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September 30, 2005
Foliage
For La and anyone else starved for fall colors....
All pulled from the archives - the leaves haven't really changed much here yet. But it's cold today, so soon....
Have a great weekend! Can you believe it's October already? YAY!
ETA: Found over at Norma's:
1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, liposuction and air conditioning.
2) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.
3) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.
4) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.
5) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.
6) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.
7) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.
8) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.
9) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.
10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven't adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans...
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Re-post this if you believe in legalizing gay marriage
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Last night I watched a PBS show on the Sixties and I was thinking about what issues would get me out on the street marching. No doubt about it, gay marriage is one of them. To me, it has nothing to do with love - it has to do with civil rights, property, legal status as Americans. Marriage, as defined by the laws in this country, have nothing to do with love. Any man and woman can marry regardless of their personal feelings for each other - it's about MONEY, people. That's it. And everybody should just share the fucking wealth.
Posted by Cara at 09:53 AM | Comments (24)
September 29, 2005
Shouting from the rooftops....
Meet-UP!
Saturday, October 15th, 1:00 PM
Outside Building E
(Which conveniently houses the Wine Tasting, the American Cheese Society,
Specialty Foods and an ATM. YaHOO!)
Leave me your name in the comments and I'll add you to the list in the sidebar! Tell your friends!
Posted by Cara at 01:34 PM | Comments (36)
The Wind Has Kicked Up
so I'm not going to run today. I hurt my lower back the other day anyway so it's nice to give it an extra day of rest. I'm doing well with it though - halfway through week 4 and enjoying it still. The colder it gets the better I like it! I love to run in the cold! We're supposed to be getting some pretty dramatic storms today - so I'm not feeling as guilty as I might.
Speaking of guilt (seems to be the topic of the day, no?) I'm feeling pretty badly about the fact that I don't think I'm going to Philly for Rosh Hashanah. My mom will probably be upset, but last night my class gave me 75+ pages to read for next Wednesday and I have two photography jobs to process from last weekend and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Going to Philly means I don't get anything done for 48 hours. I don't feel like I can lose that time. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Thanks for all the sleeve advice yesterday. I cast on the 42 stitches and I think I'm going to increase up to 94 stitches. The distance between where I bound off for the modified sleeve and shoulder is about 10.5 inches, so that should work out just fine. I've got to learn me some more info about this designing stuff. I want to be Colleen when I grow up, and the process is a bit slow for me. It was funny - I had the dreaded Ann Budd book open on the bed and G came in - he took one look at and started to laugh - "Look at all that math!" he said. It's really pathetic when I'm constantly calling out to him - what's 27 minus 9? Or what's 24 and 42? You know, really pathetic math.
[This is turning into one of those random posts. Hey Cate - can I have random Thursdays?]
Still no socks from my sock pal. I don't want to seem like I'm complaining, because really I'm not, but dear sweet sock pal, can you send me an email or something to tell me that the socks are coming - or an ETA maybe? Or if they're NOT coming, tell me that too! I just want to know. Thank you. When I was at Kay's the other night we were talking about the whole swap/secret pal thing. I sort of look at it like lending money - you have to be able to give full well knowing you're probably not going to get anything back. My SP4 experience was sort of like that. (I got fine, just no real connection - on any end.) The Better Pal thing is getting along really well. I'm very much enjoying sending gifts to my BP. We're pretty different and I'm loving thinking out of my box to spoil her. And MY BP, well, even though I don't know who she is (YET- I'm STILL not looking!) I feel like we've really connected! Which is all I really wanted anyway.
Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck, Rhinebeck! It's all you knitters talk about these days! ;-) I AM excited - there are lots of people I want to meet and see. And THE BIG CHEESE IS COMING! (See Ann, I have cute names for Vicki too!) Should we do another meet-up? Was the last one successful? Or should we just put a list of everyone coming? Did the non-attendees think it was mean to do that? Let me know. I'm game if you're game. I gotta say though, I'm nervous about Rhinebeck too. Mainly because I've still got the anxiety thing going and anything out of my comfort zone is making me crazy these days. But I will be there. Xanax in hand. ;-) (You knitters are crazy - you know that, right?) And one more confession - I don't feel like buying any yarn. There. I said it. I may just stand in that t-shirt line for four hours because I'm not even going to the Brooks Farm tent. I've got all this yarn from Maryland that I haven't even touched. There are a few vendors I'll be seeking out, but otherwise, I'm there for my peeps. And the lamb of course.
I leave you with this hysterical flash cartoon my brother emailed me yesterday. I guarantee the Tribe will be rolling in the aisles over this one - and even a few of the honorary members.
Posted by Cara at 08:40 AM | Comments (11)
September 28, 2005
Fun with Stockinette
Ah the joys of size 8 needles and stockinette:
Behold I give you the finished back and fronts of the Almost Everyday Cardigan. I've got to say, I'm really enjoying photographing this sweater. Today's pictures, I think, accurately capture the color of the sweater, but oh my goodness is the carpet off. My carpet is brown. Not a bad crappy kind of brown, but a nice brown that can sometimes seem a little purple and hides stains fairly well. A good carpet, rendered some weird ashy gray by the camera. Funny how that works, huh?
Anyway, back to the cardi. The back and fronts, as I said, are finished and I pseudo tried it on last night by lacing some circulars through the shoulders and I think the fit is going to be spot on! In length and everything. (I'm saying I think because when it doesn't work out I can rescind.) One side of the crewneck cast off is a little weird, maybe because I bound off knitwise on the purl side? I may rip that and redo it, but otherwise, it's all good.
I have a couple questions for all you intrepid designers out there (Colleen, listen up!) I've been using Ann Budd's templates as a guide for my sweater. For instance, she has it that you should cast on 80 st for the back if you're getting 4 st/in and 100 st if you're getting 5 st/in - I cast on 94 st. And 44 (+1 selvedge for picking up the button bands - how smart am I!?) for each front. It's time for the sleeves. Ann says 40 for 4 st/in and 50 for 5 st/in increasing up to 80 and 100. She has this 40 st or 50 st start for the 40", 42" and 44" sizes. (I'm making somewhere between the 40" and 42") They all increase up to the original cast on number for the back. So - my question (if you're still following along because I'm so convoluted at explaining these knitty things) is should I cast on 42 st (so that my ribs match up) and increase up to 94 stitches, which is what I cast on for the back? I'm not really sure what the other options here would be - this seems to make the most sense. Thanks for any and all input on this.
Also, I should block it before I connect the shoulders, right? I'm thinking yes since it's so stockinette rolly.
I'd love to cast on both sleeves at the same time and really crank this sucker out, but I'm afraid it would become a tangled mess because of the alternating skein plan. It's worked so well with the body that I'd hate to stop now, and I think it would take twice the time to do two sleeves with four skeins since I'd be untangling more than I'd be knitting. Any input here would be great as well.
