Archive for knitting
December 31, 2008 at 8:56 am
· Filed under daydreaming, debt, dreams, exercise, family, holidays, interior design, job stuff, knitting, life, love, motivation, travel
I knew I had one of these “resolution” posts floating around… so I checked it to see how I did for 2008. All in all, not too shabby. I do remember making a list half-way through the year of things I wanted to do by the end of the year and one of those items was to finish knitting a pair of socks and that SO did not happen. Oh well. At least there’s this:
- End the year with less debt. Well, I can’t say this happened… but I certainly have a better idea of what my debt is – that counts for something, doesn’t it? I also managed to get my cell phone to stop ringing with debt collector calls by changing my phone number. heh.
- End the year with less fat. I haven’t seen PJ since I’ve been back from my trip… I did weigh myself this morning and I weigh exactly the same as I did last year on the first… does it count that I haven’t GAINED fat?
- End the year with less angst. Much less angst-y about certain family situations. Though, I have flown off the handle about relatively calm emails… I guess it means at least I’m not willing to be a doormat anymore.
- End the year with a nest-egg. I do have one of these, though it might disappear once I have other dental work done in a couple weeks. UGH.
- End the year with the same job I had at the beginning of the year. I’d like this to continue through 2009 as well… I totally enjoy working here and want to stay on for a while longer!!
- End the year having seen my paternal family. Been there, done that… twice! It sucks that it was done once for going to a funeral on my maternal side of the family, but… it reminded me how nice and caring they all can be!
As for 2009… here we go:
1. I’ll take the NCIDQ and pass it, first try.
2. I’ll end the year with less debt – for real.
3. As mentioned above, I’d like to end 2009 still at the job I’ve started it with. Retail = never again!
4. I’d like to go to Ireland for a week.
5. I’ll visit my mother.
6. I’ll get my weight back under ___ lbs.
7. I’ll knit a pair of socks.
8. I’ll NOT have “ex-sex”.
9. I’ll upgrade my apartment (as in, get out of the studio… still waiting on word for that 1 bedroom.)
and finally
10. I’ll continue to do things because I want to do them, and not care what other people think or how crazy they seem.
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October 21, 2008 at 2:01 pm
· Filed under knitting
A year ago, on this date, Andrea Andi (still getting used to calling her that) and I went to a Starbucks in Uptown and met Beth. It was the first meeting of the Uptown Knitting Group and a year later it’s ridiculous sometimes how many people show up to knit on a Sunday.
The group as a whole is skipping Starbucks on Sunday to meet at our favorite little gay bar to knit, drink, and partake of a free buffet at 4pm. Because I can’t let anything just pass by, Beth, Andi and I are going to our favorite big Irish bar to drink Guinness and Strongbow and be merry.
A vast majority of this group is awesome on so many levels. We have a few sour grapes, but so far they haven’t spoiled the fun of meeting up on Sundays. It just makes for the whole experience to be a little more… colorful, if you will.
Happy Knitgroup-a-versary to me… 
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October 2, 2008 at 7:29 am
· Filed under knitting
(Incidentally, I sent a photo of something I had knit to my ex yesterday, with the title of this post as the subject of the email. I probably should have been more sensitive to the fact that he and said girlfriend broke up last week. Oops. Anyhow…)
I’ve been busy with this group project I’m organizing that I haven’t really bothered to knit anything for myself lately. The socks I started over the summer are still sitting there. Mountains of Noro Silk Garden for my blanket I started earlier this year have been untouched for months. Even my lovely Rowan Tapestry scarf and hat have gone by the wayside. So what did I do earlier this week?
I purchased a sweater pattern.
I did it mostly because I have 10 skeins of this really pretty Berroco Softtwist on hand, which is about 1000 yards worth, and at the time I bought it (on sale) I thought 1000 yards would be enough to make a sweater for myself.
Well, it WOULD be enough to make a sweater – IF I had the right pattern, I were a smaller-sized person, and if I weren’t sporting the biggest boobs on the planet. (I swear… the boobs get me every time…)
Anyhow, the Lush and Lacy cardigan says that it needs a little less than 1000 yards for even the largest size. I lucked out yesterday though and obtained another 300 yards of the same dyelot through a Completely Pointless and Arbitrary swap on Ravelry. So, if it turns out that I run short, I’ve got extra. And, if I don’t need the extra, then I’ve got some really pretty teal yarn still on hand for Christmas.
