ChemicalPink

What is this, I don't even

2011-07-21T19:33:00.000-05:00

Hey look, I have a blog!

I'm going to try to post more on this about whatever projects I may be doing. Right now, I'm cooking a lot, so expect pictures of what I make and what I take to lunch and such. In the future, I'm going to be lovingly restoring my mom's 1963 Schwinn Hollywood, so there will be a lot of bike stuff. And always, ALWAYS, some knitting.

SXSW 2010

2010-03-22T11:23:00.010-05:00

South by Southwest is officially over (though we still have a couple of guests), so I can take a few minutes to tell you how awesome it was to once again hang out with people who have Wikipedia pages. I got to meet Jesse and MC Frontalot last year, so that was cool to see those guys again, and actually get to spend more time with Jesse. More or Les was here last year, but I didn't get to meet him then, and I'm super glad I got to this time, cause he's wicked nice. Schaffer the Darklord was also here, and that is a longer story for later in this post. And before I forget about him, let's not forget Fresh Kils - he's a producer/engineer/beat maker, who has been sleeping on my couch and using all my internets.

Being that I hosted an international artist this year, I got a free wristband. However, I did not make much use of it, due to physical limitations and weather conditions. Next year should be better - I'm going to work on the physical limitations, and get a better cold weather coat, and knit more, so I will have appropriate attire should it be chilly.

So let's start off with Saturday, the 13th. Frontalot was the only one in town, and he played a party for io9 and Gawker. There were stormtroopers, and Boba Fett, and swordfighting. There was also music, and free drinks, and a very nice smoking area.

We ended up calling it an early night, though we made sure to see Front play and say hi before we left. He was awesome, as always, but I missed the rest of his band sorely. (Especially Blak Lotus, who is mega-adorable and talented.)

Sunday was pretty chill, Jared and I just hung out. By Monday, Les was in town by then, as was Random aka MegaRan (didn't get to hang out much with him, but he was fairly awesome). They did a non-SXSW show at Flamingo Cantina, which was totally awesome - with a couple exceptions (let's hear it for red shirt girl, those of you that were there).

More or Les

MC Frontalot

Tuesday is when my week got fucking unbelievable. (And here is where I start gushing like a fangirl.) A little back story - Schaffer the Darklord is my favorite of the nerdcore rappers, and one of my favorite musicians in general, and it has been so since I was introduced to his music. His sound is a bit more "rock" than "hip hop", and he has these snarky, dark, sarcastic lyrics that really appeal to me. Plus he's massively adorable, and I may or may not have a giant crush on him.

Anyway, Les had to rent some equipment, so Jared and Tiffani and I went to keep him company in line while he waited (it was HOURS, they had a terrible system). At one point, I checked my Facebook on my phone, and saw that Schaffer had just posted the following: "Any Austinites and/or SXSW-goers have a recommendation for the best way to travel from the airport to the Austin Convention Center?" To which I replied, "When are you getting in? I'd be willing to come get you." (Shall we say that I am impulsive, and very willing to make this city an awesome experience for my favorite musicians, so that they will be enticed to come back?) To my massive surprise, he took me up on it, and sent me a message with his flight details. That night, we picked up Fresh Kils at the airport, and went to the nerd BBQ, where I forgot to take pictures.

The next morning, I trekked back to the airport to get Schaffer. After some confusion about recognizing each other, we got him loaded into my car, and headed downtown. I showed him where he needed to be, and introduced him to my friends, and went to catch the nerdcore panel that Jesse, Random, and Front were doing. After that, the guys did some shit around the convention center for an hour or so, and we decided we wanted some food. I sent Schaffer and Front text messages in case they wanted to join us, which they both did (though Front had to leave because it was taking too long and he had other shit to do). After food, there was still about an hour and a half until they had to be at the venue, so Jesse, Les, and Kils went back to the convention center to practice. Schaffer decided to hang around with us (cause we're so exciting, right?)

We basically just wandered around downtown for that time, talking, and getting coffee, and such. I also think there was some plotting against the Canadians, Jesse specifically, but it was all in fun. We got Schaffer to the venue, did what we could to help him get set up (and most of us worked the merch table at least on point during the night, though Tiffani and Jared did most of the work). This was the official showcase, so it was kind of a big deal. There was loads of Jesse and Les - there was another guy from their label that couldn't make it, so they split the extra time between them. Then Schaffer went on. (Amazing, amazing show. I didn't even realize until it was over that he didn't play any of my very favorites, I'm cool with that. Probably would have had a nerdgasm on the spot if he had been that awesome and played my favorites. The awesomeness would have been exponential.) He was followed by Random, ytcracker, and k.flay, who were all quite good, but I had to sit down for them due to some knee trouble.

Jesse Dangerously

More or Les

Schaffer the Darklord

After k.flay, MC Frontalot played, and Schaffer did a song with him, which was wicked cool. I failed at getting pictures during that set - I was busy trying not to get elbowed in the eye by a couple of really drunk girls to my left.

Earlier in the day, I had asked Schaffer where he was staying - he wasn't really sure, so I offered him couch/floor space if he wanted. He didn't take me up on the offer immediately, but, after the show, decided he would stay with us, since I wasn't doing anything the next day and could easily get him to the airport. For the rest of my week, I mostly stayed in, though we did get out Friday for Les and Kils to do some busking.

I dropped Les off at the airport this morning, Kils is going back tomorrow morning, and I think Jesse is moving in with us or something (seriously, he's going home Wednesday or Thursday).

With another awesome SXSW journey under my belt, and the awesomeness of meeting awesome rappers I hadn't met before (and love even more now that I've met them), I'll leave you with one last picture, taken during the song Schaffer did with Front, in which Schaffer is the creepiest looking person ever photographed. (If you actually read this, Mark, know that I have nothing but love for you, but in this picture, you're staring right at me, and your eyes follow me everywhere I go. Come sleep at my place again soon. But don't block my route to the coffee this time.)

I've got some lovely FO's this time!

2010-02-14T16:25:00.003-06:00

So, I finished my Mountain Peaks shawl! I love it! There was too much wind to get a really good picture (there are some other pictures on the Ravelry page, linked above), but here it is:

Other things I have finished (somewhat) recently:

Dashing, for Jared

Back to Basics, also for Jared

I also finished a pair of Sunday Swing Socks, for me, but need to do some surgery on the toe area of one before getting a good "on foot" picture.

I've started My Vampire Boyfriend for Ravelympics, and plan on doing Monkey as well.

And yes, I am watching the Olympics. I do not enjoy sports in general, but I LOVE me some Winte5 Olympics. I don't even really like watching the Summer Olympics. I'm weird, I guess. Maybe it's the sheer speed of the winter sports, or the fact that I could NEVER do any of them (cold urticaria - the picture of the leg with hives on it is mine).

I also made some yarn purchases yesterday, but I think I'll save those pictures for tomorrow. :)

Ahh... a new year.

2010-01-04T17:24:00.004-06:00

SO glad 2009 is over.

For those that don't know, I was sick for most of last year. Starting in January, ending in November. On November 1st, after two trips to the ER, they found out what was wrong. Gall stones. Specifically, one large gall stone that was almost the size of my gall bladder. On November 10th, I had emergency surgery to have it removed (the surgery was originally to be scheduled in early December, but my pain was far too intense). Since then, everything has improved: my appetite, my health, my mood - everything.

Jared and I also celebrated our second anniversary, moved into a new apartment, and were caught in a blizzard in Oklahoma. Not in that order.

The anniversary was uneventful, due to just escaping said blizzard the day before more snow arrived, and moving into a new apartment at the same time. The blizzard was cold. Pretty, but cold. Here are some pictures taken at my parents house when the snow first started to fall.

And my mom, who is so awesome that I aspire to be like her someday:

That's my dad, grandfather, and nephew in the background.

The new apartment is AMAZING, and I totally love it. It's larger and less expensive than our old one, with a bigger kitchen and a den/small second bedroom for computers and yarn. Once things are all unpacked and less crazy, I'll get some pictures of it.

I got this awesome coffee maker for Christmas from Jared's parents, and we also got a small Ryobi drill and a fancy corksrew from them as well. The drill and coffee maker take turns being my favorite gifts, usually depending on which I'm using at the time. The coffee maker has an internal carafe that heats evenly from the bottom and four sides, which means that 4 hours after I brew coffee, it's still warm (not scalding, but still fairly hot) and doesn't taste burnt. YAY. Kira's taking bets on when the coffee maker will move from the kitchen to the office (for coffee-fueled WoW raids).

And I updated my Ravelry with more of my yarn, and some old projects, so check that out if you haven't yet.

Anyway, I'll try to post here more, and have more knitting content. Last year was just crazy. Hopefully 2010 will be better. If anyone's still out there reading this, feel free to say hey so I know not to give up blogging. It's a catch 22 - when I got more comments, I'd generally blog more, but I needed to blog more to keep my readers.

I <3 dishcloths so much right now

2009-05-27T23:11:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I've totally been knitting up a dishcloth storm. I cast on one while Jared's dad was in the hospital, right after the accident, so I'd have something to do during the long hours that we were there. It was supposed to be a Grandmother's Favorite(Ravelry Link), but I didn't have a pattern, and was going off of memory - I'd had a piano teacher when I was quite young that was a knitter, and when we learned something extra special, she'd take us into her bathroom, and let us pick a dishcloth from a drawer full of them (all this same pattern, all in lovely colors of hideous acrylic) - and mine ended up a little... "special". I didn't do the math on the decreasing right, and stress plus no sleep means my math (and therefore anything I'm knitting) doesn't come out right. When I remember, I'll have to post a photo of it.

I tell ya, though - I want to be like my crazy old piano teacher. She was so patient, even though after three years of lessons, it was clear I had no talent (my left hand is uncooperative, at best). She recognized that all her students had their own pace, and reasons for being there (mine was a desire to be like Elton John, a thought which I think horrified my father - he's very conservative). But I promise you that every single one of her students had at least one of her dishcloths (or washrags, as we called them). I personally had 4 - though I can't remember why I earned them, I remember picking them out. I remember crying when, after about a year, one started unraveling. And about a year after that, when I lost one at camp. And, while not crying this time, being very sad when one got horribly stained the first time I dyed my hair purple (I was about 15). I think the last one might still be with my parents. Mental note to ask mom when I talk to her next.

The piano teacher (sadly, I don't remember her name, I was 10 or 11 when I began my lessons with her) also had these amazing dollhouses. I mean, exquisite. Every 2 or 3 weeks, she'd take 15 minutes out of my lesson, and let me look at them. I think I remember her giving me a miniature or two out of them, even. To this day, I love miniatures, and the miniature section of craft stores can captivate me for long periods of time.

I hadn't thought about this woman in a while, and hadn't tried actually remember bits of her character until I started writing this post. I tried to send her a Christmas card a few years after I stopped lessons (I was maybe 13 or 14), but it was returned to me. I guess she must have passed on. But her influence on me really strikes me now - my love of knitting and handknits, my love of miniatures, my love of piano music (though I've accepted that I can't play piano.

On with my knitting stories. So, after the FAILcloth (still totally functional, just - weird looking), I made a Ball Band dishcloth. And then a Bathtime Blossoms one. And I've cast on another Bathtime Blossoms. All since this time last month. Am I crazy?

...perhaps.

2009-05-15T15:35:00.002-05:00

One new thing you'll notice about my blog is an ad/link to my Passion Parties website - I know I'm obnoxious to some people, but ya'll, this is my job now, and networking and pimping myself out is all a part of it.

I went to Chicks with Sticks the other night for the first time in about a billion years, and it was so fun - I've got to start doing that more often.

And as an update for Suna, I just ordered prescription glasses online at Goggles4U.com. It was $56.98 for a pair of regular glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses. Free shipping, a 5% discount from GlassyEyes, and that included Anti Reflective, Scratch Resistance, and UV Filter coatings for free. I'll let you all know how I like them once I get them.

I'm hoping to update the homebrew site in a few - I have to edit the photos from the tastings first.

News

2009-05-04T21:53:00.002-05:00

Not a whole lot of news on dad-in-law - his condition remains mostly the same, he's in ICU here in Austin, and probably will be for quite some time.

I did do some vodka and hard cider sampling for the homebrew site, and I'll get pictures and a review (a 5 person collaboration on the vodka!) up later on, probably after dinner.

I had to go in to work today and work a full day to ensure I got my week of paid vacation. And then I turned in my badge and left. Fuck those guys.

This post is written more like brainstorming than an actual post. I love it and hate it at the same time.

I have been enjoying my free time in the last week off, and have been trying to brainstorm to get more parties booked for Passion Parties. It's hard to do anything when I haven't gotten my business cards in, or my starter kit, or anything, really. If anyone knows any local business owners that might want to host an "after hours ladies night" where I do a demonstration and they maybe get some extra business, let me know. Or if anyone knows someone who might be interested in hosting a party, let me know that, too!

I also plan to get more knitting time in. I've already made one and a half dishcloths. But the full dishcloth looks retarded because I lost my pattern somewhere in my car, so I was winging it at the hospital. Bad. Idea.

YAY

2009-04-28T16:58:00.001-05:00

Quick post to say that YAY! Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is coming back to Austin! May 28th - mark your calendars, my knitting friends.

Longer update about real things later.

Plan 9 from outer space

2009-04-25T15:05:00.004-05:00

So...that trial run I talked about yesterday? It's in effect, like, NOW. I'm ordering my Passion Parties starter kit today, I have next week off work with pay (yay using vacation time) and then when I'm supposed to be coming back Monday? I'm cleaning out my desk and leaving.

Why, you ask?

Well, Jared's dad was in a bad motorcycle accident yesterday - I found out about it roughly an hour after I posted. So I had to leave work early. Because I left work early, they took me off the UK team - the UK team being the ONLY thing that made my job bearable. To top it all off, they put me on the team that I'd least like to be on: The Sims. While I love the game, and play it more than any other EA game, I've never had a problem with it. And since it has about 9 billion expansions, there are a lot of things that can go wrong - that I have no idea how to fix. Plus, they put me on the 9am shift. Now, while I can do 6am, I cannot do 9. Add in traffic to my general laziness, and you have a guarantee for my lateness. Being that is an opening shift, my tardiness will actually get me fired. So, better for me (and my resume) to leave before that happens to start my home-based business (technically, being a consultant is owning your own business - think like a franchise).

So, for pretty much all of this week, I am staying near the phone (if not at home) and cleaning my arse off.

Additionally, I will be accepting donations of groceries, food money, or leftovers (I will pick them up in my own tupperware if you're local to Austin). I'm dead serious, things will probably be tight around here for the next 2-3 weeks, and we could use any sort of help anyone can offer.

