We went today to the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, and I took a -ton-of pictures, and even a couple of videos - videos of course of the lion, for B. Sadly, my batteries wore out completely, so I ran out of picture time. But we had a blast .. and I even got pictures of us this time.

There was also knitting to be had. I got started on my first Mason-Dixon project .. a burp-cloth for my friend DeEstle who just recently had a baby girl. I got pretty far too, considering I only knit on the way there, and walking a little ways through the botanical garden because once I hit the zoo, I was too busy taking pictures.

Sorry for the poor pictures of the knitting. My room is so awfully dark it's hard to get good shots at night.





And now, the zoo pictures. . . .






































More can be found here.

Funny Friday 13th Sky

Heading out to work today I say the strangest clouds, all swirly and eddying and wierd. Being that it's Friday the 13th, I should have expected as much. Though I had to run back home to get my real camera and couldn't use the phone - which was dead *duhnduhnduuuhhhnnnn* - I was able to get a couple of okay shots and since I'm now waiting on my phone to charge, I figured I'd post a couple.

Zoooooooo!

Just a small selection of the pictures off my digital camera. I'm still waiting to get the pictures back from the throwaway camera I had to buy just to be able to take pictures of everything .. I'm not even sure how they'll come out. But we're gonna try, and if they don't, we know better. We're going back to either the NC Zoo in Ashboro NC or to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia SC this Sunday, so I'll have lots more pictures soon.

*bounce*squeal*glee!*

Okay, I know I owe pictures., I'm working on that. I still have to get through zoo pictures, for lady's sake, and we're planning another trip already! Yikes!!

But I just got my grade for my first term paper in Western Civ .. you know, the one I wrote in 6 hours the day it was due, with little research and less preparation? I got a 100. A perfect score. My comments were (paraphrased a little) "Paper was well written, and you used excellent sources". Lookit me go! I was -so- panicked about that paper. It was horrible, by my own estimation. So I'm MUCH relieved that I got a perfect score. Means I have to fret less.

*phews*

It's my day off, but I have a full schedule, I do I do. I have to go to the library, to pick up some sources for our -next- research paper. Then I've got to go to the local stitchery shop .. not to buy yarn, mind you, but to ask about having them embroider something on the little black bags I got for B, L and I for the fiber fair in Asheville. Two weeks away! Woot! It's crept up on us quickly all of a sudden. We had a couple other errands to run too, I think, but I don't recall them right now. B will know, when he wakes up, surely.

So I promised pictures of the almost finished shopping bag.


You can see in the bottom two pattern rounds where it was screwing up somehow, but I kinda like how it looks. Now, if only I could figure out what I did so I could repeat it. I will say I think I need to find some lighter yarn. The Sugar & Cream is a bit heavy for this. I should probably switch to a larger needle next time I make one of these, see if I can't get it to loosen up a little.

Now then. I went to the zoo two weekends ago. (See how behind I am!) But blogger is being a bitch .. again, so I'm going to have to post those pictures later. I have a throwaway camera to get developed anyhow. I'll get back to you with more when I have them. :)

So I've been severely lacking in the posting department. I know. I've just been so incredibly busy, it's not even funny. I have been doing a bit of knitting ... not terribly lots, but enough that I can contribute some progress reports to blogdom.

But first .. has anyone else noticed that Fall .. well .. fell all of a sudden? It seems like it doesn't gradually get dark anymore. It just sorta .. becomes night. I am pleased with the weather change .. we had a brief one a few weeks ago, but it got hot again on us. 80-degree heat .. in October. Ugh! But today I think was the lastbreak. It went from over 70-degrees to probably not more than 65 right now. It's only 71 in the house, and I've had the windows open all day long. It's been delightful.

On to the knitting.

I've finished the knitting of the shopping bag I was working on. I just have to find handles for it, and that will be done. But I'm counting it as completed for the purposes of knitting projects, since there's no more knitting to be done on it.

I've started working on some facecloths for Neely in a scrumptious yet simple purple microfiber. They're coming out nice, though as usual I keep finding some things I would change. I dislike the way stockinette curls, so I've already decided to alter the pattern for the next one. I just can't bear to frog a ton of stockinette knitted on damn 5's.

I know, I've been a baaaaad blogger. I'm back though. I had a lot of deadlines schoolwise, but they're past now, and I can get back on track withe verything. I wanted to post this totally non-knitting-related meme though. And when I get back from work I'll post more, I promise!

--

1. In one sentence, explain what ended your last relationship: Before Jason would have to be my 'last' relationship. Hrm, that'd be Pete, and that'd have to be that he wasn't able to handle the long distance of the relationship.
2. What made you smile today? Thus far? Snuggling with Isis.
3. What were you doing this morning at 8am?: It's not 8am yet.
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?: Stumbling down the stairs.

