Wine and Needles: February 2005

2.23.2005

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Back to LA I Go....

Tomorrow I am leaving the comforts of the [nice and dry] Bay Area for sloppy-wet Los Angeles for the 2nd time in 10 days. At least on this trip I get a little leisure time which will be spent with La knitting and drinking wine on Friday night. I am taking a vow to ONLY bring projects in my WIP pile, since I seem to have developed an unhealthy addiction to casting on. I am slightly embarassed that my sidebar list is nearing double-digits, so I really need to bite the bullet and finish these things. As Jason put it, 'I've never actually seen you finish a project.' Hmm. Insightful.

Anyhow, on the last trip down south my co-worker and I roadtripped-it so I had no transport worries, but this time I'm flying and I am one of those people that has an unnatural phobia of being in the air. Case in point: I grip the chairs so tight during take-off my knuckles turn white. Turbulance [literally] makes me hyperventilate. Any change in the engine sound and I am praying for all my sins in preparation for meeting my maker.

This will be my first flight as a knitter (yes, it's been about 8 months since I got on a plane), so hopefully it will make the time go quicker and help me take my mind off my ~~impending doom~~ self-percieved fear. I've called Southwest Airlines about 4 times making sure that knitting needles are ok and I have been reassured that they are, but I am a little worried about LAX. I MUST have some in my carry on, because I am potentially going to be sitting at the airport for 4 hours on Saturday unless I can get on standby for an earlier flight. I'm armed with my print out from the TSA website saying knitting needles are ok, BUT....

Has anyone ever tried to carry needles through LAX/Southwest and gotten them rejected?

Speaking of traveling, this is a meme from Lori, which I am entitling:

'The Very Un-Adventurous Travels of Delia'

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

I'm not close minded, just very attached to my home state.

2.22.2005

Knit 1 Bitch 2

I am in a seriously pissy mood at work today. My email address (which was just sent out to 25,000 alums as a contact) has decided to disappear from the main database and my pleas for help have been ignored! As overheard to a coworker - 'is she sure she's typing her password correct?' DAMN, I mean, after 3 years I must have just spontaneously forget that sequence of numbers/letters that I type about 50 times a day. You're right - after 45,000 manual entries, it picked up and disappeared from my conciousness. My bad!

Plus, I have to go to the front services desk from 1 till 4:30 . Here is what I have to look forward to for the next 3.5 hours:

Student Approaches Desk
Delia: [sitting under sign that says 'Pre-Admission Counseling'] Do you have a Pre-Admission Questions?
Student: I just have a quick question.
Delia: [uh-oh, this is SO not pre-admission related]. Yes?
Student: I need to have a retroactive withdrawl from my classes.
Delia: [blank stare]
Student: It says to wait in the line for records, but that line is long. Do I have to wait in that line or can you help me?
Delia: [looking up at the sign above her head]. Sir, I do not have the access or knowledge of how to do that.
Student: So I need to wait in the line?
Delia: [Fighting back urge to insert sarcastic-ass comment] Yes.
Student: [forced sigh for dramatic effect] FINE!

Was I that annoying when I was an undergrad?

Don't get me wrong, I really do love my job, but sometimes you just gotta vent so you can stay sane and keep a good work face on ;)

On a completely different note, has anyone picked up Knit 1 from Vogue Knitting/Lion Brand? Any thoughts? I am going to be disappointed if I spend the $6 on it? (that's 3 bottles of 2-buck chuck). However, I am seriously digging this top:

We like shirts that 'minimize the bust' in this camp.

2.21.2005

Holy Motherload Batman!

