Well, sort of a cowl...

My attempt to be somewhat creative this morning as I image my version of the Somewhat Cowl from Knit and Tonic - the Not Really a Cowl at All.

When I read that the collar was 6 inches of ribbing, I stopped at 3 and tried it on. After deciding I was ok with the idea of not knitting on the collar anymore, I bound off (only to find I hadn't picked up stitches very evenly. Frog away).

This time it's truly done and drying as we speak. I love the shape of this sweater, though if I were to make it again I'd knit the raglan to the full 10.5 inches (I think I stopped early, so the sweater is a little tight across the bust. Which for me is quite a feat).

Alright, back to revisions. So far only my advisor has been working with me, I have no idea what the other two think. And only 6 days left....Inhale, exhale. It's going well, just making time management a little more spontaneous. And causing problems for the family, since I'm going to have to bail on driving duty in the afternoons until Monday. It's for a good cause :)

Almost finished

I almost had an FO to post, but I decided to redo the collar, picking up stiches more evenly this time around :) So, sometime soon, an FO.

In other objects that need finishing - I go my first set of revisions from my professor on Thursday. Both of us were surprised that there weren't more corrections, overall he thought it was "pretty good." I had to redo one set of studies, but I just took the pictures this morning and will throw them in and see how they look. Then I need to get feedback from the other 2 committee members and some signatures (assuming they'll sign off on it - one of them has me a bit worried). Just trying to keep calm.

Still job hunting. I got a temp/remote job this week that's up to 30 hours a week from home (or wherever), which is perfect. The pay is pretty good, the hours are flexible, and it gives me a chance to stay with the family a few more months and save money. Which is really what I should be focusing on right now.

Thanks everyone for your support :) Deep breaths.

Obligatory Update

I have applied for almost 40 jobs to date, and in the span of almost 2 months, I have heard NOTHING.

I have a small fly infestation in my bathroom - little tiny black flies crawling out of who-knows-where to die. I imagine they're dying because I have bleached the hell out of that room, put drano and bleach down the sink and shower, and sprayed Simple Green over every available surface. The bathroom is not designed to be, well, used. Water builds up around the sink and spills in the small area between the wall and the sink. Leaving a mess. I am having sneezing fits from the Simple Green's strong aroma. And seriously considering not driving until they fix the problem. I have a sinking suspicion there is water trapped in the wall, making a breeding ground for these guys. Sigh. Everyone grossed out now?

I turned in my thesis yesterday, and got replies from all 3 committee members. 2 are out of town. 1 of the out-of-towners won't read my thesis until next week. Giving me less than a week to work on his revisions. Sadly, he's the one I was warned about. I am a little panicked (no more so than usual).

I have, officially, hit a low point. Academically, financially, physically, emotionally. I am burned out on my research, I have no savings or future job or housing after the end of August, I am exhausted, and totally stressed. And it's only Tuesday.

In good news, I have more than just a cat for a pet now. Thousands of little flies. Ew.

And I'm almost done with a sweater I'm making. Which is actual good news. As opposed to fake good news (or good fake news, like the Daily Show). I'm clearing out my yarn stash in anticipation of moving/putting stuff in storage. Going to hit up Trader Joe's for some comfort food and then Goodwill to get rid of some stuff. Then finally SnB tonight, to relax and hopefully finish my sweater....

Hope you're all well!

Ew

I am not squeamish when it comes to bugs. I won't go near them, but I don't run away screaming (that would be too extreme for a seemingly quiet person like myself). However, the ant situation in the office is horrible. I would take a picture, but I want you all to keep reading.

I don't know why the ants have chosen to cohabitate with us. Actually, I have two guesses and they're both boys. It involves coffee and soda and crumbs. Oh my. Unfortunately, my desk is cornered by them. And so the ants and I will write my thesis together.

Speaking of, I have some good news and some bad news. Let's go with the good news: I'm getting paid until the end of June (not the end of the quarter as I had previously thought). AND my petition to transfer courses from UCSB finally was approved (meaning I have enough units to graduate). Woohoo!