5. Something that happened to you in 1985? What grade was that .. I graduated 92 so .. hrm. 5th. I got in trouble that year I think for spinning a necklace I wore around and around and around on my desk, and my bitchy teacher took it away and I made such a fuss I got detention. (Shocker, right?)
6. Your prom night?: -My- prom night didn't happen. I didn't go to either Junior or Senior proms, though I was on prom committee. (Another shocker, I know.) I did go to Jason's prom though and .. lessee. I got to be shown off like a little trophy. :)
7. Last thing you said aloud?: "I love you. Drive safe." (Me, to Jason before he left to work.)
8. Last thing someone else said aloud? "I'll see you then." (Jason to me before he walked out the door.)

10. What was in the mail today? It hasn't come yet. Hopefully our membership cards for the NC Zoo.
11. What did you drink today? Nothing so far. I will drink lots of water though, and probably some milk.
12. What is your favorite part of the day? When Jason gets home.
13. Your current To-do list? Discussion questions for Western Civ, Exact/Amp'd/Sony at work, Self Test for Spanish 1, Clean my desk, work on Neely's washcloths, Start baby snuggle/burb cloths/bibs, Read some in 'Fall of the Roman Empire' - No more reading last minute for us!

14. Where are your best friends? Neely, Jen C, Nikki, Brandon. Jason, but that goes without saying.
15. What color is your toothbrush?: Fuscia
16. Any plans for tomorrow night?: Relaxing after a long work day for me.
17. Least favorite place to shop?: The mall.

18. Last thing you bought?: A ballcap from the zoo!
19. Last gift you received?: Hrm. Oh! My phone!
20. Funniest thing you heard/saw all day?: Yesterday?
22. What color is your front door?: Beigey-cream.

23. First thing you did this morning?: Blink and try to separate dream from real.
24. Last thing you ate?: Yummy-licious dessert @ Johnny Carino's - Apple Skilletini.
25. Is your cell phone a piece of crap?: Hell no.
26. What's something you look forward to most in the next week?: Getting paid.

27. What's annoying you right now?: That I have to work.
28. Do you believe in long-distance relationships?: I better, I was in one for 3 months and that's why I'm with Jason now.
29. Is there a person who is on your mind right now? Jason, of course. And D, who did this first.
30. Where is the last place you went?: The NC Zoo in Asheboro.

31. Who is the last person you texted?: Jason.
32. Do you look like your mom or dad?: My mom, big time.
33. Do you smile often?: I try to. :)
34. Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?: I like to think so, but probably not. Everyone's either sleeping, or working.

35. Do you wish on stars?: Sometimes.
36. Do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?: Nope.
37. Would you kill someone?: Depends on the situation. If I were protecting myself or those I love, hell yes.
38. When did you last cry?: A few days ago. Work and schol had me so impossibly frustrated, I just sobbed.
39. Do you like your handwriting?: No, it's awful.
40. Are you a friendly person: Sometimes.


(Yes, I know. There's no #9. It came to me that way, so I kept it that way. I wonder if there's a reason, or of someone just left it out once and it's managed to stay that way?)

*flop*

Yes. It's 5am. Yes, I'm wide-f*ing-awake at 5am. No, I don't have any earthly idea why. Nor do I have a clue why I had to log in to stupid Blogger this morning, when I've had myself logged in for-freaking-ever. Stupid Blogger.

I hate that I haven't had a lot of knitting to report on. While the yarn arrived for my friends Candle Flame shawl, I haven't had time to go to the LYS to turn my hanks of deliciously yummy-soft Grape Hyacinth KnitPicks Shimmer into useable balls, so I can't get started on that yet. And the next few days are absolutely awful in the getting-anything-done-other-than-work department. Tomorrow I have to go to Monroe (an hour away) to help with a reset .. this -after- learning that they want me to lose 1 shelf in each of my -5- brand centers ... which I don't have enough room for in the first place in my tiny store. Said reset is supposed to last .. 5 hours or so. Whee. Then I have to go to my own store and work another 1.5 hours. Oh wait, lets add that up. 2 hours of driving. 6.5 hours working. Yes folks, I have to work 8.5-f*ing hours on Sunday. Go me. *flop*

Oh, yeah. And lets not forget that I then have to work 3.5 hours Monday .. which wouldn't be bad had I not worked 8.5-f*ing-hours the day before, most of which doing heavy labor. And then on Tuesday, I have two 4-hour calls, one in Pineville which is 30 minutes away.. So that's 9 hours of work. Oh yes. And the following Sunday I have yet -another- reflow to work. In Gastonia. And I still need to deal with my store having inventory that day. And need to find out if I can avoid having the stupid changes done to my brand centers. Because I can't even do that until after their inventory .. if I can even do it then. I've -got- to talk to Donna.

