Sa(k)nit(t)y

regrouping

2009-02-16T12:54:00.002-05:00

Every so often, one just really needs to regroup.

I can always tell when I need to re-group knitting-wise when I stop knitting. When I don't even feel the desire to knit, which is really unheard of, and cause for alarm for me. Knitting is my sanity, knitting is how I relax, and create, and quiet the voices in my head. So for me to not knit is not a good thing. Writing is the same. Running is the same. For the past two, maybe even three months, I haven't been doing much knitting, some writing (mostly unproductive) and absolutely no running. Today is the day that all of that changes.

Today I cleaned out my knitting bag and did what I had to do. Ruthlessly. I put some projects into a long-term state of waiting. They are going into the basket, and will be redeemed later this summer in time to finish them up for next Fall.

I still love the Elizabeth Bennet Cable Cardigan. Love it. Want it.

Don't want to keep knitting it right now, a sleeve and a half short of done. Just don't.

I won't get it finished in time to wear it much this winter anyway, so why press onward when really? the not wanting to knit on it is keeping me from knitting at all? Off needles and onto scrap yarn it goes, and into the basket with you, Liz...see you in September.

The Back to School U-Neck vest? Ditto. I'll see you in time for next school year, but not right now.

Monkey socks? One down and the cuff of one started...they can stay, I had to order a new circular needle to finish the second sock, the one I have (Addi Turbo Lace) although lovely, has a cord that is much too long for this project and keeps kinking up, leading me to swear and curse it as I straighten it out over the tea kettle yet again. So, they are on a break until the new Harmony wood circular comes from KnitPicks. It should be here today or tomorrow.

The wool for Campbell's winter hat and mittens? I mean, it's almost the end of winter. Who am I kidding? And we finally found his warm, toasty, and waterproof L L Bean mitts that fit from last year. Maybe his red and blue coat will still fit next year? And if not, well, red and blue are pretty universal.

I think what it is, is that I am feeling Spring coming...and the winter knitting that was supposed to be done by now, has become an anchor, a dread, a chore, something that I am supposed to get finished, had planned on finishing long before this point, and now is just a drag.

And so, my knitting bag is down to just one (it had been two of them) beside my chair and the basket in the closet is a bit fuller, but now I can cast on for something else, not really new as I've knit one before, something I want to knit for Spring, and that feels better.

Writing? Well, it's a process and I have to do some work on that. It isn't as easy as reorganizing a bag, how I wish it were.

Running? I probably need to unfold the treadmill to fix that problem. I think I'll do that next.

All is Revealed...

2009-01-02T21:15:00.003-05:00

And hopefully Amy will not look on Le Blog until after her baby shower tomorrow! If you are, in fact, Amy...look away.

It is the Hemlock Ring Blanket from Brooklyntweed.

Details on my Ravelry Page.

Knitting Projects for 2009:

finish Elizabeth Bennet Cardigan (just sleeves to go, but the love affair is over)--soon!
finish second Monkey sock for me--
finish Back to School U-Neck vest for me
make baby blanket for Colleen--I have until the end of May
mittens and hat for Campbell Joe--cast on soon, maybe this weekend
February Lady sweater--start February 1st...finish by end of month?
Lily from Twist Collective--choose yarn
Socks for Alan for Fall 2009
Clapotis for Helene?

Wow...that seems like a lot.

Let me sleep on this list. I may need to tweak it a bit.

Black Hole

2008-12-29T16:56:00.001-05:00

I am knitting a super-secret project for still-blogless Amy...and I swear, this pattern has a black hole in the middle. I have been knitting for days, and the darn thing is not getting any bigger?

I've heard of this mystery.

2008-10-19T14:50:00.008-04:00

I've been working on Liz (my Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan).

I have the body finished, the button bands complete, and I had one sleeve almost done...until I realized that I had screwed up and the cables, way back at the beginning, were askew, and off by just a couple of very noticeable stitches. So, I had no choice but to rip it back. All the way back. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing right, right?

What's in the bag?? My Rhinebeck haul! First up...

Brooks Farm Four Play (50% Wool, 50% silk) in a deep, dusky, almost black, almost navy, this picture doesn't begin to show the color well at all color. For my February Lady sweater that I have been dreaming of.

This is Brooks Farm Tierra Blend (I don't see it on their site). It is a Wool/Alpaca blend. I am going to use this to make Bounce and a pair of mittens for all of the time I will be spending at the ice rink now that Le Bug has taken up ice hockey.

This was a wee, lone orphan, one skein of the Tierra in a cool meld of green colors. It is going to be either a hat for Le Bug, or a scarf for his mommy.

Speaking of Le Bug, I've wanted him to have a hand-knit sweater for awhile now, but just don't have the time to make it myself. So...

I bought one at Rhinebeck from Mees and Ewes, a knitting store in Middleburgh, New York. It is really a pretty color, and it fits him great. And he will be warm, and I will not tell anyone it was not made by me if they don't ask. So don't ask.

This is Briar Rose Fiber Arts Celebration yarn. It is a wool/bamboo blend and it is going to be knit into a Leaflet Scarf.

And hockey has also made me realize that I need to finish my Monkeys...so my feet don't continue to freeze solid during practices. This is where they are at these days...still on Sock #1.

So, that is where the knitting stands at this moment in time...and I have to start Amy's baby project soon, but you won't be able to see that because it's top secret.

Gratuitous hockey video...he is in Mini Mites, and he cannot even skate yet, as most of them can't. He is four and a half, and he is #4 because "I am 4, duh Mom!". That was what he told me when he chose his jersey number...he spends the first half of this clip crawling around...but then, miraculously, he stands up and shuffles around!!

200

2008-08-27T11:49:00.005-04:00

The Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel

The Cascade Cloud 9 in VanDyke Brown is lovely (bought from WEBS online).

Waist shaping and my pretty Knit Picks Harmony Wood needles. Love them, must buy more!

Roses from my garden.

So, my 200th post? Cool.

I wanted to give you an update on the Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan. It is going very well, I'm just to the part with the cables about the waist. They are written in chart form which I find a bit challenging, I'm toying with the idea of writing them all out, but there are 96 rows for the sleeves, and I just don't know if I have it in me. I may try to muddle through.

I may be the only person in the world who doesn't find the charts helpful. I know that you are supposed to be able to "see" the cables on the page, but I don't. And these charts don't follow the typical vertical/horizontal lines for the knits and purls. There is a horizontal line for the purls when they are on the RS of the fabric, otherwise the box is just empty. I assume (making an ass of myself no doubt) that this means to treat it like normal and knit on the RS and purl on the WS? I guess it will be trial and error because I can't seem to find an explanation anywhere online.

I hope to have this sweater done in time for Rhinebeck this year. That is my goal.

In Progress

2008-08-19T14:52:00.004-04:00

This is the Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan that has been long-awaited around these parts. I cast on for it just before the Olympics began with the intention of trying to finish it before the end of the games, like the Ravelympics, but it isn't going to happen. At least I have it started though, and that is inspiring me to knit on it more often. Fall is right around the corner, this is going to be my go-to sweater for the fall. Up next? This sweater, and an also long-awaited baby project for Amy! It will be purple and it will be special...I can't wait.

This one is for Amy

2008-07-29T13:46:00.005-04:00

I have turned the heel on the first Monkey sock and am in the home stretch. I am trying to finish it up this week, so I can cast on for the second one in time for our camping trip next weekend.

You will notice that it is on dpns...I had knit it using Magic Loop, but one of our new kittens found my knitting bag and used the cable of the circular as a teething ring, and after that the stitches did not slide as well and I had to trash the needle. Leaving me no option but to knit it old school style. It hasn't been too bad, actually, I got a replacement circular needle in the mail the other day, but I haven't switched over again. I'm not sure I will at this point. I will definitely cast the other one on the new circular needle (a really nice Addi Turbo Lace one, I haven't used them before, so that will be interesting, to see how I like it).

I am still also working on the 2x2 ribbing on my back to school u-neck vest, but that has kind of fallen by the wayside. I think I am going to cast on for the Elizabeth Bennet Cable Cardigan soon, fall is coming...and I will want that sweater!

Lately?

2008-05-21T18:43:00.005-04:00

My Mother's Day Flowers...already planted outside in the flower bed.

My husband (he of the brilliant brain) on his graduation day...

his second four year degree, this one in Nuclear Engineering.

My MIL, the Bug, and my DH at our celebratory lunch after the ceremony

My FIL, and the big boys

Monkey #1...so pretty.

Random...I know...

Another new name?

2008-05-08T16:44:00.004-04:00

Proof that husbands can be useful if you let them...the new blog title is hereby (jokingly, lest anyone get t0o serious) copyrighted by my husband's brilliant soon to be graduated mind.

One Little Monkey (In Progress)

2008-05-06T11:22:00.003-04:00

Love them! They are truly addictive...it's a fun pattern to knit. I started out on dpns...but have since switched over to magic loop on a very long (48") Addi. I think knitting on dpns looks more elegant and accomplished, but I can't stand having them flop all over...magic loop may not be as pretty, but it suits my personality better, and it's so easy, I can't believe how long it took me to try it because I was intimidated, but it is so much easier than it sounds.

New

2008-04-29T19:44:00.004-04:00

New Blog Name (Same Blog Channel)

I was getting bored with the old title and inspired today by Cari's post...I decided to practice what I was preaching. I wanted a title that more closely matched why I knit...specifically to relax and save my fragile mental health!

New Project

I am still working on the vest from Fitted Knits, but I have been having a wicked sock craving. I haven't made any for almost two years!! How is that possible? The last ones I made were for Amy, and I have never made any for myself. So, I was on Ravelry and I keep coming back to the Monkey socks. I went diving in my huge Rubbermaid bin of stashed yarn, and found the perfect match.

This is sock yarn I bought at Rhinebeck two Sheep and Wool Festivals ago when I couldn't get near the Socks That Rock booth. It is from Spirit Trail Fiberworks and the colors just could not be more me than this.

The Bug helped me wind the yarn up on the umbrella swift...

So, I know it isn't wool sock weather, although there is always cool summer nights when you want a pair of cuddly socks, but I feel the need to knit socks (I've been dreaming of knitting socks at night) and so I am not going to question the urge. That would be part of the whole sanity being saved trusting my instincts thing I've got going lately.

Hodge Podge

2008-04-21T14:57:00.005-04:00

Well, today is my last day of Spring Break...I am ready to go back. There is never much left of the school year when we get done with April break anyway...I think we have less than 35 regular class days, then four days of local finals and then a week or so of NY State Regents exams, so there isn't much left at all. Plus, the weather is beautiful and everything is green and happy and the world is all new and lovely.

Obviously, I love this time of the year...it restores my soul after the winter. I cannot stand the winter. A lot of people ask me why I don't move to somewhere where there is no winter to detest, but to be honest, I don't think you can fully appreciate the beauty of nature in all its glory without winter. Winter is a necessary evil. I know I wouldn't fully appreciate Spring and all of its rebirth without the crappiness that is a NY winter.

Anyway...onward to today's post. This is my husband's Cobblestone Pullover from Interweave Knits magazine.

It did fit, he tried it on and I took a picture, but it looked ass-tastic, so I had to delete it. I am clearly not blocking things correctly...you can see little lumps all down the sides and sleeves were my pins were in it, and it looks like a dinosaurs tail. So, I have to re-block it. But it does fit. And that, in and of itself, is a relief. I need to find a tutorial on proper blocking techniques and maybe invest in a real blocking board and wires...I've had this issue before!

I moved on and was starting my Back to School U-neck vest (details on my Ravelry page) when I got a call from a work friend. She had just gotten a wee little puppy who was shivery in the cold night air and she wanted to commission a puppy sweater.

I have always sworn I would never knit a dog sweater. Be careful what you swear you will never do. This is the Penny pattern from Knitty. I added a neck ruffle and a butt flounce. The yarn is Araucania Nature Wool that I have had in the stashola for a million years. It is a pretty shade of lilac.

Then, I decided to paint my dining room.

That was the before...

and this is the after.

Just half the walls are this lovely deep garnet red. The others are a pretty chino tan color. I tried to post paint chip pictures, but Sherwin Williams' website has an attitude today. You can see the tan color on the wall to the left of refrigerator if you look carefully...

We took the boys to the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in town.

It was a gorgeous day. The Bug is wearing my sunglasses because his eyes were "shy". Translation: they didn't want to stay open in the bright sun. After the museum, we went to the local soft serve place and ate hot fudge sundaes for lunch. I highly recommend the practice of dessert as meal...it is really delightful.

They had a display on Amelia Earhart. I loved this quote of hers, I adore quotes:

If you can't read the fuzzy picture, it says, "Women must try to do things as men have tried.

When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others."

Today, was spent getting ready to go back to work tomorrow: haircut for the Bug, laundry, groceries...maybe a couple of new spring skirts for moi, the usual.

Tonight, more knitting on my U-neck vest.

Remind me next time to explain the inner drama with the Elizabeth Bennet Cable Cardigan yarn...I am such a yarn slut, I cannot be faithful to any choices that I make! It's going to end up being about a $300 sweater when I factor in how many different times I buy a different yarn to make it.

I am going to have many sweaters next fall--I have to use up all of my fickle choices on something!

Done!

2008-04-12T21:11:00.002-04:00

The Cobblestone sweater is done, and needs to be blocked, I think it might fit!! He tried it on right off the needles and it wasn't as poorly fitting as I had dreaded, so I am hopeful. Tomorrow, I will block it and we will see what we will see.

I was hoping that the gorgeous, back-ordered Cloud 9 from WEBS (Vandyke Brown) would be in so I could start the Elizabeth Bennet Cable Cardigan next (I have taken to referring to it solely as "Liz" in my head, so if I slip up and call it that, that is what I am talking about!). However, the yarn is NOT in, so I had to start something else instead. I decided on the Back-to-School U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits. I cast on last night and haven't made a lot of progress to show yet...but I have Spring vacation this week, so I hope to get some major knitting time.

I also plan to paint my dining room. When we moved into the new house, it had not been painted yet, only primed...so there is a lot of painting to be done around here. I will make sure to take before and after pictures to show.

BTW, all the (k)nitty gritty details about the vest can be found on my Ravelry page.

So Close and Yet...So Far....

2008-03-22T19:07:00.007-04:00

This garter stitch yoke on the Cobblestone Pullover is going to be the end of me.

It is taking forever and a day to finish it. It would help if I had more time to knit, of course...but that doesn't seem to be happening.

I have a new super-cool camera, but I haven't totally figured out how to use it to its best advantage yet, and so pictures are kind of crappy. Actually, take out kind of, they are just plain craptastic.

Amy and I went to one of our local yarn stores on Good Friday and checked out some yarn I'd give you a link...but the website is currently under construction, and it's kind of pointless). I bought a pretty pattern, some Lamb's Pride in a dark green to make a sweater vest, and some really gorgeous pink Malabrigo, ummm, just because. I am planning a scarf and hat from the MmmmMalabrigo for next winter.

I'm planning a lot of knitting actually:

The Elizabeth Bennet Cable Cardigan (the yarn is on back-order from Webs. I did not stay with the pink after all, but ordered a gorgeous rich brown)
The U-Neck Vest also from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits--using the Lamb's Pride
The Saratoga Shrug from Dovetail Designs...see link above...
A lace shawl? Am I ready??
Socks...

That should keep me busy until Fall...plus the little things that pop up. I am waiting to find out what gender baby my friend Paul is having this year. I made him a baby cardigan last year for his little guy Dimaggio...

they are expecting again and, depending, I will have another little project on the horizon. Although I am not sure how I will top that one...

Not

2008-03-02T16:25:00.003-05:00

broken.

Scarf=Done

No picture, I totally forgot to take its picture as I was knitting and binding off and wrapping it up, up to 5 minutes before we left the house for Colleen's party.

I am a slacker. But a persistent slacker...

Injury Spells Disaster for Knitted Birthday Present

2008-02-29T18:15:00.003-05:00

So, tomorrow is my BFF Colleen's 30th birthday (yes, she is much younger than me, sadly). I started a very pretty, but simple, feather and fan scarf for her last Friday. It is a rich mahogany brown in Patons Classic Wool from la stashola. I got about 8 repeats done and was feeling so smug that with very little tv knitting time this week in the evenings, I would have it done lickety split.

Smugness apparently goeth before a fall.

Because I promptly tripped and fell down eight of our hardwood stairs and landed on my left elbow. It was ridiculously swollen all this week, and now that the swelling has gone down a bit, it is really starting to hurt with sharp pains. I showed it to the school nurse today, and to my wonderful friend Amy (thanks Amy!) and they both agree that perhaps I need to have it x-rayed as it might be broken in some way. The school nurse used to work in orthopedics and she said she would be willing to bet it was chipped and that will result in surgery...which I am hoping will NOT be the case. Otherwise, she says that there will be a chance that there will be calcium deposits that form and the range of motion and mobility of the elbow could be damaged.

So...I am knitting wounded. My husband finds me ridiculous to be knitting at all, but I have exactly 24 hours until we leave for Col's party, and I am stubborn. I figure I better get most of it done tonight in case the doctor tells me tomorrow "No Knitting!". I am going to deliberately forget to ask him about knitting specifically and hope that my husband gets amnesia and forgets as well.

What are my chances??

Lllooonnnggg Time, No Blog

2008-02-18T13:10:00.007-05:00

I know.

I decided that I would give you no excuses and no justifications...it is what it is. And so, I give you--my first blog post in many, many moons.

When last I left you, Dear Reader, I was...hmmm....what was I doing? I think I had started the Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood of brooklyntweed that was in the Interweave Knits Fall 2007.

I started it, oh I don't even remember due to all of the drama that was going on, but I think, maybe? late November. I am making the 47" size for my husband, but I am starting to be afraid (very very afraid) that it may not fit. I shrugged off a gauge swatch (as usual) and I am not so sure it is big enough. I mean, it's hard to say, it's all squished up on the needles and all...and I still can block it out to make it a bit bigger. If all else fails, then I guess my 14 year old will have a new sweater that will be big and slouchy.

Next up? I am not sure...I need a small project. Maybe that hat you gave me, Amy. Then, I think I am finally ready to knit this...

The Elizabeth Bennet Cable Cardigan from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel

In pink, of course...I know I was waffling about the color, but in the end, after I looked at a couple of pinks on Ravelry, I think I will stay with it.

