Armed with Pointy Sticks

A Tale of Two Wheels

I have two wheels.  I love them both.  My first wheel is a Louet S51 DT.  It's a workhorse of a wheel and I would recommend her to anyone in a heart beat.

My Second wheel is a Journey.  I got her before Jonathan started charging closer to what they are worth. I will wax poetic about her to any company that is moderatley polite.  She is an engineering marvel, I can take her anywhere, and she's made of a lovely wood that is just as buttery to the eye as to the fingers.

I mostly use the Journey Wheel.  Due to her size, she's just easier to pull out.  But I still love my Louie for plying.

I haven't plied in a while, but I'm getting ready for Spa, and I pulled Louie out, and holy crap.  These bobbins are farking hyooge! Like tea cup vs dum-bell huge.  Like, holy sh*t, I have five of these things.  When did I plan on needing room for a family of alpacas? Was I planning on needing enough to knit a bed cover for my queen-size?

I often feel this way, as of late, when I find myself amongst other fiber people (less the holy sh*t, more the feeling that I've forgotten the sheer expanse of it all).  Since I've moved, I don't really knit.  I spin, because I've happily done that without company most of the tie since I started.  But knitting was always social.

And since I've moved, and changed jobs, it's happened in fits and starts.  I hope someday to finish my husband's sweater, so that's one of the only things I'll let myself knit.  I'm at the first sleeve.  Downhill from here.  I think he'll have it for next winter, at least.

I know, I know.  I've been whining about this.  But I guess I'm just checking in to say I'm still working on it. I look forward to seeing folks at Spa. And maybe it's time to take Tyler Durden's advice, and choose my own level of involvement.  

 

Miss you guys. Talk at you later :) Now, back to these barbells.

 

I'm a Scarf!

Oh yes, the Lovely Miss Gina House of Sleepy Eyes Knitting has designed a scarf and named it after me!  It will be available next month in Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders!

I take one skein of Noro sock yarn (Chris would love it if I were that easy to please in real life ;).  I'm thrilled about this, since I bought more than a few skeins of Noro sock yarn when it came out, and have never done anything with it.  

Suffice it to say, I'm giddy for the book.  I, like many of our kind, see sock yarn as the "it doesn't count" purchase.  And it doesn't.  And I'll stab anyone with an argument.  This book would be a win without Gina's Me.  But it has Gina's Me, so it's a super winner.  Get it.  Get me.

Of Sardines and Video Games

I'm a very casual video gamer. I've always been a geek chaser. What can I say, I like em nerdy. I have logged hundred of hours watching games like Halo and Call of Duty.

Over the past year I have started surrounding myself with people who felt there is more in me than just a spectator. They were convinced that I am a raging pwnstr inside, just begging to get out. Sure. I like video games, but I play Pokemon and Harvest Moon. I try to play an FPS (that's first person shooter to normal people. I try to be normal. My friends don't let me) I get trounced. I die over and over again.

In the past I've just given my controller to someone else, smile and shrug sheepishly and say "gee whiz, I tried. Guess it's not for me!"

Yeah. That doesn't work anymore. Now I have to wait for a respawn and die again. And again. But you know what? It's taking longer for me to die. And I'm causing more damage as I'm doing it.

But I'm sick of getting killed by the Covenant right now, so I switched discs so I can get yelled at by the King of the Cosmos. But I'm getting yelled at less. So I'm a lessening disappointment xD

On another front, went into the freezer to get chocolate and happened upon Princess' dried sardines. Made my kitty very happy. Enjoying kitty loves more fulfilling and less calories.

Contemplating Immersion

So I'm blogging again, on purpose.  I like to blog.  It's like a journal, but I can be sure that the comments are from, if not rational people, at least real people and not the voices in my head.  You all are less critical and usually more inspiring.

I know why I haven't been blogging.  Long ago I identified this as a knitting blog.  And I'm barely knitting.  I have a pair of socks (yes, there are two now) that follow me around, and grow bit by bit, that remind me that I am a knitter.  And how bad ass DPNs are.  Seriously, I'm like Edward Scissorhands.  I still have lots of yarn.  But I have a hard time thinking of myself as a knitter.  More on this in a bit.  I've chewed on this.

I spin, every month or so.  I make soap... sometimes.  I'm weaving, when Chris warps the loom (little Cricket).  Warping is punishment for wanting to weave.  But I don't really feel connected to it.

I had breakfast the other day with Ted, a good friend of mine from school (school is great, btw :) He and I read each other pretty well and are able to ask the other the question that causes the most thought, comfortable or otherwise.  He asked me why I don't knit anymore, since it obviously makes me so happy. Think, think, think, like Pooh.

Those of you who know me personally probably know that I worked for a yarn distributor until over a year ago, when they laid me off.  While working there I was constantly immersed in yarn culture.  I worked with yarn shop owners all over the country, I got to hang out with brilliant designers, and I got to see the new yarns and patterns before they were released.  It was a good life.  And then it was gone, and I just kinda dimmed. I faded out.  

