It's been a day

I'm at the new desk as of yesterday. I had to move a couple of things around. The phone, keyboards, and mice. I have three monitors, so I feel like I'm watching planes land or something important like that. In the mean time, I'm watching and learning; really wishing I was more confident at what I'm doing. It comes with time, which I don't have right now. Three days worth of training and I'm a bit confused.

Day two of the lateral move, the other team is making noises Knittech didn't do X this morning, so we're behind. Thankfully the Gnome was standing there and mentioned, Knittech only does that on Mondays, you guys can handle the rest of the week. Score! They weren't very happy.

The new team isn't happy either. I'm the annoying little kid who is always asking why? What does that mean? Who is that? They roll their eyes, but answer me.

I haven't really been knitting much, instead I've spent more time playing crack Guild Wars, then anything else. I did get a bunch of missions completed, but I guess it's not really the same as finishing up a sock or something like that.

I didn't make it down to the LYS until yesterday. Miss a week and quite a bit happens; and not much of it is good. M's mom is terminally sick, so she's staying with her until she expires. The saddest part? M's mom was moved up here less then a month ago.

The knitting I have been doing is some stripper gloves for D. She sells them at the Rendvous. The profit margin is very slim on them. My sweater has about four inches on the sleeves done, but I'm thinking it's going to be a bit tight around the wrist. I'm debating whether I should rip back and add a couple more stitches or leave it. Until I make my decision, I have the gloves to knit on.

Oh yeah, still can't use the mouse from the right's computer on the left's computer. One would think, I'd figure that out sooner then later, but it's not happening. I'm going to blame the move.

Grilltech is now sick. Poor guy, it may require a trip to the to doctor.

Random Thoughts

• Saturdays at the datamine are quiet. Hmm early in and weekends? I'd rarely see cow-orkers* co-workers.


• Its freaky to look in the mirror and see a raccoon looking back at yourself.


• Perky now wants to get the eye make up done as well. I'm such a bad influence.


• In answer to Galad's question: I lived in AZ back in 1983. Dad and Uncle Dave was working on a dam down there. Can't remember Never knew the name.


• We're celebrating Baby Bird's birthday on Sunday.


• I haven't picked up a present for her yet. Does that make me a bad Grandma?


• Grilltech and I will be married 18 years this October. I wonder if I should get him something "good".


• I want the Red Hot Chili Peppers to come back to town.


• It's odd, I'm not loosing any weight, but my pants are fitting looser.


• While having my eyes done, we talked about how my skin is a red head's. She then comments, there is some yellowing around your eyes, that's not normal. I wonder how much of it is normal and not noticeable on other skin types.


• Oh yeah, I can't rub my eyes.


• The mouse on the right side computer, doesn't work on the computer on the left.


• I may sneeze like a kitten, but I hiccup like a drunken sailor.


• The mouse on the right side computer, still won't work on the Lefts computer.


• I would like to get more of Burt's Bees Lip Balm, I'm almost out.


• I did the get peacock shawl copied and laminated. Now the pattern is glaring at me from under a pile of bills.


• The second line of Love Potion #9: You know the Gypsy with that gold capped tooth. Which isn't as nearly as kewl as: You know the Gypsy with that gold tattoo.


• Yeah, like you've never misheard song lyrics...


• I've had enough fun for one day, I'm out of here!

* bonus points if you know where that is from

Yeah, I need you to work Saturday...

Today after work, Perky took me down to an up scale tattoo parlor, so I could get permanent eye make up. It. Hurt. A. Lot. I'd show you pictures, but Grilltech has misplaced the camera. Right now, my still sore and looking like a 60’s model. Grilltech and I went out to dinner. The waitress gave me the sweetie, that’s a bit too much eyeliner, but she didn’t say anything.

I am starting to feel better. Since I missed a couple of days of work, I’ll be making up some hours this weekend. No big loss of weekend, it’s a semi long one.

Blah

I waited to long to take cold medication last night. I didn't get to sleep until about 2130. When the alarm went off at 0300, it was turned off and I called in sick.

Three hours later, I'm up and still feeling pretty crappy. I may just spend the day in the recliner knitting and sleeping.

Damn global warming...

I'm a Dumbass

Perkygoth and I went yard saling today. The sky here in the valley was clear and bright. It was suppose to be record setting highs. I didn't know about the record setting highs when we decided on that course of action. Why? I'm a red head.* It took less then 2 hours, of non constant sun for me to get burnt. My left arm, face, and the part of my hair is a lovely shade of pink. It could have been worse. I could have been lobster red.

Perky? She turned a darker shade of olive. We hates her...

* More gray then red, but I still have the pale skin which burns easily.

Tag, I'm it...

A) The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
B) Each player answers the questions about himself or herself.
C) At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged. If you want to, of course, no pressure, after all, it's not like a chain letter or anything...

The questions are:

1. Ten years ago I was... working for a manufacturing company terminating wires for little more then minimum wage

2. Five things on today's to do list: in no particular order

get the peacock shawl pattern laminated

go knit at the LYS

train the flunky how to import people

eat dinner with the kids

pay bills

3. Things I'd do if I were a billionaire: pay off all the bills. Buy stuff for friends and family. Open a shop/studio. Travel, a lot. (Yeah, I'm not noble.)

4. Three bad habits:

I procrastinate (which is why it took days to get the me-me done)

I make poor money choices (I bought more sock yarn yesterday...)

I'm addicted to knitting (although, it might not be a bad thing)

5. Five places I've lived:

Redmond, OR

Quartzsite, AZ

Boise, ID

New Meadows, ID

Wiesbaden, Hess (Germany)

People I'm tagging:

Amy

Trish

Red

Hmm Meth....

Last night, Grilltech and I went to the store. We picked up a couple of items including two bottles of specialty beers. I also picked up some cold medication. Because of the possibility I might cook some meth, I had to go the pharmacy and show them my ID and fill out a form. The girl behind the counter, wrote down my DL's number, told me to fill out the rest, then leave it on the counter when I was done. She then walks away. Next time, I put down Morticia Adams. Grilltech on the other hand, wasn't carded at all when he paid for the beer.

I've been busy training my replacement at work. I'm not leaving the company, but moving to a different job. I'll be busy learning new skills and annoying different people for different reasons. Which means my access to computers for the next week will be spotty, so posting will be the hit or miss. I'll be moving to a new desk and sharing the desk with another person; he works nights or something. Which means I'll need to decide what will be moving with me and what will be staying for the replacement.

Remember because it's a security risk? Grilltech talks about what really happened at the bank. Okay, he leaves out the part where I'm ready to start swearing at them.

Grilltech's second sock is coming along. I won't mention how the cuff is longer, thus throwing off the number of repeats knitted before the heel. I won't mention all the screw ups on Bella either because... I'm supposedly better then that. (hahahaha) Perky's tunic is about ready to be handed over to her. I'll finish up the front and back and it's her mess again. Okay, it will be after I do the math. I also won't mention how she messed up the snowflake pattern.

I've been meaning to get pictures of all the new yarns I've picked up, but I've been slacking. I do have pictures of Bella, but they're still on the camera.

The Calling

Can you hear it? It's pretty faint, you may have to listen hard to really hear it. Its my peacock shawl calling me. I guess I can hear it clearly because the yarn is sitting next to my mouse. Every time I walk into the family room, it's there. Taunting. Alluring. Whispering. Just cast on, you know you want to. All the kewl knitters have a bunch of projects to work on. First one's free... So far I've resisted, but its getting harder and harder to do so.

I need to have Perky try on her tunic. I'll be able to figure out what needs to be done then I can hand it back to her. So she can get started on the sleeves.

MIL liked Bella. She said it was a bit snug. She might be able to block more room, who knows. I've got a request in for a bunch of stripper gloves. I'll most likely start on them tonight. Which means I'm putting off working on my tunic. Which is okay, because I'm spending Grilltech's money. Fair enough exchange in my book.

Should have been Friday's

I spent more money at the LYS (again). Enough in one purchase to receive the 10% discount. I showed it to Grilltech, he was amazed at the softness of the silk. Perky asked why it smelled the way it did. Because it's 100% silk, honey. When she saw the cost, her eyes about popped out of her head. I'll be knitting my sweater on size 1's or smaller. (Double Ought? Am I insane?!)

