Catching up

When last you checked in; my car was being fixed, I had no plans for the holiday weekend and I was even considering cleaning out my closet.

What a difference 10 days make… The car a/c was fixed and worked perfectly on Friday and Saturday. Sunday it wasn’t working. I was so mad about it by Monday that I didn’t do anything all day. I was finally able to get the car back to the mechanic this past Saturday. After 2 hours sitting there (I don’t mind. It’s really very customer friendly and I was knitting my Monkey Sock) they had the a/c fixed and I’ve had cool air in my car ever since.

Other wise, here are some of the highlights of the past week-ish:

Sunday of the holiday weekend, I was invited to sit and knit and catch up with Jen on her newly constructed porch. It was still hot and humid out but there is something about sitting on a porch in the mountains, sipping iced tea and chatting with a dear friend that made the hazy, hot and humid weather a non-issue. It was delightful. I could spend every weekend with Jen, knitting on her porch. Her hubby made us lunch, and even a little shrimp appetizer which he served to us with sparkling wine. It was awesome and no, I don’t expect that treatment every time I go there.

Monday I stayed in, too mad at my car, and did laundry and got to the end of my Tomato sweater, which ihas a very huge neck line. The body fits, the neck line sags down below my boobs. Not sure what to do about that. Last night Shannon suggested I march boldly forward and see where it ends up. I think I'll take her advise. I'd post the pic I took of the neck line, but it's just about the worst picture of me ever.

I finished my May Socktopia Theme socks. I love the way they came out. Unfortunately – it’s just too hot to wear wool socks right now.

Last Thursday was the Virtual SnB (via Skype) with Shannon and Stephanie from the SSK Podcast. Being this was their first attempt at one of these it was a lot of fun. Some people were talking live, others were IM-ing, and then all of a sudden we were bombarded by the "porno people". Propositions were coming in, requests to be added to contacts in all different languages. It was funny. S&S stopped the live chat and made it a teleconference, but that had limitations (like not everyone could talk at the same time). It was a lot of fun. I met some really cool people from all over the world. Now it’s rare that I don’t have someone popping in to say Hi when I log onto my computer.

This past weekend was well – car repair, hanging out with Shannon, watching my (nephews) and a visit to the local street fair. As much fun as all that was – the highlight of the weekend was getting my invite to Ravelry.

The time, effort and money that has been put into this site by Jess (aka FreckleGirl) and her hubby Casey is unreal. It took a long time for me to get my invite but I have to say it was well worth the wait. I spent a lot of time entering information on the site; building up my data. It really is unlike anything out there. The coolest part of the system is that if you knit Monkey socks, and you enter them into your list of projects, a little box next to your data will tell you how many other users have knit that pattern and you can click on the number and see all of them . Below that, another box shows you how many people are working on a project with the same yarn. One click and you have a photo gallery (project and user) of all the finished Monkey Socks, along with comments or links to their blog entries. I could rant further, but you need to experience it for yourselves. As I said, it was well worth the wait!

As of yesterday there are screen shots available to check out. Then you can see what all the fuss is about and decide for yourself if you want to get on the waiting list.

Last night I freaked out the parents at my nephew's ball game by finishing the first Monkey sock and starting #2 while cheering the little leaguers on. It was kind of fun to have people stare and ask questions. I usually just get a stare and a smile ("leave the crazy knitting lady alone"). It was a nice change of pace.

New Improved Stuff!!! With Pictures!!!

My car is being fixed as I type this. Just in time for the really hot weather we’re expecting tomorrow (around 85°F). I will be happily air conditioned in my little car.

I got a really nice Thank You note and an awesome overnight tote bag (complete with company logo) from one of the Project Managers I support here. How cool is that? I can put maybe 4 or 5 sweaters plus all the yarn to knit them in there. Scary huh? But scary 'cause you know I'll do it.

It’s a holiday weekend here in the US and I plan on doing the same thing I did last year. Only this time I’ll be finishing up my Socktopia sock and Tomato sweater.

Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Crocus and Cream

Socks knit with Yarn Pirate "Daisy".

I’ve also been doing some crocheting. I have these hexagons to make a blanket of my own design. I’m using Caron Simply Soft (Dk Country Blue, Sage and off white) and Caron SS Shadows (Soft Merino). It is going to be so cool when I finish it.

And these few little babies to make the Babette Blanket from the Spring 2006 Interweave Crochet. See the Flicker Group for an idea of what the finished product will look like. I’m making it with Cotton Ease so I can keep it in my car for cold Pee Wee Football mornings and still be able to wash it easily when needed.

Mostly I’m planning a very quiet weekend. Last weekend was very busy full of family and parties and whatnot. Having three days in a row to chill out will be wonderful. I may even get a chance to do a little closet cleaning… Nahhhh – who am I kidding?

I ♥ Joss Whedon

This is why.

Wow...

I didn't realize I sounded that whiney in the last post. I'm really not in a bad mood. I promise. It's all just - life.

So here is a happy thing...
In a few short hours I will be laughing so hard I can't breathe, because my brothers are the funniest people I know.

