"I hate waiting."

As you might guess, I'm a bit impatient. I had hoped that picking up a pair of knitting needles would help me learn about the virtue of patience... but it seems I just want my projects to go along as quickly as possible.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Emulating Bush?

So...I lied (oh wait, I think that by admitting I lied, I've actually TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY, so...that's very UN-Bushlike...). I have no pics to share. I went to Best Buy with the best of intentions to purchase a digital camera. I had my geeky (aka technophile) brother pick out a camera for me. I was all set to spend the $$. I am the first customer to the camera section. I am NOT the first one asked if they needed help. After I've been standing there for a few minutes, a manager comes and helps, but admits he's not that knowledgable re: digital cameras. So, he gives me the specs, introduces me to the 'camera guy,' and reassures me that I'll be helped. Twenty five minutes later, I left the store in a huff. Please take this commercial pause to notice the title of my blog. I don't mind waiting 10 minutes, but after that? I should get at least an acknowledgment that I'm waiting, such as "I'm sorry, I'll be with you as soon as possible." So... there's a couple hundred (or more) $$ that Best Buy won't be getting. Fuck them.

I wanted to take pics of my finished, super comfy felted clogs, updates on the progress of the backyard leaves, and my newly casted on clapotis!!

If you've read this far, you deserve a treat.
For those of you who love cats...have you seen the kitty cat sleeping olympics?Super cute. I love 'breathing through the ears' poses. Caught my kitty doing that a few weeks ago.

For those of you that like quizzes... find your very own personality disorder here.

Here are my results:
DisorderRating
Paranoid:Low
Schizoid:Low
Schizotypal:Low
Antisocial:Low
Borderline:Low
Histrionic:Low
Narcissistic:Moderate
Avoidant:Low
Dependent:Low
Obsessive-Compulsive:High

-- Personality Disorder Test - Take It! --


Disclaimer: This online quiz is just for fun. Seriously folks. Bad bad reliability/validity here. I've taken the real deal personality test thingy (MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) which has over 500 items. I know I scored as narcissistic b/c I honestly replied that I am often critical of classmates/coworkers. I do tend to have high expectations of a high work ethic.

Have fun. Don't take it too seriously.

PS. I do swear that there will be some freaking pics on this blog some time soon. I think by the end of next week. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Vows...

I, CynCyn, do hereby solemnly swear... that I will have pics by the next posting. Profuse apologies for the boringly blah blog of late. Today, I have my last clogs class, which will be spent showing us how to properly felt. I will have pics of my cute new house slippers posted by Thurs evening. (Despite my previous testament, I did NOT buy a digital camera last weekend. Said purchase will be transacted on Wed or Thurs).

I have decided to go with the bamboo yarn for my very own clap. I think the parrot colorways is calling my name a little louder than the preppie. Even though I liked the colorways of the Alchemy brand of bamboo yarn, I think it's a little bit more expensive than the SW brand.

Cathi has generously dubbed me 'scarf goddess extraordinaire' on her blog. Could be because that's all I ever make? She hosted a fun night last Friday, full of knitting, ripping, laughing, and eating. Any Mile High Knitters who have yet to join the Yahoo Groups, should do so immediately.

I probably won't have anything exciting to share for the next month. I have decided to make my best friend a pair of felted clogs as a b-day present (which comes up quickly in March). I guess it'll give me a good opportunity to take pics of the progression.... I'll also be working on my clap. And finishing up backyard leaves. And working on schoolwork. Seeing as I doubt any will captivate either of the 2 people who read my blog...

Saturday, February 19, 2005

All the stupid little things...

Since I've been so boring... here are some even more trivial things about myself.
First, a quiz about me. My brother set one up, with 10 questions. I got 2 right just because I'm related (one asked what his sister's name was, the other one asked where our parents live...) and I only got a total of 6 correct. Isn't that embarrassing?

Take my Quiz on QuizYourFriends.com!

Here's a cool thing I found on Sarita's blog. Show's where I've been. Or, where I haven't been.



create your own visited countries map



create your own visited states map

Meanwhile, I'll spend the rest of the day knitting, reading schoolwork, and finding myself a digital camera.

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Boringly blah...

has been my blog with no pictures. I will buy a camera this weekend. I need to take pics of my knitting and my kitty kats.

Thurs night has got to be my favorite. ER. Also, it means I've made it through another class with a professor I dislike intensely.

Knit news: I finished the clogs! Yeah! Super fast and easy, after I learned the wrap and turn, and the make 1. We felt them next week in class (I'd do it myself, but I have a front loader...and I hear they're not so good for felting). Working studiously on the backyard leaves again. Second half is much easier than the first half. I don't have a full blown anxiety attack when I don't exactly remember what row I was on...having the confidence to put it down and knowing I can figure out the chart/pattern... so nice.

Michelle (from Sittin Here Knittin) tipped me off that Alchemy has better bamboo yarn. Tomorrow will be a day of calling around to see if any LYS carries this brand, or if I'll just pick up the SW brand somewhere for my very own clap. I also found a pattern on Knitter's Review for a cat bed I'd like to make at some future point...

