KNIT is a four-letter word

Shattered

2012-01-26T23:24:00.000-08:00

Can't craft with fugly nails ------

23 days

2012-01-26T01:18:00.000-08:00

Brian Wilson Gnome

till pitchers and catchers report!!!! Now that football season is officially over (go Niners), I can't contain my excitement for the upcoming baseball season. For the first time in my 38 years of attending Giants games, I'm going to Spring Training. Check that one off the bucket list!
In anticipation of the 2012 season, I'm going to knit some baseball themed hats - like the one on this cute little gnome.
My boys of summer need me - Scottsdale here I come!

Been a long time, been a long, lonely lonely time.....

2012-01-16T00:11:00.000-08:00

Things that have happened since the last time I posted:

Van Halen recorded an album of new music.
The 49ers are one game away from the Superbowl
Bin Laden's dead.
The Iraq war is over.
I broke down and finally bought a Dyson

Things that haven't changed since the last time I posted:

I knit a butt load of hats.
I learned how to make tamale.
I haven't finished any of the non-hat knitting projects I started.
I still miss my cousin Debbie and think about her every day - happy birthday cuz.
I finally booked a trip to Spring Training.

#raisethebanner

2011-04-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

Shoulda, woulda, coulda - remind me next time the gmen win the series, I get tix for the home opener, k?

Day 3 315

Day 1

2011-04-06T15:32:00.001-07:00

Day 1 324

SF GIANTS VICTORY PARADE 2010

2010-11-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

Play Ball......

2010-10-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Keep Calm

2010-09-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's what I'm gonna do :)

A sign from God

2010-09-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Blogging continues after a much needed hiatus.
So many projects to talk about....I took the summer off from making Jayne hats and my head exploded with ideas most of which were non-yarn related and, at the moment, top secret. They do involve sewing and quilting, jewelry making & scrapbooking. And that sign from God? First, a little background. I've been under the weather the last two days, difficulty sleeping and intestinal problems you don't want to hear about. After a sleepless night, I called in sick to work and went back to bed. After a couple of hours of sleep, I turn on the TV. Its become my habit, when home sick, to watch HSN/QVC. I've got a thing for live TV and CNN is just too depressing when I'm sick. In the past, sick days have brought me exercise equipment, 14k gold faux diamond earrings, flocked hangers and most recently, the complete Martha Stewart crafting tool set. So when I turn on HSN, what do I see? 24 hours of C R A F T I N G. Yes, I heard angels singing because it is truly a sign from God to carry on with all three of my brillant crafting ideas. So as I sit in my bed, sipping peppermint tea, I plot total dominance of the craft world. After all, Martha won't live forever :)
And I leave you with my most recent knitting wip - a baby blanket for a co-worker (shhh, it's a surprise).

VIDEO0005.3gp

2010-07-24T02:59:00.000-07:00

make it stop!

2010-05-21T14:42:00.001-07:00

mother nature was kind enough to give me a gift this week - my fifth installment of the flu. I am so frakin sick of being sick. I stayed home so I wouldn't spread my gift but it hasnt seemed to work. And today one of my coworkers has on so much bad perfume that my eyes are watering. Thanks for that. 3 hours to go then it is home and bed for 24 hours!

An African Adventure

2010-05-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

Because I'm a glutton for punishment and love to start projects I'll never, ever finish, I ordered yarn for this yesterday:

Day 1......

2010-04-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

and so it begins, first day of the rest of my life. Corny, no? But it's true for all of us. For me, today marks the day I dive head-first into being diabetic. I'll be re-defining my routines and thus, re-defining my life. 45 minutes of cardio a day, every day. Carb couting = thoughtful eating. And, maybe, in the process, become the person I know I can be. Lofty goals, but attainable Wish me luck.
Day 1 started with a three-hour nutrition class. Before which, I made a quick stop at Starbucks for an earl grey latte. Durning class, I discovered that my latte was at least 3 servings of carbs - roughly the equalivant of the big ass slice of mushroom/sausage pizza I ate last nite.
Of course, since I didn't have a proper breakfast I was starving when I got home so I had a carb-friendly breakfast sandwich of egg white, cheese, Canadian bacon on an Orowheat Thin. That paired with some raw fruit or veg = healthy, filling meal. Yay me!
Now it's baseball time - about to watch my gmen kick some froger ass. (while I clean)

Bad blogger - no cookie

2010-04-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

So I've shamelessly neglected blogging about my oh-so-interesting life. But good news, I'm B A C K. So much to say, so little time. In approximately one hour and 3 minutes, I begin a week long vacation. Woo fricking hoo, right? It's a bittersweet woo hoo as I've chosen to take a week of hard-earned PTO to, as they say, get my shit together. In Feburary I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. While the diagnosis wasn't a complete surprise, it still takes some getting used too. At first I blamed myself - bad eating habits, etc., but after talks with doctors & nurse educators, I discovered I would most likely be diagnosed at some point. The good news was my AC1 was 5.7 which is considered good. The bad news is the weight loss program I put myself on doesn't mess with a low-carb diabetic diet so it's back to square one.
For the last month or so, I've been trying to get into a routine that includes working out 45 minutes a day, cooking most of my meals from scratch, sleeping 8 hours a night and taking my meds on time. I have failed miserabely. Enter PTO - 40 hours of it - beginning in 44 minutes.
In addition to turning into the perfect patient, I am devoted copious amount of time next week to crafting. I won't discriminate, there will be hats to knit, shawls to crochet, iPad cozies to sew and maybe even some cross stitch. I'm also hoping to put our sweet little American Eskimo Mila, on a schedule. Or, more accurately, put her mother (aka LizNast) on a schedule. On top of all these projects, I'm attending my high school alumnae assocation luncheon next Sunday with drinks the night before with classmates at my mom's bar. I can safely say, I will not be bored.
And when my Gmen kick some socal blue this weekend, it will the start of an epic week.
Wish me luck and let the games begin, in three, two, one.

let the games begin......

