall Guy and I have had a number of heated debates on who the next leader of the US will be and/or why??? I'm not sure, but I'm curious what people are thinking right now.
Knitting this weekend? Well. I'm trying to finish that hat. I'll take a photo when its done. If I do appear allergic, it will go to my sis. I'm also working on the Tall Guy's Mom's gift (the blue mohair from the other day). She's a knitter, so I think it will be good.
If you can't tell, I'm a bit of a knitting schizophrenic (brooklyn tweed quote ) right now. There's just so much I want/need to finish but, am sort of spinning my wheels on what needs to happen when, with holiday timing, when I'll be seeing people etc.
Whew. Pictures soon. Wish me luck!
I've had my cell phone for two years.
For some, that's just a normal statement. For you all, I would like you to pause for a moment and congratulate me. I repeat.... I've had my cell phone for two years! Okay, that said. Its sort of like not having a cell phone right now, because the battery is lasting about 5 minutes before it starts to beep at me. Meaning, I'm starting to carry my charger with me everywhere as well. The keys only work sometimes. Voicemails show up days later. It goes to vibrate on its own (or worse, comes off of silent or vibrate on its own). But, it STILL works. Kind of.
Okay, I know I need a new phone. The pink razr is done. My best friend is telling me she's buying me a gift card to Verizon for Christmas (which I think is hilarious) I'm trying to make it through Christmas though and I'm still debating whether I want Verizon another two years. There's no reason not to have them, but that Iphone is so cute! Okay, I'll have Verizon another two years. I mean, it only makes sense. My cell-phone-talking-world consists of either Verizon customers or Sprint customers and I'm not going back to Sprint. Why is this so hard? Cell phone companies are the pits, I think. So, let's see if the little pink phone and I can make it to December 26. My Dad seems to think there will be sales after Christmas. In the meantime, don't take it personally if I'm not talking on the phone that much, its just been a bit of a challenge lately.
And, onto knitting news. I cast on for the Yarn Harlot's unoriginal hat last night in this sweet baby alpaca from Cascade. (Colour 562) Because I'm using a smaller needle size, I think I'm going to pull the whole thing out and add a cable repeat. It's another holiday gift, surprise surprise:) It appears right now like it would fit an 8yr old and I don't know any 8yr old's that I'm knitting for!
The sweater is all cast off and the pocket needs to be tacked on. I think, however that I'm going to undo the bind off at the bottom and knit a few more rounds...its the sweater, people, that will not end.
The Tall Guy said the other night that my hands must be really strong now, and I hadn't really thought about it, but I wonder if knitters hands are physically stronger then your average person?
Now, the beginning of this guy may look familar... yes, same pattern as above, but a different color. This is one of those projects that looks much harder then it is. Therefore, its a great gift-giving item.
This is a 75% complete sock. Its on pause at the moment, but will pick back up soon. I love love love this yarn. Its Socks that Rock, Silkie. And its YUMMY to knit. So yummy...sigh. 
And finally. Last night, I had some time to kill when I was at the Yoga studio, so I wandered into the used book store that's right next door. I picked up a copy of Knitting in Plain English for 5 bucks! Yay for Used Book Stores!!!!
There. Are you happy? No sweater yet, but its coming. I swear.
On Saturday night, the Tall Guy and I decided to venture out to a last minute show on the GW campus. Neither of us had actually been to a concert in forever... we thought the show was sold out, but when we got to the venue, I walked in to make sure there were no tickets left and what-do-you-know! We scored 9th row, center seats to Tegan and Sara ! So, 5 minutes before the show started, we were hooked up with face-value tickets.
Now, I'm not sure if you know these girls, but I personally...LOVE THEM. I've listened to them for ages and didn't even know they were in town until the Tall Guy told me! How can you not love cute identical twins from Canada who write and sing all their own music? The fan base appeared to be predominately female of an Ani-like disposition, so it made for some excellent people watching. We did leave the show a bit early (during the encore) which I felt a bit lame about, but for whatever reason, I started to get incredibly light headed and I feared passing out right in the auditorium. What can I say, sometimes I'm a wuss..
