and the choirs of angels sing!

Okay. Maybe that's a bit over-the-top. But, seriously, I have a thing about sunglasses. I like them big, ridiculous, often blue or green and a good fit to double as a headband. Is that too much to ask?
Well, as you may know, my favorite pair were retired in NH in July and I've been looking for a replacement ever since. The Tall Guy and I were in Annapolis yesterday for a variety of reasons and walked into the Helly Hansen store. (Sailors never walk past Helly Hansen without a peek in, I've learned). So, while there, I look at the sun glass case and find the exact same pair of Spy's that I had lost overboard last summer after only having for about 2 weeks. For most of you, this may not seem like a big deal, but I pretty much did a jump-spin-dance in the middle of the store which only continued when I was told it was the last pair left, so they were 20% off. swwwweeeet!
So, here they are:

Let's see how long they last..I'm cautiously optimistic.
In sock related news, I managed to finish the first of the Spring Forward socks on Thursday night, owing a great deal to about two hours of hanging out with Jessie at Teaism. While eating dinner there, a koi decided to jump in it's little pond and drenched Jessie! It was by far one of the odder things I've seen happen (I've never seen a koi in a pond jump out of the water, but that's just me.
I've paused on the Spring Forwards to start another pair of socks. I'm going to hold on pics until I have a good shot for you, but I'll just say, they're going to be bright!



Is anyone interested in a really cheap dog? Like I'll pay you to take her? Just kidding, mostly, but the Little Monster has been even more nuts than normal this week. While I was with Jessie on Thursday night, Annie managed to catch a mouse in the backyard. The mouse appeared to make it, after the Tall Guy made Annie let the poor thing go. If that wasn't bad enough, yesterday, we saw a R-A-T in our yard. Needless to say, I am not happy. Annie, on the other hand, thinks she's super-dog, so she's taken it upon her herself to do a regular tour of the yard inspecting for creatures. I'm happy to have her doing this, but its definitely causing her to be more amped then normal. Something I didn't think was quite possible. Sigh.

safe landing and socks

First, if I haven't already talked to you, the Tall Guy made it to Mackinac Island in one piece. Whew! I wasn't that worried, but just enough to throw off my sleep for a few nights.
Like I had mentioned in the last post, I've pretty much been all about the socks. Portable, mindless, and really, if they don't fit me, they become a gift for someone else. It's win win. It is, I realize making the blog boring. I'm sorry! I'll work to become more exciting soon.
Here are the finished socks I promised to show you
Details:
Yarn: Yarn Love, Elizabeth Bennett, in the Darling Colorway (Merino, Bamboo and Silk). Its super soft, a bit splitty but reallllllly nice to knit with.
Needle: Size One, circ
Pattern: Basic sock pattern, used the short row heel from Priscilla Gibson-Roberts (this is a great book!)
Notes: Not sure how the yarn will hold up, but it sure is soft. No nylon, not super wash, so while I considered gifting these, I'll likely keep them due to their maintenance. I'm still not-so-good at the short row heel, but I'm gettin' better!

I'll probably have another plain ol' sock on the needles tomorrow...possibly using some of the stash enhancement that is coming in the mail... yahoo!

Annie was depressed yesterday. Between the Tall Guy being out of town, and one of my best girls, Yve being here this weekend and then leaving, she sat like this for quite awhile. What a drama queen.

yawwwwwwwwwn

For such a chill weekend, I'm really having trouble getting my motor running this morning. I have a theory that when you actually relax for more then 2 consecutive hours, it's actually a lot harder to get moving again.
It was a weekend for hanging out, seeing various friends and getting some knitting done.
I finished one pair of socks (which I'll have a photo for later) and am working away on the Spring Forward socks. While a lot of people's goal with Summer of Socks (SOS) is to simply knit a bunch of socks, mine was mainly finished all my languishing second sock syndrome orphans. So far, I've finished two, so I'm looking pretty good.
I also had Afghani food for the first time last night with Jessie. Besides the A/C not working, it was a great dinner and I think I've found a new tasty place here.

