My pretty new princess (NKR)

Is it not splendiferous? Maybe I am just trying to make myself feel better for spending $699+tax on a washing machine - but my old one died quite unexpectedly, so it is what it is. I wonder if I can felt in it????

After my old

Socktober!!!!

Details:
Cascade fixation, #9843
Pattern - Emily's from http://yarnmiracle.gweezlebur.com/patterns.html
Knitting details: Size 3 needles, cast on 48and did a 3x1 ribbing throughout the sock, along with my normal heel (eye of partridge) and toe (grafted).

If I were to do it again, I would cast on 54 and use a size 2 needle to get a denser fabric. I did one with hiya-hiya needles and one with kntpicks needles. Love both needles. Perhaps that explains the different pooling effect. Started using Inox on one and ended up switching - they were sticky with the fixation. Perhaps that explains the different pooling effect. I have decided I don't like Inox needles and will probably end up selling mine. ICK.

I am hoping to get more socks done this month! I started these in late July but they got sidelined for some other projects. These socks are a bit stretched - I wore them yesterday, so they are showing some dirt too but I was so excited I had to get them posted!

How do you like those blockers? Aren't they adorable???? Chappy did them - well worth EVERY penny! Every labradork owner needs lab sock blockers!

Hump day

And boy is it one.

My part time job - well lets just say it SUCKS right now. As this is a public forum, I won't go into details, but I am working far more hours than I had wanted to. Far more than a full time schedule. With no end in sight. Saying no just isn't seeming to work for me. Very discouraging.

That is the biggest reason its a hump day. #2's son went to a new trusty mechanic - and the first trusty mechanic who recommended car euthanasia has been kicked to the curb for ridiculous pricing. This guy fixed the car - for 1/3 of what the first guy said it would cost. That is 500 vs. 1500, folks, a huge difference. HUGE. Sure, ideally I would be getting #2 son the spiffy Crossover of his dreams, but if that were to happen, I would not be able to pay for college for him. I think he gets it. College or car? College or car? Yep, college wins. So this is good news, that the Grand Am is fixed for a reasonable price and appears to have several good years of cruising at warp speeds with the stereo blasting at ear-deafening levels left.

The bad news about #2 son is that mommy dearest (myself) is stressing out. Over the whole college thing. As noted in my first paragraph, I seem to be having a hard time getting time off. Lots of lip service - take the time when you need it - but when push comes to shove, its " better not be today, maybe some other time is better". And #2 and I need to take some serious time and go look at schools. When #1 did the college search, he was fairly focused. Big school, most likely ivy league, business major, with law school aspirations. And thats what he got. #2 son, while just as bright as #1, has some additional factors he is considering. The first of these is whether he wants to swim at college. I am ambivalent over this - I don't want to shell out $160,000 for him to swim, and with many of the big programs, you are an athlete first, and a student second. The second factor is what he wants to be. Could be science, math, OR business. Who knows. Not him. The third factor is that to date we have had a bit of test taking anxiety. The scores to date are not bad. Just not reflective of who he really is. We have one more shot at them next fall - and I think we will be doing a class to prep for them. Self-study isn't doing it. So...I am stressing over when we are going to be able to go look at schools.

Knitting - my pathetic socks that rock - I have completed the gusset shaping on sock #2 and am coming in on the home stretch. I found my felted clogs that I started mid winter. I got one complete. Of course because these are for me, there is no hurry. I am sure I will complete OTHER felted clogs before mine are done. I also have my block a month afghan going on.

I met up with a great knitting group last night in Cuyahoga Falls - hope to be able to join them more!

And finally - weight watchers. I haven't addressed this little issue - but since I have been in this current job, since August 2003, I have put on 25 lbs. That is almost 2 lbs a month. I have gone from a size 6 to a size 10, the "girls" are gee-normous and not the good kind, my stamina is down to zero, and I don't feel good about myself. My cholesterol is through the roof and I am on meds for it. My blood pressure is most likely going to require meds too. 5 years ago I would have said my kids were proud of how I looked - not so much now. I joined WW about a month ago. Because of the aforementioned job issues, have not been able to incorporate exercise back into my life on a consistent basis. My all time high is 149. On a small frame. On a girl who 10 years ago weighed 110. (ok so maybe that was a LITTLE thin but still). My goal is 120. Weigh in tomorrow. So far its been maybe a pound a week, but I am hopeful that I can get the exercise back in there. Getting home at 8 pm though hasn't been helpful in this regard!