What else is new? The Bug turned four!

We went out to dinner at a Hibachi restaurant with Uncle Steve and Aunt Amy and then home for cake and presents. Then the adults went out to see Uncle Marc's band play...and a good time was (hopefully) had by all!
No promises...but I will try to be better about the blog...I know it is really for me, and I have missed it, so...

Now off to Ravelry to waste some more of my time!

Crazy

2007-12-16T11:36:00.000-05:00

My life has been crazy as of late. It's no excuse, but still....crazy. I have knitting stuff to blog about, but no time to do it!

Crazy.

I'll be back soon, with something to show for it, I promise. I hope everyone is having a very joyous Holiday Season.

So...

2007-10-08T13:52:00.000-04:00

we ended up losing Daisy.

She passed on September 12th, after five days of battling and a lot of pain on her part and ours as we struggled with when to let her go. In the end, the vet did a necropsy and said that she had massive liver failure due to fatty liver syndrome. This happens when an overweight cat suddenly (for whatever reason) stops eating and becomes anorexic instead. The liver tries to process all of the body fat, and becomes overwhelmed and then, just stops. She was so far gone, that she wouldn't have ever made a full recovery and most likely wouldn't have made it much longer, so we decided to let her go. It was a difficult decision to make, with a lot of crying, but in the end, I know we did the right thing for Daisy and she is at peace now. We had her cremated, and are planning a service for her next weekend with the boys. They want to write poems, and things like that.

School is back in session...and life is crazy once again. I like my classes this year, the kids seem great: eager, interested, and curious. Hopefully, it will be another good year. Today we are off for Columbus Day, so that makes for a short week. I spent the better part of the day grading papers, and still am not close to done. I am a moron for giving a test and assigning an essay to be due all on the same day.

I have been knitting, although not as much as I'd like. I am almost finished with Michelle's baby sweater. She may not get the matching hat at this point! I want to get started on my next project, a sweater for my husband.

Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood from the Fall Interweave Knits

It will take a while...that is a lot of stockinette stitch for his size! And I am lusting after socks...I need a pair, I want a pair. I started a pair out of yarn I bought on clearance that is just not inspiring me. I need something else. Stay tuned...they may be my Rhinebeck knitting!

Oh, Rhinebeck...so close.

Our team is in the playoffs! So I've been watching a lot of baseball. Living in NY--you'd think I'd love the Yankees, but I don't. In fact, I usually pull for whoever is playing against them. There is something about the team...not the individual players necessarily (although Doug Mientkiewicz looks like a serial killer with that long greasy hair...ewww), but the ownership...I don't know. And sometimes, the fans can be lacking in class. They boo their own team! So fair-weather-ish...and they feel so entitled to win all the time.

So, anyways...hopefully tonight is the night and the tribe and my darling Grady Sizemore will spank them and send them crying home to their mommies!

Grady, the object of my old-lady-crush. I mean, seriously. I could be his much older sister.

Heavy Heart

2007-09-11T20:28:00.000-04:00

Not a lot of knitting has been happening.

Not a lot of blogging.

Just a lot of worry,

stress,

sadness

and sorrow.

Our cat Daisy is dying. She was only four. The vet can't figure out what is wrong with her. She has been at the animal hospital since Saturday morning in intensive care, basically being kept going by the doctor. Her body temperature is dropping, her organ systems are shutting down, and we are going to have to make The Decision tomorrow. Keep her going and hope he can figure it out (as the bill keeps getting higher and higher) or let her go.

She is on pain meds so she isn't suffering, she is out of it and doesn't even respond much to any stimuli. Our kids are suffering the most as they wait hoping against reason that she will pull through.

But the way it stands right now...I think we are going to have a $2,000 dead cat buried in our back yard come tomorrow evening. Having her put down seems to be the most humane and responsible (fiscally and emotionally) thing to do for all parties involved.

Being the responsible one, the grown-up...well, it sucks.

46...

2007-09-04T19:42:00.000-04:00

days until Rhinebeck.

Amy and I have a room so we can do both days, with no boys.

It will be like Heaven.

Busy Bee

2007-08-29T12:53:00.000-04:00

In my summer hiatus from the Blog, I have:

had a Girls' Movie Night at my house

finished an object

gone camping with the family unit

gotten my new Higher Maintenance Hair Style (henceforth known as the HMHS)

begun a new object which is kicking my ass--more on that another day, as I am really pissed at the moment at it.

First up: Movie Night

The Table Scape...

Because we are fabulous dahlings...

A Darling Greeting

My personal icon of fabulousness

The Movie of Choice

Blogless Amy guessed just based on the invitation alone. She is a sneaky, crafty girl. Not as many of girlfriends could come as I had hoped due to it being in the summer and all. Apparently, a lot of them take vacation. Who knew? But those who did come had a nice relaxing time. I hope.

At the end of the night (and two pitchers of Mimosas), they decided to take just one picture of the event.

Delilah and I in our fabulousness

Next? I did manage to finish my sweater. I hope it fits. It looks a bit small-ish.

I had a knitting epiphany while blocking it and based on reading something, somewhere (I've lost track now). I've been knitting sweaters in my bra size. This is not ideal if you want to put something underneath it.

Duh.

Then, we were off on our family vacation--camping here. We are old school here at Chez Finley. We roll in a tent.

No sissy pop-ups or trailers for this family.

We had a great time, although it rained for a big chunk of the time. We did make it to the beach.

We found a salamander which we imaginatively named "Sal". I know. We spent a lot of time around the fire.Some of us spent a vast majority of the time annoying his older brothers...I'm not sure which is more amusing to me...the look of blatant disgust and annoyance on Connor's face, or the complete lack of caring, disregard and not giving a shitness on the Bug's face? It might be a draw.

Some of us knit in the dark by lantern light. My husband thought this was a bit excessive. I may have uttered the phrase "Bite me" under my breath at him. Maybe.

Me and zee Bugness.

The big joke of the weekend is that Mommy needed the Happy Juice (see the pink cup?) so that we could all have a good time. The Captain. He is my lover. I'm only sad that, after the long weekend, our affair is almost over. (Good thing I can pick him up anytime I want to, eh?).

Notice also my hair, if you would. This is the last picture of the old hair on record. Notice its lack of style, its complete ease of wearing due its casualness. It is boring. It is plain.

It is gone.

I was smart enough to take a picture last night after I got home from the 3 hour cut-color-highlighting marathon since it will never look this good again. Well, not until I go in for my 6 week trim, anyway. I have to go out today for all sorts of HMHS gadgets and gizmos to make it look this good.

But, I love it. It is very new and modern. And different. All good.

And...I'm spent

2007-08-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

(Austin Powers reference...I am a nerd).

Well...I am finished with Harry. All of him. (4,100 pages in 30 days=137 pages a day) Although to be honest, most days I read 300-400 pages and there were many days I didn't read at all.. My husband is a bit disgusted with how fast I read but once you start you cannot stop. So I didn't. It was good while it lasted...but nothing can last forever.

I have been busy besides Harry, of course. There has been knitting:

I have one sleeve completed and am started on the other on my Fitted V-Neck Sweater from Fitted Knits. This Cascade Pastaza yarn is really lovely to work with. I will use it again, I am sure.

I have also started school clothes shopping. For me--not the boys, lest you get confused. I started with shoes.

Aren't the socks a lovely addition? I am breaking them in around the house. I wore them last night out to dinner with my good friend Colleen, and they hurt, so today...socks it is. These are supposedly very hot this season, a buckled ballet flat. So, look at me...I am hip.

Also hot his Fall? Peep-toe pumps or slingbacks. I've seen a lot of these worn with opaque black tights and plaid skirts. Love them. They are actually comfortable. I may have to wear them with socks around the house just a bit to break in the toe area...but they are so cute. I love them. My dormant shoe fetish is re-emerging I am afraid.

I also bought a black pencil skirt (and am going back for one in grey, as grey is very hip as well this season), a white blouse with puffy sleeves, a black trench coat, and a couple of other shirts. Working on bringing some classy professional looks to my usually casual work attire.

My high-maintenance hair cut experience will take place on August 28. Stay tuned.

Next up in knitting? The Pea Pod Baby Set for Michelle knit in Knit Picks Swish DK in Moss and then this:

The Cobblestone Pullover from the Fall edition of Interweave Knits, in Wool of the Andes in the Arctic Pool color for Alan. He says I never make him anything...and he is right. Well, I did make him a scarf in the early months of knitting that is really more of an ascot...way too short.

So, I owe him one...and he is paying for my hair extravaganza, so...

Consuming

2007-08-03T11:37:00.000-04:00

Here is what is consuming me these days, in no order of preference or importance:

1. The Ribbed V-Neck Sweater from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel in Black Cascade Pastaza. Yummy, yummy yarn, I will use it again. I knit the body in my Knit Picks Options circulars; have I said lately how much I love them? They are so much better (for me) than Addis. Pointier, I like a pointy needle, I do. The sleeves? I was going to try to Magic Loop them, but in the end, I decided to follow the pattern and knit them flat with a seam. I am such a by-the-book sort of girl. I am using some Serendipity Needles (birch) that I bought on my Anniversary weekend at Adirondack Yarns in Lake Placid. They have funky polymer finials on the ends. Pretty.

2. I will be starting this one (#5!) today. I am slowly catching up, but I find myself slowing down, because I don't want the story to end. This one, I am especially looking forward to, because I haven't seen the movie yet, and so it will all be new to me. The others I had seen the films, so there were large parts that seemed familiar.

3. Shark Week--need I say more? Good knitting television.

4. The smallest of the small puppies--Delilah asleep on Cooper's bed. She is a good puppy, but still, a puppy and is a lot of work!

5. My hair. I want a hair cut. I need a style. I am tired of the easy way out, the all one length no effort look. I want something polished, professional, something that says I take the time to care about myself. Dare I say it? I want to be high maintenance. I like the one in the middle of the bottom row, but of course, my color, not blonde. (I can't do that high maintenance!)

6. And last but not least, I am planning a Girls' Movie Night here at the new house for my closest friends. Eight giggly girls and the big screen TV, what could be more fun? Oh, I know! If it had a theme to it...I can't say anymore until afterward, because Amy needs to be surprised.

"The In-Laws are Coming! The In-Laws are Coming!"

2007-07-26T18:57:00.001-04:00

My husband's immediate family

My mother-in-law is the lady beside me and my father-in-law is hiding in the back right, looking very uncomfortable not wearing his usual electrician's uniform of faded navy blue Dickies and matching shirt. They are coming from Ohio to see the Bug and the new house on Saturday and staying into early next week.

Let the mad cleaning begin!

I will resurface early next week, hopefully with a lot of progress on my sweater. Wish me luck, I have to spend all day Monday alone with the in-laws as it is my DH's first day at his new job.

PS: Delilah has a nasty tapeworm and some other nasty parasite called Giardia or something like that and is so sick. Poor baby.

PPS: I am through with HP#3 and on to #4...I cannot stop. It is clearly a sickness.

This X 8

2007-07-25T14:54:00.000-04:00

In the past four days, I have gone from this:

Oh, this yarn is yummy. It even has a great smell. I am a freak.

To this:I know, it's blurry...it just wouldn't sit still. I'm kidding. I have no idea why it's blurry, I hadn't even had a drop of the Happy Juice, I promise.

Before any of that, there was, certainly, this:

Connor wanted to help me wind up the yarn.

We also had a barbecue to attend and so I made this:

Worship at the altar of my mad Wilton Cake Decorating Class I and II skills, yo.

All the while trying not to step on this:

He could eat her in one bite. But she rules him with an iron paw.

I have been feeling left out because of the new Harry Potter book. I tried to read them years ago when they first started, but just didn't get into them. I literally felt sad about not being in on the craze this weekend. It was all the other moms talked about at the BBQ, after being shocked that I, an English teacher, had not read the things--the HORROR of it all! You would have thought I was a mutant the way they reacted. They may have, may have, referred to me as a Muggle. I was ready to throw down. Seriously.

And so, having been coerced and shamed into it, and okay, maybe since I wanted to, since Sunday, I have gone from this:

To this:

And am starting on this:

Maybe I'll catch up before I find out how it all ends? Probably not. But just in case, shhh!

AFO

2007-07-19T12:29:00.000-04:00

Another Finished Object.

Please, hold your applause.

I started this...hmmm...I don't even remember when. That is how long it has been. Shameful, really. Rusted Root on my dining room table

I apologize for the dark photos, it is very rainy here today.

I wanted it to be just one lace repeat longer...but truth be told, I just couldn't take it anymore and wanted it to be done! I have to wear something under it anyway, so it just peeps out the bottom a bit. It's all good. And all done.

That is what's important y'all. It is done. That means my WIP basket is currently empty (socks don't count).

What is up next?

I need to make a baby set for my good friend Michelle who went through the forty stages of Hell to conceive and is expecting a little boy this fall. I am thinking of making her the Pea Pod Baby Set by Kate Gilbert. The yarn called for (Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere) is sadly discontinued and I can't find the right color online anywhere in enough skeins...so I am going to improvise. With what, I haven't decided yet. I think I may run down to a LYS I haven't been to yet and see what they've got.

In the meantime, I am going to wind up the yarn for my Pastaza sweater from Fitted Knits. A good way to spend a rainy afternoon, yes?

Hey There Delilah

2007-07-16T13:49:00.001-04:00

We have a new addition to our household. Meet Delilah...

This picture is for scale...Cooper is a full-grown, 100 pound Chocolate Lab

We have always said that when we got a bigger house, we'd get Cooper a buddy to keep him honest. We've been talking about it for a few weeks, and agreed that this is the best time to get a new puppy as I am home for the next 6 weeks for summer break, and would be able to do all of the crate-training, potty-training, bonding, etc...that needs to be done. So, we started looking.

Initially, we wanted an English Bulldog puppy, but they proved to be scarce in these parts, and also a bit on the pricey side for us at the moment (teachers, contrary to public belief...do NOT get paid in the summer). So, we asked ourselves what we loved most about the bulldog and the answer was clearly the wrinkles. So, then we looked at other wrinkley dogs (shar pei, pugs, etc...) and found something new.

Delilah is a Puggle.

She is a cross between a Beagle and a Pug. Her mom was an AKC Beagle and her dad was an AKC Pug. The AKC doesn't recognize Puggles or any of the other new "hybrid" "designer" breeds, which is fine with me, snobs that they are. Cooper is AKC, and it hasn't done a thing for him, I swear, he is still neurotic and clueless and the papers haven't improved upon him not a whit. [I find those labels from the AKC hilarious btw...we used to just call a spade a spade and call them "MUTTS"! Apparently that is not politically correct anymore, I wonder how long until they pitch a fit over the terminology of calling a female breeding dog a bitch? I'm surprised that one goes unchallenged these days.] Delilah will be spayed as soon as it is appropriate, as all of our animals have been, so lah-di-dah to the AKC anyways.

Delilah is 9 weeks old and cute as a button, as you can see. What you cannot see is how funny she is--because all eight pounds of her is bold as bold can be. She is not even a little intimidated by Cooper. And when she barks, she does that deep, braying sound that beagles make. So funny.

Well, not at 2am, but still...cute.

I did forget in the past 5 years how much work puppies are! Last night she cried so much that we had to put her crate in the finished basement, in the media room, with the TV on for company. Then, we had to close all the doors and put a fan on to drown her out. I set the alarm for every two hours and went to take her outside to do her business and give her rubs. I am weary today. She has made no fewer than 8 puppy puddles today in the house, and so we are out the door every minute or so it seems to reinforce that pee goes out in the grass. There is no rhyme or reason to her peeing, she could have just peed a lake in the yard, and she will still have more for the bedroom carpet. And so...

Today, Bug and I went to the store and got her a crate of her own, she was borrowing Coop's but it was much too big...see photo above. As I type, she is now sleeping in her new crate, if not happily, at least resignedly and that is a start. She was NOT being crated at the house where she was born, so it is a bit more challenging to get her used to the crate.

Crate training is best for dogs, I don't care what other people believe...dogs are den animals, and when they have one, they behave better. If you are unfamiliar with what it involves and what it doesn't involve, you should look into it, just to educate yourself. Crate training is NOT a punishment for dogs. Most dogs, Cooper included, come to look at their crate as a safe retreat and love it. It works for us and our dogs. Case closed.

I am off to catch a cat nap (or a puppy nap) before the next trip outside for "business". But before I do, in a moment of sleep-deprivation randomness, I give you:

You are Brigitte Bardot

Naturally sensual and beautiful
You're an exotic beauty who turns heads everywhere
You've got a look that's one of a kind

What Famous Pinup Are You?

I freakin' wish!

Mostly for my husband, who reads the blog religiously,

because until I get some sleep, someone else doesn't really stand a good chance

of getting any (and I don't mean sleep!) either. But, at least he can look at her, and dream.

Who has your back, honey? I know. I rule.

I couldn't leave you bumming

2007-07-11T18:49:00.000-04:00

I feel bad leaving y'all on a downer, so I thought I'd share the niftiest, fanciest, coolest new trick up my Mommy sleeve.

The Bug needed a haircut yesterday, so I tried this new place in town called SnipIts. It is like a SuperCuts, Fantastic Sam's, etc...but totally geared toward little kids. It cost a bit more ($16 instead of $11) for a haircut, but Campbell didn't cry the entire time, and I actually got to sit quietly and read a magazine for almost 20 minutes. Well worth the extra $5.

It is so cute, they hand the kid a plastic card (it looks like an oversized debit card) and at the end of their haircut, they scoop up a piece of hair from the floor, stick the hair into a cartoony machine along with the plastic card and a cheesey prize comes rolling out the other side. Campbell got a rope bracelet. And the stylist had lollipops, animal crackers, and bubbles to blow! I mean, I wanted to get my haircut there.

So. Much. Fun.

He got a great haircut, the best ever. Probably because he wasn't wiggling all over. They have a TV screen right in front of the chair and they have a cartoon that plays with animated scissors and clippers and combs. Cute! The girl was super friendly, and all of the stylists looked happy to be there. (Usually they get that look when we walk in the door, like, oh crap...it's a kid, I don't want him!) Not at all here. Just happy happy joy joy.

Refreshing.

They don't seem to be all over yet...but it was a great change from the usual crying and tantrum throwing Cam usually puts us through. Oh, and they do manis/pedis and spa parties for little girls.