This was my fault.  I was a knitter before I had this job.  I had friends who knitted.  I modded Rav boards.  I orchastrated knit-togethers.  I had my hand on the pulse before.  But after I lost my job, I just stopped looking for it. and I didn't even realize it.

Saturday found me at Western Ave Studios in Lowell for Open Studios.  I have been there during OS twice, and both times are just... effervescent.  I feel awakened, creative, inspired, and nurtured.  All of these artists surrounding themselves in an environment that just exudes, fosters, encourages creativity.  And I want to be a part of something like that.

And I was.  And I want to be again.

So, I'm back, and I'm going to try to stay on track in my own little way.  This may not always be a knitting blog. Sometimes it may be a school blog, and sometimes a work blog (I have a retail job that suits my current past times) it may sometimes be a video gaming blog.  It will be a me blog.  It will be my blog.

And I will finish my socks.  They're kind and patient socks.  The second sock has a heel, only the cuff to go.  And I will finish my sewing and weaving projects.  They make take a while. I have a hard time sewing and reading microbiology notes.  And I will stay in touch.  And I will decide my level of involvement.

Hide the Apples!

Lovely, lovely day.  I'm sitting here, high on wind in my hair, apples in my belly, sun on my skin, and codeine.

Yeah, Codeine.  For a tooth ache I'm having root canaled on Monday.  I've never had codeine before.  Fun stuff.  It makes me very double rainbow. Like, I love life, and I want to tell you about it.  

Chris went for a bike ride today with a friend who's only in town once a month. Today was a perfect day to be out.  I agreed, and decided that I would go out and get some honeycrisp apples from Mack's.

I love these apples.  Honeycrisp apples and pumpkin beer are two things that make fall perfect.  And today Mack's held a military appreciation day.  Very awesome of them.  I got a free peck of apples.  I could already taste the perfect, sweet crisp of the apples.  The girl handed me my bag and smiled, telling me that down this way was macintosh and cortland apples.  Wonderful apples.  Good for cooking.  I asked her if there were any of my beloved honeycrisp in this field.  Alas, no.

Oh well, Cortland and Macintosh are grand apples. I took my bag and proceeded in the direction she sent me (6 rows back, she told me).  On my way I grabbed and apple, maybe the third row, and bit into it, enjoying that flavor of a beautiful fall day.

From the trees came a man in dark sunglasses, with a walkie talkie.  "Excuse me? Those apples aren't ready."  I kid you not, I was being approached by apple secret service.  I apologized, told him that I must have miscounted the row I was on.  He said "You can eat that one, but these trees won't be ready for another three weeks."  Good thing he said I could eat the apple.  I was enjoying it and didn't want to give it back.  

I made it the rest of the way to the truly ripe apples and started to pick.  Walking from tree to tree I spied my favorites and plucked them.  And at three apples while I was at it.  I filled my bag and picked a final apple to munch on for my walk back to that car.  One my way out I ran into the apple agent, and I'm not certain that he didn't know exactly how many apples I'd eaten since we last talked.  I grinned at him, telling him that they never taste quite as good once they left the orchard.  He smiled and agreed.  

I'm glad that Mack's has people like him, keeping the apples safe.

That apples are awesome.  I'll be getting more next weekend.

And I'm Off!

Everyone who's been paying attention (and I will be the last person to shame you if you haven't) knows that I've been full time college since January.  Jesus... is that all?  Anyway.  I've been taking on line classes at the community college up in Manchester with the express purpose of transferring to the University of Massachusetts Nutritional Sciences program.

People have asked me what I'm going to do, and I tell them that at the most base, I'll be a registered dietician.  Where am I going to school?  Well, Manchester Community College for now, but I'll be transferring to UMass Lowell in the fall.

Today all of my answers go so much shorter, poignant, and precise.

Brenda from the admissions office called me with the news, my new id number, the number of the orientation department, and my first congratulations!  I am now a student at UMass Lowell majoring in Nutritional Sciences.  I go in for orientation this Wednesday.  

I'm hoping Wednesday will answer some of my questions.  Will I be one of the oldest students in my program?  (I don't think so... I just have a feeling).  Will I be the only veteran (I hope not!)  Is the cafeteria any good?  Will I feel like an outsider because I don't live on campus, am married, and have an extra ten years under my belt?  I know that ten years isn't much, but I submit to you that the years from 18 to 28 are like a chasm.  How much will my parking permit be?  Will I have to change the dates of all of my upcoming medical appointments?  I usually aim for Wednesdays so I can go to knitting.  I don't want to not take a class that I need because it's on a Wednesday.  Dr's appts can be moved.  Will I be able to adjust my sleep quickly enough? (my sleep schedule is miserable) Will I be able to knit in my classes?  (I'm prepared to politely ask each professor)  Will there be knitters going to school with me?  Will I like them?