Need I remind you that this is a part-time job.

Let it not be said I am complaining about the paycheck this will result it. I'm not complaining about that. But my body is already wore-out from resetting my own store .. like, done-wore-out. My calves have been sore and clenchy for the last week-and-a-half. (Yes, clenchy is now a word, spellchecker. It means they feel like someone has their hands clenched over them tightly. Fun.) And -nothing- I do has managed to ease that soreness. I walk 2 hours a night, almost every night. I eat well. I take vitamins. I drink lots and lots of water. And I -still- hurt. And it's making me very irritable.

I am however consoling myself in the thought that I just had a $250 paycheck, and this next one should be in the $450 range. My car payment is $380, which means I have about $300 already to put towards our Asheville trip for SAFF. And another check after that one, which I can't even begin to calculate the hours for, so I'm not trying. Of course, I will be working -double- calls the whole week prior to that week, so we'll see how I'm doing -after- that. I need to find out how she wants me to be absorbing the drive time for all this shit.

I'm awake and hungry, and dammit, I just realized I planned a wonderful breakfast home tomorrow with my husband and Brandon, only to remember I won't fucking be here. Oh no, I'll be gone all fucking day. I've got to stop taking these extra hours. I think I'm going to mail Donna and see if I can get out of working the Gastonia reset. I have no time to see Jason this week at all, with all the extra hours I'm taking, and I don't want to start next week that way too.

Ow.

I managed to injure myself today bringing the laundry into the laundry room.



It hurts. I jammed my elbow rather hard into the coat closet door that wasn't completely closed, because we used to have a hook over the top of it to hang laundry on when it was waiting to go upstairs.

No longer do we have that hook on the coat closet door. I have moved the little bastard to the laundry room door.

That'll teach me to try to do laundry.

Wahooo!

The yarn came for my first attempt at lace! I purchased some Shimmer from KnitPicks, it's a glorious Alpaca/Silk blend laceweight. I got the Grape Hyacinth colorway, and it's absolutely beautiful I can't wait to get this stuff wound into balls so I can get started... I'll have to work on that tomorrow maybe, unless I have to go get Brandon, in which case I'll run to the LYS I like before I head up there.

Look!

Review time.

Blogger is misbehaving again .. what a surprise. But dammit, it's free. And I like free, so I refuse to switch to something more expensive and more complicated. At least this time I have my template backed up .. no more losing the template for me, thanks!

I have been meaning to go through the knew new Knitty and the new Magknits and decide which I -really- like and which are just visually cool, and which I think suck. So, since I have today off, and Hubby now has a car truck of his own, I don't have to worry about having to leave the house again, now that I did my quick mad-dash to the bank that closes at 1pm on Wednesdays. (How wierd is that! ? But it's a credit union, and they've been great about handing us money left and right for cars and school and stuff, so we can't complain.)

So without further ado:

Knitty - Fall 2006

Viveka: On first blush, I liked this. But it looks a little big and baggy for the style of pullover it's trying to be, and that neckline is a little scarey. Is this maybe made for those of us that are curvy, but they didn't have a curvy model available? I want to like this pattern, really. I don't think I'd ever knit it though.

Lucie: I didn't like this one from the little thumbnail, but I discovered that it just doesn't give it justice, really. I adore the neckline, the sleeves, and the slightly-but-not-quite-fitted fit. And silk/wool blend? This one I will definitely put into my 'to be knit someday' pile.


Cactus Flower: Eh. I'm not-so-much on the mohair cowl neck and the silk/cotton rest. This one just doesn't do it for me. It's .. plain.

Ivy: I do like Ivy. Not only for the name .. whick has a y in it and thus I like it already. But I like the look of this one. I'm not usually big on wraps .. I'm a curvy girl, and wraps make me look rather like a burrito I think. But I think this is one I could wear. And I really like the detailing on the sleeves and on the hem.

Serrano: Umm ... the lace is pretty and all .. but all those tiny hook-and-eye closures? Not-so-nice with the curves.

Avast: Arrr, me hearties! Oh, but I want to knit this for every guy I know .. and one for myself too, because I know I'll just end up stealing my husband's anyway!

Sherwood: Oh! It's precious! If only I had someone to knit this for right now! The cabling is simple and exquisite at the same time. (Is it just me though, or does that child's head look too big for his body?)

Intolerable Cruelty: Now, this I like. It's silly, and I would really have no reason to wear such a thing, but I love it anyway, and I might have to knit it up anyway, just to have it. And knitted in banboo? Oh, yum. That's just an excuse to buy bamboo, right there.

