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May 31, 2005
Precious
In our quest for free hamburgers and some Pool time at a friend's house we met a Grandmotherly type who we'll call Crystal. Crystal figured us as easy targets and so she pulled out her camera phone to show us pictures of her little white floofy dog, Precious. The very moment she told me the dogs name "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again" popped in my mind before I could stop it. Stifling laughter I continued to be subjected to not only pictures of Precious, but video of Precious screeching like one of Buffalo Bill's hapless victims. If somehow between now and 60, pigs miraculously learn to fly and I turn into this type of floofy dog videoing, Precious naming, annoying Grandmotherly type you are hereby authorized to smack me. Repeatedly.
Who gets colds in summer time? I do. My ears are backed up again. Rendering me utterly useless.
Evidence of my Utter Uselessness
I can't open my PO Box without assistance. PO Box opening instructions are like tax instructions. I can follow knitting patterns, do calculus and have a college degree. Yet I need help opening my PO Box.
Pistachio hilarity or more evidence of my inability to function.
I futzed around with the decreases ending up with a weird wavy line of decreases. No, I don't know why I did that. Then I dropped the decreases down to the starting point in an effort to straighten them up. Which resulted in disaster and lots of cussing. I was able to bring the decreases back up to the needles but have decided to hide cover them with thick ribbon on either side of the leg.
The March Christmas Sweater monstrosity. I wound a big cone of Classic Elite Venue into a more portable ball. It seems the dog and the cat found it more portable too. It took me 2 and a half hours of tedium to untangle the unholy mess. When I started I had one giant toilet paper shaped ball of yarn. Now I have 7 "mini" hand wound balls.
Spearfish is stuffed in a bag, hidden from view because I don't want to face the reality that the heel must be ripped.
The preceeding evidence of my ineptitude (I hope) was caused by my current cold. If not I attribute it to my exposure to Precious.
Posted by Michelle at 09:17 AM | Comments (0)
May 30, 2005
More on Marriage
Thankfully I have a supportive and understanding Husband. Who doesn't get irritated with me when I overshare and poke fun at him and our life on the Internet. He doesn't laugh when I share my secret wish to be the Erma Bombeck of our generation. He compliments my knitting skills in public and brags to others about what I've made. When we have guests he shows them our ball winder and swift, and if I have an extra hank of yarn he'll wind the hank into a ball to demonstrate how cool it is.
I try to be a good wife. Occasionally I watch Oprah and experience what I like to call "Oprah Guilt." It usually lasts for a day or two where I overcompensate for not being the perfect wife. It involves me doing some half-assed cleaning and distributing back and foot rubs. I try to do all those ridiculous things that I think a wife should do, and usually end up failing miserably. The Husband typically catches on very quickly (Usually right around the time the house is falling down around us) to Oprah Guilt and chastises me for it. I am truly thankful he wants to real me and not the Oprah Guilt me.
He gets his perks too. Like when I knit him stuff. Sometimes I try to do the right thing around the house and fill up the hand soap dispenser. And sometimes when it seems that all the dishes are current (except for drinking glasses) I make big sacrifices. Like drinking out of a used water bottle for three days due to the dearth of available clean glasses. Today I gave in and washed a glass and a few bowls so I didn't have to drink or eat with my hands. What can I say but I like to give.
Obligatory Knitting Content
To distract myself from the self inflicted small disaster on Pistachio I whipped out a fishley toy for the dog. I stuffed it with roving. It's a big hit! I learned of the pattern on the Knitty Coffeeshop message boards. The lovely and talented April Broken Arrow wrote a simple and quick pattern for the fishlets. Some people are making these into a blanket. Which would be disgustingly cute.
I'm also making a baby Kimono for a classmate and his wife who are expecting. They've been trying to have a baby for a while and I am overjoyed to say they are due this fall. My dear Mother sent me the Mother load of knit vintage magazines where I found the sweetest Kimono pattern in an old book dating from 1960, called Bernat Baby Fashions in Baby-Germantown. In homage to the pattern book I am using acrylic Bernat yarn. It is a delight to work with after the trauma of cotton/linen crap and cotton blends that wreak havoc on my hands. Except for that infernal squeaking sound it makes on the needles. But it's easy on the pocketbook and machine washable. A good choice for baby clothes I think.