2010-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

Al Michaels says the Opening Ceremonies are just minutes away - even know I know it started 3 hours ago irl, I'm excited. Cast on for the hat already. Going to cast on the scarf soon - thenfGetch before I go to bed. game on knitter!

14 days

2010-01-29T11:22:00.001-08:00

till the Ravelympics . Go Team TrueBlood!

it was the breast of times......

2010-01-22T11:30:00.001-08:00

yeah breast. i said it. technically typed it. and i know i'm missing puncuation. i am using my g1 to blog and i am too lazy to use puncuation or spellcheck. Why breast? got my mammogram, blood work and colon scoped out. If all the tests are good I shouldnt have to set foot near Kaiser for at least a year ;)

pictures......we need pictures!

2010-01-07T12:52:00.001-08:00

I love that I can now blog from my phone. And I L O V E my phone but what is the use of blogging from a phone without pictures?

Productive Tuesday

2010-01-05T14:49:00.001-08:00

lunching....knitting.....& blogging makes for a very productive Tuesday. Now if I could figure out how to add a pic to this post it would be the perfect lunch hour!

Sooooooo Sloooooooow

2009-12-29T14:50:00.001-08:00

Why is it that the holiday weekend can fly by and these 4 days of work before the new year are crawling along. I want to be done with 09 and move on already!
09 did have some highlights - noteably reconnecting with my SJU girls via Facebook. But. it was also The Year of Stress, Weight-Gain, Unfinished Projects & Hot Flashes. So bring it on 2010 ---- I'm ready for you.

Have a crafty New Year!

2009-12-26T15:57:00.001-08:00

Because I sure will. I discovered. through my holiday knitting, that I am one crafty old lady when I don't confine myself to someone elses's pattern. So my plan for the new year is to flood etsy and eBay with my craftiness. Wish me luck!

On the 5th day of Christmas.......

2009-12-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

my mother gave to me.....FIVE skeins of yarn.....

5 days before Christmas, my mother comes to me with a bag of Lion's Brand & a scarf from Target. I should have run screaming but no, I'm a knitter, I can do ANYthing. Turns out she wanted to buy a matching hat, scarf & gloves for my daughter's best friend in her favorite color blue as a Christmas gift. She finds a scarf and gloves but no hat. But wait, that's not a problem. Her daughter is a knitter, all she needs is some yarn. Now, if this had been a project for anyone other than my daughter's best friend, I would have driven my butt to Target and found a matching hat, scarf & gloves in her favorite color (which happens to be green, not blue - and how do I know that? cuz I'm knitting her some socks, in green!). But my daughter's best friend is part of the family so she gets a hat. First pic is with said scarf. My daughter wants me to add ear flaps but I'm not feeling the flaps so we'll let Shanay decide. Not bad for an improvised design and 4 hours of knitting.

I'm thankful for:

2009-11-27T16:31:00.001-08:00

~having a talented and thoughtful daughter who prepared the entire €hanksgiving meal.
~having a son who pushed me to go to his grandfather's house to share their Thanksgiving meal.
~having the means to be able to do some Black Friday shopping
~having a strong roof over my head and a strong family within its walls

gooble gooble

2009-11-25T12:09:00.001-08:00

this year will be the first Thanksgiving in close to 30 years where I have not been responsible for cooking the meal. It's not like I am passing the torch - I would much rather be home now brining a turkey - but I am in for a lengthy work day so I asked my daughter for help prepping the meal. that turned into my mother taking over. The menu so far: turkey, honey baked ham, prime rib, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, au jus, dressing, pumpkin pie and turkey tetrazini. Note the lack of vegtables. I fear for our lives.

go away bug

2009-11-19T17:14:00.001-08:00

why is it, that on one of the busiest work weeks of the year, which happens to also be the week of my son's birthday AND the week before Thanksgiving, do I have to come down with a bug ......for the 2nd time in a month. Enough already.....I got things to do - not the least of which is knitting a buttload of Jayne hats and planning a party for 100. Calagon take me away.

use the force george

2009-11-14T19:45:00.001-08:00

men who stare at goats was not great but was entertaining any movie with george clooney and jedis will always be on my must-see list now its knitting time
i am working on a jayne hat (huge surprise, right?), a dropped stitch scarf using lorna laces, some Scar socks (remember SWII?), and plotting out one or two pairs of fetching gloves.
Wish me luck - gonna need it!

men who stare at goats

2009-11-14T15:19:00.001-08:00

planned on going shopping instead i am at the movies i am sooooo spontaneous solo movie woo hoo

men who stare at goats

2009-11-14T15:18:00.001-08:00

planned on going shopping instead i am at the movies i am sooooo spontaneous solo movie woo hoo

Best Scholarship Ever

2009-10-06T22:14:00.000-07:00

I feel in love with this store on a trip to Lake Tahoe a few years ago - If I lived in Reno, I'd seriously stalk Jimmy Bean, whoever he is (lol). Today, I was reminded why I love them:
http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/scholarshipHome.asp
A college scholarship for knitters - can't get any better than that!

