are you up to the challenge? am *I*?

So, I've jumped on the bandwagon and joined the:




and more specifically,




If you have also decided to challenge yourself with your knitting, have joined the Knitting Olympics, and live in Colorado, go see Joanne to sign up for Team Colorado!

I'm pretty sure I'm knitting a Lady Elenor stole, using dyer's choice (interlacements). I've still got to finish the scarf for the Scarf Exchange, and pre-treat my Interlacements. How many days before the opening ceremonies?

and ahem. oops, i forgot

my very own blogiversary. One year old, sometime this week (I think yesterday). May the next year of blogging be more consistent than the last.

Tagged, but not branded.

I am a victim of blog-by tagging. Similar to, but not nearly as violent as, a drive by shooting. Jennifer got to my blog from the KR blog ring. So.. here it is. I sincerely apologize for the lack of eye candy lately. No knitting = no pictures.


Four jobs you have had in your life:

1. Therapist
2. Youth Treatment Counselor
3. Nanny
4. Human Genetics lab research assistant

Four Movies you could watch over and over:

1. Remember the Titans
2. The Princess Bride
3. LOTR: The Two Towers
4. The Usual Suspects

Four Places You Have Lived:

1. Denver, CO
2. Ann Arbor, MI
3. Birmingham, MI
4. Taipei, Taiwan

Four TV Shows You Love To Watch:

1. ER
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. CSI: original series in Las Vegas*
4. Sex and the City*

* yes, I realize these are older shows. I netflix them, b/c I don't have cable and can't be bothered to remember to videotape them. Yes, I have been introduced to the wonders of TiVo, but with no cable, it seems to be stupid to have TiVo service, no?



Four Places You Have Been On Vacation:
Vacation:

1. Italy
2. Austria
3. Slovenia
4. Hawaii

a pic of Venice



absolutely stunning. and I take crap photos. Imagine what Franklin could do over there!!

Four Websites You Visit Daily:

1. mail.google.com (who can live w/o email now?)
2. bloglines.com
3. pandora.com
4. weather.yahoo.com

Four Of My Favorite Foods:

1. potsticker dumplings (with chinese chives and pork please)
2. chinese spinach, stir fried with garlic
3. eggplant.
4. my best friend's dad's hamburgers

Four Places You'd Rather Be Right Now:

1. snowboarding in Telluride, CO
2. playing with my best friend's son, Roman
3. visiting my friend in Italy
4. visiting my friends in Manhattan

Four Bloggers I am tagging:

1) are there even four bloggers that haven't already been tagged?
2) well, I'm sure they are, but those four bloggers certainly don't read MY blog
3) but in case you are one of those rare people
4) consider yourself tagged!!

gratuitous kitty pic:

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Not because of anything knitting related, but because I am just a plain idiot. I went out clubbing with friends on Saturday night, and took out the 'unneccessary' stuff from my wallet. I went to school early today so I could take care of some things, like get some health insurance, get a renewed student ID (so I can take RTD free of charge), and go to class.

Here's where Cyn's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day began.

First stop: student ID. crap. I left that at home, in the pile of 'unnecessary
stuff for the club.'

My punishment: pay $10 and get a new student id, in which I am wearing NO makeup, have zits galore, and have staticky hair from wearing my wool scarf (my so called scarf, if you must know).

Second stop: health insurance (the lack of this item is the reason for the zits galore). get the forms, fill them out, realize the credit card with the high enough limit to pay for said insurance is in the FREAKING pile of 'unneccessaries' at home with the FREAKING student id.

my punishment: having to go back at some point. fine. not so bad. just feel like a dumbass.

Third stop: class. goes fine. blah blah blah. get out of class, fumble through extra large bag to get car keys before I step out into the darkness of 9pm in Colorado, and CRAPPITY CRAP CRAP CRAP. no keys. Empty out bag, turn bag upside down... where the heck are the keys?

my punishment: retrace steps since 3pm. walk out to car, walk back to building. walk up to student life office (health insurance), check student ID center, call all the lost and founds, call security, walk back to classroom, walk to the bathroom I used, walk back to car, walk back into building. CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!

