I heart Ken Mehlman!

This has nothing to do with knitting and I know politics are never a good subject but I love Ken Mehlman! My college sponsored a Presidential Forum thing tonight and Ken Mehlman was a speaker. I do truly love him. He's F&M Alum just like me and I sat at his table at senior dinner. I fought for a seat. My best friend Maggie and I were the only girls and I don't know how excited we were to be at that table. Whatever you're political leaning he's fun. I've heard some pretty great stories from his fraternity days, though I will not share because well I'm not a mudslinger. All in all he's a great guy. It was interesting to hear his take on the upcoming election. It’s always interesting to hear from an "insider".

I also ran into one of my little sisters from my sorority days. We stopped talking about a year ago when she started dating this 40 year old married drug dealer. I love her but I just have too much to lose at this point in my life to associate with people in that kind of life. It was weird. How do tell someone you just can't be her friend because their antics could negatively effect you're own life? She means well but she needs to get her butt in gear. I guess we all group up sometime right?

I also met a guy who played poker for a living. It was actually really cool to hear about his life. I wouldn't do it but it was interesting. He lives with two other professional poker players...I think I hear a reality show in the future...maybe...it’s better than woman "fighting" for a man's attention by taking their clothes off right?

It was an interesting night. Back to my coughing...Happy Knitting!!

Ugh

How am I sick again??? I'm miserable and I can't take a sick day because there's just so much going on at the office. So knitting group must suffer I'm afraid. I'm playing hooky tonight which is really sad. I really want to be there and not here on the couch hating life. But I need all the rest I can get at least.

Also I'm thinking that maybe I shouldn't have eaten half a pint of grape tomatoes...ooops!

And Jen, no stocking stealing...I know you could make your own fabulous pair if you wanted to.

ok the new Lauren Willig book The Seduction of the Crimson Rose arrived today so I'm going to curl up and try to read through the coughing and stomach ache...DAMN TOMATOES!

Knitting is Cool!

Quick story, my mom came into the city tonight for a haircut and I tagged along so I could get my bangs trimmed. I'm waiting for her on the couch at the salon and Frederic Fekkai himself walks in. I'm knitting away and he doesn't notice. On his way out, as he's grabbing his bag (which he dropped next to me) he says "you're knitting, its so cool to see someone knitting" he asks what I'm making and I show him the completed stocking. He asks for a pair of socks and I said the labor was very expensive he responds that he can afford it. We have a nice chuckle and he goes home to his fabulous celebrity hair stylist life. Its was fun. And apparently celebrity hair stylist thing knitting is cool...SWEET!

Little known fact...Mrs. Frederic Fekkai and I own matching vintage dresses. I bought this white with black brush stroke things 50's handmade in Paris party dress from a dealer in Chelsea. It turns out there is a sister dress that is black with white things that Mrs. Fekkai bought a week before me.

I know Karen has tagged me but dinner ran late and frankly my tummy hurts. Tomorrow I promise to do my tag.

Ladene Clark

I was curled up in bed this morning reading the current issue of FiberArts and came across this blurb about Ladene Clark who creates wearable art by knitting and crocheting. I had to check her out on the web and see some of her other creations. She's really quite amazing. I'm so into her knitwear that I just had to show it to you. Check it out! I simply adore some of her skirts and dresses. Its a little out there but I dig it.

I'm going to get back to reading this month's issue since I was so sweetly rousted out of bed by Carl's mad cleaning. He didn't leave the house once yesterday. He just slept on the couch most of the day. Today he's hyper and ready to clean clean clean...sometimes I just wish he had battery pack I could remove.

Nellie Bly and Shopping

I have a “This Day in History” Widget on my google homepage and today there was a blurb about a Nellie Bly who went around the world and was a reporter. Check her out. She sounds like one ballzy women and I love ballzy women!

