Knitting Wizard
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Survival!
I survived Annapolis and spent some time in a cute little yarn shop called The Yarn Garden. Majorly easy to find, although it turns out my boss spends a lot of time in that shopping mall (it's a strip mall) at Boston Market and never knew it was there. Let's see, it's only kitty corner in a different building on the second floor. I told him, however, that that's how it works sometimes. You don't notice a yarn store unless you're interested in one.
Checking in
Note to self: get batteries! Because I really do want to take pictures of Lisette to show off here, I really do.
However, today (and yesterday and the day before) either work or allergy intervened. Okay, so there was also happy hour Friday night too. But, anyway, I haven't touched Lisette since Wednesday night so I'm still barely started on her collar, but I have been eyeing her poor way-too-tight back and thinking that I really should yank the needle out and rip that hummer back. That's progress, right?
And lest you think I've been completely unfaithful to poor Lisette, the only other knitting I've done has been to knit a swatch in preparation for a sweater for my long-suffering (and utterly adorable) husband.
Okay, enough writing, back to snap for 30 minutes before grabbing clothes and running out the door to be in Annapolis by 8:30 a.m. (on a Saturday!!!).
Sunday, August 22, 2004
It's fixed!!!
The 3.0mm did it! Lisette's gauge problems are fixed! Kristine is all happy now!
On the other hand, I really like the fabric that I was making with the 2.75mm needle much better than the 3.0mm fabric. How broken is that?
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Bad Influence
And that would be our Phyl-Phyl.
Phyl-Phyl has gauge issues. She's so tight her knitting squeaks. Previously she influenced our Kristine and Kristine had to go up to 9's to get gauge when she would usually need a 8. Now she's done it to me. I swear my gauge was spot on when I measured it. Now, I have 8 sts/inch (instead of 7) using my size 2's and the 4-ply soft. When I use my 3's, I get about 5.5 sts/inch. (Yes, it really is a 2.5 st/inch difference.) I'm thinking that if I hang around Phyl-Phyl enough, my 3's may go down to 7 sts/inch. So, I'm hoping that I can get a 3mm needle tomorrow or else Lisette is going to have to go on hold. Unless, of course, I make the smaller size, knowing that it'll balance out (she hopes and prays).
As for other things, some people know that I've been having a very itchy week. I'm not as itchy now and I'd like to note for the record that I am sick and tired of having allergic reactions to medication that I'm taking. Very sick and very tired. And Benadryl is NOT my friend any longer.
Oh, yeah, and if you were watching WJLA News Friday night around 5:45 and saw the weather report outside WJLA headquarters in Rosslyn, you may have seen me. I walked behind the weather guy in my red dress (yes, I know you were all looking for me) and it's quite possible that I made it onto TV since the weather guy was doing weather guy things. And what was I doing in Rosslyn at that obscene hour on a Friday? Working, chicklets, working.
And that's why they pay me the medium-sized bucks.
P.S. I've now edited this entry four times to get it right. I'm sure that that's also Phyl-Phyl's fault.
P.P.S. I've now also been named the Supreme Goddess of the Joe Gibbs Worship and Adoration Society. Some days it's just tough being me.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Four-ply is your friend
Yes, it is. So are teensy needles. Really.
I've started Lisette and I'm really grooving on the four-ply thing. Darned good thing my arthritis is in my knees and not in my hands. The color is not my thing. I've have preferred something brighter or deeper (but Grace usurped my wineness). I think my color is Whisper and I'm in lust with the merino wool, so there you go. Four-ply soft is my future.
Maybe I could hire myself out as a four-ply specialist.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Our Soldiers
He's home now, but others aren't, so today's post is for him (and them). I present my wonderful stepson and the light of his father's, his mother's and my life, Neil.
Saturday, August 14, 2004
It's Saturday!!
This is so amazing. It's Annual Close time of year and I've had 3-4 consecutive weekends OFF work. I'm ready to fall over from the shock.
I've also broken into my yummy wine-colored silk alpaca. I decided since I bought it because I needed something to sit and pet that it would turn into fingerless-gloves/wrist warmers. So I'm off on size 8 dpns and rib stitch and I'll just keep going until I either run out of yarn or I get tired of knitting them.
I'm thinking it'll be the latter rather than the former.
Off to either make or drag my husband off to breakfast (making would be healthier) and then back to knitting. I'll be at the Clubhouse this afternoon.
Amusing note about the suspended co-worker. Apparently, he told people he didn't know he wasn't supposed to come into work Friday. Why am I not surprised? Maybe because I've thought for sometime that the 60s were very good to him.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Oh my God
I suffer from anxiety. Closed doors at work make me very anxious. We had multiple hours of closed doors at work today and I'm semi-hysterical now. So, what did I do? I stopped at Knit Happens tonight and visited with Holly while I petted my new Alchemy Yarns Japanese Lantern and Debbie Bliss Silk Alpaca. Whenever you feel anxious, spend money.