I had actually LOST my keys. So now what? I thought, call a cab, go home, grab extra car keys, come back and get the car. NOPE. I can't go home because I leave my house keys in the car so I won't lose them (ha ha freaking irony). AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (a la Charlie Brown). It's now about 930pm. Lucky me (ha ha freakin' ha), I have AAA. They come at about 1020pm, and it takes about 5 tries to unlock the car (stupid car alarm). Back in my "let's go clubbing 4 times a week" days, i had started leaving a car key hidden in the car so I wouldn't have to have a bulging pocket. Good thing I used to be a party girl, huh?

EDIT: I wrote this post on Monday night when I finally got home from class. I was too embarrassed to actually post it until today.

EDIT 2: No knitting news to report at ALL. Internship has been kicking my ass with the hours, so I plan on getting lots of knitting in on Saturday while I watch Michelle try on wedding dresses! Yes, you heard that correctly, Ms. Sittin' Here Knittin' is getting hitched!

Training...

for the knitting olympics. I wanted to jot down some notes about what I need to do before I can think about the project for the Olympics.

Part of the training will entail practicing more self-discipline. It's hard enough when certain people blog about their victorious LYS purchases and you've joined the stash a long. How much more self-restraint can I possibly have?

Hopefully enough that I can

1) finish the scarf exchange scarf and mittens (need 1/2 a mitten and 2/3 a scarf)
2) complete the fair isle section of fair isle jazz (3-4 more rows?)

and less importantly
3) finish the side panels and inner lining for spork

prior to the olympics. If I can accomplish the first two, then I'll be pretty happy and I'll join the Team USA for the knitting olympics...

I have several ideas of a project for the Knitting Olympics...
but I think the winner is the Lady Eleanor shawl from Scarf Style. I have the yarn already (some dyer's choice Interlacements, purchased from Estes wool festival last year). I figure it's challenging b/c it's over 1200 yards to knit, but there's very little finishing and only (hopefully) 2 ends to weave in (since it's one humongo hank o yarn).

what do you all think?

What YOU doin'?

What's been new in my world since my last post? I finished the rest of the applications for PhD programs, started internship full time, and school has
started back up.





In more exciting news, my teeny tiny friend had her baby!


She's seriously tiny. Healthy and happy, and cute as a button!






Knitting update (since the blog is about knitting, right?)

As most of the group have posted, we got together on Sunday for a fair isle tutorial... and starting the color section together.

Group shot. Anyone who knows us, knows whose is whose.

Here's my up to date progress. A few more rows and I'm done with the color section. I can NOT wait to block this puppy.
My progress on the scarf/mitten set for the Scarf Exchange.



Close up of the pattern.







Yarn used: Louisa Harding Kashmir Aran. In blue and turquoise colors.

I've also been working on Ene, but she looks the same. Still on the third chart (second repeat).

ISO: new music

I love finding new music, new books, new yarn, whatever. The problem with music is that I get stuck in a rut, and hate spending the $$ on trying new artists...

the solution?

my ever so hip (ok, he just finds cool stuff on the internet) brother told me about this site today, called Pandora, which was created by the Music Genome Project. For those of you that like to listen to music you love, and find new music at the same time, you have to check it out. Subscribing is free, and you just type in the names of songs or artists you like... then voila! It finds artists that are similar and creates a radio station for you. Perfect for knitting!

Secret Pal 7 questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

I am a bit of a snob, though LB cotton ease takes up considerable space in my stash. I do use the baby yarns of those brands to make baby blankets on occasion.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I am a very novice spinner (drop spindle, top whorl). I only make baby blankets and, when it's called for, the edging of my knitting.

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

I have a lantern moon needle case, a wine bottle canister for straights, and a cd case for extraneous circs. I also have a needlemaster set that keeps those needles all tidy like.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for about two years now. I threw myself in whole heartedly, and consider myself an intermediate knitter.

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

I do. Here it is.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I love citrus smells, vanilla and lilac (which might be the only flowery smell I absolutely love). I don't like musk smells or most flower scents.

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

I've rediscovered my love of the gummy candies... worms, sour patch kids, etc. But not ones with squishy centers. Favorite candy? Apple jolly ranchers. Favorite candy bar... twix.

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

Trying to keep it limited to knitting. Not enough space for too many hobbies, as I get a little obsessive about them.