Stuff and Nonsense

My mind is all over the place today.

My parents and middle brother are flying in today for my nephew’s 1st Communion tomorrow. Both nephews have baseball games tonight, but the latest weather forecast looks like it will rain all day. So Mom and Dad and my brother won’t get to see them play.

I started Tomato and all I want to do is go home and knit.

Why can’t I find any First Communion cards? Honestly. Even at Hallmark the only one they had for "Godson" was all glittery and girly looking. What's up with that? I ended up getting one that said "nephew" and wan't overly religous.

The Fed Ex delivery guy is such a honey. He flirts, I flirt back, but nothing will come of it. Mostly because I suspect deep down, when it comes to women, he is a pig.

I’m starting to get used to the idea that I’ll be single for the rest of my life.

The last meal I had that had protein in it was lunch yesterday - a BBQ Beef sandwich. before that I can't tell you when I had a well balanced meal. I’ve been on a Pop Tart and Nutri Grain bar kick.

The car repair will cost over $800 and will take 3 days to get the parts.

I have a new cell phone and I don’t think I’m happy with it. I hate flip phones and I’ve not had good luck with the batteries lasting on the last 2 Motorola phones I’ve had. So I got an LG Chocolate phone. I’m not too keen on the navigation pad in the center of the phone. When I talk, my cheek hits the pad and all of a sudden I’m in all sorts of different modes and I can’t hear the person on the other end because of the pad clicks. Unfortunately, I think this is the only choice I have for a phone. The other one the sales woman was trying to sell me is a Motorola and – well – no.

My feet, ankles, knees and hips have been hurting for weeks now. My SIL thinks I have lyme disease. I'm going to see the doctor on Monday about it.

Is it time to go home yet?

Another month, another car repair

Remember last month when the car door broke? The door hinge rusted and broke off, which was a major repair and a big pain in the butt.

The AC in my car can never be cold enough, so getting the Freon charged is an annual event. I took Barbie (did I mention my car’s name is Barbie?) to the mechanic on Saturday. I had coffee, knitting and a book to keep me company because they were really busy and I thought I’d be there for at least a couple of hours. I knit for about a half hour and then the mechanic pulled the car up in front of the shop. He came inside and said “You’re done but you’re not done.” That is never a good sign.

Apparently there is some do-hickey that is attached to a thing-a-ma-gig that snakes all along inside the engine compartment and eventually meets up with the what’s-it that makes the air blow cold and they are broken. OK – not only broken but totally missing. The what’s-it is still there and operational, but the other parts, not so much.

I had to take the car back there yesterday so that “my” mechanic could look at exactly which parts he’d need to order. “My” mechanic is the manager there and he doesn’t really work on the cars any more. He is a good friend of my brother’s so I know I have someone looking out for me. I still haven’t heard from him with an estimate, but yesterday he said it was going to be expensive.

So, now I’m wondering if this is going to be one of those years. You know – when all these weird things break on your car and you end up spending $2500 - $3000 fixing it and then realizing that amount of money is like having a car payment and why oh why didn’t you just get a new car then? This happened to me about 3 years ago and since I had already replaced a bunch of stuff that cost basically what a down payment on a new car would cost I didn’t go the new car route.

The question is – when do you know it’s time for a new car? Barbie is 9 years old and I thought I’d have her for a couple years yet. Insurance rates are sky high here in NJ, especially on a new car and then add in a car payment which I don’t have now and I don’t know if I can take on just now.

Unless I knit from my stash and don’t buy any more yarn…

*gulp*

The yarn (and other stuff)

I took the pictures a few days ago and then left on a business trip. I don’t have a laptop so I couldn’t post from the hotel. And as an aside gripe – the hotel didn’t have a movie rental service. I was stuck watching crap I wouldn’t even watch at home. I was looking forward to seeing something that had just been in the theaters not so long ago.

Anyway – here is what I purchased at MD S&W…

My first purchase was the pattern which is a crocheted scarf. I love the lacy but plain look of it. I was going to get the yarn too but it would have cost almost $200 and I wasn’t about to do that. I bought the yarn pictured with it, which is the same yardage and was just under $40. It’s really soft and yummy yarn.

Second was a rug hook kit. I’ve done rug hooking before and Shannon wanted to try it and I ended up getting this heart which I think is really cute. I have to find my hook and hoop.

Then we found the Fleece Artist Sea Wool and I got two skeins. I also got some Panda Cotton to try.

Then there is the Brooks Farm yarn. They have such lovely stuff, but I only bought the Acero in two colorways. The purple will more than likely be one of the shawls from Victorian Shawls today and the other a ½ pie shawl.

The last is the pattern and Koigu I got at Rosie’s

Believe it or not I've not cast on one of these yarns or started the rug hook kit. What I did do was cast on for a ripple scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I'm using Lorna's Laces and Shaeffer Anne. I may be casting on for the Tomato sweater later today (from No Sheep).

Does anyone know a treatment for cast-on-itis?