the quacking fiber addict

Sunday was completely uneventful. Monday was... I've already forgotten, so one can assume it was also equally uneventful. Tuesday was not uneventful, so it warrants a belated post.

Yesterday, Mum, Emm, Charlie and I drove out to Sauvie Island. It's a large island located in the Columbia River, 30 mins outside of Portland. It's famous for having been a Native American, and later Pioneer, site. Of course I realised, as we were driving along OR-30, that I had forgotten my camera at home. Mum and Emm sighed and made snarky comments when I told them I'd use my camera phone instead. Neider, neider to them - it actually worked.

Here's the southern coast of Sauvie Island, inside the Wildlife Area, taken atop one of the dykes running along the coast:


I have to say that Sauvie Island was incredibly beautiful, and I'm embarrassed that I didn't get any good photos to prove this. Being incredibly fertile (located on an island in the middle of a river along a volcanic line), there were farms and plants of every type. We passed fields of waving purple at a lavender farm. Rippling gold and green were acres and acres of wheat and corn. And Bailey's gardening plants were being propagated, too. I even saw wild pears growing on the southern coast.

But, because I was so busy admiring, I tended to forget to take a photo until it was too late. I'm such a tourist, sorry. I can at least claim I remembered to take travelling sock photos:


Once in the Wildlife Area, we managed to get down to the beach. Charlie went crazy, because he loves to play in water. I pulled out my Crocs and Emm rolled up his shorts:




After playing on the southern beach, driving, hiking around the Wildlife Area - they have an island on Sauvie Island, can you believe it?, and finding fresh produce for Emm to devour, we went to the northern coast. The northern coast was different from the southern in a bunch of ways: the water was colder, it was windier, and there was sand:


The socks really enjoyed their time lounging in the sun. We all felt better for it, because they've been complaining incessantly about the trekking sock seeing all the action. Emm even offered to carry them into the Columbia:


By 4:30, we had to leave because I've started a Stitch 'n' Bitch at Mabel's on Tuesday nights, from 6 - 9 pm. Luckily, I wasn't too late (oops?), and I got to sit and chat and knit with 3 other PDX knitters for 3 hours. We're planning to make it a weekly meeting, if you're in the PDX area and are interested.

By the time I got home, I was completely exhausted and barely managed to keep my eyes open long enough to watch Eureka. I (still) <3 Eureka.

Today was pointless. I went to an interview for a job, but there's no way I can take it. It's too far away for too few hours for too little pay. *sigh*

But, I have my knitting. And I heard from D at Knit/ Purl yesterday - they're buying my pattern! I'll get the contract details tomorrow or on Friday. W00T!

That alone makes today acceptable. I'm gonna go and find something cool to drink, it's 92F out...

Labels: baudelaire, Charlie, family, travel, travelling sock(s)

This post is a bit tardy. I uploaded the pictures last night, but then got distracted by cleaning and knitting that I forgot to finish it. Oops? (It's now 3pm, 7/26/07)

My promise to write better posts is going to be unfulfilled for another day. Sorry. Here's my Baudelaire progress as of yesterday:


And, here's the trekking sock enjoying the sun and breeze on the Willamette:


At around 4, Emm started whining (okay, it was closer to nagging) about the fact that I had promised to take a walk with him. I don't know why the boy won't go on walks by himself, he just won't. I decided to look up the Portland parks service website and decided that we would go to Waterfront Park.

By the end of a 2 mi walk, Emm was whining (he really was) because he was hungry. Sometimes I feel like I have a 5 year old. Anyway. I fed him and we made our way home on a packed bus (where I entertained flashbacks of Naples), and my knitting was covertly watched by a couple dozen people.

So... lemme see. The 'rents came home last night, as the paint fumes were causing Mum to have asthma attacks. They 'ooh'd and 'ahh'd over the new spinning wheel and my progress on the MS3.

And, well, that's about it. I'm going to try and call the Peace Corps again tomorrow (I keep forgetting about the time difference and always manage to call on their lunch break or after closing). Amy Singer will be at the Sip'n'Knit tonight, I've already promised to meet with Opus there.

I guess I'd better bring my camera to make up for the last couple of lame posts.

Labels: baudelaire, family, Portland, socks, travelling sock(s)

I will not post Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows spoilers. I could kick him for doing things like that.

We left for the Powell's Harry Potter release party at 8:30 pm - the party was supposed to start at 10. After dinner, we crossed the river and finally found parking. The city of Portland had actually closed Couch St between 10th and 11th! It was insane, in a good way. The Powell's employees estimated that 3,000 people would be there.

Because I didn't finish Mum's robes in time, I finally convinced her to wear mine (I was not wearing velvet in that humidity). Emm and I dressed up as, ah, 'Muggles'. Here we are with Hagrid:







Powell's definitely went all-out for this final release. They hired street performers, set up speakers to play the HP movie soundtracks, and had props set up everywhere. At 12:01 they opened the doors. Since people had started lining up at 9 am, we were closer to the back of the line. But things moved relatively fast.

Relatively. The line, in the end, snaked on itself 5 times on Couch St, wrapped around Powell's City of Books (which is a building the size of a full city block), swept past the front of the line and ended around the corner of 11th and something.

By 2 am, we were at the front of the line and I had finished knitting the first Trekking sock:


I didn't weave in the ends, that would have been insane. About as insane as the people taking pictures of me because I was knitting. In a street (and store) full of people in Wizarding and 'Muggle' costumes, I was the one who was stared at and photographed.

Muggles.