I finished the first of Grilltech's sock last night at the brewer's meeting. I started the second one there, but the lighting was poor and I was getting a headache, so I stopped. I'm ready to start the pattern on it. If it goes as fast as the first one, it should be done within a week. (In Accordance With The Prophecy)

I was real with it yesterday. I posted without completing my thoughts. Nothing real new there, I do in while talking to people all the time. I stop mid sentence and another topic spews forth.

I got nothin'

Grilltech has been looking for a set of stone beer mugs. While I was on the page, I found some stone pans. How awesome is that?!! They also have bed warmers. I have an electric blanket, I don't think a bed warmer would do much good. Although, if the power is lost, it would come in handy. So would a couple of bricks. Oh yeah, I'd have to start a fire and let it

No real knitting progress to report. Still working on the cozy and Perky's tunic. I haven't started mine yet. Want to get these two items out of the way. I'm going to knit a pair of socks for a co-worker's son who is overseas.

Because it's a security risk....

I'm obsessing. I really don't want to be, but I am. I'd much rather, be obsessing over my latest knitting project. Instead I keep going back over and over what happened at a bank. It's like a poison seeping into my thoughts. I could go into the all the gritty details, because I'd rather spend my energy someplace else. Brighter, happier, less angry.

While at the bank yesterday, I pulled out the knitting because it was going to be a while. The lady behind the desk said, you'll need to come back and teach me. I didn't say much because I was really unhappy. She went being perky and chatty, so what are you making? Socks? Really?! You make your own socks? I guess it would have been petty and mean to threaten to stab her. I knitted faster, hoping to drone out her meaningless chatter.

I've been working on Perky's lace tunic. The armscye was way to long. I ripped back one side and added more stitches, seven is way to narrow. I frogged the back side, because it was floppy and loose. I'm about done with the decreases. I'm thinking about calling her and seeing if she wants the back taller (she does). It was about the same length as the front. YIKES!!

I've also paid off my financed yarn. No, I'm not a redneck, I'm a knitter!! Yes, I said financed. I purchased so much I had to make payments on it. Enough for my sweater and one for Grilltech. In fact, one of the ladies I knit with liked his so much, she snapped up the left over skeins I didn't buy. I tend to over buy, because I'm so paranoid I'll run out while working on a project.

I've pulled out the bamboo for my next shell. I'm going to finish up on Perky's tunic, then I'll start on mine. It will have the feather lace of Bella, but not the lace up the body. It will be plain Stockinette . I'll reverse the lace edging and do some around the bodice of the front. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to knit it in the round, then separate at the arms. It will probably be the easiest thing for me to do. Did I mention the bamboo was black? I can already see myself going blind.

The title? It's what the bank told us when they refused to cash the check. Bastards.

Done...

Bella is done. Pictures to follow. Now it's up to Grilltech. He gets to wrap and mail. I'll have the gusset finished today on his sock. Meetings are a good time for me to knit. Otherwise I'd be bored out of my mind.

I've started knitting a carboy cozy. It's pretty mindless, so I've decided I'll put flames on it. It will help me learn intarsia. I know how to weave multiple colors, but not do floats.

A Small One...

Bella is mostly they come out at night, mostly done. I'll throw it in the washer and block it today. Then I'll be able to sew it up and the soul sucking lovely sweater will be ready to be dropped in the mail.

Grilltech didn't laugh, instead he's asking where I want to go to school. Honestly, I don't think I have brain power for all the math I'd have to learn. But then, I might be able to learn it, it would be a struggle... Oh yeah, student loans.

Red pointed me to a new blog A Knitter's Guide to Beer. Wow. Grilltech will love it.

I've started the heel on Grilltech's sock. Man, this baby is a fast knit.

Random Stuff

Control S is my friend. I should use it more.

I should stop kicking the one of the PC's, because it might start randomly shutting down on me.

Swearing loudly in the bay after said PC has shut down is frowned upon.

I don't want to be at work today. I'd rather be doing something fun like... having a bikini wax.

Swearing because the FAQ I had been working on was lost, will get others to join in.

Swearing at the PC because it lost my first post, doesn't do anything but make me feel better.

I hate being the fraggin guinea pig for new software.

I didn't knit on anything when I got home yesterday. Just didn't feel like it.

I've lost my favorite chapstick. I believe it's on my black hole of a desk, but I don't want to shove it off to find it.

Sometimes I go off to lunch and leave a spreadsheet open, so no one else can edit it.

The down side to coming in so early? Here run this report because....

I think which ever mouse I'm using should work on the other PC; even if a different network is involved.

Even pretending I'm Hiro Nakamura won't make time go faster.

I drug Grilltech in to get a hair cut yesterday. He looks much better.

I'm bored with my hair, not sure what I want to do with it.

I wonder how many bank accounts I could open before the suits noticed or cared.

Can anyone tell me when Mick became "human"? I must have missed that episode.

The artist themes for Google make the pages load slowly. Not sure it's worth the effort.

We're having steak for dinner tonight. Hope it doesn't rain.

I wonder how black holes die.

I've been stepping on cats in the mornings. They must think my night vision is better then it really is.

In four minutes I can head out the door. Is it wrong to be watching the clock that closely?

How hard do you think Grilltech would laugh at me if I said I wanted to go back to school for astronomy?

Did I mention Grilltech stayed home yesterday because he had food poisioning?

I think I'm going to go tink some sleeve caps.

A Prize Fight

For today's entertainment I respectfully submit:

In this corner we have Daizy. She's a JenDay Conure. She weighs less then a pound. She has to be carried around because her wings are clipped and can't fly.


Main weapons: her beak and speed.


In this corner we have Sabrina. She a 28 pound domestic cat. She's so fat she waddles. She has no front claws and she bites.

Main weapons: her teeth and mass.


Round 1: Daizy is sitting on her cage keeping a weary eye out for the cats. Sabrina is sitting on the floor looking at this curious pest that is loud. She moves in for a closer sniff. Daizy defends her territory with a quick nip, getting a mouth full of hair. Sabrina is moved off the coffee table. (Note I said moved off not left.)

Round 2: Daizy is now on the floor wandering around. Sabrina comes in from the hall way, Daizy puffs up and begins to chase her off. Sabrina quickly waddles around the coffee table to get away.

Round 3: Sabrina looks around the coffee table, no bird. She starts towards the living room. Daizy comes charging around from the other side and Sabrina takes off to the front door. She's had enough.

I've looked up the sleeve cap information. I'll be ripping back for the last time. Now it's math time.

It's Monday.

With my socks finished, I picked up Grilltech's bamboo socks. I've been meaning to sit down and work out a pattern, because I'm getting a bored knitting plain socks. I'd already knitted the cuff, so it was ready. Did I have a pattern on hand? No. Did I even bother to look through the books? No. So I did the next best thing. I went to the cupboard and rooted around. I found Boyfriend socks pattern. Granted Grilltech isn't my boyfriend, but I think they'll still work. I'm not knitting the pattern as is. I've just taken the cabling and started from there. Besides those are toe up socks. blah.

Bella is in time out. Tomorrow I'll go to knitty and look up sleeve caps. If I'm going to have to rip the cap back one more time, I might as well do it right. I suppose I could look up the information tonight, since its coming down to the point it will need to go into the mail. (It will fit, it will fit... lalalalalalaalala) But right now, it's all I can do not to bash my head on the desk.

Not having the best day in the world here. Nothing is going wrong, just feel off. And I'm not even being mean to people. What is the world coming too?

Grilltech really likes the new sock. I think he likes the colors more then anything. I haven't done enough of the pattern yet to be visible. Or I didn't this morning, now I have quite a bit done. This pattern flies!!

Stupid, Stupid, Stoopid...

The sleeve cap is about 1.5 inches too short. (sigh)

Good thing I didn't cut the yarn. Just in case.

Pictures

Looky!! My loot showed up!!


I finished my socks!!


Bella almost completed!!



What an awesome day.

Because I'm a Lemming....