So, so far so good. I'm happy, today that is, with my knits.
Sorry if I offended anyone with the Guilt-Along KAL. You do know it's all in jest, yes? I'm not one for guilt in my life. Goes back to when I was an existentialist. I try VERY HARD to make choices in my life that leave little room for regret and guilt. Lately I've had a taste of what guilt can feel like and it's not very nice. It's not pleasant when it has to do with the big things in your life, and there's certainly no room for it in my fun time, i.e. knitting. I'm still encouraging you all to play along, tongues planted firmly in your cheeks!
PS - Like my new button?
I found the button via Creazativity. Thanks!
Posted by Cara at 08:33 AM | Comments (7)
September 27, 2005
Charity
'Tis the season to feel guilty. And nothing brings that home more than going to an Afghan A-Long and realizing there are people out there who ONLY KNIT FOR CHARITY. I'm sitting there and really feeling sheepish what with my beautiful shawls and socks and sweaters - ALL FOR ME! Confession time: Guess what I sent to the Dulaan Project? Did I send any number of handknit hats, or mittens, or scarves or anything? NOT EVEN ONE SIMPLE HAT! I sent a box of hats and gloves and scarves that were all store bought and two winter coats that we don't wear anymore. I know, I know, I still sent something, but I DIDN'T KNIT IT MYSELF! My knitting time is for me. Let's dissect that sentence: my knitting TIME is for me. Granted I may have more knitting time than most. I don't have any kids. I work for myself and at home (translation: if I feel like spending the day knitting, the only person who suffers is me. And maybe G, but he likes when I do that. Really! He does!) But that time is my own and I don't want to share it. That's not to say that I don't knit for others - I do! But I knit for those close to me - so that I can still visit with my knits. (Notice the possessive pronoun there. MY knits. Even when I let them go they're still mine.) You need money? I'll give you the shirt off my back. Literally. But my knitting time - find your own! ;-)
So, of course, it was a particularly sobering experience sitting in Kay's lovely living room, knitting to help others. Strangers. I may never see that afghan again (not counting the 365 more days it will take to complete this incredible work of art.) As I was picking up stitches and carefully knitting along the borders, I couldn't help but think about the woman who spent countless hours knitting these squares. What made her choose this color combination? How did she decide on their names? What was she thinking while she was knitting? Was she wondering about the person who would be cuddling under the blanket? Someone sick? Someone young? Someone in love? The possibilities are endless, of course, but what did she choose to focus on? I tried my best to do her perfect squares justice, in heart and hand.
It was a very fun night - I met new people, hung with old friends and had a blast. Can't wait to go back for some more charity work. (Details over at Kay's. I didn't take any pictures. NONE! I was too busy concentrating on my work.)
BUT, that doesn't mean the guilt is over. When we were talking last night we all realized there are projects promised to SOMEONE ELSE that sit in the corner gathering dust. Either we haven't finished it, can't find the pattern, the yarn's not right - EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES! NO LONGER! Introducing, the newest KAL to hit blogland:
Now, this isn't going to be one of those fancy KALs where I set up a separate blog and we all help each other feel guilty about not finishing our projects - the guilt is all your own! But leave a comment here and pledge that you're going to FINISH THAT FREAKING THING! Take the button, put it on your blog, and remind yourself and all the others out there that you DIDN'T KNIT WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD! Maybe you told your mom, dad, kid, cousin, sister, brother, grandmom, grandpa, niece, nephew, best friend, neighbor, sister-in-law's cousin's friend's son's bus driver's mail carrier's dog that you'd knit them something and just never have. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO ATONE! DO IT NOW! YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN!
Okay. To start the ball rolling, I'm going to pledge to knit my father that sweater I found in Anthropologie. I've taken the time to find the cables. Hell, he BOUGHT the yarn himself a year ago. (Well, I bought it, but he paid for it.) And I need a fun cably project anyway. So DAD, this GUILT-ALONG's for YOU! I'm going to try to chart the cables in the next couple of weeks and cast on for a swatch. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.
Who wants to guilt along with me?
Posted by Cara at 01:58 PM | Comments (29)
September 26, 2005
Back On Track
When I wasn't taking pictures this weekend (birthday party on Saturday, portraits on Sunday), I was knitting.
I cast on Friday and split for the armholes last night. I've already got about 5.5 inches on the back, so I'll try to finish that today. Maybe. Because of the way the pattern (Ann Budd) is written, I won't be doing short rows for the shoulders (thanks Margene!) but instead will be keeping the stitches live and doing a three needle bind off. Still an new skill for me. Basically there is no need for short rows, because it's all just straight across. Modified drop-shoulder, remember? I'm still loving the yarn and the fabric it's creating. Red is SO HARD to photograph - it's so contrasty, and this yarn is no exception. When I knit at night I'm so surprised at how RED it looks because during the day it's filled with purples and pinks. They pretty much disappear as soon as the sun goes down. It's quite interesting. There are a couple of spots where the yarn gets really thin and overtwisted and pink and I feel like they stand out too much so I've been toying with the idea of doing a duplicate stitch over them, but I'm going to NOT think about it until it's finished. The more knitting I do, the spot gets smaller and smaller and I think it will end up being on the side, so I may not see it so much. The fit will be perfect (BITE YOUR TONGUE) - it's looking a bit loose and oversized and exactly what I wanted. The only place I'm a bit concerned about is length, but I'm not panicking yet.
Want to know one of the things I absolutely LOVE about knitblogs? All the new patterns you find! Today I was reading Grumperina, a fairly newish blog for me, and she had some links to Oat Couture baby blankets. I've never heard of Oat Couture, but the patterns are beautiful and challenging. There was a time when all I knit were baby blankets. I immediately ordered all of their blanket patterns. I think they're wonderful and you know, you can never have enough short rows that make you want to kill someone in your life. Thanks Grumperina!
Tonight I'm off to an Afghan Sew-Up! My first one! I'm a little nervous though, because I'm not sure I know how to sew up an Afghan, but my intrepid hostess assures me I will have no problems. I might bring a camera. Not THE camera, but a camera. I'm a little pictured out right now.
Oh and sock pal! I'm waiting anxiously!
Posted by Cara at 09:32 AM | Comments (14)
September 23, 2005
kissing in the car a real one*
For Sandy of the Skies:
2005-09-22T18:42:26-0:500
2005-09-22T19:13:27-0:500
All photos were taken from my balcony, looking west, out to the Hackensack River. I used the exif data to confirm picture times, but I think the clock in my camera is off. I'd like to think it's fast by about 30 seconds. ;-)
And since we're showing off sky pictures, I thought I'd pull out some of my favorites over the years. As I mentioned, my apartment faces due west and we get some of THE MOST SPECTACULAR sunsets you've ever seen. I think it's because of all the chemicals in the air. You know, New Joisey.