Edit: I'll also take book/movie/TV suggestions for dad-in-law (I'm loading my iPod for him). Anything but romance, but he particularly enjoys scifi/horror/thriller. My kind of guy. :)

Time for new hair dye? Yes, I think so.

2009-04-24T06:48:00.003-05:00

My hair has been blue for literally 6 months. It's faded quite a bit, but still looks blue. I think, however, that it is time for it to be orange.

So it's been a few days, and I'm still happy with how this blog and my homebrew blog look, so that's awesome.

I hate my job. Fiercly. I want to get into social media marketing/social media optimization for a company, preferably a local one. To make myself better qualified for those types of jobs, I'm planning on going back to school for pr/marketing and some sort of computer science (I need to learn to do some coding - I'm outdated). However, I can't go to school and work full time - I can barely work full time and have a social life. So I've been thinking about how I can earn money while having a flexible schedule, and I didn't have to think long.

Back in October, I mentioned wanting to do Passion Parties. This is still something I want to do, and think that if I put forth enough effort, I could totally use that to work my way through school (especially if you consider my classmates potential hostess). So, we're saving up for a trial run, to see how much I make per party in general, and if it's feasable for me to quit my job and do that while I go to school.

Amount I need to save for trial run: $750 (iPhone and a new cell for Jared included in that - I'd like to have a 512 area code for this business).
Amount saved thus far towards goal: $131.

Shiny

2009-04-22T13:06:00.003-05:00

Changes to the blog layout. I think they look pretty good, though I appear to have broken some images. BUT I notice blogger has the option to import/export blogs, so I was able to export the old blog I had from 2003 - 2006 into this blog. Seriously, I've been blogging for SIX YEARS come June 30. And that's just on Blogger, I'd been blogging at Xanga and Melodramatic.com before that. Damn.

So, my idea of keeping up with the "In Three Words" blog has TOTALLY failed, as most of my ideas do.

I'll try to at least post on weekends?

Three words (and then some)

2009-04-07T14:10:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to post more. As part of this, I'm going to start participating with Three Word Blog. On that blog, there are three questions asked a week and the goal is to answer using only 3 words. This is yesterday's, which I failed at posting yesterday: If you could tell him one thing...

Please be strong.

I'm one classy lady.

2009-04-02T08:12:00.003-05:00

First order of business: I made a blog so I could keep track of my homebrew/liquor mixes. Check it here if you're interested: http://pinkshomebrew.blogspot.com/. It's not updated very frequently, due to the slowness of the brewmaking process. (Hard apple cider, which is what I'm concentrating on at the moment, takes about a month for the initial fermentation, then I let the yeast filter out for another couple of weeks, give or take.)

Jared and I are looking at houses - to rent or buy, either way. His parents were going to try to help us out, but his dad's job is not the steadiest thing in the world at the moment. But it looks like there might be another option, which I don't want to discuss on the blog since we've not really discussed it much with the people who offered this option to us. But, even not knowing the price range I should be looking at, I'm still checking out a few houses - mostly because we had this appointment to go look at them since we knew Jared's parents wouldn't be able to help out. But if we find one that would work for us, we can keep it in mind for the "other option".

That's really the big news, and since I'm not wanting to freely discuss the details of it, there's not much to say. I started the Flit & Float scarf, which I'm loving but not having a lot of time for. I'm looking forward to a bigger kitchen.

If anyone is interested, these are the houses we're looking at today (not sure if we're going to see all of them, I just know we're going to look at houses with our agent, and these are the ones I've told him we're interested in seeing):

10403 FIRETHORN LN
6905 RIVERTON
9202 COLLINFIELD DR
11903 SHADY SPRINGS RD
1020 PEGGOTTY PL
1303 THORNRIDGE RD (this one is inactive now, but I think the agent said we're still going to see it)

*Updated links, shouldn't have to log in now.

Nerdcore could rise up, it could get elevated

2009-03-25T04:31:00.005-05:00

Nerdcore, for those of you that are unaware, is one of my favorite genres of music. Hip-hop with guys that rap about nerdy stuff, like Star Wars, or video games.

I got horribly lucky last weekend, due to some very awesome friends of mine, and was able to hang with some of the more awesome nerdcore artists - 2 of which are kind of a big deal, 1 of which should be a big deal but is less well known (I blame his Canadian origins ^_^): MC Frontalot, MC Lars, and Jesse Dangerously.

My friends and I knew it was going to be a good weekend, but we had no idea of freaking epic it would actually be. It all started Friday evening, with a SXSW show freaturing the above-mentioned gentlemen at Prague. A local guy, Terp 2It, played first. I honestly didn't pay much attention - he wasn't who I was there to see, and I was busy socializing and drinking. But I got his CD, and I plan on giving it a listen at some point - I'll have to rip it to my computer, and then burn a copy, as I don't like having "real" CDs in my car, and my car is about the only place I listen to music.

Jesse Dangerously
After Terp, Jesse Dangerously played. I had honestly not listen to much of his stuff - again, I listen to music in my car, and I didn't have any of his CDs, but I had heard him contribute to other artists ("Canadia" with MC Frontalot being the most notable). I enjoyed the show while I was there, but I wasn't that into it. I was later converted, but we'll get into that later.

MC Frontalot

Then came MC Frontalot. Crazy fun show - I really liked when Jesse and Lars got on stage with him to sing. I wish I had been able to dance more, during all of the Friday night shows, but my friend Tim and I had walked 2.18 miles (I just did the math on google maps) immediately before the show, and my knees were giving out.

We drank
After Front, a band called Lord T and Eloise (warning = website has music that plays automatically) played. I hadn't heard them before, and the vocals at Prague were shit, but they had some good beats, so I'll have to listen later on. During their set, it was all a flurry of buying drinks, and having drinks bought for me, and drinking.

MC Lars
The last act of the night was MC Lars. Very awesome show, but at this point I was very drunk, and had very weak legs. Sad times.

Saturday was spent recovering feeling and strength for my legs, and boy am I glad I did that, because Sunday was craziness.

The first thing we did on Sunday was meet up at Kira's apartment, and then take the rappers out to Driftwood for some BBQ at The Salt Lick. It was very tasty, and everyone had a good time. Luckily, Jared was able to join us for the Sunday craziness, because he had taken the day off. After BBQ, about half the group headed back to Kira's apartment, where we watched Return of the Jedi on TV.

We converged a bit later at Spider House for that evening's show. We hung out and enjoyed our first drinks of the evening while watching the soundcheck. I got some sweet video of Frontalot and Jesse singing Nerdcore Rising during the soundcheck. (My camera apparently cuts sound out when I zoom.)

Jesse, Fester, and Kils - I think during the soundcheck
This time, Jesse Played first with Uncle Fester and Fresh Kils. Freaking knocked my socks off. I totally bought one of Jesse's CDs later on. One of the coolest things was being in the very front while Jesse was playing, and looking to my left and seeing Lars and Front standing right there getting into the show, too. So cool.

After Jesse, Terp played. Again, I was busy socializing and drinking.

Then Lars came on, for an amazing show. Dancing, drinking, and shenanigans were had. The picture of him above was taken during his song about Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven, hince the picture of Poe in the background. Fun facts about Lars: YouTube is a huge time suck for this man. Hanging out at Kira's, Lars pretty much went instantly to her computer, went to YouTube, and started asking everyone in the room "have you seen...?" Jesse was in the room, and Lars searched him on YouTube not once, but twice. The super awesome thing about Lars is his sheer enthusiasm for hip-hop in general - his excitement is contageous.

Frontalot played last, and his show was made of awesome. Everyone was rocking out, dancing, singing along.

Man, this weekend was made of awesome, and now I have a billion new facebook friends, and some new rapper friends.

Me, Steve, Lynda, Jesse, Kira

In love (again)

2009-02-12T10:58:00.002-06:00

No, not with a boy (other than Jared), but I've refallen in love with my absolute favorite musical artist, Ben Folds. I recently acquired (through the fabulous SwapADVD service) the Ben Folds Five - The Complete Sessions at West 54th DVD.

This is an amazing performance, as the reviews on Amazon show, and throughout the entire thing, I kept thinking how much Suna would enjoy the DVD, I know how she likes talented and unconventional musicians - perhaps some day in the future I can bring the DVD over for an evening of knitting and music (and cider, perhaps Ace or my homebrew apple)?

Ben Folds is, simply put, the most talented musician of my generation, or so I feel (though Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos rank way up there, as does John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats - but I think Ben wins over all of them). His live shows are always entertaining, and this is an early showing (recorded in 1996, I believe) of how purely awesome he will become.

This is a brilliant example of how fantastic Ben Folds (solo or live) is, and anyone who loves music, particualry piano rock or unconventional artists, should watch it.

trying to post more

2009-02-10T11:01:00.002-06:00

Yes, I am trying to post more.

I may have mentioned that a couple of weeks ago, I became ill recently (January 24th was the day it started, the 31st was the day I started feeling better). I went to the doctor, mainly for purposes to get a note from work, having missed an entire week. Doctor said it was a virus, gave me some drugs for nausea, and took a strep test, just in case. Well, I felt better until the 4th, when I had a terrible sore throat. Then on the 6th, I lost my voice and so I left work early. Went to the doctor again on the 7th, who said since the strep test was negative, it is yet another virus.

I felt better Sunday, went to the pub quiz, woke up the next morning for work... and could not speak. Not much more than a squeak. So I missed Monday. Jared bought a humidifier last night, I took an abundance of medication, and could kind of whisper this morning (sort of the loud, "Jack Bauer" whispering), so I trudged into work. Where I worked for half a shift and had to go home because my voice was on its way out again. I'm hoping another night with the humidifier does the trick, but I will accept any advice - I can't keep missing work like this.

Also, if anyone knows of a decent job in the Austin area, I'm interested. Doesn't really have to pay a lot or be full time, though either of those things are nice.

I've been knitting, and no there are no pictures are the FO is a surprise.

25 Random Things about me

2009-02-08T12:37:00.002-06:00

This came from Facebook, I'm just crossposting here so my page looks like I update it more. Complete it if you like, or not.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. It's hard for me to read Tara's answers and have them not influence mine.
2. I really, really hate talking about myself, so Tara should feel loved that I am even filling this out (hooray for boring mornings)
3. I need to change my facebook profile picture, but no one ever takes pictures of me, so that's one of the most current.
4. I should start working out.
5. For the first time since I started having bills, they are finally caught up, and staying that way, plus money is going into a savings account.
6. We're moving in July.
7. We will be moving into a house.
8. We really want to buy said house, but don't think we'll be approved for a loan, so we'll likely be leasing.
9. I don't want to move, because I hate moving. But I hate this apartment even more.
10. I'm STARVING, but I'm going to eat with my buddy Tim tonight, so I don't want to eat a huge meal or anything.
11. I think I'm going to take the car to a drive through real quick, before Jared takes it to work.
12. But I'm really looking forward to a Cuban Sandwich and Ace Pear Ciders later in the evening.
13. Tonight is the first night of pub trivia at Opal Divine's, and Tim and I are the only ones we know for sure will be there. I hope it's not crowded, so it looks like we suck less.
14. Yeah, I'm going to go get food real quick. BRB.
15. I ate too much, and am now worried that I won't be able to finish my sandwich tonight.
16. I want Jared to get s different schedule
17. I also want Jared's car to be fixed. I'm sick of relying on friends for rides if I want to do something on the weekend.
18. I miss having a job I love.
19. I can't wait to drink alcohol that I made myseld
20. I wish I had more money and free time.
21. I still need to buy my birthday yarn. I'm going to Tyler next weekend, anyone know any good local yarn shops there?
22. I need to update my blogs more often, but I feel like my life is too boring.
23. I'm thinking about blogging about the alcohol I make, but I'm not sure if I should do that on the current blog, or start a new booze-specific blog.
24. My dog probably saved me from being institutionalized.
25. I miss the evenings I spent with Jared before WoW, but the evenings after WoW are also fun.

Tears

2009-02-01T15:26:00.002-06:00

You guys remember Icarus? The shawl I started way back in summer 2006, right after I moved to Austin?

Those that know me in real life know that I finished it towards the end of summer 2007, a few months before I got married. But I lost my pins, so I never got around to blocking it. It mostly sat around in my bedroom knitting pile, which I have learned is way too close to the "dirty laundry pile" (do you see where this is going? Also, yes, we have a hamper, but it was being used for other purposes - holding clean clothes while I neglected to put them away).

Icarus, my beloved first big lace project, first shawl, first lace knitting screw-up where I cleverly fixed my own mistake. The one project that had helped to keep me sane during a period of time where I thought I would be homeless (and I would have been, were it not for kind friends). Icky has seen me through various road trips, 4 dwelling locations, three couches, two strange ex's (one mine, one jared's), and now... one washing machine.

Yes, Icarus went through the wash. And felted, For those unfamiliar with felting, and too lazy to click the link, it involves turning gorgeous handknit lace shawls knit from a lovely wool/silk blend into...well, felt, really. Now, when done properly, felting can make some awesome things - I personally have a felted bag that I adore, and a felted Flying Spaghetti Monster - both gifts from a secret pal (I don't think they were from the same person, but I can't be bothered to look at the moment). When a lace shawl is felted, the results are...tragic, at the very least. A natural disaster might be more appropriate.

In other, (somewhat) less depressing news - I hate my job. Answering the phone sucks. But I talk to Brits all day, so that's cool.

Jared and I passed the one year anniversary with not incidents (aside from a temporary roommate who we tried not to kill).

We got a new couch (well, used, and there's actually a couch and a loveseat), and the futon Suna so generously gave us has gone on to the home of a friend of ours, to provide sleeping space for her overnight guests.

I'm getting really into homebrew ciders and liquors/cordials. If I make any that don't suck, I will share with the locals.

I'm knitting things - almost done with husband socks, working on mom socks (less intently than some - and I've made some baby hats and am working on additional baby items that are top secret. Baby items are taking priority.

My 25th birthday is in 2 days. We'll probably grab my buddy Tim and go to Epoch after Jared gets off work, but other than that - no plans.

And I guess I'll be casting on another Icarus.

What else have I been up to?

2008-11-24T22:21:00.002-06:00

Well, at the beginning of October, Jared and I went to Tulsa to visit my family...

His first time riding a horse, can you believe it? Also, I would like to take a moment to point out that the horse I am on, Sandy, is "green broke" (for those non-horsey people, that means "only slightly trained" or "not used to being ridden"), and, aside from when my father rode her once, I'm the only person other than my mom to have ridden her. She did EXTREMELY well.

We also spent time with my fantastic cousins...

...and the dog came with us on vacation.

