Day to day bullshit

Life

2010-06-07T23:40:00.002-04:00

I like that everything is getting super busy. With one job ending and another one starting at the same time, I'm not the free-est bird so to speak.

Anyhow, other than work, there isn't much new here. I did finish a pair of socks today. Just plain ribbed socks but it's so satisfying. They look good and now I'm pumped to start something else. Perhaps I'll actually start doing something with the Hempton and the Cotton Fleece that I mentioned in my last post.

I hope that life is treating you well :D

Time flies...

2010-05-21T10:12:00.003-04:00

when it's beautiful outside!

Recently Montreal has been taken over by a streak of summer and man, do I hope it's more than a streak! Also, my first close high school friend has had a baby and I've been to about 3 baby showers since the beginning of the month. I'm starting to wonder why the desire doesn't strike around here...and then I remember that I'm 26, just finished university and like to travel. Internal discussion closed!

I've also been knitting. Last night I finished my Lacy Baktus made with a Zauberball. Talk about mindless kitting, but it came out really well and I'm super happy with the final results. I also have some commute socks on the needles and I'm swatching some Hempton to make the Prairie Tunic. So far my swatches are looking good and I'm going to have to decide between one that's just a little too stiff and one that's just a hair too short...UGH! But if any of you out there have knit with a hemp-cotton blend and have any suggestions for me, please do share!

Last time I hit up my LYS, I picked up some Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece mill ends for close to nothing. That will become some market bags asap.

So that was all that's going on here,
Happy long weekend!

As requested...

2010-05-05T11:36:00.002-04:00

Hihihihihihi! I finally found my photo charger so here's the Hemlock Ring Blanket in all it's splendor! Next on the needles, I have a lacy baktus made from a black-white-gray Zauberball and I'm also swatching for a more modest Prairie Tunic (i.e no lace, but seed stitch panels instead) in Hempton.

Happy wednesday!

Holy May!

2010-05-02T23:59:00.000-04:00

It's May already! AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I finished the Hemlock Ring Blanket and thought I should tell you the tale of a me on a mission to make this thing...

Well the story goes like this, I cast on and then I knit and the blanket grew. It got big. It became a serious source of heat but still, I kept knitting. It got bigger. Then it became huge. Then I ran out of yarn at the end of my very last row. One of the very kind owners of Ariadne Knits offered me enough yarn to cast off. YAY! I started doing that as soon as I got home. Four hours later, I ran out of yarn AGAIN! Back to the yarn store. Again, kind LYS owner supplied me with a little yarn and some good company while I finished this monster.

Then I blocked it. Holy crap, it covered most of a double bed! It stayed pinned down to dry for a good 36 hours and then today I unpinned it and gave it to my dad. He cried. I was happy (and maybe a little misty). He’ll now be the coolest pappy at dialysis what with his new blanket!

Great pattern, super simple. Great yarn. I love it. Oh and one more awesome thing, I learned how to do the Emily Oecker cast on.

Overall success!

Great way to end/start a week :D

minor setbacks

2010-04-22T13:10:00.002-04:00

Over here at casa de my place, we've encountered the most dreadful of events. The loss of Internet. You have no idea... 2 entire days of waiting for a new wire for our modem rendered us completely incommunicado! It doesn't help that I was working on a show at the same time. But now the show is over and I'm back to being regular old me. For now.

I've been procrastinating with the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I don't know why, I have about 2 rounds left before I start to bind-off. Same with my pair of 3x1 rib socks. I'm at the decrease of the second toe and all I can think is "why can't you finish yourselves?!?!?!". Ideally, by tonight the socks will be done and the blanket, well I have a day off tomorrow with that blanket's name allllllllll over it!

I've already cast-on for a new pair of Drunken Bees socks (I really need to make my stash smaller) and I need to figure out what the next big project is. Ideally, it'd be something awesome :D

Anyhow, happy Thursday all!

food and blanket

2010-04-07T10:04:00.002-04:00

So it's officially spring. For me, this means that vegetable season is back which makes me incredibly happy. I have a lunch meeting today so I woke up early to make myself some pasta with some sauteed cherry tomatoes and asparagus. Mmmm sweet sweet asparagus, how I missed you! Add to all this some olive oil, any spice you like (I used chili pepper flakes, basil and herbes de provence) and some tasty tasty garlic...Voilà! You've got a lunch that'll make everyone jealous!

Then there's the Hemlock Ring blanket which is coming along quite nicely! I'm wondering how much bigger it'll get because I actually have gauge but it's looking like a lap thing rather than a blanket. But who knows right! At worse, I'll make a second one on huge-normous needles...

How was your Easter weekend? Mine was fairly uneventful but nice all at once. It's the calmest birthday I've ever had.

Anyhow, I'm so excited that this week is already almost over! Woohoo!!!!
Happy wednesday!

one month

2010-04-01T10:34:00.001-04:00

So I managed to not smoke for a month. I am awesome. I have lovely breath. I start month 2 right now :D

happy thursday

blanket progress

2010-03-31T02:10:00.003-04:00

It's really late and I should be going to sleep. Sadly I'm still up after spending the evening watching the lovely tv show "Sophie". We watched the french version and laughed a lot! I've been trucking along with the Hemlock Ring Blanket and it's a nice pattern and fairly mindless. The rounds are long as hell though and it'll only get worse but meh, I can handle it.

In other news, it's almost my birthday and I wonder what I'm going to gift myself with. Ideally it'll be a plane ticket but that may have to wait just a little bit.

Anyhow, goodnight!

Done and done but starting again

2010-03-27T19:17:00.002-04:00

My CPH is complete. Yaaaaaaay! Today I went to my LYS and found some lovely brassy/bronze-y buttons to complete it. I also picked up some Cascade Eco Wool to make the Hemlock Ring Blanket for my dad. It's very smooshy and I have a feeling it'll make for a lovely and warm blanket.

I also finished a commute sock. I'm feeling so productive these days!

Happy saturday...

strange weather and side seams

2010-03-26T10:49:00.002-04:00

So what's up with this weather? Yesterday it was about 10C which was nice and then today...BOOM! It's -15C. I don't like it at all. Is there a union rep I can speak to about this? hehehe.

Yesterday I completed the first side seam on my CPH. It smells like the end of this project. I have one more seam to sew today and buttons to put in and then I'm done. DONE! It's already looking good and I think that I'll be wearing this baby quite a bit. Now what's next? I don't know really...Maybe some socks? Maybe the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I've been wanting to make something for my dad and that would be perfect for him since he always gets cold during dialysis so maybe if I make the blanket in brown...?

Anyhow have a nice friday!

Film awesomeness

2010-03-25T01:34:00.002-04:00

I just watched "Away We Go" again. I love this film. Period. It's just perfect. And that soundtrack, it just makes me happy!

Anyhow goodnight!

buttons

2010-03-22T23:39:00.002-04:00

I'm almost done with my CPH. I have only 12 rows to knit (i.e the right front band) which will have to include the buttonholes and then, I'm off to seaming land. Yay! Now, this is a casual FUCHSIA cardigan that I'm making here and I'm trying to figure out what kind of buttons I want to use.

For right now, I'm thinking that some nice medium sized toggle buttons could be cool but I don't know...I think that maybe I need to hit up the button and ribbon store to try to find something awesome that will embellish this project to it's just awesome-itude. (sorry, it's almost midnight and this is what happens, I have a 4 word vocabulary that revolves around awesome).

Alright well...I'll mull it over but feel free to let me know what you'd use...

(btw...22 days without smoking...seems like a small number but I think it's marvelous)

TGIF

2010-03-19T19:27:00.002-04:00

I love Friday's because they're my day off. It also helps when it's 15C outside. I had fun downtown and spent waaaaaay too much money shopping. I gifted myself with not one but TWO pairs of Converses. One pair of off-white/butter hightops and one pair of white low-cuts. They're so beautiful, I can only hope that they'll stay nice and clean for more than a week! Then, I bought a couple of movies (the entire Ocean's 11 series, Away we Go and a triple-packed musical box set with Hair, De-Lovely and A Chorus Line!!) and a copy of Eat, Pray, Love. All in all it was a nice day!

