Jordana Paige and Sockshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

2 posts in one day! Allison asked what I thought of my Jordana Paige bag, so I thought I'd take some pictures and review it a little.

I've only used it a couple of times, because my main WIPs now have been socks or little projects. The front pocket works well for crochet hooks, dpns, or stitch holders.
The inside has quite a bit of room - I've managed to fit my Lady Eleanor and 4 balls of sock yarn in there, plus a Clapotis with no problem.
It comes with the little detachable pouch, which is nice for darning needles, needle holders, row counters, and any other little gadgets you may have to store.
It's also got these loops, which I assume are for holding needles. The loops on either end of the bag I use to feed yarn through when I'm knitting from the bag.
All in all, I'm quite pleased with it. I can't disguise it as a purse, because it's larger than any of the purses I carry - but it's great for a knitting tote.

As for WIPs, the "manly" socks I mentioned before. The pattern is Garter Stitch Rib, from Sensational Knitted Socks (a title my boyfriend and his housemates found amusing, especially when I told them there was a 2nd book). They're going along fairly well, though I'm pretty sure they won't be done by the mid-June deadline....


And finally, after my post earlier today about being antisocial and unsure what I wanted in this time, a package arrived from Teresa. I thought it was my prize for winning her contest, but realized the box was a little large for a single skein of sock yarn (I'm a natural blond people, give me time)
A blanket, made by friends from SnB and beyond (if I'm reading the accompanying chart correctly). So ignore my earlier post about not hearing from people and all that. You guys are wonderful, and you made me cry - so there. Thanks very much, I'm really touched.

{insert creative title here}

Ah, how is it only Tuesday? The weeks seem to drag and fly by at the same time. It's been 4 weeks today since my brother jumped. In the interim, I've been hit by all sorts of emotions. Sadness, depression, anger. It's like PMS, but a thousand times worse :) I spent that last few weeks commuting from my boyfriend's place in Santa Barbara so I wouldn't have to be alone. No one really knows how to deal with death - after the initial flood of emails sending condolences, contact died down. Everyone is hesitant to bother you too much, to call, to email. No one knows what you want. (I should be careful to state here that I understand that feeling and am not offended, lest you think I'm pissed at everyone. I myself haven't known what to say when my friends had parents, family, or close friends die. And even now I wouldn't know what to say or do that would help)

To be honest, I don't either :) I have turned down a few offers of company after those first two weeks and have secluded myself in Santa Barbara where I have the option of doing my own thing amidst others. To avoid the awkward, "So, um, your brother killed himself - how are you?" I don't really know what I want, and I think that frustrates me the most.

Look at my list of WIPs - indecision abounds :)

But, honestly, I'm doing ok. I figure this is what I need to do right now, and that it'll get easier to hang out with people again and to talk and laugh and all those normal things. And one day, I'll stop reading into song lyrics. Because seriously, the world just not revolve around me.

Only very close to me.

Knitting continues - socks galore. My aim is to start finishing things at a rate faster than I start them. This could be tricky :) I'm also debating whether or not to photography my stash for Ravelry - it almost seems embarrassing to think of how much yarn I own.

Good thing I have renters' insurance!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Summer Knitting Goals

I am a huge fan of lists. This is probably why I have a "hard copy" planner in addition to my PDA from work and why I document everything I feel I need to do in both places (sometimes I love MS Outlook. Until it flips out on me - then my love is diminished)

So when I saw the Summer Knitting Goals on Dim Sum Knitting, well, I had to join in. Extra motivation because there is a contest, hosted by Skeins Her Way in this post. Head over and sign up, and be sure to let her know you jumped from my blog if you do.

So, without further ado, my summer knitting goals:

1. Finish Wicker and the Hourglass Sweater - the 2 languishing sweaters I've started. I know it's summer and I should knit summery things, but these 2 need to get finished.
2. Make another Razor Cami. I have some Rowan Wool Cotton and some Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton (BSK, how I love your sale) that could be used, it's just a matter of choosing.
3. Finish all those socks that are taking up my dpns - Trekking, knee socks, manly socks, Jaywalkers...I'm probably forgetting a few. Since I joined Summer of Socks, this is pretty appropriate.
4. This may be overshooting my abilities - the mitered blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. We shall see....

Knitting content

The last few weeks, in addition to bringing a ton of emotion and change, have also been full of alot of knitting. I started another Lady E shawl, as a sort of meditative/prayer shawl for my first visit up here (I'm back in Napa for the weekend). I started another Clapotis from STR in Lucy, after seeing the Clapotis Teresa knit in a weekend (the gift of the Clapotis she made for me sort of slowed down my progress). Some baby gifts have been made, and two Black Sheep Knittery visits have completely decimated my resolution of being on a stash diet.

