Audacious Jones.

2011-02-17T06:32:00.000-08:00

What if I could make all of my clothes for the summer?

I recently started collecting money for my summer wardrobe. Also recently I have become concerned with where everything I buy comes from as far as clothes go. I know that I will need a whole new wardrobe because I have dropped a few sizes. After living inside the Alabama Studio Style book for the past few weeks, I think I may take a stab at making my things.

So what do I do with this?

2011-02-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

It's been a year now since I started my crusade to better my body.

I want to take this a step further.

I'm going to kick it into high gear and build on this. I am going to create, mold and cut this vessel into something amazing.

"The best way to do it, is to do it." - Amelia Earhart

2011-02-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

Sugar, Salt & Caffeine.

2011-02-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

Starting tomorrow, I am quitting refined sugar, salt in excess of 1500 mg daily, and caffeine.

Why?

Why:

I have lost weight. I drink water. I am active. I eat organic (mostly).

My blood pressure is 135/89. My mom and dad both have high blood pressure.

Proof that if high blood pressure is genetic, it gets harder to rein it in.
Of course, drinking 5 cups of coffee a day, with 4 packets of sugar in each one, can't help. I am getting dizzy. Sitting down. So I quit them both, cold turkey. Tomorrow. I have already had 1 cup of coffee today, so while I am way better than usual, I can't call today day 1.

Sodium, however, will be more of a measuring game. Salt is necessary for the metabolism of potassium and other minerals. You can't go completely without it. For persons who have a history (genetic or otherwise) of high blood pressure, 1500 mg is the recommended limit. For lamens sake, 1 level teaspoon of salt equals 2300 mg of sodium. The average American gets 3 times the RDA of sodium, daily. I have a mindless habit of adding a couple pinches of salt to boiling water, pasta, blahblahblah. Time to get more conscious.

My grandmother had 2 strokes. The second one killed her. She was 5'1", 102 lbs. She refused to take her blood pressure medication. She did not exercise. She drank 2 cups of coffee a day and ate hard candy like people eat popcorn. I will not end up there if I can stand it.

Pants in, pants out.

2011-02-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

I have been intermittently stepping on the scale for the last couple of months, as I have trained the concept that weight=health out of my head.

Instead, I am using pants as a guide. I was a size 6 from late fall until now.
When the sack-like drape of the pants finally got to me, I decided to go to the Gap and try on 4s, what the hell.

They fit. What.

I haven't been a 4 since I was a sophomore. In high school. For everyone keeping track, that was 1993.

So, pants obtained, I returned home to pack away my size 8s and prepare them for a charity drop.

I would also like to note that I am still doing nothing abnormal. Same story.

Best Link, Monday 2/7/11

2011-02-07T05:14:00.000-08:00

This is hilarious.

Also, one of the most valuable links EVER.

Bread and Water.

2011-01-28T11:13:00.001-08:00

I am sure that I could live eating only bread and drinking only water.
So long that I have a choice in the bread and filtered water. So, there are conditions.

Embroidery and Once A Day Habits

2011-01-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

I have about a dozen fat squares that have been sitting idly for a year in a bag in my office. I'll be working them into something as time goes on, but basically I am just spinning my wheels until I get the next knitting stitch pattern in my head for the second of 4 in a collection I hope will be published and on sale in the middle of February.

Why is it that I can't just stay in the house for a complete day? Today I actually do need to go out and get coffee. Some people get cabin fever after a few days, I get it after a few hours.

Statement.

2011-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

I have completely come to terms with the fact that I want to be a domestic house person.

I want to work from home.

I want to work on home.

I want to write books about it all.

I want to make everything I need and want. And I want that for others.

I am tired of wasting so much time not sharing what I know and learning more of what I don't.

I am going to make a concerted effort at making this happen.

2011-01-20T05:24:00.001-08:00

mind over matter.

2011-01-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

So, as I have mentioned, I am taking a 3 day weekend. I just peeked at the weather and I knew there would be snow tomorrow, but I didn't know about thia. That, according to NOAA, is before any wind chill. Really? Really.

Fine. I didn't really want to go out ANYWAY. Looks like today after work I will go get a pork shoulder maybe, and some makings for chili. I also have to make a stop at Fresh Purls for some Manos. Good thing I came in at 6:30 today.

I am taking this time to outline a new endeavor. This may require several things, a production plan, retooled/new blog-website, markets, marketing... daunting. But exciting.

And then there's Facebook. And Twitter. Oh dear. If I'm to get any word across in this day and age, I think that I will be jumping back onto that wagon. That's okay. As long as there is an actual reason for it, then I can justify using those services.

2011-01-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

I took a vacation day for this Friday.

I have so much that I want to progress on creatively.

But moreso, I do not like staying away from my house (and as a result, all my things) in an extended fashion because of work. So, I am cashing in.

I already spent last night at my parent's house because of an ice storm. Of course Providence only got rain. Here, it was 8 inches of snow with 1/2 inch of ice all over everything. They are predicting another storm for tomorrow night into Friday night. Homey don't play that. Plus, my parents have 100 year old raised radiators that make me feel like my head is about to explode. Eugh.

Cowl Town

2011-01-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

I got out to the yard to take some pictures of the cowls I made on Friday and Saturday so here they are!

This is the Chepachet Cowl, in Bernat Roving:

and the Wyoming Cowl in Berocco Alpaca:

I love them.

In other news, I have 2 watch hats to finish for a friend in Brooklyn who is heading off to climb mountains in some western state at the end of the month. Also, my Big Fat Leftovers Blanket is in process:

Pyewacket the cat is not impressed. Give it time.

Snowy With A Chance of Cowls

2011-01-07T16:14:00.001-08:00

Suddenly its January and the level of breezy cotton-based patterns on Ravelry is rising...

I, however, know that for the next 5 months I will be sporting chunky-ass knit cowls.

I just whipped one up tonight out of Bernat Roving. It took me an hour and a half. It does not get much better than that. I am even thinking of publishing it as a free pattern on Ravelry. Looking into that one tomorrow, a day where I can also get some decent photographs of the thing instead of my usual midnight lighting. It may snow too! But then again that one has been changing by the hour.

Wednesday - Snowpocalypse impending for the weekend. (I plan then to work a 12 hour day Thursday so that I don't have to drive during said Snowpocalypse...)
Thursday - (I have worked my 12 hour day then...) Eh? What is this snow you speak of...
Friday - Sunny day! Woo! BUT WAIT! Now back to SNOWPOCALYPSE ALL WEEKEND.

But not really? We went from 1-3" to no inches to 2-4" now we are up to 4-7". So it's anyone's guess.

We'll either end up with an 80 degree day or 2 feet of snow.

One way ornuther' I'll be wearing/making/photographing cowls.

Just Stand Right There.

2011-01-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

I love the idea of isometrics.
I remember in gym class, they would make us line up against the wall and squat down at a 90 degree angle and stay there. It wasn't punishment, friggen felt like it though.
The concept is kind of yoga-esque: you get yourself into a pose and then hold it. In isometrics, its a more difficult pose, making it so you are working against the force of gravity pretty hard.

I found the below isometric workout at Women's Health Magazine's website. I'll be testing this out today after my circuit training. I would like this to be what I do on the days I am not doing circuits.

Do these, 60 seconds each, 3 to 5 times each.
So that's up to 5 minutes on each one. Very little rest between. Enough to drop down (or stand up) and then get right back into it (5-10 seconds).
20 minutes total. I know I have the time to do it, do you?

Plank with Glute Squeeze

Lie facedown on the floor, prop yourself up on your forearms, and flex your toes. Your body should form a straight line from head to heels. Contract your abs and glutes—tightly. Hold.

Isometric Lateral Raise

Hold a two-to five-pound dumbbell in each hand and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms hanging straight down at your sides, palms facing in. Slowly raise your arms until they are in line with your shoulders. Hold.

T-Stabilization

Start in a pushup position, then shift your weight onto your right hand and rotate your chest to the left as you raise your left arm toward the ceiling, feet stacked together. Hold, then return to start and repeat on the other side. That's one rep.

