IT

For some reason, everyone else thinks that Stephen King's "IT" is the scariest book/movie that he ever wrote. Ok, it was scary, true. Book version was scarier than the movie. (oops, I digress). The point is, I've been tagged by Cristina for the 7 random facts meme.

1) English is not my first spoken language. Though I now consider it (English) my primary language, I grew up speaking two different dialects of Chinese b/c my grandmothers took care of me when I was a wee babe. My mom worked, and someone had to watch us. My paternal grandmother only speaks Fukienese and my maternal grandmother only speaks Mandarin. Hence, I grew up speaking both dialects.

2) I like to read/gorge on authors. Hence So,
(ETA: what's up with the hencing? I think it's b/c I love when the elf dude in LOTR says "the ring must be unmade from whence it came"...)
the current obsession with Hamilton and Harris and the vampires. The summer after 9th grade, I went through every single Stephen King book published up until then (up to Tommyknockers) while I was at camp. While reading Misery I had to sleep with a light on. Creepy clowns scare me, but I know that they're not real. Crazy PEOPLE, however, actually exist, and scare the bejeezus out of me. (other authors i've done with this include the janet evanovich, suzanne brockmann, dean koontz, robin cook, anne rice, and a whole host of romance authors).

3) As you might've begun to notice or speculate from #2, I have a touch of OCPD, tempered by my procrastination. In high school and college, I would make lists of things to do, for class, for work, for fun (yes, i listed my fun things) etc etc. I had so many lists, I made a master list of my lists. And I loved it. I loved crossing things off my list so I could rewrite the lists. LOVED IT. A great procrastination technique too.

4) I have taken lessons/played the violin, piano, and clarinet. The first two are practically a requirement of being Chinese (I know, i'm reinforcing stereotypes, but it's kinda sorta true for 2nd generation Asian Americans). I regret not continuing with piano, but won't tell my Mom b/c she'll say "I told you so" (which she did...)

5) I am tactilely (is that a word?) oriented. I learn best by taking notes or writing and rewriting information. Visualization is second best (reading the information). I had a security blanket when I was a kid, and only gave it up when my parents got me a dog (I gave the puppy my blankie). My mom had tried hiding it from me at night, but I couldn't sleep w/o it, and forced my brother to help me hunt for it. (in other words, i wouldn't let him sleep until I found it). I think that this orientation is why i love knitting with wool, but not silk and acrylic. Squeaky stuff gives me the heebie jeebies.

6) I am not abso-smurfly-positively sure that I am going to finish this damn program. Another five years? I half joke very frequently that I'm this close to packing up my car (with yarn and cats) and driving home to Denver. Of course, my stubbornness won't let me quit. If I was going to quit, I would've quit before finals. Comprehensive exams and the dissertation process scare me. A lot. I will probably need therapy.

7) It wasn't until high school that I realized my parents have strong accents when they speak English. I had to ask a friend if they did, b/c my parents don't speak to me in English. yes, I know, I could just listen to them on the phone, but I was usually drowning them out.



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

Now I have to tag people? C'mon. It's like chain letters in blogland. I refuse. If you want it, take it. (And I would love to read it from Stacey, Michelle (who only listed one quirk), and. um.... everyone else has already done it (everyone else that I know... I think).

New new new

Nothing new, actually. Not really. Just got back from a quick trip to CA to celebrate a friend's kid's b-day. I'll have pics of the rockin' cake we made soon. I'll be going back (to SF this time, not LA) in August for school related stuff, b/c I am a geeky nerd.

Knitting... on Madli (thanks to the new addi lace needles, I've renewed my interest... on repeat 26, 5 more to go!) and on the sock in Spirit Trail. About to turn the heel on the second sock, then I'm excited to cast on for a new lace project and new socks. Plus maybe a sweater for the fall (it's a stockinette project... either hourglass or a very similar sweater).

I saw this on Kim's blog, and I really wanted this result

You Are the Middle Finger

A bit fragile and dependent on your friends, you're not nearly as hostile as you seem. You are balanced, easy to get along with, and quite serious. However, you can get angry and fed up with those around you. And you aren't afraid to show it! You get along well with: The Index Finger Stay away from: The Pinky

What Finger Are You?

TOO FUNNY! I don't think it's really true (can we talk nerdily about the psychometrics of this test?) but the middle finger might be my favorite.

My knitting content is lacking b/c I've become obsessed with two different book series. The Anita Blake books by Laurell K Hamilton (kind of grown up and gory Buffy the vampire slayer), and the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Another vampire series. What's fueling my obsession with vampires? I have no idea. All I can come up with is that vampires and werewolves and zombies are SO NOT REAL that I am loving immersing myself in complete FICTION. I have not had to re-read a single sentence b/c I didn't understand them. Or have to think about the impact of the book for hours afterwards. The only thinking I'm doing is... is she gonna be alive at the end of the book? Is she gonna kill the monster?