The stash that ate my bedroom...

2009-10-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking....it can't be that big....my stash is huge......hers can't be bigger than mind. Guess what? It is large, huge in fact, bigger than it should be - more yarn than any normal person should be allowed to store in their home. But, as you know, I'm not a normal person, I'm a knitter and I L O V E yarn. So this ginormous stash of mine - full of good, great and mediocre yarn - is being downsized. And, in order to downsize, I must organize least I de-stash something really good, right?
I know what you're thinking again - it's still not that big and she's still not going to downsize that much. You're half right - I probably won't be able to part with most of it - and I think my family's ready to sign me up for Horders - so I'm going to pretend to de-stash (it's ok - they don't know I have a blog).
And just to prove that mine is bigger - photos of some of the dozen 66 gal, tubs taking up residence in the back half of my bedroom - mind you this doesn't include the container under my bed or the 3 or 4 bags that hold current WIPs.

look! pictures!

2009-10-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

Oh how I've neglected you dear sweet blog.....

2009-09-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been a bad, neglectful blogger of late. I won't bore you with details, or make excuses. Life goes on.
So while I sit here in my cube, waiting for the last show of the day to be ready to send out to the hungry masses, I'll dazzle you with some photos of items I will NOT be adding to my ravelry queque:

As much as I love bacon, I don't want pig's tails circling my neck.

If I ever decide to shave my head, I'll be making something to cover it - not my shoulders and not in puke-green. Actually, the house we live in now was once that color - however, my father didn't call it puke-green. He called it sh*t-green.

My sofa will get a hand-knit, white, cabled slipcover when:

1. It learns how to knit;
2. It learns how to repeal all manner of liquid and
3. When pigs fly (see pic #1)

Why yes, I did save the best for last. Why won't I be knitting this? One word: breasts.

True Blood Afghan

2009-08-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

Progress made on my True Blood afghan - I've been having a hard time figuring out how I want the squares to look -and two screen captures I have are totally different color-wise so I just made shit up and organized how I want to place the granny squares. I'll need almost 200 squares and I've got 4 done - LOL - but I'm happy to be crocheting something again .

Hooks, Fiber & Blood

2009-08-21T23:27:00.000-07:00

True Blood that is.....my absolute favorite TV series. And my absolute favorite character on that series....Lafayette. Imagine my joy when the tv series departs from the book series and gives Lafayette a second chance. Here he is....under all those granny squares. And here I go....to Joann's because you can't knit a granny square afghan based on a black, gay fry cook from the bayou - who has no problem whoring himself out for a little extra $$$ - with expensive yarn. Besides, I have a gift card that I need to use.

That makes about 20 projects I have in progress.....here's hoping I finish one or two before the year's over.

Santa's Summer in San Francisco

2009-08-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

Tahoe Mini-Golf

2009-07-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

2009-07-02T08:29:00.001-07:00

TGIT.

2009-06-29T10:07:00.001-07:00

nd drive....drive.....drive. Would have been the perfect way to celebrate turning 50!

2009-06-29T10:06:00.001-07:00

Wish I would have thought of this last year, but I now know what I want for a dream vacation. Road trip! Rent a Winnebago or. Better yet. A tour bus, a

2009-06-25T23:07:00.003-07:00

talent and not his court case.

2009-06-25T23:07:00.001-07:00

Still no knitting content. Remembering the birthday when my gift was a record player and "Got To Be There". It's so sad and I wish they're focus on his

2009-06-25T09:07:00.003-07:00

the sewing machine.

2009-06-25T09:07:00.001-07:00

Wonder if I can post from a speeding BART train? And if I can, wondering why I havenlt had any desire to knit of late? I have had the urge to break out

2009-06-24T22:27:00.001-07:00

Testing 1 2 3 4 5 6

android phones rock

2009-06-24T22:23:00.000-07:00

Why? Because it's super simple to post from my phone!

the rabbit died

2009-06-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

Old School circa 1965 - appropriate today to include because there's a clear view of the TV's rabbit ears atenna - shortly after this we got cable - one of the first neighborhoods in the city to get it because of the BART construction. woo hoo for cable and 500 channels

Look! A FO!

2009-05-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

Baby shower gift - turned out much better than I expected. I miss crocheting - this was a fun project - now off to make some granny squares.

32 years later

2009-04-26T00:13:00.000-07:00

the girls of the class of '77 still looking fierce

Knit with Duct Tape Much?

2009-04-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

Alli gets a makeover

2009-04-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

Alli got a nice bath and is drying. Her new parts are waiting to be sewn on. Naked she seems more dragon like than gator-ish so I gave her a little pink tail. and - just to be clear on her gender, some frilly eyelashes. I may give her some polish on those nails but we'll see how much time I have tomorrow.