In other news, I just got a phone call from the Tall Guy, which was very unexpected (he's in the middle of this race right now on the Dirty Harry). The "girl" in me immediately panicked that something was wrong. Nope. He just wanted me to look at where the boat was in relation to the competition at the moment. He has about 85 NM to go and I'll be a much happier girl when I get the call from Mackinac that he's on shore in one piece.

And, in random thoughts, I just read this article on CNN. Any thoughts? For as casual as I may be appear, only one of my tattoos ever peeks out at work (the one on my foot.). There's no tatto policy here, but I've always thought that I don't want to be thought of as the girl with "xyz tattoo" at work. Just my two cents.

And not a moment too soon!

The hat is done. I just wove in the ends. Let me just say, my hands are killing me! It's quite possibly worse then knitting with cotton, for anyone who understands that ache.
But, here it is.
Its a wonky at the top. I know it is. I know where I messed up and I know I didn't do the decreases correctly. If I ever knit this again, I'll be more careful. BUT. I'm on a hard and fast deadline. The Tall Guy leaves tonight on a flight to Chicago, so he needed the hat done. I'm not even blocking, but I think it will be okay.
Details:
Pattern: Koolhass from Intervweave Knits Holiday Issue
Yarn: Karabella, Aurora 8 Bulky, nearly all of three balls, forest green
Needles: Size 7's and Size 8's.

Annie isn't happy about the Tall Guy leaving again, this time on quite the sailing adventure. If anyone wants details on how to track his boats progress on the 350mile race, he mentions it in a previous post's comments OR just send me an email.

Now that the hat is done, I'll be back to focusing on my Spring Forward Socks. So far, they're pretty cute!!!

a psa and other ramblings

The past few months have seen an increase in coverage about the Nalgene bottle = cancer issue.
I've read a ton about it and made a decision to move away from my beloved Nalgene bottles for the eco- friendly Sigg recently. The cynical part of me is quite certain that in a few years, someone else will come up with a study that sends us scurrying back to plastic and away from aluminum. That said, I also figure that I'm not the best statistic when it comes to cancer (close close family proximity on both sides) so, I'll spend part of my George Bush money check on a new water bottle or two.

That's my new baby (photo). You have to admit the design and prints are way more visually pleasing then a Nalgene as well!

and I hope to pick up another one soon at REI or Moosejaw when we're in Detroit this weekend.

Also, a shout out to EmilyinFrance who posted about this earlier this spring. I'm quite sad that the Hello Kitty Sigg is quite out of stock last I checked...

In other unrelated to knitting news, I just got a text from my step-mom that our wedding invitations went out in the mail today. Guess there's no going back now! (Just kidding Tall Guy!)

As I mentioned, we head to Detroit this weekend for a Tall Guy's family visit, a little soiree' in our honor and world's cutest niece is going to be christened. All in all, it will be an adventure, with car knitting aplenty.

she's a man-eater

I always thought that song was funny. I supose I'm not so much a man eater as I am an ipod eater.

This past month I realized my pretty red ipod

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.

Who cares?

Perhaps just by writing this, I'm perpetuating the issue, but I was just looking at today's free newspaper and can't help but wonder. Why do I care whether or not Brittaney Spears has her drivers licence? Why do I care if she has custody of her two kids? Sure, she was a Pop Singer with minimal talent and a short skirt a few years back, but today, what makes her more important then me? This isn't to say I think I'm hot stuff or anything, its just odd to me that this girl, gets coverage for simply "being" as does Paris, Lindsay and Nicole (no last names needed, right?).

Do Americans not have enough going on in their own lives that we all need to pay attention to people that could care less about us? I'm all for appreciating and perhaps fawning a bit over someone who's work you admire, but can you really tell me there's a lot to admire in the above girls except for maybe their good looks? (Which I question, myself).