Oh! To top it all off, I started the hood to my CPH. It's all coming together now and I'm super excited! YAY!

Have a nice weekend

Delayed cheesiness

2010-03-16T11:15:00.002-04:00

After watching An Affair to Remember, I started on Up In The Air. All I can say is that my birthday is in 3 weeks and I want George Clooney as a gift. Soooo sexy!

I'm about 3/4 of the way through the first sleeve. I need to find something to block all these pieces on though...maybe some big foam puzzle pieces? Feh, it'll work out.

Feels shockingly like a Monday. But it's not!!! It's also going to be a warm day in Montreal, so if you can, go out and enjoy it!

Happy tuesday

omg cheesiness!!!

2010-03-15T17:45:00.001-04:00

I'm watching An Affair to Remember with some soup and the first sleeve for my CPH. This is the best way to cure a hangover. Hands down!

happy monday :D

So...

2010-03-11T23:37:00.003-05:00

That didn't work out as well as planned...My fruit and veggie intake remains under 5 to 10 portions a day. Poo! Oh well, at least I'm on the tail end of my 11th day without smoking. Happy dance!!!

I also finished the left front of my CPH. This thing is going to be awesome once it's done. It'll be loud (gotta love fuchsia) and warm and I might just like it as much as George Stromboulopoulos. Mmmmmm....Georgggggggggeee....

Ok. Well here comes a 4 day weekend for me (a very well deserved one if I do say so myself!) which will be full of sleep, beer and st-patties-ness since it's the parade on sunday. My liver is ready and so am I since I don't have to work the following day...Hihihi! There should also be some knitting progress, which would be nice.

Be kind to your neighbours!

1 week and a new challenge

2010-03-08T10:45:00.002-05:00

So I haven't smoked in a week. I am very proud and also nervous about the second one starting today. Last night, I was super happy, in an effort to be supportive, my big brother decided not to smoke while I was at his place. It was sweet and made it so much easier not to think about it!

Ok I'll most likely still blab on about how it's going in my non-smoking world but I also wanted to push myself a little. It's spring and it feels like a time for fresh starts. I'm challenging myself to eat 5 to 10 portions of fruits and veggies every day. For now it'll be for the week, but hopefully it can become a habit. I'm pretty good usually and get between 3 and 5 in but come on now...what's the point of trying to be healthy if I can't go all out?

So I'll let you know if I try any awesome recipes and if you have any suggestions, let me know!

toodles

Day 7

2010-03-07T12:42:00.002-05:00

It's a full week...BOOOOYAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Okay, I have to get through today but I'm confident about my awesomeness.

I got to knit up a storm at work last night, I almost finished my CPH's back (it was a 14 hour shift!), I have about an inch to go before I BO the shoulders and move on to the fronts. Woot!

Don't you love that in Montreal, when it's 5 degrees Celsius everyone is out without coats and sitting on terrasses having coffee and beers? I won't lie, my windows are open and Serge is totally digging the change of air. Spring cleaning is coming in a couple of weeks (next week is the St-Patrick's day parade and I plan on being too ~~drunk~~ busy to do it).

Alright happy Sunday to you all!

days 5 and 6

2010-03-06T09:25:00.002-05:00

Everything is ging swimmingly here! Today is day 6 and since I have a cold, I have no desire to smoke. I guess a well timed vicious-man-cold can be a good thing!

I've been working like a maniac this past week and I still work this afternoon so I haven't knit much at all. Actually, I haven't done much of anything period. I have a nice pile of laundry waiting to be taken care of and a lovely pile of dishes just waiting for my attention. And yes, instead of doing all this, I'm in bed watching the Littlest Hobo with tea. Maybe I should knit...

Alright have a great weekend, it's ridiculously warm here (guess the season change is behind my cold) so enjoy it!!!

day 4

2010-03-04T23:32:00.003-05:00

Ok I need to stop compensating the not putting cigarettes in my mouth with putting tasty mushy carb-y food in there instead. Hehehe! I think that this was a good week to stop smoking. With all the kids out of school, I work over 60 hours this week and 42 of those hours are done between today and saturday (in two 15hr shifts and one 12hr shift). For those of you who think your schedule sucks...want to trade? I'll take anything provinding I don't have to wake up at 5.45 am again for a while...

Day 3

2010-03-03T07:14:00.001-05:00

Today will be a long day but that's okay. The scary part is that tonight i'm going out for drinks with a couple of friends (smokers!!) and it'll be a good test...

wish me luck!

Day 2

2010-03-02T09:33:00.002-05:00

Thank you so much for the support! It's really appreciated!

Yesterday wasn't as hard as I thought it would be BUT I found myself to be a little short tempered and very hungry. I drank a lot of water and tried to keep a smile on my face and all of a sudden it was 11pm and I was going to bed smoke free! YAY!

Every book and website says that keeping your hands busy helps with quitting smoking. So you see, knitting is not only awesome but it's also healthy. Hehehehe! So I knit like a maniac last night and well I'm coming along pretty fast on my CPH's back. Hopefully by the time Défi Tabac is done (it's 42 days), I'll have a nice cardi to wear!

Have a good one!

Today

2010-03-01T12:18:00.003-05:00

Today, I'm scared shitless because I hope this is going to work.
Today, I'm looking at those around me for a little help and support.
Today, I quit smoking.

Day one: so far so...okay. I'm a little edgy but it'll pass...right?

doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo...

2010-02-25T23:30:00.002-05:00

I'm exhausted. I was supposed to go on a trip soon but I can't since I'll most likely be moving this summer. I'm very sad about not hitting up Paris, but I guess it means I have to find something else to entertain me and allow me to rest. I'm wondering if I could make it to NYC and Boston before april for some PR&R (the p is for party of course). Considering that I work with kids every day of the week, I'm run down and I don't want them to suffer from the crabbyness that comes with being overworked and underpaid. :D Think about it this way, most parents raise about 2 kids. I have 45. I've been working with kids since the age of 15 (OMG I just realized how long that is!), I whine and bitch about them but really they're awesome.

Anyhow...

I finished my first pair of socks of the year. They're just a plain pair but I like them. They're super multi-coloured! It's at moments like this that I'm a little sad about my camera situation...feh!

Tomorrow I cast on for the CPH. Can't wait.

For now, I sleep.

happy dance

2010-02-23T21:31:00.003-05:00

about 10 minutes ago I did a happy dance. I finished the Gathered pullover. YAY! Everything is nice and seamed up and I tried it on and it looks as if it were custom made for me. Oh wait, it was!

Since I still can't find my camera's charger, you'll have to wait a little for visual proof but I sure am happy that it's done!

Ok, so now I have a plain sock to finish and then, I'm off to Central Park Hoodie-land...

big trouble in little seams-ville

2010-02-18T14:15:00.002-05:00

so last night i went to knit night and it was a lot of fun. It also proved very helpful since i got some good advice on why my shoulder caps weren't very much fun to sew in. The shoulder holes were perfect and the sleeves fit me well but they didn't match when i tried to piece them together so now I'm rebuilding. I ripped out the shoulder seams in an effort to make them smaller to fit the shoulder caps but then i was helped to realize that the shoulder caps are too small. So now i'm re-knitting the back to make it a little smaller and i'm reknitting the sleeve caps to make them a little bigger. Le-sigh! I guess this is a lesson in patience...! Hopefully they'll fit when I re-try to sew them and I'll be able to finally use this sweater before it gets to warm for wool.

I've also swatched for the Central Park Hoodie. I don't know how much I like the Cascade 220 knit on such big needles, I might go down in needle size and up in sizing to get the desired effect.

Mark my words, I will make and finish these two items.

omg

2010-02-17T00:10:00.002-05:00

I'm seaming the Gathered pullover. Me. Seaming a sweater...Shit!

The process to finish this baby is going well (thanks to some helpful YouTube vids) except that the seam between the first sleeve and body has a two tiny gaping holes in it. I don't know if I should simply try to hide them through the WS or rip out my seam and start aaaaaaaaaalllllll over again. Tomorrow is knit night so be warned that I'll be there asking for help... If I can finish this puppy tomorrow, I'll be in heaven!

