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]