More Ren Fest

2008-11-19T15:30:00.001-06:00

Deid and Teli turkey leg
Originally uploaded by chemicalpink

Me (on the right) and our other dear friend Candice (on the left) also enjoyed turkey legs, and also have our WoW names listed on Flickr.

btw Chris from the other picture and Candice are engaged - getting married on Valentine's Day

Ren Fest

2008-11-19T15:28:00.001-06:00

Winter and Zuj turkey leg
Originally uploaded by chemicalpink

Jared (on the right) and our dear friend Chris (on the left) eating turkey legs at Ren Fest. (And if you see that image on Flickr, the title will say "Winter and Zuj" - those are their WoW names.

I also went to Ren Fest!

2008-11-19T15:27:00.001-06:00

Foxy lady
Originally uploaded by chemicalpink

An associate of mine (camped with her that weekend, but hadn't met her before that) with a Fennec Fox outside the Ren Fast Gates.

Firestarter Socks

2008-11-19T15:25:00.001-06:00

mom socks
Originally uploaded by chemicalpink

Firestarter socks for my mommy.

Hey Look! I can knit!

2008-11-19T15:21:00.003-06:00

hubby socks
Originally uploaded by chemicalpink

I got a pretty sweet little camera from my aunt and uncle: a Samsung S860. LOVE it!

You'll see some 3/4 done black and white socks here, those are the socks I've been knitting for Jared for quite some time now. I'm testing Flickr's "Blog this photo" feature (I'm pretty new to flickr) and I'm not sure if I can add more than one photo, so I'll be making a couple more posts here with more pitcures.

quickie

2008-10-31T14:21:00.000-05:00

Copy/forward/repost this sentence into your blog/email/whathaveyou if you're in a heterosexual marriage/relationship (or if you think you might be someday), and you don't want it "protected" by the bigots who think that gay marriage hurts it somehow.

I really gotta do this more often

2008-10-10T00:21:00.002-05:00

As my darling cousin brought to my attention last Saturday, I never update.

So what am I doing these days? Sadly, not much. I work full time at a job I can't stand, and then I come home and play WoW, or watch movies or TV, or sleep. But I'm working on changing that. At least, the "job I can't stand" part. I think I've decided that I want to get a job I like part time, and be a consultant for Passion Parties during my off time. So, if anyone in the Austin area would be interested in having a Passion Party (perhaps as a bachelorette party for someone getting married, nudge nudge) let me know. I kind of want to get a feel for how many of my friends are interested before I jump in and get started - as these things do have a start up cost (you pay for demonstration products, order forms, and the like). I've wanted to do something like this for a while, but I don't wear makeup so Mary Kay is right out; I suck at cooking so Pampered Chef is out; I think candles and tupperware are nice but not very much in demand (and high priced) so those are a no-go - but selling sex, bedroom, and relationship goodies, now, there's something I enjoy and am knowledgeable (and not shy) about, so it seems like a good idea.

Now: knitting. I have now finished two pairs of socks, and 3/4 of the way finished with a third pair, have a fourth pair I'm going to start on soon. And apparently the son of my darling cousin mentioned above needs hats. I love baby hats. I also have another cousin with a 10 month old son who will be getting some baby knits...eventually.

And that's really all I've been up to. Oh, and reading. Comic books and the Song of Ice and Fire series. Call me a nerd all you like, folks, but I love it.

Oh, and someday (hopefully soon) I will have a working camera so I can start posting pictures here again.

I love Joss Whedon

2008-07-17T09:25:00.002-05:00

There are a million different ways that I love Joss Whedon, but this is almost as good as Firefly: Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog

From the site:

"Once upon a time, all the writers in the forest got very mad with the Forest Kings and declared a work-stoppage. The forest creatures were all sad; the mushrooms did not dance, the elderberries gave no juice for the festival wines, and the Teamsters were kinda pissed. (They were very polite about it, though.) During this work-stoppage, many writers tried to form partnerships for outside funding to create new work that circumvented the Forest King system.

Frustrated with the lack of movement on that front, I finally decided to do something very ambitious, very exciting, very mid-life-crisisy. Aided only by everyone I had worked with, was related to or had ever met, I single-handedly created this unique little epic. A supervillain musical, of which, as we all know, there are far too few.

The idea was to make it on the fly, on the cheap – but to make it. To turn out a really thrilling, professionalish piece of entertainment specifically for the internet. To show how much could be done with very little. To show the world there is another way. To give the public (and in particular you guys) something for all your support and patience. And to make a lot of silly jokes. Actually, that sentence probably should have come first."

So go, watch it now.

btw, I haven't been feeling very well lately, hence the slowing down of posts. I will keep my promise to update more frequently, though.

Summer cold :(

2008-07-11T05:45:00.003-05:00

Yeah, I have an icky summer cold, I think. Just been feeling pretty lousy lately.

I have added to my sidebar a "Currently reading" widget from Goodreads. I think it's pretty nifty.

We're still trying to get by on this last week of no money. We'll both be getting paychecks (that don't have to go directly towards rent, but will be used almost exclusively for bills and food) a week from today.

Pretty much all that's left to eat is 5 or 6 uncooked chicken tenders (not sure what we're going to do with those just yet - preferably something that will stay leftovers for a longer period of time than the tenders themselves would) and a lasagna (an entire one, it's in the oven as I type this - yes, I am cooking dinner at 6am, I'll eat some for "lunch", and then it will be used for our lunches tomorrow). Hopefully, that will hold out until next Saturday.

By the way, anyone in Austin want to go to Wheatsville Co-op and the farmer's market on Burnet Sunday morning? I'm hoping to snag some fresh produce at a good price (cause HEB is too damn expensive).

Hi

2008-07-09T06:49:00.002-05:00

So, my camera is still busted. I want a new one very badly. If anyone has recently upgraded theirs, and would like to sell me a functioning second-hand camera for cheap, let me know.

I started a new job Monday, which has left me with a very odd schedule, one that follows as below, for the most part:

8:15am - Leave for work
9:00am - work begins
4:00pm - work is over
4:45pm - sleep
11:30pm - wake up (the time on this one varies)

I don't like this schedule, but if I did it the other way (wake up at 7am for work), I would not see Jared except on his days off. As it is, I don't get to do anything with my guild.

I've been doing more knitting lately, and TONS more cooking. I've been making Bento lunches (not limited to Japanese food) for Jared and myself. The downside is that my recipe collection is quite small. So I have a favor to ask of those reading this: send your favorite recipe to chemicalpink(at)gmail(dot)com. The only things I ask that these recipes avoid are: seafood, mushrooms, and big chunks of egg (for example, egg in potato salad or fried rice is okay, an omelet is not). It would be preferable if these recipes are relatively quick and easy.

Oh, and I've been rocking out on Ravelry, finally. You can find me here.

And yes, I will try to post more often.

been gone awhile

2008-05-23T02:06:00.003-05:00

Seems like life got too busy for me to blog much...

The wedding (and the Vegas for New Year's honeymoon) went well, though the wedding day was a bit stressful for me. you can see pictures of it, if you're interested, here.

I'm without a job again. I couldn't reach the pace they wanted me to maintain (X many customers per hour), so I'm not there anymore. If anyone knows of any job opportunities in Austin, I'd be welcome to hear them. I don't have much experience other than retail, which doesn't pay enough, but I learn fast (no call centers, I get panic attacks with phone conversations like that). I'm open to ideas.

I am aware...

2007-11-16T23:01:00.002-06:00

...of the lack of posts.

Five months is NOT enough time to plan a wedding. PERIOD. It's still happening - December 29th.

I got tagged for some stuff about 100 years ago.

The Rules: Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. At the end of the post, you must tag and link to 8 other people, visit their sites, and leave a comment letting them know they’ve been tagged.

My 8 random things:

1. I love my dog almost as I love Jared. While I have monetarily paid Suna back for helping me keep her, I hope I can someday be able to repay the emotional debt.
2. I forget almost everything, and have lost more books, movies, and CDs than most people will ever own.
3. I see knitted items on TV or movies and think - I want to knit that!
4. I recently finished the body of my first sweater. It's large. Larger than me. The length is okay, and it fits well across the bust, but the sleeve-holes are too big, and the waist is too big.
5. I usually only hiccup once, at random.
6. I adore my job and my new friends
7. I'm finally knitting something with the fuschia yarn I dyed way back in the day
8. I am not at all scared about getting married. Jared and I very much already act married, anyway. But planning is fucking annoying.

In much, much sadder news, an old high school friend of mine and his boyfriend were attacked because they are gay. Because I don't know all the details, I am cross posting my friend Katie's blog (there are pictures on her blog, but they make me too sad, and I do not want them on mine, though it is a very clear reminder of how hateful come people can be):

It could have happened anywhere. Really it could have, but it didn't. It happened here, in Tulsa, the so-called city of faith. My heart is deeply saddened. I had to spend a night in the ER, because two of the people I love most in the world were attacked for being gay. It could have been anybody, but it wasn't just anybody. It was Kouri and Jimmy who I affectionately refer to as "the Boys". The Boys who have shown me so much about what it means to be joined, in love, for life. And who I know to be capable of enormous kindness. They didn't deserve this.
I will never in my life forget the blood running down Kouri's face or the reason it was there. They were minding their own business; they weren't advertising their sexuality or anything sordid. They weren't even bothering anybody for that matter. I will remember that phone call from Jimmy, who was choking back tears, as he said "I will take that image of those two guys kicking Kouri on the ground to my grave." I was so shocked that I couldn't speak. I just had to leave my apartment. I couldn't just sit there. So, I went to the hospital. They needed me because gay marriage isn't legal, the doctors couldn't give either of them information on the other's condition. I spent my night running between hospital beds delivering updates to each of them. It was the symbiotic relationship between gay men and women in poetic fluidity.
I saw the results of a hate crime. I am a witness to the intense hatred some people feel toward homosexuals. And I will not remain silent. Orwell once said, "Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious." I am so exhausted by ignorance, but I need to give voice to this sadness.
I am so shocked by the violence that I have seen and sickened that it happened to my friends. I don't know if this kind of hatred will ever go away completely. But if it is our duty as privileged people of intelligence to state the obvious then I must say that if there is to be any change in society, it has to start with you and me.

UPDATE: They are doing fine now. They are both out of the hospital. Luckily, they are both expected to make a full recovery. All your love, thoughts and prayers are appreciated. I put these pictures up because I think people are too quick to quick to brush violent instances like these under the rug as an unpleasant happenstance. This particular instance was most certainly related to homophobia, which is a social problem that all too often gets overlooked with other minority issues. My reason for posting this is so it will hopefully not be forgotten.

Announcement

2007-08-03T16:16:00.000-05:00

I debated announcing via blog initially, but I have no idea when I will see those of you that I want to tell in person again - plans keep getting changed, everyone is really busy right now, etc. So here goes...(deep breath)

JaredandIaregettingmarried.

What? I need to slow that down a bit?

Jared and I are getting married. We're tentatively setting the date for December 29th, and thinking of spending New Year's in Vegas for our honeymoon. We've spoken to his parents about it, and will be speaking to mine next time we're in Tulsa (I want to tell Mom over the phone, but Jared wants to have a "man to man" talk with Dad first). We would have told my parents about it this last trip, but it was the first chance they ever had to met Jared, and he thought it would be too much to spring on them for the first meeting.

Okay, it took me like, an hour to just get that much out, so I'm calling it quits for the day.

Happy birthday to Jared

2007-07-31T12:50:00.000-05:00

It's my boy's birthday today. So, happy birthday, Jared! Eh, he doesn't even read this.

So, I've been hella busy. We got Valentine spayed, and we spent the last weekend in Tulsa. We saw The Flaming Lips and MC Chris, and Jared got to meet most of my family and friends in Tulsa. And my family adored him.

Good news: the cord to my camera still works.
Bad news: the fan on my motherboard is going out. I've been told that the fan can be replaced without replacing the entire motherboard, but I don't know anything about it. Is there anyone in Austin that does? And can help me? I'll so cook you dinner or cookies or brownies or something.

Someone in Seattle found this blog by Googling my full name. Who in Seattle knows me? I'd like to talk to you, promise. I don't bite, and if I ever knew you, I probably remember you.

I read Harry Potter. I cried, but over all I felt like Rowling just kind of...gave up on this book. It was no where as good as the previous six.

Knitting

I have been knitting. I have been trying to teach Jared to knit. I'm still working on the birthday socks (I got the yarn as a birthday gift - thanks Suna! - on February 3rd). They're sitting there, almost complete. Really, I just need a day off work when I don't have other plans and I should be able to finish them.

I'm also working on a skinny version of Wavy, as well as a scarf for my mom. Wavy is going along well, though the scarf is at a stand still.

When I moved out of Bryce's I realized that I have a metric crapton of acrylic yarn. Most of it matches, too. I'm thinking of making a sweater or two with it. I don't like knitting with acrylic much, but I've never minded wearing acrylic sweaters. And I'd like to have a sweater I made by the time winter is over. I'm debating if I want to design the damn thing myself or if I want to follow a pattern. If I decided to go with a pattern, I'm thinking about one of these:

Holey Cable!
Durrow
Ballet Camisole (I know, not a sweater. Still. I want one. I've been loosing weight - 18 pounds since March! - and want to show off)
Sesame

I'll also have to dig out my magazines and books and see if there's anything I want to knit there. Also, if anyone knows any awesome patterns where I won't have to add short row shaping in the bust (as in it either doesn't need it or it's already figured into the pattern), I'd like to see them.

But, that's not starting until the socks and the mom scarf scarf are finished. Also, I am frogging EVERY UNFINISHED PROJECT except for the socks, Wavy, and the mom scarf. Well, if I have like, a single sock or armwarmer finished, but the second isn't on the needles, it can live. So, I guess I'm frogging any "on the needles" project. (I'm also rambling.)

I decided I'm going to be a two project max woman. A larger project and then either a sock or a scarf or something small and portable.

Admin notice

2007-07-12T20:10:00.000-05:00

My mail has been funky for the last few weeks. I'm not getting mail at either my P.O. box or my apartment. I don't know what's going on, but if you tried to send me something (secret pal?) and I haven't mentioned it, please, PLEASE let me know. Otherwise, if you were planning to send me something, let me know, and I will email you my address at my apartment, which should be okay. I think something's just gone weird with getting my mail forwarded.

My Kitty.

2007-07-11T17:23:00.000-05:00

I posted this as a comment over at Laurie's, but I thought I would share it here as well. Laurie lost a good friend yesterday, so go give her some love if you haven't yet. Also, if you haven't been keeping up with Rachael and Digit, you should be.

When I was 3 years old, one of our barn cats had kittens. There was one tiny grey and white female kitten that just was having a hell of a time. My parents decided to move mom and the kids inside the house, so they could be out of the harsh elements.

Once everyone was big and strong enough, Mama Cat moved back outside, and the kids were slowly given to neighbors, as barn cats are always a good thing to have out where we lived. But no one wanted the still smallish, scraggly, grey and white kitten.