We arrived home with the books at 2:30 pm. I changed and started reading. At 7 am this morning I noticed that I could turn off my ceiling light (because the sun had risen), but refused to get up/ put down the book until I had finished entirely.

I read the last page at 8 am. It's as addictive as the other 6. And good. Really, really good.

Read it.

And now I'm going to go back to bed for a little while. And spin. I want to spin when I wake up...

Labels: family, Portland, travelling sock(s)

while I wait for my brain to register...

Columbia Gorge daytrip

The family went to the Columbia River Gorge today. It's not that long a trip from Portland (1.5 hours each way), and it was absolutely lovely. We did have to get up inordinately early (for us) to get there before noon and to sightsee.

While we were there, we had the best meal I've had in Oregon (Hood River Hotel), found me some wading shoes to teach the dog to swim (partially successful), and all went down to the river:


We got back to Portland just barely in time for me to grab my stuff and meet Opus at Twisted:


Oooh, look, traveling sock friends. And, just to make you jealous, I must inform you that the sock that Opus is knitting is for me and it's being knit up with ShiBui Sock yarn.

I just lost each and every single subscriber I have with that little tidbit, didn't I?

Opus and I spent an inordinate amount of time at the store, mostly fondling their sock yarn. I actually managed to escape without buying any more (buying the 'Smooshy' yesterday immunized me, I think). Opus was not so lucky, she got a skein of yarntini. Yum.

Across the street from Twisted is the coolest Ethiopian restaurant. We decided to hit them for dinner, as Opus had never tried Ethiopian food before:


Our waitress (with a heavy accent) was very impressed with our socks and had all sorts of questions. A little girl, running into the restaurant, also identified our WIPs as socks with some glee. Sort of a Red Letter Day, really - two people not guessing that we were making sweaters.

And from there I came home and collapsed. I think I shall go back to being horizontal now.

Labels: family, socks, travel, travelling sock(s)

Today was one of those disconcerting, existential, surreal days. All day I felt wrong, like I was in the wrong body, living the wrong life. I couldn't knit anything. I didn't want to eat. And everything I touched turned to lead or broke.

Oy.

To make matters worse, the family was snippy again and I finally couldn't take it any longer. I snapped and started screaming. It wasn't pretty. But I've since apologized and sat in my corner trying to psychoanalyze myself.

First thing I noticed? Analyzing oneself isn't the easiest task in the world. Finally, I just admitted to myself that this is all probably part of the frustration of the move, being unemployed and still living with my parents.

Let's add a 'gavault' to that 'oy' above.

But, to make matters somewhat easier on us all, I come bearing more pictures of the Portland parks, and the PNW, from Lake Oswego:




The last one is something pretty cool and amazing (even for the 10-year-Girl-Scout) - a holly tree growing out of the stump of a long-dead cedar tree. Now, I've seen young trees growing out of the stumps of old ones, but they've always been the same type of tree. It was really cool to see a holly paired with a cedar.

And, on top of the pretty greeness, I also come bearing yarn p0rn:


You are looking at the LAST TWO skeins of Shi Bui Sock "Orchid". At the Sip'n'Knit tonight, I saw (omg, what's her name?) walking by with an armload of too-beautiful-to-be-real yarn and immediately asked if those skeins were what I thought they were.

They are. They're also the last two in the store. The other ones in the shipment have been on order for several knitters for the past 3 weeks. Realising this might be my last chance for another month (or more) to get the yarn I've coveted for weeks, I immediately pulled out my checkbook.

And, you want to know something sad?, they didn't even ask for my name or address this time. They have it all memorized. This is a bad, bad sign. And Opus didn't even stop me! Bad girl. She promised last week that she'd stop me the next time I tried to buy yarn.

*sigh*

After buying the yarn, waiting for it to be wound, and knitting a bit, we decided to leave at around 7:30-ish. I hadn't eaten and Opus hadn't eaten what we would call real food. And it was hot in there.

Just as we finished dinner and were leaving the restaurant, the sky opened and lightning laced across the sky in an eerily East-Coast-sort-of-way. The natives were all excited and immediately started counting between the flash and crash. I, instead, though about getting somewhere insulated.

Summer storms in D.C. meant either: A) flash floods, or: B) tornadoes.

But, I managed to get home (damp and frazzled) safe enough to lose my cool. Joy. I'm probably going to be hearing about this for weeks. Oh, well. It happens.

Tomorrow we get to clean the house because the landlord is coming by. Oooh, what fun. I'll even give you the Peace Corps update tomorrow, to keep the next post from being completely boring.

Labels: family, Portland, Sip'n'Knit, yarn p0rn

I don't know what's in the water or subliminal messages right now, but everyone in the family is so snippy. A person can't say the sky is blue without someone taking offense, "Did I say it wasn't?"

Oy. I ran away to the PDX Knit-Bloggers meet-up at Knit/ Purl today, just to escape the egg-shell covered floor. The ladies were very nice, very cheerful, and quite rowdy - I could hear them in the basement when I walked into the store.

Which reminds me. I found their group on ravelry, which I finally got invited onto last night! I'm so addicted. I've been searching patterns, adding pictures, and puttering about every spare moment I can. There are tons of lace knitters on already, so it's nice to see what they're working on and what they've got queued as well.