But. My boss is out of town at conferences - he just told us last week he'd be gone until the 18th. I talked to him after and asked if he wanted me to send him sections as I finished them, and he said sure. So last night I sent him my 2nd section, and received an email saying he's unable to download attachments and won't be able to look at it until the 18th. Why is this a problem? My draft to the committee is due on the 22nd. And I have to file by June 5th. If he wants more experiments done...well. It's going to suck. However, I emailed one of my committee members about the situation and he's going to look over it for me. Sigh. As if I wasn't enough of a nutcase right now.

Must finish collecting data! The week's almost over!

Knitting?

I seriously haven't been able to knit (aside from the walk to school) for the last couple of weeks. Last minute experiments, writing my thesis, general panic. Despite the mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion, I'm actually feeling ok today. I sent my introduction to my prof last night and feel better about my second section. Experiments seem to be going ok. I have quizzed various friends about temping as a temporary solution to my job troubles. Went to a good infosession on campus today and handed in another resume. Life feels a little more manageable.

Doesn't mean I'm still not a basketcase, but we can't have everything.

So. Knitting. Aside from trying to unload some of my stash (poor grad student with a tiny room), I haven't had much to do with yarn. Halfheartedly started a pair of socks only to decide they weren't manly enough. (Though my labmate told me anything with the Yankees on it, even pink socks, would be manly enough for him. I told him I'd get right on it). My plan is to finish the next 2 sections, turn the whole thing in to my boss, and take a day off. Knit and watch a movie or something. Anything not involving polypeptide microspheres. For the love of all things sane....

:)

Internet threatened

I received an email from a friend of mine, about the attack on network neutrality. Basically, internet service providers are looking for a way to fund their business and are turning to websites. Websites who pay them more will appear "faster" to users and gain preference. They'll give priority to preferred websites. Consumer groups, Google, Yahoo, and others are pushing to maintain network neutrality. Apparently this has been going on for awhile...

The Coming Tug of War

MoveOn.org

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

I'm testing that theory out with my blogging it seems :) I'm in the crunch right now. Breaking things off with the ex once and for all. Writing my thesis by May 22nd. Worrying about a friend whose grandfather died recently. Today's horoscope:

You care about the people around you. It matters to you if they're feeling good, bad or in between. You're in no way indifferent if they're worried about life, death, love or finances. You're a good person to talk to, and a good person to rely on. The question is are you getting enough support yourself? If not, are you maybe forgetting to ask for help? If you aren't used to making your needs known, it can be pretty unfamiliar territory. Venture out into it -- your friends care about you too.

I'm exhaused - the worry about money and finding a job and writing my thesis have kept me anxious and unable to sleep well. The emotional events of the past few weeks haven't helped much either. Life with the family has been irritating - the Teenager is the one I normally drive to and from school. However, she has spring break this week and the mom told me any driving I do with the Teenager I wouldn't be doing (obviously). Which was great, because I'm on call for jury duty this week (though very unlikely to serve).

Monday: phone call asking if I have time this week to drive. I return the call and remind the mom about jury duty and explain that since the Teenager is on spring break I'm trying to get alot done in lab so I can focus on writing the thesis. My call is returned and the mom wants to compare schedules.

Weds: phone call asking if I can watch the Boy that night. It was my friend's birthday and I'd made plans for dinner with her at 6:30.
How about until then?
No, I was learning how to culture cells that afternoon and didn't know when I'd be done.
But isn't Weds your normal day to pick the Teenager up from school?
Yes, but since she's on spring break I'm trying to get alot of work done.
Well, we know you have jury duty this week and we know you wanted to write, but it's not likely you'll get called for jury duty, you know you have to call in every night and find out.
Yes, I do know that and I've been doing that, but if I'm not called I'm supposed to go in to work.
Oh, well, let's compare schedules tonight.

Fine. I'm so sick of having to justify what I do to them. True, sometimes when they call last minute and ask for help I can't because I'm hanging out with friends. But this time it was for work. And I'd been told I wouldn't be needed. I'm trying to graduate. And I'm trying not to burn out from working at school and at home and for them with no down time. I hate coming home a night because I get pounced on with "can you drive tomorrow morning/this weekend/for the rest of your life?" They even asked if I'd be around over the summer.

Hell no.

In knitting news, I have a pair of socks started and have obsessively been thinking about how to knit toe-up with a heel flap. Sure beats reading about microspheres and drug delivery! I know it'll end and that everything will work out. I'm just so tired today that it's hard not to complain.

