Thursday, November 29th

Life's great discoveries:

I can put stuff in a safe place, only to discover it's really a void. I don't have the correct equipment to bring stuff back. Nothing makes me knit faster then determining I'm on the last few rows. Of course, the (damn) shawl does have an edging that is going to make me crazy. Cables are easier to handle in the middle of the needle, instead of being at the edge. I'm now on the fourth sock and it's not nearly the fight the other three were.

Last of the updated Christmas list:
Principles of Knitting (it’s rumored to be coming out as a reprint…)
Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Volumes 1-4 this only shows #2)
The Opinionated Knitter
Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitting Workshop
Selbuvotter
Swift
Rosewood DPNS Size 1
Bronze DPNS Size 1

Wednesday, November 28th

Yeah, it's a rough day. I got to run the reskill script this morning. Couldn't do anything, but read blogs until it was done. (I love being a team player.) It had tried to snow last night. Today the sky is mostly clear with the stars shining brightly. The roads are icy, which makes the walk through the parking lot treacherous. Thankfully, I didn't fall. (I have fallen in the past. I hate lying there feeling like an idiot because I have no traction on ice and wondering how to get up without making it worse.)

Last night, I came to the conclusion I only have 16 more rows to knit before I start the edging on the (damn) shawl. The end is in site sight. Now my only fear is do I have enough to complete the project.

Anyway, Grilltech is happier. His appointment went well. I was able to start my second sock while waiting. I finished the cuff and started the leg. Last night after working three rows on the (damn) shawl, I picked up the sock because its way smaller. Made it through two repeats of the pattern.

My replacement ebony needles showed up. (Now if I could find where I put the other four, I'd be happy.) They sent two needles to replace the one!

Tuesday, November 27th

I've made progress on the shawl. Two more skeins to go before I've finished it! It's mostly done. Mostly.

Monday, November 26th

It's defiantly November. This morning, all the cars parked out on the street had frost on the windows. I'm lucky, I get to park in the garage. I walked out without my jacket, which I had thoughtfully left at work. I'll be sure to bring it home tonight or so I hope.

I didn't get much knitting done this weekend. Instead, I played crack. On Saturday, the pattern for the peacock shawl showed up. I showed it to Grilltech who said, that's beautiful. You're going to bitch the entire time you're knitting it. Yes, I'm sure I will, but this shawl isn't walking out the door without me attached to it.

I didn't get the (damn) shawl finished. I wonder if I leave bribes around the knitting fairy will come finish it for me. (Stop laughing, it could happen.) I should just finish the stupid thing and get it off my plate. Course, I could stop playing crack, so I have more time to knit. I did start the second broad street mitt. I'm ready to start the thumb increases. Which means it will be done in no time, if I actually sit down and knit.

Now it's 1030 and the heaters have kicked in here at work. My hands aren't hurting, it's actually nice. Which means, in 20 minutes, the air conditioning will have kicked back on and I'll be back in the meat locker. Do you think they'll notice if I bring a space heater to work?

I did make it out of the house on black Friday. I wandered down to the LYS about 1300. I knitted until about 1430. Some sock yarn muscled its way into the car. I tried to fend it off - not overly hard - but in the end, I could only shrug; then give it a ride home. It's called Flat Feet, by Conjoined Creations. Instead of coming in a ball, it’s been machine knitted flat, then painted. So when it’s knitted, the pattern is completely different then what is seen. I tried to find it on their web site, but it's not listed. I'll take a picture before I start knitting with it.

Anyway, I have to knit Grilltech a pair of socks, before I can start another pair for me. Who am I kidding? I could knit more socks for me if I wanted.

Sunday, November 25th

I haven't done much. Spent the day playing Guild Wars.

Thursday, November 22nd

It was a good day at chez Tech house. Grilltech stayed up last night smoking the turkeys. I got up this morning and he went to bed. I listened to music most of the day while getting food ready. The herd showed up about 1330. We ate at 1500. I sent quite a bit of it home with them. Grilltech still has a large amount of stuffing left. It freezes good. Amy Lane shared her stuffing recipe, so here is mine:

Package of sliced mushrooms
Large onion chopped
Jalapenos chopped
Garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Breadcrumbs
Chicken broth

Unfreeze all the cornbread and bread guts saved from the year, cut into pieces and place on baking sheet. Bake at 300 for an hour. Saute the mushrooms, onions, garlic, and jalapenos until soft in EVOO. I usually salt and pepper to taste and add other flavorings to the veggies. Add the veggie mix to the breadcrumbs, mix in the chicken broth, and bake until heated through.

All amounts are subjective, so make as much or as little as needed.

Wednesday, November 21st

It's the day before Thanksgiving (US). I'm mostly ready. Mostly. I pulled out the bread to make stuffing. I chopped and sauted the jalapenos, mushrooms, onion, and garlic for the stuffing. I picked up the rolls for dinner. I don't feel like making rolls. I might make some for Christmas.