I'll be adding the other arm as to avoid the one sleeve shorter than the other look, as seen in Loop-d-Loop
Posted by Michelle at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
A Year in Revue
This is where I should share my purls of wisdom on being married for one hundred years. I've learned many valuable lessons throughout the year.
Plan ahead, especially when important things like cake are involved.
When you don't micromanage oversee the freezing of the cake, things like pickled roses and assorted other foliage end up in places where you least expect them. Luckily I had hard evidence from other brides that year old frozen cake tasted terrible. So I planned ahead and asked my Dear, Understanding, Husband to pick up an ice cream cake. (Complimenting your spouse in a public forum will earn you points.)
Here are some of my favorite Hints.
-Pretend to be asleep so the spouse has to let the dog out at 5:30 am. (We both practice this religiously)
-Pretend not to notice the hand soap is empty until the other person fills it. Then praise effusively.
-Threatening to put the cat box scoop on his pillow is not nearly as effective as buying an automated cat box.
-When he doesn't do the dishes you don't do the laundry.
-If possible hire someone to scrub the toilet and the floor once a month.
-If all else fails, drink knit.
-When he folds his socks Why has he kept every sock and pair of underwear he's acquired for the past 15 years? like you asked but can't move them 3 feet into his dresser and then tells you you are turning into your Mother when you ask him for the 50th time to put them away, you take a picture of his crimes as to publicly smite embarrass him for his insolence.
Family DysFUNction.
You can't just spill secrets on getting along with the irascible relatives by name in an open forum like the internet. Especially if they can use google or if your blog isn't totally anonymous or you have many a snarky comment about their behavior.
-On the occasion when you have to suffer be around his family, drink knit.
In closing I must ask that you not share these tidbits of abject (but sometimes useful) sarcasm wisdom with your spouse because what happens in Wife club stays in Wife club. Brad Pitt is a big feature in Wife club. But we won't talk about that.
Posted by Michelle at 09:13 AM | Comments (0)
May 28, 2005
Hard to believe it's been a year already!!
Posted by Michelle at 07:17 PM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2005
Flippant Friday
Behold as a wild ass in the desert go I forth to my work.
Jon Luc Picard Patrick Stewart, Dune
I admit I am one of the 10 Dune fans in the world. Young Kyle MacLachlan will you marry me? I was thrilled and amazed to see the SciFi channel showing the long version. So thrilled I turned on the sound up to "49." Which sounds really rumbly and cool when the State Puff Marshmallow Man Spaceships are flying around.
I don't have much to write about today. I'm tired. I have officially got a Graduate Committee and will be submitting my Advancement to Candidacy paperwork in the next few days. Next up is research all summer culminating with me writing my thesis and turning it in before October 28, 2005. Somebody hold me, please.
In knitting news I'm almost ready to turn the heel on Spearfish. It looks like crap. Somewhere I goofed up the handkerchief heel even though I've done it at least 4 other times. But it's on US 0 needles so it will just look sloppy 'cause I ain't ripping it out. At least I'll be able to tell the two socks apart although I'm not sure what purpose that will serve.
The shorts are great. In my usual manner I used the gauge from the pattern and took off from there. Yesterday I started the seat of my pants (how many times will I make that pun?) waist shaping using a pair of shorts I love as a model. It seems like endless stockinette probably because it is. The March Christmas Sweater is plugging along. I have 10 long inches of pattern before I start the shoulder shaping and bind off. I'll be sad to give away a sweater. I figure if all else fails I can just keep it for myself. I am muy selfish.
Speaking of selfish I want new yarn SO bad. I want lace weight. I keep talking about the venerated Flower Basket Shawl but the truth is I want to make another lace weight shawl. I've worn my newly finished Easy Peasy Lace shawl at least 4 times since I finished it. I'd wear it more if it wouldn't net me funny looks from the other students in my lab. I also need shawl pins. I have a couple of nice ones but I must have more! Any ideas on where to buy nice quality pins that don't cost a ton of money?