In domestic news, for Bush's approval rating - Limbo! How low can it go?

Knitting like it's my job

If only it were. That and watching movies....

Another finished hat:
Pattern: Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Another unknown kettle-dyed wool
Comments: This time I followed the pattern to 5 1/2" instead of 6 1/2" - I like this fit much better. Though it's a little loose around the bottom - I'll knit the ribbing on smaller needles next time. I do like the swirl effect though!

I also had some free time to dye this weekend, taking advantage of the sale on Kool-Aid at Ralph's. I thought about using cake dye, but wasn't sure how to use it and didn't have the patience to do a web search on it.

FO!

Pattern: Earflap hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: unknown wool gifted from the family I live with

Changes: 10.5 instead of US 9 needles, and I started with the earflaps tip up to make a seamless join to the brim.

Comments: I think the hats tend to be too tall - it called for knitting to 7" from the brim before decreasing - next time I make this hat (and there will be a next time!), I think I'll only do 5" and see how it goes. I also would like the earflaps to be more square at the bottom than they are, though I like their length.

If you're looking to get some new yarn from other knitters, check out DeStash - I've already joined up to try and clean out my stash (optimistically hoping that I'll be moving for a job in June)

Amazon

I love Amazon and their customer service. Around Valentine's day, my friend/dating partner/alleged non-boyfriend (sorry, inside joke with myself) ordered a bunch of stuff for me from my wishlist (because he's cool and one of the few people who actually uses my wishlist), including the Yarn Harlot's new book. However, though I saw him click the option to not wait until all items were available to ship, nothing came for weeks. So we hassled Amazon and they sent my movies (Harry Potter and Wallace and Gromit!) and would ship the Yarn Harlot's book when it was released.

Or so they said....(insert suspenseful music here)

It's been ages now and it hasn't come. So I emailed them before I left for work this morning and just got an email saying it seems my book was lost in the mail and they're sending another, next day mail, free of charge.

I love Amazon.

My boss however - not so much. As part of the research gig we have group meetings every Tuesday afternoon (where someone presents on either their current research or a journal article they found interesting) and mini-meetings every Friday morning (where 3 of us sit with the Bossman and tell him what we've done that week). He emailed the postdoc this morning to tell him he couldn't remember if he'd said we didn't have mini-meeting this week. No, he hadn't. I could have slept in a little...and with these allergies I'm trying to ignore I could use the extra rest....argh.

I know, I know. World's smallest violin playing the world's saddest song just for me. Imagine the adjustments I'll have to make when I get a real, normal, structured job.

In knitting news - I spent about an hour last night rewriting a hat pattern to fit my gauge. The family I live with has alot of kettle-dyed yarn they keep giving me, and each hank is only about enough for a hat. So I found a pattern I liked in Handknit Holidays and had to tweak it a bit to fit my yarn. We'll see how it goes....

And, finally, in music news - there's a show in Hollywood tonight you should go to if you can. Rob's friend Kasey, an aspiring musician, has finally made it out of Pasadena/Sierra Madre and into Hollywood - tonight at 10:30 at Genghis Cohen. $7. She's good - check her out! And she's funny :)

Oh please

So there's a guy in Michigan who went on strike because his wife has been letting their kids sleep in their bed. He even started a blog and a petition.

I can understand that he feels she's sort of ignoring him and taking away from their time together. But I find it hard to believe he has to go sit on his roof and start a petition to get some compromise.

People say women are dramatic...It goes both ways.

Rewards

In an effort to distract myself from financial worries (this happens every quarter - my stipend goes directly to my fees and I worry that the department isn't going to pay my tuition and I'll have to make it on $700/mo for the next 3 months. Add in a large credit card balance and the worry of job hunting and well....you've almost got where I'm at) I've been knitting like crazy. I figure sitting at home and knitting while watching movies is one of the cheapest things I can do right now, and it's a good opportunity to use up my stash in hopeful preparation for a move (assuming I get a job). Plus, if I can knit myself new clothes I won't feel the temptation to go shopping.

Right.