From Drop Box

From Drop Box
At Joann's buying new felt for Alli, I found a "Learn to Quilt" wall hanging kit on sale for ten bucks - I bought August which teaches "nine-patch blocks". I'd like the idea of a smaller project to do some real quilting. I've done patchwork but never machine quilted it. I'm excited to do some sewing!

Alli the Gator (aka How I Became A Knitter)

2009-03-31T20:09:00.000-07:00

39 years ago in Mrs. Caster's 5th grade class, I, along with my 35+ classmates, learned how to knit. We started off making squares which Mrs. Caster stitched into blankets for the poor pagan babies in Alaska. (totally true btw).
I wanted more. The rhythmic clink clink clink of the aluminum needs was somehow soothing to me. Truth be told, I was one of those kids who finished a test in half the time it took everyone else. I did everything fast. So Mrs. Caster obliged when I wanted something more challenging, and most importantly, time consuming. She handed me some purple yarn and a pair of needles and told me what to do. Cast on 6 stitches and knit for 7 rows. Increase here, decrease there. I swear she didn't have a pattern and I was not sure what this was going to look like when finished. I'd complete a few rows and head up to her desk and she'd give me another instruction. Weeks and weeks of stolen moments during class went by and soon I had two pieces of fabric. Mrs. Caster tells me to stay inside during recess and we'll work on sewing and stuffing. Two recesses and one lunch hour later, Alli the Gator was born.
As you can see from the photo, Alli's seen better days. Overjoyed at finding her, I've decided to devote this weekend to give her a makeover....no, a face lift because surgery will definitely be involved. I may even knit her up a playmate.
After 40 years after making her, looking at her ragged ears and dirty belly, she still makes me proud.

cutest.dog.ever

2009-03-30T00:12:00.000-07:00

Jack

2009-03-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

If you've never heard of Three Irish Girls, you are missing soooooo much. I'm not sure if they're really Irish, if they're really girls or if there are actually 3 of them. I am sure they create the most amazing colorways on the planet. With so many amazing color choices, it's always an agonizing decision. I have been a subscriber to one of their yarn clubs and I am never disapointed.
So yesterday, sitting innocently in my Inbox, there sat an email with a link to their spring collection. Love.At.First.Sight. I admit, I get overly excited when it comes to yarn. But as I clicked through the pages of the catalogue, I came across Jack. Jack has a cheerful blend of blues, greens, tans and yellow. Years ago, my dad had a favorite sports jacket - in fact I think we buried him in it. It was a baby blue and yellow plain design that screams "I shop at JC Pennys". He always wore it with a butter yellow sports shirt and a pair of blue plain pants. Of course the two plaids didn't quite match up. And if it was a really dressy occasion he'd break out the tan faux leather dress shoes.
In fact, I'm sure we buried him in that exact outfit - it was his favorite. I'm not quite sure how these three irish lasses knew this and named this wonderful yarn after my father, Jack, but they did. And despite the fact that I've got huge expenses this month and may be unemployed next month, I'm buying me some Jack. Not sure yet what I'm going to make with it - I'm almost thinking it needs to be an airy crocheted vest - it has to be something I'd actually wear - and something that shows off the colorway without being too flashy. hmmmmmmmm

St. Patrick's Eve...or

2009-03-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

a Keane day of rest. Our Irish pub extravaganza is over so today has been a day of rest. Bartenders do the dirty work on the 17th - with Irish tacos - a Mission tradition - and me tucked away safe and sound at home. I'll be knitting and watching all the stuff I've recorded on my dvr for the last few weeks.
I did make progress on Mr. Foster and the crocheted baby blanket and spent half the day at work daydreaming about knitting. I think layoffs are on the mind of pretty much everyone on the planet these days and I swear, some days, I thing it wouldn't be so bad because I could finish all those wips. Course, I'd have to start eating yarn cuz I wouldn't have $ for food or PGE or the internet - but you gotta look on the bright side. For now, I'll steal 10 minutes on BART and work on prayer shawls & Jayne hats and save Mr. Foster for tv time knitting.

Happy St. Patrick's Day blogsphere - Slainte!

I blog, therefore I am

2009-03-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

I'm at home today, sick with the head cold from hell. Or maybe a virus because I'm achy all over and get dizzy when I move too fast. Not nauseous - well, except for the moment I opened my daughter's door and the unmistakable aroma of puppy poop came wafting out.
What I have discovered in the early sleepless hours of this morning is that knitting takes just a little bit too much energy - which is my tipping point for the call in sick/tough it out at work decision. So I called in sick and now I'm home, in front of the TV waiting for something great to show up on QVC so I can spent my tax refund.
Since my head is too foggy to work on any of the dozen WIPs in my basket, I thought now would be a good time to clean up my website & blog. Apparently that requires a limited amount of firing neurons because my webpage looks purty again. Well, parts of it; it's a non-fiber WIP.
I need to figure out how to create a little status box on this for wips - so that I'll be guilted into finishing them. Currently, I'm working on:

Mr. Foster - kit arrived Tuesday, still winding yarn and gathering myself
Susie hoodie - signed up for the KAL for this on Ravelry sometime last year, currently on row 4.