That last one is one of my absolute favorites. The city in the distance is Newark and the way the clouds and sun were it literally looked like the city was on fire. Amazing.
Okay. Now onto business. So I made a swatch. And guess what?
NOTHING HAPPENED! I ended up with the same exact stitch count I had before I blocked. 4.5 stitches to the inch or 18 stitches per 4 inches. Did I do something wrong? I wet the swatch pretty thoroughly and laid it in a towel, stomped around on it and laid it out to dry. Was I supposed to do something else? Anyway, whatever, I'm sick of this - the damn cardigan could've been finished by now and I want it for Rhinebeck, so today I'm ripping out what I have and starting over. I'm probably going to add about 10 stitches to everything. The directions for 4 st/in say cast on like 80+ stitches and 5 st/in 100+ stitches so 90+ it is! I still like the yarn though - it got much softer. A little fuzzy, but nice and soft.
*The title of this post is brought to you by a google search where I came up fifth on the first page. I thought it sounded poetic and oh so Bruce. I love kissing in cars too. G and I did a lot of that early on. Not so much anymore, but sometimes.
Posted by Cara at 09:52 AM | Comments (14)
September 22, 2005
6:23 PM
That's the time Autumn arrives. My plan is to step outside on my balcony and take a picture of the sky at precisely 6:23 PM. I've been waiting a long time for this, I don't want to miss it. But, Sandy, if I win the Gold Hill, I'd like you to send it to Norma. She definitely needs it more than me.
Thanks, all, for stating the obvious. I started the AEC swatch yesterday. Bastards. The whole point of screwing up the first sleeve was so I wouldn't have to make a swatch! Luckily, the kids (all five of them - the joy of families traveling together!) and their exhausted parents stopped by yesterday on their way home from vacation and I didn't have time to put the ball winder or swift away before they got there. So we frogged the errant sleeve together. Everyone got to turn the handle for the count of five. Max was pretty funny. Every time they started to play with a new toy he would annouce that he got to go first because I was HIS Aunt Cara.
When they left I cast on for the swatch. Ugh. Luckily I had class to occupy my mind last night because otherwise I'd be really bored and kind of pissed. So far I'm getting about 4.5 stitches to the inch. Which is pretty much what I've been getting on the AEC body. Vicki asked me yesterday what my gut said and my gut says rip it out and start over with an extra ten stitches. But my gut likes to knit larger than I am, you know, body issues and all, so I'm trying to resist. I'm thinking, maybe, it will be okay after all. We'll see when I'm done with the swatch.
Class was good! They laughed! Which is a great improvement over the last class. They seem enthusiastic and asked questions - it's so disconcerting when they sit there and stare at you. I feel like such a freak. I was mildly panicked at the start, but that quickly went away. Self-depricating humor is always a life saver.
I've got these guys here working on the tile wall in one of the showers and already I'm pissed. First they're an hour late. Second, well, second, I don't like people in my house. Especially when I'm going to have to leave them here by themselves.
Oh - I almost forgot! My sock pal, Leslie, got her socks yesterday! She sent me the sweetest email about them. She's a reader so she watched me knit her socks! How much fun! And today is her birthday, so happy birthday Leslie! I'm so glad you love them. It was a real pleasure to knit for you. (Leslie doesn't have a blog, but I've invited her to send in a picture with her new socks. C'mon Leslie! I want to see you IN the socks!)
Still no socks for me. Maybe today?
Happy Fall!
Posted by Cara at 09:39 AM | Comments (18)
September 21, 2005
Jinx, buy me some yarn!
STUPID! Stupid! Stupid! NEVER, never talk about your knitting and how good it's going. How much you LOVE it. How much you can't wait to knit and fondle and oogle your wonderful knits. It's a surefire way to FUCK everything up. Cockiness will get you NO WHERE.
So, I'm knitting along fabulously on my Almost Everyday Cardigan, sailing really, stopping every few rows to marvel at the wonder that is color and Manos and stockinette stitch. Every so often I take out the tape measure to see how much progress I'm making. I'm doing good. I'm thinking I will have the body finished TONIGHT! Only a few more inches to go.
And then I decide to check my gauge. M-I-S-T-A-K-E In my defence, Manos is hard to gauge because the yarn is so uneven. You'll get this really huge felted parts and these really small dental flossy parts and most of the time though you do get even stitches. When I measured the dreaded swatch/sleeve somehow I tried to convice myself I was getting about 4-4.5 stitches per inch on size 8s. Now I'm getting 4.5-5 stitches per inch on size 8s. I think the damn thing's too small.
I took it off the needles and laid it out to try and measure it. I'm doing both the fronts and the back remember so I thought if I laid it all out and everything I could just measure across the whole thing and get what I needed. Inconclusive. Sometimes I got like 38" and sometimes I seemed to get 42" (which is more like I want.) Was I stretching it out? Then I tried to try it on, wrapping it around my body. It's so hard to tell. How much do you allow for the buttonhole bands? The stockinette part seems like it will fit but the ribbing is pretty tight and I wanted this sweater to be loose - everyday loose - like a sweatshirt that you throw on and run out and just love. I'm thinking it WON'T be that loose. Can you say devastated?
And to top it off I wake up this morning with a dire warning from Johanna in the comments: "Don't end up with a manos sweater like Moth Heaven Julia! We want you to love your knits!" What does THAT mean?!?!
Oy. When will I learn to keep my big mouth shut?
I'm not sure what to do. Should I keep going and see what happens once I split for the shoulders and fronts? Should I cast on for a different body and go up about ten stitches in all areas? I do love the Ann Budd book for all the different sizes and shapes and such. I know it's fast - it only took me a couple days to do most of the body - but I want this for Rhinebeck! Even if Cassie says sweaters are so 20th Century! I'm a modern girl!
Pride goeth before a fall. If I EVER start to brag about my knitting again, please cover my mouth with your hand! Even if I start to gnaw at your fingers - DON'T LET ME SAY IT!
Class starts tonight. I'm nervous, as always. Wish me luck.
Posted by Cara at 08:07 AM | Comments (11)
September 20, 2005
the clean linens...the shining knives...the flames
Sharon Olds sends a letter to Mrs. Bush.
I attended NYU's Creative Writing Program where Sharon Olds teaches poetry. While I never took her class, I did meet her and hear her read. Her poems are personal and powerful. I've also been to readings by Goldwater Students (the program she refers to in the letter) and each time the readings were beyond profound, awesomely inspiring and exceedingly entertaining.