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

I like all music, except gangsta rap and country. My computer does play mp3s and I have a mini ipod (which I love).

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love blues and greens. Not so much on the dark ones though (like navy and forest green). Brooks Farm yarn makes some colorways that make me drool, including this one.

I hate any shade of pink. Or anything that's too bright. Camels, taupes, tans, and beiges look absolutely horrible on me.

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

I am single, with two cats (12 years old).

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

Yes, no, yes, no, in that order. I don't like to emphasize the larger parts of me, which include the head and chest area.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I love natural materials, like wool and wool blends. I've enjoyed knitting with cherry tree hill supersock, Southwest trading company's bamboo, cascade 220, etc etc.
Right now, I'm obsessed with knitting my Lorna's Laces Ene's scarf out of scarfstyle.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

100% acrylics (except baby yarns) and anything else that's squeaky (like raw silk).

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

See above.

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

I like scarves b/c they allow you to experiment and get a product quickly. Socks are great for their portability. I really enjoy cables and lace work.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Ene's scarf, fair isle jazz, spork, and a scarf/mitten set for the Int'l Scarf Exchange


18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Depends on what it is... crocheted doily? not so much :) But anything fun or functional would be great!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I love my addi turbos and naturas. LOVE. I could get rid of all my straight
needles for all the use they get (except DPNs).

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Depends on the yarn I'm knitting with... I prefer my addi turbos for most, but if it's a slippery yarn, I like to use the addi naturas.

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

Yep and yep. Not sure how I got along w/o them!

22. How did you learn to knit?

My grandma, and then relearned at a LYS.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

A few months old (Rogue)

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

I don't have a favorite animated character that I can think of... though I do love animated movies (like the Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Aladdin, etc). I love puppies and kitty cats, as well as most furry cute animals (not bugs or birds though).

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving and 4th of July! I like the fireworks and the foods that go with both, which makes for a great time with either friends or family.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Books and yarn.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

none. I love interweave, and sometimes Vogue.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I just looked at the Sensational Knitted Socks book, which looks terrific. I only have size 7 and 8 addi naturas and would love to have other sizes. A set of lantern moon DPNs is a dream.

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

My friend got me the Second treasury of magical knitting, which I'm excited to try soon. Taking a class for magical loop sock knitting in April. Steeking is very intriguing, but scary.

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

Yep. I wear a size 6.5 shoe, and my measurements: about 8.5 inches in length, 3.5 inches wide.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

12/10.

32. Allergies?

none, unless you're planning on sending me a shipment of fake/imitation crab! :)

let me know if there's any other info you want/need. The best part about SP exchanges is getting to know one another and making new friends!!

Nagging: friend or foe?

So... my brother and I didn't get along very well when we were young. As adults, we've banded together to fight the foe of the nagging parents. I know some of you might remember my DEFCON 5 post... and they strike again. My brother has been unemployed for the last few months, but only recently told the parental units. I haven't told my parents about my application process for PhD programs. Why, you ask? Why would telling them something that simple, something that most parents would be happy about, be so difficult for me? Let's examine.

After my brother told my parents about his unemployed status, he hasn't had a moment of peace. As a male, and the older sibling, he's usually left alone to his own devices (relatively... in comparison to moi). Now? HAH AHAHAHHAHA. He's getting called by them at LEAST once per day, if not several times per day to see how things are going. I imagine the conversation to go something like this...

Bro: Hi Dad
Dad: Uh, Tony-a (not pronounced Tanya, but say Tony, then stick an 'ah' at the end. three syllables)... We just wanted to see what jobs you were looking at? Have you been applying?
Bro: uhh...well...
Dad: Have you heard back from any yet? You know the longer you're unemployed, the worse it looks...
Bro: well, yeah, I kno...
Dad: Have you thought about going back to school to get a master's or phD? We told you that you should've gotten more schooling. Your undergrad degree isn't even in your field, which will make it very difficult for you to find a job. It makes you less credible.
Bro: (meanwhile, he's rolling his eyes and his tongue is about bitten through) Uh, yeah, ok Dad...
Dad: and now that you're getting married, you have to think about the practicality of your career and supporting a wife and kids. you're not getting any younger you know.
Bro: Yeah, got that. I gotta go now Dad.

