Confessions

1) I need to confess that I really hate knitting Beau right now. Yes, I'm doing it lovingly for my wonderful husband but I am sick of K10, P10, repeat.

2) I'm also confessing that I am thisclose to losing my 15th pound since September. Yes I hate diets. I still hate exercising - I think it is a total sham when they tell you the more you do it, the more you'll like it. But I have to admit, I found this totally-80s, overly retro, I love to hate it workout on Fit TV.



I totally think I had those Reeboks back in the day.

Anniversary Weekend

My weekend, in photos.

Saturday was OMG-Amazing! weather around here, so we had a doggie playdate with my sister.



Typical that my sisters dog, Dean, is sitting there being handsome and Katy is a spaz attack x 1000.

We also went out to a fancy-schmancy dinner for our anniversary. To a place that had this appetizer that was basically shrimp drowning in melted brie. Um, the chef must have been poking around in my subconcious to come up with that one. So, so good. Too bad that Weight Watchers Online didn't have a point value assigned to:

Shellfish, cooked, swimming in cheese

Let's just pretend it didn't exist.

Sunday the DH had to head down to SoCal for a few days for a work conference. I was subsequently left along on our actual anniversary, but I took advantage and went to bed that night at like 830pm. The girls proceeded to fight over his side of the bed.



Katy was the first one there and the first to fall asleep, but Viva made her way to the little space between the pillow and the end of the bed and proceeded to send death eyes her way for at least an hour.

Monday was the actual anniversary and these lovlies made it my way.



I heart me some white roses.

Oh yeah and knitting. I almost finished that massive back piece of Beau. I'd show you a photo, but it's just a big blur. Want to see it anyway? Oh ok.

How Do You Measure A Year?

in daylights,
in sunsets,
in midnights,
in cups of coffee,
in inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife

in five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
how do you measure a year in a life?



I love that song.

And I love my husband. Which I publicly declared one year ago today.






















Happy Anniversary Babe! Here's to many more to come....

The Back Begins

I have a weird way of knitting sweaters. I always knit a sleeve first, then the back, then the front, and then the final sleeve. Sometimes, I'll even knit collars/bands before the final sleeve (when I plan on blocking in one piece). My reasoning is to do the first sleeve as a swatch, then go on to the biggest pieces, and then once those are finished all that is left is the 2nd sleeve, the smallest part. If anything now it's become ritual.

My least favorite part of sweater knitting is a man-sized back piece. Which is what I started for Beau last night:



Sigh. It's going to be a long road.

Pola-AWESOME

I was reading Heart Fish on my lunch break, and found this neat-o webbie toy called Poladroid. Oh this is a fun little thing. Here are a few quick photos I "Polaroidized"







* Note: I modified these guys over at Flickr to add the text

---

Finished the first sleeve on Beau today. I think I need to pick up the pace on this thing.

Let's Go Back to Sunday

Yesterday really was the definition of a perfect day. The tone was lazy, the weather was fantastic, and yummy food and libations were consumed.



I took this photo at one of the little parks in our complex while we were letting Katy run around like a wild woman. This was right after we slept in until 10:30, did a little shopping and got some Gyros for lunch.

Later in the day we decided we wanted to have a little happy hour/dinner party. I made some Lemon-Baked Shrimp, got a nice wedge of blue cheese, toasted some bread, and made some Sour Cherry Screwdrivers. Matt got out some cigars and built a nice little fire in the firepit... and we chilled out listening to Classic Rock while munching away. I started knitting the sleeve of Beau.



The goal is to finish this before we leave for Italy in February so he can bring it with him. This gives me about 1 month total from start to finish. I think I can, I think I can!

It's About Time The Dog Started Pulling Her Weight Around Here

We love our dog Katy (a Blue Heeler/Border Collie) dearly. However, she can be a total mess on a leash - it's the dominance tendencies in her. Pulling, barking, and generally going completely off her rocker if she sees another dog.

So I've been reading up on ways to get Heelers to relax on the leash. The one thing that keeps coming up is a backpack with some soft weights during walks and car rides.





And since I think it's about time that Katy starts carrying her weight around here, the backpack can double as a yarn bag on our vacations.

MeMe for Thursday

Saw this over on Purls and Pugs, and thought with the new year, it could be kind of fun. And with the absence of any real knitting content, will actually give me a blog post. Soooo.......

The items I've accomplished are in bold:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
10. Sung a solo ( I was 12 - but that counts right?)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (I will be in 2009!)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (I will be in 2009!)
39. Gone rock climbing (indoor)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (I will be in 2009!)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (it was my toe - but it was a bone that was broken!)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (I will be in 2009!)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (as a witness)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

I Don't Remember Alpaca Itching Like This

Writing from work today because I am waiting for my computer to copy about 15 memory sticks. Fun.

Wearing the Minimalist Cardigan to work today, and I am ready to scratch my arms off. I do not remember Alpaca being this itchy.

---

In unrelated news, I've finally worked out the details for my DH's next sweater. I am going to be knitting him Beau from Rowan Vintage Knits. I even splurged and bought him the nice yarn for it (Rowan Scottish Tweed in Navy).


The goal is to have it done in time for our Italy trip in mid-February. I should be getting the yarn by the end of the week, so I'll probably cast that on this weekend.

And of course, I couldn't resist this bargain when I found it. I picked up 12 balls in Antique for Laurent from the same book.



I am leaving the flowers and the belt off. This project will probably come with me on the plane for loooong flight to Europe.

Anyhow... that's it for now. I almost forgot about the itching for a minute but it's back now. Must remember to wear long sleeves under this thing from now on....

Mid-Day Indugences, Diet-Style

This Izze soda is the bomb. 60 cals, 15g of sugar.



and the dark chocolate? 1 small square before lunch and I swear, you'll eat 20% less. Matt almost died when I handed over my last piece of Ahi Nigiri yesterday (I LOVE LOVE it and you may lose a hand if you try and take it from me).

Happy (Cough Cough) 2009!

To be totally honest, 2009 has been mediocre so far. After a fun, fabulous dinner on New Years Eve, I've been sick in bed, hacking away with a nasty cough and a sore throat that just won't go away. I'm also feeling cheated of my vacation, since I've barely left the house since Wednesday. Hell - forget the house - I've barely left the couch (where I am currently blogging from) and I have to go back to work tomorrow. But enough HUMPH. Here we are in the New Year!

I gave up resolutions awhile ago, since I am the first to admit that I SUCK at following through with things. Much more of a free-wheeler, if you will. However, here are a few loose things I've been throwing around in my head.

1) Lose the final 7 pounds that have been clinging to my body for dear life.
2) Practice yoga at least 2 days a week
3) Be more diligent about keeping the house clutter free (this may require outside assistance)
4) Save more $ each month.

So there it is. A fairly generic list if you will, but my mind is as foggy as a Central CA morning with cold meds. However, I have managed to start and make some serious progress on a new sweater:


This is the #23 Shawl Collar Pullover from Vogue Knitting Winter 04/05. I am calling it the Blue Heeler Pullover, because the colors remind me of Katy.



I started it on the 1st, and have already finished both sleeves and will probably finish the collar tonight (I am going backwards on the pattern, because I had to see how much of the darker yarn it would take to knit the collar before I did the ribbing on the sweater body.) I'm using some leftover Silkroad Aran Tweed in Licorice from the sweater I knit Matt last year, and some of the same year in Brindle from the stash. Raveled.

Hope you've been enjoying your weekend. Hopefully I'll be back soon, minus this cold.