February Lady Sweater

Since finishing Leo's kid's sweaters, I've dove (diven? doven? divination?) headlong into my current project: the February Lady Sweater.  It's the second sweater (cardigan really) I've made for myself and boy oh boy it's easy and fun.  The top-down-raglan-plus-lace construction is seriously addicting.  I can't knit just 1 row.

Here is the cardigan so far (2 weeks in the making):

And here is a sleepy cow. =)

work

Is it ok to get depressed about work?  Sometimes I just want to say "F it! I say NO to all-things-I-must-do and YES to all-things-I-want-to-do.  Screw this adult thing!!!" 


Then I imagine myself running around like a heathen (a favorite word of mine lately).  I'll be wielding knitting needles and grabbing at anything that looks like yarn.

Boys

Hey! Leo sent me pictures of Dom (older boy) and Nico (younger boy) wearing the sweaters! How cute is that!  The kids must have a good looking mom! ;-)

I'm on a horse

I'm obsessed by the recent Old Spice commercials.  I'm not the only one who thinks they are hilarious.  Now coinciding with Apple's latest marketing push, here is a video that ties both together.  LMAO!

Hoodie update

Coming along!  1/2 a sleeve + a hood left to go, then I'll be sewing it all together!

Feels like an itch you can't scratch

I want to knit.  I want to finish Dominique's hoodie.  But I can't because I have work to catch up on.  I'm working on a new project for Finance, and the woman responsible for rolling it out to the field is on my butt like a mongrel on a roast.  So I'm working on a weekend as usual, catching up.


At least I like my job and I find work satisfying.  I wonder what I'd be like if I ended up in a field I don't like.  (cut away now to daydream scene, with clouds and harp music)  Anyway...my brain is trying hard to distract me from the task at hand.


So knitting....I'll just have to be a good girl and not scratch that itch.  Or only scratch it a little bit...tiny bit.  ;-)


Edit:


You know, my manager and co-worker are also working.  I just got emails from them about some other issue.  And I bet Leo, whose kid I'm knitting for, is or will also be working this weekend.  So now I feel like a whiner!  Well, a little licking of the wounds doesn't hurt.  But I'm certainly no exception amongst the crowd I work with!

Gratuitous Puppy Picture

 (It's a stuffed beehive on his head.  The holes are for the bees to hide in.)

When the Stash Attacks

While browsing one of the many knitting related websites I frequent, I came across this bit that made me laugh out loud.

When the Stash Attacks:
Creative Techniques for Concealing Your Yarns

Gender Games
If you're a woman and your housemate isn't, play the gender card to its best advantage: Go to Sam's Club or another similar bulk discount outlet and get the biggest box of sanitary napkins you can find.

Oh man.  Why didn't I think of that earlier?!  hum.. I think it's "that" time of the month again. 

Does Equis and Old Spice

I talked to a friend a few days ago.  After 20 years of marriage his wife decided she needs a break.  I called and we talked for a while.  The conversation was all over the place; we talked about everything from Sarah Palin to when he might be coming to the Bay Area.  After hanging up, I could not decide what's more shocking: the news or to hear his voice quavering.

My friend has been one of the most solid, upstanding man I've known.  He's the kind of guy who would run into a burning house to save a mangy dog.  He is the kind of guy who, in real life, undersells and over delivers.  He actually completes tech projects early and under budget! (for those of us who are in this field, that is the most amazing fact of them all.)

So to see that other, vulnerable, side of my friend is incredible.  It hits home how hurt he is.  He told me his wife came back one night to pack up cloths and some food before taking off again.  I can't imagine the anguish of having to watch this happen.  My stomach turns just thinking about it.

I admire my friend for reaching out for support. The fact that a guy actually stops to ask for directions is....you pick a word.  My friend brings to mind the Dos Equis man, or that Old Spice guy.  Except perhaps a bit shorter and much more approachable.


(puppy)

For you non-knitters

A muggle posted this on Ravelry.  Some insightful observations and valuable lessons for all you uninitiated non-knitters! (Tim can testify on the validity of #8.)

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/remnants/970491/1-25

I am not a knitter. I joined Ravelry to see where my girlfriend spends her time on the internet lol. In the 10 or so months that she’s been knitting I’ve been secretly/overtly observing and documenting this crazy thing called yarn and what it does to people. These things I know to be true.

1. Yarn is NOT string and should not be referred to as such.
2. Knitting needles are not sticks,stix, or styx.
3. Casting on is NOT a fishing metaphor.
4. Yarn comes in different weights, colors, styles. Kind of like drugs.
5. People dye their own yarn with varying degrees of success.
6. Knitting is taken everywhere. No exceptions are to be made.
7. Fun fur is frowned on by “real” knitters.
8. “Lemme just finish this round” is a lot like me saying “Lemme just finish this round of video games” fair enough
9. A collection of yarn is a “stash” much like drugs.
10. Yarn barf is actually a thing.
11. Ravelry has a weird economy of bartering. Yarn can be exchanged for other goods not related to yarn. ????? Weird.
12. There are knitting groups, where other like minded knitters knit together and (this part is an assumption) talk about how knitters should rule the world.
13. Do NOT sit on or around yarn left on the sofa. This will cause knitter in the other room to jump up and rescue said ball of yarn from your evil ass.
14. Thank goodness there are no shows about knitting on Primetime TV.
15. Stitch markers are NOT earrings.
16. Lots of knitters have kittehs. You know who also had them? Witches.
17. If I want something, “Did you want to go to the yarn store?” are the first words out of my mouth.
18. Yarn stores are populated by alpha knitters. Some stores are better than others. Michaels is not a suitable substitute for a yarn store.
19. The needles that are attached with wire to each other, do not make good nunchuks.
20. Kitteh won’t chase a ball of yarn no matter how many balls you throw at his head.

These things I know to be true.