And now for something completely different: (Thanks Galad)

You Are An ISTJ

The Duty Fulfiller You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done. You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knittings. Quiet and serious, you are well prepared for whatever life hands you. Conservative and down-to-earth, you hardly ever do anything crazy. In love, you are loyal and honest. If you commit yourself to someone, then you're fully committed. For you, love is something that happens naturally. And you don't need romantic gestures to feel loved. At work, you remember details well and are happy to take on any responsibility. You would make a great business executive, accountant, or lawyer. How you see yourself: Decisive, stable, and dependable When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, conservative, and egotistical

What's Your Personality Type?

#@%* Karma

Karma is a funny thing. I gave away sock yarn last week. This week I found out, I won yarn from Romancing the Yarn. Last week, I spent most of the time hating people and bitching about them*. This week? One of the supervisors from another site calls my boss and bitches about me. To be honest, I don't know if she was bitching or not. Oh wait, do I have to be honest?

So, I guess I should take you guys back in time. Remember the Corporate Fable? We did some training. Twice.

Any questions? (Cue the crickets.) No? Are you sure? (Cue more crickets.) Okay, thanks for being here look forward to working with you. So about 1.5 months ago, I send an e-mail to one of the supervisors in question and copied her boss - because it wasn't happening.

Well. Let. Me. Tell. You. She exploded all over me. Why did you copy my boss? There was no reason, blah, blah, blah. Since that point, she hasn't responded to any of my e-mails. Not. One. It took me about three weeks to figure out what was going on. Y would e-mail her and ask the same questions with the same wording, she'd answer.

So I called her, because I need information and I knew an e-mail would do me no good. She tells me "I'll send you an e-mail." WTF?! Fine.

So I'm trying to figure out how to word an e-mail to her boss, without sounding both whiny and bitchy. And still get the required information. While I'm drafting the e-mail, the Gnome IM's me asking me to come see him. I make my way over and he asks if Y is coming also - he was. The Gnome proceeds to tell Y he needs to call said person and answer any questions she may have. NOW. Y is almost refusing to do so, because "is this the way our department wants to be seen?" The Gnome proceeds to tell us, there was a personality conflict and Y needs to go "help her out".

I was so frustrated by the conversation I walked around the building. Frustrated enough I was crying. (sigh) Anyway, so I get back, Y is on the phone with her. Conversation is going something like this: Uumm, let me ask Knittech. Yeah, let me check with Knittech.

It's a pain-in-the-ass when people don't know how to do something, then lay the blame on someone else. The Gnome is trying to say that wasn't what happened, but how else am I going to see it? I can understand going to a supervisor when someone isn't doing their job and making more work for everyone else. But a personality conflict? Please, grow up and deal with it. #@%* Karma... There is more, but I'll cover it tomorrow.

On to knitting news...

Sleeves are dreadfully boring. Mantra? Five more inches, five more inches!! then I get to start the sleeve cap. Oh yeah, excitement abounds.

I've also started the gusset on my second sock. On the slow trek towards the toe. On the plus side, I'll have a pair of socks soon. Perky has taken to calling them "Grandma's watermelon socks". I don't think so!

I've also finished the class shaker sweater. Granted I'm very far ahead of the student, but I wanted it done.

Now I'm off to do five more inches...

* Said person was on vacation last week, so there was zero contact.

Decisions, Decisions

Dr. Who starts again tonight. It's also knit & eat down at the shop. Decisions, decisions. Grilltech says, they're your friends, you should go hang out with them. Yes, but I see them almost every day. Dr. Who I only get to see once a week. It's a tough choice.

Most of the time I enjoy my job. It's repetitive enough I can think of other things, while doing the job. Then there are days where people are stupid*.

And the winner is our very own Trish**!

*(I don't know Knittech, maybe you're PMSing...) There is always that chance, but do they really want to risk it?

** She of 97 skeins of sock yarn.

Poppy....

Yeah, some days I shouldn't be allowed to be around people. Today is one of them. Could you hear my teeth grinding? Could you feel the self control I used not to fly over to the East Coast and beat two people to death? I could stop and see Samurai Knitter because she's where I'd need to go.

Sorry, make that four people now. Two more where added within the span of twenty mintues.

It's now five, because of some spammer commenter.

Mantra? In 2.5 hours I'll be knitting. In 2.5 hours I'll be knitting.

Here is what you could win:

Reader Appreciation Day

Today I found out from she just walks around with it April 16 is Reader Appreciation Day. While I won't be giving away kewl really awesome stuff like Kristy. I figured I'd let my readers a chance at winning some Lorna's Lace sock yarn*. I've been meaning to do a contest, reader appreciation is good enough reason.

What do you have to do to win? Leave a comment on this entry. I'll draw (randomly pick) a winner on Friday the 18th.

I started the sleeves last night. I'm so excited. Bella is so close to being done, I can taste it. Close enough to being done, I've started another project. Yeah, and the class sweater doesn't count either.

* But Knittech, I don't knit socks! It's okay, you don't have to knit socks with it.

More Corporate Life

Connection to the mail server has been lost. Fine. I pull up my data base and start looking for the people who called in sick. Suddenly, connection is restored. Take that chaos! It's amazing how six inches can make a difference. On the other machine, it's warm and dare I say comfortable. I move six inchs south to the other machine and I'm under the vent, it's chilly which is making me crabby. Come summer it might be nice, but currently not so much.

Went to the 200 dollar store last night, spent more then 200. Ouch.

There was wind storm last night. My cat, aka the coward, went into hiding. She wouldn't even come out for good food. Poor kitty.

No knitting last night. I did start the heel of my sock yesterday, but I didn't start the sleeves. I really need to get going on them.

Curse of One Project

The fronts and back of Bella are now finished and joined together. (I almost put K2tog.) I'll start the sleeves this week. My fears of the sweater being too small have returned. Even if it is too small, I'm shipping it anyway.

I've picked out the yarn for the peacock shawl. I'm not sure when I'll start it. I've got a shell for me I want to get going on. I guess there is a down side for a one project person. Socks don't count as a project, they're portable. They might start counting if I had 96 skeins of sock yarn like Luvs2Knit.

We went star gazing Saturday night. The moon was only half full and bright! We didn't stay long because the wind was too cold. The blankets need to be washed, so we can use them. Course if I started my shawl…

Just Wait Five Minutes...

This morning's drive to work was in a light drizzle. Not enough to require the windshield wipers on all the time; but enough to be blinded if a light shone on the windshield. Which made on coming traffic a bit annoying. When Grilltech came in two hours later, he was dripping wet. I thought the rain had started coming down harder. I was wrong; it had begun snowing. Grilltech said there was 1/2 an inch of snow on my car. I love spring.

I have finished one front of Bella. I started the other on Monday night, and had about two inches of lace done. Then I realized I had messed the pattern up very badly. I ripped it out. Cast on the required number of stitches, then went to bed. Tuesday night, I sat down and had no problem working the lace pattern.

I've started the toe on my first sock; only six more rows to go!! It's such a pretty sock I can't wait to finish the second one, so I can wear them. Chances are I'll start the second one tomorrow or tonight, so it will be easier to knit at work. I want the second sock done tomorrow, so I can wear them NOW!!

I'm such a dumbass. I left my knitting at work. I called Grilltech from the parking lot, because I'm lazy and asked him to bring it home with him. All because I didn't want to take five mintues to go back for it.

The sun is now shining. The snow and rain is gone. And the cats seem to think I need to open the door for them. I think I need five more minutes...

Corporate Life (again)

I know I've mentioned it before, but Grilltech and I work for a giant bureaucratic company. Which has some perks; free coffee and tea, they provide paper plates, bowls, plastic flatware, and (not sure anymore) drinking cups.

Because it's giant, there are people everywhere and its open 24/7. That being said, there is a cleaning crew which also works 24/7. Because lets face it; people are pigs. (I won't go into Grilltech's paranoia how they're always cleaning the bathroom when he needs it.)

The cleaning crew does the normal things; empty trash cans, clean bathrooms, sweep and mop. Due to what these girls deal with every day, they wear rubber gloves to protect themselves.

Another one of their jobs is stocking the break room (paper plates and bowls, plastic flatware(plastiware?)). I walked in while one girl was stocking the plastiware. She was wearing her gloves.

I now bring my own silverware. I think Grilltech’s paranoia is spreading.