Posted by Cara at 12:49 PM | Comments (5)
Tempting Fate
I know I'm going to be pissing off some kind of knitting god out there, but can I just say how much I'm enjoying my knitting? Really - I can't stop! How nice is that?!
My Almost Everyday Cardigan is moving along nicely and the yarn is just GORGEOUS. Every now and again I just stop to love it. I did have a moment of panic last night that the first skein I used has much more pink in it than the second skein and even though I wasn't going to do it, I ended up joining another skein so I could switch off every other row. The Manos is hard - there are no dyelots on the yarn - but I didn't buy it all in the same place at the same time. I tried to match it best I could, so hopefully this will help things out. The variegation is so, so pretty. I just want to knit on it ALL DAY LONG. There's nothing wrong with that right?
I'm thinking about lace again. Who a thunk I'd like it so much? Well, some people, maybe, but I didn't think it! Same with socks. I'm just silly sometimes. I know I mentioned that I have this pattern I found in a BW treasury that I really, really love and I'm thinking of making into a shawl. I bought the Martha Waterman book, Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls, which is supposed to help you design your own, but I don't know. Allowing for all those increases and decreases and edgings, I was feeling a little sick and discouraged. This might take me YEARS to figure out. Probably what I should do is swatch the damn lace and see if I even like it knitted up. In the meantime, my eyes are out there for another lace pattern. I might go with one of those Robert Powell patterns I bought and use the other Twinkletoes yarn I have in stash. The bottom line is I'm really liking the lace. And all my other knitting.
Today I'm going to do some picture work - maybe clean up a little bit - and work on AEC. Also, I need to cast on for the second sunshine sock. I start teaching again tomorrow and I'm always REALLY anxious before class. I need some easy knitting to get me through and help me relax. A sock is perfect.
New GOAL!
Here's my new goal - the Almost Everyday Cardigan will be DONE for Rhinebeck. I initially thought maybe Short Rows, but I'm not feeling it there - this project will have taken so long that I don't need to rush it. It's more important that it gets done and gets done right. (Yeah. It's called procrastination.) Back to Rhinebeck. I'm planning on doing the same trip I did with Maryland. Go up Friday and stay through Saturday. Maybe dinner Saturday night since it's not THAT far away from me? So thems the details for all who have been asking. Rhinebeck will (sort of) coincide with my blogiversary. October 26th will be a year. So I'm thinking a super cool Rhinebeck inspired contest will be in order when I get back. I know you'll all stick around for that. ;-)
Last but not least, our prom picture from Hearst Castle. Isn't G so handsome?!
Posted by Cara at 09:19 AM | Comments (9)
September 19, 2005
Almost Everyday
Thank you all so much for your comments on my Diamond Fantasy Shawl! I so love it and I'm glad you all do too. In fact, I emailed Sivia to thank her for such a great pattern and I think she might link to my shawl on the description page. High praise indeed!
I took a page from Norma and started a sleeve. And just like Norma, my sleeve became a swatch.
Yup. I cast on my superfantastic red heart Manos (color #115 - the picture above is actually a bit more purple than the actual yarn - somewhere between today's picture and the link picture) for the Everyday Cardigan from Peace Fleece. And I was practically FINISHED the first sleeve when I started tooling around on the Internet looking for other people who have made this sweater. Seems like there are mucho problems with the pattern. For one thing, the sleeves are like teepees - too many increases too fast. And not enough stitches to start so the ribbing is like a tourniquet. And the k2p2 doesn't match up anywhere in the pattern. Now, I think I'm a fairly accomplished knitter. I can follow a pattern and get a good representation of what I'm supposed to get. One thing I'm lacking in is seeing the errors in patterns. I mean I think somewhere down deep I know that the sleeve is wrong, but I don't know enough to know why it's wrong and how to fix it. Thank god all of you do! After looking at the pattern and seeing that it probably needed to be a little bit longer in the body and that the shoulders seemed really complicated the way they wrote them and I was going to have to rip the sleeve anyway, I decided to make this an Almost Everyday Cardigan and I promptly took out my handy dandy Ann Budd book.
Since this sweater is stockinette with some ribbing, I've decided to use it as a learning piece. I'm going to try all these new things. For instance, I've never made a button band before - unless you count the finishing class I took. So I've made sure to cast on an extra garter stitch at the end of each front so to insure easy stitch pick up. I've decided to do the body as one piece until the arm holes - never done that before, but it sure is nice to know that two fronts and the back are getting done right quick! My plan is to split when I get to the arm hole shaping (I'm doing Ann Budd's modified drop shoulder - just a bit neater I think) and to try and do short rows shoulder shaping. I tried that stair step shit that Ann Budd has in the book and I didn't like it. So in the interest of learning, short rows it is! I think I'm going to seam the sleeves - I thought about doing them in the round by picking up the stitches at the armholes, but that seems a bit complicated after all the other new stuff, but I've got time to figure that out. I'm excited!
I love how the yarn is knitting up! It seems such a dark, wine red in the hank but wind it up and there is so much pink and purple and it's knitting up so lovely and dramatic! This is the perfect project to show off the yarn too. I've cast on for the body last night and should be into the stockinette today. I have a feeling this will go fast. I'm dreaming about the buttons too. They're going to be gorgeous buttons - whatever they are. Please, PLEASE, I beg of you, don't remind me of the unfinished short rows or the second sunshine sock I still have not cast on for and if you talk about the Retro Rib sock that needs a heel, well then, you aren't really my friend after all.
Speaking of friends, I met Ann! And got to see Kay again! Do you want to know why? Because they asked ME, little old photographer me, to take the AUTHOR photo for their BOOK!!! Can you believe it?!? How awesome is that? The two of them are so much fun - so comfortable, so lovely - together and apart - it's amazing they haven't known each other for a gazillion years. Maybe in another life. I'm pretty sure they're happy with the pictures (I can't tell you how nervous I was - I photograph children. And flowers. Not adults for their BOOK!) I can't wait to see it all finished up! March - where are you? (I had to sign in blood I would not reveal anything about the BOOK, but I think it's okay to say it's going to be fanFUCKINGtastic. Is that okay girls?) (Oh and special thanks go out to my baby sis, Samara, Stylist Extraordinaire!) Kay and Ann, I can't tell you how honored I am to have had a small part in this project. Really. Thank you for thinking of me!
Posted by Cara at 10:55 AM | Comments (12)
September 17, 2005
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
OH.MY.GOD.
This is THE MOST GORGEOUS THING I HAVE EVER KNITTED.
Warning: There are A LOT of pictures. But you know what? I'm a photographer so pictures are my life. And I LOVE this freaking shawl so I'm going to brag. ETA: The pictures of me were taken by my superfantastic little sis, Samara. She's the REAL artist in the family.
Carole wanted to see it in full, all blocked out. Here you go!