Tomorrow I'll be getting ready for the next project: the ever popular Central Park Hoodie. I have a truckload of Cascade 220 in a really loud pink that's just waiting. Tomorrow morning, it's winding time and hopefully by Thursday (I almost typed Turdsday *snort* I need to stop taking joke advice from 12 year old kids...) I'll be casting on. After that, I'll be due for some sock knitting. I miss socks. Sweet sweet socks...mmmmm!

Goodnight!

mindless

2010-02-11T23:24:00.002-05:00

knitting sleeves is so vedge! With the body, I had the cable section to look forward to, but now, it's just knitting all the way around and then doing it all over again. I'm hoping that I can start the increases soon.

Oh I tried the body on once I seamed the shoulders (which made me feel like a champ btw!). Sweater fits to a tee. I'm really excited to see the whole thing once I get some arms onto it.

that it all.
goodnight.

almost

2010-02-09T00:53:00.001-05:00

shockingly, i'm almost done with the body of my Gathered Pullover! The front is complete and now i'm working on the back. Maybe my Olympic challenge will be to actually finish it and wear it by the end of the games. Yay me!

Boredom

2010-02-05T20:19:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while, I experience acute boredom. I have fridays off from work so I spent the day in my pj's, having some Skype meetings and knitting. I'm 22 rows into the cable pattern of the Gathered Pullover. Pretty fucking awesome so far!

Oh, I also realized that I'm missing the second half of the second season of Lost. I could just go rent it BUT that would imply getting out of my pj's...

Tomorrow I have to go to a baby shower. A friend from high school is having a kid. Scary! I've known this girl since grade three. Baby... WOW!!!!! Anyhow, I'm making pie for the event (ooh, I should get on that!).

Anyhow, more news soon!

-30C

2010-01-30T11:40:00.002-05:00

It's F-R-I-G-I-D out there. I won't lie though, I haven't left the comfort of my apartment since Tuesday night when I got violently ill. I'm healthy again, but man am I scared to put my nose outside.

On today's menu, I'm making dessert for a good friend's birthday tonight. It's going to be a dark chocolate pie with a white chocolate and raspberry sauce on the side. Decadent, I know :D

Oh, I actually stuck to my word yesterday. I swatched for the Gathered Pullover, decided on what mode I wanted to do on it and I started it. Go me! I decided that instead of a rolled hem like the pattern calls for, a folded hem would be more flattering. Like a lot of folks did, I also plan on lengthening the body and the sleeves. Hihi! Granted I'm only 2 inches into the body (not including the hem).

Oh, by the way I'm using the recommended yarn in framboise, which actually looks more lie grape to me. But really...who cares?

Alright, I'm going back to Lost. I started watching the first season last night and I'm utterly addicted.

Happy saturday!

Hmmmm

2010-01-29T12:11:00.002-05:00

Since I finished Ene's Scarf yesterday, I've been debating over what to do. You see I want to tackle the Gathered Pullover for which I have the yarn and everything. But since I'm slowly getting back to the knitting world, I could also wait and challenge myself to make it for the oh-so awesome Knitting Olympics.

Then again, I don't know if I can make a sweater in 2 weeks... Pfff, who am I kidding, it's not going to happen. So today, I'm going to swatch and come up with a game plan for the Knitting Olympics. I'm very excited about being able to wear my "Canadian Olympic Knitting Team" hockey jersey again!

Ok, I have nothing else to say...

Lots of stuffs

2010-01-28T23:50:00.003-05:00

There's something deeply satisfying about finishing a project that isn't a sock. About 10 minutes ago, I cast-off my Ene's Scarf. I like it so much that I'm wearing it right now. It's taken me a month from cast-on to bind off and I'm just really happy with this one.

Anyhow. In other life news, I've been battling my second bout of gastro since the beginning of the week. Working with children definitely has it's high points but MAN. All the diseases they spread! Little buggers...

On tuesday, my roommate and I went to see the premiere of Paradis Perdu and it was delightful. A little too wordy for my taste but beautiful and a half. I can't help it, I'm a sucker for nice set design and simple mise en scène and although this wasn't "easy" simple, it gave off an air of simplicity which I adored. Anyhow, if you can find tickets, go! Pierre Leabeau's performance as the narrator was well worth the 60$ we paid per ticket. The man has the most AMAZING diction in the province. WOW!!!!

Oh other cool stuff, I think I found my plane ticket! It seems that Air France will do a second stop for free so I might just spend 2 weeks in France and then go somewhere else. I'm thinking Turkey could be sexy, that and I could walk around singing "Oh Mandy! - You came and you brought me a turkey -On your vacation away to Turkey - You came and you found me a turkey - ..."

Oh I hope it's stuck in your head now because I can't stop giggling to myself now...muhahahahaha!

Good night.

thursday

2010-01-21T12:13:00.002-05:00

Sup folks. I'm still alive. It's grant application time so I'm writting a lot. It'll be over soon and hopefully my writting skills will reap some awesomeness. I'm also still knitting Ene's scarf, a pair of plain socks and Massie. I can't lie though, I'm definitely focusing on the shawl. It's so...blue!

Otherwise, I'm shopping for a plane ticket to France. If you know any travel agents in the Montreal area, let me know!

Mornings

2010-01-08T10:06:00.003-05:00

I've never been much of a morning person. I like to laze around in bed and read and cuddle and all that stuff. Occasionally the enticing lure of coffee will make me bolt out from under the covers. This is not one of those mornings. With the beginning of the new year, I figured that while I won't go out of my way to be a gym freak and all that, I could stand to get a little healthier so that I can be awesomer. Yes, I said awesomer.

So my new morning companion is...*drum roll please*...oatmeal.

Let's just say that this is not the most satisfying relationship I've ever been in. But it's working, I manage to feel full until lunch.

Anyhow, I'm knitting away at Ene's Scarf. I'm liking this whole lace business. I don't think that I could handle complex lace where both RS and WS are patterned, but who knows, I might get there at some point. The only thing that kills me is that since the rows are so damn long, to complete 2 rows, you're looking at about 45 mins. This can be a little frustrating but still. It's looking dead sexy and this is what's keeping me motivated.

I've also got a couple of pairs of socks going as well for when I can't handle teeny tiny yarn.

Alright well have a nice friday folks!

Looking forward

2010-01-01T13:13:00.002-05:00

2009 was an interesting year. It had some good. It had some not good. It had some (*cue booming/echoing luchador announcer voice*) TERRIBLE. (/*cue)

2010 is here and so far, so good. And by that I mean that I'm not hungover. Well not in ways that I can't handle with bacon and coffee anyhow. So I want to wish you all out there in the universe a year full of love, health, warmth, smiles and laughter. If I could control the economy, I'd wish for you to not feel the pinch of the recession anymore as of...wait for it...now!

For myself, I just hope that I can be awesomer. That and I hope to have no regrets this year. There are a few things in the works already for the new year. I foresee some travel (damn right!), an inevitable return to school (B.Ed) and the return of someone very important to Montreal (not a boy but a man) which will lead me to make some important decisions/choices.

But for right now, all I see in my today future is coffee, movies and Serge.

Happy new year

a couple of FO's

2009-12-24T10:10:00.002-05:00

So last night I finished another pair of socks. It's sooooo satisfying to weave in ends! They are the Vintage Rose socks designed by the awesome Mona. I love the pattern, but the yarn was being a little bitchy with me. One sock looks like a bit of a zebra while the other looks more like a cow (with huge spots of poolage). While making them, I found this to be a little frustrating BUT when I put them on, I realized that they're akin to wearing a zoo!

There are a couple of projects I want to get going next. There's Ene's Scarf for which I went stashdiving and found some lovely AmiAmi laceweight in a lovely royal blue. Then I think it's time I made myself another pair of thrummed mitts and another hat. Add to that a few pairs of socks to keep my feet warm and well...that should be it for the next couple of years! LOL! Oh and I can't forget Baktus. I picked up a Zauberball just for it.

In other news, I also finished the greatest FO of them all. My degree. As of last week, I hold a BFA :D Yay me! Next step is to do another one, most likely in teaching high school french. Theater is my first love, but hopefully teaching can lead the way to being able to pay my rent.