I love going to see Ani (She's playing here in November!) and while I can't stand the guy, I understand why some of my bestest friends think Eddie Vedder is amazing. That's okay with me. Its just really hard for me to understand placing people who aren't really going anywhere on a pedestal! Is it because they are are excessive in their lifestyle choices? That they are constantly acting trashy? How many pictures are of these girls are out there sans underpants?? These people aren't even interesting! It just seems really weird to me.

and people say I'm a little weird?

This morning I was on the train sitting next to a guy who was wiping his nose and sweaty brow with a baby bib. it was blue and yellow and there was no question that it was a bib. He looked fairly normal otherwise, so i spent most of the 14 min ride wondering:

1. Did he grab a bib instead of his handkerchief?
2. If he did, I wonder if there's a reason to wipe ones nose with a bib over a tissue?
3. Did he realize as he was sitting next to me that it was indeed a bib?
4. I wonder if he has a baby?
5. And... I hope he puts it away before he gets to work.

For as many negative things that I'm apt to say about DC on any given day, I am certainly never lacking in entertainment.

Last night I had dinner with Peej, which isn't abnormal, but it was her last night in DC as she is currently driving to Ohio. Another one bites the dust and departs the area. I should be used to this by now, but it always sucks to be the one left behind in DC. At the same time, I have no grand plan to go anywhere else at the moment, so its not the end of the world.

And, in knitting news... I finished the Broadripple socks, and as soon as they are dry from blocking, I'll take a picture. They're a holiday gift, so one more of those down! I just turned the heel on the What's Up 1972 socks last night as well, so they'll be done before the end of the week. You'll get another "FO" post soon:) In the meantime, I'm casting on for more holiday gifts and trying to find a pattern for a hat using sock/dk/sport weight yarn. The tall guy wants a thin hat, about (what he said) the weight and texture of his socks. I'm sure I can work out a pattern on my own, but would be happy to look at what you may have.

Go Bucks!

Hello Hello!
Before I say anything, let's have a moment of silence and gratitude and a big sigh of relief. Yes, my Red Sox are in the playoffs!!!! Yay! I guess I don't talk too much about the Sox in general, as they are just a part of my life and its an assumption that I follow the scores, etc. But, I did wipe my brow in relief that they didn't totally botch the end of the season.
Okay, now... I have made it back from the Heartland in one piece. Columbus, as always was a fantastic time. Great people, a rough game of P.I.G. (I hadn't shot a basketball in 10+ years and you could tell), great food and lots and lots of fun. I have no idea at this point, why I was posing with a sombrero on my head, but it seemed like a great idea at the time.
There is a ton of knitting to talk about (um, 6+ hours in a car each way AND I didn't have to drive?!?!), but I don't have time to upload all the pics at this moment, so that will follow later. Hopefully, today.
When we drove into Columbus on Friday, the Tall Guy took me to The Knitters Mercantile. If you pay attention to the knitting world, you may know that they sponsored/pulled together Knitters Connection this past spring where Lime and Violet broadcasted live. Well, what a store. I picked up a hank of Jitterbug in "Popsicle" (whats up 1972), some rosewood dpns and met all the women that work there. The Tall Guy wandered the shop like a pro and was picking out the various yarn he knew. It was all pretty entertaining and added a "check mark" to the pros list for Columbus.

In another check mark, if you're ever in Columbus, you must get ice cream from Jeni's. I had the Salty Caramel and the Butterscotch with Cocoa nibs and the Tall Guy had the Honey Vanilla Bean. Let's just say I'm actually exploring the option of having this shipped to me. It was that good.

When we got home from Ohio last night and I checked my email, I discovered that the girl I had sold my yarn to last week had written me to say thanks (how sweet!!) and to invite me to a knitting group that's just getting started at Tryst on Tuesday nights. That place is like...my home away from home, so how cool is that? So, I guess when you start telling everyone that you want to be friends that sometimes, friends start actually happening! Yay.
I'll try and post more pics this evening, I now have a few FO's to show off! Yippee!