Not that I’ve even been able to really comprehend WHAT I could make for Christmas for anyone… I mean, hell, it took me over a year to get mittens done for my mother’s birthday. I think I’m going to have to stick to store-bought gifts this time around.
So, yeah… there’s a knitting update, for once.
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September 26, 2008 at 2:46 pm
· Filed under Chicago, anxiety, being a democrat, books, fluff, knitting, life, meditation, motivation, music, walking, weight
Due to financial constraints, I have a very low-key weekend planned. I was to go to Lake Villa and attend a party, but since I don’t think I can even afford the Metra fare up there… it’s unlikely.
Anyhow, my glamorous[1] weekend will start tonight where I will hopefully do my dishes and perhaps attempt to make what looks like a yummy WW recipe for stuffed clams. I will also watch the presidential debate, hope McCain makes an ass of himself, and continue to knit a square for a group blanket project (I got crazy ambitious and decided to make one of my squares in a very complicated cable pattern (September is for Antony). It’s beautiful, but who on earth has the patience to make this into a scarf??)
I have about 15 episodes of 90210 to catch up on, last week’s X and Xtra Factor (plus this week’s, if they are uploaded on time), Oprah from yesterday (which I hear had Jen Lancaster on it!) and.. I guess that’s it for TV.
I will also be checking up on a fellow knitting gal’s kitty on Saturday, which I have every intention of walking to her place – which is about a mile and a half away. We’ll see if that happens – it SHOULD happen, because I have little in the way of bus fare.
Other than that, the normal stuff needs to happen – there’s laundry to do… there’s kitty litter to change… There’s 100 more pages of the second Twilight that I keep saying I will read and have not yet!
Oh, but what I really, REALLY want to make an effort to do is meditate. I purchased a cd for guided meditation while I was down in Florida and I have yet to actually use it. The medium who read me said I would benefit from it, and actually I’ve had doctors tell me it might help reduce the severity of my panic attacks.
Anyhow, hope everyone else has lovely plans for this weekend… Looks like here in Chi-town, this might be our last shot at “summer” weather.
[1]Am I the only one who, when they spell out glamorous, I do it to the tune of Fergie? G. L. A. M. O. R. OUS – yeah… Flying first class… up in the sky…
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September 15, 2008 at 12:07 pm
· Filed under Alzheimer's, Chicago, Josh, anxiety, dating, daydreaming, family, job stuff, knitting, life, love, motivation, nostalgia, pisces, self esteem, travel, weight
I looked at the calendar today and noticed there is exactly one week left of summer. I noticed some of the trees were starting to change colors last week, and the weather is certainly cooler – I just, for some reason, am not ready for the official declaration of it being autumn and no longer being summer – or maybe I am.
I think much of it has to do with this spring/summer being one of the best since I moved to the city – remember last year when I was almost wishing not to have a job so I could take advantage of all Chicago had to offer int he summer and then I did lose my job and it sucked? Well, this year has proved that I can in fact have my cake (job) and eat all the good Chicago-ness too! Let’s take a look at what good times were had, shall we?
In April I got to go to Florida for the first time in 4 years. I spent time with Ginny, went downtown. I spent time with Josh, went to the beach. I drove down A1A through Cape Canaveral and saw the house my mom and I rented once upon a time on the beach.
In May I met Jen Lancaster at a book signing (ok, “met” is a strong word… I got my picture taken with her (said photo will be used as a good ‘before’ photo when I lose a bunch of weight)). Andi graduated and had a birthday which meant dinner with her family and drinks with the gals from knitting group. We also met Jemaine and Bret after the Flight of the Conchords show (2 more pics also for the before book) and I won tickets to see KT Tunstall – again. Beth had a birthday at the end of the month and she and I had AWESOME seats to Avenue Q! We chugged champagne before walking in the theater to see naked puppets. Our knitting group also had the first of the BBQ’s at Beth’s place on Memorial Day.