My older sister (she was 10 at the time), persuaded our parents to let us keep the grey and white baby. So she moved inside, and my sister named her "Precious". Technically, she was my sister's cat, but she mostly hated everyone except for me and my dad. She became our cat, and refused to answer to "Precious", so she was unofficially renamed "Kitty", and that was all she responded to.

My dad frequently referred to her as "damn cat", and she was more mine than his. As I grew older, she became my companion. I grew into an unpopular, awkward adolescent, and Kitty was the only one I could talk to. I sang to her, and told her made up stories. She slept on my bed, frequently on my face, actually, and always let me cuddle her, even when she would let anyone else near her.

The fall I began college, it became apparent that she wasn't doing well. Over the last year, she had gotten more scraggly, and crankier. She no longer got around very well, and it got where she stopped eating and drinking unless if was given to her by hand, and only by me. The time came to have her put down.

The vet said it appeared she had suffered a stroke, and that our decision was the best one. He shaved her leg to give her the shot, and when he put the needle in, she fought back with all her strength, hissing and trying to scratch and bite. She jerked the damn needle out, even. The vet ended up giving her the shot somewhere else, I can't remember if it was in her stomach or in between her shoulders.

I held her as she left this world, and I cried. The vet was kind enough to give me a hug. But that was my Kitty, tough as nails until the end.

uh, well...

2007-07-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

The cord to my digital camera...um...may have sort of, you know. Been put through the washing machine. On accident. I washed my laptop case, since my friends' cats peed on it while I was living there. I thought the bag was empty, but I guess not. I don't know if it still works. Right now the only internet in our house is on Jared's computer, which I don't like using as much as I like using my computer.

Couple of things first: Ms. Pixie Punk asked about the dye used in my profile picture. Yes, it's Punky Color in Green Apple. It's also about a six month old picture. Now, my hair is Flamingo Pink. Same brand. I usually don't go in for product endorsement on my blog, but Punky Color is the. best. freaking hair dye on the planet. I've only had one color fade on me: Lagoon Blue.

Yeah, that wasn't long after I did it that color. I've loved every other color of theirs that I've used, though.

Thing #2:

I got tagged by covered in Yarn for the wonderful "7 random things" meme.

Here's the deal: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

1. I get antsy when I don't dye my hair. Even with natural colors. I think the longest I've gone without dying it since I was 14 or 15 (that's 8 or 9 years, for those keeping track at home) was 6 months. I also didn't cut it during that time. If was for my high school graduation.

2. I hate having excessive icons on my desktop. It looks cluttered and nasty to me, no matter how I organize them. I have to have about 20 icons on my desktop at work, and it drives me insane. Like, batshit crazy.

3. I've gotten to play with an iPhone several times. I was the biggest hater of the iPhone when they were announced. I certainly didn't want one - until after I played with it. Now I'm dying for one.

4. I get these intense desires to like things that I know I do not like. At all. Such as seafood. And sushi. And mushrooms. And egg. The list goes on. It's like I feel like I'm a horrible person because I don't like these things that everyone else seems to like.

5. Now, some of you know this, some of you don't - I have an addiction to CraigsList. I found my dog, my boyfriend, and one of my first (and closest) local friends on CL. Interesting side note: I met my boyfriend from a Strictly Platonic post I made. Platonic, my ass. But, that's a longer story for another day.

6. I'm incredibly forgiving. Perhaps more than I should be. I have a tendency to forgive friends for doing the shittiest things. It probably says something about my character. Or it might say that I'm just a doormat.

7. My ex-fiancee is my best friend (aside from Jared, naturally). Robert and I share some weird, unusual bond, and have vowed to see each other through everything. This bond took about 4 or 5 years to fully develop, but I'm glad it did.

I'm not tagging anyone in particular. If you want to do this, and you haven't already, by all means - do it. Then leave me a comment or shoot me an email (chemicalpink (at) gmail (dot) com) letting me know you did it. RAWK.

Moving on with my ramblings, I met Jared's parents for the first time Sunday. We drove out to Schulenburg and had lunch with his parents and his two little sisters. His parents were nice, though apparently they weren't feeling well, and I adored his sisters. I always wished I had little sisters when I was a kid, but I was the youngest. So, I'm laying claim to his sisters, hehe. They're 11 and (almost) 13. And adorable, have I mentioned that?

I think that's all my news for now. I'll try to keep it less quiet around here.

when will then be now?

2007-06-12T14:08:00.000-05:00

I promise to have pictures soon. By Saturday night at the latest. Hopefully I'll have some apartment pictures to share, too. I also got tagged, but I probably won't blog that until then, either.

OMG

2007-06-11T14:39:00.000-05:00

I forgot to take pictures of my 2nd SP package and put them on the laptop (Euclid) and then bring Euclid to work so I could post. But it was a fantastic package. I got my favorite yarn in my favorite colorway (Malabrigo in Little Lovely), and some misti alpaca in a fantastic pink. and chocolate (man, she has been sending the BEST. CHOCOLATE. EVER.), and a notebook, and a SUPER AWESOME Mario shirt than Jared is convinced he is going to steal. (He's wrong, btw.) And I think probably something else that I can't remember. SP, email me to get my (yet again) new address (it won't change again for a year, I swear) if you haven't sent package 3 yet.

And now, for Summer Knitty:

Zinzin - Oh, how I wish I could get away with wearing something backless. The girls, however, will not hear of it. They're so demanding.

Sophie - Why do I like this? The neck doesn't make sense, and I'll likely get tangled in it. But oh, how I want it.

'Vog On - I love ankle socks. They give me hope that I could finish a pair of socks. You know, sometime. Eventually.

Coupling - I want to see these in a solid before I make my final decision. But I'll probably like 'em.

Breeze - Again, short socks.

Prickly Girl - I want this in a grown up size with no flowers. Seriously.

Sweet Pea - I'm a sucker for all socks.

And that's it for Summer Knitty.

2007-06-08T11:32:00.000-05:00

I'm changing my aim screen name. If you have the old one, and want the new one, (or if you don't have either) email me at chemicalpink (at) gmail (dot) com. I'm still using the old one, but I'm making it work only.

2007-06-07T11:25:00.001-05:00

MISSING: ChemicalPink

Was last seen at the karaoke bar

'What will you last be seen doing?' at QuizGalaxy.com

2007-06-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

So, the boy is staying with me at Suna's until we move into our apartment on Friday. I had to make the blog private for a little while, his ex was being a little stalker-y. But it should be all good now.

We spent all weekend at A-Kon. I've gone every year for the last 5 years, and I've volunteered on staff for the last 4. This was Jared's (btw, that's the boy's name) first time at an actual con, and he volunteered with me. We had a blast, and bought some kick ass things (including some movie posters that I drool over if I merely think about them: Army of Darkness, Clockwork Orange, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Battle Royale, Nightmare Before Christmas and a HUGE Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).

I haven't been knitting much, but things seem to have settled down. I have my boy, I have some exciing news that is not ready for public consumption yet, I'm back at Apple for another temp contract (please let this one last). The video store I worked at closed without warning or explanation while I was out of town.

And that's most of my news for now. I have a package at my post office box that I haven't had a chance to pick up yet, maybe tomorrow before work.

2007-05-28T01:06:00.000-05:00

Due to unforseen circumstances (the boy's psycho soon-to-be ex), I have to make this blog semi-private for now. Shoot me an email if you want to be added to the list, but I think you'll need a google account before being able to read it.

2007-05-23T22:51:00.000-05:00

I am just amazed at how fabulous things can be. New love is intoxicating. I move in with the boy June 8th - we got an apartment today. Cross your fingers that I get this job I applied for (Suna, Beccano would be so jealous of this job. I'll tell you about it in person - are we still on for Saturday, or do you want to wait and see how you feel?) cause I really REALLY need some gainful employment.

I went back and forth on telling this to the internet, but I am in the big ol' middle of the application to be a SuicideGirl (if you don't know what that is, the link is NOT safe for work), as is my lovely best friend. All we have left to do is have our sets photographed and accepted.

Hey there! Thanks for your application to become a SuicideGirl. You
look perfect for our site, and you've now passed the first stage of
the application process.

If I get the mystery job, plus 2-3 days a week at the video store, plus $500 every time a set is published, I'll be pocketing a nice little chunk of change there.

Everything is falling into place. I don't get to keep my dog, but I get to keep the most fantastic man I have ever met. I'll miss Valentine, but love (with another human) is too good to pass up.

PS (to my Secret Pal) - You sent Kushiel's Dart right when I finished Neverwhere, and I adore it. I'm reading it pretty quickly. Also, You might be interested to know that I decided to get a tattoo of the rose logo from the cover.

Shut down all the trash compactors on the detentions levels!

2007-05-18T17:21:00.000-05:00

This was going to be a longer, bigger post, but I have an evil cold that makes me want to sleep constantly. Unfortunatly for me, I have to work all weekend. So you get a lame-ass pictorial update. And my pictures will probably throw off the frames or look too big, but I am too lazy to worry about fixing it.

I got my package from my secret pal (finally! totally not her fault, I blame the postal service):

roving from Spritely Goods in "Fairy Duster". yummy! I need to get a wheel, lol:

Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook:

Point Pleasant:

Some yummy smelling sinnamon candles:

Yarntini sock yarn in I forget which colorway, but it's lovely:

Kushiel's Dart:

and then some tasty goodies, as well:

2007-05-10T12:41:00.000-05:00

Holy shit, check out this years line up for ACL Fest: ACL Fest Line up

I am nothing less than excited. On the list of "Bands to see or I will surely die" are:

BOB DYLAN - I would pay the ticket price just to see him. He's a poet, and an inspiration to so many musicians, and I want to be able to see him before he passes. I've seen his son live, though

Spoon - from Austin, they're starting to make it big

Blue October - also from Austin. I ADORE this band, and have been trying to see them for a couple of years

Indigo Girls

The Decemberists

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Ben Kweller

Ziggy Marley

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

Reverend Horton Heat

Blonde Redhead

2007-05-10T01:08:00.000-05:00

Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest. (edited - I missed the part about italics)

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl - not finished yet
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk - silk blend
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

2007-05-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Jesus Christ, the internet is boring in the morning. Why am I up so early? My arm fucking hurts. Why? This is why:

If you don't know what the Triforce is, click here.

Damn, is all.

2007-05-06T14:35:00.000-05:00

You guys are awesome. Seriously.

Most of my stuff lives in a storage shed now. I live on an air mattress at Jenn and Sean's. A little more of my stuff (and my dog) is still at Bryce's. I still don't know what I'm going to do with her. I want to keep her, but I'll need to get another job like NOW (I have an interview Monday at TicketCity.com - wish me luck) in order to keep her. Basically, a decision one way or the other needs to be made by the end of the week. I can't ask Bryce to keep her much longer, and while I have had an offer for a friend of Jenn's to watch her, I don't know that I trust this friend with my dog. Plus, he has another dog that I haven't met, that happens to be a pit bull. While I know some pits are sweethearts, I also know that some do not like other dogs.

In knitting news - there has been none. At all.

In boy news - there is one. One that is not the ex. I can't say a whole lot about him at this moment in time. But he is the most awesome boy I've ever met. I've been seeing him for 3 or 4 weeks now (yes, my relationships usually overlap), I guess, and I think he's fabulous. He's a lot like me, and there's all this obscure shit that I know of, that I've never met anyone else that knows of it, (movies, music, etc) and he knows it. We want to write movies together, and I told him I love him last night.

The good outweighs the bad.

Some lryics to aid my procrastination

2007-04-30T20:55:00.000-05:00

Tomorrows coming round like a hair-pin curve in the road
Shes got a run in her stocking and shes missing the heel of her shoe
Got up this morning rolled out of bed
I spilled a diet coke
Called my mother
Said, hi. what I meant to say was:
why is your life a joke?
Then I went down to that ugly bar and
I clicked my heels three times just like you said
And I climbed that road to your empty house
The anticipation was a turn-on...but you let me down
cause I stood on that empty street alone
I said, Im ready for my close-up now, mr. demille.
I waited for the light but it never shone
Well I wonder what you do with that expensive piece of land
That overlooks a billion years of history (I have a sneaking suspicion)
You will never understand
Hey maybe Ill see you down by the rocky & bullwinkle
And we can talk to that charlatan psychic
And she can paint a prettier picture of your future.

cause that day in my life...
That day in my life...
I dreamt tomorrow had a prettier face
I dreamt tomorrow would have better things to say
Than, you look like shit, whats your problem, bitch?
Youre legs feel like sandpaper, you cant do anything right.
cause that day never should have taken place
cause this day in my life still cannot explain
Why I listened in the first place
To you

Oh yeah, something else...

I hope one day you call up your father
And you have the guts to tell him how he hurt you
And he made you hurt another
cause it makes me sad.

"That Day" - Poe

This makes me happy.

2007-04-27T17:55:00.001-05:00

Could you stab that knife a little deeper, sir?

2007-04-27T04:18:00.000-05:00

Bryce did some stalker bullshit, and had installed a "pack logger" on the network, and read my AIM conversations.

I have a week to get my stuff, myself, and my dog out of the apartment. I think I'm going to have to end up getting rid of my dog. If anyone in the Austin area wants a super sweet Border Collie mix, let me know.

I'm going to be packing all day tomorrow, and then getting a storage shed and renting a truck at some point this weekend. Meanwhile, I'll likely be sleeping on the floor at Jenn and Sean's.

It makes me sick to think of my privacy being invaded like that. I would never, EVER do that to him.

Sorry if I don't respond to comments or emails for a while. Know that I read them, and appreciate them, I just have a lot going on right now, and I'm in no state to email back.

Robin, if you could let my SP know what's going on, and that I haven't forgotten or given up on her, I would appreciate it greatly.

Please send good thoughts my way, guys. The is easily the most difficult thing I have ever been through, and I'm feeling very alone right now.

2007-04-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

Bryce and I broke up last night. My internet activities will be limited until I can afford to move out on my own.

Also, I got a part-time job at Vulcan Video. If you live in Austin, come by and say hello (I'm at the Lake Creek, aka "way the hell north" location).

This will be my luck...

2007-04-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

Good night, sweet prince...

2007-04-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

Vonnegut spoke truth to American power and encouraged others to do the same. And he did it with an uncanny, gentle smile. He was fearless and funny, in the vein of Mark Twain, and among a long line of satirists, who help us see the world anew and remind us that nothing is as serious as life. And as a writer, his influence not only came from his world view but from his style as a collagist. He had a way of putting the pieces together.

From The Kansas City Star.

Personal stuff later.

Coming up next...

2007-04-02T00:32:00.000-05:00

I will tell y'all about (and share pictures of) the package the wonderful Kimberly sent me (Thanks!!)

I will tell y'all about my trip to the courthouse tomorrow, to contest a ticket I received last June.