It made my uterus ache for just one more try for a little pink one.

Seriously.

Generations

2007-07-11T15:44:00.000-04:00

Today was a rough one.

I met my mother, and two of my sisters about an hour north of here to visit my Gramma in the hospital. She is 82 and has been living on her own, but in the past few months she has had two small strokes, one nasty fall (the reason for the current hospital stay), and set her kitchen on fire cooking kielbasa. It took her a while to remember who we all were, especially my mother. She kept looking at me and thinking I was my mother, but then she'd look at my sister and think she was me. [She also told us an amusing story of how the ballerinas that come floating through her walls at night keep her awake with all of their racket}.

But, the worst was when she out of the blue looked at me with a moment of clarity and mental acumen and said, "Jaimi, it's horrible, but I have forgotten how to do this (insert knitting hand gestures here)".

Not only has she forgotten how to knit, but her mind won't even let her remember the word for it. This is a woman who always was knitting something, usually winter hats and mittens for her annual church bazaars. Always on Susan Bates Silvalume needles. She thought Red Heart was good yarn (God bless her precious little heart).

The one steady thing in her life, through losing two husbands (one impossibly young), through losing more siblings than I can keep up with, through the hard times growing up on a farm being poor, was knitting. And now, when it could bring her the most comfort? Her mind has betrayed her body and it is just...g-o-n-e.

It bummed me out when she said it, but in typical me fashion, I didn't deal with it, and just soldiered on. Pushing it way down deep to fester and grow. Just call me Cleopatra.

Until.

I got home and to cheer myself up from feeling a little down about something (see how good I am at denial, I couldn't even place why I was feeling blue) I decided to read today's post at Crazy Aunt Purl "The Story of Roy".

If you haven't yet...please do, I'll wait.

[insert cheesy musak version of "Memories" here]

Back?

I KNOW!!!

I started crying like I haven't in years. Like I didn't when my first marriage fell apart. Like I didn't when Patrick was diagnosed with any of his bad syndromes. Like I probably haven't since my parents got divorced when I was twelve. (Well, there was one time, when Alan and I had a pretty horrible fight right after we were married, but I choose not to remember that entire situation).

Well, to be honest, I didn't cry right away, I tried to hold it off, but then that ache in my throat got unbearable and I wept like a child.

It took me a bit to realize that it wasn't all about Laurie and Roy, although to be fair, a lot of it was.

A lot of it was grieving over the loss of my Gramma. Because even though she is physically still here, I can clearly foresee that the end is coming, and a lot of the really good stuff is gone already.

Me and Gram the day I picked up my wedding gown and brought it to her to see for the first time. You see, my first wedding wasn't fancy, so this was her first time seeing me as a traditional "bride".

It was a happy day.

I Heart Magic Loop

2007-07-10T12:53:00.001-04:00

The finished and blocked Clapotis is finally here...

I have been craving sock knitting. It was ridiculously strong, the urge. I decided to try something new, and am practicing the Magic Loop method. I'm not good, yet. But, I will be. I love the concept so far. I still am getting ladders where the two halves meet, however, nowhere near as bad as I sometimes get with dpns. I can see this being a useful trick to know for sleeves, etc...but I have to admit, I miss my dpns for socks. Eventually, I also want to learn how to do socks on two circs and toe up socks, so I have lots of socks to be knitting in the coming months.

I made more backward progress on my Rusted Root. I frogged it back almost to the underarms. It looked like crap, and I couldn't live with it. It was just sitting in my basket, not being worked on while I tried to deal with its imperfections, but in the end...I could not. So, I ripped it back and will plod ever onward. Trying to get it done in time to wear it this fall. I can wear it with a long-sleeve blouse under it, though, so I should be fine.

Up next?

The V-neck sweater from Fitted Knits with the yummy Cascade Pastaza yarn I bought in Lake Placid. And also, I have the Cloud 9 to make the Elizabeth Bennett cardigan from there as well...but I am suddenly not overly fond of the shade of pink yarn I bought.

I know...shocking.

To be honest, it is a bit too Pepto-Bismal for me...I wanted something a little softer.

I may have to use that yarn for something else in the future and re-buy the yarn in a different color. I am starting to really love the lavender shade it is made up in for the book and that Stefanie Japel wore on her episode of Knitty Gritty.

Sigh...

Decisions.

A corner of one's own

2007-07-02T13:08:00.001-04:00

This is my new small corner of the home office where I can have enough space to do my crafts! I'd love an entire room someday, but for now, this little corner is lovely.

I bought myself a sewing machine. I'm not sure how much I'll use it right away, but I had the extra money now, so I bought it. It is a Kenmore and has a one-step button-hole, which I hear is important for your sanity.

My husband and I went to Lake Placid, New York, for our anniversary weekend. We had a lovely time sans kiddos. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza, which is on top of the hill by the Olympic Arena for those of you who have been there before. We had a balcony overlooking Mirror Lake which was nice. We hung out in the great room at the bar quite a little bit. Ah, the joys of having no children for a weekend...we acted like grown-ups!

On Friday night, we went out to dinner at The Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Company, which is right on Main Street. It is one of my favorite restaurants and I hadn't been there in years...they still have the most incredible dessert known to womankind. It is called Chocolate Perversion. Need I say more? If you are ever in Lake Placid...have one. You won't be sorry. (Once I even ordered it as an appetizer to make sure I had room!).

Then, after dinner, we went over to my sister and brother-in-law's house and hung out on their deck with their fire pit and some drinks. It was nice to see her and catch up on family gossip and such.

Saturday morning we headed out to get some coffee and then we took the hour long tour of Lake Placid on the antique boat The Lady of the Lake. The boat is named after a book called A Lady in the Lake, about a murder on Lake Placid. A woman named Mabel Smith Douglass, the founder of a women's college in New Jersey, had a camp on Lake Placid. She disappeared mysteriously one day in 1933. Her boat was found, but no trace of her body. At the time of her disappearance, she was 56 years old, and had a broken arm.

In 1963, a group of divers, exploring caves more than a hundred feet below the surface of Lake Placid, discovered a body. It was the body of a lady wearing antique looking clothes. She was remarkably intact, and looked as if she had only been laying on the rock shelf where her body was found (off of Pulpit Rock on Lake Placid's eastern shore) for a few days. She had an anchor tied around her neck, and a broken arm.

Scientists speculate that the very cold waters of Lake Placid perfectly preserved the body and they confirmed that it was, in fact, Mabel Smith Douglass. They ruled her death a suicide, although many people believe that it was murder. Her body was three miles from her camp. She had a broken arm. How could she have rowed three miles by herself with a broken arm, then tied an anchor around her own neck and chucked it into the water? Mysterious, indeed. Many locals, of which I was one (I lived in Lake Placid for almost five years in my early twenties), even believe that she haunts the lake...

So, we toured and got spooked out. Then we went to The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn for lunch. It was yummy. We went back to our room, my husband did some studying for a test he has this evening at college and I heeded a call to one of the mother ships.

Adirondack Yarns, is a beautiful small yarn shop, but they manage to have a diverse selection of yarns and I was lucky to find Cascade Pastaza for a sweater I want to make from Stefanie Japel's new book Fitted Knits. I also bought some magazines...The ladies there were super friendly and I can't wait to stop back in the next time I am in town.

Saturday night we went to the local Mexican food joint. I had a beef chimicanga and was in heaven. Then we went to the early movie at the theater. We saw Ocean's Thirteen. Two hours of Brad Pitt and George Clooney. All good, my friends.

Then, back to the hotel for drinks and bed. Sunday morning we had the delicious breakfast buffet at the hotel, and then headed out of town to pick up Le Bug at my mother's house. The big boys are with their dad and stepmother on vacation in Fire Island.

It is freezing here today, and I am off to knit some on my Clapotis. I am at the decreasing rows finally, and it is large enough to cover my lap and keep me warm. I also have some Knitty Gritty episodes to catch up on, including the one with The Yarn Harlot that I missed when it first aired!

Missing in Action

2007-06-26T20:26:00.000-04:00

I have been...my running shoes are, or else I'd be on the treadmill in the basement at this very moment as no fewer than three people asked me today if I was pregnant. I was wearing one of those blouse-y empire waist sundresses.

Not pregnant. Just fat apparently.

So, I was going to run tonight since we have a treadmill now...but my running shoes are nowhere to be found.

So, instead, my blog reaps the benefit as I have a few moments to myself for once.

This new house is gorgeous, but big, and it takes a lot of my time to keep up with the cleaning, etc...but I am officially done with work tomorrow for the summer, so my time (free, knitting, and blogging) should all increase exponentially. Yeah!

What is new since last I blogged?

I am magic. My car had an issue. ~~Okay, so I missed the end of the driveway trying to back in and ended up bottoming out in a ditch.~~ The trunk release would no longer work. I was sure I had ripped out the cable. It was two days and then I just laid hands on the car and the next time I tried it...I have no idea why I tried it...it popped open. Bow down before the magic. Go ahead, I know you want to. Then, as if that wasn't enough...the jets on the jacuzzi tub got stuck. Nothing would turn them off. I thought about it. Took a deep breath to become One With the Universe, and tried again. And, well you can guess.

I am magic.

Patrick is getting off of his steroids for his kidney disease...but he fractured his elbow skateboarding. When it rains...right? He is excited to be going into 9th grade in September as we have a very small school and there is only one English teacher for the whole 9th grade--and that, dears, would be me. Won't that be interesting?? Apparently, his friends all said, "Wow, Pat, you sure are lucky, you'll get an A for sure!" To which, my very wise and practical son replied, "Apparently you don't actually know my mother...I'll be lucky if I get a C!" He usually gets a high B.

Campbell, the three year old Bug, has turned into a Tyrannical Despot. He is very strong birth control. I don't recommend it for the faint of heart. The hour before bedtime is the worst...but I have a new friend that sees me through. I call it "The Happy Juice". Just one, most evenings...lest you think I am a lush.

The cosmo solution

Connor, my ten year old, has a girlfriend. I asked what that means exactly, and was told that it means she is his girlfriend. Alrighty then. She calls him a zillion times a day. My mother wouldn't let me call boys, she said only "fast" girls did that. How fast can a ten year old girl be? Wait, don't answer that...good thing he ain't goin' nowhere unsupervised.

My dining room set was delivered, so we can actually eat like a real family all together. The old house was so microscopic, that we couldn't even fit a table in to eat at. It was tv trays in the living room and the boys in their bedroom at a card table. This?

This is much better.

I have been knitting a bit here and there.

Clapotis, she is a-growin'. Let's just ignore the completely wonky part on the side that looks like an ear where I fucked up and then got it back on track somehow (more spontaneous healing, I am telling you...I am magic).

I see you trying to peek...you can't see it. It is at the top, on the chair side, tucked under so it doesn't look so deformed. Does everyone make these mistakes and they just don't point them out, or admit to them? Maybe I should try that. Although I am impressed that I haven't frogged back all six inches to make it perfect. I'm working on my issues with needing perfection.

Now if I could just use the magic to find my running shoes.

Old House, New House, Grey House, Blue House

2007-05-29T18:56:00.000-04:00

Old House-----------

All 975 square feet of it...

New House------------------------

The front of the new house

The kitchen in the new house--knitting basket in background

The best tub ev-er. Seriously, it might be my favorite part of the new house. I may never get out of it.

The living room from above...french doors out to deck...

Regular posting will resume when my garage doesn't look like a warehouse

of boxes that need to be brought in and unpacked!

The Road to Hell

2007-04-30T17:48:00.000-04:00

I have had every intention of blogging.

I've even sat down to do it, multiple times.

But then, Life happened and the moments passed.

Vegas was lovely. We had a great relaxing time, lounging by the pool, drinking over priced fruity drinks with umbrellas. No big-time gambling, but just enough every day to keep things interesting. The Phantom at the Venetian was very nice. All in all, a really wonderful vacation. I came back recharged.

Then I realized that there is only about one month of regular class days left in the school year, and I still have to do a poetry unit and read another novel with the Ninth graders. So, the stress is back on. Because honestly? It ain't gonna happen.

There hasn't been any knitting. Sadly. I need to knit. I can feel it.

But I am in the throes of grading 68, 8 page research paper rough drafts done by Freshmen who have never written one before. Therefore they suck.

They asked me today on average how long does each paper take me to grade. When I told them 40 minutes, they all got quiet. One brave girl said, "Wow! 40 minutes?" To which I said, "Yes, dear, but yours took me an hour and ten minutes and I had to take a break and get a glass of wine afterwards." She looked at her neighbor across the aisle and whispered, "That can't be good."

Um.

No.

Plus, I am trying to pack for our move to the new house in three weeks or so.

Life. It gets in the way of knitting.

La Tour Eiffel de Las Vegas...pretty, yes? Someday, I will see the real thing.

The reception ceiling of the Bellagio (in case you aren't familiar, the blooms are all made of glass)

Even the sinks at Paris Las Vegas are gorgeous and fancy. I want one for myself.

The conservatory at the Bellagio.

A Ladybug from the Bellagio conservatory, it is made completely out of flowers. It smelled fantastic in there!

Viva! Las Vegas!

2007-04-05T16:13:00.000-04:00

Well, neither knitting project got done. But, I am not caring too much. I will take my old pashmina shawl for my fancy night out wrap, and that will be just fine. I have done most of the things on my To-Do list, including making Amy promise to raise my youngest child if anything happens to my husband and I. She says that is morbid, but I made her swear. She reluctantly did, and I felt better. I forgot to ask her to find homes for the cats as well. So when you read this Amy, please find homes for the cats too, if I croak.

Off to pack...ta tah, darlings!

And Happy Easter too!

On becoming my mother after all

2007-04-03T16:59:00.000-04:00

Whenever my mother went away from her children when we were growing up--by away, I mean far away, usually involving aircraft and a five day supply of panties--she always left us letters in her lingerie drawer.

These were special letters. One for each of the six of us, in a sealed envelope, only meant to be opened by us in case she died while on the trip. Last goodbyes, as they were. They were very long, and very emotionally sentimental.

I remember as a child, teenager, young adult, thinking that they were the most ridiculously morbid thing ever. In that way that everything your elderly parent does is ridiculously something...ridiculously embarrassing, ridiculously morbid, ridiculously ridiculous...

And then I became a mother.

One for each of my three precious boys, all sealed up, spritzed with my signature perfume, each holding a small trinket and a photo of me with them...tied up with a blue ribbon,

and ready for my lingerie drawer.

2007-03-31T12:30:00.000-04:00

The yarn for my Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan from the book Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel came from WEBS the other day... It is the colorway called "Sweet Pea". The color is a little less Pepto Bismol pink than this in real life. Of course, the moment I got it, I immediately wished that I had gone with the lavender color from the photo from the book. Oh, well...I need a pink sweater, and I am sure once it is knit up, I will love it. I can always make another some day in the lavender, right?

For me, this is the biggest dilemma with my knitting. Choosing a color and sticking with it. I tend to love a color, have to have it, and then when I get it. Heh. I fall out of love. Apparently, I am fickle.

I have put aside the Rusted Root. I got WAY too depressed after the misaligned lace panel business and the frogging. Oh. The frogging. It was hard. Anyway, once again, the luster is off of the project and so, it languishes in my knitting basket. Well, the knitting basket in the livingroom. That particular basket is a bit like a WIP Purgatory. When I am really into knitting something, I goes in the bedside knitting basket. I love to knit while propped up in bed, watching my super-kick-ass HDTV. (I've become a CSI re-run addict).

Clapotis...the never-ending Clapotis. I am determined to have this done for our trip to Vegas next week. I am on the fourth straight repeat. (Of twelve and a half. Then twelve decrease repeats).

I may, in fact, be delusional.

Oh, well, I can always sleep in Vegas, right? And I do have the very long (8 hour) car ride from here to Cleveland on Friday to finish. I could take it on the plane. I could finish it whilst actually in Vegas and that would still count, right? Clearly, it would.

I have to finish it because I bought the coolest shawl pin for it on Etsy.

It came from a seller whose username is Rubyvegas. I couldn't make this up.

7 days from now?

Oooh la la!

WTF Wednesday

2007-03-21T20:07:00.000-04:00

Woke up this morning with no voice. Well, a whispery voice, but not a real voice. Had to go to work as I had promised a fellow teacher to read a passage from a book during her all day read-athon of the Holocaust memoir, Night by Elie Wiesel.

Ha!

Whispered it with a microphone. It was very dramatic. She said it provided atmosphere.

Picked up Rusted Root to finish the ribbing on the waist, sleeves and neckline so I could wear it to work tomorrow on our Conference Day. Got it all done. I laid it down to admire it and noticed a glaring mistake. Apparently, when I had ripped back at one point to redo a small mistake, I put the stitch markers that marked the lace panel in the wrong spot by one stitch each way, resulting in a wavy panel that looked like supreme crap. Had to undo the bind off and frog at least half of the thing to get back to a point where things were still okay.

Set Rusted Root aside. Fed up for now. Will not be done for Vegas. Instead, I will see if I can crank out my Clapotis instead. If I do nothing but knit in my free evenings, and maybe stay home on Friday, I might get it done in time.

To provide a balm for my knitterly spirits and my sore throat? I bought the yarn, Cascade Cloud 9, for the Elizabeth Bennet cardigan that I was drooling over in yesterday's post.

Pink, of course.

Did you really think I wouldn't get the pink? Seriously...it's all about the pink. Clearly, I need a daughter.

My newest dilemma

2007-03-20T16:27:00.000-04:00

Had to buy immediately:

Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel

Must have:

Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan (I love Pride and Prejudice and this sweater!)

Cannot decide on a color:

This is the color from the photo in the book, lavender

This is obviously pink, and well, if you know me at all, you know.

Yarn is close-out from Webs. Almost half price! (Good thing when you need 18 balls!).

Breathing Room

2007-03-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

We just got back from Patrick's appointment with the nephrologist. She was optimistic about his progress on the horrid steroid therapy, and doesn't need to do a biopsy at this moment. She is going to continue on with the steroid therapy (in a mildly reduced, although still ridiculous dosage) for another six weeks and see what happens. If he can stay negative for those six weeks that will be wonderful and that will most likely mean he has the better (I use the term loosely) type of the nephrotic syndrome. If he goes positive again, then that is bad for us. But she doesn't expect that to happen.

