Welcome to Day 1 of Holiday Mish-Mash

Ok, so when you haven't blogged in almost 2 weeks, and those two weeks have been ridiculously eventful, where the hell do you start? I know a good place! Yarn Porn!

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Santa, I've been a bad, bad, girl.
Click each photo for notes

	This was the result of the pre-Bay Area Departure binge at Commuknity, AKA Delia thinking she will never see yarn ever again. Yeah I know, stupid me...
	Wait, Big Wool is only $6.25 at Webs? Wait, I just binged 1 week ago? But this is a bargain! Over 50% off!!! Dammit!!! Plus I just bought ONE ball of the Ticker Tape because I touch it everytime I am at Michaels, just to convince myself it knits up gross. Um, that backfired... (see below)
	My SP6, Deborah over at Drive-by Knitting sent this last one, so I don't have to officially count it, right? I am so in love with the Lornas - and those Candles! They smell fabulous! And Deborah, thanks for sending that towel because it is the only holiday thing I have in my new place. At least the kitchen can be in the spirit!
	RUN, don't walk, to Michaels and snatch up this Ticker Tape* from Moda Dea for $2.69 (regularly $7.99). Any ideas on what to make with this? I've never played with Rowan Cotton Tape but I think it's similar. Swatch on size 11's. * if you are in Fresno, CA, please leave about 15 balls at the Michael's in Riverpark for me!

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FO's - The Belated Version
I know I've finished more stuff, but these were the only 2 that came to mind last night.

1)Daisy Cardi, in Patons Grace, just over 2 balls.

2)Lacy Kerchief from Interweave Knits, in Lion Cotton Ease, 2 balls.


I have also finished a chucky Wool-Ease scarf for my cousin, a couple lacey hats for Kaci and myself, and a scarf in Blizzard for my sister. I will photos with the recipants at Christmas.

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General Craziness
My last weekend in the Bay Area involved: a major sunset, Boony Doon vino, gymnastics, Outkast, and some other things I shouldn't talk about on here...



and speaking of, I swear I am not a lush but this is a preview of the Christmas Brunch, which I will save for tomorrow:


To Be Continued...

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PS - Viva does still exist. She's become a total freaking cat, by the way...

Back in Business

Slowly but surely, Wine and Needles is back on the scene. I've finally got the internet back at my place, but unfortunately the only time I've spent there in the last week has been in bed or rushing to get out of the house. And there is nothing like signing in to Bloglines to see over 200 unread posts. Oye. Add a small guilt trip that has prevented me from using the work computer as a blogging tool and you've got a situation that needs serious attending to. Anyway, I'm over the personal internet use at work-thing for this week, as made clear by my mid-day post.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not slacking here at the new post (which is AWESOME and I LOVE by the way), but I am literally the only one in the office (yay new employee with no vacation time!), I'm not doing appointments, and I have no projects to work on. One can only read a college catalog for so long before the eyes start to bug out of the head.

So I said I am SLOWLY coming back, which means I haven't uploaded photos to flickr/photobucket in about a month. I've got some good stuff in there: my new apartment, the great yarn haul of 2005, SP 6's AWESOME final giftie (Lornas! I LOVE you!), and the Christmas Brunch 2005 (heh heh, remember last year?). I am one of those people who likes my blog posts to contain photos, so on that note I will stop myself until those photos make there way here.

I will leave you with a bit a bragging because almost all my Holiday gifts are done (1 wristwarmer in superchunky yarn left), a bit of my frustration trying to find a freaking sock pattern for a ball of Sockotta yarn (need a tiny project to work on in the office for the rest of the week), and a holiday photo of my sister and I.



This was obviously an out-take.

Be back sooooooooooooon!

Where the HELL did the week go?

So I have like, a million cool things to blog about this week. For example I could talk about how I ravaged went shopping at the LYS like it was the last time I was ever going to see yarn, or how CJ took the time to come wish me well in person and bring me some adorable stitch markers. I could also bring up how my co-worker is a total knit-a-holic 1 month after learning (she already told her husband "just one more row!!!"). And of course, there are all the lunches and dinners and happy hours that I have crammed into this, my last week in the Bay Area.

But here I sit on Friday night, drinking wine from a paper cup and ordering pizza, 12 hours away from the start of the big day. No pictures were uploaded, very little knitting has been done, and I am going to lose my precious internets for god knows how long. I start my new job on Monday so I will barely have time to get all my stuff into the apartment. Internets, unfortunately, is a little less important than having a matress to sleep on.

So here I must bid adu to blog world for an undisclosed amount of time while I get my act together in Fres-to the-No. Next time you'll hear from me, I will have officially "moved home".