I'll close with a gratuitous picture of Baxter recovering from a playing binge.
Like a wild ass in the desert I will go forth to my work today. Have a great weekend!
Posted by Michelle at 08:08 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2005
The Michelle Show
What are the chances that someone could accidently toss their last pair of clean running shorts crotch first into a cup of coffee? I'd say mighty high when you're the star of the Michelle Show.
I have no shame. I used the blow dryer to dry the crotch of my last pair of wearable running shorts. I smelled like day old crusty coffee at the gym and do you know why? As a public service. Exercise helps prevent me from unleashing my PMS-induced Inner Sea Harpy on the world. You should give thanks.
I will continue to blog about these small events that happen in my life because I care about you, the readers, and your daily dose of amusment at the dumb things I do.
Boberta
I have this good friend, I'll call her Boberta. She has a visitor who we'll call Ms. Out-of-town Mademoiselle, or Mom for short. My dear friends, Boberta has quite a yarn collection. Why she even has yarn stowed in a 10 gallon trash can! It turns out she had an old overflow of ye olde stash and was trying to prevent the pain it would inflict on dear old Mom. So I offered up my place as a stash containment site. Little did she know the hilarity that would ensue. Documented pictures may be viewed here, here, here, here, and here.
Dear Boberta,
I am taking good care of your stash. Baxter says it smells good. I hope you're having a good visit with your Mom!
Kindest Regards,
Bichelle
Any similarities to real life people or events are merely coincidental. No yarn was harmed during the shooting of these photos.
Posted by Michelle at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2005
Various Sundry Unrelated Topics
"Sorbet Cozy" Pattern:
I used Rowan Big Wool on size US 15 Denise Needles. My gauge was about 2 stitches per inch. The pattern was based on the brand size seen in Tuesday's post. I cast on 23 stitches and joined in the round. I knit for about 2 inches and then decreased two stitches in the next round the following way: At beginning of round: K1, k2 tog, k8, k2 tog, knit to end. I knit for about 1 and 3/4 inches more. Then I decreased two more stitches similar to the way I did above and bound off. I suggest Chocolate or Lemon flavors. Microwaving for approximately 35 seconds will give you a nice melty sorbet.
To Whom it May Concern: I have reclaimed the surfaces of my house. Also note the dishes and laundry are done and put away. Except for that load I let sit in the warsher overnight.
Here's a shot of Pistachio lounging in my permanent assprint on the couch. Note to self: Cramming produce rubber bands on needles with a cable smaller than the diameter of your hips I swear it's a 36 inch cable will not prevent stitch spillage when trying on Pistachio. Second Note: Ignore Husband when he says shorts are the perfect length. Third Note: It is not appropriate for me to wear super low wax required shorts. Not even in the house. By myself.
Speaking of waxing... Let me tell you the story of Audrey*. She is the best waxist this side of the Mississippi. During the year before my wedding I took care of myself. I had my hair cut regularly, bought and wore makeup, ate right, exercised, and had my brows groomed regularly. Lets not speak of the week after the wedding when I threw out all my makeup away, brought out my fat pants, and haven't had a hair cut since October.
After many embarrassing mishaps I found the waxing love of my life, Audrey. I went through tweezing, waxing, threading, errant hairs, over plucking, under plucking and looking permanently surprised that one time. Audrey knows her brows, she was my eyebrow savior. She also knows about Kitchen Aid Mixing, Make up, Fundamentalists, and went to school with famous people. I love me some Audrey. So two days before Christmas I went to the place that employed Audrey to get my chewbacca brows groomed. I waltzed in without a care in the world because I knew I would walk out with the best looking brows untouched by airbrush.
It was with great solemnity that the sales clerk informed me Audrey was no longer with the company.