Anyhow, a very happy and safe Xmas to you all. Be kind to one another and to yourselves.

Much love!

FO

2009-12-13T11:31:00.003-05:00

I finished my Devon socks (from Cookie A's Sock Innovation). I love them. They're in Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, colorway: Spanish Moss. As always, this is one of my favorite sock yarns. It's just so smooooooooshy and soft. On the pattern, I can only say that it's AWESOME!!!!

Ok back to papers (and who knows, I might CO for something else tonight...)

blllllllllllarghhhhhh!

2009-12-12T14:00:00.002-05:00

In 9 days I will hold a BFA. Tomorrow, the number of days gets smaller. This is the only thing driving me right now otherwise I'd spend the weekend in bed with "Paradis clef en main", coffee and a pack of smokes.

Only 2 papers left to finish.

I can do this.

monday

2009-11-30T12:29:00.003-05:00

Back from the country.
Got my flu shot. Arm hurts like a mofo.
I woke up to snow today. It has since melted.
The end of the semester is upon us and really...all I want to do is hide under the blankets. Instead, I procrastinate and blog :D

Ok, I'm done with this tiny sentence business. It feels like I'm just typing up Facebook statuses.

While I was in France last year, I spent some time with the ones I call my second parents. They're a French couple who were my parent's best friends and we spent every single holiday, football world cup, birthday and random moment together until I turned 12. That's when they moved back to France. So I went to see them last year not only because it had been a trillion years, but mainly because my second mom was battling cancer. With her husband, we spent 2 days talking about my parents, all the crazy things they did, all the stories I never heard of or thought were just myths and then some. We laughed a lot. Right around Easter, she lost that battle. It was a very hard time for my family and for me. It's part of the reasons I stopped blogging and knitting. I kinda went blank for a bit after.

There was talk of heading to France for the funeral, but it was really too hard. I was the last member of my family to see her. Anyhow, in the time I spent with them, I found out about a tradition they had with my parents and a few other friends starting in the 70's. Every year, for the first snow, everyone would pile into their car and head over to one family's house. Then they'd make crêpes. Tons and tons of crêpes.

So when it started getting cold I boldly announced to my parents that I was reviving the tradition and invited everyone i know to come over for what have now been dubbed "snow crêpes". It's a nice little testament to my aunt I think. To me it's a nice way to remember her (considering she may be the best cook I've ever known) and I know it also means a lot to my parents.

Like I said earlier, this morning I woke up to snow. I also woke up to a phone call from my second dad who's back in Montreal and is staying with my folks. Needless to say that I got a little misty...and hungry!

Anyhow, I guess it was just time that I opened up about what's going on here. Today, I'm on the hunt for a new camera charger so who knows, there might be pics sooner than later!

Enjoy the first snow!

more FO'S, still no pics

2009-11-27T00:10:00.002-05:00

Athena socks finished.
Love them.
School is driving me nuts.
Going up north for the weekend to do nothing but drink and read and laugh.

toodles

late night

2009-11-18T00:11:00.003-05:00

I came home after work and I was super cold. No fever, just freezing. I'm hoping that it's just me being tired and not anything that would hinder the day to day bullshit that I have going on. (did you like how i plugged that? huh? huh? huh?)

In an effort to make myself feel better I had a homemade brownie, slipped into my PJ's, got on the couch and under the alpaca blanket that my roommate's parents brought back from the Galapagos. I picked up my then-almost-done sock, a mug of mint tea and the remote control to the DVD player. And then I watched a Xmas movie. Oh yeah! Decadence lives strong at my house!!! I finished the sock. So that's another pair for my drawer.

Now it's late and I have class tomorrow morning. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll need a good strong coffee to get through the am so off to bed I go.

Goodnight!

sunday

2009-11-15T17:07:00.003-05:00

This a procrastination post...

I'm supposed to be finishing a paper on The Matrix and religious/art symbolism. BLAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Instead, I finished cleaning my apartment which is soooo nice. Both my roommate and myself have been busy recently but it's so nice when you can go to bed knowing there's no dust anywhere, that the kitchen is immaculate and not a health hazard and that the bathroom can be licked without the possibility of imminent death. I just hope that we can keep it clean. *stern face*

Tomorrow I conquer my bedroom (after handing in the paper that I'm going to finish in a few minutes...). I bought some bamboo blinds but they're off center and it stresses me out. Tomorrow will be a feat of measuring/sticking nails in the window frame/re-hanging the blinds. Once that's done, all will be right with the world and I'll be free to start looking for stuff to hang on my walls and maybe even *gasp* a desk!!!!

I don't know how I managed to finish a degree without a desk but I'm starting to notice that I need one so that I can focus and get in the zone. Maybe it'll be Xmas gift from me to me :D

In knitting news, I'm on the second sock heel. I've also figured out what I'll be doing next. It'll be Ene's Scarf in some royal blue AmiAmi laceweight that I've had forever. Another pair of socks will also start soon :D Mmmmm socks!!

More sock stuff

2009-11-09T10:39:00.004-05:00

Yesterday while watching Xmas movies with my roommate, I finished a pair of plain socks. So i was left with a "what do I do now??" feeling. So I cast on for another pair of socks. I dug up my old Robyn's Nest sock club patterns and found the yarn that goes with it. I'm now on the foot of Paddy's Lucky Clover Socks.

I'm starting to appreciate my well stocked sock drawer :D I'm also enjoying the fact that there's less yarn in my stash. There's still enough yarn for me to make socks for about 10 years but still, it's less than last year.

The traveling guy is still in town. It's nice for now, but I know he's going to leave. My mother, my roommate, my best friends and a few other people have suggested that I might have a bit of a commitment issue since I can't get away from travelers. That's a possibility...

:D

On a roll

2009-11-07T00:52:00.003-05:00

Well Bella's Mittens are done! And I have to say that they look good! I'm a little sad because my ginormic hands wouldn't fit in them (they'd need an extra horseshoe cable repeat) but I guess that's a good thing since they're going to the other K tomorrow as a belated birthday present. I've actually been thinking about making her a complimentary hat for Xmas... Guess we'll have to see if I can muster something up. If you have any suggestions, send them my way!

What am I knitting next? Well, I don't really know. I could start Ene's Scarf or the Swallowtail shawl. Then again, I could also do with more socks. One can never have too many brightly colored socks!

What to do?!?!?!

Wow

2009-11-06T09:27:00.002-05:00

I forgot how satisfying it can be to finish knitting projects! I finished a pair of Fetching with the rest of the Araucania and I thankfully have enough left to make another pair. My mother saw the first pair and well...took them. She said "Hmmm! I like them, they match my hat. Thanks!" Anyhow, just before Halloween was the other K's birthday (recap: she and I have been friends since we were 8, went to Ireland together and she met me in France last summer...Plus we live 8 blocks away from each other :D) and she requested a pair of "Twilight" mittens. So we went to Ariadne and picked up some Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky in Charcoal heather. I CO the first mitt at work last night at 6. By the time we closed up at 10.30, I was all done except for the thumb. I know, shocking! I may eventually have to make another pair for myself.

What else can I tell you? I went on a date recently. It went really well but nomadic men are the bane of my existence. Enough said...

That's it for me!

So...

2009-11-02T20:04:00.002-05:00

I took a mental health day today (hee hee!) and spent all day chillaxing with Serge, books and movies. I managed to finish Rivulet scarf and since there was a whole bunch of yarn left over on the barely touched 3rd skein, I CO for a pair of Fetching. It'll make for a nice holiday gift to someone!

post-halloween post

2009-11-01T13:01:00.003-05:00

I love Halloween. It's always fun! My lady posse and I hit up a local pub and checked out the fellow freaks. One was a "B-girl", one was a greek goddess and I was Twister. Like the game. It's not super original but considering my personal recession, it was easier to paint on spots on a tank top than to go out and buy a costume. Anyhow, it was a success and this morning I woke up with a sliiiiiiiight hangover and a serious sore throat. I'm laying low with some tea, a blanket and some knitting. Serge is ignoring me today and meowing at the top of his lungs while staring at the closet door.