Isometric Wall Squat

Stand and squeeze a stability ball between your lower back and a wall. Lower into a squat (as if you're sitting into a chair), letting the ball roll up your back until your knees are bent 90 degrees. Push down into your heels and hold.
** Audacious Note:
YOU DO NOT NEED A BALL. Do this one with your back up against the wall, gym class style.

Fishbowling.

2011-01-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

I quit Twitter. Until it becomes a useful tool for me, it has gone much the way Facebook went for me in March of 10'.
(And analysts wonder why everyone has become passive aggressive-manic depressive-adhd-walking/talking pharmacies of confusion. We keep watching other people in their fishbowls from the comfort of our fishbowls.)

I am putting a limit on my fishbowls.

If you're on Ravelry, I am there.
If you follow me here, well here you are.

2011 came in with a bang, literally. Thanks to Josie and Jay supplying a room full of willing people with their home-made liquor juices. And bottle rockets.

I sent people out the door a couple of nights ago after the game with cakes and sparkling cider, relieved myself of all the holiday-issue cookies and what-nots by bringing them to work. There are people who run off of pure sugar there.

All that remains is the tree and the lighting that is around the house. The tree will come down this weekend, the lighting will remain until the time change. And I am on to crocheting produce bags for all of my room-temperature fruits & veg. Time to also start planning my garden for this spring.

I will leave you with my resolutions for 2011:

1. No hair color. I shaved my head back in November, I've got about an inch and it is all mine. Funny, but this is the color that I have been trying to get for about 2 years now.

2. I will make everything that I give people, mostly from things I already have. Birthdays, Mom/Dad Days, Holidays - it's all handmade in 2011.

3. Back way off on sugar. I would like to get to the point where sugar is occassional.

It's the Spirit.

2010-12-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

This morning I finished the last of my Christmas presents, a Navy watch cap for my dad. This is the first year that I have made most of my gifts for people by hand. I knit, decoupaged, embroidered and candied. I didn't do much planning, but I can see the value in it, so next time I will try to be a little better prepared.
I neglected to take photos of everything I made partly out of laziness and partly out of wanting to wait until they are opened and are worn by the wearer. So, with pictures to follow, here is what everyone got:

My brother: WWII Beanie #212
My dad: ARC WWII Navy Watch Cap
My mom: Martha Stewart necktie, Vera Bradley tote & tea mug
My sister in law: Vera Bradley tote & tea mug
My nephews: a 3.5 foot tall gum ball machine

A very humble spread, yes. In past years I have gone bonkers and have found much less satisfaction than I have this year. I feel that these are useful tokens, rather than frivolous extravagances. Minus the gum ball machine of course.
I will post as soon as I have photos.

How I Lost Close to 40 Lbs in 2010.

2010-12-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Hi folks, gonna give you the quick and dirty of how I went from 165 this past January, back to my skating weight.

Back in January I decided that I had just about had it with my weight. The extra weight was stressing my already screwy knees (again, skating did that...) and I was trying on size 14 pants and about to find out that I was into 36E bras (wtf).
I was not an overweight baby/child/teen. So what had happened? I picked up the shitty habit of smoking at 18, while I still skated, and because I ate whatever I wanted (read: M&Ms and McDonalds) due to my high level of activity, it never showed.
Well, a few years later I quit skating and kept on with the bad habits. Fast forward about 10 years and wham-o: 40 lbs found it's way into my life. How did I venture to get rid of this less-than-healthy lifestyle/weight?

July of 2009: Quit smoking, used Cigotine - a Providence based company that makes electronic cigarettes. They are brilliant.

January of 2010: Went to my doctor for a physical. Weighed in at 165. Spoke to her about what I was going to do. Got the thumbs up.

February of 2010: Started walking. At first, just on the weekends.

March of 2010: Walking every day, 3 or more miles. Trust me, you have time to do this. If you are walking at a normal pace, it's a 17 minute mile. Tell me you don't have 51 minutes. Also, started eating off of salad plates whenever possible. This is a quick and easy way to move yourself into portion control. I never started eating ridiculous things. I still hammer through about 3 loaves of bread a week, difference is, I eat them with olive oil and pepper.

April of 2010: Started going to the gym. I had a membership at Planet Fitness from August of 2008 that I was just paying for. I decided to cash in. I started to run a little. Like this.

May of 2010: I started reading A LOT of articles about calories, energy, performance, protein - you name it. I didn't want to just lose weight, I wanted to be awesome: lift pianos, roundhouse suckas' etc. Bought some handweights and a mat. Learned a few weight exercises and added those into my already robust walk/run routine. I was down to about 148 at this point.

June of 2010: I did a lot of May over and over again. Got to 145.

August of 2010: Running more than walking, and bought a book that bumped up my education a ton. I recommend it to ANYONE:

This book MAKES SENSE and it's philosophy is COMPLETELY ACHIEVABLE. I started doing the power circuit training in the book.
Got to 138. But here's the awesome part: My BMI that I first measured at 24.8 in March was down to 21.

September of 2010: Kept faithful and true to my in-place plan. Went to 135. Oh yeah, ran my first 5K, a 9 minute mile. Whatwhat.

October of 2010: I could just write "ditto" here, but instead I will say this: I have created some damn healthy habits that work and are second nature now. But please don't think that I only did it for the weight loss. I am doing it as an investment in my future and that is what motivates me the most. Once you train your life, it can and will come second nature. Got down to 133.

November of 2010: Ok, "ditto." Also, 130.

December of 2010: As I just finished Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred (AND YES, IT WORKS AND HURTS. SHIIIIIIIT) and am dripping sweat onto my laptop as I write this, I weighed in at 129.8 today. My biceps are scary and my thighs don't touch nearly as much as they used to. Size 6 jeans are loose on me. and I am wearing a 34C.

So. IT CAN BE DONE. And what I mean by this is, a life investment - a change. I eat and exercise better than I did when I was an athlete. Because I wanted it. I did this by myself, for myself. One more thing, a word about eating:

Do this in steps, some suggestion (and what I did over the course of the year):

-Try substituting things, like using 0% Fage greek yogurt and garlic salt instead of mayo.
-Eat eggs if you can. And as simple as you can, hard boiled, poached, etc. If you have cholesterol problems, chuck the yolks.
-Find protein and make it a priority.
-Eat off of salad plates. For one, it will make you cognizant of going back for seconds and thirds, which can just get embarrassing after a while, and another thing - people tend to eat everything on their plate regardless of size, so why not just change the size?
-Start finding other protein sources. Lay off the red meat so much, find some kind of fish you like and learn how to make it a ton of ways.
-Veggies. Love them. Make them your main.
-Fruit. Make this your desert. How italian of you! (Fact: Mediterranean cultures don't eat deserts daily, weekly or even monthly! Only on special occasions like holidays. Instead, they eat a piece of fruit if they need sweets).
-Olive oil instead of any butter, margarine or other oil. I even use to pop popcorn kernels and make grilled cheese sandwiches (you just oil the pan ahead of heating).
-Water. You may have to force this one, but 64-100 oz a day will make you BM like a pro, amongst other things.

Those are just a few food-related things I do. Again, it will become second nature after a while. And please, don't think that I eat like a rabbit. Ask anyone who has ever been to my house what I cook. Black forest ham, full roasted turkeys, chili, mac and cheese, casseroles. All of these things. I just eat off of salad plates, but whatever I want. And I move, hard, at least 4 times a week one hour at a time.

Coffee is calling my name (black with sugar - the only thing I put sugar in, and yes, real sugar! substitutes scare me...)
I hope this was helpful and real for you.

2010-12-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

There is so much that I want to do.
But I had such a nice time last night, laying on the couch eating popcorn that I made in a saucepan, watching Kitchen Nightmares.
Doing nothing, really. Watching someone else do something. Something that appears very stressful, but in under an hour it becomes miraculously ordered and perfect.
And I had nothing to do with it. It was amazing.
I want to do that more.
I have a couple of things that I want to make for Christmas presents, but they are not absolutely necessary. I'd much rather spend my time learning carols on my new-to-me Casio 22 key keyboard.

I'll Have a Side of Friday.

2010-11-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

My hair is 1/2 inch.
This was for the express purpose of getting back to nature.

But I REALLY LIKE IT.

I woke up this morning and did not have to take hand to hair. AT ALL.

Fuck yes.