And away we go! (Click on the pic to see it bigger.)
Look at that lovely I-Cord edging!
Project Specs:
Diamond Fantasy Shawl by Sivia Harding
Twinkletoes Sock Yarn (Foggy Dew colorway) by Over the Rainbow Yarns
Addi Turbo's size US 5s
10 Pattern Repeats (Shawl Size)
I learned how to do an applied I-cord for the edging and I loved it. Will definitely use this again. Did my first spit join. The yarn is still a bit scratchy for me (Margene - I don't know who you use this for socks) but the fact that it is a stiffer, rougher yarn probably helped how well it blocked. I took out my FBS yesterday and it needs to be blocked again - the cotton didn't hold the points on the border. I love the color though - the muted variegation is perfect for the diamonds. The DFS pattern is a dream to knit. Easy to follow charts. I used stitch markers between the 12 stitch repeats and barely tinked at all. I would wholeheartedly recommend this pattern!!!! Thank you SIVIA!
Posted by Cara at 06:58 PM | Comments (46)
September 14, 2005
Posted by Cara at 12:51 PM | Comments (21)
Stoned
Thanks for all the comments on my DFS (sounds like a government agency - and not the friendly kind.) Blocking may have to wait a bit. G leaves for South America tonight - and my little sister is coming to keep me company while he's away through the weekend. Normally I'd go down to my other sister's, the one with all those cutie kids, but the family's taking a vacation up North, so.... My nephew informs me they will be taking the "Maximo," the hugest Minivan to ever exist on Earth. There are four adults and five kids traveling together. My sister has no idea where he got the name Maximo - but it does include his name in it and it's the HUGEST Minivan, so it's not hard to make the connection.
Anyway, blocking will have to wait until tonight. Since I spent the last couple days constantly knitting, I've neglected everything else. I've got to get a couple packages together and I have to help G get packed and things are a bit crazy. But it'll be worth the wait - I promise. And with my sister here, you might actually get me in a picture or two! Wouldn't that be special?
On to the concert review.
I'd heard lots of things over my life about The Stones and how great they are in concert. Don't believe the hype. It was definitely fun, don't get me wrong, but in a goofy way - as in "My GOD, they're ugly!" And, "Do you think Keith Richards is stoned, or that's just how he is now?" And "If I have to see Mick's stomach one more time I might puke." The music was good - we wore earplugs (as we're apt to do - I went to a concert a few years ago and my ears rang for three days - ever since - earplugs) and it actually sounded much better and clearer with the plugs in. The stage came out into the middle of the floor, right in front of our seats (about 10 rows away) and it was very cool. They played some good songs - songs I enjoyed hearing seeing that I'm not much of a fan. They ruined 19th Nervous Breakdown for G by playing a "new arrangement." I guess artists get bored? And they disappointed me by switching out Shattered with Satisfaction and then putting You Can't Always Get What You Want in the then vacant Satisfaction slot. (When they came out in the middle there were these clear plastic screens around Charlie Watts that contained the set list. As far as I can tell this was the only time they went off the list.) I would've much rathered have heard Shattered. Highlights of the evening: they did an AMAZING cover of Get Up, Stand Up. And Miss You. Miss You was really, really good.
Overall though, the concert left me cold. G and I discussed this on the way home. Now, I'm going to try not to compare the experience with a Springsteen concert. As you may already no, a Springsteen concert is the closet I've ever come to an ACTUAL religous experience. It's so emotional for me I have to take a Xanax during the show. Really. I'm not bragging, I'm just stating facts. (There was no Xanax taken last night.) At a Bruce concert, which generally ranges 3+ hours, I know every word of every song, as do 99% of the people there. And pretty much 7 out of 10 people are ALSO having a religious experience. (I don't include those people who are drunk about ten minutes into the show and are constantly BRUUUUUCING (sounds like BOOOING) and calling out for Candy's Room every ten seconds. I HATE Candy's Room.) There is an AMAZING connection between the artist and the crowd and the band. When Bruce sings, you see and feel every emotion contained in the song - on his face, in his body language, in the crowd reaction. It's all there.
It wasn't there last night. Again, I'm not going to compare the concert to a Bruce show, because, admittedly, I'm biased. But I will compare it to a WHO show. And maybe even a KISS show. I've seen both bands more than once. The Who shows come about as close to a Bruce show as I can probably get - and I'm not a HUGE Who fan. I mean, I like them and all, but I don't play their records - more of a radio listen if you will. But the CONCERTS were AMAZING. I was totally into it, pumping my fist, connecting with the band and the crowd. I lost myself for a bit, which is what you want in a live environment, I think. KISS is totally different, but comparable. They're putting on a show, as is Mick Jagger, and KISS just does it better. It's a more cohesive show - it's like Vegas in that way - everything's choreographed and has a circus atmosphere to it and you get what you've paid for.
Last night I felt like there was no connection and not enough show. G felt the connection part was because the crowd was made up of mostly industry types who didn't pay the $464.50 a ticket (seriously - that's what it says on our stub - we didn't pay either) or if they did pay, it was because they needed to see or be seen. Maybe if we had sat up in then nosebleeds the atmosphere would've been different, but I don't think so. The band never connected with the crowd. Half the time while Mick was jumping around like he had ants in his pants or was channeling Michael Jackson, Keith Richards and Ron Wood were standing around chatting. And Mick sucked with the crowd banter. He pointed out that he saw a bunch of kids in the audience. And then he actually said something like, sorry kids, but there goes your education (meaning that the parents blew the college wad on tickets.) Tasteless at best.
I was bummed I didn't get one of those flashing tongues that people were wearing.
Lest you think differently, it WAS a good time and I'm really glad we went. I don't often go to concerts and when I do it's usually Bruce and therefore an EXPERIENCE. It's something I think about for days before and days after and find the bootleg so I can remember every minute of it forever. This was a concert - pure and simple. Not something I'm used to.
Blocking/wearing pictures to come. Patience, sweet ones.
Posted by Cara at 08:49 AM | Comments (6)
September 13, 2005
According to Ann...
I've got myself an FO!
I knit this thing ALL DAY yesterday and today. The I-cord bind off alone took OVER two hours. But look how pretty. Blocking tomorrow. I have just enough time to shower - got to be clean so I can get dirty with Mick.
Posted by Cara at 06:24 PM | Comments (15)
Start Me Up
That's what I need this morning - someone to start me up. I woke up around 6AM feeling completely nauseated. I knew right away it wasn't anxiety nausea, but stomach nausea. See, now, I'm an expert on nausea. I've often compared myself to Sartre's sad sack character in his extremely nauseating book, Nausea. There was a time in my life when I did not leave my house without a bag of some sort to throw up in. (I'm not kidding. It was years. I woke up every morning feeling sick.) This was anxiety nausea. That's long since gone and I've seen moved on to bigger and better ways of torturing myself (bad thoughts and all that good stuff.) So I know the difference between psychosomatic nausea and the real honest to god grab the bucket kind. (I should note that in all that time I felt nauseated, I rarely, if ever threw up. It's all about ANTICIPATORY ANXIETY, people. That's the silent killer, really.)