So, I can maybe breathe a little easier for the next six weeks, and after that? Maybe not worry so much. That would be lovely.

And of course, this means that our much needed trip to Las Vegas is not compromised in any way. Ahhh....

Anyways...lack of posting completely blamed on the abundance of stress around these parts the past few weeks. The past week, in particular, was extra stressful. But, when Jaimi has stress, Jaimi does knit.

Proof?

Rusted Root progress

I'm about halfway done with the body, and then just have to pick up stitches on the neckline, and finish the sleeves. The pattern calls for those and the bottom hemline to be done in 2x1 rib, but I am considering only doing the ribbing on the neck and sleeves and letting the hemline roll.

A close up of the lace detail...

This is clapotis, of course. I have accepted the fact that I may not get it done in time for Vegas. I'll still try, but I don't know...I am not good at having more than one project going at once!

TGIF

2007-02-23T13:42:00.000-05:00

It's a busy day here...first we had a much-needed chiro appointment with Amy this morning, after we got about 3 inches of new snow last night on top of the two and a half feet we got last week. Then, house cleaning. Now-ish, a visit from my dear friend Colleen and her little guy Cael. Then, a sofa swap with the furniture store, due to the gi-normous hole (okay, it really isn't that big...only about the size of a nickel) in the back of our new leather sofa that was not okay with me (the store actually acted surprised at this fact! Granted, they offered us money back...but what if I want to put the sofa in the middle of a room? And, also? we paid good money for this sofa. It should NOT have a hole in it!). At least they left it for us to use all this week, otherwise I'd have been really annoyed. Later this evening, a sleepover for the middle boy here at the house. This week off has not been very relaxing, but school breaks rarely are. Just a time to catch up on all the house work, laundry and cleaning I don't get to while I work my #1 job.

Today...

Today was the deadline for my oldest son, Patrick, to have no protein in his urine by.

That did not happen.

I called the doctor's office this morning to apprise her of the disappointing fact, and had to leave a message. That was around 10:00 am or so...it's now almost 2:00 and I haven't heard back from her. I realize she is busy, and we are not her only patient, for all I know, she may be in surgery or something...but, man, waiting to hear what she is going to tell us is rough. From what I understand, she'll have to do a kidney biopsy next, figure out exactly what sort of disease is going on in his kidneys, and then try to treat it. I'm trying to stay positive, and not borrow worry, but it isn't always that easy when it's your baby, is it? Even when that baby is, in fact, almost 14 years old. I'm giving her until around 4pm, then I will call again. And again, until I get through to her. This is kind of, I don't know, IMPORTANT!!

In knitting news, I am working feverishly on Rusted Root.

This was yesterday morning's progress, cast-on, and about six rounds. I knit most of the afternoon, and all evening while watching Grey's (one word--ohmigod!) and, voila!:

I am almost to the little decorative sleeve decreases. I am determined to have it finished by Vegas. And hoping, that Patrick's health issues won't impact the trip. I need a vacation, especially if I'm going to have to be strong for him due to this. I am drained and need to sleep, eat, recharge. Is it crazy that we are going to Vegas, and all I can think about doing is sleeping?

No excuse

2007-02-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

There's no excuse for why I haven't been posting. Lazy. Stressed. Life. The usual.

I'll distract you from the dearth of recent, regular posts with gratuitous photos of: #1. A Birthday Bug (3 on Saturday!), #2. my new living room furniture. I will be 37 this year, and this is my first new-to-me living room furniture. Yay! and #3. Clapotis

The Bug had a great party on Saturday, just family and ice cream cake and pizza. Perfect.

The furniture is chocolate brown leather and I swear, it is like it was made in Heaven. So comfortable, and pretty too. I've bought a lot of things that are chocolate brown lately, in later years, this will be known as my chocolate brown phase, I suspect.

The Clapotis is Brooks Farm 4 Play bought at Rhinebeck this year. I want to get it done it time for Vegas...but I also want to make myself a Zephyr Style Rusted Root too. In Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, the putty color. Lots of knitting to do in the next 6 weeks. I am off all this week, February Break Rocks!, so that should help.

We are moving in June! This itty bitty house is just too itty bitty. So, we are off to a huge, 4 bedroom, two and half bath, fireplace, deck, two acre, nine month old house. Wow! Going from one toilet to three? It's like nirvana.

More chocolate brown...the summer highlights had to go and the only way to get rid of them completely? Go really dark. It's darker than it looks here, maybe too dark. I have to live with it a day or so to decide.

Late Silent Poetry Reading

2007-02-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

Better late, than never...another poem from my favorite author of all time. This one, we actually used in our wedding ceremony.

I do not love you...by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way

than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

I've Got Nothing For You Today

2007-02-01T18:26:00.000-05:00

Sympathy Fatigue

2007-01-30T18:58:00.000-05:00

I didn't know that sympathy could suck the life force right out of you.

Yesterday was my first day back at work since Patrick was diagnosed with a rare, serious kidney disease. Being a teacher at his school, I had emailed his teachers over the weekend to explain to them the disease, its symptoms, and the complications that they might expect to see from him in the classroom on account of his heinous treatment regimen.

It's a small school. Only about 2,000 kids in grades K-12 and all in one building. Everyone knows everyone. There are no secrets, and I knew this. I knew that everyone would know by 8:01 am. (School begins at 7:45). I wasn't prepared for the overwhelming support of my friends and colleagues. I barely had my shit together as it was, and their kindness was hard to handle.

I am normally not very emotional, at least on the surface. I like to pretend that I have control over things, when often I do not. In truth, I am oftentimes just one breath away from a complete, total, histrionic break-down. Yesterday, I got crankier and crankier as the day went on, and felt like a horrible bitch for not wanting to answer (for the one millionth time) the really-if-you-think-about-it ASSININE question, "How are you doing?"

I know people care, I know people want to help, I know they aren't trying to annoy me, but seriously?

"How are you doing?" ???? WTF

Gee, let me see...

My oldest son, my firstborn, my precious, autistic, already plagued with one syndrome, child just got diagnosed with a serious kidney disease. He has only a 50% chance of having the "good type" of the horrible disease. He might potentially need dialysis, and (according to research I've been doing) eventually a TRANSPLANT.

"I'm great. How are you?"

To be fair, I also have had four offers of kidneys.

Four.

Four.

Seriously?
My friends rock.

But they ask stupid questions.

The Babe and Hospital Knitting

2007-01-27T12:57:00.000-05:00

One of my friends at work is expecting a baby (well, his wife is!) in March. It is a little boy and my friend is a huge New York Yankees fan. When I mentioned knitting something for his baby, he questioned my knitting skills and said, "I bet you can't make me a baby sweater that looks like a Yankees jersey!"

Hmpf...

I bet I can.

I hope he will like it...the number 3 on the back is Babe Ruth's number. Get it? The Babe? I like the irony. I hope he gets it.

Anyway, that is what I've been knitting lately. I modified this pattern for anyone looking for an easy, bottom-up infant raglan.

I am now working on a Baby Yoda sweater for one of my students. One of my 11th graders is having a little boy any day now, and she doesn't have a lot material/money-wise, so I decided to make her a little something for her little guy too. Trying to make the best of a really sad situation.

Yesterday, I got a lot of unexpected and unwanted knitting time. My oldest son, Patrick, woke up with horrible edema (swelling) in his legs from the knees down. The pediatrician wanted to see him immediately, and ended up sending us down to Albany to see a Pediatric Nephrologist (kidney specialist). She ran a battery of tests, and diagnosed him with a kidney disease called Nephrotic Syndrome. It isn't the worst of kidney diseases, he won't need dialysis (yet, maybe not ever, hopefully?) or a transplant (I better start being good to my kidneys just in case), but it is pretty serious. The course of treatment is high doses of steroids (in this case, prednisone) over long periods of time (six weeks to six months). The side effects of the treatment are not ideal, and actually pretty scary and horrifying:

SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects of prednisone and other corticosteroids range from mild annoyances to serious, irreversible damage, and they occur more frequently with higher doses and more prolonged treatment. Side effects include retention of sodium (salt) and fluid, weight gain, loss of potassium, headache and muscle weakness. Prednisone also causes puffiness of the face (moon face), growth of facial hair, thinning and easy bruising of the skin, impaired wound healing,ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, worsening of diabetes, rounding of the upper back ("buffalo hump"), retardation of growth in children, convulsions, and psychiatric disturbances. The psychiatric disturbances include, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, depression and even psychotic behavior.

Nice huh? But in this disease, the specialist said that the potential benefits outweigh the known risks. Easy for her to say. There are two types of the disease, due to his advanced age at presentation (14 instead of 18months to 4 years) he only has a 50% chance of having the better, lesser, easier type. If he has the other, he'll have a harder time getting it into remission. There will be kidney biopsy, hospital stays, more drugs, and potentially dialysis.

Needless to say, we are hoping and praying it is the lesser type (it's called Minimal Change Disease). We have to wait 4 weeks to find out.

Lazy

2007-01-15T11:12:00.000-05:00

That's what I have been lately. Too lazy to post, too lazy to clean, too lazy to knit much even. It must be the after the holiday blahs...I'm not sure. I did finish up the Simple Knitted Bodice.

Please excuse the work bathroom photos, but that is the only place I have access to a full-length mirror, which is fine with me, but makes for not many options for pictures of knitting. There is considerable blurriness too, it didn't look blurry when I took them...hmmmm.

I am on to a new project now...a baby sweater for one of my friends at work. He is a huge New York Yankees fan, so it is going to be along those lines. I'll show you when I have something interesting to show. Right now it just looks like a blob of knitting. I'm making a bottom up, raglan cardigan to mimic a team jersey. It should be cute when I get it done. Cute--and illegal--in that I am planning on adding the team insignia on it (copyright infringement, I am sure!). Oh well.

I've been thinking about knitting a lot lately. Coming up with a list of must-haves to knit for 2007. So far, I have:

a pair of socks for me

a cardigan sweater for me

a clapotis for me

a scarf for Alan

a new froggie hat for the Bug

and then the list stalls out...

I am trying to knit out of my stash yarn as much as I can. But, we'll see. I am horrible with restrictions, even self-imposed ones. I feel too deprived and immediately binge on things. Not good. But, I am trying.

A lot of my stash came from my MIL who gave me all of my husband's grandma's old yarn stash when they moved her into the nursing home. I feel guilty not using it, because she boxed it and sent it to me, but to be honest, a lot of it is nothing anyone would really be able to use, odds and ends, and all of it acrylic. I think I may make a huge box of it up and either sell it cheap on eBay or donate it to Goodwill or a church or something. It has got to go. The yarn that I have stashed is really only about half of my current stash...if I got rid of what isn't mine, I'd have more room.

For more yarn, of course.

Well, I am off today and I have a list of things to do. And a pile of goodies to look at and read.

I love Borders gift cards for Christmas...so much fun!

PS: Alan and I are planning a trip to Las Vegas the second week in April and since I haven't ever been, we would love some recommendations on where to stay, what to do, etc...and of course, any yarn shops??

It's Good To Be Home

2007-01-04T08:56:00.000-05:00

We are back from Holiday Haul 2006.

For those of you who are not familiar with the concept, it is where you pack all of your children, all of Santa's gifts, and all of your clothes and necessities into the family minivan and embark upon a 750 mile, ten day, two family, holiday extravaganza.

First up. My mother's--about three and a half hours north of our house. We took my brother Shaun with us, he had flown in from Seattle, his first Christmas home in four years.

Christmas morning, it was hard to get a still shot of the Bug, as he was constantly moving. My niece Ryleigh is in the pink, my sister Taylor in the black tank, my sister McKenzie (Ry's mom) in the white, my brother Aaron and his girlfriend Kami in the background.

Campbell didn't understand the concept of opening all the gifts and then playing with them later. He wanted to unwrap them one by one, and then open them and play with them all one by one before moving on to the next.

This is him, mid-wail. He was giving me what his father so eloquently calls, "The Stink-Eye".

My mother had all six of her kids under the same roof for three days, the first time that has ever happened, as we are so spread out in age. I never lived at home at the same time as my youngest sister Taylor (she is actually nine days younger than my oldest son, Patrick). So Mom was happy about that. Although there were rough spots where she was doing her "Martyr" thing, where she won't let anyone help her, and then gets pouty and overwhelmed that she has too much to do.

We all just drank more when that happened.

Sigh.

You have to love the holidays, yes?

My brother, Shaun, wearing his Seahawks santa hat.

Connor was thrilled with his iPod.

Patrick got his skateboard that he has been pining for.

My husband wowed me with my gift. I already had my iPod, but I knew he was thinking of buying me jewelry as a holiday gift/reward for the past six months of single momming it.

Then, we were off to Cleveland (nine hours away!) for Christmas Part Deux with my in-laws.

My father-in-law wanted to buy me jewelry for Christmas, but I asked for a TV instead. This whole sharing a TV with my husband bit is getting old. I got used to not having to share while he was gone for those six months.

Wide screen. HDTV. So freakin' awesome. And all mine. hehehe.

Opening gifts.

Campbell got a train set from Aunt Laura that he loves.

Aunt Laura loves her Bug.

We stayed there from Tuesday until Sunday (New Year's Eve Day) and then drove home.

I knit quite a bit on the Simple Knitted Bodice. I promised myself that I would get it done before Christmas, so I could wear it, but that did not happen. Then, for a bit, as Amy can attest to, I had toyed with the idea of frogging the whole thing.

Don't ask. It was a moment of weakness.

Just the rest of the sleeve, and picking up the neckline stitches to go. It is really beautiful and fits like a dream. That is the beauty of the top-down business. Try as you go.

The lace detail and the waist increases. It is so pretty. I love the subtle variegations of this yarn.So. Lovely. I can't wait to wear it. I need to find the perfect shell or cami to wear underneath it.

And lastly, while at my mom's, it became apparent that she is well on her way to becoming a Crazy Cat Lady (you know, the type with about eleventeen million cats?). So my husband made an executive decision. On our next trip up there, probably in February, we will be bringing home a little something.

She is named Peaches and she is only four months old. She is very sweet and furry. I hope Daisy and Tiger like her. They are actually half-siblings/cousins. Same father, Peaches' mother is their aunt.

Hopelessly inbred, I know. I have redneck cats!

We interrupt this blog...

2006-12-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

for a much needed break for the holidays.

Wishing you much joy and blessings at Christmas time and in the coming New Year!

Gratuitous video of my son's public speaking debut

2006-12-07T21:28:00.000-05:00

My son, Connor, is the one who comes up to the mic and introduces their first song "Hot Cross Buns". He is in 4th grade, and they have only had band practices for one month. Just keep that in mind...and excuse the lack of zoom...my camera was NOT being cooperative.

Ta-freakin'-Da!

2006-12-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

The boys have been bugging me to make a gigantic chocolate chip cookie.

I wanted to buy one last year for my husband's birthday instead of making a traditional birthday cake, but they were ridiculously expensive. He was worth it, but I figured I could do it better for less. So I Googled...and came up with a recipe. I bought a round pizza pan (we are a square pizza family) and off I went. Now, we have the technology to have them all the time. They are stupidly easy...especially with ~~the love of my life~~ my Kitchen Aid mixer.

Notice the half-ass decorating? My pastry bag had sprung a leak and was doing this annoying frosting farting thing and I just wanted to be done. I normally do a much more professional job, I assure you. I took Wilton Cake Decorating Class I and II. I normally don't suck...I swear.

Ahhh, could it be?

Ta-freakin'-Da! And only three months late. They really are the same size in person. I don't know why the one on the right looks narrower here in this photo.

...these socks...

One Would Hope

2006-11-29T18:01:00.000-05:00

Your Language Arts Grade: 100%

Way to go! You know not to trust the MS Grammar Check and you know "no" from "know." Now, go forth and spread the good word (or at least, the proper use of apostrophes).

Are You Gooder at Grammar?
Make a Quiz

I certainly would hope that I would have a 100% on this! Otherwise, I should take up a new profession...say cat ass cleaning, or wiffle ball batting dogs who eat the sofa, or teaching my children swear words.

Oh wait!

I already do those things...

Two

2006-11-26T19:19:00.000-05:00

As in two Thanksgivings...the one we shared with the very gracious Amy and Steve: was just not enough and so, Saturday morning a quick trip to the grocery store netted us this: and four hours later, we were in business and up to our elbows in gravy, cranberry sauce, broccoli and cauliflower casserole, and yummy turkey.

Again.

That is how we roll here Chez Finley, people, that is how we roll. One Thanksgiving is just not enough for us. No way. No how. Two. Two is where it's at.

While at Amy and Steve's, she offered to model her one completed sock. Voila!She pretended not to see the ladders...precious girl.

Saturday was also an early Christmas here, as my Christmas gift was delivered and I convinced (or maybe strong-armed would be a more apt description!) my husband into letting me have it early.Boy Howdy! That is my very own iPod nano, my lovelies...and it rocks. Of course, I had to go out and buy a pink case for it. You couldn't imagine I would leave it all silver and boring, could you? Don't be silly.

Amy's socks? The second one is more than half done! I know, don't let the shock overwhelm you...it is a miracle. Three months to knit the first one...three days to knit the second. I cannot explain it. I must have appeased the Sock Goddess in some way. Maybe because the first thing I listened to in earnest on my iPod was a knitting podcast?

I dunno, but I am not questioning too much. After all, I'm not done yet. I'm just sayin'.

One

2006-11-22T13:29:00.000-05:00

One of Amy's socks done (complete with heinous ladders, of course, what else can be expected from this project but more drama...these are Diva Socks!):

One more hat for Rachel's Soaring Eagles Project:One Bug with a Bubble Bath Beard:

One day until Thanksgiving...

I hope you have all the turkey, stuffing, parades, food coma, and football that your little heart can stand...

...and that you are with the ones you are the most thankful for.

Why I Will Not Be Getting a "Mother of the Year" Award Any Time Soon

2006-11-18T18:52:00.000-05:00

Note: this entry contains objectionable words, if this offends you, please do not read it. If you know me in real-life, you will not be shocked, as you have heard me use these words on a fairly regular basis. If you are my employer, or a parent of one of my students who have found this secret blog by way of the nefarious Google...then just understand, I am only human, I use bad words...so there.

So, on our long trip to Virginia back in August, I may have, er, accidentally, used a bad word in front of my two year old.

