And you thought I'd never post again...Silly.

Wow. I haven't posted since December 18th. That's bad. I have way too much going on in my life, and I'm not sure how to resolve it. I know one thing, I spend WAY to much time commuting, and I could do without it. Even in the new car, it's just grim. Didn't work today though. My room mate G had her wrists done (carpal tunnel release), so I took the day off to help her deal with that. She just took a pain killer, and it's lights out for about the next four hours I'm guessing. She had her surgery at MGH, where we are both employed. She's at the hospital proper, but I'm at the corporate level offsite. This was the first time I was actually there WITH a patient; it was nice to not be having surgery today, as I've had so many. Here is a photo of her left wrist - the right looks exactly the same. It is amazing that the work is done now w/ such as small incision. No stitches, no band-aid, just glue to hold the incision together. There might be internal stitches though. I should've asked. I obviously totally dig this stuff. Since I had time while she was in surgery, I wandered up to see if the Ether Dome was open. I've tried to see it before, but there was a conference going on, so I couldn't get in. If you are not familiar with the role that MGH played in the history of anesthesia, the Ether Dome was the site of the first demonstration of Ether used to knock someone out for surgery. The room is very cool, and it is a National Historic Landmark.

This painting called Ether Day hangs up there. It is kind of a crappy pic, but you can google it if you want to see a better image.
There is also a little museum up there, but I won't continue to bore you with the history of MGH.

The only problem with hanging around a hospital all day long, is that the temp in there is about 80 degrees. No joke. I couldn't take it. I ended up walking around outside for about 45 minutes, where the temp was a much more tolerable 20.

So today I was wearing this cowl that started off as a scarf called Celine by John Brinegar. (It's Brown Sheep Burly Spun on size 13 needles. Once I got it done, I couldn't help myself - I had to put in a single twist and sew it up. For Hol, it's all about the cowl.) Anyway, If I'd had 10 of these things with me today I could've sold them all. It was incredible. Nearly everyone in the whole surgical department said something about it - like 20 women. Obviously I need to be in the super huge cowl business. That and nut brittle.

Just finished this for my mother. It is Blue Heron Rayon Chenille in colorway Flax. Clearly not my color, as I look like a corpse. But it'll be better on her.


Those of you who've been with me for a while might remember that my condo was flooded last March when the drunk that was living in the unit above mine unknowingly split his toilet tank when he fell on it. Well, it only took 11 months, but the multiple insurance companies that have been fighting over this have finally agreed that I am to be paid! Can you imagine? Repairs can actually begin! I was over there with the contractor this morning. I don't know the timeframe, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Now a whole 'nother headache begins.

Okay, I'm blathering on and on, so this is the last thing I'll talk about, and then I'm going to go make some chili. I've been trying to raise orchids for about four years now. What I primarily do is buy them when they're in bloom, then when they go out of bloom, I watch them remain dormant ad nauseum. I received an orchid as a holiday gift last year that was in bloom from the third week of December until the middle of June. Nearly six months!! It's been hanging out since last summer, but it just started a shoot that is going to bloom. Pretty cool, right?

I was so excited that I just ran out and bought another orchid, which is here in pink. Now I think I have the pink, the one that has the shoot (white) a dormant yellow, and two that have been dormant so long that I don't even remember color they are.

Okay, I think that'll just about do it. There are a few other things that I could write about, but I think I'll save them for next time. Here's wishing my cousin P a speedy recovery, as she has been under the weather of late. That's it. Thanks for stopping by.

New Project Alert

I've been taking a break from knitting for about a month to save my sanity. I have so much other stuff going on that I just can't deal with my projects. On top of everything else, this week I had to cram two 60 minute physical therapy appointments into a schedule with zero free bandwidth. This will be an ongoing addition so that I can deal with my hips. Sadly, the only time I have available for PT is 6:30 in the morning, so I have to leave the house at 5:45 to make it there on time. (Yes, really.) I'm enduring my second raging case of bilateral trochanteric bursitis in three years. I have arthitis in my hips, and the recurring bursitis is secondary. Pain in the ass...but not exactly.

Anyway, I received a gift certificate to a yarn store near my office on Thursday, and poking around the store made me want to start a new project. I currently have only one active thing on the needles - Janis Joplin Jacket by Jill Stover. I'm getting really concerned b/c my Stay-Put Wrap by Mags Kandis (WIP) is missing, and I think my cleaning lady threw it out...or else she hid it really well. Total bummer. Anyway, I didn't spend the gift certificate. I decided to pick out a pattern first and see if I could use yarn in my stash. The winning pattern is Tenley by Mona Schmidt, and I had enough of the Briggs & Little Atlantic already. Wow. Shopping in my own yarn store - what a concept. I can use the gift certificate on the needles I need, as the pattern calls for a 40" size 9 , and I don't have one laying around. I did my gauge swatch last night, so I'm serious...I'm doing it. I'll keep you posted.