Knitting also happened this weekend and I'll post pics quick as can be... some is still being held back for gift-giving, but I hope to have a sweater to show soon!
Happy Monday!
was only working in mono, not stereo (aka, only out of one ear bud). If you squeezed it or pushed it just right it would work, but only if it felt like it.
Last night, the Tall Guy and I took a field trip to the Apple Store and what-do-you-know, because this ipod is within its first year of life, they are replacing it, no questions asked. That's what I call a pretty good deal.
That said, the new Ipod coming to me today or Monday (they were out of stock of my particular model) will be my Fifth ipod in three years. (though only two were actually purchased). The Tall Guy had managed to break the Shuffle I got him last year for Christmas, so he also go his replaced last night and that makes the new shuffle his fourth in as many years.
Kind of crazy, if you ask me.
Yes, he does have a "peg leg" and yes, I did embroider tattoos on both of his arms. There were no details left undone for this pirate, it was going to my bestest friend!
Obviously, I already think he's awesome, even though we haven't met yet. I can't wait for the holidays, when Ben (oh yeah, and his parents...) come back to the states for a visit. And, fine, I know, I know I'm getting close to 30, but I'm still getting used to the idea that my friends are having babies. It's weird, okay?
Okay. I really try to be the one that isn't always complaining. You never want to be "that person" because people don't want to be around you and well. Well, that just stinks now, doesn't it?
That said, I guess I don't have that much to complain about today, but I will do a little bit of bitching and moaning.
First. My direct supervisor is leaving my Agency as of tomorrow. This means, that as of tomorrow, my little branch of people within a greater organization will have lost 3 full time employees, leaving four of us to do 7 people's jobs. Two other groups I work with daily are also down staff, so its only compounding the situation. Only one, my supervisor is slated to be back filled, meaning that we're still down two people. This sucks for a variety of obvious reasons, but the worst in my mind is how much I feel like I'm apologizing to my customers. I only have so many hours to do so much and more and more of that is becoming the minimum by which we can continue to get by. I'm sure this will pass and we're certainly keeping things moving and people are getting paid, but it still gives me an upset stomach.
Second. I can't find my camera to post some photos of my newest projects and Erica's pirate. I know the camera is in one of three bags, I just haven't had the time to pull the bags apart, pull out the camera, upload etc. I'll get to it. Also, along this thread is that I haven't had the time to sit down and figure out what my new internet service should be. Anyone in the DC area reading, if you have a suggestion that isn't Suckcast (Comcast), I'm open. (On a side note, Suckcast did just send me a check for $30.00 for the days I had no internet though I had paid for it!)
Third. Hmm. I can't remember what was third. Oh! Yoga. Sigh. Life has been so chaotic that I had quit the working part and was just "work-trading" one night a week at the studio. Lately, though, its been that I'm only having time to work and not trade. I'm hoping this gets better and I was considering leaving the studio so I could get back on the mat, but the studio is short staffed at the moment, and I really feel bad about that. We'll see. I've been with them for so long, I feel bad just leaving all together.
Fourth. I need to book a plane ticket home. Every time I go to do it, the prices change again. I can't decide when I should suck it up and book. Also, if you're someone I may see while I'm home, can you give me a window of when you're home? I'm trying to make it the most bang for my buck, so-to-speak.
And finally. Well. I'm not sure what else I have to bitch about. I think I'm done. That said, this weekend is looking like three days of chillin', knittin', going to NoVa to see my family w/the Tall Guy for dinner and umm. A whole lot of house cleaning, not stressing and the like. Let's see if that will put me in better spirits.