Anyway, here I am at work, almost noon on a Friday. I cannot wait to get out of here. You couldn't cut the drama in here with one of those new fandangled ceramic knives from nipon.
Sometimes I attempt to understand the different factions. Here is my assessment:

The Old School Posse (also known as the "YouCan'tMakeMe Posse")
They spend all of their time avoiding change, and their supervisors.
Ignorance is bliss to these folk.
War chant: "But I've been doing it this way for 30 years!"

The Newbs
They just got out of school. They will do anything you tell them, which is great unless a member of TOSP gets a hold of them.

Of course, this has the makings of an old v. new battle. But what is utterly mystifying is that there is in-fighting. I don't understand. Maybe it comes from working mostly with men my entire work-life. I hate to sound pseudo-sexist here, but it would be ignorant not to mention that - in my opinion - men are easier to work with/around. Too many menstrual cycles trying to sync at once is perhaps opening up a black hole of despair and torture.
Luckily, I do not fall into either of these categories simply because I don't have to work with anyone for any one specific length of time. Also, the spacial separation of having an office is helpful.

So, at the end of this day, I will slide out the back and fly into the weekend.

New Year's Resolution #1

2010-11-18T07:46:00.000-08:00

I am going to start early deciding on my resolutions for 2011. I am pretty set on this one:

Resolution #1:

I will not dye my hair for the entirety of 2011.

This is pretty huge. I dye, strip and redye my hair at least 5 times a year for fun. I started fiddling with my locks in 1995. I was 17 and I got highlights in my, at the time, honey blonde hair. That started the ball rolling.
I have not been "my" color (whatever that is now) since.
15 years, folks.
So I declare that it is time to see what has been lurking under layers of black, purple, platinum and everything in between (including a Manic Panic stage that lasted a few years).
As of now, my hair is already buzzed with the #8 attachment. I am going down to the 5 or 6. At that point, all dye will have been cut out and we'll see what we get.

I never want to forget this video.

2010-11-12T05:50:00.000-08:00

Worcester natives Four Year Strong "Tonight We Feel Alive (On a Saturday)"

Vegan Apple Spice Cake

2010-11-10T11:31:00.000-08:00

You need:

DRY STUFF
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
2 tbsp or so of white sugar (to taste, add this at the end when wet and dry are one. how romantic)
2 tsp of ginger OR ground cloves OR ground nutmeg, whatever your poison. or all three, you intrepid bastard.
1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon

WET STUFF
2 1/2 cups of Mott's regular apple sauce
1/3 cup of oil (i used canola but go ahead and use what you have, they all do the same thing)

OTHER STUFF
crisco vegetable shortening (to grease the pan) OR Pam OR any oil you have around.

right.

preheat to 350.
i used an 8x8 brownie pan. this'll work with a 9x9 pan, or any of those neat-o pyrex dishes of comparable size/depth.

so i am not going to tell you to mix all the dry in one, then the wet in another... blah blah.
use one mixing bowl.
I suggest doing the wet stuff first, just dump it in and get it together with a spoon.
Next, dump in all your dry stuff.
Now, I used a mixer because I am lazy. If you do too, mix it for 2 minutes.
If you are powerfully motivated/lacking a mixer of any kind, mix it for 3-4 minutes.

get a piece of wax paper or a paper towel, scoop up some shortening and grease your pan. if you are using oil to grease, use a paper towel.
dump in your apple-spicy concoction.
put in oven for 45 minutes. stab it with a chopstick, toothpick, skewer, whatever you have laying around.
if it comes out clean - you are done. if not, keep checking back in 5 minute increments until it is so.

let it cool in the pan for 30 minutes before cutting. don't flip it out until an hour or you'll lose it to the floor/pets.

a word about the finished product: it comes out with the outer consistency of a brownie and the inner consistency of a lemon square. this is not your traditional fluffy cake. it is dense, moist and freaky good.

Nasal Caper

2010-11-01T05:01:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday was my vitamin C experiment.

There is one thing that no amount of vitamin C, or most any vitamin for that matter, can overcome acutely. And that is a sinus infection.
I am confident, however, with the amount of C I have been ingesting along with the z-pack and Mucinex D, I cleared my infection in 4 days. I can't say that about previous infections that have lasted the better part of 3-5 weeks.

3-5 WEEKS.

I do not consider myself completely out of the woods yet as far as the mucus train has made it's way into my mid-respiratory system.

So, for my own documentation should this come up again (and I am so sure it will):

- Z-Pack as soon as possible (5 day extra strength antibiotic)
- Mucinex D, 2 every 12 hours
- Advil, 3 every 4-6
- Emergen-C, 6000 mg (6 packets), 1 each hour day 1, 3000 mg (3 packets) every day after.

Hells yeah.

Mega Doser

2010-10-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 3:00 a.m.
My left sinus was closed up like Fort Knox.
Shit. I thought I could evade sickness at least for a little while longer. I've been eating right, exercising, sleeping well, lowering my stress level. All things that I was convinced were my silver bullet. Like someone can completely avoid these things. Sheesh.
Especially after last weekend when we had 3 sick people in our condo for almost the entire weekend. What was I thinking. On Monday I loaded up on bleach and Lysol wipes and sanitized the bujeezus out of our place. Still, it only takes one run-in and boom - done. And since my sicknesses (cold, flu, stubbed toe)synthesize into sinus infections of epic proportions EVERY TIME, I went for the magic pill - Mucinex D. Gotta get it at the pharmacist's counter (ID and all that) but man, this stuff will make you feel like your nasal passages are lined with platinum... no, make that titanium. Note: Mucinex only deals with unclogging stuff. It is NOT a pain reliever.
But what ails me now is the sore throat, chills and histamine-i-ness. I have a stupid-active weekend coming up that I do not want to be down for.
Friday - The Iron Pour, Saturday - Chicago-Style Halloween Party in SoCo, Sunday - a 5K in Jamestown followed by the Pats game at 4:15 (Moss comes back to Gillette).

So what am I to do? I took my Mucinex D this morning. I then took 500mg of C on top of my multivitamin (60mg of C).

But I remember at some point hearing that wouldn't do shit against a cold.
So I called upon the internet for some research.
There are multiple people saying mega dosing to "intestinal discomfort" (basically, when you get to the point where you have diarrhea, back off 1000 mg and that is the optimal amount)is the way to go. That could be 250,000mg of C, or in lamens terms, 500 500mg tablets.
That's just dumb. And also for cancer patients, according to some studies.
The most intriguing one I found was from here
In this study, students were asked to take 1000mg of vitamin C every hour for the first 6 hours they felt the cold or flu coming on. Half of the students said their symptoms were alleviated after the 6 hour period.
Okay. I can get down with 6000mg. Its not 250,000.
One side note, you may read that mega doses of C can cause kidney stones. You are not mega dosing all the time. Just when you are sick. You would need to be mega dosing for a considerable amount of time (and ridiculously high, like 250,000) to get stones.

Onward:
I started taking the 1000mg at 8 a.m. It is now 10 and I am about to take my 3rd dose. I will track this to see if there is any fire to it and edit this post as I do.
8 a.m. - 1st dose of 1000mg. Scratchy throat. Runny nose. Achy w/ chills.
9 a.m. - 2nd dose of 1000mg. Runny nose still. Throat scratchiness subsided. Chills still there. Aches too.
10 a.m. - 3rd dose of 1000mg. Nose not so runny now, but that may be the Mucinex too. Chills gone. Throat scratchiness still gone.
11 a.m. - 4th dose of 1000mg. Everything has subsided except the runny nose has reappeared. I attribute this to drinking so much water to assist the C. It's getting the juices flowing. Ew. Will research to see if this is the case.
12 p.m. - The feelings of a cold are gone... but I fear it is something else.
1 p.m. - yup. this is something else.
2 p.m. - last dose. Okay. I am 99% sure I have my first sinus infection of the season.

10/28/10 - did a saline sinus wash. heavy orange stuff abound. calling doc.

Tember Tober Vember

2010-10-18T15:00:00.001-07:00

Tonight is the Bad Religion show at the House of Blues in Boston.

This is wrapping up our latest fall edition of "Runyourassintotheground-tober", preceded by "Everyweekendisacircus-tember and followed by "Neverendingfreakout-vember."