I worked three more rows on the shawl. Every stitch helps. I've started the decrease for the cover of the mitt. I haven't started my second sock yet. Grilltech's sleeves are still sitting.

Hope everyone has a safe day, trip, and/or meal.

Oh yeah, I'm a dumbass. I copied my bookmarks, but never sent them home.

Tuesday, November 20th

It was snowing this morning on the way to work. ACK! Winter is still a month away. The snow should be melted off by the time to go home. But it does make for cold sitting in the car waiting for Grilltech in the afternoon. It's now 1400, the snow has melted and the sun has come out. It might be a nice day after all.

I heard back from Lantern Moon, they're going to send out a replacement needle. Hope to get it relativity soon. I switched over to my bamboo needles to finish the current sock. I've ready to start the toe, then I will be moving to the second one. I worked on the shawl last night. It took me almost two hours to do three rows. Two hours! Its never going to get done. I'll be working on it until the day I die. I want to get going on the sweater. The sleeves are sitting on my desk, looking very forlorn. Plus the cats like to lay on them.

Since I've got the next four days off, I've sent home my bookmarks. I'll be updating my reading list soon. Some have fallen off and others have been added.

and now for something completely different: (thanks Sandra)
Reading Level


How the heck did I get postgrad?!

Monday, November 19th

Happy Monday. The day is almost over. This morning, I did my normal routine. I ate, I read blogs, I knitted for a while. One of my new Lantern Moon needle broke. I had been worried that one was a bit more flexible then the others. Sure enough, this morning while doing an SSK it snapped. Now I need to look up what their replacement policy, which they don't post on the web site. I e-mailed customer service. Now I'm waiting impatiently for them to get back to me. (tap, tap, tap)

In the mean time, it's pouring rain. I forgot to pull out the hamburger for dinner tonight, so we're having a canned meal. Either chili and tamales or something else I can't even think of currently. I'll need to pull the burger when I get home.

I'm wanting to finish the shawl soon, so I'll need to start working on it. Maybe I'll get it done this weekend. (Stop laughing, it could happen...)


And now for something completely different:(from Grilltech)


We scored the same, I wonder why....

Slacker Sunday, November 18th

I finished the first mitt. Helped Grilltech make the Dicken's Bunny (Christmas Ale), it smells very good. Can't wait until it bottled.

Scenic Saturday, November 17th



Scenic Saturday. This picture was taken last November. You really can't see it very well, but there is a tangent at the top of the halo. There was more colors, but our camera isn't top of the line, so it looks pretty white. I was going through pictures yesterday, and thought it would be a lovely post.

Today is the steeking class at the LYS. Its at 1000, but I can't make it. PrinterTech and I are going out to breakfast with Aunt K in the same time frame. Since I swore I would only use my powers for evil, I can't be in two places at once. Altho it would be evil to blow off my Aunt...

I've finished the gusset for my mitt. Tried it on, and it was way to big!! Crappy! I'll finish them and give them to a co-worker of Grilltech who wanted a pair. (So they're not in the colors he really wanted, but they're done. Which is better?) I'll be able to pick out different colors for me as well.

FO Friday, November 16th



It's FO Friday! First up is the hat for Jason's wife. I guess she really likes it. She wore it around the house all day yesterday. He wants one for himself. I might make him one for Christmas or not. I'm so fickle.













I started knitting socks for C about a year ago when her mother died. I thought she would need something for her like a hug. I showed them to her and she didn't seem to be too enthunised about them, so it took me a while to complete them. I knit both of these at the same time, so they seemed to take forever. I'm not so sure I really like knitting two at once. I don't mind sleeves being knit at the same time.

Thursday, November 15th

It's Friday Eve and I'm happy. Friday is Flash Gordon and Moonlight TV watching. About two months ago, we watched the original Flash Gordon, with a 16 year-old-girl. I don't know what was more hysterical, the movie or her response. Dale Arden was there to gaze longingly at Flash, while appearing to be dumb as a rock. The part where Dale was being a cheerleader was, well insulting, enough to leave the 16 year-old speechless. Even I thought so when I first watched it back in the early 80's. I had to keep pointing out to her, it was a different time in the late 70's, early 80's. Movies portrayed women as pretty-young-thing-who-shouldn't-worry-her-cute-little-head because a man was there to take care of her. Even Doris Day, who was then a strong leading lady, deferred to the strong, handsome man. It wasn't until Alien and Terminator that strong women came into the movies.