I would say I would tell y'all about my job search, but it's not going very well. Anyone know any job openings in Austin?

I will try to remember to post pictures of my sock and a half. This is the closest to a matching pair I have ever knit. (Note: I collect sock yarn, and have many unmatching socks. I'm trying to break out of second sock syndrome)

2007-03-30T10:19:00.001-05:00

If you haven't seen this yet, you should totally watch it. And if you have, watch it again.

More later.

When there's nothing else to do: blog.

2007-03-27T21:26:00.000-05:00

There's a whole lot of nothing in the job market. I can't do call center stuff, email support is not widespread, retail doesn't pay enough, and I have no experience doing anything else.

Shit, I don't know what to write about.

Stefanie Japel just contacted me via Google Talk and asked if I would be able to do some test knitting for her, and of course I said yes.

I haven't been doing a lot of knitting, at least not that I've taken pictures of. I plan to sit around all day tomorrow and knit, after making a quick trip to PetCO. I have about 8000 movies to watch that are way overdue at Blockbuster, plus some anime I borrowed from Bryce's friend.

Right now I'm watching Girl, Interrupted because it's on WE. I seriously haven't seen this movie since I was 18. It's almost over (in like 2 minutes), and then I'll watch tonight's American Idol and knit on a pair of Dashing for Robert, who has always teased me about my knitting, but when he saw this pattern decided that some knitting could indeed be "badass".

I keep telling people this.

It's getting too warm to knit on the cooler weather stuff, so I think when I finish up Dashing, I'll be working on socks, kitty hats, Jayne Cobb hats, Icarus (no, Icky isn't finished yet. Soon.), and whatever Stefanie sends my way. I also plan on starting cooler weather knits for next fall in September.

Another post about my job (this one without tears and anger)

2007-03-25T23:34:00.000-05:00

So, a little more detail about my job: I answered emails about support and billing for iTunes. Apple hired me as contract labor for Volt. I'm not going to go into a lot of detail other than that.

I loved my job, and I loved working for Apple. I stood behind my product 100%, and made some amazing friends while I was there, some of whom I hope to stay in touch with. It was the first "real" job that I truly loved, and I was really happy there.

Right now, Apple is doing some restructuring of employees that I don't pretend to understand, and I was a victim of it. I'm not sure why, exactly, but I know that it sucks, and I'm sad not to be there anymore.

Right now, I'm just trying to find something - anything - to keep the bills paid. If Volt doesn't have me placed somewhere else by the end of the week, I file for unemployment. Bryce says we can't afford for me to only work part time and go to school, but I will be enrolling in some classes on May 7th.

For now, I'm drinking, and knitting, and will be working on new stuff for my store, and playing video games. I've also started working on my screenplay more (I'm hoping to enter it in First Glance's Annual Short Script Competition next year). Yes, it will be a short script, I really don't think it could be a feature length. I'd like to enter it into the appropriate contest, regardless.

I'm also working on another AMV. I made several a few years ago, but haven't a decent enough system for editing in a while. I'm hoping to finish one, if not two, in time for A-Kon's AMV contest deadline.

But mainly, I'm knitting and drinking a lot. I have a sock to finish, and then I have to start working on Kitty hats and Jayne Cobb hats for A-kon. I'm behind this year. I already had 8 kitty hats done at this time last year.

2007-03-23T10:49:00.000-05:00

Just got fired.

Apple is apparently downsizing (could've fooled me) and it was based on my emails per hour. So it's nothing personal. I'm just pissed about it.

I'm still an employee of the temp company, and they'll try to find me a job elsewhere.

I have to go by there soon.

Break. Bored.

2007-03-13T18:27:00.000-05:00

I'm on my last break at work, and I have nothing else to do AT ALL, so I thought I would update.

Seriously, I can't believe that I forgot my knitting AND my tarot deck AND the book I'm reading.

And there's only so many times one can check email, Digg, Bloglines, and CuteOverload.

I found out that I have too many absences/tardies to be eligible for a permanent position at work. Oh well, maybe next time. I still have 6 months on my contract, and there's been two "badging opportunities" since September.

Going to be in Tulsa this weekend, and I found out that a guy from my team will be there with his wife this weekend, too, so maybe I can take them for a drink or dinner or something.

Got both of my SP matches, and I seem to be matched pretty well this time around. Though the gal I'm spoiling is a crocheter, not a knitter. So, all you crocheters that read this, I welcome gift ideas. I don't know squat about crochet.

Yeah. No life.

2007-03-10T17:38:00.000-06:00

From Teresa:

"It’s been alleged that if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, figure out whether you’ve got a life or not, and post it.”

Teresa: Oh I'm changing it up a bit. Add a movie of your own to the bottom of the list! Comment and let me know if you did this!

Tina: I'm breaking them up into groups of 5, so I can count them more easily.

(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(X) Grease
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
(X) Boondock Saints
Total so far: 5

(X) Fight Club
(X) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
(X) Blazing Saddles
( ) Airplane
Total so far: 9

(X) The Princess Bride
(X) AnchorMan
(X) Napoleon Dynamite
(X) Labyrinth
(X) Saw
Total so far: 14

(X) Saw II
(X) White Noise
(X) White Oleander
(X) Anger Management
(X) 50 First Dates
Total so far: 19

(X) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
(X) Scream
(X) Scream 2
(X) Scream 3
Total so far: 23

(X) Scary Movie
(X) Scary Movie 2
(X) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(X) American Pie
Total so far: 27

(X) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
(X) Harry Potter 1
(X) Harry Potter 2
Total so far: 31

(X) Harry Potter 3
(X) Harry Potter 4
(X) Resident Evil 1
(X) Resident Evil 2
(X) The Wedding Singer
Total so far: 36

(X) Little Black Book
(X) The Village
(X) Lilo & Stitch
(X) Finding Nemo
(X) Finding Neverland
Total so far: 41

(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
(X) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
(X) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
Total so far: 45

(X) Butterfly Effect
(X) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
(X) Robots
(X) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
Total so far: 49

( ) Universal Soldier
(X) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
(X) Along Came Polly
(X) Deep Impact
(X) KingPin
Total so far: 53

(X) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
(X) Meet the Fockers
(X) Eight Crazy Nights
(X) Joe Dirt
Total so far: 58

(X) King Kong
( ) A Cinderella Story
(X) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
Total so far: 60

(X) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
Total so far: 61

(X) Halloween
(X) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 63

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
(X) Ghost Ship
(X) From Hell
Total so far: 67

(X) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
(X) I Am Sam
(X) The Whole Nine Yards
(X) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 71

( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child’s Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
Total so far: 72

(X) Just Married
(X) Gothika
(X) Nightmare on Elm Street
(X) Sixteen Candles
(X) Remember the Titans
Total so far: 77

( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 78

(X) Bad Boys
(X) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number SlevIn
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
Total so far: 81

( ) Ocean’s Twelve
(X) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
Total so far: 82

( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
(X) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
(X) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
Total so far: 85

( ) Curious George
(X) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
Total so far: 86

( ) Christine
(X) E.T.
(X) Children of the Corn
(X) My Bosses Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
Total so far: 89

(X) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Total so far: 93

(X) She’s All That
(X) Calendar Girls
(X) Sideways
(X) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
Total so far: 97

(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
(X) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(X) The Terminator
Total so far: 101

(X) The Terminator 2
(X) The Terminator 3
(X) X-Men
(X) X-2
(X) X3
Total so far: 107

(X) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
(X) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
Total so far: 109

(X) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
Total so far: 112

( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2
Total so far: 114

( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street
(X) Old School
( ) The Notebook
(X) K-Pax
Total so far: 117

( ) Krippendorf’s Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(X) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 118

(X) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Total so far: 123

(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
( ) Base-ketball
(X) Hostel
(X) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
Total so far: 126

( ) Devils Rejects
(X) Elf
( ) Highlander
(X) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
Total so far: 128

( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
(X) Kung Fu Hustle
(X) Shaolin Soccer
(X) Night Watch
Total so far: 131

(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
(X) Shaun Of the Dead
(X) Willard
Total so far: 136

(X) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
(X) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
Total so far: 139

(X) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
(X) 28 days later
(X) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
(X) Waterworld
Total so far: 143

(X) Kill Bill Vol. 1
(X) Kill Bill Vol. 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
(X) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
Total so far: 146

( ) the Hills Have Eyes
(X) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
(X) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 148

(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(X) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
Total so far: 153

(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
(X) The Matrix
(X) The Matrix: Reloaded
Total so far: 156

(X) The Matrix: Revolutions
(X) Animatrix
(X) Evil Dead
(X) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
Total so far: 160

( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
(X) Hannibal
(X) Fiddler on the Roof
(X) The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra
Total so far: 164

2007-03-09T00:25:00.000-06:00

To whoever found my blog by searching for "smelly wisdom teeth hole":

I love you. That is hilarious.

oww + new knitty

2007-03-08T09:38:00.000-06:00

Man, lots of stuff has been going on. Lots of talking, and "tooth hole" pain, and the oral surgeon basically calling me a wimp.

I have had searing pain in my socket since Monday. Monday and Tuesday I took early outs at work because of the pain (technically, I did that Wednesday, too, but Wednesday was also Bryce's birthday). Tuesday I went by to see the oral surgeon. I am out of my prescription for Vicodan, and have a hard time sleeping without it because of the pain. He basically called me a wimp, and didn't give me more pills. He irrigated the socket, and then put some topical stuff on it that was nasty:

Me: the oral surgeon packed my tooth hole with something really nasty tasting that numbed it. he told me to leave it in for an hour, but i had to wash it out almost immediately
Jon: how long did you leave it in?
Me: i dunno, 10, 15 minutes
Jon: well, you gave it a what? C effort maybe? :-)
Me: i dunno if i would even call it a C
Jon: lol
Me: this stuff was SERIOUSLY nasty
Jon: gross man
Me: and for some reason, hairy.
Me: it was hairy, and tasted like Listerine and medicine, and a slight bit of mint (trying to mask the flavor, but only making it worse), and it made everything numb, and was packed into my tooth-hole
Jon: what!?
Jon: grooooss
Jon: its like your an experiment
Me: hairy, like it was part of a cotton swab. but it was a murky red-green color
Five minutes later...
Me: dear lord i can't get the taste out of my mouth
Me: it reminds me of "old man smell"
Me: i just ate an entire sleeve of saltines, and drank a ginger ale (i'm worried that too much flavor will only make it worse)
Jon: lol, I just got caught up with this conversation. A++
Me: haha
Me: omg this is seriously the nastiest taste to ever have lived in my mouth
Me: and i've eaten some nasty things
Jon: i would prefer to stay in the dark on the nasty things tina has had in her mouth

So, yeah, going back to the oral surgeon did not help. It made the socket stop hurting, but it wasn't worth it to have that awful taste in my mouth for two days (it's FINALLY gone this morning).

So, on to the new Knitty:

bmp - These may be the coolest socks ever. A goal this year was to try some colorwork (I've never done anything with more than one color), and the pattern on each cuff is different, so I could be tricked into thinking they are two different socks, and may actually finish them.

Torque - I love this so much that there are no words. I will start this before the year is out. I'd like to wear it next fall.

Isabella - I also love this, and would immediately go buy the yarn for it, but it's worked on #3's. Which kind of makes me shudder and my hands cramp up. Maybe in the future.

Dashing - Yeah, Bryce is SOO getting a pair of these bad boys. And so is my dad. Probably Joe, Jon, Adam, and Robert will each get a pair, also. In fact, I had better start on those, like, now.

Queen of Cups - Suna, did you see? Socks, named after your queen ^_^ And they're awfully pretty.

Clessidra - Pretty socks. Must knit. Drool...

Okay, y'all

2007-03-03T21:42:00.000-06:00

I am alive. My tooth hole is fine. And I can't wait for this movie:

On a vast New Zealand sheep station, a reckless genetic engineering experiment goes horribly wrong, turning sheep into bloodthirsty killers.

k, let's get serious for a minute...

2007-03-01T23:11:00.000-06:00

Y'all, I know this is one of the least serious medical thingys to happen, but send good thoughts my way because tomorrow morning at 10 am, I am having my #2 molar removed. It at an angle that has apparently made it hard to brush since my wisdom teeth started coming in, and it has been causing me much pain and agony for years.

I haven't had anything done to it before now because I have an incredible, intense fear of the dentist. My new dentist is better, but I'm still scared.

They were going to do a root canal on it, and then a rebuild and a crown, but they weren't able to get in to do the root canal (because of the angle), so they decided to just take it out. It's decaying to the point that my silver filling that I had on it for, oh, about 100 years, has fallen off (and I didn't notice. Did I eat it? Swallow it in my sleep? Did it just fall out when I was brushing my teeth? The world may never know). I'm going completely under anesthetics while they remove it, and then I will be on painkillers.

I may make multiple doped up posts. I may ignore the internet. I have three days off, and something like 19 movies, and 3 full anime series to watch, plus a DVR that is 55% full. And knitting while I do all this. I also prepared by reminding myself what I am doing in Neverwinter Nights 2 (Suna and Jody, when Shannon and I were talking about a game a while back at tarot night, this is that game) and also installing Sims 2, along with the Nightlife, Open for Business, University, and Pets expansion packs. I also pre-made a little family with virtual me, virtual Bryce, virtual Valentine, and Virtual ~~Evil Devil Kitty~~ ~~Neko the Hutt~~ Bast, so I've got a head start on that.

And if you need to spend some money, do it here. I've never met Allison, I've never emailed her, or commented on either of her blogs, but I've had her store bookmarked since I read Laurie's post about Allison's son, Evan.

You see, Evan was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 8 weeks. you can read about it here. The story touched me, rather deeply, and I'm not sure why. I don't like children, I think babes smell weird and make strange, alien noises. But Evan, he's lovely. I just want to snorgle him (it's not something nasty, click the link for a definition).

If you are on a stash diet, and can't drop a few bucks at Supercrafty, then you may want to consider just donating directly to Evan's Brain Surgery Fund.

So, while having a tooth yanked out is not nearly as serious as a four month old with a brain tumor, both of us need your well wishes.

thoughts

2007-02-28T18:53:00.000-06:00

First, though, check out some ancient knitting pictures. All of these have been finished and with the intended recipients since November.

Bathtime Blossoms (For my grandmother, along with handmade soap. She doesn't think she can wash with them. I told her "It's just pretty cotton, just use it, PLEASE"):

Baby bolero and matching hat from One Skein (For my baby neice Melina):

Now, on to content.

A random guy on some forums today called me a goddess. The original poster of the thread posted the following:

I just showered after 4 days of barely brushing my teeth... I was forced to since I could actually smell myself. Now that I have, I realize how truly disgusting I must've smelled.

The longest I've ever gone is probably a week, and...well... it was gross.