Yesterday we went to the super ridiculous Pats v. Ravens game in which during overtime, both teams decided it was okay to just play catch endlessly until Gostowski decided he had enough and just kicked the damn thing so everyone could get home to their crock pots.

This coming weekend we will surely go into shock. We have nothing planned.

But directly following that comes the SteelYard's Iron Pour (Friday the 29th), then the ChicagoLander-Turned-Rhodie South County Sing Along Drinkathon and Halloween Party (Saturday the 30th) AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, a costumed 5K in Jamestown on Halloween morning and a race back to the 60" for the Pats v. Randy Moss, er, the Vikings, at 4:15.

WHATTHEWHATWHAT.

November 12-15 is transformed into what I understand as the take-over of upstate NY by... well, us. And Canada.

Gotta go finish this pot of coffee.

2010-10-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

Just in case you are wondering what is going on below, it's an octodactyl.
It is terrifying.

2010-10-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

2010-10-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

First 5K

2010-10-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

I ran my first 5K this past Saturday in Providence.
Seeing as I have never been a runner, the following stats happily baffle me:

Place Overall (out of 2640):597th
Place in Age Group: 196th/1023
Time once I hit the start: 30:37.0
Mile Pace: 9:53
Gun Time: 32:30.9

Well heck!

2010-10-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

I was getting tension headaches.

I couldn't figure out specifically from what, but I assumed it was a combination of the amount of money I was spending on hair care items; elastics, clips, bobby pins, headbands, claws, you name it. (also, an impressive array of the types of shampoo and deep conditioning treatments one must own in order to take care of inches upon inches of long-dead proteins.)

More than likely, it was the fact that I was pulling back my hair everyday, from sun-up to bedtime.

So I cut it all off. I took a knife sharpener that we use for the cleaver, prepared the shears and popped a new blade in my razor cutter.

I am, once again, wonderfully androgynous. Hallelujah.

I love my hair like this. Why?

1.) It take no time to do. Really. Wash it. Done.
2.) It is kryptonite to men-most-likely-to-make-unwanted-advances. They assume you are gay.
3.) You don't have to wash it but thrice a week. If that.
4.) I can do the upkeep myself.

I have succeeded at growing my hair out twice in 14 years. When I was a child/teen, my mother refused to let me cut my hair short. Her mother (my grandmother, RIP Dot) would keep my mom's hair in a bob. My mother always wanted long hair.
Way to project inadequacies, ma. Anyway, when I turned 18, I took a ziplock bag full of money and went to the hairdresser.
I walked out with a pixie cut and didn't look back for ten years. (mom didn't talk to me for a week.)
Then I decided to let it go, had impressively shoulder blade length hair. For a sum total of 8 months.

Gone again.

It's meant to be. Me and this hair.

Pretty Girl

2010-09-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

"Well aren't you just a pretty girl..." (this was stated in a manner that I can't even begin to figure out how to punctuate. somewhere between a question and a statement).

I happen by the weirdest people at my job. Hospitals do crazy shit to people's heads. I just so happened to be walking to a client's office to give them some reports and fell in step with this... lady? woman? girl? What am I at this point? Unmarried and 32... a lady? Because she was somewhere in her mid-thirties. So we'll say lady.

This lady proceeds to make the comment (read: first line of this post). I am wearing my hospital ID, clearly an employee of the establishment. I am wearing a blazer ferchrissake. A BLAZER. What I am getting at is, I am not in a stroller or idly licking a giant lolly in my Sunday best.

While I fancy myself somewhat of a fox, I am not thinking I warrant a comment from her stating I am "... a pretty girl."
You may think I am overreacting. Okay. Imagine you are at work and a customer comes up to you and in their gushiest-for-pets-only-voice calls you the cutest thing. There. See? I nod politely and go to the client.

Well OF COURSE I run into her AGAIN, this time on my way back to my office. It's my very own cosmic joke that once can NEVER be enough for uncomfortable situations.

She looks at me and apologizes if she made me uncomfortable. I reallyreallyreally wanted to hear why she thought what she said made me uncomfortable. Like an explanation of: "I do that to everyone regardless of age, and I thought it was no different with you!" or "I have PTSD and you were in my way!" or "You just looked so cute in your Sunday best, with that huge lolly!"

Okay that last reason would make a lot of sense if it weren't for the fact that the Psych ward is on another campus.

Maybe she got lost and I hope she finds her way, if that's the case. But until then, I am just a pretty girl.

This Never Happens In Crime Dramas.

2010-09-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

She stood there in front of me, crying.

I have zero feelings for anyone crying. It's not that I wouldn't like to, but I just can't feel anything.

And the reason she was crying really didn't do much to help my wondering if I should be more responsive to this situation.

Carrying her lunch bag, D&D iced coffee and car keys, distributed across both hands held at a 90 degree angle as if to take up more space so you had to pay attention to this mess coming towards you. Stunned, my oft blunt Taurus sensibilities un-roused, I obviously HAD to ask what was wrong or risk being considered some sort of monster for walking right by her after making enough eye contact to hold a conversation. Shit.

Me: "Are you ok?" (Should I have said "What's wrong?" I though about this later, I made the right decision. Option 2 may have opened more doors. Or not. Anyway...)

Her: "SOBSOBSOB"

Me: (looking for signs of blood. I watch a lot of crime dramas, you know) "Do you need to go to the ER?"

Her: (looks back at me like I am CRAZY and maniacally says) "NO!!! I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I, I..."

Me: (thinking this is going on WAY too long for me.)

Her: "...I HIT A DOG!!!!"

Me: (super-blankly asks) "Was it your dog?" (Not "That's awful!!!" or "You poor thing!") I am immediate in my need for good, quick information.

Her: (again, looking at me like I am CRAZY for asking that) "NO!!! IT'S JUST SAD!! sobsobsobsobcrycry" (to which I wanted to reply, "Sad enough to go around the entire building crying and wasting the first 45 minutes of your day telling people that you hit a dog that wasn't even your own???"

Me: (and this is where I should of just said "That's too bad" or something generic. instead I say) "Well, I guess that it is good that your emotions are in check, y'know, that they are working..."

The conversation ended right then. I went on my way, quickly, she meandered to another section of the building, telling her tale of woe.

I want to add that I am the type of person that when I go over a something that has already been flattened on the road, I glance in my rearview mirror long enough to make sure that I didn't hit something that would warrant my arrest, and I move along.

If I hit MY dog, ok. That would be upsetting. I still don't know if I would cry, though. And certainly not at my job, or in front of people.

Something to also note, the pooch was not dead on impact, I asked that (of course I did, c'mon), in fact in a moment of clarity, she recalled it getting up and running away, but she then returned to her state of panicked despair.

I Need More Coffee

2010-09-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

i had some. i'm better now.

Sock Duty

2010-09-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

Building a sock army. I found my favorite cheapy yarn of the moment, Patons Kroy Sock Stripes.
It's like mini Cascade 220.

Hiking length socks:

And these, I finished this past weekend. Only took 8 MONTHS.

Seeing as I will be spending another winter commuting to the Great White North, I am saddling up, as they say.

Make Go With Feet.

2010-09-11T12:12:00.001-07:00

Come run with me.

I go to the Dexter Training Grounds (Armory Park), 2.24 mi (4 laps).

Or I'll come run with you.

Leave a comment if this interests you.

Getting Ready...

2010-09-05T05:51:00.001-07:00

In the process of developing the perfect (read: mindlessly simple) sweater pattern, I have a couple of prototypes that are completely wearable.
Both top down, but with different collars. I wanted a crew neck, but on the first go round, I cast on too many stitches. So I improvised into something that ended up looking like an Eddie Bauer sweater...

But I kind of dig it. It will get worn. My next shot is near completion and I am kind of psyched about it. It is a crewneck, super-fitted, made with Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool if you can believe it. It is pretty close to the knit-ability of Cascade Eco-Wool at half the price, same yardage and everything. It looks as though I will get away with making this sweater from 1 skein, plus maybe .05 of another one! Here are some premature photos:

So, I would say that I am almost there as far as formula goes. When this is done and on, I will likely tweak it and then start my next one, which I think I would like to have stripes involved somehow...