And, because they've started a new 'groups' section (and have asked for people to start groups of their own), I made up one: Sock Knitters Anonymous. Like any other group, we've got our 12 steps:

1. We admitted we were powerless over our desire to hand-knit socks and stash sock yarn.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of our LYSes as we understood Them.
4. Made a searching and fearless accurate inventory of Stashes.
5. Admitted to ravelry, to ourselves, and to other human beings the exact nature of our sock addiction.
6. Were entirely ready to frog any defects of knitting.
7. Humbly asked for knots to be removed from our skeins, hanks, and balls of yarn.
8. Made a list of all patterns we had started, stashed for, or designed on cocktail napkins, and became willing to start/ finish them all.
9. Finish sock WIPs wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them, the yarn, needles, ourselves, or others.
10. Continued to keep a stash inventory and when we buy more sock yarn, promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through trial and error to improve our conscious contact with sock knitting we understood It, praying only for knowledge of Turning Heels and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other sock knitters, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

C'mon and join if you're on ravelry. Also, friend me if you're on, please! I've lost track of all the members I know online and my puter is soooo slow that searching is nigh impossible :(

Labels: family, ravelry, SKA

What have I been up to these past couple of days? Oh, well, let's see...

Mum and I tried to start reupholstering her set of 8 Edwardian oak dining chairs yesterday (we spent the day before in Hell Depot and Jo-Ann's getting supplies). After a practice run on a very strange footstool (has anyone ever heard of cedar wood shavings being used as cushion filling??), Mum and I pulled out the first chair seat. "If we can get two of these done today, I'll be happy," she told me.


Only to find that the chairs were really well made - oak seat frames, dozens upon dozens of iron tacks, silk velvet upholstery, silk batting under the seats, linen broadcloth under the silk batting and then 4" of wool rag encased horse-hair filling the cushions. All afternoon yesterday, we'd pull up another layer only to find that the frame was that much further away.

"Mum, we're going to be lucky if we get one chair a day done!" She waved me off, determined to finish two chairs by 6. After a couple more hours of pulling out iron tacks, ripping off jute webbing and oil-cloth, Mum sat down, huffing.

"We're might not get this chair done today," she finally admitted.

And we didn't. After another hour or so, she and Dad finally agreed that we might just want to consider the possibility of making plywood copies of the frames (er, frame, as we've only managed to strip one) and reupholster them.

After that, we had to clean up quickly to meet with some old friends who were in town, visiting their son. Our families had been in the same congregation in MD, so they called us when they were flying this way. We took them to a truly authentic Chinese restaurant and then home for dessert. I snapped a shot right before they left:


Sooo, that should explain why I haven't made that much progress on the Mystery Stole (scarf in my case) 3 or le Tour de Fleece...


And why I ache all over and still can't get the dirt completely out from under my finger nails (arrrrg). What's that? Here's a close-up of the stole IP:


I finally went back to the evil that is known as Jo-Ann's this afternoon to get a magnetic board and line magnifier. Last night I managed to cut and paste all of the charts into one file and printed it out - just so I wouldn't have to flip back and forth between the charts for the L and R sides. Of course, the charts are now tiny and require a magnifying rod - which is fine, because it clips to the stand.

Project specs? I'm completely crazy, but still smitten with the bamboo. I'm using Addi 2.5 mm's (US 1.5) instead of the recommended 3.5 mm (US 4). My stole's going to be smaller than intended, but I preferred the look of the lace knit with the smaller needles. Oh, and I am mad in love with Addi Turbo lace needles right now.

I'm also sorry (and embarrassed) to have to admit that I'm further behind than ever in my bloglines subscripts. My laptop and wireless card just aren't up to the new LAN set-up we got, so I'm stuck using the family PC. 30 mins a day to check my email, Peace Corps status, and other web stuff is clearly not enough. Hopefully, I'll get the cash together soon (after I get a job) to update my little Dell.

Until then? *sigh*

Well, on the bright side, maybe I'll have more time to knit with less internet access.

Labels: family, insanity, lace, le Tour de Fleece 2007, MS3

No post yesterday due to the oh-so-fun ER visit Mum made early Sat morning. I stayed up with her and Dad, until it proved futile and that she really needed medical treatment (around 3 am). She was diagnosed with a severe migraine (vomiting, auras, etc) and got to have tons of fun tests. I didn't go along, but I got to hear all about the MRI, CAT scan, and Spinal Tap today. Eeek.

Sooo, needless to say, we were all quite useless yesterday and are still a bit off-colour. Even so, I've been working fiendishly on my current WIPs and several teensy-tiny items for various babies I'm distantly acquainted with. One set of goodies is finished, another started. It's so odd to be working on booties that can sit together in the palm of my hand. How were we ever all that small?

I mentioned a contest on Friday, didn't I? Maura gave me a fun idea - the VACANT 1506 Contest. I'm still working out the details, but I should have it all together in a day or two. I also, ha, have TheBon and Crimson's prizes from the Wacky Ducky Contest sorted out (you two couldn't thwart me forever with your vague answers, no siree). The prizes'll probably go out at the same time as the baby gifts. Now all I need are their (the babies) Mum's addresses.

Stephieface, I gave you warning, now I need your address to send along some things for Beans. I know you read my blog ;D As for Bulldogknits, I'm bad and lost her address and'll have to email her in a non-creepy way to ask for it again...

This'll be interesting. And, just to prove I've been knitting, I'll end with a progress photo of the progress of Titania's Revenge and the back of my cotlin cami:

Labels: family, WIP

For all that my family is a very volatile creature (we fought like wildcats two nights ago), we ARE a family. This is something the occasional outsider doesn't understand. I'm not sure whether I envy or pity these people, but that's another matter. So, to some, it may come as a surprise what happened today (especially when one takes into account the huge fight we all got into recently).