June had some mixed feelings, but from the bad came some good. Elizabeth had a birthday bowling party which was pretty darn fun and a few days later I got my first and only spinning lesson (spinning as in spinning yarn). I was in a “mood” when I was with the girls, and 2 days later my mood worsened when my great aunt passed. The good of her passing was that she did not suffer and I’m sure she’s happy to be reunited with her husband. I also got to go see my family back east and though it was rough circumstances, it was still very good to see them. Playing cards with my aunt, uncle and cousin still sticks out in my mind as one of the more fond memories of the week. Neocon was also this month and despite ending a friendship after having the liquid courage of free martini’s, the martini’s were still a plus for the month!
In July we had our second BBQ at Beth’s for the 4th and then Chicago Summer Dance started. Adrienne and I spent quite a few weekends down in Grant Park learning how to do various dances. One of the better nights of dancing also involved us catching the fireworks from Venetian Night and ending up at the Intercontinental Hotel where we had the best Creme Brulee ever. Jody and I took a Monday off from our respective jobs and went to Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags. I still give her a little grief for not braving any of the slides with me, but we still had a great day on the Lazy River and the wave pool.
August started with Lollapalooza. I still say I’m unsure if I’ll go again next year, but I’m sure come April ‘09 I’ll be buying a ticket for it anyhow. Just before Lolla, I met Matt, which brought along some interesting dates/hanging out times throughout the month. Even though he’s lived in/around the city all his life, we’ve still managed to go to places that are new to both of us. We attempted to watch Blues Brothers during the movies in Grant Park, but we got rained out! Boo! I also fufilled a 4-year wish to be in a sailboat on Lake Michigan during August! Next year I want to see if I can get in with a crew and learn how to SAIL the boat – riding is one thing, but the whole process of throwing the sale up and steering just looks like so much fun!
And this month.. Well, I went back to Florida and instead of running around to see EVERYONE I hadn’t seen in 4 years I instead planned on seeing only Ginny and Josh. I was lucky to see Kristin too, and to go to Cassadaga to get a reading. I went to the beach again and helped Josh shop for some stuff for his new place. I treasure tete-a-tete time with Josh – it should happen more often. I gave blood for the first time in my life last week (and my arm is still sore from it). Over this past weekend Matt and I shared a 100$ wine flight that included wines from 1960-something and 1908! This week we’re going to go see Batman on the Imax screen and Wednesday we’re having our first (and perhaps only) flying trapeze lesson. I’ll be going back on the Points system for real (thanks to Jody joining it too – personal support rocks!) and I think on Friday I’m going to go to a Dar Williams concert on my own.
And then it’ll be the weekend and Monday it will be fall. And I’ll be ok with it because, well, that was one hell of a summer… but next year’s will be even better, right?
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July 23, 2008 at 8:12 am
· Filed under Maui Marathon, dating, daydreaming, debt, dreams, exercise, job stuff, knitting, life, love, motivation, travel, weight
It’s been a long time since I’ve actually sat down and figured out what it is I want to do with my life because for the most part, I like to think I’m living it. A few minor (maybe major) changes to be made, which is why I think it’s time to come up with a couple of lists.
Short-term goals (before year’s end)
1. To be at a weight that doesn’t start with the number 2.
2. To come up with a plan for managing my debt (be it actually filing for bankruptcy or paying one card off at a time) AND STICKING TO IT.
3. This sounds trivial to some, but I want to finish knitting a pair of socks for once!
Long-term goals (before I turn 35)
1. Pass the NCIDQ so I can “officially” be a “Designer”.
2. Run and/or walk the Maui Marathon.
3. Visit Ireland (specifically for the Aran Islands).
4. Visit Spain (specifically to see this Calatrava building).
The major one I’d like to throw into the mix, which is out of my control, is to fall in love and eventually marry. It makes me a little sad when I actually think I may end up being a woman who never bears a child, but then I remind myself that things happen for a reason and let’s face it – I haven’t run into anyone who would have been good father material in the past.
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July 21, 2008 at 10:21 am
· Filed under dating, daydreaming, knitting, life, love, nostalgia, sex, vague, worry
I have this knitting project I’ve been working on for well over a year now… I’ve done 2 somewhat completed versions of it and hated both of them. Last week I got this book with patterns that only require one skein of yarn and one jumped out at me- it was a simple pattern with one cable to give it some interest. I immediately ordered the yarn online, got it on Wednesday, cast on that evening and I’m 50% of the way through with said project and I LOVE it.