Ramblings

I hate those dreams where you're getting ready to go to work. I dreamed I had showered and then was hunting for clothes. I can't find the shirt I want in the closet because the contents keep changing. I felt there was no reason for me to get up with the second snooze. So I slept for another eight minutes. It's amazing what a difference eight minutes can make. More cars on the road. Making it through the door one minute late.

On the plus side, I managed to knit through the meeting today and took minutes as well. Managed to get quite a bit accomplished. Anyway.

Not much else is going on. About two inches away from starting shoulder shaping for the front. Still have a fear of being too small, but I'm going with it. If it doesn't fit, it will find a home with someone else. We watched Titus season three. (I LOVE the show.) Erin was wearing a red top, I thought would make a good basis for a design. It's not really a sweater, but more a shirt. It will have a lace edging (edging? more like four inches) then be plain knit. Yeah, it will be pretty. I know not terribly exciting, but I want to finish the yellow/white one before I start on mine. (Knit faster...)

I kept the five minutes. It wasn't as bad yesterday, but it was still hard. My mantra? Ten minutes, I can do ten minutes in my sleep. After a while it was simply: purl, purl, purl, purl; while gasping for breath.

Gamer humor: Jesus saves; the rest of you take full damage.

A 1000 Words (or not)...

Time flies when your having fun, so I must be having an amazing time at work. It wasn't so amazing at home. I increased my bike time by five minutes. I'm ready to die now. I'm debating if I should leave it at the increased time and pray it gets easier or screw that, it's back down to the baby level.

The camera cord was pulled out by PerkyGoth (the bestest daughter on blogspot). So, here are the ripples on the beach socks. They turned out very well all things considered.


We won't talk about how one sock has colors running down and the other has them running up. I didn't even think about that when I had been ripping back.


Here are Grilltech's revised navy blue socks. I finished them on Thursday, he wore them on Friday. He's ready for me to start him another pair.



I've finished the back of the Bella sweater. Started on the front, only to find a major mistake on the instructions. The shaping was completely gone. GRRR.

I seem to be the crazy cat lady today. I can't beat them off with a stick. Uggy will play fetch with the leather string, but that's about it.

BOB

I've got pictures of finished projects. I really do. But... Grilltech hasn't charged the camera, so I'm unable to post them. Grilltech is blaming PerkyGoth, because she hasn't dug out the cable to charge the camera. It's a viscous circle. I'd do it, but it's buried under 100,000 tons of Grilltech's crap stuff.

Last Thursday I found out I was a BOB. (Best of the Best) Sometimes is good to work for large bureaucratic companies. Sure it caused a bit of hurt feelings in the cube, but damn it I work hard. Last night, I was treated to a dinner out with the other BOBs. There was pool, free food, and mock gambling. They call it gambling for a reason. I played a game of pool with one of the supervisors. He was running the table. I couldn't make a shot to save my life. (I blamed it on the fact I couldn't see the balls over my glasses. Yeah, that was the reason.) He's shooting the eight ball and scratches. He was graceful enough to shake my hand and not grit his teeth over the loss. Sometimes that's just the way things go. I played another game of pool with a co-worker. This time I did a bit better, I had one ball left at the end of the game, instead of five. He won.

We had a buffet dinner of burgers. We had a round of accept this gift card. Polite clapping and posing with the person handing it out. (Large-ass fake smile.) Then it was (mock) gambling time. We started out with 1500 and a choice of 21 or Texas hold'em. I went with the hold'em. T, a tall red-headed Scandinavian who likes to trade insults, decided to play hold'em also. He's on the other end of the table and we're trading jabs at each other. The rest of the table seemed to listen in a stunned silence. He would tell me such gems as I should just hand my chips over now, because he's going end up with them anyway. I would tell him no, you need to hand over the card now, because I'm that good.

One of the other players had never played before. He's holding his hand up where another guy (the one who lost so gracefully) could see his hand. He'd ask, should I bet? It was good entertainment. By the end of the night, he was holding his own. He was one of the last five players. Remember the guy trading insults? He was the first to loose all his chips. I won a few. I lost a few. Flops would happen and people would look at their pocket cards and take forever to bet. Your cards haven't changed. I'd point out strategies to the newbie. The goal is to get as much money into the pot, before the first flop. What do you have? You're betting like you've got a good hand. Only one way to find out.

Towards the end of the evening, my pile of chips was starting to go down. We decided the final hand would be all in, winner take all. A good thing, because I had a smaller pile. I looked at my pocket cards, a pair of threes. Crappy! You only live once. I pushed the pile in, so did four others. The fifth guy decided it wasn't worth the risk. We flipped our hands over. I'm the high hand, with a crappy pair of threes!! Don't remember what the flop was, but I ended up winning it all. Grand total of 14,425 worth of chips. Sometimes that's just the way things go.

Oh and I finished Grilltech navy blue socks....

So tell me, Doctor...

Dreams can be quite confusing. The night before, I was dreaming of a giant pit in the middle of the road, being worked on. One lane of traffic, still had part - by part, I mean four plus feet wide - of the tarmac removed, but cars where still allowed to drive over it. So much of a hole, there was only about eight inches (if that) of tarmac on the passengers side the wheels could be driven on. Cars before me would zoom over the giant hole. I on the other hand, had to stop and think about it. Because I live in the real world; I know how gravity works. Since I was in the dream world, something completely different could have happened. Right as I was building up the courage to drive over the pit, the alarm went off saving me. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out, I was having an anxiety dream.

Last night, I was dreaming I was walking around in pants about 10 times too big. The length of the pants were fine. It was the length from the crotch to the waist that was huge! It went up to my arm pits and was way to wide. I had to hold it up, otherwise I'd be nakid. Yet another anxiety dream. Not sure what's going on.

The new yellow sweater is coming along smashingly. (I have this god awful fear it's going to be too small.) Maybe that's what my dreams are trying to tell me. I have about three more inches before binding off the neck. Here's hoping I'm wrong!

Happy News!

See what was on the porch when I came home? (Crystal had to supervise.)


I was amazed. YCS must have went off to get a make over, instead of running away.



We had the kids over this weekend. I was doing laundry. Baby Bird thought the basket was the best toy.

Case of the Missing Sleeves

On March 18, 2008 the yellow cabled sweater was reported missing. Sources close to the sleeves stated YCS had a habit of staying out late, trying new stitches, and liked sleeping around with cats.

“It’s shameful,” Carbon commented “I don’t know how something could look so nice, but yet end up not being worked on.”

YCS pictured below follicking on the deck.


"Sleeves grow up so fast," Katia Mississippi 3 YCS' yarn said. "YCS simply misunderstood."

One theory is YCS ran away because it felt Navy Sock was getting all the attention. The knitter has been seen working on the socks everyday, while YCS was languished in timeout.

Another theory is the knitter didn’t like how the YCS was turning out and frogged it. Rumors spread quickly of how the knitter was looking for another pattern to knit up.

YCS is missed by it's relatives Shaker Sweater, Green Sweater, and Blue Sweater.

We may never know, there are a lot of loose ends.

Because I'm a Lemming....

Thanks Sandra:

What Jill Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Hmmm I think it's a bit confused.

Friday Catch Up

Friday. I don't know where to begin... How does Thursday mid-morning sound? It was about 1030 and the network went down. Picture IT people running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I offered to threaten it with my knitting to be helpful. (I was turned down.) It was amusing, until I realized I couldn't e-mail my post home. Crappy!

Thursday night was also the Brewer's meeting. I came home and took a nap so I wouldn't be so dead being up past 2000. Grilltech went to the meeting, I went and had dinner with the locusts*. We went to an all-you-can-eat place. I had two trips and finished up to knit. The locusts? They made many trips and an hour later was asking for more plates. I left after an hour because it was time to go meet up with Grilltech and possibly go home.

We made it home by 2100 and made it into bed by 2120. Did I sleep well? No, about every hour or so I would glance up at the clock to realize it had been an hour. 2330 was the last time I remember looking at the clock before the alarm went off at 0300. I got to work on time. And my second computer was still off the network. It was strange because I could tell work had been done, but I couldn't reach the network. After 45 minutes, I jump over to a co-worker's system and got going on work. About 0720 IT shows up, mind you I've been there three hours and it could have been ugly. I let them know what's going on and one comes over to see what's going on. About 15 minutes later, I'm up and running - a good thing - because the co-worker had shown up and needed his system to work. I managed to get everything I was going to get accomplished before I left for the day.