This afternoon, as I was boxing yet more stuff up, Mum & Dad ambled into the room to check on my progress, and plan for the rest of the afternoon. When they asked what I'd rather do today (more boxes or gardening), I joking admitted that I really wanted to go to the Harlot's signing at Powell's. There was a pause.

"That's today? I thought it was tomorrow."

"No," sigh, "it's tonight."

"Well..." And then, somehow, Mum & Dad came up with a plot. We'd pack up the car to the brim with boxes, move them into the Portland house and then take me over to the signing - thus, the afternoon wouldn't be wasted, and I'd get my book signed (I have all the Harlot's books autographed now, yay).

So, at around 4 pm, the Jaywalkers were getting carsick outside Albany:


They asked me to pleaseplease put them back in their bag, please. I did. We arrived in Portland a bit late, cuz there was a HUGE backup (read: standstill) outside of Canby. Dad and I, seeing the terrible sight of several miles of Interstate clogged, veered off of said Interstate on the nearest exit.

Upon grabbing the giant Portland Metropolitan area map, a haphazard route was planned along several country roads, two highways, and through the middle of Canby itself. Dad was impressed with how pretty the countryside was (wine country), and the ride was much smoother than I-5, so it was definitely worth the extra half hour or so.

Eventually we arrived at the house and proceeded to move boxes with a speed rarely seen in humans. We had T-minus 45 minutes to get supper and get to Powell's before the Harlot appeared (7:30 pm). We grabbed the bestest Pho ever (yumyum), dashed out of the restaurant (we paid, don't worry), and drove like maniacs to the Burnside Bridge. Dad dropped me off outside of Powell's (running late, ack!) and I rushed in, acting very Italian, and cut to the front of the Information desk.

"Harlot signing," I panted. The woman looked at me with pity.

"It's in the Pearl Room, on the 3rd Floor. But," she paused and considered me, my size, and my ability to act like a sardine, "the room's already overfull and the manager's talking about closing off the room. I'd hurry if I were you," she called to me, and the 3 other knitters who had slipped in behind me, as a mass of us rushed off towards the stairs. After getting lost in the Purple Room (I don't recommend this) and, err, a slight stampede (we warned the man, I swear), the four of us made it to the Pearl Room.

And, indeed, the event was standing room only. For most of the Harlot's talk I couldn't even see her, but instead listened and watched the knitters around me. Handspun, handknit garments were everywhere, and I enjoyed inspecting them. Finally, towards the end of the Harlot's talk, the crowd had thinned a bit, and I shimmied past a couple of snickering Knitters to snap this very blurry shot:


Seriously. I'm amazed we all fit onto the 3rd floor, in the end (many a knitter was seen perched on the stairs to the 4th floor, or in the stacks). Then, when the talk was over and the signing was to begin, I took the Powell's representative very very seriously and lined up, quickly, where he told us to. Good thing I did, too, since the line got lengthy fast; and, wow, I doubt even Dad would have sat that long for me to get my book signed. But, luckily, I only stood in line for maybe 15 minutes. Which were spent amicably chatting with a very interesting woman and her daughter, both knitters, and who promised me an In with Blue Moon. Oh... my.

Great chat. I also was greeted by one of the girls from Knit/Purl, who asked if she could come up with me (she identified the Jaywalkers instantly). In exchange for a photograph, I agreed. I think the Harlot passed on some of her mojo to the Jaywalkers for me and I got to hold The Sock:


After the photo was taken, an offer for drinks was given, and pleasantries exchanged, I handed the Harlot my book, containing my sticky-note the Powell's person wrote out for me.

"You're Fyberduck?!" I looked around, confused. Were there Wanted posters up? Was she remembering that (slight) fiasco involving the Knitting Olympics group blog I organized?

"Ye-es."

"Well, if this isn't like being approached by Bruce Wayne and being asked to write an autograph for Batman!" I laughed nervously, said thank you, was photographed again with The Sock, then made polite talk I really don't remember now and made my escape (sans Dark Knight cape, alas).

I found Dad standing by the "Knitting Is Knotty" display (insert snicker here) and replied to his 'how did it go?' with, "Wow, I guess I'm infamous."

After turning down an offer from a couple of the girls from Knit/Purl (they were having a get-together nearby), evading some sailors on shore-leave, hunting down ice cream, and singing off-key for two hours, we finally arrived home.

What a strange day.

Labels: family, socks, the Harlot, The Move

Title says it all. Family crazy. Move hectic. Want to burn house down (after strategic evacuation of stash). Sold spinning wheel (weep not for me, or Lennie) to St M this morning. Mouth still hurts, and skin still itches from hives. Haven't knit on this all day:


Have to send payment tomorrow for Journey Wheel. Much packing to do. Eeek. Going to bed now.

Labels: family, The Move, update

I recently saw a t-shirt that read, "Spoiled Rotten." I nearly bought it, because I am. I admit it. I love, and deeply appreciate, the fact that I've rarely wanted for anything. And, in my defense, I am not remotely like Paris Hilton. I want to go into the Peace Corps to give back to the global community.

That said, I have a feeling that knitters might just start planning ways to raid my house tonight. I went to Portland with Mum & Dad today, to help them close the lease on the house we're renting for the next year. They asked me to come along, look over the paperwork (did I mention I aced AP Law?), take pictures of the rental, and just help out in general. So, on 5 hours of sleep (waaay too much caffeine yesterday evening), I got up this morning and requested that we make a stop at two shops in Portland - L'Occitane, because I'm out of facial scrub, and Knit/Purl, to ask about local stitch'n'bitch groups.