2010-09-02T06:37:00.001-07:00

I just whipped up a protein shake in a coffee cup with a fork.

I'm gross.

Let's Make a Monday

2010-08-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

I keep notebooks. I tried getting a cute little mini-dell for my work duties, but it felt wrong. Even with the hospital-wide wireless internet.
So I keep notebooks. I have officially blown through 12 of them. I have effectively killed what adds up to an adorable ornamental citrus tree. I don't pay for these notebooks, so I can't justify a computer with cost, nothing is more cost effective than free.

That was all before the iPad became an option.

That aside, I have realized a few things as my job as an account rep for doctors and hospital staff. And if you find yourself in the service of others, you may agree:

1.) If you give people the opportunity to talk, no matter what, they will find something to bitch about. Even if nothing is going wrong.
2.) No matter how fast/efficient/curteous/ you are, you can always be faster/more efficient/more curteous.
3.) There are very few people (staff, patients, doctors) that truly understand the basics of healthcare coverage. Very simple: per your insurance, you are allowed a certain amount of testing/visits etc per year. If you go over that, you'll end up paying. Want to know if you're covered? CALL YOUR INSURANCE. They employ people specifically to answer your questions.
4.) On the flip side of #1, if you leave people alone long enough, they'll forget what they were all worked up about in the first place. That solves more problems for me than I can count. Time heals all wounds and what-not.
5.) This is one of my big ones: MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SMART. This is kind of like stroking someone's ego. But I take it one step further. Ask a simple question you know the answer to, and let them trip the light fantastic talking about how much they know on the subject. This is a satisfying experience for them. And I get paid to satisfy. That came out wrong.

I am just cold enough to perform these duties, and limber enough to jump through the flaming hoops without scorching my super-120s.
It also helps that I am detached from any sort of politics. Thankfully, I am a workforce of one, in my little cave with my eye-level mood lighting and npr. No one is really sure what I do, but they are sure that they do not want to be doing it. I am best friend/parent/maid/psychiatrist/cheerleader to the people I serve. I never need children, I have hundreds.

Hundreds that are just waiting to be put in my new notebook.
Happy Monday.

Obey Your Master

2010-08-28T05:29:00.001-07:00

(U.S. theatrical trailer of Master of the Flying Guillotine... a piece of cinematic artwork and a must-see)

Verbs. Nouns.

2010-08-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Blah blah blah words.
Verbs. Nouns.

My rings, pants, and bras don't fit anymore. 2 out of 3 fall off of me. This makes for a lot of daily adjusting.

I signed up for two 5Ks in October.

I'm on the hunt for Egyption Licorice tea, Himilayan Apple Spice (whhhatttt?), and Aztec Sweet Chili tea from Yogi.
Don't really want to order them online, but I will if I have to.

My Bianchi is sitting in the front hall. Collecting dust. It has a cross frame. I like the idea of cross, but the whole-jumping-over-barriers-with-a-steel-bike-on-your-shoulder has to grow a little more on me before I consider it.

Jellyfish is a great band. They don't make em' like they used to. However, I really like bands who have a panicked-sounding lead singer. Like the Arctic Monkeys.

Jellyfish - Joining a Fan Club.

2010-08-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

An Olde Tyme Favorite.

Sidebar

2010-08-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

I am 138 lbs now.
My BMI is 21.83.
My BMR is 1500.
I can run 2.5 miles easily.

Fuckin' A.

New #.

2010-08-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks,

I have a new phone #, shoot me an email for the update.

I Dun Told You.

2010-08-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Favorite pic from NY.

2010-07-25T06:54:00.000-07:00

Know what I haven't done in a while?

Woken up and put on a pair of size 6 jeans.

I'm going to say that 1997 was the last time that was happening on a daily basis. So, for the first time in 13 years, I am wearing a size 6 IN JEANS. I was getting amped to wear a size 6 in PANTS. I wasn't expecting this jeans thing to fall into place until at least October.

For reference's sake, I was rockin' a size 12 in Feb of this year when I decided to put a stop to that nonsense.

Mumblings.

2010-07-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

I'm in yarn limbo. I have the opportunity to knit with a super swanky skein, and here I am with doubled up Caron knitting a 3 x 3 scarf.

WTF.

It IS mindless, requires not the attention span needed for something complex and lacy, or constructed with lots of increases and decreases. OH HELL I am just being lazy.

I just ate a huge salad that I built at Whole Foods. I forgot most of what I put in it, some quinoa, slaw, something something...
Delicious. And here I am at the lip of Vacation Canyon. On my couch. Place to myself, 2 p.m. on a Friday. I DREAM of days like this, but somehow I am BORED.
Truth be told, I suck at being on vacation. It takes me a few good solid days of realizing that THERE IS NO SCHEDULE before I can relax.

I will resist the temptation to start another knitting project. I will finish the **euughh** acrylic scarf.

Ravelry Name Change!!

2010-07-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hey-yo.

Changed my Ravelry name, folks. Flash of semi-gloss brilliance...

you can find me at http://www.ravelry.com/people/baconknits

Yep. I went there.

Needles, Neighbors & Knitting.

2010-07-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

Seeing as my last post was about lumps and such, I will make this a short update on that so as not to botch up the whole post here:
Fine needle aspiration (biopsy)/Neon green fluid/7-10 days from 7/13=lab results.

Right now I am attempting my own perfect leg warmer formula. See, I want them to be thigh-high. I want them to also stay up without a whole lot of insane construction. This is my first go at it:

This took a lot of after-tweaking. I am about to resort to the good ol' 1X1 all the way down. 35-40 sts. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but whatever. To all you non-knitters, I'll break it down, in short - 1X1 will make them stay up on their own.

I am trying to decide whether or not to go out walking today. I did my Wii Fit profile for the first time in 217 days this morning (I'm so bad about these things), but the fab news is my BMI is down from 24.27 to 22.25. Eff Yeah. And if I can shave off these last 5 pounds, I will be the weight I was in 1998, 135.
I got a new pair of running shoes (whoooo they are LIGHT) yesterday, and I wicked want to try them out. My super stupid tight hamstrings are making me nervous though. I was a dingbat on Friday, did 25 minutes on the elliptical on level 5 (6.0 mph) then 45 minutes on the treadmill. When I got off, both my hammies charlie horsed right the fuck up. Tried to not look like a complete douche walking out of the gym. Whatevs.

We have a new neighbor upstairs. His name is Merl and he went to UCONN. I am gathering this from his car. The UCONN part. It has a UCONN sticker on it. Brilliant. Anyway, he is the quietest mover-inner ever. He even came down to introduce himself to us yesterday. I would peg him at about 25-28 years old. Big dude, though. Throw you through a wall under the right circumstances.

That's the ups fer now.

I Can Totally Explain...

2010-07-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Maybe not totally, but somewhat.

Not totally because they are pretty sure that the tumor is benign, as the initial radiology report stated after my imaging today.

For those just joining in, I found a tumor (9mm to be exact) in my right breast on Monday.
This led to panic, almost passing out in the shower, and then immediate action on Tuesday.
After appointments, mammograms, ultrasounds and whatnot, we have come to a more than likely benign tumor.

I meet with the surgeon on the 13th to review the slides and decide how to proceed. Initially, most were sure anesthesia would be involved, and extraction. Now, it may be able to be sucked out with a syringe. We shall see.

En finale, at 32 (below baseline which is 35) years of age, I now add yearly mammograms to my annual violation (pap smear).

I have the DVD of my images here, but I shall leave you with a picture of a 9 mm bullet casing.

Have an okay weekend, folks.

Take the Tour

2010-07-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year. If you don't know, it's Tour time. For the entire month of July, the Tour de France is on Versus and I, in turn, am glued to my couch. Well, glued for at least 3 hours out of the day, and with the advent of DVRing, make that about 2:15 a day.
ANYWAY, I decided to go along with my ravelry TDF knitting group this year on Team RadioShack, going for the green jersey (sprinting) by way of a ri-diculous amount of face/hand cloths.

We also happen to have guests coming to stay the entire month, then the last week will be spent in Brooklyn. I figure, kill 2 birds with one stone. I make sets of 4 cloths, people come, use them, I wash them, they take them home as a little "thanks fer visiting, have these keen cloths" parting gifts.