Prayer Shawl - my own pattern - about 20% complete
Noah's Ark Baby Blanket - crocheted - totally cute - totally need to finish before the baby is due
Socks - several pairs in several stages - contemplating the great sock frog-off as I don't really like any of the ones I'm knitting. I need a cool green color to knit shanay some monkeys - maybe some of the 3 Irish Girls from the sock club

Urban bag -it's been on the needles forever - need to frog it or finish it.

Oh yeah, I bought a Wii from HSN. Someone take away my remote and my credit card, NOW!

Me after one too many Jayne hats

2009-03-10T00:23:00.000-07:00

Who Are You? Who Who?

2009-03-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

Your results:
You are Obi-Wan Kenobi

You are civilized, calm, and
have a good sense of humor,
even when those around you don't.
You can hold your own in a fight,
but prefer it when things
don't get too exciting.

Obi-Wan Kenobi		70%
Han Solo		66%
Boba Fett		65%
Lando Calrissian		63%
Princess Leia		62%
Luke Skywalker		61%
Mace Windu		61%
Yoda		60%
Chewbacca		59%
Padme

(This list displays the top 10 results out of a possible 21 characters)

Click here to take the Star Wars Personality Test

what I want for christmas

2009-02-28T17:43:00.000-08:00

It's all my fault.

2009-02-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

conscious me: I admit it, I'm guilty, it's all my fault.
subconscious me: But T, why this shocking admission of guilt?
conscious me: It's a little embarrassing to admit but I've started a cult.
subconscious me: A cult? But aren't you catholic?
conscious me: Well yes, but not exactly in good standing.
subconscious me: So you started your own religion.
conscious me: No no no, it's not a religion, I've just lead people down a path, a path that some fear is evil. It costs them time, money and sometimes, one's sanity. Once you start, you can't ever stop. I knew this, but I did it anyway. I've turned them into (sigh), Knitters (with a capital K). I've enticed, enabled, encouraged, educated and turned out a coven of knitters.
May god have mercy on my soul.

As punishment for my sins, I think I'm going to knit this:

I made a list :)

2009-02-25T20:58:00.001-08:00

See what happens when you google yourself (yeah, I should be knitting and not googling).
I may even get to meet the Hero of Canton this weekend.

Why I Love San Francisco

2009-02-24T17:03:00.000-08:00

This was my view today during lunch. I was taking a web class in the Financial District. Kitty-corner from the building I was in, was the Church of Scientology. Truly depressed that they didn't rush out to convert me (I must not look rich enough), I crossed the street and landed in front of the Alioto law offices. Joe Alioto was one of this city's great mayors from a storied San Francisco family. After grabbing a sandwich, I wanted to take a up-close pic of TransAmerica pyramid with my cool new phone so I walked up another block and discovered a small garden. Beautifully manicured, with wooden benches scattered around a whimsical water fountain, this spot sat at the base of the pyramid. Once inside, it would be hard to imagine you're actually in the middle of a major metropolitan city - well, except for the huge pyramid jetting up through the foliage. This is why I love San Francisco.

and now for some knitting content - check out the frog:

My new toy

2009-02-21T01:02:00.000-08:00

Inspiration

2009-02-15T23:26:00.000-08:00

I'm about to knit up a ton of Jayne hats - and needed some inspiration.

sunset & storms

2009-02-13T21:14:00.000-08:00

this looked way better in person - driving through west portal on the way to stonestown to buy my nieces birthday gift

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

2009-01-23T00:42:00.000-08:00

It's no longer the attitude of the country, but simply a line from a song.
Watching Jay Leno tonight - which I NEVER do - a PSA came on from our new president with a call to service. He mentioned a website - so I pulled out the laptop and searched for volunteer opportunites. And as I'm shy in a lot of social situations, I wanted to find something I'd be comfortable with and still make an impact. So I get to the website and do a couple of seaches: donating blood - nope, last time I did that I fainted - apparently I'm anemic; running a website for midwives - not sure how that's charitble; etc. A few more clicks later and I saw a headline "Knitters, Quilters, Crocheters Needed". Eureka. So I'm now registered with volunteermatch.org and am awaiting details from the organizers for a Hospice in Mass. which needs prayer shawls. To be able to use my passion to be of service to someone in need, is truely a gift.
One of the long lasting lessons I learned from the Ursulines was it was my duty to sacrifice - that was how you served God - when you put that 25 cents in the little milk carton bank for the pagan babies, it meant you weren't getting ice cream or a cup cake at lunch, but those babies were going to get something they needed. You didn't need the ice cream - you had everything you needed - but they didn't. It's a fairly simple practice. And one I'd lost. Most of my acts of charity these days involve a credit card number. I'll still keep up my donations to doctors without borders but now I'll physically be doing something. Baby steps!