Called PerkyGoth and went to lunch because I was starving. Kommandant** was happy I took PerkyGoth off his hands so he could go game. We went to Barnes & Noble, by the time we left there, I was barely able to keep my eyes open. Once home I napped until Grilltech made it home. I read on Space Weather March 14 was PI day. I had to send PerkyGoth out to get PI. She came home with Mudd Pie. We supplied the pizza (pie). It was a good night.

Today, I'm off to teach how to make a sweater.

For some reason, this video makes me happy.



* The eldest and her family
** Perky's Husband

Yesterday's Post

I am so proud of me. Last night I decided I needed to add another row of braid in the middle of the sleeves to make the yellow go further. I couldn't remember how long the inseam needs to be, so I e-mailed MIL to ask. Instead of casting on for a sweater I've been thinking about making and purchased the yarn for, I worked on the afghan. Only completed ten plus rows, but it's going.

I've also decided, I didn't like how the biohazard symbol was turning out. I ripped back to the start of the heel, and have finished the gusset on the sock. There is the long trek to the toe, but the first sock will be completed soon. Tonight we're having dinner in a dim restaurant, so I'm starting another sock. (Navy yarn on Ebony needles. I won't be able to see a thing!)

Sabrina had been locked in the garage at some point in time yesterday. I know because threw up on the roof of my car. I noticed it this morning while getting into the car. I'm more then grateful, she didn't puke in the car because I had left the driver's side window down. And there are dusty paw prints on the door.

I'm starting to enjoy this early morning shift. Except for the going to bed at 2000 and getting up at 0300, that kinda sucks.

Because I'm a Lemming....

At least when I die, I'll know it was worth it.

I made lemonade

The best part about getting to work at 0400? I park right next to the front door. Sure I need to park at the other end of the parking lot and walk there, but I'm taking my perks, when and where I can. I also have four (FOUR!!) hours without co-workers. I'm almost in heaven.

Follow Through

My Olympic Afghan, take 2.


Grilltech's Biohazard sock. It's been in time out because I'm having issues with how the two color is turning out.


Second Ripples on the Beach sock. (Now completed.)


Sweater Sleeves.

I know...

I said I would post pictures. I was going to. Honest. No really. The Gnome kept me an 40 minutes after the end of my shift to tell me, I'm to start coming in at 0400. Which means I'll be going to bed at 0700 again. (sigh) We made it home by 1600, for an hour then took some friends out to dinner. Sunday is M's birthday. We're bringing cake to the shop. So PerkyGoth and I spent 1.5 hours going through the 200 dollar store. When it was all said and done. It was too dark to take pictures.

Tomorrow, I promise.

Let the Good Times Roll....

It never fails. I'll be waiting forever for my page to up date. While I'm waiting, I go try to read a blog. It comes up, before the blog I'm pulling up opens. It never fails. I have a ton of stuff I need to get done, now it's dragging. I want to scream. I want it to work right. Maybe it's face ripping time. No, not faces, but electron ripping time. I'll knit those electrons into something workable. I don't have fragging 20 minutes to wait around. (I'm thinking the database is going to crash and burn. Things will be fun.)

Second verse, same as the first. Day two of the database lagging. Its sad, a co-worker opened a ticket. The IT guys sent a reply stating it's working within parameters. Mind you, the e-mail was sent about four hours after the problem. It doesn't take a rocket scienetist to figure out what's going on. Update: it took 45 minutes to publish. They sent out an e-mail stating intermediate connectivity issues. Oh please. it's more then intermediate issues. The thing isn't working. I think I should threaten them with knitting.

I've started the sweater. I have found someone who has the same wrist (not waist) size as I need. I'm debating if I should post pictures. That would involve going out side, and the day star burns. it burns! What the heck, I'll post my wips. Should be a lot of fun, tomorrow.

Because I'm lazy

How will I die? Your Result: You will die while having sex.   Your last moments in this life will be enjoyable indeed...hopefully. Do not fear sex. Try not to become celibate as a way of escaping death. You cannot run from destiny.
You will die in a car accident.
You will die from a terminal illness.
You will die in a nuclear holocaust.
You will be murdered.
You will die while saving someone's life.
You will die in your sleep.
You will die of boredom.
How will I die? Create a Quiz

I'm sure the MIL enjoys reading that...

A Corporate Fable or the Tale of a Drone...

Once upon a time, there was a large field filled with many beautiful flowers. There were many hives full of bees around the field who tended the flowers and made honey. The bees were always buzzing back and forth; honey flowed freely and life was good.

Until one day, a royal bee noticed not all the bees of his hive were making honey or even flying. The royal bee asked other royal bees and found their hives had ways of tracking what their worker drones did. So it was decreed his drones would be use the same system as the other hives.

Now the watcher drones of the hive are very unhappy. They begun buzzing loudly, flapping their wings, and wagging their antenna about the unfairness of new system. After all, their drones had more important things to do then push buttons or hum in a different direction of the field.

Watcher drones clashed with worker drones of different hives. Wings were bent, antenna broken, and pride was at stake. In other words, it was ugly.

After weeks (okay it was a week), our watcher drone talked their royal drone. Then a worker drone was assigned to work with the royal drone to make it easier for the new hive.

Now this worker drone is a bit confused. Why did the other hive join the collective if they don’t want to gather nectar and make honey with the other bees? The drone wondered if the killer bees would be willing to come and take over the hive to make its bean counting life easier. Alas, it won't know more until Monday.

And now for something completely different: (thanks Grilltech)

What kind of Star Trekkie are you? Your Result: You are a Vulcan or an android. Your intellegence, and opinions are excepted everywhere. You believe in logic above all else. You are normally in a second in command position. This does not matter, for you are not prone to ambition, or any emotion for that matter. You do not understand other races thought patterns at times, making you seperated from those around you.
Klingon
Captain
Omnipotent being
Red shirt
What kind of Star Trekkie are you?

I'm Still Knitting

Today is better. I have no overwhelming desire to rip people's faces off. I can't speak for tomorrow, but today life is tolerable.

No major project going on. Well, not completely true. I'm working on an afghan. My Olympic afghan to be exact. I didn't like how it was turning out when I first tried. I kept knitting two colors together, which produced a lovely line at the meeting place. But it was only four blocks wide. When I joined blocks together, the line wasn't there. I sewed up the blocks and called it good. Now I'm back to knitting just single strips. I change colors, but they'll be one block wide. I'm knitting two of them at the same time. One in each color. I'm starting to get excited about it again now.

I'm still working away on the second ripples on the beach sock. The second one is coming a bit faster. The second one always seems to knit up faster.

I meant to have a picture of the white sweater. But... (yeah, theres always a but) when Grilltech pulled the disk out, it wasn't on there. (sigh)

But it's over now...

Ever have one of those days? Yeah, me too. Overslept by fifteen minutes. Couldn't find my purse. (Has my badge, wouldn't be able to get through the doors or be able to log onto the network.) Only to realize, it had left it in the trunk. After spending fifteen minutes of frantic searching. On the plus side, we were only five minutes late to work. My hands were so cold this morning, they were turning blue. (Just the finger tips.) Thankfully it's now warmed up.

I haven't started a new major project. I did finish a baby sweater the Eldest started. I gave it to her Thursday night. She didn't want to put it on Baby Bird, because it might get ruined. I pointed out, it's acrylic, it' won't get ruined. So she was happy. They came over on Sunday and Baby Bird was wearing a sweater I had knitted for a two year old. She kept getting lost in the thing. After the third time, her shirt was changed.

Struggling

I'm struggling to blog. Not sure if its the weather, becoming warmer so I'd rather be doing something else. It's not knitting either. Ice Queen is <> this close to being done. I had bound off, it was too tight. So I'm frogging the binding to try again, not real exciting.

Can't promise I'll do better, but I'll work on it. (Because there is no try, there is only do.)