Little Slip: It's cute, yes. But it reminds me a bit of a Booga, just knitted with a pattern. I can appreciate though how the slip-stitch patterns can make a thicker and more durable felted fabric, though. Worth a look, certainly.

Lizard Ridge: LOVE this! I can't imagine the cost in this, as Kureyon isn't cheap, (24 blocks @ ~ $8/block = almost $200!!) but .. oh wow. It's absolutely lovely. I want to make this -right now!-

Red Herring: Very, very cute. Though I don't know that I would make these in red. I'm not-so-much on the bright red in my wardrobe. Maybe autrumnal colors, or blues. I love the pattern though .. herringbone is cool as shit, and the fact that the pattern doesn't carry through to the foot makes me happy.

Cable Net: Pretty, yes. Scarey? Yes, to someone who has neither attempted cables nor socks. I have sock yarn, and needles. I just haven't started socks. These will go in the 'knit these later' list though, for sure, cos I love the look of simple cables on socks, and I love -love- socks to wear. I'm a big sock person.

Sox on 2 Stix: I just love these for the sheer fact that they're knitted on straights. And they seem like a pretty quick knit, too.

Diamante: Another beautiful sock pattern. Have I mentioned I love socks? I need to knit them more though, so I can use all these lovely patterns.

Ayla: Very cute, though I can't think of anyone I'd knit this for. Maybe my nieces in a couple of years, but right now they're too little for something like this.

Sugar on Snow: Cuteness incarnate, the hat/neck warmer. I can see making this, though maybe from a little less bulky yarn. We don't often need big, warm scarves down here, though I adore them anyway. But keeping something like this in my car might be handy.

Tamarah: Eh. I'm not too fond of this. It looks funny, and looks like it'd feel wierd to wear this. Pluss, it looks more complex than it needs to be. Nice pattern, well made I guess, but definitely not for me.

Twiggy Tweed: Cute, indeed. And I love tweedy yarns too. But I don't think this pattern is for me. It's too small! What can you fit in that teeny little thing! Nothing, I tell you. Silly people. (That reminds me .. I need to switch to my fall purse.)

Back to School: Love Love Love the dishcloth patterns, and love love love that Knitty has some. Though, I think I might leave out the words in these if I knit them, unless I make a set for my oldest niece who is in college .. or is supposed to be. (But that's another story.)

Magknits - September 2006

Honorine: First of all, who cannot like a pattern written by someone named 'Fathom'?? I do love this little knit though. It's sweet and sophisticated, and just a little bit flirty and sexy. Not something I think I'll be knitting any time soon, but definitely in the 'later' column.

Delft: It looks like a country-club tennis top. Pretty, I guess, but not my thing.

Lombard Street: I like these. I especially like the little picot edging at the cuff. And the wierd lacy/cable combination is just nifty enough to keep my attention I think.

Snowflake: I think these should be made into knee-highs, but I like them. and not just because of the name. The lacey pattern is pretty .. it'd look cute pared with a long black skirt for a holiday get together, one where you can feel free to slip off your shoes and show of your socks!

Snicket: My least favorite socks of this month's patterns, they're still very nice, and might be nifty. I wonder how they'd knit up in a variegated yarn .. might give them some more depth.

Apple: Oh. My. God. I. Want. To. Knit. This!!!! I think it'll look absolutely darling in this variegated Cottontots I have, and I plan to put this on needles just as soon as I can! Admittedly, the picture is a bit creepy, but I can forgive that because the pattern is just so cute.

Seaside: Very nice, and honestly quite useful, though I'm a bit wary of the half-finger gloves. Seems complicated, though I know it's probably not. I like the beading, and the simple, wave-like stitching though, so I might just go ahead and work some of these up soon.

The Edward: I don't like this so much, but then I'm not overly fond of tank tops, and that's more or less what this is. Nice work and all, just not my thing.

Inner Truth: While I'm sure that knitting with cashmere is a dream, and wearing it even more so, I'm not entirely sure what the point of this scarf is. A single large cable doesn't speak of cashmere to me anyway, it screams 'chunky wool!; in a grating, annoying tone to be honest. I'd have loved a better picture to show off the true size of this piece .. maybe then it'd make more sense. As it is ... eh.

SAFF Countdown

Hi Tania,
'Just a note to let you know I have received the registration form and check for your 2006 SAFF Workshops. You are confirmed for:

* Cable Ready / Melanie Koenig Sun., 10/29, 10a-12p
* Color Knitting The Easy Way / Melanie Koenig Sun., 10/29, 1p-3p

Both classes will be inside the McGough Arena, on the upper level, right, in the back, across from Melanie's vendor booth, #10 , Royal Fibercrafts. Just go to the booth about 5-10 minutes before the classes.

'Look forward to see you in October!