I eventually have to get my ass in gear since I have to go to work later on, but at least I can knit while there :D

OH yes, for the Montrealers out there, please go vote so that we can shake off the whole "Montreal is the new Palermo"-thing...

let's talk about the scarf

2009-10-26T22:54:00.003-04:00

So the Rivulet scarf is coming along quite well. I'm only starting the second skein and it's already 30 inches long! I'm really digging the yarn although I have 3 skeins of Araucania from the same dye lot and they're all seriously different colors. Oh well...It's a scarf. Speaking of which I think that I'm only going to need 2 skeins for the scarrf so I'm trying to figure out what to make with the third...some mittens? Fetching? I don't know...any one skein suggestions out there for something completely awesome?

middle of the night post

2009-10-24T02:28:00.003-04:00

So the Rivulet scarf is 15 inches long and I'm having fun with this one. It's an easy pattern and I'm liking the way it looks even though my gauge is a little looser than recommended. I'm also working on the heel of a plain sock. Once this one is done, I'll be going back to patterned socks since Cookie A.'s book is just calling out to me again. When I bought it, I decided that I'd make every pair of socks in there. I'm going with the order of the book, seems easier that way. I've also collected a SERIOUS collection of sock patterns so...maybe I should be making those instead of plain boring socks...

Anyhow!

Today at work, I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with about 20 kids. My suggestion, never bake with such a large crowd of curious hands...such a mess!!!! But we really did have a lot of fun!

In answer to the comment on my last post, yes I am on twitter (supermitaines), feel free to join me and read the random stuff that pops into my brain.

Night!

wow

2009-10-22T23:53:00.002-04:00

the snowflakes were coming down HARD!!!! I'm so glad they didn't stay...

I cast-on for the Rivulet scarf today in some Araucania...alas it's pooling like a mofo but really, for something that's going around my neck, I don't think it matters too much.

I'm sorry for the tiny straight to the point messages. I got used to Facebook and Twitter, so I'm lowly getting back into this...

Ishbel

2009-10-20T13:32:00.001-04:00

She's finished, she's pretty and she's blocking as we speak!

This is one of the first time that gauge and I get along so well!

10 rows

2009-10-19T21:20:00.002-04:00

I'm 10 rows away from finshing Ishbel in KnitPicks Shadow.

I'm also watching Sleepy Hollow instead of finishing a midterm.

I love Johnny Depp...he makes for the best Ichabod Crane ever!

6 months

2009-10-10T11:58:00.001-04:00

6 months have gone by since my last post. That's a long time. But I'll be back. Hold the phone...I am back!

Baldness

2009-04-01T22:51:00.001-04:00

I went to the hairdressers today...here's what I came out looking like...

I'm really enjoying being bald again!

On Strike...

2009-03-31T09:20:00.002-04:00

Well not me, but my professors. I totally agree with their cause...the only thing is that technically I should be finishing my semester on the 21st and well, I haven't been to class in about hmm about a month!!!! I wonder if the school will reimburse me a third of my tuition? HA! That's wishful thinking!

So anyways, I'm almost done settling in. This weekend will be our first apartment party to celebrate my quarter of a century. It should be awesome. And there will be pics. Have no fear about that!

In knitting news...well not much is going on, I'm not knitting much, I've got a little bit of an Oolong sock going (which is going to be gorgeous!!!!) but I just can't manage to stay focused for a long time which means that progress is slower than usual. Ugh!

Don't you love it when you look outside and there's no more snow. And it's not even April yet! I can't wait for the summer. This year I'm not planning any major trips but a lot of little road trips around Canada and the US. I kinda want to discover my own continent. My first destination, I think, will be Halifax followed by Denver in June for a HUGE North American Couchsurfing event. After that...we'll see how my wallet is doing before planning anything else. :D

Off I go!
Toodles

St-Patrick's shenanigans...

2009-03-23T11:22:00.004-04:00

As per usual after the parade, I took off with my ladies and we hit the Irish Embassy (not the actual embassy but a bar with a confusing name...) and we proceeded to drink. A lot.

As opposed to the past few years, this time we hooked up with a whole bunch of other friends. This kept shenanigans to a record low this year and was actually quite awesome. The rest of the pics are on Flickr.

Moving

2009-03-19T11:48:00.002-04:00

I moved. Yay! So now I'm all settled in (kinda) in my own place with Serge and our roommate. Every previous time that I'd moved, it seemed like such a looooong shitty process but this time, everything was moved in 2 hours. I had some awesome friends helping out (especially with the constructing of my IKEA stuff) and my father (bless him!) made pizza from scratch so that I wouldn't have to shell out for food. Needless to say it was 8 million times tastier than anything I could've ordered :D Anyhow, everything is good here. It helps that my professors are on strike. It gives me a little more time to spend reading in bed with Serge (what a terrible life I lead...).

Anyhow...

my 500th post is coming up fairly soon. I feel like I should go all out and do something to make it special, but I don't know what...maybe a change in appearance? I don't really know...any ideas?

how a 24 year old can still get grounded...

2009-03-13T17:39:00.005-04:00

The sun is shinning, we get an extra hour of it (yay!) and it's ~~VERY~~ slowly getting warmer outside. I'm also getting healthier!

I'm so freaking happy about this.

A couple of days ago I started being messed up sick (high fever and severe lightheaded-ness). It got to the point where my mom (bless her!) had to ground me so that I would stay in bed for 48 hours without moving or doing anything. Now I'm not one to get bossed around...but if you've met my mom you can understand my compliance...What!?! She can be scary!

Anyhow all it took was a lot of mom-made soup, antibiotics for the bronchitis that I have, tiger balm (so much stronger than any vapo-rub out there) and 16 hours of sleep and I started feeling better. So good actually that I started getting restless. For fear of getting yelled at by the mom (!) I just got packing for my move on Sunday and well...that's what I've been doing since.

So to all you moms out there who think that one day your babies will grow up and leave you all alone, well...I don't know where I was going with that statement but you can laugh at me because really...I'm about to turn 25 in 3 weeks and my mom totally grounded my ass. And I'm soooo thankful for it!

Moms rule!

Sickness...redux

2009-03-10T00:20:00.002-04:00

This morning the second I sat down at work, I felt it wash over me. The flu. Yes, it has hit me twice in the span of 3 weeks. Joy. Fucking JOY...! At least it's given me some knitting time. This evening I came home and instead of packing I stayed in bed with tea full of lemon, ginger, honey and other stuff, some painkillers, kleenex and Serge. We watched too many episodes of How I Met Your Mother and finished knitting a hat.

Hold the pres...what did she say?!?!?!?!

Yes yes yes, I finished the Greenery Hat and I quite like it. I don't know if I'll wear it...I might just give it away around Holidays 2009...or not, I haven't decided yet. Anyhow, that's all that's going on here.

Toodles and please stay healthy!

march break

2009-03-05T10:22:00.002-05:00

March break is the most perfect-est time of the year. Now if only it could coincide with the St-Patrick's Day Parade so that I wouldn't feel bad about skipping class to nurse a hangover...

But I digress.

This march break has been full or work, good friends and lease signings. I move in 10 days. I'm freaking out. 10 days!!!!! That's not much time to get all my shit in boxes but I'll manage. It's going to be awesome to move!!!

On the knitting front, I've cast on a hat! It's pretty much the highest level of fiber-y commitment that I can muster up these days and it's going pretty well. I think that I'll manage to finish it before the winter is over.

Other than that, there's nothing really exciting going on here. I spent an awesome weekend at my cottage with friends. OH! My team won at pub quiz...LOL! Ok I'm off to have a bit of an adventure so that I have actual content to post!

Best. Oscars. Ever.