Thanks for listening to me vent. Better in a blog than at my co-workers!

Will there ever be pictures in this blog?

Hopefully - but honestly I don't have much to show right now. I spent the weekend NOT AT WORK, say it again NOT AT WORK! How exciting is that! I am really trying to get back into being a part time person. Annual review time is coming up and I am not expecting it to be pretty - I worked well over a full time persons schedule this year and I really do not want to be slotted as full time. While there are benefits to being full time (you get to maybe take an extra two weeks off with your overtime), the thought of HAVING to have 40 hours a week makes me gag. Even though I had 54 hours/week in May, I hate the thought of HAVING to be here 40 hours. It sounds stupid, I know.

I spent a good piece of yesterday cleaning up my stash area. I found things I had forgotten I had, and many things that I doubt I will ever use. Expect a "destash" in the future. Things had just gotten overwhelming in my bedroom. I had yarn, clothing and books that I had forgotten that I bought earlier in the year. I still need to sort out patterns and things, and I found a half completed pair of clogs to finish. The next step is to actually list out what yarn I have. What projects I have in mind. You know, get myself really organized. That task may have to wait until an actual vacation day.

Very little actual knitting was accomplished this weekend. I did my last few rows of my class afghan, but that was it.

Oh, and I did tear out a picovoli I had started last summer. This was when I was trying to work from the actual typed pattern. Uh uh. Doesn't work for me. I need to type it out row by row. Remember, I am an accountant. Therefore, there were booboos and even though you couldn't really SEE them, I knew they were there. I only had about 3 inches done, so no great loss. The other issue I had with this particular project was that I had chosen Knitpicks Shine in Apple. Love the color. Absolutely love it. Unfortunately I have 3 other tanks in that same color. Time to do something a little different, eh?

I am in need of a new camera. Once I have that, perhaps I will have more to show! I need something small, easy, sexy and did I say, EASY? I am going to try to sell the old camera on ebay. Right now the reason it is non-functional is because the rechargeable batteries have died. It is just big and butt-ugly and BIG. I need smaller.

SLACKER!!

4 days without kids, 3 days without work, and all I get accomplished, knitty wise, is 10 or so rows on my "block a month" class project. Granted, I have a deadline (need to have 68 rows done by next Tuesday), but still! All that glorious time and I spent so little knitting!

Instead, I took Cooper to the new dog park 3 times. This dog park has a lake. Sheer nirvana to a big black labby! The dog park has a few kinks to work out - people not picking up their poop, idiots deciding to picnic, on the ground, with their babies (seriously, people where are your brains), and kumquat-brains letting their small children frolic on the shore line unsupervised. There were a couple of cases of such stupidity that I am actually going to write my first letter to the editor ever. This is such a wonderful thing for our community, and I am thrilled about it, and I do realize that there will always be stupid people, but geez!

I also went to a Monet exhibit. Amazing. That is all I can say.

Oh, and I signed up for e-harmony. Got a hit right away and practically had a panic attack. Clearly my last foray into the world of dating (the 5 year disaster - "he who dumped me with an email") has left me a bit gunshy. I totally disagreed with the psychological profile - totally. It said I am very reserved. Anyone who knows me would say exactly the opposite - if anything I am too open too much too soon and I blah blah blah on entirely too much. I will keep you posted on how this goes.

In the meantime, my knitting has taken over my bedroom - I have yet to finish my spring cleaning _ have a basket full of circulars and stuff to be put away, yarn is stashed away everywhere, it has really gotten out of control. I still haven't even finished my bills and paperwork from post-tax season.

Perhaps one is affecting the other

#2's son went into the shop yesterday. The one with the malfunctioning brakes. Trusty mechanic called and informed me the leak (more of a slow seep) was in the ABS box, so that would need to be replaced, as well as the rusty brake lines leading up to it. Total estimate $1500. In his humble opinion, it isn't worth doing.