Honest to goodness, I did NOT plan on shopping. I was good, my intentions were honorable. We made great time and arrived at the rental an hour early (even after we stopped for Pho). After an hour of paperwork, endless signatures and initials, we got the keys and went to look the place over again:


It's VERY cute, and a little under 1/2 the size of our present house (heaven help us). I took tons of pictures of every room, nook, and cranny (just in case). After exploring the neighborhood, we then went onto the fun portion of the afternoon. Dad got to visit his new favourite haberdashery (can you believe I actually get to write that word in a blog post?), while Mum and I played in their Ladies' section (wow, I have never wanted fancy hats so much in my life).

I then asked, because we were 6 blocks away, to hit Knit/Purl. This was agreed to. First, and I came up with this one, we stopped by Josephine's. If you are even remotely fond of fabric, you MUST stop at this store. There are no words to describe the exquisiteness of their wares.

Yet, somehow, Mum and I managed not to buy anything there (a near thing, too, since they had a line of Italian summer cottons out) and walked out with nary a sigh.

Next door is Knit/Purl (and next to them is a needlepoint shop...). Knit/Purl is what I want to grow up and own. It's definitely a Big Kids knitting store. Mum & Dad and I looked around, making conversation about local knitting groups. I was strongly encouraged to come by on Thursday nights, when they have their knitting night. Tempting.

The sock wall was my doom in the end. But, technically (this truly is a hairfine line I'm barely not crossing), I didn't break the Yarn Diet. Seriously. Mum & Dad bought the yarn as a gift. Sooo... it doesn't count, right?

I have a feeling I'm not going to win that argument. Moving on. As I was looking at their patterns (I really love the Shibui line), Dad called me away from the shelves. Sounding frighteningly reminiscent of Mephistopheles, he asked me slyly, "Have you seen this?"

Oh. Dear.

Somehow, 5 minutes later, with a "I hope we start seeing you on Thursday nights!" ringing in my ears, Mum & Dad and I were standing on the street... and I was clutching my new Tote and the forbidden yarn, slightly puzzled over my new acquisitions.

This just skyrockets my Spoiled status through the roof, doesn't it?

But, to keep my karma in the positives, I'm working on a bunch of cute things not for me. On the way home I gleefully finished a bootie for someone's baby (who's already born, darnit, the whole baby-waiting-for-the-knitting-to-be-done is a lie). Since the parent sometimes reads this blog, I'm not going to show the bootie finished. But, here's the front:




I made the pattern up while we waited for Pirates of the Caribbean to start last night. It's a sole-up pattern that I'm not even sure how my demented mind invented. But, everyone admits it's cute. The pattern needs some polishing, but I like it enough to keep trying. Yay for more babies!

I cast on the second bootie, but got dreadfully carsick after awhile, and ended up sitting (slightly bored) for a couple of hours not getting anything done. Blast. This is why I like trains. I never get sick when I knit on them. Or planes. Or boats.

Blarg.

I think I'm going to try to knit the second bootie tonight. I'm off to do that and find a Lo Jack for my new knitting tote.

Labels: family, SSE, The Move

I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed today, and finally got my bathroom cleaner (I didn't manage the mold as well as I'd like to admit during Uni), for it's next occupants/ users. I also transferred my various cosmetics to the bathroom I'm now sharing with Emm. We're both a bit weirded out by having to share a bathroom again, I think.

While I was acting like Cinderella, Mum and Dad went to pick out a new washing machine (they were painfully polite and tense when they left, I'm so glad I missed all of that). They came back and we decided to have (a very late) lunch before moving the old one out (it died last yesterday). As Mum was making us grilled cheese, Dad decided to use his time more efficiently (I guess) and unplug the old machine.

Without checking to see if there was water still in it.

At this point, St M called to check on me (she read yesterday's post). I had to hang up on her when Dad started screaming because, well, water was spurting everywhere. Fun (well, it was amusing to watch Dad try and stop the water with his hand, a la The Little Dutch Boy). After lunch I got some more Moving done, looked at the clock and ran to change. As I gathered my stuff for Homework Club, I paused to check my reflection.

And stopped. Squinted. What the hell?

My shirt had acquired it's own tent. I pulled my shirt off to see that my underwire had poked out of the bra and was sticking out and up by about 4". Wow. That's classy. 3rd bra to malfunction in the past 2 weeks.

That means that the Dreaded Bra Shopping will have to commence soon (heaven help me), and I shall have to actually step foot inside a lingerie department/ or store. Pray for me.

Anyway. Homework Club went well, but we ran over by 1/2 an hour (not a bad thing). Then EWEs, which was fun. Our hostess makes a wicked dessert. It was also good to sit and chat with people who are not my relatives (you have no idea of my joy). 'Twas good. R (a former PC volunteer) insisted I come to the Nomination Party (the going away party for PC nominees) - which cheered me muchly.

Both at the gathering and at home I worked on the Charity Blanket, and I'm finally done knitting. Everyone's commented on the size of my piece, but I think it's fine. Now all I have to do is weave in all the ends and find some goodies for Penny.

Thank you everyone for your comfort. I'm feeling a bit better now, and have come to accept that I have no control over the situation (damn, that sucks). And that people clearly do change as time goes on, even without the influence of addictive substances.

Labels: family, knitting, The Move

and we are still driving each other crazy.