It's been a while

Things have been a bit crazy at work. Really can't say much has changed, because it hasn't. So instead of boring you to tears, I'll post pictures of Grilltech's sweater.






It's been cut down, and worn. It's a warm one. I might be able to get another month out of it, if I'm lucky.

It's been a day

I'm in hell. Saturday night, I chipped a tooth flossing. Flossing! I have a dentist appointment on Tuesday, so it will be taken care of soon(tm). I have a regular doctor's appointment in the afternoon, since the sinus headache is coming back. I'll be glad when the sick winter season is over.

On the plus side, I finished Grilltech's Shaker Sweater Sunday night. (I'm in hell, remember?) The sleeves are eight inches too long. Of course they are. The only thing I can figure out is I didn't decrease often enough when the sleeves were attached. So I'll be cutting back seven inches and binding off to make them shorter. Four years ago, I wouldn't even had such a thought in my head. I would have ripped the whole yoke back and put the naughty sweater in time out. Last night, when the thought popped into my head I didn't break into a cold sweat.

With the Shaker Sweater out of the way, I'll now have more time to knit on Ice Queen. And start thinking about my next big project.

Rock Star

Thanks Mr. Shife for giving me the idea of joining a band. Our first album comes out soon(tm).

Just follow these simple directions to come up with your own imaginary band's first album cover and title

1. Random
The random article title is the name of your band.

2. Quote
The last four words of the very last quote is your album name.

3. Picture
The third picture, no matter what it is, is your album cover.


Band Name: Badidhiffusheefinolhu (I couldn’t even make up something that good.)

Album Name: Busy Making Other Plans.

Album cover:

No comment...

About six months ago, I got a new computer. It came with a crappy OS called Vista. Maybe you've heard about it and how much it really sucks. Believe me, it sucked. When the computer first showed up, Grilltech tried to load XP. No matter the struggle, he couldn't get it load. Something about the hard drive didn't like XP, wouldn't recognize it. (I love the commerical with PC who had the PR lady and Mac, talking about how people "upgrading to an older more familair experience".)

Last night, after fighting with Vista and my palm, I turned to Grilltech and demanded he get XP on my system. The faster he gets it done, the happier he'll be. (After all, men can be happy or right.) In morning we went out to breakfast, by 1100 PerkyGoth and I was at the LYS. He called me at 1330, asking me what I wanted for a password. He's such a good husband. By 1800 he had all the updates done and most of my normal software loaded. Guess I'd better be nice to him, since he wanted to be happy.

Note: when handed a glass of homemade mead and he says it's fizzing, it might be infected. Don't look at him as if he's trying to poison you. Smile and tell him how good it tastes, because it is good.

Gear Head?

Across the country, it is super Tuesday. Idaho doesn't vote until May. I must say I haven't done any research, as to who I was going to vote for. Thankfully, there is a candidate that truly understands my plight. I'm voting for Dolores. That's right, Dolores. Her second campaign promise alone would be enough to get Grilltech to vote for her as well.

Not much knitting last night, I finished the half round then began sewing. It now looks like a sweater now. Tonight's project is Ice Queen. I might get it finished soon. Before winter is over even. One can dream. (I know Mr. Shife's dream is for the snow to go away or have his balls shaved. Not sure which is more pressing.)

And now for something completely different: (from Leyna)

Are you a

Gear Head Hey, you really know your stuff!

How do you compare? Take this test! | Tests from Testriffic

Slow Knits

Looks like we're getting a break from the snowy weather for two days. As of this moment, the driveway is clear. The parking lot is still a mess, but only in patches. The super bowl was watched while knitting on Grilltech's sweater. I'm about one (or two) round away from sewing up the sleeves. Then it will be a real honest to goodness sweater, instead of the mass of sides. It's heavy, if I'm sitting in a chair with any kind of slant, it tries to slide off. I also worked on Ice Queen. I'm maybe about half way completed. The yarn I'm using is so soft, it makes the Karaoke feel like a brillo pad.

And now for something completely different: (from the Samurai Knitter)

Your Pirate Name Is...

Black Mistress of Death

What's Your Pirate Name?

WIP Post

Last night I grabbed a picture of Grilltech's Shaker Sweater before I sewed up the seams. It's not centered or pretty, because it was pitch black when I took the picture.















Close up of the stitch.

Quick and Dirty

60 words

Touch Typing online

A Short One

It has been snowing most of the day here. The small tiny malformed flakes that rarely stick anything but each other. Flakes that are easily blown to pile up into large drifts. Drifts that form anywhere the wind is blocked. Which can cause problems for the connector, which has been closed, because it is nothing but concrete and it's pretty slick because of the drifting snow.

Not much in the way of knitting news. I was going to work on Grilltech's sweater, but PerkyGoth and Gamer (hubby) came over and sat where I was going to work. So I had to play crack instead. Played for about an hour before it was bed time. So who knows, I might be able to knit tonight.

It's done

I shoveled the drive way last night. By the end, I was dying, but it was done. (Mostly.) Between 1700 and 1830, it started snowing again, this morning we had another inch. Of course. Today is suppose to be somewhere between sunny and rainy. Hopefully the driveway will be clear by the time we get home today. (I don't want to shovel again.)

We have to go to the DMV today, because someone (Grilltech, Grilltech) let their drivers license expire and get a ticket. Good thing I have my sock to entertain myself while we wait in line. It’s the second to the last day of the month, I have a feeling it will be busy. Someone (Grilltech, Grilltech) is banking the snowy conditions will keep everyone else home. I can only hope.

Grilltech's is it 20 inches yet?! sweater is coming along. I've done a total of 3 decreases. I think the name has changed from is it 20 inches yet?! to is it the end of the row yet?!. I'm almost to the point where I can sew up the seams and it will be a sweater. (Mostly.)

The trip to the DMV went fast! He went in to start the waiting process. I stopped at the hot dog stand to get a hot chocolate to drink. It took the nice lady behind the counter all of two minutes to make my drink. I walked in and found Grilltech paying for the license. The longest wait was the lady taking pictures. I did get .75 of a round done on the sock.

Feeling Better

Driving on Snow

Saturday I finished a hat for a co-worker. I handed him a hat I had made for Grilltech (a swatch), he loved it. He showed his family and from what I understand his MIL wanted one "exactly like his". It's not quite exactly, but close. The three days I was home sick, I worked on the hat. Chiefly because it was small and I needed something I could see results on.











Yesterday, it rained most of the day melting off the snow. This morning, we woke up to two inches of snow. Nothing but sheets of ice on the roads. I drove ten MPH slower then normal (which really means 15 MPH because I usually drive five over). We're out at 0530 and there are idiots tailgating. (Yes, that four wheel drive does allow you to do all sorts of fun driving on the snow, but it doesn't help you stop, dumbass.)

I think she's asking for it...

PerkyGoth and I was walking out to her car. She said, don't fall and break your hip. I'm not that old. (sigh)

Today is my dad's birthday. He really liked the socks, said they're toasty while he shoveled snow. I let him know I needed pictures of them.

Because I’m a Lemming

I’m home sick again today, still recovering. (I do feel better.) I’m a bit behind on reading of blogs, because you know, (crack) Guild Wars, knitting and napping. I read Crazy Aunt Purl, and how she feels like something is sitting on her chest. (Not that I’m bitter or anything, but I wonder if she had to have an EKG.)

I’m dodging going through the (piles of) mail, so I’m reading blogs. Franklin* was talking about his new knitting toy Pattern Tamers. I checked out the store and ended up buying one. I currently use Post It Notes to mark my spot. I’ll let you guys know how they work out.

Mail has been sorted. Huge pile which needs to be taken into work and shredded. Smaller pile of mail which needs to be opened and paid. Paydays make me feel rich, until the bills are paid. How can we be broke so soon?

I meant to get pictures of Dad’s birthday socks, but it didn’t happen. I grabbed the camera, flipped it on and wouldn’t you know it? The disk was in Grilltech’s laptop. I was formatting the disk when the battery died. Dad beat me to the house and took his prize home. I might be able to get pictures later. (If Grilltech remembers to put the disk back when he’s done.)

Click on over to iUniverse and check out Amy’s new book. (And tell her how much it doesn’t suck.)