I guess I should go out and update all those frapper maps I've been signing...

Goodnight!

One Year Ago & HELP ME BUY YARN

Don't you love reading back through your blog to see what you were doing one year ago today? Well I do, I think it's one of the major benefits of keeping a blog.

Anyhow, guess what I posted one year ago today? The Irish Hiking Wristwarmers which gets about oh, 75% of the hits on Wine and Needles these days. History in the making, I guess.

Also, [about] one year ago I posted this meme, which I feel like doing again:

15 years ago today, I was…
1. in 4th grade, with the best teacher in the world (I still keep in touch with him today!)
2. picking up a softball for the first time. What a lost cause that was.
3. dancing the role of 'the Dream Matchgirl' in The Little Match Girl ballet.

10 years ago today, I was…
1. driving around with my learners permit
2. thinking I was hot shit because I was on Junior Varsity cheer.
3. obcessed with Mochas

5 years ago today, I was…
1. working the 6am shift at a Juice Bar. In college. What was I thinking...
2. using a fake ID (ssshhhhhh....)
3. taking tumbling for the first time in 3 years. OUCH!

3 years ago today, I was…
1. living in Santa Cruz, CA. Someone please remind me why I left that place!
2. working 2 jobs and studying for my MA
3. at the SPCA rescuing Viva

1 year ago today, I was…
1. nervously waiting to see if I got the Outreach job @ SJSU
2. ready to start a new chapter in my life
3. dating like crazy

So far this year, I have…
1. finally decided to move home (giving in, I would call it)
2. bought a new car
3. gained a best friend

Yesterday, I…
1. received some lovely parting comments from collegues at SJSU
2. got into bed at 9pm (WAY early for me)
3. picked out new furniture at target.com

Today, I…
1. had Tom Yaml Soup for the first time
2. will pack MORE stuff
3. knit at the staff Holiday party

Tomorrow, I…
1. will be GLAD it's Friday
2. will go out to dinner and probably drink too much to celebrate the end of my job
3. will visit my LYS for the last time!

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If you are still here, I have a question based on that last one: If you were visiting your LYS for the last time and were planning to spend a little $$$, what would you buy? I need some guidance so I just don't start grabbing.... HELP?

My Hands Hurt

Change is a'brewing at Casa de Wine and Needles. As indicated by the previous post, I will be moving from San Jose to Fresno in 10 days to start a new job at Fresno State. I am quite excitied to get back to the hometown (how often do people say that???), but I have a lot to do and think about in the next 10 days. Like oh, moving 4.5 years worth of stuff (including 4 boxes of YARN) across a mountain range and wrapping up 3 major projects at work. Plus fitting in social good-byes to all the friends and collegues I have in the area. Did I mention we have adopted yet another cat to add to the confusion?

So what's a girl to do? Knit like crazy to clear her mind! Yes, I knit to calm my nerves after the 2nd interview while I was waiting for that phone call from HR; I knit while I was feverishly scouring Fresno looking for an apartment in 24 hours (thanks for driving mom!); I knit while discussing with my roommate the logistics of seperating the internet, the furniture, the condiments (yes, we actually spoke of it), and the kitchen stuff. So are you ready to see my 10,000 stitches of serenity?





Ok then, we have 1) The Lavold-Cardi, made up along the way. 2) Beanie in Debbie Bliss Super-Chunky, X-mas gift for brother. 3) Daisy Cardi in Patons Grace, X-mas gift for nephew Garet. 4) Mini-Legwarmers in the above-mentioned Cashmerino, to warm my flipflop-wearing feet in the Winter. 5) A Claposcarf in Cotton Fleece, X-mas gift for my mom. 6) Multidirectional Scarf for um, me, because I um, wanted to.

Thank god Lisa is here to keep us knitters with startitis in check until some of these projects get off the needles. I've got 15 WIPs, people!!!!

On that note, I am taking a co-worker to Commuknity on Friday during lunch. She's a knitting newbie and I am going to show her the way of the wool and get her hooked up with some new needles and something a bit nicer than the Caron Simply Soft she's been toting everywhere. At the same time, I am definitely splurging a bit because let's face it, the LYS in Fresno doesn't really hold a candle. Yes, a bit more stash-enhancing is in order.

Finally, I have been having fun with all the little gifties secret pal sent:

See that cute bookmark? It's GOBLET lace. Isn't it SO Wine and Needles? Viva has been furiously defending the moto-mouse from the new, yet-to-be-named kitten, which is always entertaining. And those candles??? I LOVE them. There was also a nifty measuring cup which was making its way through the wash when this photo was taken. Thanks again, SP!