This is the point where I say rules are made to be broken.

I did take pictures of most of these things, and left my camera at home. So I'll have to ask you to imagine all of this for the time being :)

Aside from knitting, I'm doing alright. I believe this stage may be denial, anger, or something. People tell you it takes awhile to understand what happened, and I believe it. Most days seem fine - I started going back to work last week, which has been nice. I haven't seen much of people outside of work, but for now that's what I want. Knitting, writing, and just thinking.

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments. The blogging community never ceases to amaze me - you guys are great. Take care everyone, and have a good weekend!

The Golden Gate

May 8th, an 18 year old boy got up and printed out directions to the Golden Gate Bridge. A few hours later, he was dead.

I was 9 when my little brother was born. He was my excuse to start babysitting and to learn all the Disney movies by heart. He grew up while I was away at college and grad school. He got taller and taller every visit home, and had grown to appreciate the Daily Show and cynical comedy.

The drop from the bridge is 240 feet, meaning jumpers reach a velocity of 80 mph by the time they hit the water. Only a tiny percentage survive the jump. Most die as their organs shred (inertia at work), others drown. Apparently, almost all jump towards land. The San Francisco Chronicle cites many statistics in a series they did on suicides from the bridge.

Is my brother another statistic? If you watch baseball long enough, you realize almost anything can become a statistic. He was 18 and hadn't graduated from high school yet. He will never vote, he will never go to college. He will never legally drink or go to a frat party. He won't cram for finals for lectures he skipped. He won't get married, he won't have children, he won't get a job, he won't retire.

He won't read the final Harry Potter book.

In many ways, it seems too extreme to be real. I haven't lived in my parents' house for 8 years, so I feel like I didn't know him very well. I missed so much of his growing up. It seems now that none of us knew him that well. I'm just numb - my boyfriend asks me daily if I want to talk, one of my best friends offered to spend the night this weekend. I turn them down because I don't know what to say. How do you talk about something your mind hasn't accepted yet? How do you deal with the fact everyone around you is watching you closely, trying to figure out if you're ok?

I have good memories of my brother, I only wish there were going to be more. Thank you all for your kind comments, cards, and phone calls.

An absence

This will be my last post for a little while. My brother passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, and I'm back in Napa now with my parents trying to sort through everything. He was only 18, and it's incredibly hard to look in his room, with his new computer for college in the fall, and try to understand why he left. Everyone is holding it together for the time being, but with the memorial and funeral coming it's getting harder. So, keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

New!

A little while back, Jordana Paige had a contest on her website, offering 5 free bags in a drawing. I won, and found this on my doorstep yesterday! I've been happily organizing my current WIPs in it ever since :)
Speaking of new projects, Manda's post about her Swallowtail Shawl inspired me to pick up my own started Swallowtail. I got 8 spools of red wool off the Destash blog awhile back and this seemed like a good opportunity to use it. I've got mixed feelings - I love the color, but the yarn has been a little stiff an even broken in some places (I'm concerned moths may have gotten to it at some point). Plus I have a ton of it, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the rest of it....

Only 11 more repeats of the first chart to go....

:)

WIP Wednesday

Actually, I haven't been doing so much knitting as I have been driving lately. I have, however, been stocking up on the sock yarn. I bought some STR this weekend in Lucy, to make another Clapotis (after seeing Peggy and Teresa's, I couldn't resist) I've also bought some Lorna's Laces in somewhat solid colorways to make socks with more emphasis on stitch detail than color. I have seen a few examples of socks that have both color varigation and stitch pattern, but for me I really like one or the other.
I have been making excellent progress on the baby knit and my knee sock. Last night I also finally picked up Wicker again. This month, as I say every month, will be about finishing things. And hopefully less yarn shopping :) After a lapse in the yarn diet (though sock yarn technically doesn't count), it's time to get back on the wagon. My checkbook will thank me later.


I've added a few new links to the side for stores and tutorials. Check out Abby's Yarns post about making a tweed blend! And Ravelry - another way to organize my WIPs?

ETA: Amazon is having a Kitchen and Home Mother's Day Sale.

Still plugging away

In the midst of all the destashing I've been doing, I've still been doing some knitting. I apologize for the lack of pictures, I'll update those later.

There are still a number of WIPs on the needles, some of which I've actually worked on. And in the long-awaited department, I finally know people who are pregnant and can get some of those cute baby patterns I've been eyeing on the needles.

Tell me I didn't just say that....