I can not explain to you the depth of my sorrow at that moment. My brows went on a 3 month hiatus. They grew to the point where I could spin them into grody eyelash yarn, and could scare small children. With great trepidation I went to the mall to another store where they rip out eyebrow hairs in chunks whether it goes with the shape of the brow or not. I was the victim of an eyebrow waxing disaster of enormous proportions. I was sad for weeks. Then the sunshine reappeared! Audrey sent me a note telling me she now works at Salon ShiShi*! And because its been months of growing out the last eyebrow disaster of '05 I'm about to make a triumphant return to see her! I know what you are thinking, that it's going to cost me one hundred million dollars to get my substantial brows waxed at Salon ShiShi but I care not. Some people care about fingernails, some people care about hair or weight. What I care about (other than yarn of course) is eyebrows.
*Names have been changed so I can keep Audrey all to myself
Posted by Michelle at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)
Puppy Love
If you gave birth to me, please avert your eyes from this post. It will only cause you chagrin and disapointment that your youngest of 3 keeps a messy house and has not yet had any grandchildren.
There are no clean surfaces in my house. And I might add every single dish is dirty. Every cup, spoon, knife, fork, chopstick, plate, bowl, coffee mug, and glass is dirty AND covering every spare inch of surface on the kitchen counter. I don't blame my Husband. It's his job to do the dishes, but he's sick. It's not his fault if I kill him now he won't be able to do the dishes I use 5 of each flavor of dish daily. .
Due to the lack of clean surfaces, I had to evict the dog from his rug so I could take some pictures.
I call this one "Sorbet Cozy." Damn I'm clever.
I love my felted clogs. Although I'm a little concered I felted them a bit too much stupid wide feet.
Back to the Dog. He didn't like being evicted from his favorite rug. So he escaped the yard again. And a pretty lady rang my doorbell (have I mentioned I have a pile 6 feet tall of dead trees in my front yard?) to tell me she saw the open gate and the dog. Then she saw me in my dirty clothes, unbrushed hair and red flip flops running after the dog. Who was laughing at me from the neighbors yard where he was perched. Oh the humanity.
The previous post was brought to you by the letters P, M, and S.
Posted by Michelle at 06:49 AM | Comments (0)
May 23, 2005
Great Moments in Knitting History
Ever think to yourself whilst knitting in the round:
Self: Self aren't you glad you've never accidently ended up with a twisted cast on?
Only to realize 3 hours of knitting later that you just did?
Me neither.
This is a Public Service Announcement brought to you by Real Simple Magazine -or- Why I knit instead of do Home Improvements.
Dear Real Simple Magazine,
I implore you to stop giving dolts like myself these crazy ideas that they can do Home Improvement projects. These purported "projects" are not Real Simple, they are in fact Real Complicated for the Real Incompetent.
This monstrosity was created by myself with 3 cans of spray paint, primer, and one injury to the supposed "spray paint finger." It has been the shining highlight of my Living Room, present for all to mock for the past year. Please publish a follow up article on how to set afire throw out said horrific unfinished "projects."
Knitterly Yours,
Her Fickleness.
Another reason I knit and leave the Home Improvement to the Experts:
Posted by Michelle at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)
May 20, 2005
Knitting Wanderlust
Oh the fickleness of the Fickleknitter.
The Summer IK shorts (from the bath set) are cute, but the cotton tires my hands. I decree Summer IK shorts will heretofore be called "Pistachio" after the color of cotton ease I'm using.
The March Christmas sweater is sometimes enjoyable, especially since I charted the pattern. But Classic Elite Venue crap tape is prone to needle poking and making my shoulder hurt from k3tog.
Triada. Evil be thy name. Whose idea was it to combine black, hot pink, and lime green? Oh yeah that would be mine. This knit has been elevated to hate strongly disliked status. Going back and rereading the measurements I've realized this will not fit all drapey and ethereal over my chest. I will look like a realllllly big fish stuck in a reallllly small net should I be stupid enough to wear it. And who in the hell can I bestow $35 of ugly upon?
Spearfish Socks. After casting on on at least ten different occasions I think it's finally stuck. All I had to do was change Needles, Yarn, and Sock Size. I still had to cast on 3 different times last night. One holdup involved me trying to shove stitch markers I'd made onto split rings approximately 3 mm wide with a butter knife. Roberta had 911 punched into cell phone ready to go. As I've had accidents of supreme stupidity involving doing really ridiculously dumb things with knives before. I swear I'm not a circus performer.