The word may have, in fact, been used more than once, in anger, directed at stupid drivers in various acts of fuckwittage. The word in question is, of course, the generic and universally used term for all people who are not like us, could never strive to be as good as us, and have no hope of ever redeeming themselves in the collective eyes of humanity.

The word is...

asshole.

I may have vehemently screamed the word at the top of my lungs when cut off on a three lane stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike by a tractor trailer who randomly and quickly decided that he needed to be in the middle (my) lane, when there was not a soul in front of him, or behind him for that matter. I may have yelled, "Asshole Truck!" I may have. I must have. I am certain that I did.

Two miles down the road, when a car legitimately pulled in front of me and came to a stop at the toll booth, a tiny, precious voice from the middle row of seats in the Mommy-mobile, may have called out exuberantly, "Asshole Car!" Clear as a bell, no mistaking what he was saying.

There was horror, but then, also, laughing behind the hands by his shocked mother and delighted older brothers. Due to the positive response, of course, the phrase was repeated, and repeated, and re-freakin'-peated many times on the rest of the drive to Chesapeake, Virginia. He loved to call it out at red lights. Apparently, in his mind, they were being assholes by stopping and holding us up.

Anyway, upon our arrival his father was less than thrilled, although, truth be told, I am sure, amused, at his latest vocabulary acquisition. It was remarked upon that it was ironic that we cannot understand much of what this child says, and yet, that one phrase was pristinely clear and properly enunciated.

As these things often do, the phrase quickly passed out of favor with the Bug and was replaced with "Oh My God!" which admittedly, isn't all innocence either (I'd prefer, "Oh my goodness!") but beggars can't be choosers, and if wishes were horses, then beggars might ride.

(My mother says this all the time, and it horrifies me that it just came rolling right off the keyboard, apparently it is true and we do become our mothers at a certain point...although I was hoping that it would be much later in life, and also?, I am relatively certain that my mother never taught us a curse word by example--but I digress).

So, the phrase disappeared from common usage around here with much relief and jubilant freedom in being able to take the child out in public with very little worry of a repeat performance.

Until...

yesterday, when said Bug took his Matchbox cars out and arranged them in a traffic jam on the coffee table, bumper to bumper. One car got nudged and ended up sideways in the row. He noticed it eventually and flicked it onto the floor whilst screeching, "Asshole Car!" at the top of his lungs.

At least he hasn't started calling people "douchebags" or "fuckwits"...

... yet...

An Open Letter to the Sock Goddess

2006-11-11T13:36:00.000-05:00

Dear Sock Goddess,
I am not sure what I did to piss You off, but whatever it was, I beseechingly ask for Your forgiveness.

I have now frogged the fourth incarnation of Amy's birthday socks and have tenuously cast on for the fifth version. It has become increasingly clear to me that the knitting of these socks is, in fact, cursed in some way.

At first, I blamed the pattern. Too complicated for me to follow while I was busy juggling life and job and also knitting. (For the record, I love Grumperina's pattern, and this blaming of the pattern really was more about blaming myself for my inability to follow it).

Then, when that didn't solve the issue, I blamed the yarn. The lovely Lorna's Laces yarn that clearly, is also not to blame. That yarn is such a trooper! It has probably been frogged and re-knit about 8 times so far, and it is holding up like a champ. It certainly is NOT the yarn's fault. This yarn is nothing if not a people pleaser, always willing to try again and not give up.

So...I can't blame the pattern (we are down to a plain ole stockinette sock here folks!), and I cannot blame the yarn, clearly, the yarn is stellar.

Then that only leaves two options for blame placing.

One is me, and I have to say, I am taking this whole curse thing remarkably well and in stride, yadda yadda yadda. I haven't sworn once or anything. (Those who know me in real life realize what that statement is worth. I have a mouth like a sailor on an ordinary day). So, it can't be me.

That leaves You. I must have done something to really upset You and the delicate balance of my sock knitting world, and I have wracked my brain to think of what it might be. It can't be that I didn't wait in the three freakin' hour long line at Rhinebeck for Socks that Rock yarn, can it? Even You must understand the insanity that was that line, don't You? Don't You?! So, besides that, I don't see how I have besmirched Your Greatness in any way. But I must have, there is no other explanation for the struggle that is the knitting of these socks.

Therefore, I come to You on bended knee and beg Your forgiveness for my insult or transgression and I implore you to please, please, make the struggle stop and if it isn't too much extra trouble...could You please make sure that there is no Second Sock Syndrome to deal with on this pair? If it isn't too much trouble that is. (I don't want to overstep myself here). I would greatly appreciate it.

I have left You a little sock yarn sacrifice in my knitting bag. I will humbly await Your intervention on Amy's socks. Thank You.

Your humble sock servant,
Jaimi

PS: The pinched nerve in my left shoulder that is causing my entire left arm to tingle and my ring and pinky fingers on my left hand to go completely numb may have been a bit mean-spirited and low for someone of Your stature and demeanor, don't You think? I'm just sayin'...

A Weekend in Photos

2006-11-05T09:23:00.000-05:00

One hat for Rachel's Soaring Eagles Project. It ended up kind of, um, large. Hopefully, there are some kids with serious brains at her school who need a big hat with a funky tassel.
The mailman brought me these on Saturday. The magazine is good...the book (Modern Classics by Louisa Harding) is wonderful. For once, a book with practical patterns! I want to make one of almost everything, and that hardly ever happens. I ordered it from Crafters' Choice. They have a sneak peek (last time I looked anyways!) on their main page which I have linked here. Do look. It's a great book.
Well, it finally happened...a co-worker who knows I knit asked me to work my magic on a treasured sweater. This was her favorite sweater and she's had it since 7th grade. She hasn't been able to wear it for years.

No pressure.

It was an easy fix though, it was two dropped stitches, I just used a crochet hook to reknit them up and then fastened them off on the back side with some embroidery floss. Easy.

Almost done with the lace panel on the Simple Knitted Bodice. Ignore the ugly waste yarn stitch markers. The lace pattern is pretty and easy to memorize, but I am seriously considering knitting plain sleeves. I think it will look just as pretty, and be faster too.
New birthday sock for Amy. I was right, the Lorna's wants to be simple socks. Look how pretty.

Connor had his first sleep-over last night with the boy across the street. The boy saw me knitting and said, "Cool! My Nana knits and she taught me how to crochet!" Connor's eyes lit up because he has been nervous about his buddy finding out about his knitting and thinking it was silly (read--less than masculine). So after that, he went in his room and pulled out his knitting bag and they were quiet for over an hour. They finally emerged with a crochet chain about 15 feet long. They spent the entire evening working on that chain, trying to make a World Record chain, until they googled and found out the world record is 38 miles!

Who knew?

An X-box, computer, DVD player and toys galore in that room and they were mesmerized by a $1.49 skein of Red Heart yarn from great-grandma's stash and a $0.99 plastic crochet hook!

Ghouls

2006-10-31T18:04:00.000-05:00

Connor is the Grim Reaper...Campbell is Buzz ("Bug") Lightyear...Patrick is, well, Patrick. He feels he is too old to dress up. But notice he isn't too old for a pillowcase for his haul!

It's been a slow week knitting-wise because it has been a crazy week life-wise. I did finish one hat for Rachel's Soaring Eagles Project on Sunday, and cast on for another. Am still working on the lace panel on the Simple Knitted Bodice. Have about a half an inch done on the 2x2 ribbing cuff of Amy's Lorna's socks. Not much to show...or to tell.

I am off to man the door, dole out chocolate and grade (or try to grade) a stack of Ghost Stories that some brilliant mind assigned today.

What was I thinkin'??

Progress?

2006-10-29T14:41:00.000-05:00

The lighting today is weird...this is much more pink than the actual yarn, which is a deep, dark, ruby red. The blue yarn you see is waste yarn to hold the sleeves, and to mark out the lace pattern repeats so I don't mess things up. They have worked, for the most part. Apparently not even waste yarn markers can help me when I am tired and have a migraine.

Today, I am going to cast on for some charity knitting. Rachel is trying to get hats and headbands for her students at her school, with her Soaring Eagles Project. If you have the time, and the stash yarn, please help her out!

And lastly, a Bug in Lightyear clothing...

The middle boy (in the background) is going to be some sort of hellish ghoul type thing. I will take pictures on Tuesday so you can see. It's his first year as a gross, scary thing. Apparently, he is growing up...

And I didn't get the memo.

A Brush With Blogging Greatness

2006-10-22T09:35:00.000-04:00

...aka, "Jaimi is a Bumbling Idiot"...

So, I woke up this morning with a true Rhinebeck hangover. Tired legs, hips, and feet from all the walking--a bit of a cold from the brisk Autumn air that blew all day--a still-full feeling from all of the yummy food. Spacey Tracy's Pickles?? Tres yum!

I did manage to top my yarn purchase of last year (all $9.00 of it). I went this year with specific projects in mind and no children to help facillitate the purchasing ability. It was a smashing success!

I absolutely had to get yarn for my Clapotis, a winter scarf for myself, and a pair of pink hand-painted socks for myself. Sense a theme?? It was all about me this year!

Our first stop (it was myself, Amy, and Stephanie [not THAT one...but just you hold on, my pretties]) was the Brooks Farm booth. It was there that I had my brush with blogging greatness and also proved myself to be an idiot...but I am getting ahead of myself.

Brooks Farm Four Play ; 3 skeins for my Clapotis

More Four Play for my new winter scarf

Pink and rose sock yarn with china blue accents; from Spirit Trail Fiberworks

Once the must-have purchases were made, then I let the whims carry me. I mean, how could one not buy this?

I mean, seriously...it is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Well, almost:

The Bug is holding some of these cute little finger puppets that I got, and cannot remember from whence they came. It got to be a bit of a blur after awhile. A serious, wooly blur with some alpaca and llama thrown in for fun.

Aren't they adorable?

But now?

Now we come to the point of the story where I shame all my English teacher colleagues with my utter lack of communication skills and illustrate for the knitting world how completely unelegant, awkward, and socially challenged I can be.

I was standing in the aisle of Building A at around 11:00 am just outside the Brooks Farm booth. I had just spent almost an hour trying to decide between two colorways for my Clapotis and then had finally purchased the Chosen One. I was standing in the aisle, trying to recover from the euphoria, when who do I see gliding toward me, elegantly, effortlessly, but Knitting Royalty Herself?

I looked.

I looked again.

I may have gaped.

I decided in the hazy part of my brain that was still somewhat functioning, albeit at a slow-motion, surreal, dream-like rate, that I.Must.Do.Something.

Say something.

Anything.

Now.

Before she goes past.

Anything.

I panicked.

I reached out and touched the wedding shawl (I am still horrified at my audacity, the boldness, the complete lack of respect for her personal space) and I stupidly said the obvious, "It's beautiful!". To which she graciously replied, "Thank you!"

She moved on and I immediately began looking for a rock to climb under.

I am a bumbling idiot.

But, yet? Neener-neener-NE-NER! I touched the wedding shawl!

I apologize, Stephanie (yes, THAT one), I really do. I'm not normally such a moron, I'm really not.

Shut up Amy!

Rhinebeck Ho!

2006-10-20T19:08:00.000-04:00

(and I do mean "ho"...)

I am like a kid on Christmas eve waiting for Santa.

I went to the ATM today and took out moolah and my husband actually raised an eyebrow at the amount.

I am ready.

I Keep Forgetting...

2006-10-15T19:27:00.000-04:00

Rachel over at The Procrastiknitter has started a charity knitting project for her school. She teaches at a school district very much like my own, poor and needy. Her kids really need warm winter accessories. She has a blog set up for information about her Soaring Eagles Project. Please visit and see if you can help her...I mean, really, who doesn't have the time to knit a hat with some acrylic stash yarn? We all do. And shame on us if we don't.

Show and Tell

2006-10-15T15:42:00.000-04:00

First, Show:

The breakup was difficult for us both.

We are both trying to move on with our lives. Case in point, I have a new love...at least until I cast on for some new stripey socks.

And now the Tell...no, that isn't your eyes, there is some sort of a hole on the left front where it joins the left sleeve (on the right here on the screen). I just found it when I put the thing on to test it's sizing. I could rip back and try to fix it. Or I could just go to the fabric store and get some thread in this same gorgeous ruby red, and make a tiny little stitch that closes up the hole that no one but me will know is there.

Well, no one but me and you fine people.

The Point

2006-10-14T18:24:00.000-04:00

I have learned that there comes a point in some knitting projects (let's face it--in life, too) where you just have to admit defeat. You have to come to terms with the ending that is inevitable, and then move forward with as much grace and humility as you can. I have been listening to the new John Mayer CD Continuum non-stop lately, and there is a song on there that captures how I feel right now, it's called "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room":

"It's not a silly little moment
It's not the storm before the calm
This is the deep and dying breath
Of this love that we've been working on
Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms
Nobody's gonna come and save you
We pulled too many false alarms

We're going down
And you can see it, too
We're going down
And you know that we're doomed
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room

I was the one you always dreamed of
You were the one I tried to draw
How dare you say it's nothing to me?
Baby, you're the only light I ever saw
I'll make the most of all the sadness
You'll be a bitch because you can
You'll try to hit me just to hurt me
So you leave me feeling dirty
Cause you can't understand

We're going down
And you can see it, too
We're going down
And you know that we're doomed
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room

Go cry about it, why don't you?
My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room
Don't you think we oughta know by know?
Don't you think we should have learned somehow?"

I have reached that point of grief over a hopeless cause with Amy's Birthday Socks.

The love is, in fact, dead. We are definitely going down. Apparently, the flames have consumed me. It is over. I have no feeling left for them. Except sadness. I am trying to "make the most of all the sadness", and the socks are definitely mocking me in a bitchy way as they sit in my bag, daring me to make up my mind about our future.

I have been knitting on these socks for weeks. A little bit every night. I have had to frog and rip back so many times, that I am sure that I have knit about four socks by now, and I still cannot get the pattern (Jaywalkers) to work out correctly. I know for a certainty that it is me, not Kathy's pattern. I just can't seem to pay close enough attention right now to the details to keep everything going well. Too many plates spinning in the air. Too little love. Too many flames to see clearly.

So, I am at The Point.

I feel defeated. I had wanted to have a pair for her by this weekend so she could wear them to Rhinebeck. I mean, her birthday was two months ago! It just isn't going to happen with this pattern. I'm sorry Amy.

Maybe it's the yarn's fault. Maybe it just doesn't want to be Jaywalkers.

Anyways, I have decided that I am going to frog what I have (a cuff, a leg, a heel flap, a turned heel, and about twelve decreasing foot rounds), re-wind the ball on my ball winder, hope that the re-winding is therapeutic, drink some wine, look at some sock books, and find something else.

If all else fails, I may just do a ~~boring old~~ stockinette sock. Stephanie's always look great. And she does have something when she writes about the simple humble sock. Maybe the Lorna's just wants to be humble socks , not fancy, show-offy, and all shee-shee-poo-poo. Maybe it's self-striping is enough for itself. Maybe I was pressuring it too much, trying to make it be something it just doesn't want to be.

That must be it, and not that I am a freakin' moron, right?

If I have the emotional strength I will share a picture of ~~my humiliation~~ the frogging and re-winding with y'all tomorrow.

Sacrilege?

2006-10-13T19:38:00.000-04:00

So, one week until Rhinebeck. Amy and I still have to figure out who is driving. (By the way, if it isn't me, I can actually work on her socks. I'm just sayin' ! wink, wink)

Anyway, I was thinking of what to wear. After my fiasco last year, I have to dress more appropriately. Layers, layers is key. Layers and a waterproof coat in case of rain.

Do I own a waterproof coat?

Umm, no.

A long sleeve T-shirt is a must. And on top. Why a sweater of course.

Only problem?

The only sweater I have that I have actually made for myself, is my Knitting Olympics sweater, Chamonix.

So, what is the problem you ask yourself?

Good question.

It is made out of acrylic yarn.

I will be wearing a synthetic yarn sweater (not something I usually care about overly much as it is very practical and washable...important for teaching and mothering) at a Sheep and Wool festival.

Very Interesting...and also, Seriously??

2006-10-12T18:30:00.000-04:00

So, for fun and to compensate for no knitting content. I present My Celebrity Look-Alikes.

This was actually pretty funny.

I had to Google Meredith Monroe. I still have no idea who she is! And seriously? Rod Stewart?? He really only resembles a wallet at this point...all old and leathery. Please, say I don't really look like Rod freakin' Stewart! If you put your mouse on the pictures, there are comments from me about them. Funny stuff.

And what is up with my secret Asian heritage? My parents lying to me?? I thought I was Irish, people. My mother has got some 'splainin' to do!!

There is a link on there...go on. You know you want to.

KAL = Kiss of Death?

2006-10-07T15:05:00.000-04:00

So, I joined the Simple Knitted Bodice knit-along.

My first ever KAL.

And now?

Now, I have no desire to knit said simple knitted bodice.

What gives?

It's as if joining the KAL zapped all of my desire for the thing. I mean, I still love my yarn, I still love the pattern...but I cannot bring myself to knit on it very much.

Any idea what gives??

Navy Blue

2006-10-06T18:41:00.000-04:00

I found out this week that one of my best girlfriends from work has breast cancer. She has had two surgeries in the past two weeks to try to get it all out (lumpectomy). Finally, it looks like they did.

Anyway...I've decided to put my other projects on hold for the next week or so while I try to make her a quick prayer shawl. I'm improvising, not using a pattern from the Prayer Shawl Ministry or anything. Just a feather and fan stole on big US15 Brittany needles out of navy blue wool/acrylic blend so that it can be washable. I plan on knitting the two halves separately and then grafting them together in the middle so that the ends will both have the pretty scallops in a more symmetrical way.

I'm hoping I can get it done this long weekend so I can give it ot her this week. She'll be back on Tuesday for about a week until her first round of chemotherapy. I'm going to buy some cashmere yarn too, to make her a chemo cap.

Navy blue. It's her favorite.

It's a good thing I love knitting...

2006-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:00

...or I'd really hate knitting!

I had to rip back on Amy's first Jaywalker last night. I had completely screwed up the heel flap. I forgot to do the slip 1, knit 1 all the way across and instead had just knitted straight. Needless to say, the heels looked funny. I couldn't put my finger on it right away, but then I happened to turn the page and see a photo of the finished product and clearly, clearly, my sock did not look right. Closer examination revealed that the heel was indeed, screwed up.