On Thursday I contacted a breeder in Texas who is looking for a permanent home for a retired stud. His name is GC Felitan Windtalker of Eireannach and I want this cat. Windtalker. He's a Blue Oriental male, and would be a nice playmate for my Lavender Oriental female, Sinergia's Princess Violet of Tlu (aka Munchie). He is stunning; I just love his face. I haven't heard anything back yet, so I hope he's still available. I'll keep you posted on that as well. I'm pretty sure there's a disappointment in my future on this one. I've been trying to find a breeder who has blues, and it's not as easy as you'd think.

Gotta scram. I have about 20 things to do this weekend, including making at least two batches of pecan/almond brittle. I only make it around the holidays, and it's spectacular if I do say so myself. Just one more example of me missing my calling. I should be in the peanut brittle business. Thanks for stopping by!

Off the needles...

Ultra short post tonight, but I wanted to post my finished object!

I finally finished the Cable and Lace Sweater I made for my friend J. I gave it to her on Sunday, and it fit her perfectly! Doesn't she look great?? I love this sweater, but I've made it twice so I don't think I'll be knitting it again. Now I need to do some quick holiday gifts and finish up my Janis Joplin Jacket!

Since last March (in addition to knitting), I've been working with Donald Trump's newest company, the Trump Network. There was a great article in today's Boston globe, which you can read here. I really haven't talked too much about it, but it's starting to get really exciting. If you're interested in finding out about it, please click here to visit my website. If you have any questions or want additional information, please feel free to get in touch. It's a great opportunity to make a part time income in addition to what you're doing now.

Munchie and I are off to bed, but we'll check in again soon! Bye for now.

I'm back...

After a month's vacation from blogging, I'm back. I've been insanely busy, and things were starting to get out of control. That is not to say that things are completely IN control now, but at least I'm not trying to put out fifty fires simultaneously.

The last time I did an entry, I showed the steps I took to make a circular needle holder. The first thing I want to do is put up a couple photos of how awesome it looks and how perfectly it works! It's hiding behind my bedroom door, so I don't even see it unless I go looking for a needle.

How cool is that? Yeah. Very.

As you may or may not remember, I bought my sister's VW Beetle about 8 weeks ago when she bought a new Mini Clubman. Unbeknownst to either of us, eight weeks was the remaining life span of this particular bug.

Here it is on the day before it is to be turned in to Honda North in Danvers. I can only hope it lasts another day. G and I always go to the grocery store on Sunday mornings, and we laughed the whole way to Market Basket in Chelsea with this buggy piece of crap stuck in second gear. It shifts better when it warms up, but it is on it's last leg...or should I say wing?

So here is the official debut of my new car, which will be picked up tomorrow after work...
Some people are just Honda people, and I guess I'm one of those. This last eight weeks was just a blip in an otherwise brand-loyal life.

I'm finishing up a sweater for my friend J, who is coming over to try it on at 2PM. Technically is was a holiday gift from LAST year, but I just couldn't bring myself to make it. The problem is that I already made this exact same sweater in this exact same yarn. It is the Cable and Lace Pullover by Cecily Glowik MacDonald in Dream in Color Groovy - Burmuda Teal. I made one for myself last year but it looked much better on my sister H so I gave it to her. It turned out really well, so I decided to knit one up for my friend J. OMG. It's been like pulling teeth. What I learned is that even if a project is totally fun the first time I do it, it is unbearable to knit it again. Here are a few pics.

All the seams are done - just need to finish off the neckline.

How cute is Munchie?

A couple last things, and then I'll finish up. A super huge - but slightly belated - congratulations go out to my friend K and his partner D on their recent engagement!! K had the most beautiful rings made, as you can see in the picture. I'm so proud to live in a state where anyone who chooses to can get married. All the best, you guys!