Secret Pal, it was Christmas in San Jose on Saturday night! I returned home from my business trip in LA to find:

My roommate was in awe that there was not 1, but 2 packages for me in our mailbox! In the first there was:

Super stylish V-Day Card
Adorable Notepad with red flowers on it
Bracelet adorned with flip-flop charms (my FAVORITE shoes!)
A cheese board that SP got on a trip to Sweden last summer (yum, cheese... another favorite!)
6 Yarn Samples
Beaded Stitch Holder (for an up close photo on the sash of Kyoto, click here)

In the next, I was bombarded with snazzy sock yarn! Someone must have been reading my side bar where I wished for 'sock yarn and dpns'. I couldn't resist, I had to dive into the lovely pink 'Stargazer Lily' merino for my first sock! I cast on Sunday morning, at the very start of the Daytona 500, and here was the result at the end of the race:

(I figured that the stitch marker that I got from Marie at the SW dinner along was perfect for a sock)

It took a couple restarts (size 3 metal dpns were a TAD bit different from size 11 bamboo's), plus I took some time out to make stitch markers around lap 100 (photos when I finish the set). So just why was I watching the Daytona 500 when I have never even mentioned cars/NASCAR/races on here? Well, lets just say that JSwag has the same obcession with racing that I do with knitting.

So quite a lovely Sunday it was... after gorging on a dinner of mussels, salad, steak, and red wine the night before, we laid around all day watching NASCAR and knitting (well, Jason wasn't knitting). There was a bit of discontent in the house at end of the race (I was told that we are DEI (or '8 car') fans, not Rainbow Warrior (or '24 car') fans). If you know what that means, then you might have a NASCAR fan in your immediate circle.

Knitting:

I have been knitting A LOT the last few days. I am starting to develop this tough-skinned pointer finger on my right hand, a true sign of a hard-core needle-pusher.

Mom's Black Fuzz Scarf: Finished!
Kyoto: Back Panel - Finished, Sash - 1/3 finished
1st Sock: with Knit Picks Sock Garden Merino Wool - slowly easing through the cuff
IGS: 1 ball of 3, with some blue/peach/gold variated stuff from Michaels.
Jason's Beanie: waiting on size 8 dpns to complete.

I've also been looking at Rowan 4ply for the Lucky Clover Wrap from SnB Nation. There is no way I am going to finish Kyoto by March 1, so I expect to be the kid that falls to the back of the pack during this KAL. That's ok Delia, you can't win them all. Anyhow, I can't decide between these colors:

Anyone care to share some feedback?

Tagged! From Yifaa at Noodle Knits:

[1] How much space is left on your TIVO or Comcast box?

No clue. I did record every gymastic event from the Summer Olympics so I imagine not much.

[2] Have you ever bought a DVD of a tv series and if so which one?

No but if I did, it would be CSI.

[3] What was the last tv show you watched before reading this message?

The Shield; Jason and I actually watched 3 episodes as a part of our 'celebrate the couch' day.

[4] List five shows you won't miss:

CSI
CSI: Las Vegas
CSI: New York
Law and Order
Numbers

[5] Three peeps to pass this on to?

No tags. Proceed if you would like!

That's all for know. I'm back in the LA-area on Thursday (and can hopefully meet up with LA!)... I'm sure it will be a blast but I must say, I still lust for NorCal. A true Bay Area girl here!

2.17.2005

All Work and No Play...

...makes Delia a dull girl.

Which is what I have been for the last 3 days. Dull.

But knitting up a storm!!!! Lots of time riding shotgun!

I'm on a LA-area road trip (hi Jen/Laura!), and will update when I get home Sunday.

Ciao Bellas!

2.14.2005

Yes Sir, I am Guilty of Fondling the Yarn (and other musings from the weekend)

This weekend I learned how it felt to be a bonafide yarn fondler. More on that later. But first, the rest of the weekend:

Saturday night was the big SW Dinner-Along - and it was SO MUCH FUN! We had 11 people show (I am going to be totally honest and say that I can't remember all the names/blogs, so I have to wait until JenLa 'reminds' us with photos / names / blogs). With that being said, I am leaving the picture posting and cropping to the knotty girls, but I did have to steal this one photo: When Bennigans says 'death by chocolate', they aren't f*cking around. I was working on the 'sash' part of Kyoto most of the night and despite a constant flow of Fat Tire, didn't screw up any of the stitches.