They say that the mind and the stomach are very closely releated. In fact, the stomach has it's own nervous system - the Enteric System. This is why you get butterflies in your stomach - also where the term "gut instinct" comes from and why when you're scared you immediately have to take a crap. Let's just say I have a highly honed enteric system.
Anyway. I'm feeling sick today. It's slowly passing and may have everything to do with major PMS. You know the kind, where your boobs start hurting the minute you ovulate and you have to make sure they're secured to your body before you get out of bed in the morning lest gravity causes intense pain. You don't know that kind? Lucky you. I'm sure I'll feel better as the day progresses. I have to. We've got VIP tickets to see The Stones tonight at the Garden. Yes, that's right. Honestly, I don't even really like The Stones that much (Blasphemy I know, but whatever. I don't really like U2 either. So shoot me.) but the tickets were free and the seats are supposed to be good and there may be a Xanax in my future so wish my stomach some good thoughts.
I was bad yesterday (no working) and knit, knit, knit on DFS. Funny thing about those shawls, especially the ones that start off small and grow, grow, grow. It takes a LOT longer to get through a row. I'm a couple rows into the LAST section. I'm not going over the ten. For the longest time I was thinking it wasn't going to be that big, but it's suddenly pretty darn big and I still have a ways to go. Then there's the points and the I-cord edging and it won't be done for a couple days yet. And I so want it done.
In the meantime I can't stop thinking about my red, red Manos and the Everyday Cardi and I want it NOW. So I may just wind up a hank and swatch a little bit today. Or at least take the yarn out and fondle it and read through the pattern. It should be a really fast knit. At this point #8 needles will feel like tree trunks and it's all stockinette so whippee! Let's go!
And this is for Kay. Wave Hill. Be there or be square.
Posted by Cara at 09:04 AM | Comments (14)
September 12, 2005
Fantasy World
It's fantasy all the time these days. I've got about six rows and two repeats left if I'm going to stick with the 10 repeats for the shawl. I haven't even broken into the second hank of Twinkletoes yarn, so we'll see. Depends on if and when and how much I have to use of that second hank. The pattern is really a dream to knit. I almost think it's easier than the Flower Basket Shawl - if only because I'm using stitch markers at every 12 stitch repeat. Of course, yesterday evening, (my goal was to finish the 8th repeat before the night was through) I messed up the border stitches before the first bind off in the repeat (every 10 rows you bind off five stitches for two rows to create the points on the border) and it was KILLING me. So I ended up ripping back a few rows to reknit it. In the end, I think the stitches might have been just loose, but I couldn't have it. I feel much better now even though my goal wasn't met. I'm hoping to at least get through 9 today - I want this finished before the week's out. I'm in that end of project frenzy mode where I can taste the FO and I want to be there YESTERDAY! You all know what I mean. I should just sit here all day and finish it, but there's work to be done. I need to run today before it gets too hot and I need to do laundry and some work and then I can knit for the rest of the day.
It was a pretty full weekend. I had a birthday party to shoot on Saturday about an hour away - my wonderful husband came with me for the ride (I hate to drive on highways alone) and lucky for me there was a beach close by. So he played tennis in the morning and sat on the beach in the afternoon. Perfect day for him - and perfect for me, because I didn't have to feel too much like a loser wanting a companion for the drive. And he drove back, so I could knit a bit in the car.
I'm always amazed after a job at how PHYSICAL a shoot is. My whole body hurt after the party. First, the camera's heavy - really heavy (at least 13 pounds with the big lens on - add the flash and bracket and we may be up to 15) - and I'm carrying it for two hours straight. Then we've got the fact that I hold it like a spaz - actually backwards when shooting vertically (so that the shutter button is under the camera not on top) - so that my left elbow sticks out - and finally, when you're photographing children, you NEED TO BE ON THEIR LEVEL. Parents out there - if you hire a professional photographer and they don't get on the ground with your kid, well, I'm not saying you won't like the pictures, but.... I come home from a job and I've got grass stains on my knees, my ass, dirt in my hair. So it's up and down and up and down and I'm not a kid anymore.
Saturday night I was asleep by 10:30. That's about two hours early for me.
Also, I was asked this weekend to do a really, really, really important shoot for some really, really, really special girls! I'm super excited about it - but for now I can't talk about it. I promise though, as soon as it's all kosher, you'll hear me shouting about it! It's just SO SUPER COOL! (What a geek I am!) I'm completely thrilled I can help out the cause.
This weekend, while knitting away, I thought about my upcoming projects and listed them out in my head. I thought I might list them here, too, so I can look back and see all the things I didn't accomplish. ;-)
Dad's Aran Sweater
Manos Everyday Cardigan
Cardigans for the WH girls
Bohemia Aran Cardigan
SOCKS (especially socks for Jolie)
Knits for the kids (cardigan for Charlotte with yarn from MDSW - and especially ELI! He's never had a handknit from me.)
Elizabeth Bag in Donegal Tweed
Manos My So Called Scarf
Orange Spice Mittens
My own shawl design
Ambitious no? Ugh. So many knits. So little time.
Posted by Cara at 09:48 AM | Comments (6)
September 09, 2005
Better Pals are BEST!
I LOVE to give gifts. I love choosing the gift, I love putting it together, I love wrapping it - I LOVE seeing the giftee's expression. I really do. I'm very generous. Because of love the act of THE GIFT - more than the sentiment behind it. Do you know what I mean? It's got to be PERFECT!
So when I saw all the Secret Pal buttons I knew I had to get in on one. I eagerly joined SP4. Blah. Let's just say it did NOT meet up to my expectations. I tried to do a good job for my SP, and I think I did, but she was very preoccupied with lots of stuff going on in her life and we didn't make much of a connection. She was appropriately grateful and all, but there was no spark between us. My SP sent one package that really didn't fit my profile and then nothing until a nice gift certificate from Elann. Which helped me buy a swift so I was grateful for that, but again, no real contact. Next to nothing spark.
So when I was approached to join a small intimiate gathering of bloggers who would be better pals, I jumped at the chance. We all sort of know each other, or know someone who knows someone, so the odds are that there won't be much disappointment going around.
Well, today I received my first BETTER PAL package! Yay! I was SO excited. The thing that sort of makes this gift exchange unique is that since we're such a small group - the secret can almost leap out of the bag. My BP does not live in my country, apparently, from the postage, and I'm relatively sure I could find out very quickly who she is! But I HAVEN'T BP! I don't know! And I vow, right now, on my blog, to do my best NOT to find out! Okay? Okay.