So without further ado, here's what midnight bomber bombs at midnight:

This is the first set of four. And unfortunately, I finished 2 of them before the TDF knitting started, so they do not count. See how honest I am?

Stick with a Hook.

2010-06-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

I've been crocheting things again. I do not know what is going on here.

I could make excuses, like that it's too hot to work on the wool tweed cardigan that I have going.

But quite frankly I am having a good time. Above is a headband I made during True Blood this week. Below, these little addictive coasters.

And the timing for these could not be any better. It's 74 out with 91% humidity at 10:30 p.m.

Citrus Trivetus.

2010-06-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

I, too, thought I had a brain tumor when I found myself wanting to crochet this trivet from The Purl Bee (pattern here).

Or is that when you smell coffee grounds while having the taste of peanut butter in your mouth.... hmm...
Well, anyway, all are associated with crochet in my mind.

But I had to have it. I mean really. Look at it. I made one trivet because the next set I make will be adapted for knitting.

Dear Aunt Lillie.

2010-06-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

Whoever the hell she was.

Anyway, if you're on Ravelry and want a wrap-looking sweater, but without the bulk hassle of a tie, here's your gig.

This is precisely why I chose it in my search for "wrap sweater".
The thing that I like the least about wrap sweaters is how they cinch up. Nothing accentuates the waist worse than a double knit tie!!!
I queued up this one a while back and just started casting on with this:

Rowan Wool Tweed, shade 960 (orange, for us non-robots).

I am not the biggest fan of constructing sweaters in parts, i.e. - back first, then right front, etc...
But I will do this one, because basically, I do not feel like paying mounds of attention and muddling about with stitch markers, even if they do have sparkly little pineapples hanging from them.

Holey Moley

2010-06-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

Continuing my obsession for cowl-y shawl-y type things, here is Holey Moley.

Holey Moley is based off of the Chastain Park Shawl (here)

I started off with the first 77 stitches, and after many rows of the border, I decided to throw in a couple of rows of garter. This was basically for stability because this thing is soooo holey that it feels like paper. Well, I then started the edging again, then whipped out Stitchionary #5 (lace) and looked in the edging section and found the daisy chain pattern. Perfect.

In a couple of sittings and a blocking section, I now have this sweet triangle.

Graffiti

2010-06-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

I feel like knit bombing parts of Providence.

Crafts of Passed Past

2010-06-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Some highlights from the past few months:

Yarn I got from the Cogshall RI Fiber Fest, Bartlett Yarns from Maine turned into a... cowl? Haven't finished this:

Urban Beat cowl, a stashbuster's delight full of Frog Tree:

This is a Berocco cotton knit into a huge circular scarf:

The almighty Fuck Off pillowcase:

Stri-ped.

2010-06-02T19:03:00.001-07:00

What does June bring? Wool knitting? YES.
This is a shawl that I casted on 170, and I am treating it like a mitered square in the middle by decreasing 2, then adding the 2 back (1 on either side). So really, it's like knitting a blanket.

Charco-caps

2010-05-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

taking 2. right now. thanks to the peeps for the fire & party tonight, i am trying my best currently to avoid ill side effects.
you all have no concept of how many times i had to retype that.

2010-05-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

make it rain.

2009-08-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

things i COULD do today checklist:
haircut
remove sleeves from shirts
wind bobbins
repaint toenails
cut handnails
start cable blanket sampler
start the color work on grape cross stitch
thaw those steaks in the freezer and make something
sew some scarves
drink

junk in der trunk.

2009-08-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

about a year ago i threw an entire trash bag of cast off clothes that we didn't want (and i was going to donate - but i never seem to make it to that point) in the trunk of my car.

there is some great stuff in there, i am realizing. i went through a phase where i was buying boy's button up preppy collared shirts, so those are in there and there is an absolute JACKPOT in shirt material from phill's closet.
and should i even mention that cast off khaki pant material would probably make a pretty decent cross stitch canvas?
also, those shirts i mentioned would be mighty fine if i hacked the sleeves off and made some neck ruffles... which i don't have much practice doing - but what the hell.

so, on this day i am calling Danny Day (due to the extra-tropical depression passing to our right), i am going to now go harvest my trunk before the skies REALLY open up.

cross stitching... bitching...

2009-08-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

i brought my latest to snb tonight, a cross stitch to do with grapes.

in other news, we watched death race.
the line of the movie? "fuck with me and we'll see who shits on the sidewalk."
i don't even know what that means. but i like it.

Box Collector.

2009-06-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

Dear god.

We are to be packed and out in the next few weeks. This is all great, going to go smooth as glass. Until the slight snag that is - where in the hell are we going to stack these boxes?

We'll be packing the day we leave.

This week is flying by.
Gotta go. 2 out in the 9th, Sox v. Yanks.

3 Months? Really?

2009-05-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

I never was diligent about writing in any sort of diary... mainly because my mother would find anything personal that I ever wrote and would decide to write her own poem about it - which was all pretty funny in hind sight considering that she would find things like a lovely 5 pager I did when I was 16 about how to seduce a 30 year old man.

So if I can't even commit to regularly writing in a paper diary that isn't smeared all over the webernet for international ocular pleasure, why would anyone seriously expect me to keep up with this?

Well, for the benefit of my waning reader population (outside of the Guam territory - where my following is apparently HUGE), here is a rundown of the last 3 months (in no particular order):

I somehow managed to pass my math class with a B. This is monumental considering I haven't gotten above a D since third grade, which coincidentally was when I was told that I "would never be good at math" by my teacher. I suppose they could get away with that in 1985.

I put all of my paintings, except two, out on the sidewalk in front of our house for anyone to take. 12 in all, at the end of the day, they were gone. I gained a 12 foot high, 8 foot wide space. And some people got some warped canvases.

I'm growing my hair out again. Whoopy ding.

And now, I truncate. I got a Kindle, 86ed the fake nails, bought a condo, planted some impatients, started painting again, picked back up with bridge, bought some golf clubs (which I have been using to hit balls into neighbors cars). Sigh, there's some other shit.

Also, I have been finding that my mom could now care less about how many tattoos I put on my body. Just to think that 10 years ago she went on a food strike when I got my first one. So what's next? I think I am a couple years away from a cheese tattoo, but closer to something to do with bridge. It's been almost 10 years that I have been playing.

We are moving out at the end of June, into the new condo (which is a spit away from where we are now). At that point I will be getting my desk together so I can actually sit and write. So maybe, just maybe, it won't be 3 more months until my next post.

Toss Up

2009-03-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

I'm on the hunt. I think I have narrowed it down to a couple of gyms. I almost hit the go button on one tonight, but I held back. I am waiting for my friend to decide what kind of environment she wants to be in. Why do I care so much, well, she is going to be turning me into a ripped machine and I feel that I owe it to her to find a suitable factory.

Cara and I met somewhere around 1991 in Milford, MA. I skated in Leominster, but made the move to a club in Milford because I was partnered up with this dude. More on him later...
Of course we were all in shape, no one really wears that little spandex if otherwise, but I wouldn't call your average skater jacked. Well, back then, she was not jacked. She was kind of like the Kate Moss of the rink. Somewhere between the late 90s and now, she is in a word, inspiring.

I forget how I ran into her on Facebook, but we got to talking and one thing led to another. And now I am doing a sort of pageant search for a gym.

Here are the choices:
Method
Bally
Gold's
Planet Fitness

We'll see what we come up with out of those. For now, I keep up with my super-ridiculous protein & fluids noshing and intermediate sculpting.
Holy crap, guys.

Goody.

2009-02-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

New tattoo tomorrow.
Lance Armstrong & Floyd Landis are back for the Tour de California.

2009-02-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hee hee.
I bought one of these today. Then I steamed everything.
The water was black.
It was VERY satisfying.

Is This Real Life?

2009-02-04T03:15:00.001-08:00

2009-01-27T03:23:00.001-08:00

Wednesday

Hi 36°
Lo 27°
Ice Pellets

Prediction of "Ice Pellets", from projo.com.

Tam it up.