* Funny how I throw names around, as if I know him. I guess I do, because I read his blog.

Does this make me high maintenance?

I made it to work today, for all over 1.5 hours. Walking across the building to go chat with a supervisor let me breathless. So off to the doc-in-a-box we go. (Grilltech was being thoughtful and drove me. I think it has something to do with he didn’t want me to come get him this afternoon.) Anyway, we get there and they ask all the usual questions. What are we seeing you for? I’ve got the crud. Explain. It feels like someone is sitting on my chest, my throat hurts, and my head hurts. Your chest hurts? Yes. At this point in time, anything else I say is brushed aside, with the “OMG, your having a heart attack.” They check my oxygen levels, a bit low. The doctor comes in and listens to my breathing. It’s clear. He leaves and the nurse comes back with the doctor wants you to have an EKG. I don’t need one, it’s not my heart, it’s a cold. You should have one, because you might be wrong. Fine. (You know the fine, I’m talking about.) Sure enough it’s normal. Nurse comes back; the doctor wants you to have a chest X-ray. NO. Uhh Okay.

At this point, I’m crying because I don’t feel well and I’m frustrated because they’re not listening. I was thinking about walking out the door, but didn’t because it would have been counterproductive. Doctor comes back, while I’m crying. Lovely. He tries to talk me into a chest X-ray. I’m not buying it. (Grilltech pointed out, it would prove its bronchus or something else. I still didn’t buy it.) I told the doctor, I troubleshoot computers. I understand what you’re doing, you’re trying to figure out what’s wrong. But your not listening to what I’m saying. You’ve gone completely down a path that was unrelated and I’m frustrated. (I hate the shotgun method of troubleshooting, and that's what the doctor was doing.)

So he checks me out. Sure enough, sinus infection. (Three weeks of sinus headaches, should have came in sooner, okay so I'm a dumbass.) He still thinks I need a chest X-ray. Fine, if the medication doesn’t work by Monday I’ll have the X-ray done. He’s unhappy because it could be a blood clot in the lungs and that’s life threatening. At the end, he’s telling me how frustrated he gets because people don’t listen to him. I understand that, high maintenance people come in and demand to be taken care of. (Hey, he’s talking about me….)

I’m home with antibiotics, Mucinex, nose spray and my knitting. Gosh, hope I feel better before Monday.

Its Monday, oh wait...

Another glorious day in the corps. The best thing of the day? It's going so fast. One of today's voice mails was one of those automated "please call X about your bill". Yeah, it was deleted. I get to listen to some of the most off the wall messages. "This is the sheriff’s department with a message for..." and the not so fun "I'm not coming in today because I've been up throwing up all night..." (That's one of the better ones. Sometimes the people get really descriptive. Really.)

Anyway, I've started Ripples on the Beach again. I'm stalling on the Bio Hazard ones. I'm not overly thrilled at the stranding that’s going on, so they might be ripped back. I stopped off at the LYS, to pickup Dad's other sock. I'll be able to get the toes going. Not enough to knit on here at work. I'll have them done by Wednesday or maybe on Wednesday evening. Who knows?

Knit faster

Last night I woke up about 0400, (I'm guessing, I didn't bother to look at the clock) and looked out the window. The sky was a lovely shade of purple. It must have been snowing at that point in time, because we woke up to about two inches of snow. Grilltech shoveled my side of the drive way this morning, now his arm is sore.

I've almost finished Dad's socks. Note the almost. I've ran out of yarn, about an inch away from the second toe. I've put the (bleeping) sock down while I figure out what I'm going to do. I can't go pick up another skein, because it's $$. I'm thinking I may see if I can take apart another skein that's a different weight. It may save my life, because otherwise I'm going end up doing different colored toes. I'll have to knit from the first sock, until their both the same length. It's my own fault for using such a specialized yarn.

I've finished a couple of rows on Grilltech's sweater. It's still not twenty inches, but it's getting there. Ice Queen is coming along. I put it down other projects and knit a couple of rows for me. It's nice. Can't wait until it's finished, because it's soft!

Hope everyone had a happy weekend. I'm having one that is one day longer then normal. Thanks MLK!

Remind me why

Thursday was a lot of fun. Went to the dentist for a cleaning. I ended up having to wait, which gave me plenty of time to knit. While walking into the building, I saw two robins huddled in barren branches. Its the middle of January, they shouldn't be here.

I made it down to the LYS about noon. Stayed until 1530. Made twenty bucks. I know, usually I leave with less money, not more! I taught two ladies how to do a provisional cast on and short row toes. All because she wanted to knit toe-up socks and she was commenting how much trouble her daughter had with it. She hoped she wouldn't have the same problem, yadda, yadda, yadda. So I suggested we go over to the table and I teach her the provisional way. About 1/3 of the way through, her mother decided she wanted to learn. Comments like "What do short row do?" and "Are you sure?" and "I hate this" and "why are we doing this again?" Made me want to tear my hair out. Remind me why I teach knitters again?

Anyway I finished Dad's first sock. I'm frantically knitting the second one because his birthday is next Friday. (Knit faster, faster!!) I should have it done if I don't work on Grilltech's sweater.

...and now for something completely different: (Thanks Sandra)

You paid attention during 74% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
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The Friday That Wasn't

Today, I commented to the Yarn Harlot. That's big, really BIG. Sure, Amy posts to her all the time, but me? Not so much.

I started on Ice Queen last night. Completed several rounds. Almost to the first bead round. It's going a bit easier working on the 16" circular, then DPNS. I don't care for the 16", but it's getting the job done. I may have to change my opinion.

Here at the datamine, we're having connectivity issues. Mailbox is up, down, up, down. I'm not getting paid enough for the roller coaster ride. On the plus side, I'm not in the NOC (Network Operations Center) scrambling to try and fix the issue. I went on break and was sitting next to one of my friends. We was shooting the breeze for about 15 minutes. Her supervisor was making copies and finally commented, I was bothering his agent. We both looked up and said, the mail server is down. He nodded, then went away. Guess this means, I'll need to keep my head down, when I'm in his bay.

I think I'm loosing my mind. I was right in the middle of doing "something" and I forgot what I had been working on. I go to start doing data entry, start freaking out; because Tuesday's schedule is missing from the person I was looking at. Only to realize, I was in the wrong week. I'm so (bleeping) happy the day is mostly over. (Mostly) On the plus side, I've got tomorrow off. I’ll go to the dentist then go knit at the LYS.

Stuff I missed.... and a Me-Me

Wow. I missed my two year blogiversary and 300th post. I'm doing well this year. On the plus side, Grilltech's (is it 20 inches yet?) Sweater is coming along. I've got about ten inches done, give or take.

I knit in meetings openly. Since my hands are busy, I can pay attention to the speaker(s). Instead of how uncomfortable the chairs are, why is he droning on and on, can't he shut-up already? Type of things. About a year ago, I was told I couldn't knit at my desk. Some people threw a tizzy over the whole thing. I now have a new boss, who knows I pay attention and produce. (Which really is the bottom line.)

A me-me I stole from Emicat:

1. If you could change your name what would it be? My alternate name is Saren. I think it's beautiful and at times I think I'm beautiful as well or so Grilltech says I am. Remember the (bleeping) nursery rhyme Jack and Jill? I can tell you pretty much any version of it. I loathe it with the brilliance of a thousand suns.

2. Describe a time you've gone overboard. Not going there.

3. What are you presently wearing? Slip on shoes, hand made socks, dress pants (dark purple), 3/4th sleeved V-neck shirt (mauve), and my jacket. It's cold in here.

4. Who can you never please? I've given up trying to please others, and I'm such a disappointment to myself at times. I'd have to say: myself. There are some area's I excel: knitting, cooking, and problem solving. There are some areas that I fall down: cleaning, exercising, and follow through sometimes.

5. What do you wait for? The end of projects. The long haul of the body on sweaters really makes me crazy at times. Beer: Meade and Lambic are two of the longer fermenting drinks, they can take up to a year. But they are worth the wait.

6. How did you learn about the birds and the bees? I learned out back of a skating rink with a guy who was five years older then me. We didn’t go all the way, but it was close. Then I learned more in 9th grade biology.