This is metaphor for sometimes it takes multiple tries to get something right, but when the planets are all aligned and whatnot – things can be absoloutely amazing. I cannot wait to finish this project and it’s all because I found the right parts and pieces to make it fabulous.
If only I could manage to do this with my love life. My really awesome date a few weeks back could have turned into something amazing if I hadn’t let my body take over. Another nice date last weekend seems to also be fizzling due to schedules just not matching up at the right times.
It doesn’t help that the guy who I compare most potential men in my life to is going through a rough time right now and my heart is feeling his pain in ways I cannot describe.
I’m not entirely sure where I’m going with this… my brain is muddled and while I understand and feel that the break-up they are going through is smart, I feel my friend’s pain. I guess I’m hoping for his planets to get aligned…
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February 28, 2008 at 10:37 am
· Filed under knitting, turning 30
So far thirty is really nice.
I feel, as Carrie Bradshaw would say, Single and Fabulous (Exclamation Point)
———-
My admin made cupcakes that have chocolate chip cookies INSIDE of them. OMG yum! I’ve also, thus far, received 7 skeins of Noro Silk Garden. This is going to make one hell of a blanket Oh, and my cube is covered in streamers, the number 30, and a headstone that says “RIP” on it. Oh those wacky coworkers of mine 
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January 31, 2008 at 1:12 pm
· Filed under being a democrat, dating, job stuff, knitting, music, tv
I feel like posting in bullet form today, so here goes:
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I checked to make sure I was still registered to vote, and I’m listed as “inactive”. I called to ask what this meant and they said I can vote, I just have to go over to my old ‘hood and then fill out a form with my new address. I’m excited for next Tuesday’s primary!
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Rideshare dude called me today at 5am and asked if I wanted a ride to work with him since he was heading in early because he has to leave today at 3. I figured 45 minutes in a car was better than 2 hours split on a bus, train, bus, so I took him up on it.
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When I left my apartment I noticed my neighbor had left their keys in their door. Even though it was 5:30 in the morning I knocked (lightly) and he opened the door groggy-eyed and thanked me profusely when I pointed the keys out to him.
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While waiting for Rideshare dude at the local Walgreens, there was a guy in the parking lot in an SUV blasting Britney Spears – according to the manager inside he had been out there for over an hour and hadn’t moved. They had just called 911 when I left.
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I have a date on Monday. I’m not elaborating much because I’m being indifferent about it – dating is exhausting though, so I am hoping it goes well. I will say that someone told me that I should think of a different nickname for date guy other than “BM” (Black Man) because it could be mistaken for “Bowel Movement”.
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Y’all really don’t have to buy me yarn… but Silk Garden really is on my wishlist.
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And finally – SEASON PREMIERE OF LOST TONIGHT!! The best 9 weeks ever starts tonight!!!
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January 6, 2008 at 8:32 pm
· Filed under aches & pains, fluff, knitting, motivation
I’ve spent a large portion of my weekend rekindling my crush on Josh Holloway by re-watching season 3 of Lost. I almost feel like I need to go back and watch seasons 1 and 2 again as well, because I know there are bits I am missing. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about something that happens in a later episode of season 3 and reread it in another forum and now I feel like it was spoiled for me – even though I saw it months ago!! I won’t say what it was because Andi warned me she hasn’t seen the last couple episodes of season 3 yet, and perhaps there are others of you who haven’t either. Catch up though! Season 4 is just around the corner!
Also, while watching Lost, I’ve been working on my first sweater project, Tubey. I just, as in about 10 minutes ago, got to the point where I’m working in the round for the arm portion. I think the rest of it will go faster because it is all going to be round knitting and I’m just a slow poke when it comes to having to purl. I might bring it to work with me tomorrow as my admin crochets during her lunch hour and she likes to talk knitting with me. Besides, I’m broke as a joke til payday, so it will take my mind off the fact that I’m not really eating during my lunch hours this week. Well, I take that back… I did find a couple cans of soup I had forgotten I bought so at least I have a couple meals to bring with…
My health insurance can’t kick in fast enough. I think my biggest goal of 2008 is to rid myself of panic attacks completely. These past few days the whole concept of catching my breath seems to have escaped my brain, which in turn gets my heart racing, which in turn makes me feel like I can’t breathe. It’s fun stuff. Really.
You know what would make it worth while to be short of breath? To be stranded on an island with this man:
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