Warning: A lot of swear words to follow:

And now for something totally different... Last Saturday evening I was hanging out with my roommate G and my friend D when my BlackBerry buzzed to alert me to an incoming text. Not many people text me. Actually, there are four and one of them was in the room with me. So I pick up my phone and read the following text (verbatim): WHO R YOU AND WHO TOLD YOU TO TEXT ME IM NOT A BITCH OR GOLDDIGGER HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNO WHO U ARE? Well I have to say, I was a little surprised by this. I'm not used to people just randomly sending me texts in which they yell at me. I didn't recognize the number of the person who sent it, and after showing it to my friends, sent back the following text: I think you have the wrong number asshole. But you definitely gave us a good laugh. Thanks. Well! Can you guess what happened next? This anonymous person sent me another text, which was much funnier than the first one: FUCK YOU IMMATURE MOTHER FUCKER GET A LIFE LOW LIFES! I hate it when people don't use proper punctuation, don't you? I considered writing back to inquire how far an 8th grade education will get a person in this day and age, but thought better of it. I went to Verizon.com and blocked the number instead.

And lastly, here is my Christmas cactus, which is blooming right on schedule. I can't believe that the holidays are here already.

I'll try to make an effort to check in again soon. Have fun shopping!!

The Boston Militia and Circular Needle Holders...

I've lived in the Boston area since the Spring of '94. Until yesterday I didn't realize that Boston had its own women's professional football team, the Boston Militia. Not only that, they are the 2010 Independent Women's Football League Champions! (Why didn't I know this? Is it because it's more important for me to know that Charlie Sheen is the world's biggest loser? Apparently so.) *Edit - The media thinks so, not me.* Anyway, one of my business partners is a wide receiver on the team, and they just picked up their championship rings on Friday night. I generally don't mention people by name in my blog, but in this case I would like to send my hugest congratulations out to Ginger Snow. You ladies Rock! I'm going to a game next year...who's with me??

How cool is this ring?

And now I move to the more mundane aspects of my life. Both the car and the H2O heater over at the loft have been repaired. I had to run over to adjust the water temperature, so I took my camera with me to continue the documentation of every aspect of my existence.

Here is my new water heater, which I have named Thor. (The old one was named Osvaldo b/c I was obsessed w/ traveling to Italy when I moved in there in '04. My fourth trip to Italy is planned for next fall, so Italy has been covered. My current obsession is moving to a new geographic and ancestral theme...Sverige.) Jag vilja min vatten varmeapparat till verk. Ja, Svenska. The only word I didn't know this that sentence was the word for heater (I want my water heater to work). Not too shabby.

Lastly, I'm going to talk about the circular needle holder I made this morning. I saw something like this somewhere recently, but I can't remember where, and I couldn't find it when I searched for it online. If anyone has seen it, please let me know and I will give proper credit in my next post.

The materials needed are one D-ring, about a yard of grosgrain ribbon, needle, thread, hot glue gun, binder clips, a measurement tool of some sort, and buttons for decoration if desired.

First I measured where I wanted the clips to go - I put mine 3 1/2 inches apart - and then hot glued the binder clips to the ribbon.

My clips are glued so that I can open them for use on large needles. If you look closely, you'll see that the clips are different shades of blue with decorations on them. I got them at Staples, and if I wasn't such a freak about everything being blue, I would've bought the less expensive black ones.



Completed and hanging on the wall. I just threw a couple needles on there for display purposes. I'll measure all my circulars and put them in the appropriate binder clips, then post a pic next time.

That's it for today. Still working on getting the house organized since my room mate G moved back in last weekend. I'm making some real progress...I'll keep you posted. Happy Halloween!

Janis update...

This will be a short post. I know I haven't checked in lately, but I've been crazed. I've had a bunch of trouble with my new car, the heat in the house hasn't been working, my room mate G moved back in yesterday after a year away, and now the water heater in the condo is shot. Sadly, I can't be in three places at once, because I think that would solve all my problems. Then again, maybe not.
There's not really too much I can say about the car. Everytime I mention it to anyone they start laughing, and frankly, I don't really think it's funny anymore. I'll need to tow it to the VW dealership in Braintree tomorrow morning to be there at 7AM. I made the appointment yesterday when my car had issues but would at least start and was driveable. This morning, I got the click, click, click of a car that has no intention of starting. I only have basic AAA, so it's going to cost me $45 to haul it down to Braintree and then I have to rent a car. Awesome. Of course this pales in comparison to the giant pain in the ass it's going to be for the plumbers who will have to replace the water heater in the condo tomorrow. The water heater is in a storage area above the bathroom and they'll have to climb 10 feet up a ladder to get there. I don't know how they'll get the old one down or the new one back up. The only other thing I have to say about the stupid water heater is that it was installed in Feb '04 and had a six year warranty. Do the math, and then ask me about the black cloud that is perpetually over my head.
On a brighter note, check this out:

New thermostat installed by moi! It has been freezing in this house, but I've had too much other crap to deal with to get it fixed. I actually thought the hvac was broken, but D suggested that I just get my butt over to Home Depot and try fixing it myself before calling in the cavalry. My furnace is gas, so it kicked on even before I turned the electricity back on. I yelled up to G, "Hey G - you smell that?" She said, "Yeah, what is it?" "It's HEAT!"