This is a 2000 Grand AM - less than 90k miles on it. I am getting a second opinion. (and perhaps a cheaper price). In the meantime, #1 son has already started searching for a more suitable vehicle for #2 son, who does not want to give up his car. Its a pickle. In the interim, while we are deciding what to do, trusty mechanic says just to keep adding brake fluid. The poor man's fix.

I started sock #2 last night of my STR pair. I was able to do this because I had feared I was going to run out of STR yarn so I incorporated a different yarn into my heel and toe. I am to the toe but I am bored. Hence the start of #2 sock. I did three rows. While watching "House". On row three, I realized somewhere I had lost a stitch. or done too many purls or knits. I only had 55 stitches. RATS! RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!

I am thinking that perhaps my bad Kar-karma is due to the fact that I am not knitting! I am not experiencing the wonderful stress relief that it brings. I need to regroup and get some projects going so that I can mindlessly knit away. And I am sure that all car-woes will suddenly disappear!

The Car-ma continues

Yesterday we picked up #1 son's Honda Civic. He did very well on the stick-shifting - only a few stalls, one popped clutch and one gear grind. He is going to be practicing today alot I am sure. I have asked that he stay off the highway for right now (at least during high traffic times).

In the meantime, #2 son called on his way home from swim practice last night and informed me "My brakes are not working". I asked him to define "not working". He indeed meant that they were NOT working. They worked if he pressed super super hard down on them. I told him to drive very carefully and slowly to the local mechanic and that I would meet him there. I suspect the dreaded brake lines have gone. Waiting to hear from local mechanic - who will find a lovely red grand am surprise in his parking lot this AM!

Things are very busy here. End of the school year madness. #1 son is going to OU this weekend to hang out with his new-found squeeze. #2 son has National Honor induction this evening, I have a hair cut tomorrow, Thursday is Grey's Anatomy....ok so that stuff is pretty lame, but next week we have things, both school-wise and work-wise every evening. I am hoping to get #1 to do some yardwork things before he starts his summer career as a life-guard/swim coach.

In the meantime, is it asking too much to have a little knitting time? My poor sock that rocks! So close to the first being done.......

Car-car-karma

Cars. What a PITA. Hopefully my car issues are over for a while. I am due for some good car karma.

My car. The rusty explorer was about to die on me. I knew it needed a little work. Found out that a little work was an entire front end to the tune of $2k. Plus tires and brakes. Takes it up to 3k. So........I nursed it along, did some shopping, was not able to afford the sporty little Rav4 that I thought I would look best in (how shallow is THAT!) and ended up with a great Subaru Forester. Its a little station-wagon-ish, but great driving. I love it already. Cooper loves it. It has heated seats. Lots of bells and whistles, including the most gee-normous moon roof ever. And all for 5k less than the Rav.

#1's car. We sold his escort when he went off to university of michigan last year. I didn't think it would survive sitting an entire winter without driving. Plus #1 son thinks he needs a stick shift. (and for those with enquiring minds, #1 son does not currently know how to DRIVE a stick shift, but that, of course is just a detail). So................ he comes home, we set a budget and off we go. I have NEVER seen so many nasty snarly POS cars. And I get to drive them all - because HE CAN'T! #1 son is a bit impulsive - so every single one is his favorite ever and would complete his life if he had it. Luckily we have a trusty mechanic who told us which cars to avoid.

So.....we looked at a Mazda protege 2 weeks ago - he isn't interested - but seeing some of the other crap out there, he decides he wants to test drive it. I had to go out of town for work this week, so he and his trusty friend went off Monday and drove it - seemed good, they made the appointment with trusty mechanic for yesterday at 2:30. At 2:25, I get the car from #1 son - spewing indignation and wrath because that dirty scumbag had SOLD HIS CAR! My gut reaction was that trusty mechanic was going to veto it. Trusty mechanic had suggested that we look into Honda pre-cert cars. Strongly suggested.

End of that story - at dinner last night after my magical work trip, we called the Honda place, found out the one we had looked at earlier had been blue-light-specialed - and bought it. 38k, blue, 4 door civic. Very nice. Now I get to teach #1 to drive. I can't wait.

And #2 son. He is driving a 2001 Grand Am that we bought from nephew. Truly for half of what we would have had to pay had we bought it from a dirty scumbag car dealer. And its a cute little car and a fun drive. Unfortunately the Brake light keeps going on. Trusty mechanic says it may need brake lines replaced soon. Maybe now. But its still a nice vehicle. It does need a bit of rust/body work this summer.