Mum mentioned today that it had been a year since she had gone into Serenity Lane. I just checked my archives, and found out it'll be a year in 12 days. Either way, I doubt the situation is going to change much. We're all too over-extended and emotional right now.

Dad's talking about a legal separation. Mum mentioned getting her own apartment.

There. I admitted it. I am not twelve, and can accept that my parents are heading towards a divorce. I still retain hope that it won't happen, but that hope is slowly dying. It's as if they've both forgotten how to compromise. I never thought I would see my parents snipping at each other like this.

It's so frustrating. And depressing. I've been having real problems with my depression in the past couple of days (add that to the amount of Move work I've been doing and I haven't felt up to posting). I made myself work today, and got most of my stuff moved into the smaller bedroom. It all fits, barely, with a little room to spare. We (Dad and I) had to get inventive. I also had to box up half of my stash (weep not for me, we all knew this was coming).

But, despite the smaller room, I like having a regular bed again. The loft was nice for space conservation, but I couldn't sit and read a book on it it or knit or anything but sleep on/ in it. To ensure reader goodwill, here's a pic of the progress:



Most of my furniture is too big for this room, so we had to rummage around for smaller pieces. It'll do until whatever happens next. I have my dental appt. on Thursday to deal with my cavity, and then I get to battle a dental surgeon about my wisdom teeth.

I still haven't called the Peace Corps yet (would you have remembered with this lot around? no, I didn't think so), but I got an invitation to a Peace Corps going away party for nominees to meet each other before we're all shipped off. Honest to goodness, that's what it says. Mum and Dad stopped bickering long enough to agree that this was a very positive sign.

So... yeah. That's what I've been up to. Well, mostly. I've also been working on the Charity Swap Blanket (I have! I even bought yarn for it on Saturday), and I've read two books in as many days. Terry Pratchett is my one, true love.

I'm onto A Hat Full Of Sky (I never got to read it when it was first released, that was during Uni) and I have Wintersmith sitting here for next - both courtesy of the EPL (my back-up one, true love).

And that IS everything. I'm gonna try and finish that book tonight...

Labels: depression, family, The Move

I've been in one of my "low" periods the past couple of days. Ever since talking to the Peace Corps dentist, if I try and pinpoint it. I'm feeling better now, and finally forced myself to tackle my inbox. I'm sorry if I'm a bit late replying to a message you sent, but I promise to respond soon.

Things to cheer me up? Maura sent me a really sweet and considerate "thank you" package. Including her papier-mâché ducky, to guard my stash. I'll post pix once I find the bloody AA batteries that the males have hidden from me (they have, I swear it's so, no matter how much they deny it).




And, no, I am not biased. The picture clearly speaks for itself. Duh.

Bad news? Well, no, not bad. Just exhausting, really. I feel like sharing this because of CrazyAuntPurl's post. I was dragged from my room last night by my little brother (who now towers over me, has a beard and grer hair) whilst he had the mental breakdown of the century. He had not only stopped up the toilet but it was overflowing (oh, yes, having an autistic sibling is a joy to behold) and a small lake was forming in the bathroom - and slowly spreading towards our oak floors.

Joy.

He (being OCD about cleanliness) was freaking out worse than I do when faced with spiders. So, I sent him off to find some mythical rags (which were in the wash, not under the sink, snerk) whilst I got to cleaning up the mess. I bleached every single surface I could and got the bathroom clean and dry and smelling normal again and everything.

I made him shower, I showered, and all was declared good and fine. He retreated to his room.

But, hahaha (snerk), he still won't use that bathroom now. Won't even step in there.

Fabulous. He'd taken to using Mum's and Dad's, but they're back from Olympia now. I told Dad about this and he just sighed.

Yep. That's my response, too.

Labels: baby T, depression, family

“When we discover that the truth is already in us, we are all at once our original selves.”
Dogen

It's embarrassing and uncomfortable for me to admit, but I'm officially obesely overweight. I have 60 lbs to lose to get down to my ideal weight (screw the doctors, I looked wraithlike at their ideal weight). I finally admitted it to myself as I looked in Emmos' rearview mirror and saw how round my face has gotten. (It also hurts my pride that none of my clothes fit right now.)

Well. *$^% this.

I've decided, tonight, to do something about it. I've talked Dad around to letting me get the kitchen in order, so I can cook my own meals (I am so *$^%-ing sick of Wendy's). I'm also joining Weight Watchers Online (mostly because it's cheaper -> half the price of the meetings program).

So. Well. That's that, I guess. I'm also posting my Weight Loss Challenge on my sidebar (to mark my progress) just to keep myself honest (the same way I did with the 100 mi challenge). Hopefully I'll be much healthier by the time we move/ when(if) I go off to the Peace Corps.

In other news, Mum and I got into a series of rows today. I also got a lot of packing done:


I hate packing glass and china - just such a pain. Arg. I'm always so certain it's not enough, but if I did wrap each piece "enough" I'd probably only get 2 to a box. I also got to pack up (for temporary storage) all the stuff going into The Sale. And I, on a whim, felt the need to take a shot of the strange alchemical-worthy vases Mum has...


And these aren't even half of them - these are just some being sold! I swear, my Mum's collection of glassware belongs in Rembrandt's The Alchemist (which The JSMA has a copy of, incidentally, I always loved to look at it). I feel like I should label them: Elixir of Youth, Essence of Beauty, Shrinking Solution, Polyjuice...

Knitting News? None. I haven't gotten any knitting done today - too busy arguing, packing, moving shite, arguing, tutoring at Homework Club, and arguing. Wow, lots of arguments there, huh? We're all so cranky right now.