7. Is it easy to be you? You bet. I wouldn't want to be me if it was hard. It's not always easy living with me, but Grilltech manages. (I think it's the socks and sweaters.)

On Ripping

I told you guys I was going to rip back the Ripples on the Beach sock. As of Saturday afternoon, it's sitting in two 1.5 ounce balls, waiting for me to start again. I'm too depressed to start over, so they're in the void waiting to be called forth. I started the Ice Queen on Sunday night. You’ll never guess what needs to be ripped back, yep Ice Queen. I doubt this project will be lost to the void. It's a fast knit, if done right. I've been putting beads every place there is a B on the chart, instead of the indicated rounds. I could say it's good practice, but it's not.

I've finished the first body section on Grilltech's (Do you think it's twenty inches yet?) sweater. So I started the new one on Friday night. I held it up to Grilltech, with only two rows completed. He said, what happened? PerkyGoth pipes up "she had to rip back to the beginning." The expression of what?! on his face was funny. She went onto say, "if she had ripped back, do you think she'd be calm?" Then we laughed at him and told him it was part two. Anyway, I'm about six inches into the second part of the body.

Today, the student needs help working short rows for neck shaping. I guess she doesn't understand, knit to X, turn, and knit to Y, turn. Add five to X, turn. Add five to Y, turn, go back to knitting in the round. (Does this make me sound bitchy?)

...and now for something completely different: (Thanks Amy)

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A day at the Grind

I'm in hell, it's as simple as that. Hell. I forgot to bring lunches for Grilltech and I today. I'm unable to log into the phone server. Looks like I'll need to get my password reset. (Ask me if I remember the (bleeping) password to log on to get that done!?) On the plus side, I'm having to reskill, so I have plenty of reading time.

I'm about half through gusset on Dad's sock. We had a department meeting yesterday, so I knitted through it. A good thing or I would have been twitching all over the place. (Finished the heel flap, turned the heel, and started the gusset.) Anyway, made another two inches on the sweater. Every row helps. Tonight I'm going over the student's house to get her started on the yoke of her sweater.

Last night, D called she's going to surgery today to have her gall bladder removed. She'll be staying at C's house to have some help while she recovers.

Winter Blah

It's January. (Errr Knittech, tell us something we don't know.) I'm restless and don't want to work on the projects I have in process. I haven't started knitting anything new, but I have started prepping for it, Ice Queen here I come. Anyway, last night I measured the Shaker body. I’m only at 13.5 inches, 6.5 away from the end. I need to either knit more or faster, haven't decided which yet. What is the most depressing part of the sweater? Once I have this section done, I have another one to go.

Wednesday afternoon was nice. It cleared up and melted most of the ice in the parking lot. There are patches here and there, but for the most part it's done. This morning's drive was in fine falling snow. Enough of a dusting when driven over, it leaves a wake of twisted, blowing snow on the road. The parking lot had the same light dusting of snow, enough to be able to tell where the icy patches are located.

I think I've found a good recipe for Beef Stroganoff. I'll need to try it soon, because I really like the dish.

Of Course....

I'm working away on the Ripples on the Beach sock, and a nagging little voice keeps whispering, I think those are going to be too small. Being the determined person I am, I kept knitting. Because it can't be that tight. I finish the leg and heel, I'm about 1/2 an inch away from the toe. I have PerkyGoth try on the sock. My little voice was right. Its way to tight. Le Sigh. So I've put it in time out while I figure out how to make it a bit wider.









Pattern is as follows: K2, YO, K3, SSK, K2tog, K3, YO, K2 (you can find the full pattern on knitty)

• Option A: Add one stitch at the beginning and end of the needle so the K2 becomes a K3. Which makes the knit area's a bit wider.


• Option B: Add one stitch after the first YO and before the last YO. Which makes the ripple area bigger.


• Option C: Add both stitches.


• Option D: Add one whole repeat, instead of an even four, there will be five. Not so crazy about that idea.

I'll take it down to the shop and pull out the skein's guts and weigh it so I'll have two balls of equal size. Instead of trying to wind a ball from the half knit sock.

In the mean time, I've pulled out Dad's buffalo sock. I didn't like how it was turning out on size 1's. So I pulled out the 2's and ripped back. The fabric is now flexible and soft, instead of stiff. These socks should fly off the needles. I knitted through the weekly conference call. I had to do something to keep my sanity. I was leading it, and talked like a used car salesman. (Slick baby, slick.)


It's snowing again today. Instead of the powdery flakes, it's the little its-too-cold-to-form-regular flakes. People said, it was blowing over the road when they came in and looked really beautiful drifting about. I got home, it was time to shovel the drive way. I know, I had said, Grilltech was going to have to do it, but he wasn't home yet. I finished, then what happens? Of course, it starts snowing again.

Weekend Update

Saturday was PerkyGoth's first spinning lesson. She loved it. The wheel was acting up, but she worked through it and produced a hank of chunky yarn. It needs to be washed and weighted, but it's hers. They sent her home some different rovings to try. I sent her home with some leftovers I had. I still have two hiding in the yarn room, which will wait until she's a bit better.

I worked on the Shaker sweater, while PerkyGoth was spinning. I kept holding it up and asking if it was 20 inches yet. It wasn't anywhere near 20 inches. I think I'm about twelve now, the end is in sight. Paranoia about running out of yarn is beginning to set in. I'm sure I have enough. Really? Then why so paranoid?

Saturday night, Grilltech and I went to a friend's house for a I'm getting kicked out of the place party. It was nice to get out of the house and meet new people. I learned a knew game called Uker. (It goes pretty quick and I had a hard time wrapping my head around, must get all the tricks, not the trumps.) While we was there, red-headed Jen said it was trying to snow, more like spitting. When we left at 2300, it was semi-clear and stars were twinkling. When we woke up on Sunday morning, there was 1.5 inches of snow! Where did that come from?

Monday is starting off with a bang. East coast co-worker called in late. I didn't realize she wasn't in, so I waited until my normal time to log in. Trying to reskill now, but since I'm not on the east coast server, it isn't working. Will have to do it by hand. Co-worker called, said the reskill didn't go right. Having to do it again. Bummer.

Day is mostly over. Good thing. Its been said, the snow is now melting as fast as it fell. Another good thing. Overall, it was a good day. I'll even get to knit more on the Ripples on the Beach sock.

Stupid Network

It happened yesterday at 1615. I got my invite to Ravelry. I didn't even sign up for it, Printtech PerkyGoth did it for me. I've read quite a bit over the community about how wonderful Ravelry is. I do agree, it's pretty kewl. But, (there is always a but...) I don't like the fact I have to post my pictures to flicker. I shouldn't make that big of a deal out of it, because if someone else wants to host my stuff, that's fine. Just haven't gotten around to setting up an account yet.

Anyway, I went home sick yesterday at 0800. Spent most of the day knitting and not doing much else. By 1500 I could not keep my eyes open, so I crawled into bed. When Grilltech got home, he woke me up. Nice little nap. Today I do feel a bit better, not by much, but a bit. It seems its a good thing I did come in to work, my other co-worker isn't in yet. Another morning of reskilling and reading. (I'm a good team player. Stop laughing, I am!) The co-worker just called, she won't be making it in. She sounds pretty bad. Hers is in the throat, mine is in the sinuses. Thankfully, she's 3000 miles away and we can't share.

It seems the network is also sick. One server is down on the east coast, now my mail server on the west coast is acting up. Seems I'll need to threaten it with my knitting. It hates me, that's all there is to it. Or it really likes me, and knows I really don't want to work. It's all in the spin.

First Post of the Year

Three days into the New Year and I'm slacking. The act of crawling out of bed takes all my will power. It's a new year that means I have sick time again. Right? Guess not, because I'm here at work. In less then three months, it will be spring. I won't feel so cold and crabby all the time. I'll be warm and crabby, a better deal in my mind.

Believe it or not, but I haven't been feverishly knitting. Instead, I've been reading the rather largish pile of books. It's nice to do something different. I haven't stopped knitting, just slowed down on it. This cold weather has my hands hurting, so knitting for long periods is out. Yes, I should make my fingerless mitts, but that requires I knit. Catch 22.

My New Years Resolution: To come up with titles for my posts this year, instead of dates.