Why is it that short weeks always seem the longest? Today draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaged at work , the phones barely rung and there wasn't much to do. It didn't help that the internet went down and never came back either.
My boss usually lets us go around 3:00 pm the day before a big holiday. Before he could say anything about leaving early though, he went to a meeting, saying he'd be back around 3:00 pm. I was sure that I'd be at work all. I was surprised though--around 2:00 pm, the board president called and asked why I was at work? Didn't I know today was a half day and we were closed the rest of the week? Um, no ma'am. She asked to talk to my boss, but, he was at the meeting mentioned above. I was told to close up shop for the week and have a Happy Thanksgiving. After calling my boss, I did just that.
From me to you, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
How to impress the boss: Find a contract that he had misplaced.
How to impress yourself: Turn a heel. I did that, this past weekend. If you've been reading this blog for the past few weeks, you'll see that my current obsession project has been a pair of socks. I've been ok with casting on and using the DPN's--I conquered them earlier this year. The whole turning the heel concept had flabbergasted though. With some help from my Secret Pal, I turned my first heel. I hope to finish my first sock tonight and then start it's mate later this week. Pics to come.
I'm a member of something called BzzAgent, where you promote a product through word of mouth. You join "campaigns" and then tell your friends and report back for rewards. I've only done one campaign since joining a few months ago, about Take 5 candy bars--I received a box of the candy bars and had to tell my friends about the candy. Hey, free chocolate is a good thing in my book!
A few days ago, I found out about another campaign, this time for Sonicare toothbrushes. Join and get a free toothbrush. I had nothing to lose so I joined. I never thought I'd see one of these toothbrushes. I came home last night and nearly killed myself tripping over a box that was left outside my door. I opened it up and found this: inside. A $60.00 toothbrush!!! HOLY CRAP! I've never owned a $60.00 toothbrush....I charged it up and used it for the first time this morning. Let me tell you....this toothbrush kicks ass.
On the knitting front, I'm still working on the (now infamous) sock. I'm thinking I should start taking pictures of it with me everywhere I go, a la the Yarnharlot. If and when I ever get my first heel turned and a pair of socks finished, they are going to go into the Knitting Hall of Fame, if such a place exists. Can you bronze socks?
I first heard this song, right around Christmas of 2004. The first time I heard it, I burst into tears...it reminds me so much of my Mom. I heard another song today by Josh Groban that brought me to tears once again, "(Don't Give Up) You Are Loved".
I think I'm in trouble....I'm attempting to knit a sock and I'm the point where I usually get stuck--turning the flippin' heel.
I'm using Yankee Knitter Designs Classic Sock pattern. The pattern is as follows:
Row1: Purl first 11 (13-15-17-18) sts, P2 tog, P1 turn work around Row 2: Slip 1 (always slip as if to purl), K5, K2 tog TBL, K1, turn work around Row 3: Slip 1, P6 P2 tog, P1, turn work around Row 4: Slip 1, K7, K2 tog TBL, turn work around.
Continue in this manner, always slip first stitch, then work across to gap, work the two stitches on either side of the tog , work 1 st and then turn the piece around. Continue until all sts on either side of the gap have been used up and there are 12 (14-16-18-18) sts on "heel" needle. End having just worked a knit a row.
I did the 4 rows with no problem. I'm ready to start the second repeat, but, don't have enough stitches. (I've casted on for the biggest size, 64 stitches when I first cast on). I'm so confused....where do I go from here. Counting stitches on both needles, I have 28 stitches remaining, 19 on the "working" needle, 9 on the other).
I've e-mailed my Secret Pal for some help. I'm hoping against hope that I don't have to start all over, but, have a sinking feeling that I will.
I really like my apartment. Good location, near a few good restaurants, a couple of uber expensive shops that I can't even afford to window shop in. It's a little one bed room apartment, galley type kitchen, but it has built-in bookshelves/cabinets and a balcony. I really like the built-ins--they're cute! Remind me to post a pic sometime!-- and the balcony. I like to go out there and just breathe and think. Been doing lots of that lately.
For the most part the whole building is quiet. My apartment building is small, there are only 5 apartments. Each tenant is...unique, let's say. (Including yours truly. I can only imagine what's said about me...) Tenant #1 (he and his family have the whole first floor) doesn't like it when I hang up my t-shirts on my balcony to dry in the summer, says he doesn't like how it looks (mind you, you need to look UP to see any of this)and likes to monopolize the washer and dryer. There are two older women on the second floor. One, M., keeps to herself, I've seen her a few times and she's been very nice to me each time. The other, G. (who shall hereafter be known as Crazy Neighbor Lady or CNL) is a bit odd. She's lived the longest in the building so she feels like she needs to know what's going on. She also likes to knock on doors at all hours of the night and ask crazy questions. Hence the term Crazy Neighbor Lady or CNL. Then, there's me and H. on the third floor. Normally, I only hear H. when she comes in or when she leaves. We've run into each other a few times as well, but, she works two jobs so she's in and out at all hours.