That's it for now... back to figuring out the logistics of my life... and knitting those Christmas gifts!

The Future...

Now:


Soon:


I was offered a recruiter position at Fresno State! I'll be home for Christmas mom and dad!

Blah

Warning: This is a bit of a downer.

Usually around this time of year, I am in the best of moods. Anticipation of the holidays, the cooler weather, and 'down-time' at work all greatly contribute to this feeling of happiness.

This year it is different, however. First off, why is is f'ing 78 degrees in NOVEMBER? I was treking across a parking lot yesterday, lugging a box of recruitment stuff, and I broke into a full sweat by the time I reached my car. Second, my allergies have made it nearly impossible for me to smell or taste anything for the last week. Third, I am sick of where I am living. Not my physical apartment, but the fact that I am the lone ranger in my family out here in San Jo, doing everything by myself and having to hear about all the great family stuff via email or phone. Finally, nothing ever seems to be going right at work. I just wish for ONE DAY I didn't have to apologize profusely for something COMPLETELY out of my control.

That being said, I've been spending a lot of time by myself lately (and knitting like a banchee) - the 'fun' gene is hibernating, I guess you could say. Just call me scrooge.

Anyhow, that's the end of my rant for now. I haven't been up to par on responding to comments or commenting to others, but that's just my state of mind right now. At least my roommate has been helping cheer me up:

I am so proud of her. She finally learned to knit in the round! (That's a bag, not a hat).

Also, this helped a bit.


I splurged and bought the nice stuff (DB Super Chunky + E. Lavold Silky Tweed) for ME. I've been KNITTINGKNITTINGKNITTING on Christmas gifts, so this is my selfish stuff. I whipped up some legwarmers and a hat last night, and started a top-down cardi with the Silky Wool.

Also, fabulous Secret Pal sent me some great stuff which I picked up last night, will be posting more updates soon....

D

A Day In The Life

I saw this over on a fellow knitter's blog and thought it was pretty interesting. I mean, what do I REALLY do all day?

Take a look for yourself....

7:35am

That's not some chi-chi brown fuzzy pillow. That would be the Cat.

8:30am

Cruzin' to work in the Suzi Suzuki. I'm running late but someone is looking out for me... I mean, how the hell is there NO TRAFFIC??

9:30am

Breakfast (Adagio Blood Orange tea & an onion bagel with cream cheese) and email. Resisting the urge to shop for yarn.

10:30am

Resisting the urge to go back to sleep in the face of an empty front lobby. Counseling anyone? ANYONE???

11:30am

My favorite! It's the damn manilla folders....

12:30pm

Gyros and knitting at Yiasso Greek Deli. Dear god I love this place - but today I held off on the Dolmas and instead we discussed the possibility of starting an office-wide French Woman Diet.

1:30pm

Looky what I swatched in the car on the way back to campus? Look closer...

2:30pm

Overheard: But are you a post-bac or a graduate student? NO! They are NOT the same thing!!! (note Kermie hanging on for dear life in the background. I love that guy)

3:30pm

Finishing touches on a project before it goes into the bosses box (Are you bored with my exciting day in the office yet?)

4:30pm

Washing dishes from breakfast as part of a plan to depart promptly at 5pm. Hurry Hurry Hurry!

5:30pm

AAKKK! Today I learned NOT to pick up the phone at 5:01pm. Still on the phone with the same parent.

6:30pm

Nail appointment. Ooh La La! I love this lday. She is the only one who will actually shape my fake nails short! (I like the artsy quality to this one... I was walking down the street when I took it)

7:30pm

Dinner with my buddy Joey at Aqui's in Willow Glen. Those Margarita-Sangria swirl things are awesome and industrial stregnth.
This is also what happens when you whip you camera out and try and catch a surprise photo.

8:30pm

The nightly chat with the 'rents. Hi Mom! You're on the internet!

9:30pm

Trying to get a handle on all my WIP's. This is much more pleasurable with the night-cap vino.

10:30pm

I'm actually watch a movie (VERY rare for me.) It's a weird 9 1/2 Weeks-esque film called The Secretary. I really like Maggie Gyllenhaal but this movie is bizarre. Roommate, where the heck did you get this? (Viva = evil eyes)

11:30pm

1 minute before I turn the lights out. Too lazy to take off my makeup tonight!

Try it for yourself. I can't wait to look back at this in a few months!

Someone Should Lose Their Job @ Abercrombie

Seriously now, isn't this like the 3rd or 4th time a headline has started with the words "Abercrombie and Fitch to pull offensive tee-shirts from shelves...."

[Link to Yahoo! News]

To Whom Do I Owe The Honor of Great Mail This Week?