What's the shittiest-smelling you've ever been and why did you smell so bad?

I shared the following rather disgusting story, taken from a chapter of my life in which I was having fun, but severely depressed. It is a chapter which I do not wish to repeat. I had just began my blog (you can click on the first link to read my hopeful, and "optimistic" first post, or the second link to read my sad, frustrated second post; both written within 3 days of each other, when I didn't even know how to properly word what I was feeling). Anyway, I replied with (links added for clarification):

The smelliest I've ever been...well, I had no good excuse to be as smelly as I was. About 3 years ago, my friends and I used to have these LAN parties that would go on a minimum of 2 weeks. There was a guy who's dad worked two jobs and was never home, so didn't care what we did. We'd set up in his garage (sometimes spilling over into the living room, but that was mainly for sleeping).

This particular LAN lasted over a month, and there was a period of, like, two weeks where I didn't shower. At the time, I was working at the concession stand of a movie theater, as well. So I would go to work, get covered in popcorn grease, and then come home and sit in front of a computer for hours. Every other night we also went to the arcade to play DDR.

Needless to say, I was a greasy, smelly mess. I was also severely depressed, and didn't want to do anything that wasn't "fun". Showers were not so fun, apparently. I just didn't care, and honestly, I was cleaner than most of the guys at the LAN.

I was running late for work one day, and my hair was sticking out in odd places, but I didn't have time to wash it. I thought I'd just stick my head under the faucet, get my hair wet, and all would be well. But when the water hit my greasy hair, all the oil just sort of coagulated. I had clumps of grease in my hair all day at work.

I showered that night.

Even now I'll not shower for 2-4 days. I don't get all that stinky, and washing my hair too frequently makes the color fade faster. I do try to keep up with the oral hygiene, though, and wear deodorant on a daily basis. I'll also bathe rather than shower, though baths kind of gross me out because you're sitting in your own filth.

It's just a little glimpse into my past. I'm glad to say that I've made it through all that, as it was a really bad time for me (clearly).

I was also thinking about my dog, who has brightened my life so much. Valentine is truly a gift. She has given me a reason to get up in the morning, and to pay attention to time. She depends on me and needs me.

A peek into my day

2007-02-26T15:15:00.000-06:00

3:08:44 PM Me: so, i think we should go back to the all crystal cat litter. there is a small mountain of litter outside the door of her box
3:08:49 PM Me: also, how is your day?
3:09:09 PM Bryce: What the hell are you talking about?
3:09:17 PM Me: cat litter
3:09:26 PM Me: sorry, Laurie was talking about cat litter on her blog
3:11:01 PM Me: also, i am a little crazy.

...

3:17:52 PM Bryce: I still don't understand what you are talking about in your first message.
3:20:26 PM Me: Bast's cat litter, we're now getting the litter mixed with crystals, i think we should go back to the all crystals kind
3:20:59 PM Me: because the normal part of the mixed litter is piling up outside the door of her box

Apparently, I had a typo in the original message that he did not understand, and caused the situation to be frustrating for him and hilarious for me. I did not even know about the typo, and it resulted in a 20 minute conversation about learning to read my typos and using something other than "What the hell are you talking about?" as a request for clarification.

Sountrack of My Life

2007-02-25T15:04:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I have a problem writing a post.

Directions: If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool.
7. Don’t skip songs.

My Movie:

1. Opening credits: Charity, Chastity, Purdence, and Hope - Husker Du
2. Waking up: Rock Show - Peaches
3. First day of school: I'm Sensitivve - Jewel
4. Fight song: Feeding Frenzy - Midnight Oil
5. Breaking up: Nothing in This World Can Stop Me Worrin' Bout This Girl - Rushmore
6. Happiness: Oh Canada - Five Iron Frenzy
7. Life’s okay: Call You - Reel Big Fish
8. Mental breakdown: Why Do You Love Me - Garbage
9. Driving: Last One Out of Liberty City - Less Than Jake
10. Flashback: Who Will Save Your Soul - Jewel
11. Getting back together: In Between Days - The Cure
12. Wedding song: Lovertits - Peaches
13. Birth of first child: The Morning Sad - Veruca Salt
14. Final battle scene: I Summon You - Spoon
15. Death scene: Duvet - Boa (This is the opening theme for Serial Experiments Lain, and one of my favorite songs. I once fell in love with a boy the second I heard this song on a mix CD in his car. True Story)
16. Funeral song: In Love - William Shatner and Ben Folds
17. End credits: Wild - Poe

Secret Pal 10 questions

2007-02-22T09:16:00.000-06:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love almost anything, really. There is a time and place for every yarn, so I don't discriminate. I did, however, particularly enjoy my time spent with Lorna's Laces, Zephyr, and Artyarns. Right now I'm knitting with Interlacements' Tiny Toes, and I love that, also

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

My straights are in a big round plastic thing that used to hold biscotti (think plastic 1gal pickle jar), my dpns are in a small makeup bag, and my circs try to stay in their original packaging

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for two years, and I would say my skill level is slightly advanced (I'm not about to do a wedding ring shawl, but I can do Icarus and other lace projects JUST FINE, thank you. and I adore cables)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I have several, in my sidebar

5. What's your favorite scent?

food smells. anything fruity or that smells like food. I also like spicy scents. no florals, no "perfume-y" scents

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I have 28 sweet teeth (tooths?). I love love love dark chocolate, not super fond of milk chocolate, hate white chocolate. I like things that are slightly bitter. I LOVE any foreign candy -love trying new things- especially Japanese candy

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I can spin, but I don't. I don't like the drop spindle. I maybe be dropping some bucks on a real spinning wheel soon, though. I also make beaded stitchmarkers (nothing else), and I like Kool-Aid dying. I also make soap.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

top 5 are: Ben Folds, The Mountain Goats, They Might Be Giants, Bright Eyes, and Fleming and John (in that order) -but I like LOTS of music. I have a secret weakness for dance music. Everything can play MP3s -my car, my computer at home, and my computer at work. and I need new work music :hint, hint:

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I LOVE PINK. I'm not super fond of yellows and oranges. Also really into blues, greens, and chocolate brown right now

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

My boyfriend and I live with a lovely but moody cat named Bast, and an overly loving border collie mix named Valentine

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

It rarely gets cold enough in Texas, but yes, YES, gloves (no mittens), and no

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

triangular shawls, anything with cables, socks (though I've yet to finish a pair). I also like quick knits - I make a lot of hats in worsted weight.

13. What are you knitting right now?

a pair of socks, a couple of scarves, Icarus (being neglected, but almost finished), I have Seraphim on waste yarn (needed the needles for a more immediate project), Tri-Aran-Angle from Knitty (being neglected), a baby sweater (was on hold because I ran out of yarn), an on-going log cabin (neglected). One I finish the socks, though, it'll be nothing but kitty-eared hats and Jayne Cobb hats for a while.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

OH YES

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

generally, circular. bamboo. Different projects have different needs, however.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

yes to both

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

just over a year

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect?

anything with cherry blossoms, tea sets, sake sets, pretty chopsticks, polar bears, can a person collect hair dye? if so, that is also on the list.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I want the KnitPicks Options. I haven't tried koigu, and I'd like the have the Wing o' the Moth pattern. I have subs to Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, and Knit.1

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

not that I know of

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

yes. US women's size 9. pretty average

23. When is your birthday?

February 3, 1984

My Valentine to Knitters

2007-02-14T18:03:00.000-06:00

An adorable picture of two smoochy alpacas, from CuteOverload.com:

Future updates include pictures (I found my camera cord!) and knitting (there has been some!).

DUDE

2007-02-10T12:30:00.000-06:00

So, I've been meaning to post for a few days, but Blogger hates my laptop now. This is a new development.

My secret pal is awesome. I got 4 skeins of Malabrigo in Orchid (so so pretty!), and more yarn that I forgot what it is because I'm not home, some more pink sock yarn, socks(!), yummy chocolate that has booze in it (so good), some sort of "hot crackers" (look like small rice crackers with the same type of flavor that Hot Fries has, haven't tried them yet), and...something else? I forget, I'm not at home to look at it. Thanks Eve! (and I can't link to your blog right now because I'm...not at home)

Speaking of Hot Fries - I haven't seen any since I moved to TX. There were EVERYWHERE in STL, and I loved them. Anyone seen any around here?

So, the big news is...I got a dog.

She's a border collie/Australian Shepherd mix, about 3 years old. Her original owners had kept her outside 24/7 (even during the "big" ice storm Austin got a month or so ago), never went outside and played with her, and only fed her table scraps. Then, about a week ago, they moved and just left her there. A girl I work with lived next door to them and took her in, but she couldn't keep the dog long-term.

Her name was Ariel, but a new life deserves a new name, and so now, I present to you, Valentine:

A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading

2007-02-02T13:18:00.000-06:00

I decided, quite spur of the moment, to participate in the Second Annual Brigid in Cyberspace Poetry Reading. So, I present to you one of my favorite poems:

Love Letter

Not easy to state the change you made.
If I'm alive now, then I was dead,
Though, like a stone, unbothered by it,
Staying put according to habit.
You didn't just toe me an inch, no--
Nor leave me to set my small bald eye
Skyward again, without hope, of course,
Of apprehending blueness, or stars.

That wasn't it. I slept, say: a snake
Masked among black rocks as a black rock
In the white hiatus of winter--
Like my neighbors, taking no pleasure
In the million perfectly-chiseled
Cheeks alighting each moment to melt
My cheek of basalt. They turned to tears,
Angels weeping over dull natures,
But didn't convince me. Those tears froze.
Each dead head had a visor of ice.

And I slept on like a bent finger.
The first thing I saw was sheer air
And the locked drops rising in a dew
Limpid as spirits. Many stones lay
Dense and expressionless round about.
I didn't know what to make of it.
I shone, mica-scaled, and unfolded
To pour myself out like a fluid
Among bird feet and the stems of plants.
I wasn't fooled. I knew you at once.

Tree and stone glittered, without shadows.
My finger-length grew lucent as glass.
I started to bud like a March twig:
An arm and a leg, an arm, a leg.
From stone to cloud, so I ascended.
Now I resemble a sort of god
Floating through the air in my soul-shift
Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift.

-Sylvia Plath

2007-01-27T20:28:00.001-06:00

This makes me smile.

ETA: This is also cool: Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting

American Idol Blog

2007-01-26T14:59:00.000-06:00

So, because it amuses Jon and myself, I created an American Idol blog. I'm posting links to as many of the performances that I can find, and, beginning a day or so after the episode is on TV, I'll post the "Best of YouTube Comments". It's basically just going to be a good place to go to get an overview of the episodes, and catch video clips for the best or worst auditions. So you can obsess selectively.

American Idol New York

2007-01-24T23:09:00.000-06:00

So, my friend Jon (Tulsa guy for those that read the Tarot blog) and I watch American Idol, and then gossip about it the next day when we should be working. Well, tonight he wasn't able to watch, and his DVR is broken, so I took some notes, and I am going to share them with you, as I have no other content for ya.

New York-

Day one.

ian benando - pompus jackass stripper, 2 therapists. speaks, doesn't sing. had to be escorted out. find this guy's video on you-tube.

Sarah Burgess - lied to parents about auditioning, burst into tears, sang "call me", i was impressed. nothing but good words from everyone, going to hollywood. personally, i was moved, very proud of her. I literally cried.

Fania T...something... - crazy greek woman, sang "Africa", not very good, but I've seen worse. simon even ripped her dancing.

Ashanti Johnson - been to hollywood twice already, I didn't think she was all that great. okay, but nothing special. not going to hollywood again. they did a funny soap opera spoof with her thing.

Amanda and Antonella - best friends, wanted to be a duo. they were, like, annoying. and also, like, untalented as a duo. Amanda - sang "Crazy" (Patsy Cline), I thought it was okay, nothing really special. going on to Hollywood. Antonella - I liked her better, still nothing special. everyone liked her better, too. also going to hollywood. can't wait to see the hollywood drama with these two

Clifton Biddle - plays harmonica. attention whore. made some robot noises before audition. sang a ZZ top song, simon asked for something else, he played harmonica.

enter clips of lots of REALLY untalented guys

Kia Thompson - sang some aretha. pretty good. good voice in general, it was a bit, um...loud. and over the top. simon didn't like the song but like the voice. was advised not to "over sing". lots of praise and good advice. going to hollywood. also, who names their kid KIA? My CAR is a Kia.

Day one over.

- interjecting: so we live behind a grocery store. they now have night stockers (didn't used to). the constant banging of the big metal doors at night is IRRITATING

Day two.

Simon had a "singing hangover" and they started without him.

Henry something...- 16 year old, "I'd give anything to fall in love". HOLY SHIT this guy has some pipes. I am in love, dude, amazing. good words from everyone, paula called him "easy on the eyes". going to hollywood. that's one talented kid.

Nakia something... - crazy woman, bad teeth, very optimistic and entertaining, sang "dancing in the street". not good, but not horrendous. sang a different song, and it was MUCH better. evolved from "not good" to "okay". paula says she needs work. more soap opera drama shit. actually felt really bad for her, but she didn't deserve to go to hollywood

Sarah Goldberg - seemed like a sweet girl. OMG she is awful. REALLY awful. she's got a good personality though. but EW her voice. she is lucky Simon isn't there. she then says she's not there to be on idol, and she's not a singer. claims they can "teach" her to sing. gave a speech about how you don't have to sing to be an american idol. omg she became annoying. after her audition, she because hilariously angry.

Simon comes back. (at this point i get a little annoyed because i realize i still have 49 minutes of crap to watch because idol was two hours long tonight)

Antonio Torres, JR- 47 years old, sings "new york, new york". of course, he is awful. he sang "new yor, new yor" not "new yorK"

Jory Steinberg - from Canada (a Canadian American Idol??) has met royalty and the queen of england. sang "Chains". she has a good voice, but she sounds like everyone else. lol, she sang "A to Zed" instead of "A to Z". I love it. they loved her, she's going to hollywood.

Porcelana Patino - did a Rocky-style "American Idol Boot Camp". she's really cute. and then dresses like a ho. sang some mary j blige song. she's pretty good. i like her voice, it's a quite different in a good way. gave them (minus simon, who refused to participate) a group hug when they told her yes. I like her. defiantly in my top 10 of who's going to hollywood

enter clips of judges mispronouncing names (including Jorge)

Christopher Henry - looks like Simon. sings "Before your love" voice is okay, but the high notes are too high for him. Poor simon with his hangover. Simon tells him he should be singing in a dress and stilettos. lol Randy requested Barry White from this kid. Paula and Simon have a tiff (of course)

Rachel Zevita - opera singer. sings "eternal life". I do not like her. she has an interesting voice, but not for that song. they ask for another song, MUCH better, a million times better, Randy request opera. talented opera singer. going to hollywood, this should be interesting.