Things I learnerd on Saturday night:

Knitting with your right needle jammed in your armpit (as yours truely does) is not common. Silly me to think it was my stylish scarf that people were starring at when I used to bring my projects out on the BART
Stylish stitch markers really are 'all that' . Marie brought us each a fun one - it was my first stitch marker that wasn't a boring plastic ring or beer tabs!. Thanks!
I still hate ~~drunken tone-deaf coeds screaming into microphones~~ Kareoke.
Don't trust La to be your time keeper (especially after 4 margaritas.... KIDDING LA!)

Sunday JSwag and I went to SF so he could look at a vintage Mustang he is thinking about buying. I was more than happy to tag along... and took the opportunity to make a side trip to that ellusive yarn store I've always heard so much about: Imagiknit. Oh. My. God. Luckily, before we entered the store I sent JSwag on a trip around the block since he has been so good about supporting my ~~obcession~~ habit, and he didn't need to see me panting and rubbing yarn like a crazed lunatic. I made it out of there in 45 minutes and with relatively little damage:

That's 2 skiens of Silkgarden (#88 and #47) for beanies, and 600 yards of Karabella Aurora 8 for Clapotis. Talk about yarn sustitution for dummies: this stuff was organized right next to the Lion and Lamb yarn used in the original pattern! And since I wasn't feeling the stripes, this was simply perfect. Now I just need something better than my ghetto-ass beer tab stitch markers for this fabulous Merino wool....

Knitting Updates:

Kyoto: Back piece is at 9.5 inches, Sash is a 2.
Mom's B-Day Scarf: 50% done... I've got until Wednesday at noon to finish!
Jason's Beanie: Had to dive into the Silk Garden. Must... knit... with Noro.....

I also joined Lolly's Lucky-Clover Along. Yay for small needles! I plan on using my KnittingGarden.com gift certificate for the yarn. That's all for now - Have a great Monday Night!

2.11.2005

Photos Phinally

I posted Irish Hiking Legwarmer Photos. For those of you too lazy to scroll down, here they are:

BOGO BOGO BOGO

I love that word. Ingenious. Jenny almost dropped everything she was doing last night for BOGO. I am willing to let my Friday night start an hour later. BOGO. As in, Buy One Get One. At one of the greatest stores of all time, Payless. Yes, you heard me right. Cheap, unique shoes and it's buy one, get one 1/2 off! I am fairly confident that by 5:30pm, I going to be the proud owner of:

for the total price of $44!

Look who's back! It's the man of Mancho fame! And this time he has a lovely lady on his arm. "Honey, I love you so much that I knit you some mitts so you can keep your DIRTY PAWS OFF ME!"

So obviously I didn't upload the photos last night of the Legwarmers. WELL, I could make up some cheap excuse about working late and having the power blow out at my apartment - but in all honestly I came home, shot the shit with my roommate and freaked out that they are actually advertising our apartments for $1125, went to dinner with JSwag at Spoons, drank a Fat Tire, flopped on the couch (but not THREW myself on the couch a-la-Jacqueline/Patsy Stone) with some 2-buck-chuck and watched 2 hours of CSI while knitting on Kyoto. So still no photos.

By the way, the Stitches West Dinner Along is going to be effing crazy. I think the RSVP list is up to like 25. I would call Bennigans and tell them that (never mind that I have called 3 times to up it from 10 to 12 to 18), but if we go over 20 then it has to be a banquet-style reservation, so I have a feeling that we can just slowly take over all the tables of people around us like a giant blob of knitting, yapping, beer-drinking leeches. Nice image, No? Seriously though, I asked that we be placed near the bar so that the overflow can go into that area. Jen and La have obviously already scoped out the scene and from the looks of these photos, they will probably be willing to hit the bar with me should the table become too full. I love those gals.

2.10.2005

Irish Hiking Legwarmers

So I was running late for work this morning (gee, imagine that...), so I was unable to upload the photos I took of the legwarmers last night. Here is the pattern, and I promise to get photos up just as soon as ~~they let me out of my cell block~~ I get home from work. [By the way, It's not that I hate my job, it's that I really do work in a 'cell block'. All the offices in the SSC are these weird, interconnected little pod-things that look like cell blocks. OK, WAY off base. Back to the legwarmers].

(I love the way that I was so modest about posing in a skirt while trying to take the first photo. I failed charm school, what can I say!?!)