Look how bright and cheery! I couldn't wait to rip all the packages open. In her note, BP says she wanted to go with an autumn theme - and autumn she did!
That's three balls of Rowan Felted Tweed in the new Ginger Spice color! Luscious! I've never knit with this yarn, but I'm raring to go. When I picked it up the first thing I thought of was MITTENS! (Or gloves?) The yarn is perfect for that, don't you think? Nice and warm and cozy! And there's an orange suede pencil case - which I think I'll use for knitting doodads - I don't want to mess it up with pencils. And a gorgeous notebook that will hopefully inspire some writing. Thank you thank you thank you BP! Can't wait to hear from you again!
I've taken some editorial license over at Knit One Read Too, yet again. Instead of taking regular nominations, I've decided that this month's book (discussion will start on October 17th) will be a book set in New Orleans, as a way to honor the city and its citizens, as well as a way to travel through literature. I've never had the chance to visit, and I'm sorry for that now. Each book is VERY different, and if you're a member, head on over to vote. If you're not a member, but would like to be, c'mon and join. We're just getting back after the summer, so you haven't missed anything yet.
Have a great weekend everyone! See you on the flip side!
L, C
Posted by Cara at 03:02 PM | Comments (9)
September 08, 2005
My Little Pony*
I didn't knit a stitch yesterday so here's some other crap. Oh yeah, and the bed arrived, no problems, and it's fabulous!
Do you get catalogues? We do. A lot. Although not as many as we used to. I'm not sure why, but we still get all the usual suspects. Pottery Barn. Eddie Bauer. J. Crew. The one about feet. Grill Lovers. Hammecher Schlemmer. We also get a bunch of kids ones - clothes, toys - you know, I've bought some gifts over the years for the babies so I'm on the list. Well, yesterday, we got the FAO Schwartz catalogue. I usually love this one with it's over the top presents and BIG atmosphere. I mean, c'mon! Who doesn't need a life size teddy bear to scare the crap out of you while you're sleeping?!
So, I'm flipping through and on the first page I see this:
And I'm thinking, WOW! They're really doing lifelike stuff with those stuffed animals these days and THEN I READ THE INFORMATON AND IT'S A REAL FUCKING PONY!?!?!?!?!?
ExclusiveMiniature Pony
$15,000.00Imagine your very own precious pony. FAO Schwarz brings that dream within reach. This miniature purebred makes a perfect companion for young horse lovers. This full-grown pony has a buckskin coat and a soft thick mane and arrives ready to be ridden with a monogrammed FAO Schwarz halter and lead, and a Western saddle. Your pony is escorted home by a specialist who is there to offer complete information on caring for a new horse.
Please call the Division of Local Government for your county to check out any specific regulations. Owing to the size and nature of these ponies (under 36 inches and used solely as pets), they should be considered domestic animals rather than farm animals. The pony comes complete with current health papers stating which vaccinations were given. The pony will need a small outdoor area with protection from the elements and enough room for daily exercise.
Call 1-800-426-8697 to discuss the details of this special purchase with a Personal Shopper.
My favorite part? Well, that would have to be the part where (in the catalog - it's not online) it says "Ages 3-6. Maximum weight limit of rider is 50 lbs." So what happens when your daughter (or son - why should ponies be limited to girls?) turns 7, you take the thing out back and shoot it? I mean it's not like a puppy, or is it?
* NOT to be confused with the Pukey Pony. Or should it?
So after I got over my initial shock, I kept flipping through the catalog. Here are a couple of other goodies I found:
Junior Off-Roader Ride-on Car (Gas Powered)
$30,000
Driving the gasoline-powered Junior Off-Roader is a perfect way to acquire early experience at the wheel. The Off-Roader features an all-weather fiberglass body with a protective frame, rack-and-pinion steering, dual hydraulic disk brakes, a manual emergency brake, rubber tires, and full front and rear suspension. The vehicle comes equipped with a a three-speed transmission, and tops out at 30 mph. It also has a removable, fully functional radio and tape deck, and speakers on the side doors. Your young driver will be comfortable cruising around in the adjustable upholstered leather seats. 90" x 53" x 60". This item is a Special Order item. Please refer to expected delivery shown below. This product is recommended for ages 7 to 15 years.
15 Years. That way they've got LOTS of practice before you buy them that real jeep!
How about this? Your little girl isn't satisfied with sleeping bags and popcorn and scary movies for her birthday sleepover? How about a night at FAO Schwartz, replete with weirdo ice cream guy?
For One Special Night, The Store Is All Yours
The FAO Schwarz Sleepover
Imagine having the entire FAO Schwarz store all to yourself, all night long. Your child and 15 friends will indulge in an all-night party that includes a spectacular birthday celebration in the FAO Schweetz Ice Cream Parlor, lessons on the Dance-On Piano, rides on the 3-D motion simulator, and hours of games and activities throughout the store. The guests sleep in sleeping bags in the Rec Room so they are never far away from the fun. This special event ends in the morning with a continental breakfast and goody bags. Ages 6 and up. Starting at $25,000.
Ooh. A continental breakfast! What happened to Cheerios?
After the pony though, this one's my favorite:
Grand Victorian Mansion
$18,900.00
This enchanting play home is straight out of a fairy tale. The outside is picture perfect, including a wraparound porch, a stained glass window, window boxes, a skylight, and doorbell and brass doorknocker. The interior is decorated with a bay window with window seat, sponge-painted walls, simulated hardwood floors, fireplace mantel and an upstairs loft accessed by a ladder. This Victorian is truly grand indeed. Assembly required.
I don't know what's scarier - the idea of an $18K playhouse, or the photograph which looks like it could've been staged by wackos Pitt and Jolie. I mean, do those kids look like fun is in their vocabulary?
I'd like to think that even if the tv wasn't on in the background with people devastated by Hurricane Katrina I would still be appalled by the excess of this catalog. I feel like it should've come in brown paper packaging - it's that obscene. The saddest part - there are (a few, I hope) kids in this world that think they DESERVE "toys" like this. Not just want, but deserve. Entitlement starts young these days. ETA: I don't blame the kids. I don't. Because the honest to goodness truth is that a kid is happy with the damn box the toy came in. Entitlement is a LEARNED behavior. Someone had to teach them.
As a stark contrast to the decadence above, I leave you the lyrics to one of my favorite Springsteen songs. I had forgotten about it until last night, when the track popped up on our CD player. Honestly, I can't believe it hasn't been THE soundtrack to the horrors of Katrina. Generally I'm in tears hearing it, but last night I was positively distraught. The song really needs to be heard - it's melody is hauntingly beautiful and positively infused pain. But oh so hopeful too.