Happy Birthday

2009-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

As I was keying in today’s date to run a report at work, I felt my face get flush and tears begin to well up in my eyes. I realized today would have been my cousin Debbie’s 50th birthday. If she had lived, I would have spared no expense today to remind the world that she was now officially old. I would have planned and plotted for months, with my sister and her sister, on ways to embarrass Deb – geriatric male strippers, dead roses, lifetime membership to AARP, and some sort of obscene cake would have all been part of the festivities. No doubt she’d reciprocate in August when I turn 50. But my cousin, whom I shared so much with as a child, chooses not to be here for this momentous occasion.
Over the past 15 plus years, she’s missed out on all the significant events in her goddaughter’s life. She would have been the cool aunt both my children could pour their hearts out to without fear of any of it getting back to me. She would have taken my son to concerts, gone to my daughter’s volleyball games. And she probably would have been the one to teach them both to drive. But don’t get me wrong, she was not, but any stretch of the imagination, perfect. There were times when I hated it because she was so hard to deal with. But, she was family; more like a sister than a cousin and we shared a bond and a history that couldn’t even be broken by death.
So happy birthday Debbie, maybe we can celebrate together in another 50 years

They've got more than 6 months...

2009-01-05T22:45:00.000-08:00

until I turn 50...surely my children love me enough to get me this cake (sans the embroidery hoop).

You know it's going to be a good year....

2009-01-01T00:34:00.000-08:00

when you hear this on CNN:

Happy Freaking New Year

2008-12-31T01:36:00.000-08:00

The last day of a fairly crummy year deserves a fun pic - it's me and half a dozen of my closest friends on my 29th birthday - seems like just yesterday. Here's hoping 2009 is as much fun as my 20's.

Wish List

2008-12-11T23:01:00.001-08:00

I posted my Amazon wish list - let the gifting begin :O

My Amazon.com Wish List

we wish you a merry......

2008-12-07T00:32:00.000-08:00

Here Comes Santa Claus

2008-12-06T18:45:00.000-08:00

best.video.ever

2008-12-03T21:00:00.001-08:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Maybe I'll build me a husband

2008-12-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

Mas Family

2008-11-27T23:13:00.000-08:00

Family

2008-11-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

Problem Solved!

2008-11-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

I was so worried about what to get my camels this Christmas......

no one cares when you mess with the droid........

2008-11-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

I want to live in her world.....

2008-11-04T22:17:00.000-08:00

Halle-freaking-lujah!

My daughter, who turned 18 barely a week ago, voted for the first time today. It's been a big week for her - turning legal, getting her first (and only I hope) tattoo, and voting in her first presidential election. And tonight, she and I, and my niece could barely contain ourselves watching Obama's acceptance speech on tv. Our phones lit up all nite with texts & tweets of celebration. I don't ever recall an election - even ones when I worked in newsrooms and could watch a dozen live cameras pn election night - where the voting public was so overjoyed by the results.
233 years ago, we were just a bunch of revolutionaries. But our founding fathers and the genius of "we the people" struck a cord and launched what was to become the strongest, most innovative , most powerful nation on the planet. The concept of "we the people" was far more than the preamble to our constituion. It was, and is, the fundamental truth that all that is great about this country comes from our ability as individuals to unite together and accomplish the most amazing things. Well, we the people spoke tonite and we didn't whisper, we roared with a mandate to carry out a sea of change. And that change, it's not so much different that what our founding fathers sought out. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - things we've lost the last 8 years. We're going to get that back and in the process, we're going to make the world a safer, cleaner, more united place because this truly is our moment in history.
There's only one spot of grey in tonight's celebration -- California's Prop 8. Earlier in the week, my daughter came to me with questions about different ballot measures, including 8. She was shocked to learn that same sex couples may lose the right to marry. She assumed in a free, democratic country where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are fundament, that any two adults who wanted to marry, could do so legally. She had no idea that same sex marriage was even an issue. In her world, race is not an issue, gender is not an issue, sexual preference is not an issue, and religion is not an issue. Looks like, I hope, in this new dawn of ours, we'll all be able to live in her world.
I leave you with a picture of my daughter's new tattoo - it's the word "family" written in Arabic.

V O T E !!!!

2008-11-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

Pretty Funny Shit

2008-10-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch_synchronized_presidentia_9857.php

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Happy Birthday!

2008-10-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

Tw reasons to celeebrate this weekend - my daughter turned 18 on Saturday - I survived cooking 160 pieces of chicken (yes, I counted them), 20 lbs of potato salad, 4 lbs of mac salad, 4 dozen hamburgers and 3 dozen hot links.

More jayne please

2008-10-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

First of all, that pic of my shredded right calf looks nasty. For those of you keeping score, I think it looks worse now, all scabby and red. In other news.......the Jayne hats keep a coming.....I leave the listing up on eBay and weeks go by without a nibble. All of the sudden, lots of bites, so I took some new pics. But I was lazy, took em while I was sitting on my bed watching teevee - and it shows. So this weekend I'll have to make up a new batch of pics and update the listings (the usps has raised rates twice since I posted the current listing!)

In more exciting news (albeit, not much can be more exciting than Jayne), RHPS is being performed L I V E here in the city this month. I'd love to see it on Halloween night but I suspect it'll be a cluster f**k so I'll wait a few days after then take my demon spawn to go see it. Let's do the time warp again.

Ouch II

2008-10-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

It H U R T S and I'm turning into the biggest baby. None of those cuts are deep but damn, they hurt. And it's all bruisey and achey and itchy and it burns when I take a shower. Unfortunately, it's not bad enough to evoke any family sympathy so I'll have to get over it.