Anyway, since our office was finally moving today there wasn't much "work" going on. Last minute packing, some cupcakes for a few birthdays and a company-wide pizza party seemed to keep us all busy till we closed at 2pm. I snuck out as soon as I could and hopped in a cab to The Point in the Village. I had never been there before but I had a $50 gift certificate from my boss (yah she's pretty awesome) so I thought what the heck. I broke the bank a little but it was such fun. I picked up some things for my little contest winner but that's a big secret she can tell you all about it when it arrives.
a
I finally got myself a go knit pouch but I made sure not to get one in purple so Jen and I wouldn't get out knitting confused at group (that always sounds like I'm am AA member).

a

a

And I found the perfect yarn to make the puffball skirt in Knit Couture. I had been looking all over for the right yarn and I finally found it. Its 100% bamboo, is super soft and I think its from South West Trading Company? I could be wrong. I bought every ball they had in my colorway to insure I'd have enough. I can't wait to cast on.

a

a

Unfortunately it will be a while before I can cast on. I have to get through this last stocking and the garters and I only have maybe 3 inches done...UGH I guess it's back to work so many things to little so little time.

a

Oh for any of you Jane Austen fans out there, I finally finished watching the new version of Northanger Abbey and it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good! Mr. Tilney (whoever he was) was possible the most charming man I have ever seen. I want one. Carl should watch and take notes hahaha...only kidding...a little.

And we have a winner!!!

Drum roll please...


...and the winner is Queen of the Froggers! Congrats! Thank you to everyone for participating. I really enjoyed reading all your responses (especially to the giggle loop and sock gap...I love jeffisms).


So I'm sure you're all wondering what my fiber fantasy is. Well, I would love to have my own little alpaca farm somewhere in upstate new york. After a long morning taking care of the animals and spinning and dying (which I really want to learn) the fleece from my alpacas I would sit down under my favorite blanket (my great-grandad's navy blanket which has been recovered so its not itchy) and knit up my yarn into a beautiful sweater that's fitted and classic. Carl would be playing guitar while I knit (and he'd actually know how to play something other than scales) and it would be a picture perfect day. And that's my fantasy. Maybe one day it will be my fiber reality.

Anyway, while I was MIA and you were all sending me your fantasies I spent sometime in Cape Cod for my grandmothers 80th birthday. The whole family (and their significant others) went up and we took her out to dinner. She had a great time having her family around her. And of course I was knitting! I finished the first of my knee high stockings. I just have on more sock and the garters and I'm done. Check it out:

I love them! I have no idea what I will wear them with but they're awesome. And my grandma LOVE them.

Anyway, it took 3 weeks to do the cuff and about 1 day to turn the heel and do that foot so I should get back to the second one so I can have a pair sometime soon.

Oh and we're watching American Idol...I love the auditions, there are so many interesting people (yes that's the democratic way of putting it). Would you ever audition???

Once again congrats to Queen of the Froggers...I'm heading to the store this weekend to pick out your prize package! I can't wait honestly, its an excuse to go to the yarn store.

Happy 100th Post! CONTEST TIME!!

CONTEST ENDS TONIGHT (1/23/08) AT 9PM EST!

So in honor of my 100th post (and since I haven't had a FO in a while and I'm going to the cape this weekend) I thought we'd have a little contest!

a

I want to know what your fiber fantasy is. No nothing dirty. I want to know what your perfect fiber day is or your dream yarn or project. Anything! I know we're all really into our craft so what's your dream? Do you want to have a pattern published in Vogue Knitting? Do you want to learn cables? Anything I mean it. What do you long to do?

a

Points:

a

1 for posting your fiber fantasy

1 for linking to my blog/contest (you have to let me know though since I can't really check everyone)

a

I'm going to keep this going for about a week, let's say next wednessday, I really would like people to have the time to really think this one out. I will then put everyone's name in a hat (one slip per point) and pick a winner! The winner will receive a little package of knitting goodies which I will be MORE than happy to pick out at my LYS (trust me this might be my favorite part). I will then ship it out to you. And don't worry if you don't live in the states you can still participate! This is my thank you to you guys (particularly my regulars) for reading.

a
I can't wait!!!

UPDATE! I will give an extra point to anyone who can tell me what the either the sock gap or giggle loop are. Of course you get two point if you tell what both are!

Ahhh Ikea!