Updated Christmas List:
Selbuvotter
Peacock Feathers Shawl (pattern only)
Swift
Rosewood DPNS Size 1
Bronze DPNS Size 1

Wednesday, November 14th

The morning drive into work was very crisp. Cars parked out on the street had frosted windows. The stars twinkled brightly in the sky. Venus was the brightest of all the lights in the pre-dawn sky. And I'm crabby as all get out. The artic breeze blowing on me isn't helping at all.

I gave Jason the hat. Now he wants one. I'm thinking, he need to be taught how to fish, right Lenya? Anyway, I'm almost to the point where I need to start increasing for the thumb on my mitt.

Tuesday, November 13th



I made a picture of me, because I'm a lemming. I showed it to Grilltech, he said, but your hair isn't red anymore. Yeah, I should have kicked him. Instead, my revenge is the next pair of socks I finish after this pair will be for me. Two in a row, sometimes it's good to be the knitter.

Oh yeah... the pictures are working again. I'll post my FO's soon(tm).

Monday, November 12th

Answers to a meme, from Amy Lane:

1 Name one person who made you laugh last night? Mr. Sota and Grilltech
2 What were you doing at 0800? Sleeping.
3 What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Playing Guild Wars
4 What happened to you in 2006? I got an 8% raise.
5 What was the last thing you said out loud? “Yeah, that would be rough.”
6 How many beverages did you have today? 3. Water, Pepsi, Chai Tea.
7 What color is your hairbrush? Purple and black.
8 What was the last thing you paid for? Bagels for breakfast
9 Where were you last night? At home, playing crack (Guild Wars)
10 What color is your front door? Walnut.
11 Where do you keep your change? Coin banks around the house.
12 What’s the weather like today? Mostly sunny.
13 What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Chocolate.
14 What excites you? Grilltech, knitting with an exotic yarn, reading and sleep.
15 Do you want to cut your hair? Nope.
16 Are you over the age of 25? Yes.
17 Do you talk a lot? Nope.
19 Do you know anyone named Steven? Yes, he’s a flake.
20 Do you make up your own words? I think so.
21 Are you a jealous person? Hell yes. Grilltech is M.I.N.E!
22 Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Andrew.
23 Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Kathy,
24 Who’s the first person on your received call list? “C” she called to tell me her apartment building caught fire.
25 What does the last text message you received say? “Mom, call me.”
26 Do you chew on your straw? Yes, but I rarely use a straw.
27 Do you have curly hair? Just enough to be annoying, unlike the Youngest who has kinky hair.
28 Where’s the next place you’re going to? The store, need to get next week’s lunches.
29 Who’s the rudest person in your life? That would be me.
30 What was the last thing you ate? Almond Roca
31 Will you get married in the future? Nope, married now.
32 What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? Everafter
33 Is there anyone you like right now? Grilltech
36 Did you cry today? Nope.
37 Why did you answer and post this? Because I’m a lemming.
38 Tag 5 people who would do this survey. Anyone who wants to, should do it.

Sunday, November 11th

In spite of doing crack today, I finished the hat. Started mitts for me and was tagged for a meme, which I'll get to tomorrow. Night all.

Saturday, November 10th

Mr. Sota is feeding me crack, in the form of a game called Guild Wars. He's a drug and alcohol councilor and he's pushing crack. I have wonderful friends. He's got Grilltech is hooked also. I went and picked up a copy for me. Got it home, opened the "secret code" packet, it. was. blank. WTF?! Took it back to Best Buy and got another copy, opened it up to make sure the code was there. After six hours of playing, it was time to stop and knit. How much knitting have I gotten done? Not as much as I'd like. However, I've started the decreases on the hat. I might have it done next week, if I can tear myself away.

Friday, November 9th*

I'm so glad it's Friday of a long weekend. I'm beat. The weather has turned colder, I don't have mitts to help keep my hands warm. Think I'll finish the hat, then make myself some.

I'm off to knit until Moonlight, then it will be bed time.

Thursday, November 8th*

It's starting to get cold here in the mornings. Cars when left parked out side have frost on the windows. I can see my breath when I walk across the parking lot. It's time for jackets and gloves. I didn't realize, I'd need them in the building as well. Yesterday, my hands were so cold they hurt until about 1030. That is what time the heat finally kicked on. Today I put my jacket on so it's not as bad. I can still feel the blast of cold air under my desk. Maybe I'll get a space heater.

I've finished up the toes of C's socks. I'll post pictures soon as I can. I don't think I'll buy anymore of that brand of yarn again. One skein had two knots in it. Ick. I think I'll gift the other two skeins along with the socks to C.

Tonight is Grilltech's meeting. I'll get plenty of knitting done.

Christmas Wish List: (so far)

Peacock Feathers Shawl (pattern only)
Swift
Rosewood DPNS Size 1
Bronze DPNS Size 1

* Yes, I'm still a dumbass, but I know what day it is.

Wednesday, November 7th

My dates are wrong in the couple of posts, because I'm a dumbass. My calendar is still set to October. There are times I'm truly impressive.