I did cast on again for Susie - I noticed a mistake in the cable and in trying to fix it, I made it far worse. Part of the problem with using an acrylic blend is that the yarn has no life. In trying to correct the cable, the stitches I frogged got all splitty and fugly. The end result was a most painful frogging all nine thousand, three hundred and forty five stitches. Immediately I cast on again and made it through 3 entire rows.

I've also cast on for Jayne hats to prepare for some holiday ebay shoppers - never hurts to be prepared.

O U C H

2008-10-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

The fence is done and looks great.
Can't say the same for my left leg. Took one for the team when I tried to climb a rock wall to reach the top of the fence. My foot went through the top of an almost empty 5-gal paint can. I did stay on my feet though, took a shower in waterproofing tint, and did something nasty to my left arm but I guess it could have way worse. It didn't even hurt much when it happened - just felt like a scratch. Of course when my daughter's friend walked over and asked if my leg was bleeding, and I looked down and saw little rivers of blood - then I thought it might start hurting soon. So I put down the paintbrush, hauled my ass off to the shower and cleaned it up. While in the shower scrubbing away the tint and paint, I knew then, this was going to hurt. I was right. Out of the shower, it bled through two sets of bandages and throbbed like a mo-fo.
Once I was all nice and clean and not dripping blood, I thought it was the perfect time to work on Susie. Wrong, I notice a major mistake on the cable and attempt to fix it. I won't bore you with details, but several f-words were used, the most significant one being F R O G.
So back to square one - casting on hundreds and hundreds of stitches. Such is life.

Priceless

2008-10-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

New redwood fence..........................................................$2800
Six paint brushes .............................................................$25.00
Five gallons of tinted waterproof seal.......................... $81.00
Watching your children spend their Sunday afternoon staining your new fence..........priceless

Palin/McCain '08

2008-10-10T13:22:00.001-07:00

Palin/McCain '08
Originally uploaded by tingley

This is why I L O V E San Francisco.

Yarn & Pagan Babies

2008-10-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

So I step into the elevator at work, in mid-conversation with a co-worker about how I learned to knit.

Me: "So she had us knit squares that she stitched into blankets for the pagan babies."

I'm met with a blank stare from my obviously non-Catholic co-worker in addition to a burst of laughter from the other woman in the elevator.

New BFF: "Oh my god, I haven't heard that expression in decades. Only a Catholic girl would say she learned how to knit because of the pagan babies. And not just pagan babies, it has to be THE pagan babies!"

My Co-worker: "What the ***k is a pagan baby?"

You know it's going to be a great day when your elevator ride is full of pagan baby knitting conversation :)

You Betcha!

2008-10-04T00:37:00.001-07:00

Looks like my favorite late-night talk show host is not a fan of everyone's favorite hockey mom.

If you knew Susie....

2008-09-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

It's cast on time - finally - for the Susie hoodie from More Big Girls Knits. I typed up my own spreadsheet of the chart and typed out the pattern line by line in hopes I won't confuse myself. The pattern, as written, has several different sizes and I've taken the suggestion from raverly boards to write them out. You can see a blurry version of parts of the chart and a poorly lit swatch to the left. So it's off to a big night TV watching and knittin'.

Slacker no more

2008-09-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

While I'm busy watching Heroes, I'm working on perfecting the cables for the Susie hoodie. I can't seem to get it right (maybe because I'm watching Heroes!) but I'm close. In the meantime, check this out: slackeruprising

DOA

2008-09-19T14:44:00.001-07:00

Apparently my death dishcloths and my target's death dishcloths waved to each other yesterday as my death came mid-afternoon when a pair of lovely purple & white Diamond Lattice cloths were delivered. My assassian CPTwinkletoes did a fine job (it was my favorite pattern to knit - quick and easy). While I swore I didn't want to do any zombie knitting, I couldnt' resist hitting that button so we'll see if I get a new target. Zombie knitting is head-to-head so it'll be more of a race.
Meanwhile, I've still got to swatch the Susie hoodie cables, MS4 (which totally frustrates me), and finish up my Smackdown Beginner socks. None of those can be knit in transit - I have a hard enough time keeping track of patterns while sitting on my bed watching tv, let along in a stinky BART car.
I seriously need a real vacation - one without blood relatives or well-intending friends and/or co-workers - 4 days would do it - I'd even do LA - but I'd prefer NYC - a nice hotel with 24/7 room service, free internet for my laptop, and one of those Duane somebody drug stores close by. And a bath tub, a HUGE bathtub - even better if the tv can be seen from the bathtub. And bonus points for a mini-bar. Not much to ask, right?
Total tangent - but I've been listening to Rascal Flatts lately and they don't suck. On iTunes, I found a live version of them doing some Boston - and it was quite entertaining - perfect to listen to at work. If I'm turn into a country fan, then hell has frozen over, but I do like the clever lyrics and catch phrases. C'mon - let my heart rest in pieces? Classic. It's my new favorite song. Cheesy country-rock, best work music ever.
Happy Friday

scary

2008-09-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

These days I check the cnn business page way more than I'd ever done in the past. As I get closer to retirement age (still almost 20 yrs away), I worry about my 401k. I saw this poll. American's been wrong before (just look at the last two elections), I hope she's wrong this time too. It's a scary this we as a people have lost faith in our government.