2009-02-23T14:13:00.001-05:00

THE MUSICAL IS BACK!

sicky mcgee

2009-02-19T08:07:00.003-05:00

I don't know what happened...but this past sunday I was watching a movie at a friend's place and the second I got home I felt sick. Monday I woke up feeling like a jackhammer had been pushed into my throat so I drank plenty of tea and warm water. Then comes tuesday and it was a full blown cold. Ok, I hate colds but you know I thought "it'll last a couple more days and then I'll be fine". All of a sudden though I can't sleep because I can't breathe. When I do sleep I wake up at 20 minute intervals to blow my nose/drink water. Yesterday was more of the same except that the sounds I was making when coughing sounded like they were coming from waaaaay deep inside. Last night, I settled in for a long night of much needed sleep. I passed out around 10 and then at 2 am my eyes were WIDE OPEN. I fell back asleep for about an hour and woke up drenched as if I'd taken a shower in my pj's.

I work a shift from 2 until 10.30 tonight. My mom won't hug me because she thinks I'm contagious (which the doctor will probably confirm in an hour). Could this day get any worse?? Oh yeah, there's a fakaktah snowstorm outside.

Grumpy-ness.

update

2009-02-17T10:23:00.002-05:00

It's been a while I know, but sometimes I just have nothing to say. That or I'm super busy. The past while has kind of been a smush of the two options. School and work are kicking my ass. I'm pulling ridiculous amounts of hours but I'm still loving work a whole lot. School is also quite awesome. I've also been spending a lot of time with friends.

...

You see...I don't really have anything to say! But everything is awesome. Really. Only bad part is that my brothers shit of a dog ate my skein of Malabrigo lace. So I've reordered another one (my sibling paid) and eventually I'll finish Muir. But that's pretty much the only knitting related content I can put on here...I don't know why...Plus I have all the yarn for like 10000000 projects. Oh well the mojo will come back. I know it will!

Alright toodles!

back...kinda...

2009-01-27T00:09:00.002-05:00

Well hello there! Sorry about the hiatus, I've been busy. But don't fret, I'm back with a full course load, 15 pounds less and a couple of good things going on. I've recently been pre-selected to participate in this year's Canada's World Youth program. Now all I need is to so my medical and hopefully, I'll be off for 8 months by the end of the year. I haven't been knitting at all, instead I've been busy hitting the gym, seeing old friends, flirting and studying.

I'm working on planning a couple of Montreal events for Couchsurfing and well...yeah. Everything is in a good place and I'm just...really happy and satisfied right now. I know, it's strange. Those who know me will know understand that.

There are still one or two things that are irking me but other than that...I guess I'm in a good place and don't really have anything to whine about. So here's to hoping that this is the trend for 2009. Good things and even gooder things to all of us :D

Toodles

School

2009-01-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

I'm a geek. I am! I adore school and have since my first day of kindergarten. And well, in the past couple of years I've lost the drive to learn. I think that being in a learning establishment non-stop from the age of 5 had taken it's toll. But this semester I was ready to head back with some new found motivation. And back I went. My classes start on thursday and I'm actually nervous. I know...silly right?!?

Anyhow, remind me that I was excited when I start bitching about midterms and my lack of social life due to papers and reading!

Knitting stuff soon!

What's going on here...

2009-01-05T23:32:00.003-05:00

Well I haven't been knitting much today. I just wasn't feeling it... But I did register to go back to class, did yoga, gave blood and went to work. That was enough to make me feel über productive :D

What did YOU do today????????

UFO's

2009-01-04T21:33:00.002-05:00

Today I realized that I don't have as many unfinished objects as I thought I did. Yay! I've got my Muir which I just got extra yarn for. Then there's a pair of socks. Note that I didn't include the Clap in this. That is because I have to trek out to buy some yarn for it and I'm actually just thinking of frogging it and making in a little narrower...And that is IT people!!!!!! Woot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last year I made some resolutions and well...I've kinda kept them. I finished (or frogged) what I started and actually came out with quite a pile of finished objects, 22 to be exact. Not too shabby! I also started a lace project, which I hope to finish really soon! And well the whole sweater thing...bah I've no excuse but really, who fucking cares :D

For 2009, I choose to not give myself set goals. I just want to try new stuff and expand my knowledge. Period. So here's to hoping it all works out!

Toodles

Board Games

2009-01-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

I got some board games during this past holiday season and I've come to realize that they are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight is a Scene It and Harry Potter Scene It championship with some friends. Gotta love nights like this!

Toodles!

Doing stuff...

2009-01-02T23:39:00.001-05:00

With my best friend, we've decided to get out of the not doing anything slump. We've decided to DO stuff. I know it sounds really silly but usually we want to do things but we end up sitting at the pub talking about how we should do something else...

So we made a list.

Tonight we crossed one thing off, we went to see a "non-NHL" hockey game since a friend had gifted me with some tickets. It was a fairly violent game, the crowd was loud and rowdy, we saw kids puking in the stairs after the game (too many hot dogs I guess...) and we had an overall good time! I really think that we can get through the whole list which includes crazy things for example: curling, crazy carpet-ing, having a fondue supper and going to see a band we've never heard of.

I made my own list too. I decided that I was going to attempt NaBloPoMo every other month - as you can see by the daily january blog posts!!! (yes yes I know it's only Jan 2nd) For the rest, well I guess you'll get to find out as things happen here :D

Toodles!

Woot an FO!

2009-01-01T21:52:00.003-05:00

The year starts well! I finished my Livia sock today so that's already one thing finished this year. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come :D

The year in review...

2008-12-31T17:30:00.003-05:00

So 2008 was a good year. It was! I went on the most awesome trip ever (only to be surpassed by the 2009 trip of course!), fell hard for someone while there, got my heart broken, laughed a ton, drank waaaaay more than any person should, went through some family issues, spent a lot of time reading and knitting on trains in France, went to Rhinebeck with some cooooool ladies, saw people that I thought I'd never see again, lost weight, gained weight, had fights with my big brother and most important, I was myself. I realized that I'm a pretty cool person and that being myself is the best policy.

So there's the basis for my 2009 aspirations. I want to keep being myself and I want to keep being independant :D

To the rest of you I can only offer you all my wishes of health, peace, love, laughter, good sex and well...yeah! Have a great and SAFE 2009 peoples!

Don't drink and drive!

I leave you with one of my favorite pics of the year...
Calanque de Sugiton in Marseilles, France

Lots of love!

2008-12-23T17:01:00.001-05:00

Ok an hour ago I was all Bah Humbug and I still kinda feel like that BUT something has changed...I give you the coolest 80's song I've heard all day :D

Sheesh!

2008-12-23T15:20:00.003-05:00

Who knew that the holidays could be taxing? They only started late last night for me (late night shift) and I already want them to be over so that I can sit, watch bad tv and feel guilty for being lazy. But in the meantime, I've been to the airport one too many times, every time to pick up the same person. I know that I'm annoyed, but imagine coming in from Senegal where it's nice and hot. Land in NYC and BOOM, snowstorm. She calls every 2 hours to say that she's about to board the plane. I just want to be able to stop freaking out about having keep my mom calm and fierce family tempers from flaring up.

Then there's my Christmas shopping which I'll be doing...tomorrow morning. Fun right? No you say? Well you're fucking right! Oh well. Ok I'm going back to the airport one final time and then...happy thoughts...? Fuck it, I think tonight is one for the pub and countless pints of Guiness!

Toodles

I do knit...sometimes

2008-12-19T14:32:00.002-05:00

I have been knitting, it's just that it hasn't been anything super exciting. I made my aunt (who's coming in from Senegal for the holidays) some Fuzzy Feet's so that she won't freeze her toes off. I'm also making my brother a hat...all this in an effort to stash bust a bit. 2008 has been good to the stash (which isn't necessarily so good for the wallet...but I digress) and I can only imagine that 2009 will be worse.

In prevision of 2009 I'm also attempting to put as many WIP's as possible into the FO pile. I might be able to complete all the ones I actually have yarn for (which means not the Clap)...

Ok before I start to ramble, I'll be back soon enough!

Toodles

Insta-Winter

2008-12-10T07:35:00.002-05:00

Last time I wrote it was freeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing. Yesterday, we were in a "Winter Wonderland" with out first real snow (about 20cm or 8 in) which turned into "Ice Storm The Return"! When I woke up (20 minutes ago), we had no power. I had a January 1998 flashback... I heard the list of closed schools (on my little battery operated radio) and was sure that history was repeating. And then Hydro-Québec said "let there be light!" and there was :D So I'm off to take a hot shower and then I have to ~~run~~ ~~walk very carefully so I don't break my head~~ go to work...