one is silver and the other is gold

When did making friends become such a chore?
I love I mean LOVE my friends. Every single one of the people who really know me in the world (you know who you are) are the most amazing people in the world. They accept me for who I am, I never have to edit around them (sorry, Em for dropping the F-Bomb in that voicemail the other day...this crazy lady nearly ran me over in a cross walk while turning right on red when she shouldn't have AND then had the nerve to beep at ME).
Anyway, I'm not going to get all gushy about the friends I have, the ones that all live too far away (um, hello, can you all STOP moving to the west coast, or upstate new york or going back to boston, going to ohio or moving to atlanta?) see me cry just about every time they leave and the ones I have here, I'm just sad about how hard it is to hang out. Most of us live in different parts of the city and it seems like a chore to have to make a plan everytime you just want to sit on the couch and chill with them! This weekend the Tall Guy and I spent quite a bit of time wondering if this is how life is? Do you find the person you're going to spend some time with (For some that's a Spouse etc etc) and then you spend the rest of your time making fixed plans with people that involves having to plan a party or meet them somewhere for drinks/dinner confirming a week in advance? I miss the days of just "hey, come over and hang out". That means I can knit, we can chat. We can drink and heck, a six pack of just about anything is cheaper then us meeting somewhere and me not being able to hear you because the music is too loud and annoying and you not being able to hear me because I have a pipsqueak of a voice.
So, I'm about done, but what I'm saying is I miss the olden days of us all being too poor to go out (which alot of still seem to be as we scrimp and save to do other others in life) and hanging out in a living room without a grand plan and just enjoying each others company was okay. Let's bring it back. Or, if you want to be my friend, the Tall Guy is probably happy to share me, he doesn't have the love of all things fibery that I do. On the flip side, if you're a girl and your man sails or likes to mountain bike, this could be a two for one special!

PS. Does anyone know how you get fruitflies if you don't have food around? My office seems to have a few flying around me and I have zero food in here right now. Its driving me nuts!

And the fun never stops

Hello hello! So, the Comcast drama continues and is the process of ending.. I haven't been able to do much in terms of interneting in my house recently, so that said, you have no pretty pictures at this juncture.
The full drama of my sudden loss of internet is one that has been drawn out over the last three weeks or so. Needless to say, the end result is that my wiring was jerry-rigged at some point (or is it gerry-rigged? I have no idea) and so when my new neighbors moved in downstairs, adding cable to their house (the nice old woman downstairs must not have had cable) both of our internets/cable would not work at the same time! (My new neighbors have been pretty nice about all this, but at the moment, they have cable and I don't, so I'm forced to not REALLY like them. I was here first! Anyway, it was discovered (after 5 Comcast visits) that there is splitter on the connection and my cable was just being run up through the floor instead of being its own "Home Run" line (according to Juan the cable guy). So, in order to get this all fixed it involves lots of wiring, potential drilling and a whole lot of drama I don't really feel like dealing with.
I think tonight, I'll be calling and canceling Comcast once and for all and looking into other internet options. I'm a bit of a speed snob now, though so I'm not really jazzed about DSL, but given that I'm not sure if I'll be in this house for another six months or six years, I really don't feel like dealing with Comcast anymore.
Whew.
So, I have knitting to show you. Lots of it. I've been busy! People are popping out babies left and right! But, I don't have any pictures to show you, except the one of a sweater I'm going to knit. I've decided my first sweater was boring and I found this pattern and its called wicked and has a cute pocket. Better yet, its all knit in one piece. No sewing for this girl!
Hopefully I'll be able to borrow someone's internet in the next day or so and give you updates.
I really don't suck, its just been a crazy few weeks.
In the midst of the internet drama I was:
-In Oklahoma for a few nights (yuck).
-Had My HLP visit for 5 days (awesome)
and we went to Dewey Beach for two of those days (hmmm. love the company, the locale is questionable).
- Quit my yoga job, but kept one night a week as a Studio Assistant (that's another whole set of drama, but we'll leave that one alone in the name of Good Karma)
I'm hoping that the fall will bring a better sense of normalcy to my life as my body is requesting a better schedule, better food and more yoga.

Here's the sweater I'm going to knit using the green yarn I started my first sweater with back in the spring.