I will note, that -both- of those workshops are on my birthday. Happy birthday to me!!!

- - -

In other news, I really have been knitting. See!



Currently, the -only- thing on needles in my house .. at least the only thing on my needles, is the grocery bag I started a while back. Yes, the one I screwed up knitting, and had to frog several rows and managed to pick up the right number of stitches. There's been no laddering at all, and the pattern's still working just fine, so I must have gotten it right.

These pictures, btw, were taken with my nifty new phone. Have I mentioned yet how much I adore my husband? Let me say it again .... I adore my husband. He spoils me!!

Eeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look what my husband, the wonderful man that I married, brought me home today!!!!! An I-Mate K-Jam.

*squeees and bounces all around*

I've been ooing and ahhing all over the place about the palm-pilot thing I get to use for work. And when he bought his new phone right before his birthday, I was all kinds of jealous of its drop-out keyboard. And I in general have just been covetous.

Well, tonight he came home with this absolute beauty of a phone, saying that it is because I reached my 10% goal, and got a job that I've kept for a month, and just because. Isn't he sweet, and wonderful? It's blue-tooth ready, has a camera (!!!!!!) and palm-pilot features .. just -everything- I could ever want. Integrated email! Music and videos! It synch's with my computer from -anywhere- as long as I have a signal. HOW FUCKING COOL!!!

I'm going to go eat dinner and watch survivor, and squeal a little more because of my AWESOME NEW PHONE!!!

Pictures Galore!!

Remember I promised some pictures lastnight! Here you go!

I love my husband.

He stopped at the store tonight for me, on the way home from work. and called to have me come out and help bring in groceries. When I got out there, I discovered he'd bought a few surprises for me ... three bunches of flowers .. including calla lilies, roses and my absolute favorite, sunflowers! .. and a pair of utterly adorable chiminea-shaped autumn pumpkin tealight holders. I'm so loved!

I'll take pictures tomorrow, when the light is better, because if I tried to take them now, they'd be awful. But I just had to gush before I went to bed. I love my husband. It took three vases to put out all the flowers .. because you can't cramp calla lilies and roses. Three! I have flowers all over the house now!

I have to work in the morning though, and I have a 4 hour day, because I have to put together a new fixture. Joy. At least things -seem- to be improving with the Spanish class situation. I've been asked if I mind my comments being forwarded to the department head, and the teacher himself has been much more communicative, and with moderately improved english. I'm still not pleased, but it's getting better.

Goodnight all. Sleep well. I know I will, with the sound of rain coming through the open windows, thanks to the deliciously cool weather. It's still expected to hit the low 80's during the days, but it's 60's at night now, and I am delighted with this.

Go me!

So. I've been working on a stretchable shopping bag for a while. I set it aside for a time, working on finishing up other projects and busy with school and work, and it had laid in my car for a while. I picked it up the other day, since I had nothing else to work on .. it's my only WIP at the moment! .. and the worst thing ever happened.

I screwed up the pattern. It'd been so long since I'd worked on it, that I messed up a whole round before I realized, because I got around to the start again and realized the pattern wasn't working, that I'd messed something up.

The stitch calls for a YO, then a sl1, k2, psso. Well, I didn't do the sl, and didn't psso. And so I added something like 40 stitches to the row. -Not- a good thing. And while I'm glad I caught it when I did, I was at a total loss on how to fix it.

I put it away for a day or two, working on classwork and my annoying teacher issue and other things. I glared at the little pile of half-finished bag. I moaned about how evil it was going to be to fix. Basically, I put it off, until I was in a better frame of mind to tackle what I feared was going to be an impossible repair process.

I sat down today to watch the new Martha shows on my DVR, determined that her influence would allow me to get through the task. It's a rainy day, perfect for sitting and watching TV and knitting, after all. So I started to try to tink. It wasn't working. I made some tea, and sat it down in my lap again. And declared to Brandon, my knitting and Martha partner, that I was going to have to frog.

He cringed. And shuddered. Visibly.

I pulled the circular needle out of the stitched, and started ripping back. And at the time, I was fully prepared to frog all the way back to the stockinette, which forms the very bottom of the bag .. which would mean frogging a full 7 inches of the bag. But as I pulled the yarn back and exposed the rows below, it began to look like I could salvage at least most of the finished work. I worked it back a few repetitions, and sat the fabric in my lap, took a sip of tea, and began the painstaking process of trying to pick up the stitches.

About halfway through Martha, I joyfully announced that I had picked up all the stitches, and proceeded to continue with the pattern. By the time the second episode of Martha was finished, I had knitted back to where I was, and with no apparent interruption of the pattern. I did it! I fixed a possibly horrible mistake! And without having to start all over again!

Tagged

The catchen-mistress spake. I obey.