Toodles!!

PS - Yes...I do have other things to talk about other than my disdain of winter!

The cold coldyness...REDUX!

2008-12-08T12:44:00.002-05:00

In 24hours, it's gone from acceptable cold (-5C or 23F) to a very very sucky -25C or -15F. Even Serge is too cold to move away from the space heater. Now I'm very adamant about my dislike of winter and this is exactly why. Who in their right mind would want to leave the comfort of pajamas and home and hot chocolate to go anywhere???? I know I don't...but I have no choice. Poo!

Last night I finished my Maelstrom for the Single Sock Swap. It looks good!!!! I also cast on for the second sock of the one that I received. Wow that last sentence makes no sense! It's Livia from the first Twist Collective and I'm loving the cabley-ness of the pattern :D I'm thinking of making another pair of knee highs made in a worsted weight yarn because I can't wear mine enough. Thick socks RULE!!!!!!!!

That's enough for now!
Toodles!

Me and my whims...

2008-12-05T11:32:00.002-05:00

This morning, I got up and went to the salon and got my head shaved...again. I LOVE how it feels and really, it's the perfect reason to knit myself a hat :D

Speaking of knitting, I've been knitting a Maelstrom sock for Robyn's Single Sock Swap and I have to say something about this pattern. It's ridiculously fantastic! It's really easy to remember, looks freaking AWESOME and knits up super fast. Definitely something you want to add to your queue!!!

Now I have to make some for myself...!

Once again, with emotion...

2008-12-04T12:06:00.002-05:00

Stephen Harper is a DOUCHEBAG!!!!!!!!!!!

For more of an explanation...please see what the Yarn Harlot wrote here.

Toodles

World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Please think about this today, even if for just one second...

Still here...hmm...

2008-12-01T10:13:00.003-05:00

I woke up with an urge to blog, and that's exactly what I'm doing! It snowed last night. Well, snow isn't the appropriate term, it's more something along the lines of "slippery goop that fell out of the sky". But it does make it feel a little more winter-ish...kinda...

I think that I need another pair of Tyrolean Stockings. I'm getting a shitload of use out of my first pair since it's the perfect combo of squooshy comfort and warmth...I'm actually thinking of trying to make a pair out of Cascade 220 since it'd be cool to have some non-variegated socks at some point :D I may also go crazy and just play around with the cable a little...hmmm! I'll look into it and get back to you on that one.

Toodles!

woot!

2008-11-30T23:40:00.000-05:00

I posted everyday for 30 days. Yayness! Hopefully you've learned a little more about me and my nut-ness...otherwise well...there's no helpin' ya! LOL!

I actually have nothing to say, I was at work all day today and came home and plopped on the couch knitting a Maelstrom sock. More in my next post (which may actually end up being tomorrow!).

Toodles!

A good day!

2008-11-29T16:40:00.003-05:00

I was awoken by wonderful rays of sunlight this morning. It made my day nice and...sunny :D Don't worry, I haven't been smoking copious amounts of drugs, I'm just in a really really REALLY good mood today. I even dared to go downtown amongst the hoards of people and I was all smiles. Strange...I know!

I bought a couple of cheesy movies and I found a gorgeous shoe store. My big issue with shoes is that since I have big feet (size 11.5) finding shoes is HELL! But lately I've realized that designer shoes go up to bigger sizes. The only downside is that you have to shell out about 300000000000000000000000$ for a pair since they're all leather. I haven't decided on a pair, but I think that I at least found what I'll be getting myself for Christmas this year :D

Toodles!

News...

2008-11-28T23:33:00.002-05:00

I'm really happy, for the past couple of days I was a little antsy because I have some friends that are traveling through India at the moment. Considering the attacks on Mumbai, I wanted to make sure that they were all safe and sound. Today I got a wave of emails from them all ensuring their okayness.

Tonight I'm sending out a message of peace to people. Can't we just all get along? PLEASE????????

Toodles!

recent addictions...

2008-11-27T22:15:00.002-05:00

Since the holidays are fast approaching (Happy Thanksgiving to those south of the border!) and everywhere I go there are lists of what people think are the best gifts, party ideas and bla bla bla. So I decided that I'd make my own fucking list of cool things :D

First off, there's blogging. Yes I know, I haven't been in peak blogging form in the past week, but I've managed to post daily for all of November. Shocking, I know! There's something really fun about knowing that there are 15 people all over the world who actually read what I write! So that's number one.

Secondly there's osteopathy. I tried it to see if it could help with my knees (pulled both ACL's in 2007) and other chronic pain issues. I was in luck. My osteopath RULES! It helps that I'm basically getting manhandled by a sexy french dude every two weeks but it also actually works! I'm physically better and really let's be honest, the sense of touch is by far the most comforting of them all.

Then there's Fair Isle knitting. Jebus this stuff is addictive. It started with the Bird in Hand mittens and now it's turned into an obsession. I just want to knit with lots of colors all the fucking time. Don't worry, I'm not steering away from the land of cables (mmm cables!) but it's nice to know how to do something new!

I also recently discovered yoga and pilates. I'd tried before without being really interested but wow! I've been alternating between both everyday for the past few weeks and shit it's great. I like that I can feel myself getting stronger, it's very rewarding.

Musically, I fell in love with the soundtrack to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. I have a super crush on Micheal Cera so I knew that I would like the movie. But the music blew me away. It's perfect for sitting around and drinking tea while staring outside (I know, I have no life!). I can't find a YouTube version of "Electro-Socket Blues" by Rogue Wave, but you need to listen to it. It's perfect perfect perfect!

Finally, since it is the start of the holidays, there's a Christmas movie that I just adore. It's perfect and sadly within the next couple of weeks I'm going to start watching it daily. Here's a preview of it. I think that everyone has already seen it, but I think you should still watch it again. In it you'll find wonderful elements like Liam Neeson (at his prettiest...prwwwweow!), Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Joni Mitchell's perfect version of "Both Sides Now". Here's a bit of a teaser (first scene of the film)...

Whew! Now that I got all of that out of my system, I'm going to go watch it again and cry while drinking tea :D

Toodles!

Dear Beer...

2008-11-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

Tonight during the hockey game, the other K and I proceeded to get ridonculously drunk. The Habs won and we were happy. We then headed out to a bar on the Plateau to meet up with a friend that we met in Aix en Provence in France and got even more sloshed. This is not traditional behavior on our part :D, but who cares really...

Lots of stories were told, confessions were made and serious laughs were had by all. Tomorrow, I will be back sober.

Toodles!

Tuesday

2008-11-25T12:35:00.002-05:00

Hello!!!

So I'm back with actual content!!! It's been cold this past week so I've been wearing my Log Cabin Socks a whole lot. Add to that the fact that I made them out of non superwash wool...guess where they are? If you guessed soaking, you are correct! I'm not used to non-superwash socks so hopefully this will work out in the long run.

I've also made progress on my Anemois. I don't have a pic because they don't look like much just yet. My only issue is that I'm knitting with scratchy yarn so as the fair isle progresses the fabric feel a little...coarse. Maybe if I block the shit out of them it'll be ok...Add to that the fact that they'll be a little big, they may need to visit M. Dryer once they're done.

Other than that, I'm just trying to get in the holiday mode. It's a month before Christmas and usually I'm all crazy and watching Christmas movies and rushing to listen to holiday music and stuff but I'm just not feeling it yet. I think I'm broken. Me. Not into Christmas just yet. I know my family is really happy about it though, so I guess it can't be such a bad thing :D

Alright I'm off to skid around in the streets, we got snow AND rain in the past 12 hours. Can't wait to walk to work...!

Toodles

Bleh...

2008-11-24T23:59:00.003-05:00

I'm feeling a little bleh today. I just want to stay in bed and not move. I think it's because it's about to start snowing. I miss the summertime... I actually have some interesting things to talk about. There are some FO's, some WIP's and some actual life content.

Anyhow, I'll actually post something of substance tomorrow.

Toodles!