Anyways - still a multitude of socks. I finished my Trekking socks using the "You're putting me on" pattern, only to decide the foot was too long and frog back. I've been plugging away at my knee socks (using this and this tutorial) while in the lab (which led to finally getting a chance to meet the other knitters at work!) and am quite pleased so far. The hiking and Jaywalker socks have sadly been neglected, but the lace knee highs from Interweave can be resurrected, now that I finally found the pattern (it was in the shawl section of my pattern files. Go figure).

Sweaters still abound as well. Wicker has been horribly neglected in favor of the Hourglass Sweater. However, after having to rip back 24 rows, Hourglass may have lost her privileged place. The yarn for Rapunzel came in, and I plan to be swatching for that soon to add to the list of planned sweaters (Ariann, Wicked, Loop-d-Loop Lace Leaf Pullover, Thermal, and many more)

And finally, I gave in to the mitre (thanks to january one) and ordered some cotton for Elann to make my own blanket. I'm still recovering from the large order :)

Oh - watch this. I'm really intrigued to see the final version now. And check out this. Finally, a whole book :) I can't wait. (If you haven't seen her blog, I command you to stop reading now and head over there).

Thoughts?

So I want to make this sweater:
Rapunzel, from Rowan. It calls for Rowan Kid Classic and Lurex (which is discontinued), with the Lurex being used for an intarsia pattern at the top of the jacket. I don't want to buy Kid Classic (b/c I'm cheap), but I really want to get Kidlin Pixie to substitute for the Lurex....the problem is picking colors...

After some suggestions, I'm still narrowing it down :) And I'm sure you all love following through the thought (or lack thereof) process!

There's Cascade Bollicine Etoile, to be used for the body (Valley Yarn Florence is pricier when you consider yardage). And there's the Kidlin Pixie, to be used instead of Lurex (at the top of the sweater):

So many yarns, so little cash :)

And the winner is....

Kami - who guessed 728. Only 5 away from the actual number of 723. Can I say how eerie that is? Have you been watching all the movies I've been watching? That's just crazy.

Honorable mentions:

Most creative guess - textual bulldog, who included a fraction. I have a thing about finishing movies I start and not including movies I didn't finish on my list, but there are certainly more and more movies I don't finish.

Guess highlighting my ideal life of knitting and watching movies: elspeth, who guess 889. I'm so close...

Guess generously downplaying the number of movies I've seen: gradschool knitter, with only 250. I feel like I'm approaching that number in a year at the rate I'm going :)

So, winners and honorable mentions, send me your snail mail addresses and something will be arriving shortly :)

A hat, a little late

I started this hat in hopes of having it ready for last weekend's trip to Sequoia (which was fun, and not as cold as I was concerned it would be. It also inspired a little shopping spree - I'm now the owner of my own snow pants, in a modest black. You've got to love those sales!), but just now finished it off.


Pattern: My own
Yarn: Malabrigo, something about grapes...crushed grapes? Velvet grapes. Whatever it is, I really love Malabrigo!

Still working on a few pairs of socks - I think this month is going to be my month to focus on finishing things up.

Contest ends at noon tomorrow, PST. I'm hoping to post the winner (and maybe some honorable mentions too!) tomorrow afternoon. :)

Contest

When I was an intern, a friend of mine introduced me to IMDb, and the My Movies feature. A few days were spent entering in movies I've seen, and today I did some catching up. And, well, I'm a little shocked at how many movies I've actually seen....

Inspired by Wendy, who is giving away books when she's finished with them and is actually the reason I have this book, I'm offering up my copy of Friday Night Knitting Club. To enter, leave me a comment with your guess as to how many movies I've seen, along with your email address (alternately, you can send me an email telling me which comment was yours if you're not comfortable with that). I'll leave it open until April 6th, the winner being whoever guesses correctly or closest. Multiple close guesses will bring in a handy random number generator to pick the winner.

A few clues:

• I watch all sorts of movies
• TV shows I've rented on DVD are included
• The list covers whatever movies I can remember seeing as a kid
• The number is in the triple digits
  

Still plugging away on the WIPs I've got going and trying very hard to resist breaking the stash diet. It's going to be a busy week both at work and at home, before a 2 day camping trip at Sequoia! Send warm thoughts, because there might be snow....

New books!

Since I'm on a yarn diet and trying hard to compensate in other ways (all my energy normally spent ogling yarn has shifted to fiber for spinning and books for inspiration), I used my last Amazon gift certificate (I love my Amazon Visa. You earn points on everything and get gift certificates to buy stuff on Amazon. Which somehow inspires more buying) to buy Fitted Knits and Favorite Socks. I haven't had a ton of time to flip through them, but what I've seen I like. My favorite knitting books (and blogs!) tend to be the ones with really nice photography - closeups of yarn for texture, good color balances, etc. (Brooklyn Tweed is a favorite here). More later on the projects.