If I had to choose one thing for the rest of my life, I’d choose:

Veggies: Cauliflower
Meat: Prime Rib
Starchy staple: Bread.
Bread: All? Okay, no. Parker-House Rolls.
Animal: Katzen. Which is kinda like catchen, only .. different.
Catchen: Isis.
Soda: Diet Dr. Pepper. No, wait. Birch Beer.
TV program: CSI.
Movie: Ack. Umm. Not V for Vendetta. Maybe the Lord of the Rings trology.
Book: Right now, Understanding Art sounds like fun to have forever. Much mockable art-ism.
Color: Blue.
Wood: Cherry. No. Birch. No. Maple. Maple.
Shoes: Forever? Uhh .. New Balance walking shoes.
Ice cream: Slow Churn Vanilla.
Soap: Cetaphil, aye.
Medication: Mucinex, since apparently, I will have this cough forever.
Metal: Silver
Eyewear: Contacts.
Washing up: Showers, unless I havea -deep- tub. Then bath-showers.
Cold or hot weather: Neither. Cool.

tetchy: peevish; testy; irritable.

That would be me today. Though at least I know why. Hello Aunt Flo! *growls* Y'know .. there aught to be a rule about one malady at a time.

So yes. I'm irritable. And it doesn't bode well for the people I have to deal with. Now, in the physical sense, that's Jason and Brandon, and maybe his parents. And I'm usually pretty good about not sniping and bitching at them. To them, yes. But I'm clear on the distinction with them.

My Spanish 101 teacher, on the other hand, is receiving the full unfiltered brunt of my rage at the moment. More to the point, my advisor, the Distance Learning administrator, and the Enrollment Administrator who I've worked with this semester are getting the brunt of my rage, which is fully directed at my Spanish 101 teacher. Why, you may ask? Well, just read this little gem of an email the class received from him today.

Submit Self Test Now, Hurry up. Brake is over, this is the last time that I do this, from now you must to submit you assignments on time. Do not send e-mail asking me that update the assignmnets. If I don't have on time, your grade will be automaticly 0.

Sanquintin

Now, I ask you. Would -you- want to take a class from someone that had such a poor grasp of the English language? How can we be expected to actually learn from a man who can't be bothered to write emails with proper spelling and grammar? How on Earth can I be expected to enjoy a class when we're treated like first graders? I've sent a scathing email to the individuals I listed above, basically saying how horrible this teacher is, and how I am considering dropping the class and taking something else. Except I've just realized, we won't get much of a refund on tuition, and I already paid $100 for the damn textbook bundle. So I'm going to have to tough it out and endure this awful class ... but I will make my displeasure known at -every- juncture.

Update: I just received an email from an Interim Dean at the college, assuring me that my concern was being addressed. I'm a bit intrigued as to what that could mean, but I am going to touch it out, and do the work for this next chapter, and see what happens. I know at least I'm not alone in my frustration.

And then some ...

First of all, I know it's Monday, but I took Saturday Sky pictures this weekend, and I just never got around to posting them. So .. here!






The top two are of a high-tension power line tower being used by vultures to cool off, it looks like. They were perched with their wings outstretched .. rather creepy if you ask me! The other two are of a house not far from Brattonsville that's in the process of being restored. It was just a really cool house, and I had to take pictures.

So, yeah. I'm alive. I'm not entirely over whatever it is that's got me coughing all day long, but I'm better than I was this time last week. I've been eating cough drops like candy, and drinking more water than a body has a need to, but I'm feeling better, so there's got to be something to it.

I've also got weight loss to report. I have, as of Saturday morning, lost 10% of my starting body weight. 20.4 pounds, to be exact. In Weight Watchers, you get a little keychain to celebrate that milestone, and mine is currently sitting on my keys, where it will stay as a constant reminder of my progress. I'm not going to let it slip now, that's for certain. I've been able to buy clothes in a smaller size, which is a delightful change, and people have begun to notice I'm getting smaller. Pretty soon, I'll be able to wear my own hand-knits!

Speaking of knitting, I have a bit more progress to brag about. I've finished the knitting on Brandon's Mini-Booga, and it's ready to be felted. I've also knitted two skinny scarves for my nieces, and finished the Mid-month KAL dishcloth from last month. I haven't yet had time to work on the 'mystery' cloth from this month, though I'm about to start working on one.

I'm spending the afternoon trying to catch up on all the blogs I read. If I've been noticably absent from commenting, it's because I've been sick and busy busy with work and school. Things have levelled off with both though, so I should be posting and commenting more regularly.

Countdown 'till the SAFF: 47 days and counting! Yay!