Materials:
(2) Balls Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick, Color Fisherman

(4) Size 11 dpns
Cable Needle (or a 5th dpn)

1/4 inch wide ribbon
darning needle

Size S/M [M/L]
*keep in mind these babies stretch, and you want them to be a bit tight so they stay up. The M/L is also a good 2 inches longer, but you can easily adjust the legnth in either size by adding or subtracting rounds at the end. The size I am modeling is a S/M*

CO 32 [36] stitches.
Divide amongst 3 needles, Place marker and join, careful not to twist.
(Make sure you keep the 1st group of K6 stitches and the 3rd group of K6 on the same needle, because these become cables and are easier to keep track of when they are on the same one)

S/M
Row 1: *p2, K6*
Rows 2-7: Repeat Row 1
Row 8: P2, C6F, P2, K6, P2, C6F, P2, K6
Repeat 6 more times, for 7 total repeats [56 rows]
Row 57: *p2, K6*
Row 58: *p2, K6*
Row 59: *p2, K6*
Row 60: *p2, K6*

Begin Ribbing
Row 61-71: *p2, K2*
Bind Off in Patt

M/L
Row 1: *P2, K6, P2, K8*
Rows 2-7: Repeat Row 1
Row 8: P2, C6F, P2, K8, P2, C6F, P2, K8
Repeat 7 more times, for 8 total repeats [64 rows]
Row 65: *P2, K6, P2, K8*
Row 66: *P2, K6, P2, K8*
Row 67: *P2, K6, P2, K8*
Row 68: *P2, K6, P2, K8*

Begin Ribbing
Row 69-79: *p2, K2*
Bind Off in Patt

FINISHING:
Weave in ends. Thread a darning needle with ribbon, and weave through legwarmer where pattern ends and ribbing begins. Start on the left side of one of the cable panels, and thread ribbon over the K-ribs, and under on the P-ribs [This will make SO much more sense when I post photos].

When you reach the same cable you started with (ribbon should be inside legwarmer), thread both ends of the ribbon through the needle and pull them through the middle of the cable. Tie into a bow [this can also be used to adjust tension to keep legwarmers up].

2.08.2005

I Own Sock Yarn!

First and foremost, lookie what I got in the mail last night:

My secret pal got me some fabulous sock yarn and size 2 bamboo dpns!!! I L-O-V-E the colors in this yarn... This would have been exactly what I would have selected for myself! After the success of the DPN training session last week, I can't wait to get started on my first pair of socks!!!!

In addition, SP sent me the wonderful little eCard to cheer me up yesterday when I was upset about Viva. Thanks so much, and also to everyone else who left encouraging comments about the situation. After thinking about it with a cooler head last night, I decided that I am going to take her to get a 2nd opinion and if that vet recommends an ultrasound, then I am going for it.

$300 is worth it to me if that means she lives even 1 extra year (thanks, Alyx). Until then, Viva has been enjoying the fact that I pretty much let her do whatever she pleases, including sleeping on (and inevitably dumping god knows how much hair into) the Satalite TV receiver.

Current Projects:

I am plugging through the Irish Hiking Legwarmers, and I think I will have the pattern up in my post tomorrow. I've discovered that I really like Lion Brand Thick & Quick (for an acrylic yarn, anyways). These are in Fisherman, which is a great off-white color. It would make a great quick sweater - maybe something from Rowan's Big Just Got Bigger?

Next up is my mom's birthday scarf, which really isn't all that exciting but is the perfect IG project - I think what is pictured took me about 20 minutes to do. However, I think it has the potential to be a great glam scarf, if i can think of just the right touch to add to it. I'm thinking something with red ribbon, maybe a removable cluster of rosettes.

Finally, Attention all Bay Area Knitters:

2005 Stitches West Dinner-Along

Date: Saturday, February 12, 2005

Time: 7:00 pm

Location: Bennigans Grill & Tavern; 4150 Great America Way

Map

La and I have been working on putting together this little dinner on Saturday night. And since she doesn't have to drive anywhere, hopefully she will show me how drunken stitches is REALLY supposed to be played. Luckily, this is Saturday night and I won't have to fall victim to Stammtisch [thanks to Jacqueline for bringing such a wonderful concept to my attention]. Check out JenLa for more details and to RSVP.