I've been getting a far amount of knitting in while at work - doing viscosity measurements leaves alot of wait time, which translates into knitting of course. Naturally I've been getting some strange looks in the lab, but my Jaywalkers are progressing nicely. Last night I finally bit the bullet and started another crocheted ripple blanket with my purple novelty yarns. A few years ago the local craft store in Napa had a closing sale and my mom bought me alot of Cystal Palace yarns. I love the colors and textures, but I can't figure out what I would do with them that I would wear. For me, there are some yarns that are better as accesssories than as garments (just as there are some colors that are better as accents than main colors. A sea green Suburban comes to mind) and the feathery yarn my mom sent me falls into this category. So, it's going to become a lap blanket. If I can stop messing up the pattern - it's hard to find stitches in eyelash yarn.

Time to head into lab - happy Friday!

Birth and resurrection of WIPs

KADD has hit me hard - the list of items on the needles or in the basket is ridiculous....

1. Wicker
2. Hourglass Sweater
3. Jaywalker socks (toe up version)
4. Hiking socks
5. Knee socks
6. Flower Hat and Lace Knee Highs. From the Winter 2004 issue. Unfortunately, I lost the pattern - in an effort to clean up my magazines I took out patterns I wanted and put them into page protectors. And have no idea where this pattern went - does anyone out there have a copy they'd be willing to lend me? I think I have to rip back though - I'm not sure where I left off....
   
7. Socks on 2 circs
8. Trekking socks (You're putting me on pattern)
9. Mason-Dixon dish towel
10. Open lace top from Vintage Knits
11. Red Light Special (from Brooklyn Tweed)
12. My So-Called Scarf

I think the plan now should be to clean out the basket before embarking on anything new :)

Because I for one could use a laugh

Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas'pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. (via A day in the life of Sachi)

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

+++

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

+++

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

+++

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

+++

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

+++

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

+++

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

+++

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're for.

+++

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

+++

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

+++

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

+++

P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

+++

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

+++

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

+++

And the best one for last..................

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Boxes and creative packing

The countdown to the move has begun, and so has the packing. In years past I've been very casual about my deadlines to move and how my deadline to pack fits into that plan (i.e. I've had to make separate drives after the bulk of my stuff has been moved to pick up the rest of my stuff. This is to be avoided.) In good faith, I bought boxes last week and began the packing process on Saturday.

I'm not moving until Friday.

To my credit, I have packed about 20 boxes of "stuff." I still have more "stuff" to pack (things I'm using right now, like clothes, a toothbrush, and my cat). Somehow I've reached that panicked point of "Oh no, how will I fit the rest of my stuff into these boxes before Friday morning so I don't have to make 2 drives in traffic-ridden LA?!?"

Actually, I'm usually at that point when I'm busy. No surprise there.

I have to say though, the wall of yarn has proven most helpful in packing my kitchen. What better way to pack wine glasses than among some alpaca and wool? And how else would you keep the big boxes relatively light - put some roving and sock yarn in of course. Proof again that the stash is not only nice to look at, but functional as well.

I'd take pictures of my new WIP, Red Light Special in Rowan felted tweed, but my camera is in a box.

I think....

The finished product from dyeing the other weekend....

Julie Amero

Sometimes you run across a story that seems too illogical to be true (see Scout's post). A substitute teacher showing inappropriate websites to her students? A middle aged woman sent to prison for 40 years for popup ads?

It could happen. According to stories, Julie Amero was convicted on four counts of "risking injury to a child" and could face up to 40 years in prison. Did she maliciously navigate to these sites? It depends on whose side you're on - anyone who's been caught in a viscious cycle of popup ads knows how trying to close 1 ad can open 5 more. But they can leave an imprint that looks as though you intentionally went to the site. How did the school's firewalls allow this? They were out of date and IT hadn't followed up on the situation. Should a woman really go to prison for 40 years because of popup ads?

So Much To Say

And so much to do. Work has been very busy this week, and I'm thrilled. I don't like being bored, and I get tired of surfing the internet and reading blogs. I'm strangely happiest when I'm a little overextended. Because I'm crazy. Deal. I finally broke down and ordered the Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 megapixel camera that will change my life as I know it. I have since been reading reviews (here, here, and here) on lenses and shopping for a camera bag. It is due to arrive at work today, and I've been checking the mailstop frequently. And getting alot of work done...