I'm started the toes on C's socks. Soon as they completed, I can start a hat for a co-worker. I laughed at him because he was wearing a "crappy machine knit hat". He thought I was laughing because it's a Detroit Lion's hat, but I set him straight. He came back and asked if I would knit something for his wife who is from California and isn't used to the cold. Yes, I know I've said it in the past, no more knitting for other people. But I like this guy, so I should be okay.

Sure Grilltech, you didn't lose the sock. What ever it takes for you to sleep at night.

And my mail is working again. I guess maybe (but doubtful) he didn't lose the sock after all.

Tuesday, November 9th

About 1930 last night, Grilltech had given up on getting mail to work. He was frustrated and crabby. He sat down at the laptop, only to realize, he had mail. He was really happy and relieved. I don't have mail yet. :(

I found a sock meme from Molecular Knitting.

1. What’s your favorite sock yarn? (please note that the word ‘yarn’ is singular. Just pick one. I know it’s hard.) My favorite sock yarn is Lorna's Laces. I've only knitted 1 pair of socks and started a second pair, but I love it!

2. What’s your favorite type and brand of sock needle? I prefer wood needles. Bamboo and I've picked up a pair of ebony ones. There are some lovely rosewood ones I would like to get as well. Clover is the leader of bamboo DPNS.

3. Do you knit your socks toe up, cuff down, or sideways? I knit my socks top down. I've tried the toe up method, but the instep was way to tight.

4. Do you knit both socks at once or just one at a time? I use DPNS, so it's one at a time. I also have a pair of socks on the needles doing the Magic Loop method. I'm sure I knit the same amount of time, but it seems to take forever when I'm working on two of them. Which is odd, because I have no problem knitting two sleeves at the same time.

5. What’s your favorite toe and why? I like the wedge toe. I've tried the star toe, but it's too round. I use four stitches between the decreases, instead of two. More room.

6. Favorite heel? I use a Dutch Heel, which is not to be confused with Dutch Cowboys.

7. Do you prefer plain or patterned socks? Plain socks are fast and easy. Patterns keep one from falling asleep. I'm starting to put more patterns in my projects.

8. Who do you knit the most socks for? I knit socks for Grilltech and myself. My father gets a pair for Christmas every year as well.

9. Do you darn your socks? If not, what do you do with them? Heck yea, I darn my own socks. Those things are $$ and I want all the use out of them I can get. (Grilltech before you say what about my Bio-hazard ones? Those are cotton and you have talons for toe nails... Need I say more?!)

10. Do you only wear handknit socks? I'm getting pretty close to being able to only wear hand knit socks. Grilltech used to be able to wear a set every day, but he's worn down two pairs and lost a sock. Yes, L-O-S-T.

Bonus question: What pattern, if any, is your basic “I-just-need-a-pair-of-socks” sock pattern based on? Do you keep it written down or memorized? When I started knitting I had to follow the pattern, which lasted about three pairs. Now I write down the generic stuff. (CO 72, ( K2 , P2) for 20 rows. 7" total. 20 slips, 8 per side, 20 left.) If there is a pattern, I'll write it down for reference, because those can be tricky.

Monday, November 5th

The swearing began about two hours after my post yesterday. He thinks he's narrowed down the cause of no mail. Maybe it will be fixed soon.

First day back after three days off. We have a trainee. I'm not sure I care for him. Not that I have much to say about the whole situation.

I've started a new pair of socks for me. So far I have thirteen rows of a cuff.

Sunday, November 4th

Grilltech is busy working on the server. He did the sad puppy dog eyes while shopping and ended up with a new HD for the server. He's now loading Linux, so it will be a bit more secure. He's not swearing at the computer, which a good sign. But I'm not sure when the pictures will be back.

I've been taking it easy on the knitting right now. My arm is getting better, so I don't want to over do it.

Saturday, November 3rd

The server is down, so the pictures aren't available. Grilltech will have it fixed soon as he can.

Friday, November 2nd

My size ones are still missing. They’re not in the dishwasher. Nor are they in the washer or dryer. I can’t find them under the couch or cushions. They’re not with the (damn) shawl or the sock yarns strewn around the living room. Or under the piles of mail I’ve let pile up on my desk. Instead, they’re found in the “extra” space pull out on my desk. I’m such a dumbass, but relieved that they’re found. I guess this means I’ll need to give Grilltech his thumb drive I found while doing laundry.

Pictures!

My socks:


















Grilltech's socks:


















Grilltech's anniversiry socks:

















Grilltech's hat:

Missing!

Two pairs of size one DPNS are missing. Grilltech would say it's somewhere on the mess of my desk, but I don't think so. I had them this morning, now I can't find them!! I think Fran stole them... Evil kitty!!