Quick Vote
Can the Bush administration stabilize the economy?
Yes
17%
13607
No
83%
65619
Total Votes: 79226
read related article »
This is not a scientific poll

baby, I'm amazed

2008-09-18T01:11:00.000-07:00

at how obsessed I've become with getting these dishcloths in the mail. I've totally ignored MS4 swatching, Susie swatching and everything else. It's 1:13 am and I should have been asleep long ago but no. had to finish. had to put those puppies in a priority mail envelope. had to print out a prepaid label. I did stop at Stacey's on the way home tonight to pick up the new Mason-Dixon book. I also grabbed Knitting Without Tears. I've never read Zimmerman but her status as the supreme diva of knitting means I'm neglegent if I don't.
So 2 more dishcloths in the mail, along with some chocolate and a sock monkey bookmark calendar, rushing off to NY. They should arrive Saturday or Monday so maybe I'll make some progress on my other projects (including the beginner socks - I'm halfway done and stalled due to dishcloth obessession). With these, I've knit a dozen dishclothes even and should have way more points that show on the leaderboard.
and i never charged my cam batteries so no pics (bad blogger).

In for the kill.......

2008-09-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

again. So my latest victim has forwarded dossier info to me tonight and I'm halfway through the first dishcloth. I may just make some caffeine ladened beverage and go for 2 tonight. I'm going to charge my camera battery so I can post pics....let the countdown begin.

Hit me with your best shot

2008-09-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

USPS does not suck. I mailed that bad boy (along with a 2nd cloth) from my post office in SF on Saturday afternoon. It arrived Monday morning, to a little town in Maine. Didn't use express mail, just the semi-cheap priority mail. So now I've got 5 kills and I'm waiting for dossier info from Archamanda. If I'd gotten that info today, I'd have cloths in the mail tomorrow cuz now I'm in it to win it.
I tried to swatch for MS 4 but I wasn't havin a lot of luck. I'm tempted to just cast on - stoles don't need gauge - but dishcloths first!

Just a knittin' machine

2008-09-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

Another dishcloth - tempted to stay up late and go for #2 so I can get these puppies in the mail but work is going to be a bitch manana and I'm meeting friends for dinner later so I need to actually try and stay awake.

Dishcloth Deluxe

2008-09-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

More dishcloths go into the mail Monday morning making a total of 4 kills.

Mystery Stole IV

2008-09-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Yarn for Mystery Stole IV arrived today! I love Jimmy Beans Wool - superfast delivery, excellent prices and huge selection. I want to move to Reno just to be close to Jimmy Beans Wool. If I ever had another child I'd name them Jimmy Beans.
I attempted Mystery Stole III last year and I sucked. But I've knit a lot more lacy type projects (dishclothes & socks) so I think I'll have an easier time. Besides, I got the bestest purple yarn int he world.

I also finally got some yarn I like for the Susie Hoodie in teal. It's acrylic
but the color is amazing.

Lots and lots of knitting on my plate. I haven't re-listed Jayne hats on eBay because I sick of them but they bring in valuable cash that I use to supplement my yarn stash so I'm gonna have to knit more of those puppies. I am still alive in Olympic Yarn Smackdown (although my kills STILL do not register which is really discouraging) so I've got socks to finish and dishcloths to knit. Which is why I'm home, on Saturday night, blogging about knitting. Pity.

Totally not knitting related but....

2008-09-03T17:13:00.001-07:00

I saw this headline and it made me chuckle and throw up in my mouth just a little bit.........

Jamie Lynn Spears Sends Support to Palin's Pregnant Daughter
Teenage mom Jamie Lynn Spears has sent troubled Alaskan 17-year-old Bristol Palin a baby gift package following the scandal surrounding her pregnancy.
Spears, who revealed she was pregnant last Christmas -- when she was just 16 -- feels a kinship to Palin, the daughter of Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, and decided to show her support by sending designer baby burpcloths.
The Palin family confirmed reports their eldest daughter Sarah was pregnant shortly after the Alaskan governor was picked as Senator John McCain's running mate in the upcoming presidential election.
"Access Hollywood" has revealed Jamie Lynn's mother Lynne Spears called Los Angeles baby boutique Petit Tresor on her daughter's behalf to order a small gift.
A store insider explains Lynne and Jamie Lynn wanted to send a gift worth under $100 to Bristol, and chose a collection of Plain Mary white burp cloths with pink writing.
The note attached to the gift read, "Dear Bristol, Hang in there ... xoxo, Jamie Lynn."

First of all, I applaud Obama's remarks that family should be off-limits - especially under-aged family. Having said that, it was no nice to see those god-fearing republicans make personal attacks on Michelle Obama. But back to baby gate.

I can't quite figure out if Jamie Lynn now feels like her situation has been legitimized because she's not the most famous unwed mother of the moment. Or is she jealous because she's not the most famous unwed mother of the moment? I suspect it was less a gesture of solidarity and more a PR ploy. And a pretty inexpensive one at that - $100 ? Burp cloths? Yeah, that's what I wanted when I was ~~the world's most famous pregnant teenager~~ expecting my first child. I think what the poor girl needs, is some privacy.
/rant

I promise knitting content tomorrow.