Saturday we headed down to Ikea in Paramus to pick up organizational furniture items like, new bookshelves, tv stand and cabinet. Apparently, there was a man living in that Ikea for a month or so and Saturday was his last day there and he was giving a little talk and Lisa Lobe was performing. Unfortunately, we were only able to borrow our friend's SUV for about 3 hours so we had to get in and get out (which is hard to do at Ikea). We loaded up the car a few hours later and were very proud of how well we did.

Since it was about 5 when we got home Carl just returned the car and I sat looking at our apartment full of boxes and decided I had to put something together. I started with the cabinet for the bedroom. It was so easy! Then I tried to fit the cabinet doors...I learned that I can be mean person when putting flat-pack furniture together. I did get the doors on eventually. There was just much cursing and slamming before that happened. (PS I have no idea why I'm now typing in italics...sometimes I hate blogger!)

Sunday was our big assembly day. It took a few hours but everything was put together and re-organized and we are much happier people now! Its so much nicer now...

Yah that's Father Ted on the TV!! If you could see the top few shelves of the DVD bookshelf you'd notice I have a rather HUGE obesession with the BBC...Its a problem that I'm very much ok with.

a

We were exhausted once everything we over. I don't need to tell you that I haven't made much progress on the stockings but I have a good foot maybe of cuff done so maybe I'll have one done soon.

a

Ok the whole randomly changing to italics is driving me nuts! I think I need to get back my knitting. But before I go I have to share my excitement. Carl and I decided to go away around valentine's day because we need to spend some time together alone. We had discussed staying at the Lizzie Borden house in MA a year ago but never did it. SO today Carl called me to tell me that for our little V-Day trip we're going to stay not only in the Lizzie Borden house but in HER ROOM!! It's going to be such fun if we can definitely secure the room!! I know it's weird but I think it will be fun. A little ghost time!! (I know we're weird but we work)

a

ok seriously annoyed by the italics, thankfully it seems to have worked itself out...thank GOD

I really do hate titles...

1. I've had "We Didn't Start the Fire" stuck in my head all day
2. Carl cancelled on Sweeney Todd tonight so I will have to wait till tomorrow to see it which I guess isn't so bad. I just really wanted to go tonight.
3. Carl's mom sent out her pics from vacation and I learned that at 24 I have cellulite!
4. I have pictures for you all!!

My stockings are coming along quite nicely. I don't feel like I've had as much time as I'd like to knit.

We've been on a cleaning/redecorating kick and that seems to be eating up most of our time. This weekend for instance we are going to Ikea (we hope) to get new bookshelves and other odds and ends so I can store all my knitting books (my priority #1) and Carl and I can house our EVER growing movie and book collection. Seriously we have problems...look!

Hopefully I'll be able to show you a nice cleaned up version by the end of the week!

My Emma Knit/read along is going strong. I just put a new audiobook version on my ipod (which is still broken) and I love it. I perviously had the free librivox.org version...don't even subject yourself to it.

I think I'm going to spend the next few days just counting down to the weekend!

Amazon and The Tales of Beedle the Bard

I don’t know how I feel about this. I would love to own a copy myself and it does seem a little odd that J.K Rowling would only market her book of Fairy Tales only to those who can afford to pay $1,000,000 for a copy (like amazon). I hope they publish copies of the stories soon, does anyone know if this is in the works or not? I have to say though the pictures of Amazon’s copy are amazing and the discussion boards are interesting.

a

I will try to post more knitting and vacation photos after knitting group tonight but BGF is coming over and Carl and I have to take down the Christmas decorations (saddest thing we have to do all year) so I don't know if I will have time.

a

I'm plugging along in Emma and having a wonderful time reading and knitting and discussing the book. I can't wait till the stockings are done. I will feel very regency-like when I can finally wear them. I promise I won't take my Jane Austen obsession too far. I promise I will not start dressing up like characters and going to fan conferences or anything...at least not till I'm a little older so people will think I'm eccentric and not just a kook!

My Triumphant Return!

More pictures to come if blogger will let me...

I really like that title. Anyway, I promised you all a post about my trip yesterday but I sort of fell asleep after 23 hours of travel door to door. But I'm up and reasonably with it so here we go.