Baxter finds all yarn Spearfish to be delectable.
Star Dorks
You know it's bad when the trip to Star Wars: Revenge of the Smurf Sith starts out with me putting my hands to my head and telling Bertie I'm using the force and can she guess what I am doing. She replied with the correct answer. I was being a dork. We were dorks in my house before we left, in the car, buying the tickets, in line, before, during and after the movie. For uber dorks everywhere I've taken a bad picture of the Star Wars Marquis.
A long, long line of 15 formed out side the theater.
We knit in line.
This is Roberta's gorgeous sweater that I covet and I'm going to take even if it doesn't fit me.
Here you see pistachio. I don't know why my arm looks so incredibly huge except to mention foreshortening. Foreshortening also makes pistachio leg look much much bigger than my thigh. Ahem.
Posted by Michelle at 08:16 AM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2005
The Cat Whisperer
The winner of the Stargate Contest! with a guess of 9 episodes is Lyssa! She's awfully busy whispering to her kitties, but I figure she'll do well to have a yarn distraction. I'll be sending some sock yarn, needles, and homemade stitch markers I've been churning out.
La Said:
hee hee...I've got this visual of you as Donkey in Shrek, jumping up and down behind all the enchanted creatures screaming "ooooh...pick me pick me!"
You don't know how much your comment rings true! My Uncle Johnny used to offer my a shiny new dollar bill if I'd shut up for five minutes. Is it any surprise I never got the damn dollar? Not even once!
I am the product of an environment with 2 older siblings who lived away from home when I was growing up. We lived on a farm, with 3 TV channels, cows, and lots of books. Are you surprised that my derivative sense of humor stems from Garfield comics, Gordon Korman books, The Far Side, and the writing of Lewis Grizzard, and Dave Berry?
In between all the book reading I had to entertain myself.
And I have the attributes of the baby of the family and an only child. It makes for an interesting mix of showing off performance art personality traits. Most in real life would find me fairly subdued, but sometimes too much coffee brings out the "look at me" in me.
In knitting news I cast on for a new project...but not anything that I've mentioned before. The siren song of discontinued Cotton Ease proved to be too much for me and a picked up a few balls. Summer IK has a bath set consisting of a bathrobe, tank top, and shorts. I opted to do the shorts only, and I'm changing the pattern quite a bit. I'm knitting both legs in the round, then I'll join them and finish the seat of my pants (ha) in the round as well. I'm going to change the eyelets ties too. I just can't leave well enough alone, can I?
I'll be at the movies watching Star Wars today with my popcorn and chocolate barring sold out crowds. Happy Thursday!
Posted by Michelle at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)
Hippy Hippy Sheep
The Stargate Contest! is over and there is a winner! I'll post more later. But no worries, my love for all things Richard Dean Anderson Sci fi continues on.
I'm planning a coup d'etat involving the venerated Flower Basket Shawl sometime this week. I have the most perfect yarn, Baby Silk from Elann. Does anyone else find the Pasticcio model mildly unnerving?
Here's a preview of the Chevron Lace Pullover commonly known as the March Christmas Sweater.
Baxter gives his stamp of approval.
I am usually loathe to post quiz results in the old blog, but I'll make an exception since this one is pretty cute. I saw it first on the blog belonging to Snooze, who I can only hope likes the Soprano's as much as I do. (Snooze didja get my email?) I am not easily swayed by flattery. The comment Snooze left had everything nothing to do with my linking her today.
Snooze said:
I just got here via Laurie's blog...got you Bloglined now, I do. You hang with cool people and your knitting is fabu and I am your newest (but not onlyest) fan! I do however, find it curious that you say *y'all* which is a southernism and *braw* which is so New Jersey that it's Soprano. Any explanation? Signed, Your New Fan
I answered via email, and have chosen to share my reply with my accompanying thoughts added in bolded text:
Susie,
Thanks for the laugh! I have a fan! The truth is I am a diehard Soprano's fan. There are people in the world who are fans of stuff, and that is really cool. Another truth is I said "Braw" because I figured if I said "Brawl" (the true way to say it in Southernese) no one would know what I was talking
about. And then all my Fans would go away and that would suck, I like fans. So maybe subconsciously I picked the Soprano's accent? Because I am a fan of the Sopranos, I heart you Tony Soprano!!!!! Ok Paulie Walnuts too. And Silvio.