However it is, whatever it is, I'm ready.  I've flown to Yokosuka, Japan with nothing but paper orders and the vague knowledge that there would be a bus at the airport.  I knew no one, and I had a wonderful life when I got there.  

Come on college.  I'm ready.  

Oooh, back to school shopping!  

Yesterday in the Sun

Yesterday was a wonderful day for a Fiber Revival (and yes, Guido, I do feel saved.)  The sun was warm, the breeze was sweet, and the company was divine.

Unfortunately I left my camera at home.  I did snap a picture of my spinning with my phone, and you can see it on yesterday's post.  I'm glad I made it to Heather's tent early.  Sereknity Yarn and Fibers did a fantastic trade, and she was a busy girl all day.  I grabbed a bundle of Rainbow Connection superwash, and quickly made an excuse to pop in a new bobbin.

 

As a slight aside, I got the Insubordiknit DVD a few months back and just start watching it the other night.  I was practicing thick and thin and beehives on the fiber I had been using.  It's actually pretty cool, but when you ask which of my wheels would be better for novelty yarn, it's not the Journey.  Not the chunky, novelty yarn I'm making now, anyway.  But Caroline has my Louet for now, and I'm not taking it back until she wants to buy it.  Then I'll tell her she can get her own.  ;)

After the Revival a bunch of us trekked over to Laurin's for brisket and pool.  The cool and wet kind, not the rack 'em up kind.  I nodded off during the ride over, so I was already worn from the day.  But the food was great, and the people I got to share it with, well, I would have a hard time picking better people.  After supper (but before dessert, which was set upon with much intensity) a few of us jumped into the pool.  I really needed that 15 degree drop of body temperature.

So squished together and over simplified, but there was a great day.  I fell on my ass a few times (heat really brings out the lady in me).  I got to talk with people I only see a few times a year and thoroughly enjoy.  And then I got to come home and crash, hard, at 9:30.  Can't remember the last time I was asleep that early.  I needed it.

Ok, next time I come back, it'll be with pictures.  The Hat that Wants me Dead is nearly done.

Happy Birthday Heather!

Proof Positive

Fiber by Sereknity, superwash merino, Rainbow Connection

I can Explain!!

So, over the last week or so I've been thinking hard about my blog.  I want to start posting again.  And in the last two days I've received as many reminders that, hey, I should start posting again.

I have to look at why I haven't been posting, and really, I just haven't been all that excited about yarny things lately.  I've been a  little depressed, and who knows how those two things interlock.

Early on in the ebb I was just working with yarn and other knitters every day.  There were days that I wanted to get home and watch tv without a knitting needle in sight.  I know, right?

Then I was laid off from that job, and I shrunk back even further.  My visit time to Ravelry went way down (and I can stand proudly with the group that declares Ravelry my greatest enabler).  I didn't want to knit a whole lot.

I moved, I wasn't working, I didn't get out much, and I got a little depressed.

I had an MS flare up and got a little more depressed.

I lost use of my hands.  Got a lot more depressed.  Could knit without intense concentration.  Couldn't spin at all.

I went to knitting, because that time with my framily (like that word?  I couldn't have just invented it.  You all have framily.  Friends that you have become family with) anyway, my framily kept me feeling passingly normal for a few hours a week.  It was nice.  I would have been completely in the void without them.

But a few weeks ago, I started to love the action of my needles again.  Was it Galina?  Was it just the barometric pressure?  Last week I was watching tv and rummaged through my bag to find the hat I'd been knitting a few hours a week at knitting.  I knit on it in my living room watching Food Network and felt at peace.  Happy.

Last weekend I made a lightbox and photographed my first basket of yarn to update my stash on Ravelry.  It had been sitting in the bags (and bags) of it that we moved it in back in April.  I didn't want to unpack it because I figured it would be a good time to get it online.  And I put it off time and time again.  Now it's all leaving the space bags and finding its way onto my Ravelry profile, and into the shelves.

I've got some great yarn.  A lot of great yarn.

Tonight, I spun.  I hadn't spun for months.  I have my hands mostly back, but I was still feeling a bit defeated.  Would it break me if I sucked?  Would frustration make me sell my wheels?

I spun tonight, and I think I'm going to be ok.

I think I'm back.

Can't wait to see everyone at tomorrow's Fiber Revival (nice timing, right?)

The Hat That Wants me Dead

Have you ever come to the point in a project that you look at it, it looks back at you, and you know, based merely on the malice of that look, that it's you or them? Yeah, we all have.

So, project in question was a simple hat that knit right up the first time. Ever hear someone looking at their youngest child and say "if they were my first, they would have been my last"? There I am.

Cast on the first time, figured out after two inches that I wanted eight less. Rip, cast on. Go about as far and notice a hole where I turned the work without noticing. Rip and cast on. Go an inch, do it again. Tink back to the problem and finish the round. Pick up the tail and knit with it.

Bah, I tell you. Bah.