2.07.2005

What Would You Do

This was a not-so-good weekend @ Casa D' Wine and Needles. On Saturday morning, Viva went to the vet and although her tooth and mouth were ok, the vet discovered that she has a heart murmur, which could possibly be the result of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or kitty heart disease.

I resisted the urge to burst into tears at the vet's office, and have had the weekend to mull over the next step which would be a $300 ultrasound to confirm if she has. It's treatable, but that ultrasound has to be completed before I can go any further. I took her home with me to Fresno on Saturday night because I was worried about her, and the whole weekend turned into a "you should / shouldn't get this ultrasound" from my parents and friends. According to Jason, I should do it for my own santity, if not for the cats own health.

Has anyone out there ever had a cat with a heart murmur? Any advice / suggestions / recommendations?

Then there's me. I have the worst cough I have ever had in my life. I am SHOCKED that I did not wake up half of the apartment complex last night with my hacking and wheezing. Literally, the only time it subsided this weekend was when Jason and I were drinking wine on Friday night [which was absolutely lovely, by the way]. Not beer, not water, but the red wine. Just one more reason it is the greatest beverage on earth. I am supposed to be on duty counseling students this afternoon, but I am afraid I am going to disturb the entire Student Services Center with my presence at the front desk. AKK!!!

Got a lot of knitting done in the car and during the Superbowl yesterday. My Fresno friends have given up the 'What the hell, you knit?' act and have actually become quite interested in my little hobby. Even though I was working on the boring rectangle of st st for Kyoto's back during the game, I was complimented numerous times on it.

Due to the events of the weekend I was unable to get photos taken, so a text version of progress will have to do.

Lana Grossa Drop-Stitch Scarf - Finito!
Kyoto - One ball finished, back panel is 1/2 done.
Irish Hiking Legwarmers - Ripped and restarted w/ fewer stitches. Pattern should be up very soon.
Mom's Birthday Scarf - cast on a little black number with one strand each of Bernat Boa and Microspun. Size 15 needles = very quick project.

More later. I am still in a pretty 'blah' mood this morning.

2.04.2005

I'm a Bad Mommy

Guess what I learned a couple nights ago.........

I'll wait..........

Ok, you got it... I mastered the DPN's!!!! I couldn't stand it anymore... I just HAD to get in there and try... so I pulled out the massive size 11's & Lion Brand Thick&Quick then went to town.... between that, red wine, a dashing young man and a cozy night on the couch, I feel 1,000 times better than I did a few days ago. In the works is a pair of Irish Hiking LEGWARMERS... stay tuned for a pattern....

So I am back in business. Ready to take on the world. Ready to knit socks. Ready to help La get this Stitches West Dinner thing going. Ready to do Lori / Heidi's Meme. But first, an update on the drama at Casa de' Wine & Needles...

Viva has been acting very bizarre the last few days. She has been meowing all day and night, REFUSES to get out of my lap, hasn't been eating, etc. I assumed it was because I had bombed the apartment for fleas a few days ago and the confinment to the small space drove her crazy, but after my 3rd night of restless sleep because of her constant meowing I decided to investigate further. I picked her up like a baby (stop rolling your eyes and go with it here), and was able to get a good look at her mouth - which is when I discovered that one of her front teeth is jutting out in an unnatural direction and very loose. OH MY GOD I AM AN ASSHOLE. All this time I have been kicking her off me at night and generally getting annoyed with her attempts to show me that 'Look, you moron, my god-dammed tooth is screwed up". Poor thing hasn't eated in 3 days!!!! I am such a BAD MOMMY!!!

My sister is never going to let me live this one down. Here I making fun of her for hitting her cat with a car, and I go and let mine go and practically starve to death. I ran straight to the store for fresh tuna and other soft kitty treats... hopefully to tide her over until her appointment at the cat hospital tomorrow. I have a pretty bad feeling this is how it is going to go: "Well, Ms. Rau, Viva is going to need oral surgery to fix this inflamed nerve... if we had caught it sooner we could have just pulled the tooth." ADIOS TAX RETURN....