So, I frogged. But, Grey's was on, and I was engrossed, and I may have ripped back a little too far. Days worth of progress. Gone.

It's a good thing I love knitting.

I set it aside after that, too annoyed and pissed at myself to continue. Instead I grabbed by Simple Knitted Bodice and did a few rows on that.

Can you see the progress?

Yeah, me either.

It's a good thing I love knitting...

Flashback

2006-09-27T18:11:00.000-04:00

Today was Flashback day at school. It is Spirit Week in anticipation of Homecoming this weekend. My girlfriend Sue and I decided to get back to our 80's roots. One of us took it more seriously than the other.

Any guesses which one of us?

(Notice the unfinished lockers? We are in the midst of a huge renovation/construction project at school this year.)

Yes, those ARE legwarmers...and NO, they are NOT vintage. I bought them last night at Target. They have lots. Apparently they are making a comeback. My hair is not anywhere near big enough. I guess you need a perm to make the teasing stay. I used Aqua Net and all, but the curling iron curls didn't cut it. Halfway through the day, I traded my horrid black bow for a side pony-tail. So sexy. You cannot see the clear lipgloss over pale pink frosted lipstick and frosted blue eyeshadow in this picture. I had to go to two stores to find anything even close and it wasn't close at all.

Sue was rocking a headband...and big geometric 80's earrings as well as her Capezio shoes! So funny.

Most of the teachers thought we were crazy...and they were big poops and didn't dress up.

Leave it to the English Department to be crazy.

In knitting news...I am working on Amy's socks. The Simple Knitted Bodice is just kind of hanging out in my bag, waiting. Apparently I can only be a monogamous knitter despite my best intentions to be a knitting 'ho.

Progress Report

2006-09-24T09:51:00.000-04:00

Grey's:

I am up to the last two episodes from last season and then I can watch the new one I recorded on the DVR Thursday night! Hooray! Hopefully, this will all happen today.

Simple Knitted Bodice:

This is the beginning of the yoke. It is, of course, a top-down raglan design so the stitch markers are marking out where the back, fronts, and sleeves are situated. I have never knit a sweater like this before, so this is all new to me. I was worried that I wasn't doing it right until I noticed how the increasing was making those tell-tale lines on the sweater that I have seen on others. I was relieved...

I almost didn't take any photos today as it is really gray and crappy outside, but actually, these (taken without the flash) seem to be the best representation of the true color of the yarn that I have been able to capture, so go figure. Don't you just love the subtle variegation of the yarn? And It. Is. So. Soft! Very lovely.

I am knitting the size small. I was considering making the medium because I am right on the line measurement-wise, but I decided that I like the way the burnt orange sweater looks in the pattern better than the olive. And everyone says that the silk will "grow" with wearing, so I decided to play it safe and knit the small.

What will I do if it doesn't fit? Will I give it away to someone else?

Hell no!

I will rip it out and patiently, in a zen-like state (this usually requires alcohol), I will re-knit it in the larger size. I did order enough yardage for the medium, so yarn isn't an issue.

And now, a moment of spontaneous cuteness...The Bug, who discovered that Fudge Stripe cookies have a hole in the middle, especially designed for eyes.

22

2006-09-23T17:11:00.000-04:00

Okay, I am through episode 22, the one with all the knitting and I have to take a dinner break...but as soon as I get the Bug in bed for the night, I am back onto the Grey's. [Can I just say, too, that the English teacher/geek loves that Amy (not my currently blogless Amy), the girl who made the cute button, underlined the title of the show like you are supposed to do if you don't put it in italics? Good girl!]

Have I said lately, how much I love this show? It is soooo good.

Anyways, I am knitting on the Simple Knitted Bodice.

I have not gotten very far. First, I had to make some new stitch markers for the project because it became clear to me that nothing that I had color-coordinated with the fabulousness of the Tilli yarn and nothing was good enough anyway. So, I whipped up some fancy jasper markers last night and they look great on the needles (the new KnitPicks options circulars which I am in love with! So pointy and good!). I really consider stitch markers like jewelry for my knitting in progress and I have way too many already...all colors, etc, but yet, I still needed to make more. Could not concentrate on casting on until I made more. I am too anal retentive, I know, I know. But I like things to be perfect.

I also have had to rip back and re-knit multiple times, not because it is hard, but because I am, apparently, a moron. Either I cannot count, or I drop a stitch because, hello?, is that Meredith KNITTING?? And so on...

But tomorrow I will post a picture of how far I get tonight. Tomorrow is sock knitting day...I am trying to be a knitting whore and have more than one project going at a time...it usually doesn't go well for me.

I am, apparently, monogamous by nature.

Fourteen Down, Thirteen to Go

2006-09-21T18:40:00.000-04:00

Okay, so my plan to catch up on 27 episodes of season two in time to watch the season three premiere of Grey's Anatomy tonight is a complete bust...this week was just too crazy with work and now I am sick.

Sick enough to not even knit much. Too sick to watch TV.

Sick.

I may even call in to work tomorrow and take a day to rest and sleep and try to get better. After I drive the boys to school and drop the Bug off at daycare, that is.

I think it's just a nasty cold, but I have a fever and body aches too. Is it too early for the flu? I thought flu was more of a winter malady. As long as it isn't strep throat, I am happy. Strep is going around school. I have three kids in my classes out with it as we speak.

I will set up the DVR to tape Grey's and get to it when I can...hopefully before next week's episode so I can discuss it with everyone like a real human being and not some nerd who missed the first 36 episodes and is not catching up quickly enough.

In knitting...Carrie asked about the yarn. I don't even need to tell you what yarn she meant. You all know.

It is absolutely beautiful. So much prettier than the pictures show it to be. The luster of it is incredible...it is so rich and deep. It also is subtly variegated and that makes the tonality even deeper and more decadent. The feel? So soft you wouldn't believe it. I could rub it against my cheek all day.

This is the beginnings of my swatch. Yes, a swatch. I am being good on this one! You can see from this picture what I mean about the variation in the coloring. So pretty...

I haven't found many knots in the skeins either, which is good. Others have found as many as six per skein. I have put knots in accidentally as I try to wind it up without a swift. You know the kind I mean, when you end up with a huge mess of yarn and can't find an end any longer so you have to make one?

That kind.

In Amy's birthday sock news :

I have this much done of the fist Jaywalker for Amy. There has been a few little issues...mostly due to forgetting where I am at in the super easy pattern. Total user error, not in any way the pattern's fault.

Also, knitting when you are tired and sick, and also sick and tired?

Not so good for progress.

I fixed most of the mistakes...there are a few that I will know are there and Amy will pretend she doesn't notice! Right, Amy?

Only 30 days until Rhinebeck...will Amy have new socks to wear??

I think so.

Behold The Glory

2006-09-18T16:07:00.000-04:00

My Husband, the Grocery Savior

2006-09-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

Never fear, dears, my husband came through and saved my children from starvation and deprivation, or, less dramatically, from having to subsist solely on Ramen noodles and Easy Mac all week.

He bought the groceries for the week when he came home to visit us for the weekend.

He is a bit crazy.

He got out of his class in Virginia at 4:00 pm Friday, drove straight home to New York, spent the day on Saturday with us, and now has just recently left to drive back there for his class tomorrow morning at 7:00 am. It is a nine hour drive. He drove 18 hours to spend 36 hours here with us. Crazy.

We had a good day though. First off, I got stuff in the mail, and none of it was bills!

My Knit Picks Options circular needles and some of their Classic DPNs. I haven't used them yet, but I will...

I also got this:

This is Knit Picks Gloss yarn, a 70% Merino/ 30% Silk blend that I am going to make some cabley socks out of. It is the colorway called Dusk. Very pretty.

Then? I found out that my Tilli Thomas yarn will be delivered on Monday. It is actually in town...sitting in a warehouse, or on a big brown truck...waiting to be delivered. UPS doesn't deliver on Saturdays, of course...it is frustrating, knowing it is so close, and yet not here... Somehow, I'll work through it.

Then, we spent the afternoon watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy Season 2 on DVD. I am up to Episode 7. Episode 6 (the big train wreck where the two people were impaled together on the pole?) took a lot out of me emotionally...I needed a bit of a break after all the sobbing. And the weeping.

Next? We went out to eat at the kids' favorite place, The Country Drive-In. Virginia may have Sonic, but the CDI is the best. It is a warm-weather restaurant where you can order burgers, hot dogs, fish fry, fries, onion rings, and ice cream, and eat it outdoors underneath the most gigantic umbrellas I have ever seen!

Seriously, they are big. You can fit six, full-sized picnic tables underneath one umbrella.

Really big.

Even better than Country Drive-In? Taking Aunt Amy and Uncle Feeece [note the corrected spelling, Steve? Three e's just as you requested!] with us. They had never been.

They are converts.

It is like a spiritual experience...they make their own whipped cream for the sundaes, people. Seriously. And don't get me started on the french fries and homemade onion rings. Yum!!

Then? Home to our house to hang out, digest all the goodness, and knit! Amy was making the cutest garter stitch bibs from the new Mason Dixon Knitting book. They are just adorable. They made me want to have another baby just to use them. They are that cute.

We (Steve and I) are trying to convince Amy to start a blog for all of her knitting and beading adventures. I think we might be wearing her down.

We made plans for Rhinebeck. Only 34 days to go. I have a lot of knitting to do.

I broke down and showed Amy her birthday socks. I cannot keep a secret at all.

They are, of course, Jaywalkers. I would speculate that I am one of only about two knitters in the entire universe who have not yet made a pair. (I say this, knowing full well that Amy has not made them yet either!). They are knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the amethyst Stripe colorway. I saw the yarn in Virginia when we were on vacation and just knew it wanted to be socks for Amy given her love for all things purpley.

The evening ended with other good things...but this is a family blog.

The romance continued this morning as Alan and I had to wash the cat's ass yet again. She is so fat she can't do it herself and things get, shall we say, interesting, down there.

That is love, darlings, my true love and I washed the cat's ass!! I bet you can't say that.

I bet you're glad about it too!

In which I inform you that groceries are over-rated after I have spent grocery money on nothing edible, and then act as if Amy is my only reader

2006-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

Both out today. Both must-haves. The CD is John Mayer...that boy is a talented song-writer. I love his lyrics. And his voice. He could sing me the phone book and I'd listen all freakin' day long, I swear. This CD is just as good as his last, Try! by the John Mayer Trio. Bluesy. Raspy. Lovely.

The children need music in their lives, don't they? Note the justification for depriving my offspring from sustenance on the basis of developing their cultural lives. It's a valid point, isn't it? I'm not just reaching here people, I have a point! They also need a mother who has had her daily fix of Grey's so that she is not cranky and jonesing. [1180 minutes to catch up on before 9/21? Sure, no problem, it's not like I'll have to fix meals anyways...cold cereal it is. Blue Box mac and cheese. Hot dogs. Sandwiches. All good].

Speaking of needing music in their lives? Connor, the middle boy, got his French Horn today. Chocolate, alcohol, and a strong ability to tune things out will be required. Not necessarily in that order.

Pray for me, would you?

His holiday concert is on a Monday evening, Aunt Amy...I am sure he will subject you and Uncle "Feece" to the torture, I mean, invite you!

He told me they are singing songs in choir that his teacher says are "guaranteed to make the parents cry".

I doubt it.

Last year they sang songs from around the world...nothing too holiday-ish...they must be politically correct at all costs. I can't see more songs about the tropics and monkeys (yes, they sang a song about monkeys on an island at a holiday concert!) making me weep...I'm just sayin'.

It should be noted for fairness' sake that our school is public, and not a religious school and I understand the situation and need for religious sensitivity, but couldn't they do holiday songs from all different religions to include everyone? Instead of excluding everyone? No? Just monkeys climbing palm trees? Got it. Maybe the monkeys will at least wear a winter hat or something this year? I can dream, can't I?

In knitting news: I just got an email that my Tilli Tomas yarn is being scheduled for pick up by UPS and should be on its way. Maybe early next week? Can't wait.

I've cast on FOUR times now for Amy's birthday socks. FOUR. It's simple 2x2 rib. But it's kicking my ass. It might be the needles, my first time on metal dpns instead of bamboo. Don't worry, Amy. My goal is either Rhinebeck or your next birthday, whichever the yarn wants. You know how moody yarn is.

Speaking of...Rhinebeck that is...it's time to plan our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I can only do Saturday because Al is flying home on Friday and out again on Sunday...we'll talk. I can always just meet you down there for the day or something...

Got to run...papers to grade.

Ick...I should have been a chiropractor...no homework.

Lest We Forget

2006-09-11T05:22:00.000-04:00

I saw these in person...they still choke me up.

I don't have any words for you all today, instead I leave you with this.

Nearly 9/11

2006-09-10T18:36:00.000-04:00

It was my first full week of my full time student teaching assignment for grad school. I was assigned to one teacher, but had decided to also sit in on her next door neighbor's classes as well. A chance to see another grade level.

I had already had my baptism by fire and was teaching my teacher's classes while she either supervised or had some time to herself in the faculty room down the hall.

It was just before 9:00 am and another teacher walked in to the front of my room and handed me a sheet of paper. It was a photo printed from Yahoo news that showed an airplane plowing into one of the towers at the World Trade Center. Handwritten on the bottom, it said, "For your information only, don't mention to the students until further notice."

I did a double take. It seemed like a joke.

Somehow I managed to get to the end of the period, around 9:30 am, and then during my free next period, I literally ran down the hallway to the Faculty Room. There were a million people in there and I had to squeeze in and work my way toward one of the three televisions that were on. The second plane had hit by then, and they were starting to believe that there were more waiting, circling--who knows where--waiting to cause even more devastation, more chaos.

The administration decided not to close school although many in the area had...but hundreds of parents arrived to take their children home and hold them close. I was panicked because my two sons were in two different locations (school and pre-school) almost half an hour from me. My fiance was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All I wanted was to all be together, but I had to finish up the workday first, I had to keep it together for the students first, then I could try to keep it together for my own children.

Of course, word leaked out to students. Kids were coming in to school late after doctor's appointments and they told the others. They were quiet. Those of you who teach know that this is not their normal state.

The second teacher I was working with had disappeared. I soon found out that her ex-husband whom she was close with, and obviously still in love with, the father of her three daughters, worked on the 85th floor of the World Trade Center.

He didn't make it home that day.

She was out for weeks and I took over her classes because I knew what she had planned to do with her students. She needed to be with her children. I could relate.

After weeks, they finally recovered some of his body, although I remember thinking at the time that it was almost worse than if there had been nothing--the closed casket being worse than none at all.

He didn't live to see one of his children graduate high school.

None were married yet.

His second oldest went to these past Winter Olympics for women's hockey.

For me, although only touched by the tragedy on this peripheral level, I remember vowing two things.

One, that I would make sure that my children were always close by me when I finally got a permanent teaching job. (The one I have now lets me bring them to school with me tuition free even though we aren't in the district. It is one building Kindergarten-twelfth grade. We are under one roof all day long. And the new boy is just down the road, I can be there in two minutes). That day alone impacted my resolve to keep my family close.

Two, that no matter how much time passed, or what happened in the aftermath, that I would never forget the horror and the surrealness of that day.

The desperation of the people who jumped.

The bravery of the rescue workers who had to have known they would not come back down the stairs of the towers.

The boldness of the passengers on a plane in Pennsylvania who saved yet one more building's occupants from a certain fate.

The courage of the survivors who grieved publicly so that we could all feel their pain. Those who continue to grieve in whatever way they can. Including one young woman who went to Italy in February without her dad and played her heart out on the ice. [They won the Bronze medal and during the medal ceremony, I watched her face and knew without being psychic what she was thinking about most. I prayed that as they placed that ribboned medal around her neck that she felt as though it were her proud father's arms. I believe she did, indeed, feel him with her. She has said so. This is small comfort].

The ugly hatred of a few people who hate America so much that they could do something so heinous and cause so much devastation.

The beauty of people coming together despite religious, cultural, or political beliefs...united in common grief.

That day showed the worst of humanity...
but it also showed its best.

The Grind

2006-09-09T14:56:00.000-04:00

Well, the first week of school is in the books. Well, I actually haven't put anything in the actual book yet because at my school we will continue to get new students enrolling and leaving for the next few weeks...we have a lot of transient students...it's a socio-economic thing.

My classes are good. I have three regular Ninth grade sections, a section of Ninth grade Honors, and a section of Juniors. I taught ninth and eleventh last year, the honors bit is new, but interesting. I only have 9 kids in there. How awesome.

The school building is a mess due to renovations and construction and we are in a temporary Faculty room with no telephone or computers, but in the end, next year, we will have a beautiful new addition and it should be wonderful.

Needless to say, though, I haven't gotten ANY knitting done this week. In fact, I have made negative progress if that is even possible! I had to rip out the Clapotis because I had screwed it up some rows back and couldn't figure out how to rip back judiciously and still remember where I was at, so I just frogged it all. It's a quick knit anyway, so I'll get back to it eventually.

My horribly extravagant Tilli Tomas yarn (thanks to everyone who left messages about how I DO deserve it!) still has not arrived. I only ordered it on Monday, and the online store DiscountYarnSale says that because they are a small outfit with reasonable prices, that it takes a bit longer. I am a little concerned because they are now showing that they are out of the Tilli yarn, and they had pre-authorized my debit card for the money, but now it doesn't show on my online bank statement as either pre-authorized or processed. I am wondering if I'll be getting a notice that it is on back-order or something. I'm trying to be optimistic and think that they shipped it today and the bank is in the process of changing it from pre-authorized to processed.

Never fear...if I can't get my fix there, I will find some place else. At this point I am over the shock and even if it's a little more expensive, I think I can order it without such an anxiety attack!

Today, school work...well, a little anyway and I want to cast on Amy's birthday socks. I'm determined to stay up late because I can. I feel like such an old fart when I have to be in bed by 9pm on school nights!!

Loser, that is me.

The Deed is Done

2006-09-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

Chalk it up to the time...almost midnight.

Or the fact that I was just harshly awakened from a deep sleep by a little Bug screaming, "Mommy!" at the top of his lungs.

(He wanted his blanket that had fallen out of his crib).

Or the fact that my husband left this evening to go back to Virginia and I am a bit sad.