Another random thought

I guess I'm on a roll this week. Its just one of "those" weeks that is a totally hectic work week sandwiched between two weeks (more or less) out of the office. Apparently its making me more "all over the map" then normal. Erica arrives a week from today and then when she flies out, I fly to Oklahoma City (it just took three tries to spell OK right) for a few days of work. Whoooeeee, another midwest town I will be able to check off. If anyone knows of any "can't miss things" there, please let me know. I'm staying in Bricktown at the Sheraton and that's about all I've figured out.

So, on to the actual random thought plaguing me tonight. I just ate dinner at Teaism after Yoga. I love Teaism and thank TD for introducing me to the Ginger Limeade there, its amazing. Anyway, I go there mostly for the al a' carte tofu. I know how to cook tofu, I've dated and lived with my share of vegetarians and vegans. Sure, I like a cheeseburger, but my fried tofu with peanut sauce is pretty tasty, according to the Tall Guy (who's not a veggie). That said, I cannot for the life of me figure out this tofu. Its cold, its realllllly firm and the texture is amazing. They just slice it, dump some soy sauce, minced ginger and scallions on it and call it a day. Is there a special tofu out there that I can slice and do this to? Anyone?

I promise to give you pictures soon, I know blogs w/out pics are no fun. Hopefully by the time I post, my first Broadripple sock will be done.

A few points of note

hello hello!
This week I've had a few funny things happen in HR world that made me want to write them down. I wish I had. As I search my brain for what I was going to say, take a moment (even you non knitters) and read the Yarn Harlot's entry today. I was just laughing so hard, I had to hold my side.
Oh yes!
First. I love a good perfume or cologne. Long after a person has exited my memory, a whiff of their perfume will bring me right back to them. Chanel 5 will always be my Mom, while oddly enough Chanel Allure brings me right back to mid-college when I wore it. Anyway, what never fails to confuse me are the people that wear SO much of a scent that I can smell them before they even round the corner into my office. Yesterday, the peak of this was reached when I walked onto an elevator only to know that while I didn't see him or hear him anywhere, I could tell you who had been on this lift within the last 5 minutes. How do you tell someone you don't actually know more then to take a piece of paper from or hand a piece of paper to that you can recognize where they've been by their insane overuse of their cologne of choice? I can only imagine that he must own the body wash, deodorant, cologne and perhaps room freshener.

One more comment as your friendly HR girl. I know job postings can be scary. I know its my job to help you. I love helping. But, for the love of pete, please read what it says in the vacancy before you call me! I end up feeling bad saying to a person "Sure, you apply by sending your information to the address in the "How to Apply" section (typically people have the vacancy up on their computer when they call me, that's how they get my number). Most people don't hear the sarcasm in my voice when they follow with "Can I email it"? and I say "Sure, see where it says Email applications to:"?

And, no picture today, but for tomorrow... A FINISHED Jaywalker!!!!
Yay!

Sometimes I get distracted

I think the main downfall of knitting as a hobby is that I can't multi-task it with some of my other favorite hobbies. You can't knit and do yoga at the same time. You can't easily read and knit. (I know some knitters do, I just can't seem to manage it...) And you can't read and do yoga... you get the idea. This means that sometimes my knitting languishes for a few days while I get sucked into a book. In the past...hmm. I would say 36 hours I just read a book cover to cover that I was totally sucked into. Water for Elephants was great and I stayed up way past my bedtime reading it.
Good stuff.
Hopefully the jaywalkers will get some more attention paid to them.
Pray for sun tomorrow, my yoga studio is having its 3 year anniversary party complete with an outdoor yoga class (!) and a bbq which I'm baking macaroons for and prepping bbq tofu. Yay for summer!!!!

I wouldn't eat this

if I were you...

Its a "Neapolitan" Hershey kiss. I don't know what possessed me to buy a bag of them for my desk.

They are supposed to be vanilla/chocolate/strawberry, but all I can taste is Strawberry Quik. Yuck!

I just started casting off the first of the giant socks today on the train. I'll post a pic when its off!