Crazy Sunday

2008-11-23T23:59:00.000-05:00

I didn't get to sleep in. I went and bought a phone. I watched a shitload of football and proceeded to get piss drunk with friends.

Back tomorrow in better shape :D

toodles

Mmmm Sleep :D

2008-11-22T21:16:00.002-05:00

That's what I'll be saying tomorrow morning as I let myself sink back into the comfort of sunday laziness.

We had a big fat huge party today for my mom's birthday. We had 20 guests and cooked like CRAZY. Everyone left ~~drunk~~ happy and full so I guess we can call it a huge success. Now I'm supposed to go to a party in a couple of hours and I don't know if I'll be able to stand up. I'm pooooooooped! I'm going to try a power nap for 45 mins...see how that goes :D

toodles!

Trying to distract you with witty kiwi humour...

2008-11-21T03:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks AliP!!!!!

Toodles

Tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-20T12:34:00.000-05:00

Can't wait, more about it tomorrow!!!

The cold coldyness

2008-11-19T14:14:00.002-05:00

I hate this weather. I know that hate is a strong word. But I HATE it. It's not that it's super cold yet, it's just that it's the period during which we're all getting used to the idea that it's going to be cold for the next 5 or 6 months. That's the part that sucks.

The cold coldyness has one advantage though. It's perfect for warm hand knits. And I must admit that I'm thoroughly looking forward to finishing my Tyrolean Stockings (most likely tonight) so that I can shlump around the house wearing really thick socks. Now I can't say enough good things about Cascade Eco because really, I've used a little less that 2/3 of the skein to make knee highs. I may have to make something else with this sumptuous warm yarn...maybe some little legwarmers for Serge - I dream of seeing the look on his face! Mwahahahahaha!

Toodles!

When I grow up...

2008-11-18T12:34:00.003-05:00

...I want to be my cat. Oh to nap and stretch and chase q-tips all day long. Sigh. On top of it all Serge has now decided that he can yell at me. I'll wake up to him sitting on the corner of the bed with an annoyed look on his face (see pic below for an example) and he starts to meow as if he's trying to say "Scratch my shoulder blades and then feed me. NOW!". Sadly, 9 times out of 10, he gets his way. If he doesn't then he goes to war with my toes by crawling under the comforter and lightly biting them.

I swear sometimes I wonder who's in charge here...

A new week!

2008-11-17T13:04:00.002-05:00

So I successfully managed to remain a pescetarian for a week. I'm very proud of this accomplishment (I say this even though I had a dream about eating steak last night). So I decided to challenge myself again. This week, my challenge is to eat 3 meals a day at home or at least eat home cooked meals. So no buying of supper anywhere all week. It's going to be tough, but what challenge isn't? The only things that aren't included in this challenge are coffee and movie snacks. Granted it's not like I go to the movies all the freaking time BUT, this week is special. Twilight is coming out. Now I know that it was a terrible book. It's the fast-food of young adult literature, but I still enjoyed the books all summer long. So there. Make fun of me, but I'm going to see this flick and by Buddha I'm going to enjoy it!

On the knitting front, I'm still progressing comfortably on my second Tyrolean Stocking and I'm planning on doing a little bit of yarn shopping tomorrow because I need some sexy Malabrigo lace so that I can finish my Muir stole before Christmas!

Toodles folks!

Sunday

2008-11-16T16:54:00.003-05:00

What a lazy day this is shaping up to be. I made some wicked soup this morning (a roasted squash soup) and then I got to knitting. I finished one Tyrolean Stocking and am progressing really fast on the second. I love these babies. They're warm and thick and will do great under boots with skirts/dresses during the holidays. Too top it all off, they're a really quick knit. Yay!

Other than that...nothing is going on really. It's nice to have a lazy day. I like Sundays like this.

Toodles!

Gifted

2008-11-15T11:03:00.004-05:00

About a month ago, I won a contest over at Stumbling Over Chaos and on thursday, I came home from work to a great package. Check it out...

Isn't it great! There's some sock yarn in there, it's Woolarina Handpaint in the colorway Yucatan. Thanks again for the kick ass package Chris!

In other news, I'm a little concerned with the Canadian postage system. I sent out some yarn on Halloween for a Ravelry swap and it's still not there. My tracking number just says that it's been received at the post office when I paid and that's about it...damn you Post Canada, don't fuck with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Toodles people!

Friday

2008-11-14T12:18:00.002-05:00

It's friday...YAY!!!!!!!!! Friday is just...the promise of so many wonderful things, like sleep. I like sleep. A lot. I was supposed to head down to Toronto for the Burning Man Decompression Party, but a bunch of circumstances doesn't allow me to do this. Poo. But I do think that I'll be taking myself to see the Nutcracker. I've been wanting to go for a couple of years and if I don't take myself, who will?

Speaking of the Nutcracker, as a Christmas geek, I'm a little pissed that Christmas commercials started on November 1st. I like the "after American Thanksgiving" idea because really, right now, everything just feels like it's being forced down my throat.

In other news, the new Twist Collective is up! Woohoo! Such a great diversity of patterns. I'm not looking at what I want to make just yet (since I've yet to make anything from the previous issue) but I just want everyone to go check it out. There's something for EVERYONE!

Ok, I'm off to eat something...

Toodles!

I'm a weak weak woman...

2008-11-13T12:55:00.003-05:00

I couldn't help it. Not only was I swatching for my new Anemoi's, but I also cast-on yet another project. I had some Cascade Eco left over (about a skein and a half) from making my Placed Cable Aran and I wanted some really thick comfy socks. So I started going through my Ravelry queue and I had my sstack of Interweaves right next to me and then the next thing I knew, I was on Youtube learning how to do a Norwegian cast-on. It's very gratifying to make socks in a worsted yarn. After about an hour of knitting this morning, I'm done with the ribbing and one leg pattern repeat. Add to that the fact that I haven't knit cables (which I LOVE!) in a little while, these are just making me very very happy!

I tried to take a pic indoors since there's very little light outside...

It's a little fuzzy, I know...
I'm starting to think that I need to upgrade my camera. It's true! It just doesn't do it for me, although it's great for point and shoot when I go out with friends, it kinda leaves me a little...meh when it comes to more artsy stuff.

Ok I'm off...

Toodles!!!

Casting on again!

2008-11-12T12:54:00.003-05:00

Last night I finished the Bird in Hand Mittens and I very much hope that they'll be warming Jennie's hands by this weekend :D

The only side effect of finishing these has been that I am now itching for more mittens. I had gotten some natural colored (my fave!) 2-ply wool from a small farm in a swap and it doesn't have huge yardage so...it's going to become a pair of mittens! Anemoi mittens to be exact. Check it out!

In an attempt to follow the pattern, today I did my first tubular cast-on while swatching! It wasn't nearly as tough as I'd expected although I can't really see what's so special about it yet...

To be continued!

Toodles!

Day to day bullshit

Life

Time flies...

As requested...

Holy May!

minor setbacks

food and blanket

one month

blanket progress

Done and done but starting again

strange weather and side seams

Film awesomeness

buttons

TGIF

Delayed cheesiness

omg cheesiness!!!

So...

1 week and a new challenge

Day 7

days 5 and 6

day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Today

doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo...

happy dance

big trouble in little seams-ville

omg

mindless

almost

Boredom

-30C

Hmmmm

Lots of stuffs

thursday

Mornings

Looking forward

a couple of FO's

FO

blllllllllllarghhhhhh!

monday

more FO'S, still no pics

late night

sunday

More sock stuff

On a roll

Wow

So...

post-halloween post

let's talk about the scarf

middle of the night post

wow

Ishbel

10 rows

6 months

Baldness

On Strike...

St-Patrick's shenanigans...

Moving

how a 24 year old can still get grounded...

Sickness...redux

march break

Best. Oscars. Ever.

sicky mcgee

update

back...kinda...

School

What's going on here...

UFO's

Board Games

Doing stuff...

Woot an FO!

The year in review...

Sheesh!

I *do* knit...sometimes

Insta-Winter

The cold coldyness...REDUX!

Me and my whims...

Once again, with emotion...

World AIDS Day

I do knit...sometimes