I left the day after Christmas and because my mother is paranoid she ordered the car so early that I arrive and hour and a half before the ticket counter ever even opened. When it did open I managed to score an aisle exit row seat. I do a little duty free shopping (to calm my nerves since I'm flying alone for the first time) and have a little vodka tonic (more nerve calming) and head through security for my gate. We board, I take my nice seat, a couple comes over and starts fighting in some language about their seats. I ignore them, put on some music and try to get as Zen as possible before I have to take off and the panic starts to set in. Next thing I know the wife asks me if I speak Portuguese, I say no because well I don't. Next thing I know I have to change seats for take off because you cannot sit in an exit row on TAM Airlines if you do not speak fluent Portuguese. Any amount of zen I had achieved was gone. I change seats. Start knitting and crying, we take off the seat belt sign turns off and I'm back in my seat. Then another woman comes up to the flight attendant complaining about her seat. Next thing I know I'm moving again so she and her friend can be more comfortable. This time at least I just had to move to another aisle exit row seat. I told the attendant that I would switch this last time but I wasn't moving again for landing, thankfully they respected the deal we had made and the rest of the flight went reasonably well. The Valium and wine kind of helped that along but you've got to do what you've got to do right?

We land in Sao Paolo and I have about 30 minutes to make my connector. No one speaks English. Carl, who left on the 22nd, had promised me that when he went through the airport everyone spoke English...I think they all had the day off. I rush and rush and I miss my connection. I spend the next 4 hours at the Sao Paolo airport, hoping that my last email to Carl and his mother have been received and that they have changed the car to pick me up at the new time. I also got stuck into my knitting. FINALLY I get on the plane get to Salvador and to the house.

The rest of the week and half was wonderful. The house Lili (Carl's mom) had rented was made up of 4-5 little apartments so each "couple" had their own little place and then the main house to hang out in. We were about 150 yards from the beach and spent every morning there. It was absolutely beautiful. I did a little knitting while at the beach but mainly I read On Human Nature by Edward O. Wilson that I had borrowed from BGF. If you're not overly religious read it, its great. If you are overly religious you might be offended. Anyway the beach time as wonderful. I little snorkeling and swimming we even manged to squeeze in a dive before we left. We now know why Brazil isn't exactly known for its diving but it was good practice nevertheless. I did have AWFUL mask squeeze when we descended. Luckily I managed to fix that or it would have been an awful awful dive.

There was also a little turtle conservation please in the town called Project Tamar. We visited the little museum one afternoon at saw all the turtles. It was fun. They had a wonderful gift shop too and I helped the turtles out A LOT.

One night half the power in town went out and we had to scrabble to find candles and flashlights. The part of town with power (obviously not where we were staying) we chaos. The supermarket was packed, as were all the stores and restaurants. Ended up being a really fun night. We all played cards and just enjoyed each others company.

New Year's Eve was interesting. I haven't spent New Year's on the beach in years. And Brazilians party til dawn, literally. We all cut out and went to bed around 12:30 but the party kept going till 6:30 am. We could hear all the music from the beach at the house. It was insane.

The journey back on TAM was equally as awful. I'm never flying with them again. Regardless, I had a great trip and I got a lot of sun, a lot of reading done and a lot of knitting done.

Speaking of knitting this is what we've got:

The Anniversary Socks - COMPLETE

The Sweater Sampler - NEARLY COMPLETE

Stockings with Garters (for the Emma KAL on Raverly) - JUST STARTED

Now I just need to get adjusted to real life...I wonder how long that will take?

Last Day in Paradise

So its my last full day in Brazil. I know you all must think I´m nuts to be spending it in the internet cafe but Carl had to do some work so I thought I´d stop in with him. We´re on our way to town to buy all the little artifacts and gifts items we want to bring back to the states. I´m sure we´d both rather stay here since my mother told me it was 9.3 degrees this morning in New York!!

I haven´t been knitting as much the last couple days since I´ve been engrossed in my books. I do have a few things to show you all though. I have started outlining my ``triumphant return home´´ post so get ready for a picture heavy, lengthy post sometime on Sunday!

It will be sad to leave paradise but you can´t stay here forever, unless you´re Brazilian...but that´s besides the point.

Hope you all had a wonderful New (knitting) Year!

Ciao!

(and sorry for any weird typing mistakes this keyboard is very odd)