One of H.'s jobs was on the campaign team for a local candidate. I'm not sure which one, she told me in passing once, but, I can't remember for sure. Anyway, the last few days have seen H. and other team members doing last minute election stuff. Not a huge deal, but, H. told me she'd be glad when it was all over when we saw each other a few days ago.
Yes, this post has a point. Bear with me.
Last night, I actually went to bed early, 11:00 pm (early for me). I have insomnia so I take Tylenol PM to help me fall asleep and stay asleep. I woke up around 4:10 am to the sound of voices. LOUD voices. Turns out H. and a few of her colleagues were out on her balcony celebrating/winding down/letting loose because of Election Day. There was one guy in particular who I wanted to kill because he a.) had a really loud laugh and b.) would talk louder than anyone else who was speaking. They stayed out there for a good 30 minutes, talking and laughing. I also wanted to murder one girl--I don't think it was H., but, I could be wrong--she had that fake laugh that some women get when they're flirting and drunk. Real high pitched and just...nails on a chalkboard at 4:10 am.
When I left for work this morning, I saw that H.'s door wasn't closed all the way, it was open just a bit. I didn't knock for fearing of waking them, but, wanted to, just for safety's sake.
I didn't go out and ask them to be quiet....I thought that would be rude and just cause them to be more obnoxious. I wanted to say something (and part of me still does), but, again, don't want to cause trouble.
A fourteen hour work day yesterday + no food = one massive migraine having and cranky Katy. I took today off to recharge. I did some knitting--my Secret Pal may be pleased to know that I've started a sock and it's going well. This time around, anyway. I seem to keep losing stitches off the DPN's, but, then I know that's just me. I've started again things look good thus far *knock wood, toss some salt over a shoulder, rub a rabbit's foot*
It felt good to sleep in a bit and even better to get some food into my system. I didn't do much other than watch TV and knit and heat up some left overs for lunch and dinner.
An easy day after an excruciating long one yesterday.
A friend has requested that I make her one of the little cable bags in very pretty BRIGHT shade of blue.
This shade of blue to be exact. I'm checking all my usual sites, but, am coming up emptyhanded. So, I come to you, Dear Internet Friends, HELP!!!! Where can I find that shade of blue in a worsted yarn?
ETA
I think I found something that would work, on kyarns.com. It's Brown sheep Lamb's Pride yarn in Brite Blue.
I've sent the link to my friend and am just waiting for her to give her approval.
I was doing a mental checklist of all my FO's for 2006 (thus far) and thought I'd list them here.
In no particular order:
~~ 2 baby blankets (my largest projects to date) ~~10 dishcloths (possibly more but this is all I can remember at the moment) ~~11 bowls (again, possibly more, but, this is all I can remember at the moment) ~~ 2 scarves ~~ 3 purses
I'm sure I'm forgetting at least one or two things. When you look at all that, it doesn't seem like I was very productive.
What I've learned this year: How to felt...very addictive! I've conquered my fear of the dreaded DPN's. I've also learned how to pick up stitches, cable, how to do the Kitchener stitch. I've deduced that baby blankets are endless when knitting two blankets of the same color.
I guess I have branched out a little since my beginner days of scarves. Does anyone learn anything else when they're first starting out? A girl can only have (and give as gifts) so many scarves. For awhile there, that's all I was making.
In the coming year, I want to learn how to make socks (thanks Secret Pal, again! The pattern you sent seems like something I can tackle) and even something to wear, such as a sweater or (especially) Lucie from knitty. I really want to do that one, but, the $200 price tag for the yarn? I really don't want to do that. I'm sure there's something else out there that I could substitute. I'd like to tackle lace at some point, too. I tried Branching Out but that was too frustrating. Maybe, now that I've learned a few new stitches and gained some confidence, I'll give that another go. I'm sure it will turn out better if I use lace weight yarn.
Not a bad year knit wise. I can only make bigger and better things, right?
inside. A $60.00 toothbrush!!! HOLY CRAP! I've never owned a $60.00 toothbrush....I charged it up and used it for the first time this morning. Let me tell you....this toothbrush kicks ass.