Ok, now for the ever-so-popular music meme (by the way, the 'tagging' component of this thing is brilliant)

[1] Total amount of music files on your computer?
I have no effen clue, and it's not because I don't know how to go to my music file and check the size of the folder. I'm on my work computer right now, so the observation here would be obsolete. However, I do recall that iTunes tells me that I have at least 3 days worth of music in my library. Do the math ;)

[2] CD you last bought?
I haven't bought a CD in forever, but I am pretty sure that one was the Chicago Soundtrack. The last three CD's I received were Strange Magic: The Best of ELO, Tupelo Honey, and Moondance (both by Van Morrison.)

[3] What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?
Learning to Fly by Tom Petty. I'm on disc 3 of the 6-CD box set, Playback. Every Friday at work I listen to the entire thing, and by the time I get to the end it's time to go and start the weekend!!!

[4] 5 songs [and/or artists] you often listen to, or which mean a lot to you?
In no particular order:
a. Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison. My dad used to sing the song to me on the way to our Yosemite cabin when I was a little girl. The first few notes and I am back in the old Scout, in the foothills on our way up 41.
b. Bubble Toes by Jack Johnson. This will always be 'that song' that takes me back to college. The Lazy Daze at UCSB. Pitchers at Sam's to Go. Goleta Beach. Study Hall Bloodies. 6511 DP. If those things mean anything to you, you might have been a Gaucho. They obviously did to Jack (a gaucho), and this song encompasses it perfectly.
c. Tom Petty. He is my hands down favorite artist of all time. He was with me when I was 12 and spent the night crying in my room because my crush wouldn't talk to me on the phone. He went with me on my first road trip to Santa Cruz when I was 16. We drove to UCSB together in the Saturn when I was 18 and moving away from home for the first time. He consoled my hung-over ass the morning after my 21st birthday. I listened to him the in the morning when I was getting ready for my first day at my dream job 1 month ago. And I have no doubt he'll be with me for the rest of my life.
d. The Beach Boys. It's another 'tribute to my youth' thing, but for some reason these guys have really stuck. I can be totally happy listening to 2 straight hours of them on a long road trip.
e. Time to Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli . A song we used for my Grandpa's funeral, and it was absoulutly beautiful. The song will always have a very special meaning for me.

[5] Who are you going to pass this on to and why?
a. Heather, because I like her style and am curious about what music she listens to.
b. La, because she usually posts memes on Friday and today it iisstrangly absent (as of 11:53 am, anyway)
c. Robin, because I am completely in awe of the fact that she finished her clapotis in under 48 hours. What does this have to do with a music meme? Nothing really.

WEEKEND FORECAST: I'm heading to Cafe Niebaum-Coppola for dinner tonight, then running an ungodly number of errands tomorrow, driving back to Fresno for some midday drinking at Blake and Eric's Superbowl party (SO sad that I can't participate in the PJ-Fest), and hopefully crawling back to San Jose in time to make it to work on Monday morning. Have a great weekend, miei amici!

2.01.2005

Lost and Found

Here she is! Delia's 'new' ride, AKA Julia:

Also from the weekend: 2 Reasons that Fresno DOES NOT suck.

That would be 1) Dinner with the Rau's and 2) A view straight from a Windows Screensaver.

LOST: My mind, after a night of repetitive stockingette on Kyoto's back. Although I will say I am totally digging how great Takhi Cotton Classic is to work with. The stitches line up absolutely perfectly ~~even when you are doped up on Nyquil and can't see out of one eye~~ with minimal effort.

FOUND: my next IGS..... Thanks to Lori, whom found it from AutumnSnowDust, who got it from Knitters Review. I think it's a perfect stash-buster, instant gratification scarf. I will finish up the Drop-Stitch number tonight, since I am anxious to wear it out because this yarn is working up very soft and squishy. Wow, I actually used the word 'squishy' to describe something.

And because I am apparently stalking Lori in this post.... a meme from her blog!

Go to Google Images and find pictures for the following things:
# first car