So. moving on to me (b/c that's what this blog is about, after all). My brother knows I am applying but also knows not to tell them about it quite yet. Why?

Tonight's conversation with parents:
Mom: Dad and I are thinking of going to Taiwan next November... do you want to come?
Me: well, i don't know what I'll be doing then...
Mom: that's right... you don't. When will you know? When will you be finished with that school? Didn't you say you wanted to... Dad says you need a PhD degree, minimum. Have you started applying to programs? You said you wanted to get a doctorate.
Me: well, umm...
Mom: you're not getting any younger you know.
Me: *sigh*

Knitting content:
Here's backyard leaves, for my friend Ann. Blocked (with many thanks!) by Cathi

Yarn: Classic Elite Wings, 3 skeins
Needles: Addi Natura, size 7
Pattern: need I say? backyeard leaves, scarfstyle

Alarming knitting content:
Where o where did my new needle notion go?
ra-row (a la scooby doo)!!!
I think it's in here:



crap.

Fe - Fi- FO - fum

Seriously... I have another FO to report. I know those of you that either
know me personally or have read my blog for more than a month are in disbelief, but I kid you not. I have evidence. (
EDIT: oops. sorry that I forgot to add the evidence to the post. another apology for the crappy pic of my so called scarf, but cosmo was determined to get into the picture (that huge blurry thing is his ear)).


I also gave my about to burst pregnant friend her baby sweaters (2). Sorry I didn't have time to take pics before I gifted them. I've taken my winter weight clapotis off of the needles, since it needs to be refigured (I don't have enough yarn to make it exactly as the pattern suggests... needs to be at least one repeat less... wide... hmm... that applies to my width as well). Back to knitting, backyard leaves is finally finished and blocked (thanks to the ever so gracious Cathi). A pic of that later.

So... what does that mean?
I'm actively working on
1) Ene's scarf
I'm in the middle of the first repeat of chart 3. It's beautiful, and I love working on it b/c it makes me feel like a more accomplished knitter... one who might know what she's doing.



It might not look all that different from the other pic, but she's my first SERIOUS lace project. After tackling the chart from backyard leaves, I felt as if I could follow any chart!


2) Spork. It's boring boring boring. And none of my friends have been working on theirs, so, I think it'll take a lot of willpower to make myself finish. The biggest motivation is that I am SO close.

3) Mitten/scarf set for the scarf exchange. Let me reiterate that these are not due until Feb 15th.

ONLY three projects on the needles? what? What? WHAT?!?!?!

That's practically criminal, so I wound up and cast on for Fair Isle Jazz. A pic of about 8 rows of knitting (in three colors) would bore you all, so I'll spare you. Michelle, Stacey, her mom (Marsha? WHEN are you getting a blog? c'mon now, seriously), Wanda, and I are all knitting this scarf... and we convinced Cassidy, one of the owners of String, to join us in our madness. If I were less superstitious, I would make a KAL, but that would mean i would lose all interest in knitting the scarf.

So. Four projects. Day three of the new year. So far, so good.

A new year, a new beginning.

Happy New Year to you all! With the onset of the new year, I'll be trying to exert some sort of self control over mysef by joining the Kim's stashalong.




Now, all my knitting grrlz know how badly I need to join this new a-long. While I've confessed to most of my recent SEX activities, there are a few more...

I began the day like a good girl, meeting up with Joanne, Wanda, Michelle and many others for a knit group at Borders. Then...

...in anticipation of the new a-long, all of the grrlz, including Zenifer, and Cathi's visiting SP5, Stephanie, went a yarn crawling. I met up with them for lunch (we need our strength!), followed by a trip to Colorful Yarns, where I bought



and then on to String, where I purchased


I will start the new year by coming clean about previous stash enhancement that I neglected to post.

Here we've got the yarn I bought, on sale, at Colorful Yarns. That bit of foof you see is for the cuff of clogs for myself.

And... that's another "gee, I deserve a reward for passing my exams" purchase, also from Colorful Yarns. Knit one, Crochet too Paintbox wool, in color 05. Blue and green. go figure.

So...I think that there is no disputing the fact that I am out of control and that the stash-a-long is badly needed. 90 days isn't that long, right? And it includes February, the shortest month of the year!!