(SAFF, for the non-initiated, is the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, to be held in Asheville, NC at the end of October. Jason, Brandon, Larissa and I are going .. I believe we already have the house rented and everything, and she has her plane tickets. And .. shit! I forgot to send the check! Gotta Priority that tomorrow!

I'm still suffering from whatever cold/allergy annoyance had me out for the count earlier this week ... I thought I was better, but I'm not. But there has been knitting, in between working and school. I've got some big deadlines for school though, so I need to do a ton of reading here soon, and a research paper on Greek Cultural Contributions. That's my biggest concern, to be honest.

Since I have tomorrow off from working, and don't have a lot going on besides reading and taking some quizzes and doing Astronomy labs, I should be able to take some pictures and do some better blogging.

I'm slowly but surely getting my blog back in order. I lost all my links, rings, etc, so if you have a link/ring/KAL you think I should have in my blog, feel free to let me know.

Alive .. mostly well.

EDIT: I'm annoyed with blogger. Somehow, it lost my template, and I didn't have it backed up at all. So I'm gonna be fussing with it for a while. Bear with me.

I know, I know .. I've been a bad blogger. But I really do have a good excuse .. I've been sick!! Like, allergies from hell, can hardly breath, coughing up my lungs sick. I didn't sleep well for two days .. got 5 hours sleep in 48 hours, had to stay out of work a day because grocery shopping wore me out sick. So sick that Jason threatened to come home from work one day and put me into bed, so sick that I actually broke down and bought NyQuil, which I hate taking, because I was bound and determined I was going to get some sleep.

I'm better now though, comparatively, and I actually have a few things to report.

First of all, I finished skinny eyelash scarf #2, the teal one. I'll post pictures once my room isn't so much of a disaster area. See, I bought new bookcases for the house, and for the moment, everything that was on our little 2' bookcases we had scattered everywhere is currently on varions flat surfaces, waiting to be replaced onto the -new- bookcases. That includes the hellishness that is my office. So I have no rom to try to take a picture, nor can I, at the moment, find my camera. But I finished it. I have one more ball of eyelash yarn left in my stash, which is likely to end up a skinny scarf as well. They're quick and easy, and my nieces will adore them for playing dressup, and that's all that counts, right?

I made it through the Summer of Stash in one piece!! I didn't buy any yarn that wasn't project bound, and even that was all of 6 balls of cotton (for dishcloths) and a couple skeins of sock yarn for swaps. And I did manage to use up a good bit of the stash, though not near as much as I'd wanted to. But school and work interfered in my knitting time, and I suppose that's a good reason not to get all done that I wanted to.

Speaking of school, I'm taking 14 hours; 4 classes. Art Appreciation and History, Spanish 101, Western Civilization 101 and Solar Astronomy. So far, the Spanish class is the one I'm not liking as much, mainly because it's going -so- slowly. Thus far, everything we do is review for me. I'm guessing once we get doing harder stuff, it'll go a bit better. Solar Astronomy is fun, though the others in the class are idiots. I'm very glad they're all online classes, otherwise, I'd have to beat these people with a book.

I've got to get back to cleaning. We bought 4 new bookcases for the house, and I've got to get to putting the books and such on them and off the floor, where everything's been for several days, since I've been too sick to manage it. And since I just almost shattered the glass on a framed drawing honey brought home from Europe, I need to get shit cleaned up before I go absolutely insane.

Life or something like it.

Yesterday and the day before, because poor honey's been sick, I have made -homemade- chicken soup. Monday I made it with rice, using fried chicken to make the stock, and yesterday I started with uncooked chicken to make the stock, and used egg noodles. Both versions have been yummy-licious, and it couldn't be easier to make. I'm incredibly proud of myself for learning how to make from-scratch chicken soup, let me tell you. Yay me!

We're going to buy us some big bookcases for the house with the money my mom sent us for our anniversary. She sent $250 in gift cards to Home Depot. So, bookcases, and maybe some garden stuffs for fall, I think. I need a new wind-chime for outside .. the one on my little sheperd's hook is falling apart finally. And something to plant in the beds out front, now that the clematis is finally on it's last summer legs.

More knitting projects to come: Lace. I've decided I'm going to try my hand at some lace knitting, as there's a lace shawl at KnitPicks that I know a friend of ours will just love, so I want to make that for her. And ... it's knitted on size 11 needles! Which I'll have to find DPN's and 32" circ's for, but that's fine.

Oh, and socks. I'm finally finding I have some time to devote to the process now, so I'm going to go ahead and start .. especially since I have such yummy sock yarns now! Lorna's Laces, even! Not to mention the Regia I already had. That should be more than enough for me to get started, dontcha think?

Oh, and one more thing. Stuffed, Felted Alpaca. My friend Larissa bought me the pattern for the felted Alpaca, and I just know her ulterior motive was that she wanted one for herself. So, I've got to find the perfect fiber for a couple of those, too.