(at this point I pause the DVR for beverages and an internet brea, and I discover this: http://marmadukeexplained.blogspot.com/2007/01/lets-get-mersh-announcing-first-ever.html. I have found my birthday present to myself.)

time for the shitty singer montage. this time its "All Night Long" in honor of New York City. Pretty bad, all of them. I wonder what happens if one of the bad singers doesn't know the words for the shitty singer montage?

Chris Richardson - I don't know the song he sang, he's pretty all right, sounds like he should be in a boy band. they compare him to Justin. I don't think he could do Dick in a Box though. man, I'd like to see someone sing that in an audition. he's going to hollywood.

Nicholas Pedro - bailed out in hollywood last year because he forgot the lyrics to "Buttercup". sang "fly me to the moon". one of my all time favorite songs, and i loved how he sang it. LOVED. the ladies loved it, and "woohoo'd" at the end. going back to hollywood. i hope he does well, I LOVED how he sang that song.

Isadora/Julie Furman - Reads palms for a living. thinks she can sing and dance (surprise surprise). singing "Lady Marmalade". absolutely AWFUL. there was nothing that could be descerned as lyrics in that. made some "orgasmic" noises for a minute there. throroughly bad and mildly entertain, and then segue-wayed into some other song... Simon called it "Fantastically terrible".

Woah

2007-01-23T15:08:00.000-06:00

Who wants to take a road trip to The Old Oaks Ranch with me? Perhaps on a Monday, unless you want to wait until my schedule changes on 02/12...

de-lurk, y'all

2007-01-22T16:12:00.000-06:00

I missed National De-Lurking Week. So, this week is now "National De-Lurking Week Part the Deux."

So, comment. I noticed I have several page hits from people I don't know, and I want to know my readers.

I'm a naughty blogger.

2007-01-20T18:21:00.000-06:00

Yes, I am a shitty blogger.

In knitting news:

I'm doing some test knits for SWTC. They're lovely and fun, I'm just a slow knitter.

My secret Pal is lovely. I've gotten LOADS of wonderful Swiss chocolate, some wonderful sock yarn, a deck of Tarot cards that is marvelous (seriously, love it. It's become my everyday deck), some delicious soap from Lush (how did you know I've wanted to get my hands on some Lush products?), some lotion, and some thing or things that I have forgotten, but I do have pictures of (I think). I've lost the cord for my camera.

This is super cool. (My mind just drew a blank.) I've been trying to work on the screenplay some. Kat's moving back to Tulsa. I've been seeing a therapist. I don't know if I'm happy. I want to go do something tonight, but Bryce's response was "Hell, no. It's cold."

oops.

2007-01-03T13:02:00.000-06:00

I just realized that I never posted this.

The new issue of Magknits came out (and I must have missed when the new issue of Knitty came out), so I'm adding these to my mental "to knit" list:

Argosy: Since I lost my dearly beloved Multi-directional diagonal scarf, I need a suitable replacement. I think this will do it.
Spanish Dancer: Because OMFG I love miters and haven't done anything with miters in a while
Norberta: Cuteness! To the max!
Sheldon: Ditto Norberta
Waders: Pretty, short socks. Maybe I'd actually finish a pair?

Note to self, go back and take longest quiz

2006-12-29T14:28:00.000-06:00

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I went back and took the longer tests. I am still Saddam Hussein, but the movie changed:

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I'd rather be Indy. I also took another one:

INFP - "Questor". High capacity for caring. Emotional face to the world. High sense of honor derived from internal values. 4.4% of total population.

Free Jung Word Choice Test (similar to MBTI)
personality tests by similarminds.com

Have a satisfactory non-denominational capitalist wintertime gift-giving season...

2006-12-25T00:12:00.000-06:00

...cause that's what my wrapping paper says to do.

It has been a decent one so far for me. Spent rather peacefully and alone, as both Bryce and Kat were working all day. I watched movies and TV and knitted and napped and read. Bryce didn't feel like doing much of anything when he got home, so Kat and I went to see Deja Vu at The Alamo, which was pretty good. We made short work of a pitcher of Sangria, and then came home, opened a bottle of wine, and popped in Elf. I plan on sleeping later than usual tomorrow, and then heading to Bryce's mom's house for gift opening and food. And then Bryce works an overnight shift, so I will spend Christmas night alone, and then have to wake up early and put in overtime at work.

What else have I been up to? I got a package from my Secret Pal which contained a good amount of YUMMY chocolate, and some very pretty sock yarn (I think that's all. I'll have to check). Thanks SP! I'll post pictures when I can find the cord for my camera.

I'm also doing some test knitting for South West Trading Company's Vickie Howell collection. I have LOVE and CRAFT, and they are both lovely. I can't say much else about all that. I'm also working on stuff that I was paid to knit for a girl at work and that I have honestly ignored for too long.

Time for me to fall into a lovely wine-induced sleep. Night, y'all.

OMG

2006-12-18T10:02:00.000-06:00

My trip back home was fun and relatively uneventful. I hurt my knee while I was there, and I have an appointment at the doctor this afternoon to see what's up with it. I also got my package from my most awesome SP. Since I'll have access to a photo-editing program today, I'll likely make a picture heavy post later today or tomorrow. For now, some memes:

The first sentence of each first post of the month for 2006:

January
I apologize for not being able to update frequently.

February
happy birthday to me...

March
(after a last week/this week list) STILL NO CRYING!!

April
Dial up is such a pain.

May
sp8 questionaire

June
(title)I would like to say...(/title) That my blog looks bad in IE.

July
So, I really want to sit down and write a nice long post about my holiday, my most recent sp8 package, and many other things.

August
On Saturday, I trekked WAY down south to Congress Avenue Baptist Church.

September
As we are having some technical difficulties at la maison de ChemicalPink et de Kelmar, I cannot choose a contest winner until they are resolved.

October
SP9 Questions

November
So.

December
My trip back home was fun and relatively uneventful.

And a holiday thingy from my SP hostess (I'm not very good at remembering these things):

1) the oddest gift you have ever received (not asked for)
That would likely be the year that my mom bought me panties and a bra. I was 15.

2) the oddest gift you ever asked for
I don't know, either some sort of food or a plane ticket home from St Louis last winter.

3) the oddest gift you ever gave
SO, when I was a tiny thing (okay, I was 12 or so), I took a Dr. Pepper can and a straight pin, and punched a dotted line around the edge to the logo. I think I did this with a Pepsi can, too. I know I gave one to my sister's at the time boyfriend (now ex-husband). Not sure what because of the other one, maybe I gave it to my mom?

4) the worse gift you ever got
Oh, pretty much everything from my family this year. hideous fun fur gloves and matching knee socks (cause Texas gets cold enough for those sorts of things;, a chocolate orange from someone other than Terry's; a photo album full of pictures from trips I did not go one; scented soap, etc in a scent I don't like and in packaging that markets itself to 10-year old girls. I think that's about it for this year...

Blogging in the name of science

2006-11-29T18:32:00.000-06:00

So, this guy has an experiment to see how fast a meme gets 'round the innernet.

Read about it here, blog about it on your blog, and then ping Technorati by clicking here.

Dear Internet,

2006-11-25T13:00:00.000-06:00

Dearest Internet,

Please stop being boring. I find that I need your distractions more and more these days, and yet you have been failing to deliver. Didn't we have an arrangement? That whenever I was bored, or down, or just needed an escape that you would be there?

You've been letting me down, and I'm thinking of breaking up with you. I know, I know. Maybe I've been "too busy" or "too involved in work" to pay attention to you, and for that, I am sorry. Believe me, I'm open to other options. What is it that you want from me? A new hair color? Wait a week. More posts? Then lead me to more people I can trust with my feelings. More drama? Trust me, it's in the works.

Can I rely on you to get me through those long lunch hours when I have nothing to eat? Can I trust you to have my friends online when I want to talk to them? I'll give you one month, dear sweet love of my life that you are, Internet, and then we'll reevaluate our relationship.

All My Love,
Tina aka ChemicalPink aka Snookums

2006-11-22T18:19:00.000-06:00

Here's what you do:
1. Open your music library
2. Set settings to "Shuffle"
3. Press play
4. For each entry, type the song that's playing
5. For new entry, press the next/forward button

Opening credits: We Care/ Reel Big Fish
Waking up: Nothing Better/Postal Service
First day at school: Complications/Soundtrack from Serial Experiments Lain
Falling in love: Private Show/Pink
Breaking up: Stay (Wasting Time)/Dave Matthews Band
Prom: Girls/Beastie Boys
Life's okay: Jungle Boogie/Kool and the Gang
Mental breakdown: My Sherona/The Knack
Driving: Fast Car/Tracy Chapman
Flashback: Villians/Verve Pipe
Getting back together: A New Hope/Five Iron Frenzy
Wedding: Angel/Dave Matthews Band
Birth of a child: In Other Words/Ben Kweller

Anyone have a soapbox?

2006-11-18T15:51:00.000-06:00

I realize that some of y'all don't know me very well. I want to make a very personal post about myself, but I need to address some basic things first:

1. I am offensive in a variety of ways. It's worse in person, but I want y'all to know that I may, at times, go off on a really offensive rant about something. Or get really excited and say "FUCK" or "Goddamn" or "holy shit" excessively. Or any number of other things. I have been feeling like I censor myself on this blog too much. There are things I don't say after getting nasty emails about being offensive. Or things I don't say because I don't want to offend friends that may read this. This is exactly why I don't use MySpace - too many old old friends on there that I might offend. I'm not going to worry about it too much anymore. I'm fucking sick of censoring myself on my personal journal.

No topic is sacred to me, so if you ever read something you're offended by, I want you to count to 10 while taking deep breaths, and walk away from the computer for 15 minutes before you send me a hateful email or leave a hurtful comment. The internet does not exempt people from having feelings, and it is YOUR CHOICE to read my blog.

2. I've got a lot going on right now, so I've not been posting much. This is self explanatory.

3. I'm really torn in two directions about some personal issues. And it's all I think about.

4. I knit. And then I forget to take pictures of my knitting and post them.

5. This is my bad time of year. I always get really depressed and antisocial in winter, particularly around the holidays. I hate Christmas, I don't like Thanksgiving. I enjoy New Year's when I get to go out, and I love my birthday, but no one remembers it or wants to do anything with me so I get depressed.

The depression and anxiety and everything else makes me not want to post. I'm sorry.

I'll let that sink in for a bit, and then I'll talk about some more of my issues. I can't afford a counsellor anymore, so y'all are it. Sorry. Like I said before, no one's making you read this.

2006-11-15T10:39:00.001-06:00

November 14th, 2006

To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters,

I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week’s election. You’re worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place you don’t want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.

Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of others who are now in charge with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power — and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.

Thus, here is our Liberal’s Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:

Dear Conservatives and Republicans,

I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:

1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you “unpatriotic” simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.

2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be “different” or “immoral.” Who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love — it’s a wonderful gift.

3. We will not spend your grandchildren’s money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It’s your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.

4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.

5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we’ll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.

6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.

7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.

8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.

9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren’t much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.

10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you — and your employees — that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that wage, too.

11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don’t put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs (”Blessed are the poor,” “Blessed are the peacemakers,” “Love your enemies,” “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” and “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn’t just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism — starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.

12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give
us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.

I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans — and for the rest
of the world.

Signed,

Michael Moore
mmflint@aol.com

P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.

man. i'm lame at this blogging stuff

2006-11-09T17:55:00.000-06:00

So. The ear is fine. My throat hurts, I have a lot of yucky drainage, I'm still coughing, and I now have some abdomen pain. Ew, yeah I know.

I've been knitting so much that I haven't blogged much.

For those not in the know, my hands have been hurting. It may be arthritis. I type emails all day at work. Then I come home and knit. Both of these activities hurt me. But you see, there is a baby to knit for. My brother's. His wife is due November 17th, so I will have some FOs SOON.

I apologize for the delay.

I haven't forgotten y'all

2006-10-31T12:47:00.000-06:00

I swear, there has been knitting. Kat moved in on the 26th, and things have been busy busy busy since then. So, I felt like I have been getting a cold all last week, and was generally crummy feeling and tired, so I didn't post at all.

Well, Saturday morning, I woke up and felt like I was dying. I called in sick to work, and called my clinic which, thankfully, is open on Saturdays. My regular doctor wasn't in (damn!), but I had an appointment for 45 minutes after I called. I went in for my appointment, and did all the preliminary stuff (and found out I've gained 20 lbs since moving to Texas - UGH! I need a scale. And also exercise.) and then I spoke with the doctor.

My symptoms:

wicked sore throat
cough
sneezing
earache
headace
fatigue

Prognosis? Definite ear infection, likely also have strep throat. The doctor did not do a culture to check for strep, but he was 90% sure that's what it was, and the antibiotic for the ear infection will also knock out the strep, so no worries.

I'm back at work now, after 3 days off, and I also went to the eye doctor yesterday. My glasses are apparently too stong. And this optomitrist is actually trying to find some contacts that work for me. I tried some that do NOT dry out my eyes, but do cause my vision to be VERY distorted after wearing them a while. I'll try again later and see if its any better. It could be the stuff that went in my eye to dialate the pupils (though they weren't dialated when I put the contacts in).

And yes, there has been HEAPS of knitting. Including two nearly finished baby sweaters, which I will post when they are fully finished. And bibs. And baby stuff in general.

YAY

2006-10-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

I got my first SP9 package, and BOY and I thrilled. Not only do I have an international Spoiler (Hi! You're the best!), I now have a very useful resource:

Mary Thomas' Book of Knitting Patterns

This is a fantastic book originally published in the 30's or 40's. I do wish a new version would be published, one with more modern photos and illustrations, but I LOVE this book!

My Secret Pal 9 Hostess is having a contest for her group: "To participate post a random fact about yourself... It can be anything--something no one would know unless you said it, funny, or just bizarre. Whatever you want."

My random fact? Since I have moved to Texas, I've "developed" a MUCH thicker Southern accent than I had before. When I lived in St. Louis, I would occasionally talk in Eubonics (that didn't go over well, as I am a little white girl). I tend to adapt my patterns of speech to those around me. Know what?

It's totally fake. I do it because I think it's a) fun, and b) cute.

So now you all know my dirty little secret.

Knitty Surprises

2006-10-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

OMG Knitty's surprises this issue are SO CUTE! I think my new yarn wants to be Smock, but with stockinette sleeves. Perhaps bell sleeves. I loves me a bell sleeve. What do y'all think? I might have to fudge a little to get gauge, but it should be fine. If I do it, I'm going to need some help with adding short row shaping for my "fun bags" - Sue Ann and/or Jody, wanna help out with that?

Kew is ADORABLE, and I LOVE useless, silly patterns like Desperate Housefrau.