So I'm still working on Claptois (which I still can't say), a sweater from Rowan's Vintage Knits, another OSW, and now Knit and Tonic's Somewhat Cowl. In addition to a couple socks and whatever else is in my basket :) I start new knitting projects like it's my job.

If only it were!

I have to say, one of the most frustrating things about the job hunt is that after you send in your resume, you have no idea who to follow up with. Most of the ones I've sent in go through the career pages of companies, and of course no contact info is given. I know, it hasn't even been a week yet. But I wouldn't be my mother's daughter if I didn't worry.

Speaking of, my mom has recovered quite well from her surgery and is back to walking her 2 miles a day. Which is nice :)

If you're looking for something fun - check out OK Go's A Million Ways dance video. I have to say, it's pretty nicely done for a backyard production choreographed by singer's sister!

Hard at work

As my experiments wind down, and the job hunt begins in ernst...

I decide to clean out my inbox on one of my many email accounts. And I find this email from my mom, sending me the link to a video I did.

See, I was a chemical engineering major at Berkeley not too long ago. And I worked in the chemistry stockroom - preparing labs, badgering the students to wear their safety glasses, telling the other stockroom empolyees to wash the dishes (if this doesn't sound like womanly work, I don't know what does). My boss made these instructional videos for how to run the GC and do titrations, and my coworkers and I did the voices. I swear I don't really sound like that. I totally don't. I'm like, from the Midwest ok? Though I don't have a midwestern accent either...

Enjoy!

Yarn sale!

I'm trying to clean out my stash (so when I do eventually have to move it won't be so nightmarish) and below the chosen few. Prices are posted, and I don't think shipping would be more than $5. If you're interested in any of it, either comment or email me (k8jlew at gmail dot com). I'd like to see it go to good yarn friendly homes!

A bunch of roving, here's the eBay link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8243117161

FINISHED!

Finally - the Lady E is finished! Here it is blocking on my bed for the day. I had to wash a few times (in the sink with cold water and Woolite - my hands are still thawing!) and I didn't pin it very tightly. I'm very pleased with how it turned out - I think Silk Garden was a perfect choice for this project. I apologize for the blurriness of the photo - this is courtesy of my new camera phone, since I left my digital camera at work.

Another FO - Branching Out, made of another wool/silk blend. I'm not convinced this was a good yarn choice - the detail is really pretty hard to see. But I'm still glad it's done :) One less project in the basket!

You must be joking

I complain about knitting on size 1's (well, I complain about alot of things but that's definitely on the list) But knitting on 0's? 00's? 00000's?

You must be kidding.

Doll clothes. Tiny doll clothes, color knit tiny doll clothes. Patterns for tiny color knit doll clothes.

I need to go make some tea while I recover. Good thing half my tea collection is here in the office :)

Still chugging away at Lady E - almost done with the 8th ball. It will be done by next Thurs. It will. Then I will finish all the other UFO's in my basket before I restart the Lace Leaf Pullover. Seriously. There will be some discipline!

Famous last words...

Did you know a search for "Kate rubber T-shirt" led someone to my blog? I'm concerned...

Oscar madness

You thought the Oscars were all about brilliant movies, stunning dresses, and long speeches?

Nope, there's fiber involved too.

Sigh

So I frogged the sweater. I finished binding off Tuesday at SnB and tried it on when I got home - too big and shorter than I'd like. So I'm casting on again, this time for the smallest size (I'd switched to the larger b/c of a yarn replacement and gauge difference) and starting over. I managed to salvage one of the sleeves, so it shouldn't take too long...famous last words :)

In other drama, lab work is slowly wrapping up and I'm beginning to realize I need to (gasp) start looking for a job and (gasp!) start writing my thesis....insert panic here :)

Luckily, there's lots of music to take my mind off it. I've started playing again, inspired by my friends who are venturing out into the world of open mic. Concerts are coming up too - my favorite band, the Mother Hips, has resumed their touring schedule. They're making a stop in LA and 2 in San Diego. Trouble is, my ex is going to be there, with his girlfriend. The one who hit on him in front of me when I'd drive to SD to visit him. The one who "isn't comfortable" with the idea of him driving up to meet me for lunch. The one he complains about on his blog. We were together for 5 years, and it's been exactly a year since he broke up with me. Obviously, it's going to take some time. Before I consider him a friend again.