I've got to figure out a way to get to sleep before 3 am tonight... we're getting up "bright and early" tomorrow to get a ton of work done, buy me some bloody vegetables, find shoes and an iPod skin for Emm's new pretty. So much to do.

And, of course, we'll have to also find time in there to argue, too.

Labels: depression, family, The Move, Weight Loss Challenge

... though, at this rate, I may just have to strangle them all in their sleep.

Mum came this morning to visit. After a nap, she immediately started criticizing every. single. bloody. thing. in the house. How we were storing unused items. How dirty the floor was. Why were the china and pots and pans all stored together? Why were there dirty dishes stacked on the counters?

How about because we've been working our asses off doing things like weeding, hauling crap off to the dump/ yard refuse place, and moving shite out to the storage shed.

Dad and Emmett finally concocted an excuse to escape (I decided to do laundry). Then, whilst weeding she managed to throw dirt and weeds on my head at least 3 x I can recall. Carelessness or passive aggressive?

I kept snapping at her, because a headfull of dirt isn't my idea of fun. She kept telling me not to take it personally. Right. Arguments ensued.

Over dinner (which should have been nice), she and Dad started arguing. I ordered a cease-fire, both parties ignored me, and kept snapping and snarling.

Joy.

I decided to ignore them both and cast on another test pair of spox (this time for the "alternate" pattern), until Mum finished her meal and we left. I then shoved the yarn and needles into my bag (bad, bad idea) only to seriously regret it later. It took me over 1/2 an hour to create order from the chaos and start knitting.

Oy.

At least I finally got my bath, right? (If we ignore the fact that I had to scrub the tub out twice, because Mum had plopped the grouting bucket down in it, creating a nice, gritty mess)

As I said, I think I love my family.

[P.S. Emm got an iPod today (finally!!) and of course spent the day walking around with his headphones in, trying to talk to people whilst listening to music. He'd also announce at odd moments what he was listening to, and why it rocked.]

{I need a vacation from these people}

Labels: cast on, family, gardening/ weeding, insanity, The Move

“The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.”
Oscar Wilde

Just another one of those days.

A Costco run was made (we have food again!) and Dad made the spur-of-the-moment decision to buy Emm that mp3 player he's been wanting. Because our father is a cheap bastard*, he edged away from getting Emm an iPod Nano. Emm was opposed to the iPod on principle, he claimed that they were only popular because of their name. I tried to convince him otherwise, but to no avail.

As soon as we were in the parking lot, Emm tore into the box and started fiddling with it (it's worth mentioning here that he didn't read the directions). When we got home, we all went our separate ways - me to photograph the lovely yarn and goodies Amanda at Bulldog Knits sent me as my Mystery Sock KAL prize:


Emm went, of course, to plug his mp3 player into his 'puter. Dad went to... well, I have no idea. I sat down on the bare floor, surrounded by my knitting bits and bobs. As I was working on the chart for a lace stole pattern I'm working on, I heard a banesidhe-worthy wail. I paused, pen hovering above the grid-paper. Another wail and Emm came rushing out of his room.

"It won't work!! You have to fix it!!" He demanded, looking rather on edge. I sighed, put my pen down and got up.

"Alright, you go and get me a gluestick from Dad and I'll fix it."

Well, I tried, anyway. After an hour of wailing and hair-pulling and mild hysterics on Emm's part, I finally figured out (after I sent him to bother Dad, the racket was driving me insane) that the mp3 player could not work with Emm's puter - he didn't have a High Speed 2.0 USB port.

Right.

Whatever that is**. In the duration, I got Rhapsody working (despite Emm's claims that you had to pay to subscribe, which you don't) and iTunes installed (just in case).

So, after several long arguments with both the males - Emm declared that he never wanted to see another mp3 player ever again, whilst Dad argued with everything I said (likely on principle). Could I really be certain that an iPod would work with Emm's computer? Well, even if my iPod did, there're no assurances that a new one would, are there? And on and on and on...

Finally, the mp3 player was put away when Dad and Emm agreed that Emm could use Dad's new(er) 'puter (which does, indeed, have these new-fangled "High Speed" USB ports) tomorrow to transfer his mp3 files to the player.

All's well that ends well, I suppose - except I had just spent over an hour arguing about mp3 players with two people who've never even used one. By that time, I was a bit twitchy and realised that I needed to start dinner.

St M arrived as I threw the rice in to simmer. We were planning on going to the Monday Night Knitters (after dinner) - until we found out that the truck's battery was dead (moral: never leave the lights on all damn day). So, we went back to watching Ninja Warrior and then Jon Stewart and Colbert. I want some of that ice cream, y'all.

St M went home at around 10. I finished the left spock - buttons and all, and have rewritten the pattern to also suit people who have larger ankles and insteps. People like me. Crazy thought, eh?

And, a knitting meme! Stolen from Tamara's blog:

Mark with bold the things you have ever done, with italics, the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn (I've got some to spin up!)
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)(I sooooo want to do this!)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting (??)
Dyeing with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding (TheBon's wedding is coming up...)
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Spinning
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles (but don’t like them)
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine (I'm working on it)
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets (uh, no. never.)
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair (ew)
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

I'm surprised because I've done nearly everything on the list, or plan to. Crazy kudos to me, I guess. And this post has gone on waaay too long. Night night.

*and I say that in the most loving way possible, but he really does make things difficult because of his skinflint tendencies.