I am afraid to see what my new insurance will be after we add on the Civic. Ugh.

Knitting - I am still working on my lovely Socks that Rock. It went on my work trip with me, and I completed several more rows (i am moving slowly toward the toes) during American Idol. I cried when LaKisha got booted. I thought she was terrible but I still cried. Fricking raging hormones. I don't even WATCH American Idol, and I cried. HOw lame is that!

Anyway - Knitting - work is seriously cutting into my knitting time and that is all I will say about that!

Cooper was most displeased that I left him for 3 days with #1 and #2 son. He insisted that they sleep with him on my bed (first night #1 and second night #2, just so you don't misunderstand and think my kids are totally weird). Heaven forbid I ever find some wonderful man. Cooper will not enjoy sharing his bed with him.

Freshman college students returning home

I picked up #1 son yesterday from college. After numerous phone calls about how much stuff he had, and whether I needed to bring boxes, I decided to borrow my brother's panelled van for the journey. My explorer needs a new front end and since I am hoping to trade it in this weekend, did not want to risk it breaking. #2 son has a Grand Am. #1 son assured me that all his stuff would fit, but in the meantime the Grand Am's dreaded Service Engine Soon light came on, and I really wasn't sure how much room there was in that vehicle.

So.....I ventured off in the panelled van which allegedly had new tires and brakes. Not sure what the old brakes were like but the new ones were nothing to get excited over. As I am driving up to Michigan in the pouring rain, I note that there are no dials on the heater/AC or fan selector. BRRRRRRRRRRRR! I had been instructed not to open the side door. Ever. IE I think its held shut with a bungy cord.

I arrive at Michigan. I discover what my son means by he has packed. All his crap thrown into a pile on the floor. I kid you not. The smart mommy probably would have gone right to the nearest Meijers or Target and picked up a bunch of Rubbermaid totes but nobody ever accused me of being the smart mommy. We threw it all in the van. Trust me - this stuff would not have fit in the Grand Am. Or the Explorer, for that matter. I cannot believe how much CRAP that kid had. Seriously. I should have taken a picture of it.

At lunch my brother called and told me how to jury rig the heat (and defrost, which had become critical). You move the dial from one spot to the other. Presto!

So, after numerous critical errands (including a detour to a LYS where I fondled some bulky merino and picked up a few extra needles - see my previous post), we head off for home. The van sputters. Sputters again, and dies. Out of gas. So off we go to the gas station. #1 son sprinting. Because its raining, don't you know, and because thats the pace college students walk at. We get to the gas station, somehow I don't have a heart attack, get the gas, and some good samaritan takes us back to the van. In the process of dropping us off, she backs into this planter thing and knocks it over - no damage to her car but much horrors on everyones part, including the shop owners. I pay for the broken styrofoam pot, clean up the dirt, we gas up the van (one gallon and it swings to full, do you see a problem?), and we go back to the gas station. Now the service engine light is on. The van greedily sucks up 40 some gallons of gas, we head off to the local quick lube, who very nicely inform us that all the fluids are fine, our best bet is to drive home, so we did.

But no, the story doesn't end there. A few more FUBAR's for the day. As I am backing the heinous evil van into my driveway, WHAM! Right into my garage door frame! No damage done, except to my pride. #2 son comes out and said "Wow, sounds like something just slammed into the house". Yes, dear, that would be your mother.

And one last one - we go out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner because oh boy I have a gift card......well, I knock over my very full water, and then determine that my gift card is for FREAKING OUTBACK! Ah I love my life!

So my living room is now filled with #1 son's crap. I went to Wal-fart and picked up several gimongous totes - and suspect we will need a few more. Otherwise, #1 son will leave the crap lying in the living room until its time to go back to school. Because thats how they live. Like PIGS!!!!!!

What to do what to do?

I am almost done with my lovely STR sock #1. The smart girl would cast on sock #2 immediately upon completing sock #1. But I have so many lovely yarns - I would love to start another instead! Perhaps in some of the pretty fixation I have! I have not worked with this yarn (or its Elann counterpart, which look identical) but I am ready to give it a try!