I've been listening to music a lot more (also podcasts. share any good knitting -or whatever- podcats you listen to with me please!), and this song brings up so many emotions, memory-related and not, for me. I remember vividly the first time I heard it. I was at a coffee shop in Tulsa (which I no longer endose. it is no longer the coffee shop I frequesnted in my high school years). Anyway, I was at this coffee shop at about 1:30am with my then boyfriend. Our relationship was at its best, we were planning for a fall wedding the next year. It was winter - January, I think - and generally cold and grey. It had been raining and drizzling for several days on end, and I was happy, which is unusual for winter. A mutual friend - the most beautiful, poetic, and deep person I still to this day have ever met - came in and spotted us. He came over, and the three of us chatted for a bit.

It was open mic night, and the entertainment was shitty. We weren't ready to go home, though. Our friend told us to come out to his car and listen to this awesome band he had just found, and so we went. His car was parked at the curb of a small side street that wasn't quite an alley. It had no heat, and he just turned it on enough for the CD player to work. He sat in the front seat of his 1983 Oldsmobile, and I sat in the back with my fiancee. As the song hit the last verse - the one I've posted below - the sky broke open and the snow finally, for the first time that winter, began to fall. I was not in love with the music at first. My fiancee was, and purchased the CD the next day. I never listened to it. But as the weeks went on, the one song I had heard began to haunt me. It got into my bones and my soul, and stayed there. I went and bought the CD a few days after my 18th birthday.

The band, Bright Eyes, has remained one of my favorites, and I can never hit next when this song, The Calendar Hung Itself, plays.

Well, the clock’s heart it hangs inside its open chest
With its hands stretched towards the calendar hanging itself
But I will not weep for those dying days
For all the ones who left, there's a few that stayed
And they found me here and pulled me from the grass
Where I was laid

48 Things You Could Care Less About

2006-10-18T11:59:00.001-05:00

"If the entire internet jumped off a cliff, would you?"
"It depends. What's at the bottom? If it's just water, then probably. Sharp pointy rocks are another story."

1. FIRST NAME? Tina

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Yesterday. Stupid computer.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? nope

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? turkey

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? probably not. I whine a lot and can be quite mean

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? :ahem:

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? yeppers

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? perhaps. If I didn't have to pay for it

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? My gosh, almost anything. I love cereal. Probably Apple Jacks and cinnamon apple cheerios - they're just about the same ceral.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? nope

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? no (physically, mentally, and emotionally)

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? So Ben & Jerry's had this one at one point, that was apple-y and had ginger and perhaps cinnamon and I think caramel. Right now, I can't find anything about it. So, I would have to go with chocolate anything, bonus points if it has brownies

14. SHOE SIZE? 8.5 US

5. RED OR PINK? Pink

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? asshole-ish-ness

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I don't talk about that on this blog, y'all. so we'll say my cat, in Oklahoma

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? w. t. f. If I get an email with this in it, I'm going to be pissed

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? denim, black, no shoes

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? a cookie. sort of.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Prince.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Pink

23. FAVORITE SMELL? right now, spicy scents

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? The ever-so-lovely Kat

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Hair. Everyone I've dated has something different about their hair. (Okay, it's usually the color -red- but Bryce's is long, and that's different, too)

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? I like reading her blog...

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Sweet Tea, Sangria, Wine, Hard Ciders

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Bowling. Baseball

29. EYE COLOR? Brown

30. HAT SIZE? well, shit, y'all, I don't know

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I wish. I can't find any that don't bother me

32. FAVORITE FOOD? anything with a good cheese sauce. also potatoes and corn. and gravy

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? SCARY FOR SURE

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall. Failing that - summer. I have an allergic reaction to cold weather. The picture of the REALLY white legs in this article - yeah, that's me

36. HUGS OR KISSES? aw, all cuddling is good

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? tiramisu. so much that an ex nicknamed me "tina-misu". it was cute, and not sappy and damn it I was in high school, I swear

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? w. t. f.: The Sequel

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? w. t. f.: The Final Chapter

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Mirror, Mirror and Jesusland

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? RedVsBlue

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Half of The Road Warrior. That'd be Mad Max, y'all. I also watched Animal Cops Houston

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? puppies. the cat's voice

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Mexico

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I have to pick one?

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Tulsa, OK

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? January One

"Either I've been missing something or nothing has been going on." -Karen Elizabeth Gordon

2006-10-13T17:37:00.000-05:00

I got some lovely yarn in the mail today, and can't find my camera so I can't post pictures. I now have 1367 yards of a very pretty pink (with one strand of black thred spun in) cotton/silk yarn, due to a very nice deal on Ebay. Now...I have no idea what to do with it. Anyone want to point me in the direction of some nice patterns? I'm not even really sure what gauge it is (yeah, I'm bad at knitterly math). The label says 22 st and 27 rows to a 10cm x 10cm square on size 3-4 BUT I don't know if its 3-4 UK (doubt it) or perhaps metric (more likely) or maybe even US. I guess I could knit a gauge swatch, but that would require...well, knitting a gauge swatch. Anyone know anything about this yarn or WTF weight it is? Or any pattern suggestions. I'm thinking about making it a top...

Also. The holidays are upon us. My family lives 8 hours away. I have to work Thanksgiving and Gift-Givingmas. Bryce will be doing his own family stuff, so I will be alone with the cat. OR - will I be alone with the Kat?

My best friend and her non-yappy small dog are moving here, most likely on October 29th. They will be living with Bryce and myself until Kat is able to get a job and an apartment and oh yeah, a new car as she has to sell hers to afford to move here. We've discussed her moving to Austin often, more so since I moved here. She lost her job a few days ago, and decided that it was a good time to move, but she has to sell her car, for multiple reasons. I'm very excited, as is she, but this is a scary time for both of us. I'm very supportive of her move, but...yeah. I don't really like people being in my space, and she doesn't either. We both have some mental health issues. Hopefully she will be able to get on her feet in no time and be able to get her own place, but if anyone knows of a cheap efficiency/1 bedroom apartment or a reasonably priced reliable car for sale in the Austin area, I'm sure she'd appreciate the info. She's going to try to get hired on at my work, so wish her luck with that, as well.

She and I will probably have good holiday times with wine and food (we love cooking together) and movies and pets, so that eases my anxiety about a lonely holiday season some.

I think I should knit her something pretty. She deserves it.

UGH

2006-10-11T18:01:00.000-05:00

So, I don't really feel like making a ver coherent post right now. I was REALLY sick yesterday, and I'm still somewhat sick today, but I had to go back to work today, or I won't be able to pay the bills.

As I'm not feeling well, I wasn't able to go to Chicks With Sticks tonight. I was really looking forward to it, but I plan on spending some good time there on Saturday, and I managed to swap days with someone this week. And Saturday is Pat's brithday, and I do in fact have a couple of gifts in the works for her, so I'll HAVE to show. Not to mention that it seems like Saturdays are the only days I can corner Jody and Cheri in Bluebonnet, and I haven't seen either of them in a while, so I'm excited.

I'm onto the last chart on Icarus. I HOPE to have Icky done and blocked by next Wednesday, so the grand debut can be at Chicks With Sticks next week.

Also still working on baby sweaters and bibs and washcloths.

Thoughts, because I am too airheaded to take pictures of knitting content

2006-10-07T07:20:00.000-05:00

So, I got tickets to see Ben Folds again (I've seen him twice -in Tulsa and in Norman, and missed him three times -in St Louis, Tulsa, and Austin) because I have a slightly disturbing adoration of him. I have been a huge fan of his since EARLY 1997, when Naked Baby Photos (God, what kind of searches will I get from that?) came out and I heard "Underground" for the first time.

I was in the car, listening to "Landed" (link is to the lyrics, go read 'em if you haven't, I'll wait.), and was contemplating two of the past relationships I was in, about how I just felt like I was suffocating in them, and that my creativity and ambitions were stifled, and that I was just carrying dead weight around. I was thinking about it, and, as unhappy as I can be sometimes, I do not feel that with Bryce at all. That makes me REALLY happy.

Anyway, I'm bad, and forget to take pictures of knitting, and just wanted to share some thoughts I was having. I'm going to The Texas Renaissance Festival tomorrow, and will try to remeber to take pictures of knitting along with the pictures of the Ren Fest.

SP9 Questions

2006-10-01T11:47:00.000-05:00

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love almost anything, really. There is a time and place for every yarn, so I don't discriminate. I did, however, particularly enjoy my time spent with Lorna's Laces, Zephyr, and Artyarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? My straights are in a big round plastic thing that used to hold biscotti (think plastic 1gal pickle jar), my dpns are in a small makeup bag, and my circs try to stay in their original packaging

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting for two years, and I would say my skill level is slightly advanced (I'm not about to do a wedding ring shawl, but I can do Icarus and other lace projects JUST FINE, thank you. and I adore cables)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have several, in my sidebar

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) food smells. anything fruity or that smells like food. I also like spicy scents. no florals, no "perfume-y" scents

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I have 28 sweet teeth (tooths?). I love love love dark chocolate, not super fond of milk chocolate, hate white chocolate. I like things that are slightly bitter. I LOVE any foreign candy -love trying new things- especially Japanese candy

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I can spin, but I don't. I don't like the drop spindle. I maybe be dropping some bucks on a real spinning wheel soon, though. I also make beaded stitchmarkers (nothing else), and I like Kool-Aid dying. I also make soap.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Ben Folds and They Might Be Giants are my favorites -but I like LOTS of music. I have a secret weakness for dance music. Everything can play MP3s -my car, my computer at home, and my computer at work. and I need new work music :hint, hint:

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I LOVE PINK. I'm not super fond of yellows and oranges.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? My boyfriend and I live with a lovely but moody cat named Bast

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? It rarely gets cold enough in Texas, but yes, YES, gloves (no mittens), and no

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? triangular shawls, anything with cables, socks (though I've yet to finish a pair)

13. What are you knitting right now? two pairs of socks, Icarus, I have Seraphim on waste yarn (needed the needles for a more immediate project), Tri-Aran-Angle from Knitty, verious dishcloths, a baby sweater, various baby bibs, and an on-going log cabin that I've really been neglecting

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? OH YES

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? circular. bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? yes to both

17. How old is your oldest UFO? just over a year

18. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect? anything with cherry blossoms, tea sets, sake sets

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I want the KnitPicks Options. I haven't tried koigu, and I'd like the have the Wing o' the Moth pattern. I have subs to Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, and Knit.1

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? not that I know of

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? yes. US women's size 9. pretty average

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 02/03

so, uh, yeah

2006-09-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

I have some personal stuff going on in my life that is just tearing up up emotionally. I keep going over and over the same things, and questioning my choices. I know they were they right ones, but I'm still having issues, and it's affecting my ability to deal with EVERY DAMN THING.

So, yeah. Y'all should come out to the FIRST North Austin Knitting and Crochet Meetup, cause I'm organizing it, and it will be awesome.

And I'm sorry for not posting as often on this blog, it's just personal issues and some of the people involved might read this. I know they used to, anyway. I go a little more into detail on another blog, which is not public (if you read it, you have an idea of what is going on, and I might be convinced to talk about it more in person).

Just know that I'm here, and I'm dealing with some shit, and I'm doing what I can.

Open letter to the interweb:

2006-09-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

Dear interweb:

1) First off, I would like to point out to the good people at Stouffer's that while your TV dinners are MAGNIFICENT (supurb, really - best TV dinners out there for my money), you REALLY need to figure out the proper cook time. I nuked a delicious Monterray Chicken Corner Bistro, and cooked for the minimum recommended time of 10.5 minutes, and it was CRISPY, seriously burnt. Still delicious, though, which was REALLY surprising. If the rest of the citizens of Blogland are looking for some SERIOUSLY tasty TV dinners (even when the cook time is wrong or maybe you are an idiot and cook on high instead of half power cause you're too dumb to figure out how to change the heat settings on the microwave at work and you subsequently burn said dinner) Stouffer's is THE PLACE to look. They have not failed me yet.

2) I would also like to mention that yes, I got a wonderful final package from my secret pal, who we now know was the wonderful Shelly at Civil Bitch. I have been a busy, tired, and sick gal, however, and haven't even taken pictures yet. But there was yarn, and a crocheted sock bag, and some great smelling foam soap (I have some handmade bars of black raspberry vanilla, and it might be my favortie scent ever! You're TOO GOOD Shelly!), and a felted FSM, and some other stuff that I'm forgetting cause it's at home and I'm at work and can't look at it.

3) If you live in the North Austin/Round Rock/Cedar Park/Georgetown/Leander area and knit, I have recently been named assistant organizer for the North meetups at The Austin Knitting and Crochet Meetup. If you know of a good place near that are where a group of 20-25 can meet up and knit, let me know! It looks like we'll be meeting Sundays at 2pm, 1st and 3rd Sundays every month, with the first meeting being on October 1st, location TBD.

4) I enjoy my job where I can run around barefoot if I so choose (which I do, even though it is unsanitary. I'm a bit of a hippie and I hate shoes. don't need a lecture.).

5) The weather is getting cooler (in Texas, that means maybe as high a mid-90's). Fall (if you can call it that) is upon us. This also means that crappy seasonal depression is beginning to hit me. If you know me, please try to invite me to some sort of going on once in a while, or I will become a recluse and not leave the house except for work all winter and its really bad. I do this every year, I hate it. I don't know why fall is so bad for me, but it has been since I was 11 or 12. It's much worse than not leaving the house. MUCH, MUCH worse, but I won't go into details here. Or probably in person, cause I'll just have a big ol' crybaby fest and it's no good. So those that know me personally, please try to keep an eye on me. And I'm really good at putting on a happy face in public, so don't let that fool you.

6) You all know what day it is, so I won't restate it. I would, however, like to direct you towards some fantastic sea-faring beauties:

Anne Bonney
Mary Read
Grace O'Malley
Mad Sally

Okay, the last one is fake-ish, but still - fun information

Have a good day, y'all...YARRGH!

I <3 Steve Jobs

2006-09-12T13:56:00.000-05:00

Check out some of the changes Apple is making to iPod and iTunes.

Pretty sweet stuff.

dude

2006-09-07T17:47:00.000-05:00

While this job FREAKING ROCKS, it is leaving me too energy depleted to blog. I go to work earlier than should be allowed (I have to leave at 6:30 or so - means I'm up at 5:30 or earlier), and - not being used to this schedule - I'm still going to bed at 11pm or later. This means that, when I get home around 5:30pm, I'm UTTERLY EXHAUSTED. Too tired to blog, too tired to cook, almost too tired to knit. There has been progress on Icarus and Nancy's sweater (which I can't post pictures of), and I've cast on for a baby kimono from MDK for my brother's future rugrat.

Hopefully less tired and more blogging this weekend.