I should be so cool! To have a fan, I love fans!.
Which flock do you follow?
this quiz was made by alanna
No pointing and laughing at the Hippy Sheep, mkay?
Posted by Michelle at 08:11 AM | Comments (0)
May 17, 2005
I changed my mind.
First things first, don't forget the Contest! Leave your numeric guess in my May 16 post!
Secondly, I changed my mind. I'm allowed to do that, because I am a fickle knitter after all. I love the Free and Easy Shawl. I blocked it til it could be blocked no more.
I haven't been completely honest my dear readers. The total length of the entire ball of Helen's Lace was three quarters of a mile, and I had some left over. So in fact I knit approximately half a mile of garter stitch. But what can I say? Occasionally I employ hyperbole all the time.
Names and faces have been concealed to protect the innocent.
I'm The models are anxiously awaiting a photoshop "double chin removal" button. The models have also asked that I post the following Public Service Announcement for their Husbands:
Thou shalt replaceth the Toilet Paper Roll after it is emptied forthwith.
I am fighting the urge to cast on roughly 345,789,218 new projects. Currently I'm working on a pair of the Fiber Trends felted clogs, the evil that will be known as "Triada," the March Christmas sweater, and a devil hat for Mr. La. I want desperately to cast on for the Flower Basket Shawl, a few pair of socks, another sweater, a couple scarves, and a sorbet pint cozy. Somebody, please, take my needles away.
Posted by Michelle at 08:52 AM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2005
I'm done Helen's Lace Free and Easy Pie-Wedge Shawl. It's not really clear to me why knitting three-quarters of a mile of garter stitch interspersed with 72 yarn overs is really Free or Easy. Why did I think that much garter stitching was an acceptable task? Sure I thought "it's lace! It's pretty!" while I was in the store, and I was enamored with Lorna's Laces Tahoe delightful colorways. But looking back to three months ago, I'm not really sure what possessed me to take on this project. I even asked my Husband. I said "Husband, who is worthy of a gift requiring this much time and effort?" Sadly the only person he came up with is me. So it turns out in the beginning when Roberta said I could never give away a rough draft, she was right. I'll be sitting here in the corner rocking back and forth wearing my Free and Easy Pie-Wedge Shawl with my rubber chicken pajama pants. And my Fredricks Braw. And socks under my flip flops.
It's Presentation Time
I prepared 15 slides for my Free and Easy Graduate Student How I screwed around all semester Presentation. And you know what? Apparently I'm the only Grad Student in the 21st century! There wasn't even a projector with which to attach my sad, sorry laptop.
All the other smartypants Graduate students cleverly wrote their presentations on the backs of snotty tissues or had those fancy schmancy "transparencies." So I stood up and introduced myself, explaining that my presentation would be "Low-Tech" although I had painstakingly prepared too many slides come prepared. Said about 20 seconds worth of filler and then opened up the discussion to questions which got a lot of laughs. I don't think they figured out I wasn't joking.
How to be a fan girl 101
I had the pleasure of hanging out with two of the coolest Laura/ies ever. I was worried on the way over if my tin hat was propped just so, and if they would notice my fan girl whistle. Silly me. La makes the best tea outside of the Mason Dixon Line, and keeps supplying me with crack more seasons of Stargate SG1. If you didn't know already she used to be a Renne Faire Enthusiast. she also has a closet full of the most delightful princess queen period gowns. I mean if I were her I'd totally get all dolled up and head out to Vons. I'd probably even try to speak with a really terrible british accent. Because that's period right? Everyone spoke Britainese back then! Bloody buggery snoggingly boot tele Monty Python Benny Hill Absolutely Fabulous Britainese Sweetie Darling!