I really need to beef up my selection of needles - I just cannot see the two socks at once on two circulars working in my life style - between kids, dog, and work my stuff gets moved around alot - and I just see that as being a tangled mess. However, i can see huge advantages to working on both socks on DIFFERENT sets of needles!

April 17th

I survived. It was a rough evening - and no doubt I will have to edit this post - many coronas, jaeger-bombs, redhaired sluts and other weird shots....hoping that tomorrow I will NOT have a hangover, and that I can go buy a new car!!! I was responsible and did not drive myself home. I was not the first to leave but certainly not the last. Maybe at 47 years old, I am finally growing up.

I did have a client today inform me that "car dealers were the enemy" and that I did not HAVE to buy a car - that I could actually leave a dealer without purchasing one. So glad to know that!

Forgiven

I have officially been forgiven by my beautiful Socks that Rock yarn. It permitted an easy and flawless cast on last night. After 8 rounds, I did yet again start to knit with the tail (ok so I was watching 24 and got a little distracted) but realized only a few stitches into it and was able to fix the problem.

I really LOVE having a mindless piece of knitting for after a long 12 hour day at work. Something that requires no thought. Part of the reason I like socks.

Yesterday whilst hard at work I fell into the mason dixon warsh cloth black hole. After seeing several of these beauties, I was anxious to scuttle home and see if I had the pattern. I DO I DO! Unfortunately all of my peaches/cream or sugar/cream yarns are variegated, so I will have to brave the local wal-farts and get some plain colored yarns. I envision myself making these for everyone. Housewarmings! Christmas! Mothers day! (well maybe Mothers day, next year!)


These would certainly be less time consuming than the fiber trend clogs I plan on making for all my nieces and nephews. Here is a picture of my first completed clog from last Christmas. Modeled by #1 son. Made in University of Michigan colors. Overall I was pleased with how they turned out. He has smaller feet, so I did a women's large, using Cascade 220. This stuff took flipping forever to felt. #2 son's clogs were made with WOTA and Patons and they took half the time to felt.

Why we don't knit until after tax deadline are past

Last night I got home just in time for House (9 pm). I decided to cast away on my ill-fated STR sock (socks that rock). Cast on 56. Split the cast on onto two lovely and slippery circulars. Knit a round of K2p2 rib. No twists, go me. Do it again. No twists, go me, now I can do some seriously mindless knitting......one more round, and I run out of yarn. RUN OUT OF YARN. I was knitting with the freaking TAIL! And from way back! Reverse knitting simply was not an option.

It is punishing me, I swear, for trying that stupid heel on it. I gently ripped it out and promised to try again tonight. If it continues to punish me, I will place it aside until April 18th (or maybe the 19th if I have a hangover from the post tax season accounting festivities). Maybe by then all will be forgiven.

On another note, #2 son asked if I was planning on grocery shopping any time soon. I handed him a credit card and said "knock yourself out". Hoping he gets lots of sugar and things that will sustain me through the next week. When I went to bed, my Cooper put his big sea-turtle head on top of me so that I would not move. He only does this when he is feeling very grumpy and neglected.

Musings about gauge

Sock gauge, in particular.

I had two sock-tastrophe's this weekend. I have several friends who generally do a "plain vanilla" type sock - they do a few inches of ribbing and then stockinette for the rest of the sock. So I thought I would give it a try. Save some time on that pesky ribbing.

I was using some STR that I had received from a knittinghelp.com buddy. Beautiful stuff. Unfortunately label is long gone, so I am not dead sure whether it was lightweight or medium weight. Nonetheless, I bravely went forth using size 2 needles (inox), and casting on 56 sts. The fabric looked good, at a decent weight, and looked like they might fit....until I got to the heel. I was using the basic opal pattern heel and perhaps that was my problem. It looked gee-normous. Quite wide. Anyway, after I did the heel, the picking up of stitches and some gusset decrease rows...I tried it on.....it was NOT RIGHT..... Perhaps I ripped it out too fast. But I did. IT JUST WASN'T RIGHT, and I knew I would be unhappy with the end result. Then I tried to recast it on....but the yarn was displeased with me so it just wasnt working. Sigh. I still believe the needle size was correct and number of cast on's were correct. I either need to use my normal heel or do some sort of ribbing. So I put the yarn aside and started sock-tastrophe #2.