This post isn't quite as short as I thought it would be.
Ready for the Janis update? This was what it looked like when I got back from the Adirondacks. The strip in the middle is the waistband.













G just took this pic of me. I'm about to start the neck shaping and then move on to the front. It's a cardigan, so obviously there are two front pieces. I might do the sleeves next to get them out of the way.

I'll keep you posted, but now I need to scoot. My sister H suggested I take a little time off from knitting to address some other issues in my life. I think I might actually take her advice...

Bye for now.

Knitting Weekend...Too Many Pictures!

We were in Keene Valley, NY (Adirondacks) for the long weekend. It is so beautiful there, and the weather was amazing the entire time. We were there last year over Columbus Day weekend also, but next year we're going here: http://www.tenutasantopietro.com/










So this is the stuff I took for four days and three nights. Trust me - I basically wore the same clothes. It's all yarn.







In case we didn't bring enough yarn, there was plenty there for us to buy. It's very important to have options, and believe it or not, people forgot things and needed to swing by the "shop" on the piano.



This is a yarn bomb left over from last year's mischief. Over the kitchen sink looking out to the porch. There was another item hanging from the fireplace mantle. The other 10 or so had been removed (including the wrap job I did on one of the floor lamps). We did not bomb the house this year. I'm sure the family is relieved.

The first class was on beaded buttons for necklaces. Unfortunately for me, this was based on a crochet skillset which I don't possess. Plus I'm left handed and the class was being taught in right. I almost bagged it early on, but I stuck it out and did okay.





Here is my bead/button mostly done. I need to try to make another one before I forget how to do it. Obviously, once you learn to do it you don't use blue beads on white thread, but you need contrast to see what you're doing initially.



Here is J sharing the history of knitting in the Adirondacks. It seems that the bulk of the knitting was done by men at one time, and so it came as no surprise that they needed giant needles to do it.




Here is me getting ready to give the giant needles a whirl. Only one of them has a sharp point, so I only did one row.
I recently finished reading No Idle Hands - The Social History of American Knitting by Anne L. MacDonald. Although it's an interesting story, I really don't think there was a huge men's knitting industry in the Adirondacks at any time in the last few hundred years.
(If anyone knows a straight guy who knits, send him over. I'd like to talk to him.)









Cairn.

Birds nests, obviously.

It's hard to keep the days straight because we totally lost track of time. There is no TV, cell phone service or internet, so I just shut off my BlackBerry. That in itself is the strangest thing. There was no set schedule so if people wanted to take a class, they did. If people wanted to go hiking, they did. If people wanted to go to the farmer's market, they did. Here are my farmer's market pics.

Apparently this is what beets are SUPPOSED to look like. As I've mentioned, mine were a complete failure this year. (Side note: My cherry tomatoes are going crazy. It is the middle of October! What's up with that? How long do they go? First frost? Anyone?)

Nice Fall pic. Mums and pumpkins.

I think they over-do it on the kitch a bit, but we WERE in the Adirondacks. I bought a couple home made jellys (raspberry and hot pepper), some maple syrup and the basket I posted yesterday.

On the way home from the market, we came across three deer. They didn't run away, so we got out of the car and took pictures. Two of them just stared at me while I took about 8 shots. Amazing.

The last class I took was on Dorset Buttons shown on left. They are really cool and I always wanted to learn how to make them. To see some unbelievable specimens, check this out.

Here's me working on mine. I didn't get a pic once it was finished, but it turned out well for my first attempt.

So I think that's it for pictures. Blogger is bugging me. It's a total pain to post a lot of photos, and today I've put up 17. I took about 350 over the course of the weekend, so it's hard to pick the ones to show. The last full day we were there, we did photos for what may or may not become The Naked Knitting Calendar and Notecards. If it comes to fruition, I'll be sure to post a link. (Don't hold your collective breath on that one.) After looking at shots of my 47 year old bod stretched out on a stone wall wearing nothing but a strategically placed lace shawl, I had to come to terms with the fact that the 27 year old woman I THINK I am caught the last train out quite some time ago and I don't think she's coming back.

Alright, enough of this. I have pics on all the progress I made while I was away, so I'll try to get it up over the weekend. My old room mate, G, who moved out last November is moving back in on November 1st. I had given the yarn her old bedroom, so now I have to move the yarn elsewhere. I have a couple free hours before Project Runway, so I'm going to shovel out the other spare room. Wish me luck. Bye.