Thanks for all the feedback on that skirt. I really do like the pattern and am pretty sure I would wear it, but I think I going to put it on the back-burner until Spring. Seeing as me and lace and still getting acquainted, I think this may be a little over my head and don't want to make this a painful experience.

Onwards...

Yarn and Knitting
I got the most AWESOME surprises in my mailbox this week. To whom did I owe such a great week of mail?

	Secret Pal, this package was AWESOME. I have never actually bought myself any Alpaca Silk and I broke into a happy dance when I opened this! They stayed wound up in balls for about, um, 30 minutes. I threw them in my travel bag and immediately cast on for some wrist warmers. Oh I love the card, that is so me and Viva! And those stitch markers! So cute! Thanks again, this was an awesome package.
	Koigu is finally mine to try! Jessica sent me this as an exchange for some Noro Kureyon. I can't wait to make yet another pair of wrist warmers with this goodness. See the dpns waiting so patiently? I can't be held responsible for another started project if these guys just happen to CO themselves....
	Cheryl, you must have been listening in a few weeks ago when I was furiously digging through my desk looking for notecards. Seriously, buying some were on my list of 'things to do' and these are PERFECT! THANK YOU!

My roomie and I spent all yesterday knitting on the couch, taking time out to go to the grocery to buy salt and vinegar chips. Just how much time was spent knitting? Well, lets put it this way: I finished up the alpaca silk mitts (still need end-weaving), 1 side of the recycled silk bag, the crochet edging on the baby kimono, all the decrease sections on the lacy kerchief, and the gauge swatch-satchet for Sweet Mary Jane. I also did some searching for a winter sweater to knit. I am thinking this sweater:
from Debbie Bliss Cathay, but since the thought of spending $90 on Cathay makes me shake, using Knit Picks Elegance instead.

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Travels and Good Times

	In between work travel, I spent a weekend in Capitola with my friend Kaci. We decided, being the crazy cat women we are, to have kitty play group at the same time. I will say, I have never seen two cats get along better after being thrown together in a room for 10 minutes.
Lola (Kaci's cat) even let Viva play on her scratch pad and eat from her food bowl. So while mom and Aunt Kaci drank some wine and played at the bars in Capitola Village, our girls drank water from the same bowl and played with cat toys. Really, we were very excitied about it.

Of course, there was a little party called 'Halloween' this weekend as well.

A few notes on Halloween costumes. I would just like to make it clear that in my opinion, it takes REAL women to actually wear clothes on Halloween. And speaking of wearing clothes, I would just like to point out that 90% of my 'Hippie' costume came from my own closet. I had to improvise this year because I didn't have time to put together a real costume, like Witchy and Peg Bundy. And that 2nd photo? No words, I just think its funny the things I do when I come home after a night at the pub. I may answer the door like that tonight when all the kiddies come trick-or-treating.

Happy Halloween Blogland!

Another reason you should drink red wine

King Tut was a man of good taste.

Updates soon. Yours truely has been "on the road again" and had some lovely things from a few generous bloggers to take with her...

To The Point

This post is to the point, because a) I have about 10 minutes and b) the 'wit' portions of my brain checked out about 3 hours ago.

New WIP (AKA: The Startitis at Casa De' Wine and Needles has gone unchecked for too long)

Starburst Sling Bag
Recycled Silk
Size 9 Needles

You're looking at my progress after 1 night. Not too shabby, considering this yarn tricks you into thinking you have carpel tunnel syndrome.

New FO's (AKA: There is light at the end of the tunnel!!)
1) Quick Mits in Knit Picks Andean Silk (size 6 DPN's), 1 Ball
2) Vineyard Socks for my brother in Knit Picks Simple Stripes (OK, these were done like ages ago but I never grafted the toes. FINALLY got around to it this weekend), 2 balls
3) Baby Hat to match the Baby Kimono (which I actually started and finished in pretty good time. This was also my first colorwork!), Leftover scraps of Rowan Calmer and Wool Cotton.

New Additions (AKA, Goodbye summer yarn diet, HELLO fall wool cravings!)

1) 4 Hanks Knit Picks Shadow, to make Sweet Mary Jane
2) 1 Hank Knit Picks Color-Your-Own, to see if I can sucessfully dye yarn without ruining my kitchen/bathroom/clothes.
3) 2 Balls Cotton Fleece and 1 Ball Sockata (thanks Kate for letting me stash dive!)
4) New books/patterns: Knit Scene (I give it a rating of a B-; I could make this, this, or this sweater) and Sweet Mary Jane from Knit Picks. Knowing my speed, if I start this now I can wear it next Spring.