Or that tomorrow, today?, is my first day back at work in, like, 10 weeks. For those of you who aren't teachers--you know how you feel tonight after a long weekend? Multiple by ten and you might be close.

Whatever moment of weakness you want to chalk it up to...I am soon to be the proud owner of enough Tilli Tomas Pure and Simple to make the Simple Knitted Bodice. Thanks to Discount Yarn Sale who had, well, a SALE, on the Tilli yarn--$21.42/skein instead of their regular #25.20/skein and $28/skein most places online.

I'd figure out how much I saved on the 6 skeins I ordered (to be on the safe side...the pattern said 5 but it was close on yardage), but to be honest...it wouldn't make me feel any better, and every time I calculate the cost of the fabulousness, it makes me feel a bit nauseous and light-headed.

I ransomed my children for the Ruby Wine colorway (see previous post, I am too shell-shocked to link to a new picture) because everyone seemed to agree on that. Including my husband who pointed out that I can wear pink under that color red more easily than the American Beauty colorway. Does he know me or what??

If I like the yarn, later, I may buy just one little skein for a scarf for the winter.

Maybe.

I think I need to recover for a while from this first.

Oh, yeah, and I ordered the needles I needed for the thing too. KnitPicks options. I got the individual tips and cords to try them out (relax, honey I didn't buy the whole set!). They are so ridiculously affordable that I almost didn't feel guilty buying them hot on the heels of the yarn.

I said almost, people, almost.

**Thanks, Al...I'm not sure I do deserve this...but I am tired and weak.**

O' Tilli Tomas, Tilli Tomas, Wherefore Art Thou Tilli Tomas?

2006-09-02T18:59:00.000-04:00

My students struggle to understand that line in Romeo and Juliet...they think she is asking where he is, but in fact, it means why is he Romeo and a Montague, and forbidden...

Well, I figured out that all the yarn indecision all really stemmed from one simple fact:

I really want the Tilli Tomas yarn that the Glampyre Simple Knitted Bodice calls for.

I scoured the Internets for possible substitutions, but they were all lacking something. A certain je ne sais quois. I really tried to find a good substitute. Berroco Softwist came close. Andean Silk, was almost there until someone in the blogosphere said it is a bit on the fuzzy side...makes sense, alpaca and all. The SKB cannot be fuzzy, it is not a fuzzy sweater. So I scoured some more. Hours yesterday. Hours. I scoured...

I did.

I was ready to compromise.

Then my husband ruined everything. He uttered these powerful words...

"Sweetie, why don't you just buy the silk yarn? You deserve it."

This did not help with the self-deprivation at all.

So now...

now it is down to this:

Moroccan Blue

Ruby Wine

Or...

American Beauty...like the roses, I love roses

photos courtesy of Littleknits

And on the topic of roses...and wonderful husbands who spoil me:

I'm leaning toward one of the red yarns. I love the blue, but I can't see wearing the blue with jeans (too much blue), and I've already decided that if I am spending $140 on yarn for this sweater--Did I just say that? Help me darlings, I feel light-headed--if I am spending that kind of money...I am wearing that freakin' sweater A LOT and that means jeans, because except for work, I live in jeans.

I can see the ruby yarn with dark wintery lipsticks...but the true red...ah, American Beauty, I love me some roses. Hopefully my love affair with Tilli will end much more happily than Juliet's with her Romeo.

In Bug news. He discovered Magic Markers. Let me rephrase, he secretly discovered Magic Markers.

before

Luckily, they are washable Magic Markers!

after

Eggo

2006-09-01T15:26:00.000-04:00

As in waffle.

As in I still cannot decide on a yarn for the Simple Knitted Bodice pattern.

As in the KAL started today and I still cannot decide on a yarn...

I will be the last one done, you realize this, don't you?

Anyways...this is my last weekend before returning to the classroom next week. The weather is supposed to be kind of crappy here in New England...rainy and coldish. Good knitting weather. If one had, I don't know, say, the perfect yarn to start swatching for her SKB!!

I have to make one more of these:

Just a wee little sock,

for a wee little foot, on a wee little boy named Cael.

Another shot for scale, that is a quarter next to the sock!

My husband is flying home today for the long weekend...right out of the hurricane. Thankfully. At least, he is supposed to fly out...we'll see if the weather at the airport cooperates.

Indecision

2006-08-31T12:16:00.000-04:00

It's almost time to buy the yarn for my new sweater. I think I have it narrowed down to KnitPicks Wool of the Andes. I had contemplated using their new superwash, and I will buy some of that for a sweater for the Bug...but I think I want a traditional wool sweater. Plus, they have it in some really great heathered colorways that I think would add a nice dimensionality to the fabric.

Of course, I cannot settle on a color. I must have looked at the color card a zillion times. I think I will go with either Arctic Pool Heather or the Black Cherry Heather.

But that is today...I have until next Friday...my first payday in ten weeks to decide.

Bug Socks

2006-08-31T10:40:00.000-04:00

It's funny how the projects you are working on take on the environment and memories from where you are working on them, and what is going on around you. My blue turtleneck sweater will always be my Knitting Olympics sweater. These socks will always be the Virginia socks because that is where the vast majority of them were knit.

They are fraternal, on purpose. I think they are cuter that way, almost matching, but not quite. I actually wanted them to be even more dissimilar, but the yarn just didn't see it that way.

I did make the second one just a tiny little bit longer in the foot. Something wonky happened last night while I was finishing it...the foot seems a bit narrower than it should be. I think maybe I forgot a few straight knitting rounds on the foot shaping.

It is possible...I was distracted.

I caved in to a guilty pleasure and watched Dirty Dancing on television. I have seen that movie at least eleventeen million times, but still, if I can catch it from the beginning, I will watch it every single time. It was popular when I was a senior in high school and it brings back a lot of memories...good memories.

"Nobody puts Baby in the corner."

Home Again, Home Again, Jigitty Jig

2006-08-29T12:09:00.000-04:00

We are home...the beach is just a memory now.

Except for all the sand we seem to have tracked back with us in suitcases, that is.

The Bug was afraid of the water, but loved the sand.

The older boys loved the roughness of the waves and came back quite sand-burned from being tossed about in the surf. The waves were very big and fierce while we were there, maybe all the storms in the Atlantic lately?? The undertow was strong and they found it really cool to stand at the edge and let the waves recede and make them feel like they were sliding on their feet.

I love this sign! They have them all over Virginia Beach to remind people to watch their language. Apparently, they are trying to make it much more family-friendly, and less of a Spring Break, sort of destination. It seems to be working...lots of families and hardly any swearing.

I was like a fish out of water.

There are, like, a million box turtles in the little creek near Al's apartment, so we took walks over there to feed them. They were cute in a turtley way and the boys really got a kick out of them.

While I was gone, Colleen went and had her little one early (of course she did!). He is a little boy, all 5 pounds, 12 ounces of him. Just a wee little lad. His name is Cael (a good Irish name don't you think?), pronounced like the leafy green kale. I cannot wait to see him, but I will...because I know they need their rest for the first few days at least.

I haven't gotten all the labor details yet...only that it took 22 hours. First babies. Their labor just sucks--except for those annoying people who just seem to pop one out like it's nothing, not even breaking a sweat, barely making it to the hospital, hardly any pain...you know who you are. The rest of us hate you...but it's probably just, you know, the jealousy speaking and all.

Now that I know which flavor he is...there will be more knitting. Maybe teeny tiny socks for the little teeny feets.

??

2006-08-23T09:46:00.000-04:00

None of my pictures on my blog show up for some reason on my husband's laptop down here...can you guys see them on your computers??

BTW?

We went here again last night.

It might be an addiction.

Send help.

Day 6...aka, Is it time for me to go back to work, yet?

2006-08-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

Family vacations...

I remember my mother getting all annoyed and irate during the ones from my childhood, so I suppose I shouldn't be any different.

It isn't that bad, really. I mean, a root canal is bad. A migraine is bad.

Boys separated from their natural habitat, is not really bad so much as it is annoying. I have a lot of them complaining that they are bored, etc...apparently there is only so much Xbox 360 two boys can play in a day.

To combat the boredom...there is the pool...

But that isn't really relaxing for Mom when she has to deal with this:

A crazy Bug type child that has NO FEAR of the water and will launch himself into it over and over, completely trusting someone, anyone, to catch him.

There are outside distractions undertaken when Dad is around to help navigate.

This is the USS Wisconsin, we went and toured her on Sunday. It was nice, the boys really enjoyed it, especially my 36 year old.

There was also a trip to a LYS yesterday, The Knitting Corner, where I bought my souvenirs:

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the amethyst Stripe colourway,

and...

Plymouth Sockotta yarn in a cool muted lavender, plum, grey, and teal colourway, all so creatively name #26.

Sense a trend in the knitting-ness?

In knitting progress, I give you:

which became...

Sock number one for The Bug.

He loves it, and I am already afraid it will not fit when cold weather comes, I may make the second one a little bigger and try to squeeze a third out of the leftover yarn.

This yarn was bought ages ago at The Periwinkle Sheep, my LYS. It is Fortissima Colori Sock yarn in the Mexico Denim #9096 colourway. Knit on Brittany size 2 dpns...the toothpicks we bought, Amy.

The ever growing Clapotis. You can see the twisted stitches where the unraveling of the ladders will ultimately take place. Cool, huh?

Today?

A trip to the mall around the corner. Hopefully the maid will come while we are out so the Bug can have a nap when we get home. And, I have to cast on for the second Bug sock right away, or else it risks never getting done. And then? Maybe working on the Clap for a bit...I've been neglecting it in my sock frenzy.

Virginia Part II

2006-08-21T09:26:00.000-04:00

Well, we are here and having a good time. My husband still has to attend his classes each day from 7am to 4pm, and the boys and I are just hanging out at his apartment which is nicer than our house! I keep joking that I am not going home.

It is very peaceful and relaxing here...no real chores to do, there is a dishwasher, and a maid on Wednesdays !!, so, lots of time to just relax.

We arrived late on Thursday evening. Got lost. Had a small anxiety attack on the bridge, but nothing I couldn't get through. Now that I know what to expect, the ride home will be easier, I hope. Got really annoyed with how poorly roads, and by roads I mean major highways, are marked down here...in New York, things are marked out so even an idiot could find their way. [Exit 8-- 1 mile, Exit 8-- 1/2 mile, Exit 8--1/4 mile, Exit 8--1/8 mile, Exit 8--
Right here by this BIG ARROW right before the exit ramp]. In Virginia, you get maybe one sign, and the arrow for the exit ramp is very unhelpfully placed AFTER the exit ramp, so you could miss it and drive right by before you see it in all of its smallness.

I was merging into major traffic on an entrance ramp when I rounded a corner to find my lane being reduced very quickly by big orange barrels into the slow lane that was packed full of cars, no warning, no sign. I clipped one of the barrels and almost hit a construction worker. Oh, and did I mention that it was DARK and also RAINING at the time?? No signs...no lights--just all of a sudden, no where to go, and people in the road.

Anyway...

Friday, we just hung out around the apartment while Alan was at class. I needed to chill after all the stress the night before! That evening, we took the boys out to dinner at Fuddruckers which they loved. Saturday, we got up early and headed to Virginia Beach (about 20 minutes away) to the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

While we were there, the boys got to pet Sting-Rays and Skates in their interactive touch pool.

They begged me to touch too, but alas, I am a chicken and could not bring myself to do it. It was amazing to watch though, because the rays love to be touched...they come right up to the side of the pool and poke their little heads out of the water and beg you to pet them...just like cats or dogs. It was really interesting and I am sure the boys will be talking about it for years to come.

After the aquarium, we took a drive up Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach to check out the action and see where our hotel is for next weekend. It looked good, and I am sure that we will have a great time there. Just what we need before we head home on Monday.

When we got back to the apartment, we hit the pool for a bit, then went out to dinner at a place we have seen advertised a million times up in New York, even though the closest one to our house is in Pennsylvania. The verdict? Very cool, good food, affordable...a hit for everyone involved!

Yesterday, we went into downtown Norfolk to take a tour of the USS Wisconsin, a huge warship that totally blew the boys away. Connor spent the entire time looking for orbs of light and other evidence of a haunting. I think he watches too much Most Haunted on the Travel Channel! They have a very nice museum there as well, called The Hampton Roads Naval Museum. It was nice afternoon. We came home, ate a delicious BBQ chicken dinner, and then played XBox 360 and knit.

You can guess who did what.

I brought Clapotis with me, but haven't touched it. Instead, I cast on for a pair of socks for The Bug. I would post a picture of that, and also of the Wisconsin, but the truth is that the camera is down in the car (three flights of stairs) and I am too lazy to go get it. Later, I will send one of my minions down there and post some pictures.

I did order color cards of the KnitPicks yarns I am considering for My Rhinebeck Sweater (separate links, one for Rhinebeck and one for the sweater pattern).

So now I can maybe choose a yarn. I am considering the KnitPicks Swish Superwash and also their Wool of the Andes. I've used Wool of the Andes before and liked it.

Of course, that just adds more colorways to choose from!

Virginia

2006-08-17T06:45:00.000-04:00

Well it is early, and we are off.

We have to drop Cooper off at Le Hotel Doggerie, then a drive through Dunkin' Donuts for some caffeine and then hit the NY State Thruway headed south.

I will be able to post at my husband's apartment, I think, but whether or not pictures will be involved--eh, I don't know if we have that kind of technology...drivers, cables, etc...down there. I think we do, but if not, there will just be lots of pictures when I get back.

Thanks for all the good wishes for Colleen and also on the topic of my bridge phobia. I'm sure that I'll be fine.

Definitely. I'll be fine.

I'll be fine, right? Squeak!

Watch the national news tonight...if there is no mention of a crazy lady having a panic attack on the Chesapeake Bay/Bridge and causing a ruckus, or of a major engineering collapse of said bridge? then I am fine.

: )

Beautiful Day

2006-08-15T14:20:00.000-04:00

Today is such a beautiful day, sunny, warm, but not too humid, a perfect day to have lunch with your very best friend in the whole wide world and give her a gift of love for her soon-to-be-born baby.

This is Colleen (with her eyes closed mid-blink, I am a horrible photographer!)

Colleen is so special to me, I don't even know how to describe her. We are like soulmates, but not in a romantic way. She is closer to me than my sisters. She got ordained online so that she could marry us because I wanted someone who really knew us and all we went through to find each other.

Colleen had cervical cancer two years ago, right before she got married.

I love this wedding picture, they are "taking the plunge" by jumping over the bridge into the creek below...so cute.

Actually, she decided that Marc was the one after he didn't turn and run, but instead stayed by her side, took excellent care of her, and reassured her that he still wanted her even if she couldn't have any babies.

They eloped (her brother got ordained online and married them!--see what I started?).

She got pregnant last year, right around their first anniversary in early September. I started planning a blanket for her, and before I could buy the yarn, sadly, she lost that baby. A complication of the cancer treatments they said. It was devastating.

In true Colleen fashion, she didn't give up, and around Christmas, she announced that she was pregnant again. I started the blanket, the Sheep Dreams blanket, and with each stitch all winter and spring, I prayed that everything would be all right with this baby...and it is.

She is due at the end of August/beginning of September and although she looks small and they say the baby is small, everything is well. She doesn't know if it is a little girl or a little boy, they want to be surprised. She told me the top-secret names today too...but like I said, they are top secret...so I can't tell. They are just as I expected, unique but cute.

We met halfway between our two towns at Panera (she's a vegetarian and she likes the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich there). The Bug was excited because I let him have Sprite. I will pay for it later when the sugar high hits!

We ate, and talked, and gossiped, and I didn't rub her belly once, because I always hated that. Then, she opened her present and I held my breath that she would like it.

She loved the blanket and especially the little sweater and I was shocked to hear that she didn't have any sweaters yet for the little one. As soon as I know if it is a boy or a girl, I will be making another one for her.

She told me that they had made the nursery apple green and that they used the same color grass green for the accent color. She said it was perfect, and she hugged me tight.

Now if she can just hold that kid in until the 29th when I get back from Virginia so I can go visit her at the hospital! But, if I miss it, and since she is tired of being pregnant and ready to be done (I remember that feeling!) I will be totally okay with just visiting her at home. Think good thoughts for an easy labor and delivery for Colleen, would you? She's had enough to deal with lately.

About Me Questionnaire

2006-08-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

I don't usually do memes...but I saw this questionnaire on Susie's blog and so I thought I'd do it here because it is a slow knitting day...

1. First Name? Jaimi
2. Were you named after anyone? My dad's commanding officer's daughter. He was in Viet Nam when I was born, and they had created a landing base in the jungle called Camp Jaimi, after his daughter, so that is why I am spelled the way I am. I grew up never seeing any close spellings, but as I get older, I see it more and more. I hated it growing up because it was different and I couldn't ever find any license plates for my bike with it spelled correctly!
3. Last time you cried? Yesterday, it was the one year anniversary of my friend Toni's unexpected death due to a brain aneurysm.
4. Do you like your handwriting? I have absolutely beautiful handwriting, not to brag much, but I do.
5. What is your favorite lunch meat? Hmm...salami?
6. Do you have kids? Three gorgeous little boys at last count. My favorite picture of them ever?