Then I stopped at the drugstore and picked up my anti-anxiety medication which I really need because right now, my shoulders hurt so badly they're barely moving.
And the rain on the way home did not help, but the Orioles are winning right now and that helps somewhat.
So what was with the closed doors? One of the contractors was caught making large amounts of calls on a government-owned cell phone. So you think that's bad? Not even close. Another contractor was caught with porn on his computer. And you think that's bad? Gets better. This one also had hacker software on his computer and games on CDs at his desk. How did they catch him? The CDs had viruses on them.
Both contractors work for my contracting company. The horrible part? As they explained that it was bad timing going into annual close to lose porn guy, my thought was, "Why? It's not like we'll miss him." Because, honestly, we won't. He doesn't do anything anyway except occupy a cubicle.
I hate closed doors. They make me anxious. On the other hand, I work for a woman who knows all about me and anxiety. And she kept squeezing my shoulder in reassurance. I tell ya, I'm the calmest anxious person you've ever met.
And, yes, Phyl-Phyl, you are definitely a usual suspect. And I refuse to buy a Fry Daddy unless we're going to make Hush Puppies. With large amounts of butter.
Just Because
Kim Salazar (of Wiseneedle fame, check it out and please add to the yarn reviews) has pictures of the most beautiful filet crochet on her blog. They are just awe-inspiring.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Late night Wednesday
So tonight was late night Wednesday at Knit Happens. And all the usual suspects were there, plus a few unusual ones.
So Holly was there, and Wendy was there and apparently, Rossana and Erika have done their job and I'm now the sock guru, along with anything else I may do. However, I do have a caveat. If you aren't going to work on DPNs, I will not help with socks because two circulars are a sacrilege. If you don't believe me, ask Wendy.
While you're here reading this, let me say this just once because I'm tired of reading about the virii on Xnitu.
DON'T OPEN ATTACHMENTS!!! You don't have to spring for virus protection as long as you don't open attachments from people you don't know/don't expect. I never open attachments; there's no point in sending me any because I just delete them (and, yes, I do have virus protection along with my firewall). We techies have been telling the non-techies for years: if you don't want a virus, don't open the attachment. Good heavens, just delete any e-mails with attachments and then you really don't have to worry about it. Why is this so darned difficult a concept to master? Obviously, I'm just missing something.
BTW, did not buy the Fry Daddy. Just could not go there, but my mom owned one and used it regularly and she wasn't even from the South (Phyl-Phyl, please note the use of the Capital S).
Monday, August 09, 2004
Synchronicity
For those who are aware of the conversation, I just went to my Gold Box offers and the first one was a Fry Daddy.
Reasonability
What is reasonable? Is my idea of reasonable acceptable? Is my idea of reasonable impatience personified? (Yes, I'm going somewhere with this.) I am a member of a certain kit o' the month club, which shall remain nameless until such time as I decide I've been reasonable. My card de credit was charged for said kit o' the month of July 21, but said kit has not yet arrived. I'm thinking 19 days is beyond reasonable, but (brace yourself here) I don't want to be unreasonable. I don't want to complain too quickly and I don't want to publish the name of said kit provider until such time as I feel I've been reasonable. Now, I sent an e-mail to said provider on August 5 and have not heard back. So I ordered a color card today and complained in the shipping comments. Something along the lines of "where's my damned kit?"
I think I've been reasonable.
Your mileage may vary.
I've also discovered I despise complaining.
Working on Garnet from Elsebeth Lavold's Designer's Choice II. Like the cotton patine. Hate that the dye is wearing off on my fingers. My goal for tonight is to get past the armhole bind-off.
I now have teal (sea holly for those who want the specific color) fingernails.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Okay, fixed the template. Like this MUCH better. It's so much more me.
Now I just have to work on pictures (can we say batteries) and finding consistent things to say and so on and so forth.
You know, I've discovered that I'm just not sure about this knitting wizard thing (yes, Kristine, it's true). I'm great with people I like and I'm crappy with people I don't like. I'm horrible with people I don't like. I'm beyond horrible. (Ask the waste of space I work with if you don't believe me.) I keep telling myself that I can learn and that I can acquire good karma this way. I don't think I'm believing it, though. I'm going to take way too much pleasure in telling someone I don't like that she has to rip out 20+ rows because she screwed it up. And I do mean WAY too much pleasure.
So, do I really have enough to say to support a blog? And am I capable of saying it well? Ummm, I kind of doubt it, but Holly and Rosanna and Erika all talked me into it this afternoon at the table and now they'd better read me as if their lives depend on it because, well, they might. Yeah, I'm tough. I'm mean. I can back it up.
Okay, I'm off (but y'all already knew that). Gotta wake up der husband and check his blood sugar because I fret about these things. I'm very good at fretting; it's one of those things I've perfected to a science.
Okay, here goes my first post.
Okay, there went my first post.