Ahem
Laurie is also an amazing addition to the Knit bloggers of the world. Even if I am only a knit-blogger-hanger-on I was thrilled to hang out with someone who speaks the same language. And by that I mean Southernese. She knows what sweet tea is, she says ya'll all the time, and knows how to entertain you! Back in the south when I grew up there were country stores where the old guys would "set" on beat up old tore down bug infested armchairs and would shoot the shit all day. In the long tradition of shooting the shit the best storytellers come out. Laurie has the number one head honcho armchair position in my estimation. She is one hell of a hell of a story teller, and don't let her tell you any different. You know how well she writes and you get all caught up in it and you want to laugh and cry at the same time? That's Laurie. She can shoot the shit with the best of them. And you know what else? Wouldn't it be great if her fantastic writing was rewarded with a fabu and well deserved writing contract? Who'd have the creativity then? Huh?
I'm done blowing sunshine for today except to say La is a fantastic hostess and Laurie will entertain the hell out of you.
If you've made it this far you'll realize I'm having a good old fashioned Stargate CONTEST! No Sci Fi experience necessary! The first person to correctly guess the number of season two episodes of Stargate SG1 I've watched since Saturday night will get a prezzie from me! Leave a comment by May 17th, Midnight Pacific time and you could win! Don't miss out!
Posted by Michelle at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2005
Redrum is done!
The sweater was knit on US size 6, 40" Addi turbos using GGH Soft Kid in Wine. I added 2x2 ribbing to the sleeves and bottom, 1 1/2 inches and 3 inches respectively. I added Lace edging Number 290 from The New Knitting Stitch Library
Posted by Michelle at 09:40 AM
May 12, 2005
These are a few of my favorite things
Needle Sizes
Each time I change needles in the midst of a project my gauge changes. This time I traded my US Size 6 Addis with the same sized Denise's. My gauge is larger with the Denise needles. I figure it will all come out in the wash, but the phenomenon continues to surprise me. The same problem presented itself even between needles from the same Manufacturer. I have 2 slightly different sized socks caused by using 2 different sets of US 1 Addis. Maybe it's psychosomatic.
I have a presentation this evening. Ten minutes of me discussing my research. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
I've been tagged by Lisa of Knot In My Thread. It's my first tag, I feel blog famous now :-p
In no particular order here are 10 of my favorite things
1. The smell of freshly fallen snow.
2. My first cup of coffee in the morning.
3. Wind chimes jingling in the breeze.
4. The sound of waves crashing on the beach.
5. Spending time with my Husband.
6. Knitting.
7. Reading.
8. Lounging by the fireplace with a roaring fire.
9. My second cup of coffee in the morning.
10. Having house pets.
If you've made it this far you'll know that I'm tagging
Lyssa and
Roberta.
Posted by Michelle at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2005
I think I need some of that water now...
I tried to do a simple lace edging with 12 stitches cast on and it proved to be too much. Ever the optimist I'll give it another go eventually, after a good douse of the Smart Water that is.
We have woodland creatures in our backyard.
Specifically small baby Possums. I know they eat bad things, are good for the environment, and there's even yarn with their fur, BUT DAMN. These beasts are U-G-L-Y. Surprisingly they don't like to be sprayed by a screaming loon homeowner with a water bottle. They hiss with their mouths open similar to a crocodile.
Being practically prehistoric and all, they could be distant cousins couldn't they? I'll never get over the time an ill possum crawled into our backyard and died. And for hours we didn't know if it was really dead or Possum dead. It involved lots of screeching and some stick poking. Thankfully we lived in an apartment complex where there were people whose job it was to sweep up dead-dead Possums. Else there would have been some real hysterics.
Posted by Michelle at 06:36 PM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2005
All Stargate All the Time
It must be my fascination with Richard Dean Anderson all things Science Fiction. Is Stargate SG-1 a really great show or what? Many thanks to The Mistress of All Things Jedi, La (Hey I saw Darth Tater at your HOUSE) for letting me borrow Season One. I finished up the last episode today and let me tell you TO BE CONTINUED does not bode well with me.
Redrum Revisted
The sleeves are attached, the ends single crocheted, and most importantly, I've picked up stitches to add K2,P2 around the bottom since the sizing is appropriate for a prepubescent girl.
I've mentioned to numerous people that if I ever speak of knitting a Rebecca pattern again, they are to bodily remove the magazine from my hot little hands and smack me with it until the desire is gone.