EDIT: How could I forget? The reason why I was posting this to complain in the first place! Yesterday, while I was moving my RPM socks from one bag to another, I discovered one of the needles had snapped. I'm only using four out of five for this pattern, but will obviously need the 5th at some point. Anyway. They're size 1.5, I think ebony (maybe rosewood, but I think ebony) and I bought them in Ohio. I thought they were Latern Moon, but when I talked to the girl there (she was super super nice via email) she told me that they don't make 1.5's. So, I've emailed the store in Ohio to see if they can tell me what needles I bought (because I'm dumb and can't remember) in hopes that I can get a new one sent to me. Keep your fingers crossed, these little guys are not cheap!
I have shoes (I couldn't bear to wear silver strappy shoes...). It appears we're good to go. Yay!
I'm pretty much on target right now for Holiday knitting while also promising myself to stay true to actually liking what I'm knitting and not just turning myself into a one person sweatshop operation!
I was the assistant and pumpkin seed toaster and Red Sox watcher. The tall guy was the talent in this years pumpkin carving. I, for one, am impressed.
As we speak, the tall guy and I are carving the monster pumpkin we got while at corn maze last weekend. I'll show it off tomorrow.
Good Monday morning to you all... it was a busy, crazy weekend, but the outcomes were all positive.
I'm happy to be wearing my Sox tee in the picture taken yesterday (I'll explain the pic in a minute)...it was with a hop in my step that I told my boss that this Monday was better then most...my Sox are in the World Series for the second time in four years!!!! I can only express my sadness that I won't be getting in the car and driving up to watch the game with some of my best friends who have moved back to Boston from DC since the last time the Sox made it this far... instead I'll be in training and then heading to San Diego next Wednesday for a wedding. boo.
That said. Yes, that's me and two alpacas in the photo. Yesterday was the Fall Farm Extravaganza (as we called it). We left the house in the morning and didn't get back until about 7pm. Driving north out of DC, we went to a ferry that crosses the Potomac north of Great Falls. It was pretty funny, but cool nonetheless. I'm pretty sure I could have waded across this part of the river.
From the ferry, we went apple picking and then on to an Alpaca Farm. There, I purchase 4oz of Sport Weight, Handspun that came from the Alpaca in the photo. There was a lot of nonsense going on w/those two alpacas and if I can get my hands on the video we took of it I'll post.
After the Alpaca farm, we were all hungry so we went to a German Beir Garden (yes, in Virginia) and had a bratwurst and a beer. It wasn't that amazing, but it was an beautiful day, so we all sat outside and enjoyed the weather.
Down the street was a winery that had live music, so we swung in there for a tasting. The building was gorgeous, the music was funny (old guys singing Elvis with a banjo?) the wine, not that great and the woman doing the tasting for us? weird to say the least.
After the wine, we all piled back into the cars and did the longest leg of the day... to the corn maze. I had never even seen a corn maze. What a weird, but fun concept! We had a blast trying to figure out a way through it, and getting lost and found again. Granted, the Tall Guy could see right over a lot of the stalks, but well, me. I couldn't.
Overall, it was the perfect fall adventure. If you want to see more pics from the day, go here
Now, I'm afraid that some of my knitting for the next few months will not be displayed on here as they will be gifts... I'll do what I can to keep up, though!!!
Storm Moon Knits, a Local Indie Dyer who I'd been hearing about via Ravelry. I had been obsessing recently over knitting a pair of punk rock black and pink socks. I don't know why, but its true. So, look what I found! How awesome. Colorway, Pretty In Pink and also has great yardage (over 400 yards)
I couldn't resist winding this up and starting before I got to take a picture. So, here we have, Socks that Rock in Rocktober. Its a toe up sock for me.
Completely unrelated to Stitches, Mkick was in town last week and we went to Takoma Park. One of the stores there carries Malabrigo. I couldn't resist...
Here are the What's Up 1972 socks completed. As you can see, there's a pretty big color change on the right foot. I had some issues with this yarn with a number of knots (Jitterbug), but have talked to the US Distributor and they'll be replacing it for me. How great is that?