2009-01-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

Phyllotaxis Tam (Sunflower Tam)
130 yards Calypso Yarn on circular size 7
Started 1/23/09
Finished 1/25/09

Consumer.

2009-01-24T07:58:00.000-08:00

So since I was up at 6 this morning, I decided to get a jump on things while the world was still asleep.

Fortunately, the retail world was wide awake.

I got my nails did:

Got some new s**tkickers:

And bought to long strapped bags:
Ralph Lauren Chaps Canvas-

Relic Etched Leather-

It's all about being productive.

2009-01-24T04:29:00.000-08:00

I don't have to work 13 hours today.

I don't have to work 13 hours today.

I don't have to work 13 hours today.

But I am still up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday.

BlahBlahBlah.

2009-01-22T03:50:00.000-08:00

Is everyone really so very mystified that our new president is our new president?

Argue amongst yourselves, hell, argue with me.

The man is qualified. The man is a leader.

Of course he's presidential material.

Cartridge Rib Throw

2009-01-20T03:34:00.001-08:00

Cartridge Rib Throw
Size 17 blanket needles
Started January 16
Finished January 18th
8 skeins Rowan Big Wool in Stormy

Cartridge rib pattern from Vogue's Stitchionary Vol. 1 with garter st edging on both ends.

The obsession continues...

2009-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

Hero.

2009-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Chesley B. Sullenburger III -- the pilot of flight 1549.

Career highlights -- Flew F-4s for the U.S. Air Force from 1973 to 1980. Flight Leader and Training Officer with experience in Europe, Pacific and at Nellis AFB, serving as Blue Force Mission Commander in Red Flag Exercises.

Sullenburger spent years as an Air Line Pilots Association Local Air Safety Chairman, national technical committee member and accident investigator -- where he participated in several NTSB investigations of major aircraft accidents.

Peacock Shawl

2009-01-12T20:37:00.000-08:00

Peacock Shawl
Adapted from the Panache Shawl by Lankokomero
Size 7 circulars throughout
4 skeins = 880 yards of Cascade 220 Wool in Heather Grey
Started December 27th, 2008
Finished January 12th, 2009

I chose to go with a less boisterous edging, so I pulled from an earlier project's edging (Hemlock Ring Blanket by BrooklynTweed).
It was simple and used up exactly what I had left in a neat k2tog, yo, k2tog turn make 5 cast off.

This pattern can be found in it's english downloadable counterpart free for ravelry members.

Into the Void.

2009-01-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

Project Runway is gone.

Project Runway is gone.

Proje.... ok. I'm over it.

So now what? What are these shows that I am left to attempt to sink my teeth into like an overcooked "sirloin" from Applebee's?
Here's my list of seemingly tolerable visual time gobblers.

1. Two and a Half Men - I was dubious at first, but it's enough cheesy sitcom for me to handle for one 1/2 hour.
2. The Big Bang Theory - I will cry tears that originate from my stomach if/when this show ends.
3. How I Met Your Mother - Anything with Doogie = tasty. Again, I know. He's gay. WHATEVER.
4. Battlestar Gallactica - Really, one that I watch because inevitably it will come up in discussion on the stoop.
5. Lost - I wasn't in it from the beginning but I watch it because while it is on, that is all anyone talks about at work.
6. Split Ends - The only show that has the ability to sully my brain for hours and hours. Rapt attention is a constant.
7. Clean House - Who wants a clean house? Only the Neecy episodes.

All this being said, starting next week I will have to overload the DVR with 1-7 because spare time will become nearly non-existent.

Born from the Superbowl Shuffle...

2009-01-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

Digging for gold.

2009-01-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

I spent the day on the couch watching Million Dollar Listing, made coffee and found my yellow gold/diamond ring that I thought I lost.

It is a good day.

Because we will be ready and waiting when they lift the gates...

2009-01-06T03:24:00.000-08:00

So I sit. 6:20 am. 2nd cup of coffee. Sifting through weather reports.
More snow, ice and sleet starting at 6 tonight going through tomorrow, and I am leaving for a whirlwind trip to NJ and back in less than 24 hours. I wish mother nature would hold off until around 2-3 pm tomorrow.
You see, folks, January 20th is coming soon. On that day and shortly thereafter, the medical world as we know it in this country may change.
We are gearing up for a pilot program at work. We'll be collecting cord blood. Cord blood carries stem cells. Stem cells can do things. A lot of things. What things? Here's a working list.

Leave you screaming, pay for my dry cleaning....

2008-12-27T21:44:00.000-08:00

I will never, ever get enough of this. Ever.

Ever.

"...and look at the big teeth..."

2008-12-27T21:30:00.001-08:00

In the Warehouse....

2008-12-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

I finally did it. I ripped Under the Table and Dreaming to my iTunes. I have been putting it off for so long. The poor semi-warped, scratched and generally worn out cd made it's way into my mac and my ears are so happy right now.
I am playing it backwards from #34.

The rogue soundtrack of my winter that I don't ever tell anyone about. Dave Matthews, K's Choice, Beth Hart, Sarah McLachlan, Pearl Jam (Vitalogy), The Wallflowers, Oasis, Barenaked Ladies.
Very 1996.

I spent a lot of lonely nights on 495 in 1996. Driving home from practice. Taunton to home. Most times at 2 in the morning. I would have my sony discman and adapter in my 93 Plymouth Acclaim. I learned to keep myself awake with singing at the top of my lungs. The music also would help curb the fear I felt crossing over the Mass Pike into the middle of a snowstorm at 1 in the morning.

Those long drives also gave me ample time to equate my musical choices to the confusion of life experiences I was having at any one time. 2 hours one way opens the door for free association. The ones who were best at answering my need to sympathy ended up being the Beth Harts and Radioheads of the world.

This new set of headphones and the weather outside is bringing me back.

Andy Samberg is a God. Never forget that.

2008-12-15T14:27:00.001-08:00

2008-12-06T04:16:00.000-08:00

Songs that made my 90s:

Sponge - Have You Seen Mary
Pearl Jam - Yellowledbetter
Dave Matthews Band - Typical Situation
Better Than Ezra - Desperately Wanting
Stone Temple PIlots - Lady Picture Show
Soundgarden - My Wave
Aimee Mann - You Could Make a Killing
Counting Crows - Long December
Temple of the Dog - Say Hello 2 Heaven
Toadies - Possum Kingdom
Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray
Sarah McLachlan - Do What You Have To Do
Gin Blossoms - Until I Fall Away
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Walk On the Ocean

Oh, the Mania.

2008-12-06T04:01:00.000-08:00

I have them all picked out. I know what I am going to give my family for christmas.

Now, if I could only work up the bravery to get out there. Most of what I need to do will happen at the mall. Providence Place Mall is no Mall of America, but it's parking situation is what I imagine maximum security prison would be like, except you get a car and 2 exits. Maybe it's more like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Without Tina Turner. Or Mel Gibson.

In fact, I can confidently say that in most holiday shopping scenarios, parking would be the reason that sullies my success. If I am to do this, and do it well, I need to go into it adding an extra 2 hours to my day just to get out of the damn parking lots. Oh, they let you in with giant paved open arms, yes. But it was easier to fall into the giant trash compactor in Star Wars than it was getting out of it.

Maybe I need a light saber. A real one.

Online shopping is out at this point. It's December 6th and the chances of me getting anything on time are slim. And besides, all the places I would be eshopping are places that are nearby. In that mall. The mall that, during the holidays, turns into something like Event Horizon. Everyone gets paranoid, goes crazy and starts massacring each other.

It is really not that bad. I'm just not a pro at talking myself into things.

Rolling Out the Red Carpet to Apron-Land...

2008-11-30T15:47:00.000-08:00

Working out the whole aprons for craft fairs thing...

Victorian Sea Animals Hostess Apron

Pigs & Palms Apron

Chili Pepper Apron

King Kong Apron

Polo Player Apron

Flags & Zebras Apron

Baseball & Belts Apron

More to come...

It Sits, It Thinks.