Plymouth sockotta. Pattern normally calls for #2's, but I am a bit of a loose knitter, so I cast on 56 on addi size ones. Did an inch of ribbing and wouldnt you know THIS one is clearly going to be too small. So now the dillema is this. Do I cast on 56 on 2's? Or do 64 on 1's?

So.....I asked some questions about ribbing on the sockknitters forum. Received many posts suggesting that I should have done gauge swatches. Gag. To me, the sock IS the gauge swatch. Like in sock-tastrophe #2. Lots of math too. I guess I need to do some measuring but I HATE math! Anyway, there was alot of heated discussion over my question (not directed at me). Dang, those ladies KNOW THEIR STUFF! I know they are right but I HATE MATH.

There are no socks in the immediate future for me anyway. It is one week away from tax deadline. The house is degenerating into piles of laundry, clutter and dog hair. No time to fiddle with starting a new pair of socks - which is my least favorite part due to the above issues of size and pattern.

Life after April 17th

I am anxiously planning to resume my life as soon as this year's tax season is over. Many plans and ideas - on the home front, and on a personal level. In an effort to prepare myself for the metamorphosis, I actually came into work late today (GASP!) and went and had my hair highlighted and cut for the first time since December. Lets just say the difference is hugely noticeable. Perhaps this new and vastly improved look will help me to lose a few excess lbs!

After tax season - I get to jump wholeheartedly into the #2 son project - "lets find a nice university to attend". He is currently a high school junior, but I learned with #1 son that postponing the visits is not a great idea. #2 doesn't know yet where he wants to go - or what he wants to be when he grows up (and why should he, I am still trying to figure that out). He may want to swim in college competitively - and based on this year's performances, would be an asset to many schools. We are not talking Olympic caliber but he is definitely a strong athlete, and it doesn't hurt that he has great grades. Other extra curriculars are a bit weak, but I think he will do fine.

#1 son will be home for the summer on April 25th. He goes to the University of Michigan - they get them around Labor Day and then send them home in late April. He is trying to get a high-paying internship this summer, also hoping to take some advanced calculus horror oops I meant class at University of Akron, so that he can pick up an Econ minor. If the internship doesn't work out, he can lifeguard and coach summer swim team. Not as prestigious or high paying but it will be good. Hoping he can help with some of the above-mentioned college visits.

Also on the agenda is purchasing a new car. I am one of those overly analytic people who has to look at every option....10 times....its a wonder I ever make a decision, quite frankly. Leaning toward the Rav4 right now. #1 will inherit the rusty Explorer, or the trade-in value there of. #2 is driving his cousins old Grand Am - really a sweet little car.

House-wise - I need to do a major cleaning after this past tax season. I spent several hours putting all excess knitting paraphanelia away last week. It had taken over a whole corner of my room. I would like to replace the flooring in my family room and perhaps my front door. And a new hot water heater.

Knitting - lots of projects and ideas. In no particular order:

1. Socks that rock socks on circs - about 1/3 complete on this project (just turned the heel on sock #1)
2. Block a month afghan - working on block one. Using Encore Chunky. My life is not conducive to using alpaca for an afghan with a lab and two teenage boys.
3. Numerous other sock yarns. Too many and too embarressing to elaborate.
4. Summer sweaters. Likewise.
5. Felted clogs. Lots of them for gifts. Maybe even a pair for me!

No pictures, of course. Because I am slacking at work right now. But soon. Any day now!

Knitty kitty

Knitty kitty

Lost in cyber-land!

My old blog appears to be lost in space. I can see it, but I can't edit it. User error, I am sure! I think I posted a link to it. Where else can you go to find the exciting pictures of Cooper wearing diapers after eating a bottle of fish oil capsules?

Speaking of Cooper - he continues to be a wonderful dog, except for when it comes to what he will eat. Anything, really. Recent adventures include just this week, a box of Thin Mints. A few weeks ago, he ate a bottle of multi-mega sports vitamins for men that my college aged son left on the floor. We had to call poison control over that one. Two days before that, he ate a bottle of kitty vitamins that same son left on the counter. We were glad when he went back to college.

Knitting - been very busy but I am at work now so will post pictures later. After April 17th later. It is tax season until then. And I love those pesky taxes, I do! They are what help pay for the yarn!