I need to take some pictures of Brandon's projects now, while the light still is good enough. And I'm trying to finish up some odd knits (A skinny garter scarf for my littlest niece, and the Monthly Dishclock mid-month KAL, which I've not yet finished.)

Just a reminder

It's that time again. The "walks" have begun. And I really wanted to walk in this one too. Team Nova is the walk team for the family of a little boy who didn't make it due to a congenital heart defect. I had hoped that I might be able to walk with them, but that weekend is the reflow for Pineville, and I have to be at work at 5am .. which means getting out of bed no later than 4am. Yes, that's right, 4am.

So instead, I've pledged. And I'm asking those of you that bother coming here to read my blatherings to do the same if you can. This is a wonderful cause, and I'd be delighted to help Erin and her family raise as much money as possible. You have until Thursday night I believe.

EDIT: I stand corrected by Erin herself, you have until sometime in September to donate. It's the raffle (see below) that has the Thursday deadline.

And for those of you (I know there's at least one out there!) that knit, Gretchen is having a raffle, giving away some wonderful yarn prizes. One entry for every $1 you donate. She's raised over $200 so far, but I know it could be more!

She lives!

I'm playing a bit of catchup today. I've been busy busy busy, and not wanting to really look at a computer much beyond what had to be done to get things settled for my classes. Now that things have settled down, and I've got myself in a better rhythm with work and class and house, I can find some time to sit, breathe, knit and blog again.

So. School is a bit stressful .. because I'm missing the labs for my astronomy class and the damned bookstore is 3 hours away, and WON'T PICK UP THE GODDAMN PHONE!!! So I can't call and say 'Hey, please send me those, here's my money' .. because they won't answer the freaking phone!!! Grrrr! Other than that though, school's fine. I'm settling into a routine, though I have this bad habit of getting ahead, so I'm trying to force myself to slow down.

That's something my boss at Mosaic complains about too. She's terrified that I'm going to finish college in 4 months and go and get a real job. Silly woman. I love Donna though. She's the best. And raves about me, apparently. I love her. She's a riot, so I think it's going to work out to be a great job. I honestly think I take it way more seriously than some do, having been to another store recently to cover, and finding it trashed. Lord, did that drive me crazy. But I got my first paycheck, so I feel like I'm actually working now. And next paycheck should be even better, as I have extra hours and such from last week. So I'm looking at first getting a few books I've been coveting for a while. The Mason Dixon one for sure .. and maybe one or two more.

I've a few knitting things going on, but no pictures yet. I joined the Monthly Dishcloth KAL, and had a blast with the mid-month cloth, so much that I want to make a bunch of them. I'm frogging the blanket square I had tried to make and am going to redo it as a log-cabin. Because I dislike plain garter stitch though, I'm thinking of working it in seed stitch. We'll see how that looks. I also need to finish some things for the friend that's having a baby any day now. Like, she's 3 days over-due. And boy, is she getting anxious about it. I want to make her another towel, I think, and maybe some more washcloths. And beyond that, maybe some burp-cloths and bibs, once I have the Mason Dixon book, and a kimono or three, since I've heard they're cute as can be.

Wow. I was -way- behind in reading blogs. I'm caught up mostly now though. Phew. Time to try the damn bookstore -again-, and then read some of the god-awful-boring book for Western Civ. *groans* Book test on it the 15th. And we -both- need to finish reading it before then. Yuck.

I've been gone a long time. We had a death in the family that was a bit life-disheveling. Not that it was unexpected or anything, but it just caused a parade of visiting family and life was a bit odd for a while. On top of that, I started my new job and am getting things ready to start classes on Wednesday, so I've been busier than ever.

Friday was Jason and my anniversary. 5 years! Has it really been that long, already? He came home with flowers for me, unexpectedly I might add, and also had my car washed and vacumed .. which was a very nice gift indeed, since I never remember to have it done while the local detailing place is open.









Aren't they beautiful! He does so good when he buys me flowers. He always remembers I love sunflowers, for instance. And the delphinium were the same as the flowers in my bouquet. And I simply love the single yellow rose, and the snapdragons.


In other exciting news, we've been invaded again, but this time by something -much- cuter.





We have a mouse. Three actually, so far, unless it's been the same one sneaking back in somewhere. I'm not sure where they're coming from, as we don't keep the house so poorly that we'd have a hidden nest .. unless it's somewhere in the attic. We used to hear skitterings in the ceiling, so I guess that's possible. But I can't bear to use a poison or snap trap. I can't kill the cuties! We're gonna hunt some live traps maybe .. anything to keep Isis frum finding them. I don't want to wake up to little dead mousies left as tribute.