7. Would you be friends with you if you were someone else? I am a loyal friend, but I have issues with keeping in touch. Maybe I would. Maybe not.
8. Do you keep a journal? Just this blog
9. Do you tend toward sarcasm? Me? Not at all...wink, wink!
10. Do you still have your tonsils? Absolutely.
11. Would you bungee jump? Certainly not.
12. What's your favorite cereal? Raisin Bran.
13. Do you untie your shoes before you take them off? Not unless I have to, which is annoying when it comes time to put them back on and they are all tied up still.
14. Are you strong? Not as strong as I'd like everyone to think I am.
15. What is your favorite ice cream? Cold Stone Creamery's Cheesecake flavor.
16. Shoe size? 8.5 US -- they used to be a 7.5, then I had three babies.
17. What do you like least about yourself? How when I get stressed (always) I clench my jaw until it, and my teeth, ache.
18. Who do you miss the most? My husband right now...but in the larger sense? My grandpa.
19. Do you want this sent back to you? Put it on your blog and send me a link if you want to.
20. What color pants and shoes are you wearing right now? Army green capri pants with pale pink Chuck Taylor low-tops.
21. Last thing you ate? A granola bar...chocolate chip.
22. What are you listening to right now? Wilco's "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart"
23. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Carnation Pink.
24. Favorite smell(s)? Baby lotion, freshly cut grass.
25. Last person you talked to on the phone? Alan
26. First thing you notice about someone? If they smile or not.
27. Favorite musicians? Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Counting Crows, Eagles.
28. Favorite drink? Alcoholic? Captain and Coke. Non-alcoholic? Chocolate milk.
29. Favorite sport? Baseball. ...sigh...Grady Sizemore...
30. Eye color? Greenish gray
31. Hat size? I hate hats
32. Do you wear contacts or glasses? Funky cool, apparently "emo" (or so my students tell me) librarian type glasses...with little rhinestones!
33. Favorite food? Lobster
34. Scary movie or happy ending? Happy endings, life is scary enough.
35. Last movie you saw at a movie theater? Movie theater? What's that? We have a toddler, no movie theaters for us. The last theater I was at was Proctors for Phantom.
36. What color shirt are you wearing? Deep pink.
37. Summer or winter? Autumn.
38. Hugs or kisses? Hugs.
39. Favorite dessert? Strawberry shortcake on angel food cake.
40. Magazine/catalog in your bathroom right now? Blender, Glamour, Vogue Knitting
41. Toppings on pizza? Pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms
42. What book(s) are you reading? Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife by Linda Berdoll. A sequel to my absolute favorite book ever, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I am reserving final judgment on it until I am done--but it doesn't look good. So far, all Darcy and Elizabeth are doing is screwing. A lot. All the time. In decidedly un-Victorian ways. It's kind of porn. Good for porn's sake, I suppose, but not literature at all.
43. What's on your mousepad? No mousepad, we have a rollerball mouse.
44. What did you watch on TV last night? The last two episodes of Season One of Grey's Anatomy on DVD. Now the wait for the Season Two DVD begins...29 days!
45. Favorite sounds? My children laughing, the ocean, my husband's car in the driveway
46. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Aerosmith
47. The furthest you have been from home? Not very...Milwaukee or Orlando. But we are going to Jamaica, mon, next April!
48. What are your special talents? I am very organized.
49. Where were you born? Saratoga Springs, New York
50. Favorite guilty pleasure? Hershey's Special Dark bars, Most Haunted on the Travel Channel (I'm not sure I believe, but it's fun to wonder and watch), and Kelly Clarkson--loud on the car's CD player.

**I added five more**:
51. What do you do with your life (j-o-b)? High school English/Language Arts teacher.
52. What is your favorite number? 11...I have no idea why.
53. What type of car do you drive? A fully loaded mom-mobile (mini-van).
54. What type of car would you drive if you won the lottery today? An expensive BMW or Jaguar.
55. What is your biggest fear(s)? I am crazy, so I have lots. Losing a child. Bridges. Frogs. Not being able to buy yarn. The usual.

Clapotis and Mrs. Sizemore

2006-08-13T12:50:00.000-04:00

The very first thing I do when I have a long pattern with lots of rows and lots of repeats of said rows is a little trick I learned from Amy. I put each row on a separate 3x5" index card (being careful to mark each section carefully and put a note on each card in the section so that if your common household variety two year old comes by and decides to have a "rain" of cards, you can put them back in order...don't ask how I learned this lesson).

This card trick does two things: one, it helps keep track of which row you are on as you shuffle through the cards; and two, it reduces the chances that you will accidentally look at the wrong line in your pattern and screw things up royally. So, last night, I carded out Clapotis:

That is a lot of cards, you can't see very well from this photo

...but it is A LOT of cards!

I also made some quick and plain stitch markers for the project because you need 18 of those little suckers! I opened up a large-ish jump ring, stuffed a small little glass bead on there, and closed it back up.

Voila! Stitch markers. 18 of them.

After one false start, I was tired after all from the not sleeping bit, this is how much I got done last night while watching the Tribe game on our super-de-dooper Extra Innings on cable and indulging in my "really-this-should-be-embarrassing-but-I-seem-to-have-no-shame" Old Lady crush on Grady Sizemore.

It's not like I'm old enough to be his mother or anything. I mean, I was only 12 when he was born! [This is supposed to take away some of the ickiness of the age difference--but it is glaringly unsuccessful!] And, it's not as if I am going to go out and get me a t-shirt that says this or anything:

Well...never say never.

They apparently come in a pink version at the team store. And you know, I love me some pink stuff. At the very least I would like a jersey with his name and number on it. [A navy blue one, honey, if you are reading this...it would be a great Christmas present! Unless you can find the pink Mrs. Sizemore shirt...you wouldn't be jealous, would you? I mean, I understand your little crushes on (the "yummy" I believe you called her?) Angelina Jolie and the older version, non-husband stealing, Kristy Swanson, don't I?]

...sigh...Grady Sizemore...

Seriously?

The only thing keeping me from stalkerdom is about 496.1 miles

and 12 years

and one husband

and three children

and, well, self-respect really.

I'm thinking that only True Stalker Types would know the exact mileage to Jacob's Field from her house.

There might be a restraining order in my future.

**Fine print...the exact magnitude of my OLC (old lady crush) on Grady might have been exaggerated just a little bit for dramatic effect and to make my husband just a little bit jealous and to keep him on his toes, because, hey, I had a dream last night that I met Grady Sizemore and he didn't seem to think 12 years was that big a deal. I don't look 36 after all!**

Insomnia

2006-08-12T01:27:00.000-04:00

Some of you know, that my husband is away. He had to go to Norfolk, Virginia, to a school for his job for 22 weeks.

156 days.

He has been coming home every other weekend, alternating between driving home (9 hours) and flying home (the company will let him expense five round-trip tickets during the five and a half months).

That means that I am pretty much on my own with the three boys. I have my better than sister and brother-in-law, Steve and Amy, nearby to help keep me sane, and in Amy's case, well-adjusted (she's also an excellent chiropractor), but my biological family is hours away, and so are my in-laws.

Now, I've done the Single Mom thing before. With two boys. And that was hard. They were 2 and 6. But three of them? Much harder, and harder because it isn't the same situation. This seems harder to me because it was our choosing, and it sucks, and I can't blame it on anyone else...like I could the first time.

I am beginning to think the pressure is taking its toll on my well-being. I cannot sleep at night. I've given up even trying to go to bed at a decent hour and instead, stay up until I feel like I cannot keep my eyes open. Then I go to bed and read for a bit. Turn out the light, and usually fall into a very fitful, restless sleep. I wake up a zillion times for no reason--or juvenile reasons:
Was that someone in the house that I heard? What is that shadow over by the door?

Tonight I just couldn't even fall asleep. So I came out here to unload my heavy mind to see if once it's lighter I won't sink down into some much needed sleep. So, here it is, the rambling contents of my mind (scary, yes?):

Why does the milk that I just bought today with an expiration date of August 23 taste odd? Not really off, just, odd. Will it hurt the kids to drink it? What if they all get sick at the same time? I bought two gallons of it too. Will the other one taste the same? I think I'll just pour it out in the morning and go get some different milk at a different store.
What should I do about the highlights in my hair that are growing out? [Apparently, this is a pressing issue of global importance in my life, because I had a dream about them during the 48 minutes of sleep that I actually got last night]. I don't really want to go to the salon to have them touched up. I hate the salon actually. I despise making small talk with the stylist...I go there as a luxury and to relax, not to chitchat. I talk to enough people at home. Have you ever had a 20 minute conversations about Pokemon with a 13 year-old? I want some quiet time! I bought hair color to cover the highlights over...but I can't decide if I want to or not. Indecisive. Shallow. This is me, dears.
How would I get all three children out of the house by myself if it were to catch on fire? Chalk this one up to crazy, but I worry about this constantly. I don't want to have a Sophie's Choice type of moment, you know? I bought new batteries for the smoke detectors and made sure they are working, and went over with the big boys how they should get out of their windows if they have to. Luckily, we have a one story house.
How will I deal with all three boys on a 9 hour drive to Virginia all by myself? We are driving down this next week for 11 days. I dread the drive by myself. My in-laws live in Cleveland, which is about 8 hours and change from our house, and we do that drive a handful of times a year, but I've never done it by myself.
How will I deal with this?

This is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel and it is 20 miles long. I have a severe bridge phobia--"gephyrophobia" . For some reason, bridges over water are the only ones that bother me. I am certain I am going to drive off into the water. be unable to get out of the car, and drown. I have had this fear ever since I can remember, with no good reason for why. My mother, believes in reincarnation and swears I must have drowned in a car in a past life. I think I am just crazy. But, ever since I can remember, bridges over water freak me out. I can drive over concrete or railroad tracks all the live long day, but not water. And now that I am driving around with three children most of the time, it is worse. How will I get them all out of the car in time? [See Sophie's Choice above!] Especially the Bug with all of the harnesses and such in his car seat? To go around the bridge, would add about 2 hours and all of the hassle of Washington, DC traffic to my trip. I have to just suck it up and do it. But, it is weighing heavy on me. I had my first full blown anxiety attack (hyperventilating and everything) going over a much smaller bridge years ago. But, I'll handle it because I have to, right?
I haven't had an anxiety attack in years now, since my first marriage broke up. I've gotten a lot stronger since then. I will be okay. My husband will call me on my cell phone and talk to me the whole time. It'll be okay. Notice the repetitive self-convincing going on? All part of The Crazy.
Bordeaux?
Dublin?
Truffle?
I did buy the pattern though.
I probably shouldn't actually post this...it isn't really that interesting. But, I am finally tired, and so...my defenses are low.
If you hung around this long, bless you and goodnight. More about knitting tomorrow, and less neuroses, I promise!

Pile o' Knitting...(and lots of links!)

2006-08-11T13:29:00.000-04:00

This sad little pile of mystery knitting...

Turned into this:

A modified Baby Yoda sweater. I changed the collar a little bit by adding two extra rows of garter stitch to make it more of a stand-up collar. It is the cutest little thing. This is such a sweet little sweater to knit, and fast...it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Thanks, Cari!

It goes with Colleen's Sheep Dreams blanket. I like that it could go for either a girl or a boy (although, I am feeling like she is going to have a boy...don't know why, and just so you know, this usually means she will in fact have a girl. I am almost always wrong! Ask Connor, he slept in a pink rosebud bassinet because I was sure he was a girl and he wouldn't cooperate during sonograms to find out for certain.)

Anyways...I just couldn't bring myself to do one freakin' more duplicate stitch sheep on the thing, so...

I just winged it and free-hand embroidered an outline of a little guy on there. Cute, right?

GASP! Does his tail make it look like he is pooping? One of the boys just asked me if it was poop. Granted, they are all about the bodily function humor lately, but--now I have a complex. Poop or Tail?

Up next?

I was thinking, I should probably start a project to wear to Rhinebeck in October. Right, Amy? Last year, as a relatively new knitter, I made a scarf that I forgot to even wear that day in the fiasco which was my first trip to Rhinebeck.

Read, it, you really should...I'll wait.

I cracked myself up re-reading it! So funny now, so NOT funny then. Oh, and I think I can manage to stomach going with a friend now, a year later. [Wink, wink, Amy. We still have to craft our master plan for getting me away from this den of testosterone for that Saturday at least...we'll talk.]

For the occasion, this year, I am thinking I will knit this (the long sleeved version). Seriously? "The easiest sweater I will ever make"?? How could I not? I mean, this was my first sweater!

Since I am not a millionaire, instead of the oh-my-god-how-much-for-one-sweater? Tilli Tomas yarn, I will knit it in this. If I can decide on a color. I am down to Bordeaux, Dublin, or Truffle. Leaning toward Dublin...

or Truffle...

or Bordeaux.

You can see the dilemma.

But, I have to wait to buy the yarn until my first paycheck when I get back to teaching after Labor Day...not because I can't afford it now, but I pledged to myself, not to buy ANY new yarn all summer and I haven't broken the promise. The last yarn I purchased was over Memorial Day weekend. Aren't I stoic? A trooper? Full of self-control?

And as for the beaded, flashy sections in the sweater? I think I will string my own beads on a carrying yarn and do it that way. I am such a rebel. And, also? I've bought lots of beads this summer...because, after all, I didn't promise not to do that.

In the meantime, in the interest of keeping self-made promises, I will bust out some pretty acrylic from the ancient stash (way back before I knew that acrylic was NOT the bees knees):

Red Heart Super Saver in Artist Print, which reminds me of an impressionistic painting, I can't even care that it is acrylic, look how pretty! And it will be washable...very good.

and start this.

You in Amy? We've been talking about it since you taught me!

This post's pictures courtesy of my brilliant brain which figured out a way to use just plain html code to put in photos stored on the web and, thus, completely avoid Blogger's ridiculously unreliable photo tool. Of course, then I had to figure out how to make them normal sized, and not HUGE like they initially were...but I think they are okay now! I am a rocket scientist my loves!!

Glamour

2006-08-09T13:22:00.000-04:00

Or:

"A day in bullets for your enjoyment and to aid in that oh-so-fuzzy-I'm-glad-I'm-not-her-feeling":

First, I cleaned up a cat barf/regurgitated hair ball that I stepped in before my eyes were even open.
Then, I realized that one of the cats peed somewhere in our bedroom which is decidedly NOT near their litter box...why, oh why, did they do this? They must be mad at me for something. After all, they own this house and rule it with their iron paws. I cannot find a wet spot, but the smell is unmistakable. One trip to RGT (Target in Bug language) and $21 of carpet cleaners, candles, and pet deodorizers later, I can still smell it, although everyone else who lives in this house says it is all in my head. Convenient for them--they don't sleep in there.
I wrestled the king-sized duvet cover off my comforter and washed, dried, and wrestled it back on. Followed by a quick visit to Ebay (it's an addiction people) to see if I could find a colored down comforter at a reasonable price so I don't have to wrestle with duvet covers any more.
Then, the Bug and I went out to pooper-scoop the back yard. This was followed quickly by aforementioned insect-type boy stepping in poop and trying to scrape it off with his wee two year old fingers! Eewwww...
Followed just as quickly by Mommy washing off said fingers in the garden hose and then taking him inside to clean off the bottoms of his sneakers with an old toothbrush in the kitchen sink and those cute fingers with anti-bacterial soap. And then her flip flops when she realized that at some point in her mad rush to keep fingers clean and sanitary, she had somehow stepped in poop herself...and tracked it all over the kitchen floor.
Followed by mopping and perhaps some choice curse words. It pays to be married to a former sailor.
Followed by having to take poop from the neighbor's dog back to whence it came after the irresponsible dog owner did not pick.it.up.gasp! I would never let Cooper poop on someone else's property and not clean it up...but this woman does it almost every day, and I havehadenoughthankyouverymuch! I scooped it up, and put it at the end of her driveway...with her watching from her window. I did smile at her...very friendly and civilized, I assure you.
Followed by having to kill the most gi-normous (that is gigantic and enormous smooshed together, btw) f-ugly brown spider I have ever seen in the laundry room. You can add your own shrieks and screams in your imagination here for special effect. Don't even start with me about how they are spinners and their webs are lovely and such crap...I hate spiders and don't care. Judge me all you will!
And he was crunchy too.
I hate the jumpy crunchy ones.

I am indeed, having quite the day of glamour...I am not worthy.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have Disc 2 of my crack to watch.

Oh, and this too...

2006-08-08T22:29:00.000-04:00

On a cuteness scale of ten, this is about a seventeen...

ToysRUs came through...and it wasn't even in the "Girls" aisle at all, but in Pre-Schoolers, thank you very much...

Knitting? What's Knitting??

2006-08-08T22:22:00.000-04:00

It's like crack...only reasonably good for you.

How on earth did I miss this for two freakin' years??

Today, all of Disc 1--five episodes back to back. Tomorrow, Disc 2. It is a sickness, people, a sickness...do not judge me.

I'm ready to pre-order Season Two which comes out in a month...do you think I can catch up before the new season starts on September 21st??

Happy Feet

2006-08-07T18:50:00.000-04:00

Happy nine year old feet...I swear, his feet grew in between the two socks...one is smaller than the other, and I measured them to each of his feet as I knit them! They were only about three days apart! No wonder he complains of growing pains so often!

The completed pair:

Nice.

This is what nine year olds do to amuse themselves and their step-fathers when they are bored.

Don't ask. They were clean and relatively new. What a relief, right?

The Bug has a new fixation:

Funshine Bear--remember these guys from the '80s?

He saw a Care Bear movie on the Disney Channel this morning and it is all he is talking about. He calls this one "sunshine belly". I told him tomorrow that we could go to "RGT" (this is what he calls Target) and see if we could find a stuffed one. I told his father about it...but left out the fact that when I looked it up on the ToysRUs website that I had to look under "Girls' Favorites" !!!

Speaking of RGT...I was there yesterday and dropped $110.00 on just school supplies for the two big boys! Remember the good old days when the schools actually could afford to supply crayons and pencils and pens?? As a teacher, I spend so much of my own money on classroom supplies that it isn't even funny because the school's just really can't afford it all. The $250 federal tax deduction I get to take doesn't even begin to cover it all.

Note to teachers...RGT has Papermate pens (blue and black) for 50 cents/ten-pack. And notebook paper for the same price/250 sheets. I'll have to get some when I go back tomorrow. The kids never have paper and pens for English class. Doesn't that blow your mind? I mean, its English...there is a pretty decent chance we'll be writing something every day!

I would chalk it up to the poor socio-economic status of most of my students...but the truth is, the middle-class kids don't come prepared either! It must be a teenage thing.

I've tried a borrowing system where they have to give me a shoe (hard to leave without a shoe) if they borrow a pen. Smelly teenage feet put an end to that brilliant idea! Then, I tried to sell them pens to teach them responsibility (25 cents a pen). That lasted until the first time a student said, "Mrs. F, I can give you a quarter, but it's my lunch money (reduced lunch price at my school). Since that day, I just give them away. And keep a cup of quarters in my desk for lunch money. I make it known that I always have lunch money if they need it in case they "forget"to bring it. I have at least one taker a day because they trust me and know that I don't expect it back.

I have regulars who "borrow".

The things we take for granted as relatively financially stable people amazes me every day.

It's humbling and sad.

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys

2006-08-05T11:09:00.000-04:00

Ryleigh (my niece) and Campbell Joe at Gram's in cowboy hats