I'm also excited to meet some local knitters at Cathi's house tomorrow night. You know, I'd make a crack about being all nerdy...spending my friday night all excited about knitting... but I just don't care.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Parrot or Preppie?

I have two topics to think about today. Am I stupid or just plain stubborn? Again, I managed to procrastinate on a school project until the very last minute. I know I missed some stuff in my paper, and then I had to walk to school b/c I was printing the damn thing out at the very last minute. If I had given myself thirty extra minutes, I could've written a much better paper AND gotten a ride to school. And it was damn nipply outside today! Here's the thing. I don't even want any comments about this one, b/c I always bitch about my procrastination right after a project is due, then I do it again when the next one comes around. Mabye I'm just stupidly stubborn.

Topic #2. I foolishly wandered around A Knitted Peace after my clogs class. Found some yummy yarn for the clapotis. Bamboo yarn. Has anyone knit with this stuff? I love the parrot and preppie colorways. Cathi's continued reincarnations of her clap inspire me... but I can't justify casting on another project when I have so many laying at my feet in various states of unfinishedness.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Marathons...

I have some friends who like to run marathons. I think I just got a small taste of what it feels like to run one, and I gotta say...they're crazy. Not that I did any actual running, mind you, but I spent 6 days on campus, went up to the foothills twice, and managed to get some knitting it too!!

My next confession might not be the best thing to admit... but I am not a fan of processing thoughts. I don't mind getting a few different points of view, but some people like to think the rest of the class NEEDS to hear every little thought that flits through their minds. WHY? Why would they think that what they think is SO freaking important that we all need to hear it? Let's say it all together. ENTITLEMENT. And what's wrong with the professors that let the class take over classtime with the processing?

So, Sarita and Cathi think I can manage the clapotis. I would love to make one, in a variegated yarn, preferably a lighter weight than worsted. I'm going to let myself fawn over yarns online, until i finish another project. So...any suggestions as to yarn are greatly appreciated. I've looked at knit picks (Andean silk twist), and Brooks Farm Yarns, of which I really like the San Marcos and Desert colorways in Harmony.

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Ball spinning. Clog felting.

My first ever knitting class today. How fun is it to be surrounded by people with a passion to knit? Making felted clogs (yeah, yeah...I'm just catching up to trends. By the time I feel confident enough to attempt clapotis,...who knows) in the class, and learning some new stitches. I also spun my first ball o yarn using a spinner thingamajig. How fun and easy was THAT? Maybe this is a stupid stupid question, but how in the world does that thing work? (then again, you're reading the blog of a person who could take college physics, and STILL not understand how electricity REALLY works.

I can't believe it's only Tuesday. It's gotta be at LEAST Thursday!! I need a complicated spreadsheet or some matrices to figure out when my friends and I can get together for dinner. I will be on campus for school SIX days this week. SIX. That's sick and wrong, isn't it?

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Musical tag

Fellow knitting blogger, Michelle, has tagged me for the meme re: music.

1) Total amount of music files on your computer: A lot. I've got a trusty
ipod, but I've only downloaded about a 1/4 of my CDs into my hard drive. I think I've got over 1000 songs on the computer.


2) The last CD you bought was: uh...I don't buy too many CDs anymore...but I think the last actual CD I bought was an Annie Lennox.

3) What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?

I was working out...so, Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop and Pharell.

4) What are your five favorite songs and why they mean the most to you

ONLY FIVE? C"MON.
In Your Eyes: Peter Gabriel. I listen to this song A LOT and have never ever gotten sick of it.

The Promise: When In Rome (can anyone tell I'm a child of the 80s yet?) This song, and probably most of these, are strongly connected to high school and college memories.

Big Ten Inch: Aerosmith. Get your minds out of the gutter. The song is about a RECORD. (snort). My best friend and I went to many many shows together. Through high school and our college years. Scrimped and saved to go to concerts.

Boy's Don't Cry: The Cure (you know, this would be easier if it was top five ARTISTS.) Can I lump in some Depeche Mode in here too? Summer camp...ahhh...

The last spot. Damn. It's a toss up between Sarah McLachlan/Delerium- Silence, or Metallica- Welcome Home (sanitarium).

That's just my pop/rock/heavy metal stuff. What about classical? Rap? Jazz?
5 songs is too limiting! Hmph.


5) What 3 people are you going to pass this baton to and why? Kinda new to the blog world... and I think many have already been tagged. I'll edit this section when I find some unsuspecting prey.

Friday, February 04, 2005

(ooh! aah!) said with a huge grimace...

today was a day to take care of, um..., indelicate things. In delicate places. Waxing. That's right. You heard me. I spent about an hour with some hot wax, some Russian aesthetician, and a lot of grimacing. I usually only get the underarms and legs done, but decided to try the bikini and brow waxing this go around. Why? Because summer is quickly approaching and I might as well get my tender skin used to the abuse. Truth to be told, I enjoy getting waxed. The legs and underarms. I'll reserve judgement on the bikini until a few days from now.