** One would guess that it's a hopped up USB port; but I've never used one, that I know of.

Labels: family, meme, yarn p0rn

If I could slur typed words, this post'd look like it was written by a drunken sailor. I am that exhausted. Clue #1: I wandered around for over an hour this afternoon (doing chores), wondering why my right foot felt funny, and then looked down, finally, to see this:


I decided that being barefoot was underrated (it just wasn't worth it to find the mate of either shoe) and I didn't need shoes to work on Mum's shawl, anyway. Here's my progress:


I re-BO the top edge (3 damn tries today, St M can vouchsafe her threat to take it from me if I didn't stop) with much almost-tears, whining, and hair-pulling. I then got the edging put onto nylon thread. It'll fit. Thank g-d. I just need to block it, to make the grafting easier.

After that we had the most original (read: heretical) Pesach Seder ever. Here were our 4 questions:

1. Why is tonight different from all other nights? Emm is actually eating Thai food!
2. Why are we reclining on a faux-leather booth in a Thai restaurant? Because we're too lazy/ tired to do an actual Seder! And it's quite comfy, really...
   
3. Why, on this night of nights, are we eating rice noodles and rice instead of bread? Because they're not leavened and they came with the meal.
4. What is this herb, and is it bitter? No, it's hot!

You might have guessed that, instead of pulling out the Haggadot and cooking a large meal, Mum and Dad decided that we would eat out and pretend (I tried, but was overruled). One of the Pepsi's acted as the 4 Cups of Wine. And the peanut sauce was the charoset. Wow, we're Bad Jews.

After that we went and were even Worse Jews, cuz (I tried to convince them to order a gluten-free cake!) we went to The Sweet Life and got dessert. Yeah. Bad boys, especially. I'm gonna try and be good and not eat bread for the remainder of Pesach, but the odds of that are increasingly slim.

Anyway. Mum's given her two week's notice at her job in Olympia - WA state doesn't have medical staffing requirements, so Mum and ONE aid (sometimes, if she's lucky she gets 3) get to handle 60+ patients a night. Wow, that's high quality medical care, eh? So, now Mum and Dad are looking at the Portland area. I'm staying out of it.

Other news... We watched Casino Royale last night (and again tonight), and I have to say it's my favourite of the Bond movies. Oh, heresy, I know. Aside from this Bond's major hotness (whoo!), the realism of the movie was very appealing (like the fact that Bond actually got beaten to a pulp several times and didn't wander through the movie w/o a hair outta place...). It was fun. Long, but fun. Mum said it was truer to the books than any of the other movies, too. So, there ya go.

And, now I am finally going to go to bed.

Labels: Bad Jews, family, movie review, Pesach, The Move

What do they have in common, aside from being flavorless and stiff? Well, that's about it, actually. Today, Dad and I turned this into this:




But right now, I am determined to sit very very quietly. And still. I've done my fair share of the weeding and need a break. Possibly in Hawaii.

Mum arrived this afternoon for Pesach. We're not doing a Seder tonight, we just don't have the energy or the materials (blasphemy I know). Tomorrow night, tho, we're doing the Second Night Seder. I've already taken in the votes, and it'll be a little unconventional (turkey breast instead of lamb). St M is coming over. Hopefully we'll find a place everyone can sit (Dad's determined that the oak floors shall remain untouched and pure and candidates for placement in the Temple of Vesta) and eat together. My one request is Matzoh Ball soup. It's my only food request. We're definitely doing my 1-hour Seder, though, just because.

Otherwise, that's it for today. I want to take a nap...

Labels: family, gardening/ weeding, The Move

“A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.” (Dogen)

My blogging skills are, like, the best, aren't they? I just psychically knew that all y'all out there are secretly hankering for more pictures of our weedy garden. (don't worry, rain is coming tonight, so I'll actually have interesting content tomorrow)

So, progress made today... We took this weedy patch of earth:






Emmett's antics aside, we moved 5 very large pots, weeded like we needed to plant enough grain to support Eugene, and put down topsoil. We were so exhausted (all of us) that for a half hour afterwards we just sat on the steps and tried to regain our breath. After that (whilst the boys were moving said honking huge pots to the other side of the garden), I got up my backbone and decided to tackle the rose bushes.

"You are going to leave enough behind, aren't you?"

"Yes, Dad. You know that the more I prune -"

"The thicker they come back," he chorused with me. He still watched me like a hawk as I cut off entire branches (our rose bushes are flourishing and actually killing the surrounding flora) and deadheaded every dead flower in sight. Within 30 mins, I had managed to get them back into order:


The above shows the 2 intentionally planted rose bushes. Plus a cherry tree and a baby rose bush that, err, I don't think is supposed to be there. Can roses propagate on their own?? Aren't most rose breeds wonky about that?

I was horrified to find today, as I worked on the northern beds, that the passion flower had not just grown exponentially, it had seeded and those tendrils we thought came from the original plant were from 3 others!! Bugger. I can't believe what these plants have been up to. The artichoke has also seeded another one. It's tiny, and I stepped on it, but it's there. And don't get me started on the lilies and irises. They're like bunnies.

Ohwell. It's slowly getting under control. Everyone is exhausted, and I think that even Dad (although secretly) is relieved by the oncoming rain. I mean, seriously, we need a break.

And, I think that I shall now go and spin something... Or knit. Knitting is good. I got 3 rows done on the left spock today, while we were waiting in line at the yarn debris drop-off point. Impressive, huh?

Labels: family, gardening/ weeding, The Move