Oh! I'm also moving apartments in a couple weeks. Which means I need to pack. And inventory my yarn. SCARY!

Booooo to MD S&W aka Don't Cry for me Argentina.

I had a total blast with Wanda. We went to Windsor Button on Friday afternoon. Much was added to both of our pattern stashes (rationalization: If one has a large yarn stash, one MUST have a large pattern stash, in order to have options for what to do with said large yarn stash). I would've preferred to go to Windsor Button AFTER NH S&W, but they're not open on Sunday or Monday (boo!).

So. the festival!! I had much fun, and no pictures (both Wanda and I forgot our cameras!). I was on a MISSION to get more Spirit Trail 100% merino sock yarn, but it was not meant to be. The owner, a lovely lovely lady, explained that she got decimated at the MD S&W the weekend before. I was crushed. CRUSHED! I want lots of this yarn, in lots of colors (um, lots of colors that *I* like). She had 2 colors, a bright turquoise/aqua (wanda took a pic of hers) and a yellow/taupe color. I bought a skein of the turq, but I was truly disappointed she didn't have more.

Don't cry for me, though. I managed to console myself with 2 skeins of Schaefer Anne in gorgeous colors, a couple lace addi turbos (love em!), and another skein of something or another (more sock yarn). The best part of going? Seeing everyone there. Maryse, Wendy, with her little one, Carole, Elisa, Stitchy aka Deb, and the "I missed my calling as a drug dealer, so I'll be a yarn pusher instead" Kellee. I'm sure I'm leaving off a whole bunch of folks, but please to forgive. I was just coming off the end of the semester, three hellish weeks in which very little sleep was obtained. I'm still catching up on rest.

Pics of my stash enhancement this weekend. too lazy to take pics.

Part 1

What does a "K"nitter do when she's got her back to the wall? SHE KNITS. Not as much as she'd like to, but she manages to get a row (or 10) done here and there.



I've finished part 1. I have to make the matching sock, otherwise, it's kind of wasted, right? I can't wait to wear these with my, um. oh CRAP. I have no crocs. I have one pair of winter type clogs. I refuse to wear socks with birks or tevas (plus, i don't own either). I am a little worried about how delicate the heel in the back looks... but honestly? this yarn was such a pleasure to knit with, i don't mind if i have to knit up more.
















thanks to everyone for the words of encouragement. Comments gave me a great excuse to take a small break from writing/studying. I'm alive (that was kind of my mantra as I was going through these last two weeks of hell... that I would survive... even if I didn't do as well on my projects as I wanted, that i would physically survive. one day at a time, right?)

ps. Guess what plans I have for this weekend? Wanda is coming to visit me, and it just HAPPENS to be the weekend of NH S&W. Fate? Cosmos? Kismet? Serendipity. Whatever you want to call it, I'm not strong enough to resist the call.

They're coming to take me away...

You know something is wrong when you HOPE that someone is coming to take you away to the looney bin. It would really be a refreshing break. I'm blogging from school, so that I can take a break. I'm sitting in a conference room instead of my cubicle, because I'm convinced the imprint of my behind is molded into the chair in the cubby...

I have pics of my sock to show.

I'm much further along now. I've turned the heel, decreased the gusset, and am knitting the foot. I love love love the yarn (100% merino). From Spirit Trail Fiberworks, which I purchased at Rhinebeck last October. WHY DIDN"T I GET MORE? Of course, the color doesn't hurt. Pleasing shades of blue and olive green. Very sproingy yarn!

Ever have those moments when you KNOW you are getting sick? Because you're wearing yourself to the bone? Tuesday night, I stayed at school from about 9am til about 5am the next day. I had meetings from 9a-2p, class from 430-7p. Then I worked on the paper until I turned it in. I went home to shower and feed the cats. Sad life. Sad sad life that I WANTED. I'm throwing myself a huge pity party. With confetti. I like to have a fancy pity party please.

Oh. I had a comment from angelpix about my clessidra sock. However, you (she?) didn't leave an email addy for me to contact you with my modifications! How am I supposed to give you the information? I emailed the Clessidra KAL blogmaster, and she didn't have contact info for you either!! I'll cross post over on the clessidra blog, but you need to leave a comment WITH contact info please!!

I hope everyone else is having a nice week, and has some fun plans for the weekend! I've got this paper due on Monday, and a final exam due on Tuesday. Then two more projects over the next two weeks after that... and I think I'll have succeeded in at least developing a large ulcer.
Cheers!

ps. Some? None? of you have known me long enough to recognize the signs. But I'm back on the sauce. After abstaining for 6 years, I am back up to 2-3 a day. My limiting factor is my old stomach and lack of protective lining. The stuff is GOOD. SO GOOD. GIMME MORE!!!