Oh. Knitting news. I finished the first half of the backyard leaves and CO for the second half. Ten more repeats, sew the halves together, and voila! I'll be done. I hope to get it done by the end of next week, b/c the friend it's for came down with walking pneumonia this week, and I think it would make a nice "welcome back to the land of the living" gift.

I'm stepping onto a few soapboxes, so please excuse me. The leader of our country (for whom I DID NOT vote for, either time), wants to cut social security (for which all of us working folks have been putting our hard earned $$ into), and ask for another $80 billion for the war in Iraq? I'll approve of the $$ if I get some dividends off the oil we'll be stealing. What did he promise it was going to cost the USA to go to war? $40 billion? And we're up over $200 billion? How much did we send on over to Thailand, Sri Lanka, etc? for the Tsunami Relief? It can't be just me that thinks the President's priorities are FUCKED. Step off soap box #1, getting up on soap box #2. Animal cruelty. Anyone who knows me, knows I do NOT cry easily. Animal and baby abuse is different. As I was driving around my fair city, I saw a billboard by PETA regarding FURISDEAD campaign. I don't wear fur, I think it's gross, but I feel like a big hypocrite b/c I eat meat and love leather belts, shoes, and handbags. The way I soothe my conscience is that I figure I'm eating the cow, then using it's skin for my shoes and bags. Very efficient. If the person wearing the mink/rabbit, or whatever fur stole EATS that animal meat on a regular basis, then pardon me.

Ok. Hopping off the soapboxes for now. I was about to say sorry if I offended, but I"m not. These are my beliefs, it's my freaking blog, so if you don't agree, comment and don't come back. ;) Kidding. That's what it's all about. Being free to disagree.

over and out for now. Happy to report i'm not in class this weekend! Much time for some knitting!

ps. anyone have a recommendation on a moderately priced digital camera?

Thursday, February 03, 2005

literature review...

that's what I should be doing for school. Reading journal articles so I can sound semi-intelligent when I go to class tonight. I'd rather be knitting. I am happy to say that the fun fur pink scarf is FINIS!!! I no longer have to pretend I'm not gagging as I work on this ugly ugly thing (ok, it's only ugly to me b/c I have such a visceral reaction to the color pink). I'd post pics, but I sent the digicam back to my brother this week. I gotta go buy myself one of these fun toys... any suggestions? I know that optical zoom is actually better than digital zoom, but that's about it.

I had a TA DA! moment the other night. In my scarfstyle KAL, several posters have discussed the advantages and ease of backwards knitting. Huh? I've barely mastered normal knitting, purling, and a few types of increases and decreases. I've been practicing continental knitting here and there (should be easy since I'm a lefty, but I also migrated from crocheting...which I do left handed, which means i handle the yarn with my right hand...) ANYHOO. I think that backwards knitting is like left handed continental knitting. Did that make any sense at all? Or maybe right handed continental knitting. In any case, since I get to control the working yarn with my right hand, I love the backwards knitting!

I have a great reason for procrastinating today. (I always have a great reason). The class tonight is taught by a professor who never ever gets to the point. I know we'll get sidetracked and NOT talk about the articles, so why should I bother reading? But I should. Because he doesn't like me (gasp!) and I can't give him any REAL reasons to not like me. URGH. Someone (I'd say Heaven or God, but the jury is out on this one for me) save me from egotistical asshole professors.


Tuesday, February 01, 2005

A sacrifice to the craft gods...

That's what I think of tinking and frogging. Frogging more so, I suppose, or when people rip out completed projects and reuse the yarn for something else when they figure out the yarn gods did't approve of the chosen pattern for said yarn.

I'm only on week 2 of blogging, but I think the pattern I just noticed will persist. Regular entries during the first part of the week, and then none for the end of the week (not b/c I'm out having fun, but b/c all the procrastinating has finally caught up with me...ok. some weeks it'll be b/c i'm out having fun.)

I'm still working on the Blizzard shawl, nad I have to say it's a joy to work on so far. The blend of alpaca and acrylic is silky, soft, smushy, and gives a decent weight. I'm on the 4th skein of yarn already, and can't wait to see it done. The problem is...are there larger tapestry needles for weaving in super bulky yarn? There's just NO way this yarn will fit into my tapestry needles (it's super chunky...see it in pics below for a comparison to Debbie Bliss chunky merino).

On a good note,I thoroughly enjoyed ogling LL Cool J on tonight's episode of Americon Idol auditions. I might not watch the actual competition, but the tryouts are like a trainwreck...you can't look away. And LL is SOOOOO fine. He's on my island list (which is under renovation, but includes him, Will Smith, Taye Diggs, Brad Pitt, and Ty Pennington for now). I'm also flattered that I've been asked to join a panel to talk with the accreditation group coming through to evaluate my program in a few months. Who knows...maybe they've asked many others and I've got a slight case of swelled head for nothing.