2008-11-28T07:12:00.000-08:00

Last night Phill and I participated in a perfectly orchestrated 3 hour Thanksgiving at my parent's house.
Dinner was at 4pm as my mother had informed me the day before, begrudgingly so because she knew by offering me that, that I would get there right at 4.
Every year, my mother invites my brother's in-laws. And well, I'll just say that they are a little racist. Also, irresponsible in ways and irritating.
But that right there is the standard Thanksgiving since 1992, when my brother was engaged to his now wife. Bonus: she's pretty great.
Blah blah blah, in-laws, blah blah. Well, let me let you in on the fun add ons that made this Thanksgiving one that I wore my mental Nikes for:

1. My parents are putting our pet husky of 12 years down - today.
2. My 7 year old incredibly athletic nephew was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy on Tuesday.
3. My 4 year old nephew may have a 50% chance of ALSO having muscular dystrophy.
4. One of our friend's aunts got plowed down by a car and died this week.
5. Another one of our friend's uncles died also this week.

And to add to things, the always tactful in-laws were at the adult table talking about whether my nephew should be in a wheelchair or just use crutches. My nephew was sitting 3 feet away. He hasn't been told yet what's going on. Luckily, he wandered off and began to play a game my brother and I used to play in the kitchen. The Lava Game: our kitchen floor has a brick pattern on it that could look like lava, there are three area rugs. You jump from rug to rug trying not to touch the lava, while playing tag with someone else. Every time a part of you hits the "lava", you can't use that body part anymore. My younger nephew joined in as my mother fought back tears.

The shining light came when my bro, Phill and I sat down for a good 45 minutes and talked about video games and just bsed.
I could tell Jon needed it because everyone he has been around all week has only been talking about my nephew's diagnosis.

We got there at 4 and left at 7, back in Providence at 8.

Limb by Limb...

2008-11-08T04:03:00.000-08:00

They're baaaaaack.
Leggings.
And I'm not talking those plain monochromatic leggings that American Apparel churns out. I'm talking, Grace Jones-FloJo-Xanadu-style leggings.
It may be a nightmare for some, but for me it shows progress.
You see, those plain leggings, whether spandex or cotton, were a thing of the late 70's early 80's - an archive of American fashion from the disco era. They were associated with the beginning of the Jazzercise age.
But when we start to flirt with the idea of patterns, cutouts, lace - now we're talking late 80s early 90s. A time when huge sweaters with fair isle motifs of faces wearing a lot of eyeliner went perfectly over a set of grey and black leopard print leggings.
But how is this progress? - you may ask. Well, considering I was old enough to be fashionably aware of these things, (I started jr. high in 1989), I spent a good 2 years following this trend. And here is where my theory of progress comes in. In 1991, the grunge movement hit hard. Overnight, we went from using enough Aquanet to make a pretty effective lion's mane to zero hairspray and wearing pyjama pants to school. How is this progress? I have to admit, I am being pretty selfish when I say this, the early to mid-nineties were some of my favorite years. Clinton was president. T-shirts became acceptable (no one wore t-shirts - it was always weird button downs like XColor or Chess King style shirts), and everyone seemed generally happy. Blind Melon sang about No Rain, gas and cigarettes cost close to the same ($1.80 and $2.10 - respectively) and everyone seemed to relax a little more. The 1980s was a very stressful time that was rife with who-can-get-ahead-and-how-fast-ness. The 90s sat back and gave the 80s the finger.

So I DO focus on what seems to be a flash-in-the-pan fashion trend and view it with hope. Because if it all pans out, we're on our way to the mid 90s again.

Reading List

2008-10-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

A break in the Project Runway action for a glimpse into my latest reading list.

Also, Work by Louisa May Alcott and soon many books on Peter the Great.

Project Runway Finale: Kenley & Leanne & One Single Solitary Tear Forming In the Pit of My Stomach.

2008-10-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

Just when it's getting good, just when all three finalists are solid, talented and innovative - Bravo decides "Oh, Project Runway? We don't need that old thing, we've got other brilliant shows. Like the Real Housewives of Atlanta." !!!???!!!!
All that aside, I got home last night, sat down on the couch and proceeded to watch what I am sure will become to be known as the best season finale of Project Runway. Yeah, Christian was good, but this was like having 3 Christians minus the huge collars and leather.

Huge collars + leather = Christian <3

So as many mental punches in the face that Kenley was getting for most of the second half of the season, I enjoyed her collection equally as much as Leanne's collection. I am a sucker for handpainted fabric, tulle and retro lines. A few of my favorites:

Ok, I know, I know. There is a huge collar involved. But please notice the use of boat rope and feathers. Please. The only thing that set me off about this collection was the choice of shoes. From the ankle down, it looks like these girls are auditioning for the off-Broadway remake of Fame. Wait, that sounds awesome.

Onto Leanne. Good old Leanne. I can count twice on the show when she was a little off in her interpretation of a challenge. That being said, she is brilliant and she was nowhere near as off as other contestants. She did slip and fall a little too hard into the wave theme, which I am with the judges on. The last few challenges showed that. But why mess with a good thing?
A few from her:

(I want this skirt like no one's business.)
She is nothing if not consistent.

Next time: Korto's Wrap Up, Where is Jennifer Lopez?, What Now?

Thunder.

2008-10-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

When a 28 lb cat burps, the ground shakes.

And Phill is watching Spongebob Squarepants.

Favorite Album Covers: Part 1

2008-10-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

Oh and By the By..

2008-10-10T11:40:00.000-07:00

We

We avoided getting a hex put on us today on Weybosset street. Look out for a mid-twenties dark haired chap walking around downtown in the middle of the road in traffic pointing and shaking his index finger at you. If he does, you're in for it.

Hall & Oates: Hall Almost Sweeps, Due to Questionable Ass Movement.

2008-10-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

Who's hotter?
Daryl Hall is obviously my first choice, look at that hair. But it can be argued that Oates is the dark and handsome guy... to someone...
point advantage: Hall

Private Eyes vs. Italian Girls
Private Eyes has clapping sequences. Italian Girls poses the question, "Where are the Italian Girls?" which begs the question, does Oates know where Italy is?
point advantage: Hall

Karate Skills vs. Dancing Skills
Oates will kick your ass, Hall is guaranteed to shake it.
point advantage: tie

Clothes That Need Not Be In A Closet (or a drawer)

2008-10-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

1.) cigarette pants: unless you are a size 0 and at least 5'9", don't bother with these.
2.) sweater coats: it's over, they are just knit bathrobes.
3.) anything with shoulder pads: really, there is no good reason, even if Alexander McQueen and Chanel say so.
4.) pleated pants or skirts: asking for a balloon shaped fupa*.
5.) mock turtlenecks: sleeved, sleeveless - it doesn't matter.
6.) the Cosby sweater: these have surpassed ironic and moved right on to thoughtless.
7.) the track suit: when people started wearing these to theme parties and as Halloween costumes, it was over.

I'll let it go there.

*fupa - fat upper pubic** area.
**pubic - a word that Amelia cannot stand.

Bizzaro Runway, There's No Place Like Home, What Is This Thing In My Mouth?

2008-10-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

First of all, this.

This actually could be used as a segue into what the place where a tooth once was, looks like right now.
So imagine that for a second. Ew, right? Yeah, ew.

So what I thought was the 2 hour season finale of Project Runway last night turned out to be the show-before-next-week's-two-hour-finale-show. I am not trying to take the worth away from it, but merely saying that I was expecting chocolate, but instead got cherry. It was a wedding gown challenge with a side challenge of a bridesmaid dress thrown in 1 day before the elimination. Like last season, they sent all 4 remaining contestants home because they couldn't make a decision, told them to create an entire collection and that when they all arrived back in NYC someone - WHO HAD JUST SPENT MONTHS ON A COLLECTION - would be aud. Pardon my caps, I find that incredibly frustrating.
Wedding gown challenge blahblahblah, Jarell is eliminated making it Estrogen Runway. Bring me next week, I say (as I keep my mitts off of the link that shows all the final collections on Bravo's website).

On another note, I am home today for said tooth. My face is a might bit swollen and things are sore AND medication makes me ill. I have a presentation/meeting in an hour and am trying to muster up the gusto to make it, even just for an hour. I am calling the area where the tooth once was Ground Zero. It looks just like it.

It So Doesn't Matter...

2008-10-07T05:36:00.003-07:00

Here's to realizing too late that hair and makeup really probably don't matter when you are going to get a tooth pulled.