I feel obliged to include a public service announcement: AT&T's DSL service is awful. If you have any other option for internet besides them, don't go with AT&T. I have them now. Their actual internet service is mediocre - I have to reload my homepage a few times when I sign on for the first time, long loading times, etc. It's not terrible, but I've seen better. No, my real problem with AT&T is their contract. When you order DSL, you sign a 1 year contract. I asked what would happen if I moved and was told I could take my modem and service with me. When I called this week to transfer services, I was informed they don't provide service in my new area and that should I opt to terminate my services at my current residence, I would be charged a $99 early termination fee. Why? Because moving out of the AT&T network is considered choosing another provider and thus constitutes early termination. So, because AT&T doesn't provide service in the Thousand Oaks area, I have to pay them $99. I conclude, AT&T sucks.

I'm glad it's Friday. Wednesday was fun (a group of us girls went to a burlesque show to see a friend perform), but a late night which means I'm tired (as usual). I'm looking forward to getting off work early today (I have a lunch meeting), going home, and relaxing. There are a couple of dinners to go to this weekend, an apartment to start cleaning out, and alot of knitting to do. Wicker, Hourglass, socks....It'll be nice :) Happy Friday all!

Science of Knitting

After months of sitting on my wall o'yarn, the day to dye had come. Teresa came over and we dyed yarn in 3 easy steps:
First - blend the dye (cake dye, with hula girl swizzle sticks of course)
Second, squirt and blend. Be sure to wear gloves!
Third - admire!

Ok, actually it was more than 3 steps, but I'm out of pictures :)


My new favorite quick knit - calorimetry (yes, I even know what a calorimeter does). Knit in an afternoon catching up on Lost and Grey's Anatomy online using Malabrigo. I, like everyone else, didn't knit the pattern as written, but cast on 96 stitches (following Eklectika's mods) and did short rows until I had 48 stitches between the markers. The yarn bled quite a bit, staining my hands an attractive orange. But it's been washed and is ready to wear! And I love it :)

Finished objects

Noro Silk Garden beanies
Fetching handwarmers, for the gift box
Scarves, for the Red Scarf Project

All finally done!

2nd Annual Cyberspace Poetry Reading and a Meme

Today is the 2nd Annual Cyberspace Poetry Reading, and here's mine:

Ophelia
Tiny fragments of my soul perform alone upon the stage
As I hide in the wings, peeking out for the critics' reviews
Unblinded by the lights, I can see their empty faces
Unsure how to take this angry girl or her bitter views

Lashing out at the world in general
Or maybe just you in particular
When the words fail her message
It takes a form gesticular

It was a classic case of Ophelia drowning
She saw the faces around her frowning
Her emotion - it was too raw
It made them uncomfortable, what they saw

"Emotional, unstable," they said
Rendering her artistic presence dead
"Not developed, too wild," they cried
But she had to let out what was inside

Lashing out at the man who hurt her
Just one in particular
His ears closed to her message
She tries switching vernacular

The songs come out of her unbidden
Pouring out of emotions once hidden
He's shocked at her angry voice
He doesn't understand her choice

Cutting him out would be so much better
It's her decision, but he won't let her
Clinging to a love now dead
The critics all turn their heads

Lashing out at all her friends
Hoping she'll calm when it all ends
Ending relationships feels like death
But when it's done, you know it's best

And as spotted on Good Yarns:

You Know You're From California When...
The fastest part of your commute is down your driveway.
You were born somewhere else.
You know how to eat an artichoke.
The primary bugs that you worry about are electronic.
Your car has bullet-proof windows.
Left is right and right is wrong.
Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income.
You can't find your other earring because your son is wearing it.
You drive to your neighborhood block party.
Your family tree contains "significant others."
You don't exterminate your roaches, you smoke them.
You see 25 lawyers chasing an ambulance.
More than clothes come out of the closets.
You go to a tanning salon before going to the beach.
More money is spent on facelifts than on diapers.
Smoking in your office is not optional.
You pack shorts and a T-shirt for skiing in the snow, and a sweater and a wetsuit for the beach. When you can't schedule a meeting because you must "do lunch."
Your children learn to walk in Birkenstocks.
Rainstorms or thunder are the lead story for the local news.
You'll reluctantly miss yoga class to wait for the hot tub repairman.
You consult your horoscope before planning your day.
A glass has been reserved for you at your favorite winery.
All highways into the state say: "no fruits."
All highways out of the state say: "Go back."
The Terminator is your governor
You can't remember . . . is pot illegal?
It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH"

You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from California.