I was just commenting to Roberta the other day how I only had 3 projects going. I now have 5. I expect that number to increase exponentially. Please, somebody stop me from casting on for the Flower Basket shawl, yet another pair of socks (I whipped out a quickie pair since the last time I talked about socks), another cotton warshcloth, a cozy for my sorbet pint, and finally from buying all the Cotton Ease in the world just because it's discontinued.
Posted by Michelle at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
May 03, 2005
Top Ten
Reasons why Yarn is better than Men.
The following list is based on fictional characters and events. Any perceived similarities real or imagined are not the responsibility of the author.
1. It doesn't talk back.
2. It never forgets to do the dishes.
3. No snoring.
4. It doesn't scratch its bits in public.
5. It doesn't care for football or other sports.
6. It doesn't cut down all the trees in the yard and leave them in a 6 foot heap until the lady of the house gets tired of it and piles the trees on her husband's side of the bed flips out.
7. It doesn't know any annoying dialogue from movies or tv shows such as but not limited to Star Wars I, II, IV, V, and VI, Monty Python, and Conan the Barbarian.
8. It appreciates you bringing home more yarn friends.
9. It always knows the right answer to "Does my butt look fat?"
10. No pesky Mother in Law.
Thanks to Roberta for inspiring today's post with a hilarious post of her own. A Special Thanks to my darling husband for his fantastic sense of humor.
Posted by Michelle at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2005
A Country Mouse in the Big City
My home town had a population of approximately 22,000. I thought that was a lot. This was before I moved to California. My first experiences in California proved very enlightening and terrifying at the same time. Did you know city streets out here are bigger than Interstates? My first summer here I participated in a summer intern program at UCSD. They provided a place to live and a car wasn't necessary thankfully, because there was no way I was ready to tool around a six lane city street. The one time I did drive my Husband's (enjoying boyfriend status then) car, we got rear ended! Can you believe that? What are the odds that the first time you set your foot on the gas peddle in California a Dad with a car full of unruly kids rear ends you and knocks you into the car in front of you?
I eventually got over my white knuckled fears and became a road warrior myself. I've learned however that these driving tactics do not work in towns of say 22,000. Unless you want to bring the attentions of the law upon yourself. Another new driving related phenomenon is driving half a block from point A to point B even if you can visually see the place you are visiting next. Last night I drove approximately 15 parking spaces north to be closer to a restaurant after our shopping trip. In college (a small town of 50,000 residents, most who liked to set couches afire damn firebugs and tear down goal posts) I'd walk 2 miles to the grocery store to fill up my backpack with that weeks food without a second thought mindyou. I guess looking at all those beads at Michael's last night must have really tired me out, rendering me incapable of walking 30 additional feet.
I admit I was considered a little strange in my home town. I definitely marched to the beat of my own drummer. But not in California. I'm normal here! I have personally witnessed people doing all of the following:
-Playing the trumpet in the car (while driving)
-Babies sporting Mohawks
-Senior citizens having weird facial piercings and jewelry
-Low rise boot cut man jeans
-Manpris
-Car theft involving a Frito Lay Truck and a interstate freeway 15 mile-per-hour police pursuit.
-skate boarding, skate boarding on long boards, scootering while wearing low rise boot cut man jeans
-forcefully trying to get signatures for the latest proposition in front of the grocery
I am normal isn't that great! Except when it comes to talking. I believe I have that Northern Virginia DC Metro Area Non Southern Accent-Accent. You know the kind where there are no R's except in words where they don't belong like "warsh?" My two favorite examples are Virginia and Arthur, pronounced Vah-Gin-Ya and Aw-thor. Suffice to say a simple word like "On" ie the Yarn is on the cat becomes Southernized. I say it like this "the yarn is awn the kaaat." I have work on my diction if I want to avoid bringing home a Sprite (isn't it called a Coke?) and a burrito when I asked for a cheeseburger and french fries.
We won't even address my yarn manufacturer pronunciations. That's a topic better left for a post of its own.
Posted by Michelle at 08:55 AM | Comments (0)