There is a blood red circle
On the cold dark ground
And the rain is falling down
The church door's thrown open
I can hear the organ's song
But the congregation's gone
My city of ruins
My city of ruins
Now the sweet bells of mercy
Drift through the evening trees
Young men on the corner
Like scattered leaves,
The boarded up windows,
The empty streets
While my brother's down on his knees
My city of ruins
My city of ruins
Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up! Come on, rise up!
Now's there's tears on the pillow
Darlin' where we slept
And you took my heart when you left
Without your sweet kiss
My soul is lost, my friend
Tell me how do I begin again?
My city's in ruins
My city's in ruins
Now with these hands,
With these hands,
With these hands,
I pray Lord
With these hands,
With these hands,
I pray for the strength, Lord
With these hands,
With these hands,
I pray for the faith, Lord
We pray for your love, Lord
We pray for the lost, Lord
We pray for this world, Lord
We pray for the strength, Lord
We pray for the strength, Lord
Come on
Come on
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Come on, rise up
Copyright © Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)
Posted by Cara at 09:37 AM | Comments (20)
September 07, 2005
Another Day's General Passions
Taking a page from Mamacate, it's Wednesday, so let it rip!
~ I'm sitting here waiting for the new bed to be delivered. Remember what happend with the last one? Welp, I'm waiting again. Hopefully this one will have the right dimensions. The last one seemed to be a combination of a California King (72x84) and an Eastern King (76x80). This bed is 72x80. Uh, what? So they made us a new one. Actually this is the third delivery date. My building only allows deliveries between 9-5 and the first time they came I was sure to tell them about this - well they said they'd be there in the morning and didn't show until 4:30. So when they scheduled it again they told me they'd be there between 9-5 and remembering the first delivery I was like fine. And then the phone rang at 7:55 AM asking for directions because they were around the corner. No go. G was pissed! Then we had another date, which I had to cancel. And here we are again. Luckily I called this morning and they said they'd be there after 11. So I went out to run at about 9:30. Yay!
~ Speaking of running, I finished week one! Yahoo! When I'm doing the early weeks of the program, I tend to do three days. Once the running times start getting longer and longer I'll move to four or five days before moving up. It's important to pace yourself - not move up in distance too fast - so you don't get injured. It was nice today - I could totally tell I was running faster (even though I'm not running much) because I take the same route and I ended farther along today than I did the other two days I ran. It's like riding a bike too, how fast the breathing and stride hits a rhythm. Your body doesn't forget. Oh and to answer Karma's question, I wear a watch with a stopwatch and look at it while I'm running. Not the best method, but it works.
~ I just had some lunch - bbq chicken breast left over from dinner last night. I'm trying to eat more often during the day. It's not unusual for me to go until about 1 or 2 or sometimes 3PM without eating anything. I do drink water all day long, a big Nalgene bottle by my side which G gifted me a couple of weeks ago. Back to eating - it's not good for me to skip meals. The anxiety starts up at around 1PM. I know what it is and I still don't eat. Yesterday, though, I was hungry for a snack and the cupboards are pretty bare so I had some potato chips dipped in red wine vinagrette salad dressing. About an hour later I was feeling kind of funky - nauseous a little and just out of sorts. By the time I went to bed I had one of the worst cases of indigestion ever. It was like fire in my esophagus. I ended up sleeping sitting up. Ugh. Not fun.
~ Do you watch soap operas? I've been watching since I was a little girl, a habit picked up from my mom. Days of Our Lives and Another World are the originals. I jumped on the General Hospital bandwagon during the whole Luke and Laura fiasco and it stuck. And when my sister was home with Max, she got into Passions, which she's since gotten me into - I love that in the info on my TV it says the zaniest soap since Dark Shadows - it definitely is nuts. My faves though have always been General Hospital (I'm a HUGE Sonnylicious fan - that is TOTALLY my type - dark and dark and sexy) and Another World. When they took AW off the air is was awful! And then, SoapNet brought it BACK! Lately I've been really getting into it - I tivo it and watch it in the evenings. It's great to know what's happening, but at the same time there are still surprises - characters I don't remember, plot lines I forgot. But it's still my old fave AW. It's been a lot of fun - for a lot of reasons - to have this soap back in my life. I can't wait until they get to Vicky and Ryan!!!!
~ G set it up so that I get cable TV on my computer. So I watch my soaps while I'm working - generally I'm working on pictures. It works out well. If I miss them one day, I don't care. I don't TIVO them. I only TIVO Another World because it's on at the same time as Days.
~ I've also been tivoing Family Guy. I swear there's at least one or two or three jokes each episode that have me howling. And last night I finally saw the last two minutes of the season finale of Gilmore Girls. I missed it when it originally aired. Next week is the season opener and I've already read spoilers going into the sixth show. How do you feel about spoilers? Somehow they don't ruin it for me - I guess it depends on the show though. I would NEVER seek out a spoiler on 24, but GG is okay. I read spoilers for General Hospital too.
~ I didn't knit anything yesterday. Tired from the weekend I guess. I thought I might start swatching for my dad's aran sweater that I'm planning on making, but then I saw this lace pattern in a Barbara Walker book that I had seen before and once again I was completely and utterly tantalized. I want to use it to make my own lace shawl, but I don't know where to start. I posted a message on the Summer of Lace board, so we'll see if anyone has any suggestions. I want it to be a triangular shawl with a border you knit as you go. I hope I can figure it out. I think it will be beautiful - it already is in my mind. I guess in the end I could make a rectangular shawl - that would completely work.
~ This fall/winter is going to be the season of the cardigan. I've got a few kids knits to do and I want to make myself the Everyday Cardigan using this gorgeous Manos. I think about it everyday. Short Rows has to be finished first. Too many projects.
~ My business is really growing. I'm booked pretty much every weekend into October. I don't think I had one job last September. I'm getting repeat customers too. It's so wonderful to see the kids growing up in my pictures. I start teaching again on Sept 21. The last class I taught was a disaster, but I'm hopeful about a new one.
~ I need to be writing.
~ I hope Roger Federer wins the US Open. I don't really care who wins between Agassi and Blake - I'm not really a fan of American Male Tennis Players. That's not true. I like Vinnie Spadea (I'm not Afraid-a-Ya) because he is an utter goofball. And I used to LOVE Sampras. I don't like to watch women's tennis at all. Actually, to be honest, the only reason I watch ANY tennis is because of G.
~ We're coming up on the anniversary of our first IVF attempt. I think this is why I've been so anxious lately. I tend to turn all extreme emotion into anxiety as a super fucked up way of (not) dealing with things. And they keep showing the promo for that NBC show I don't want to think about. Between that and the NJ PSAs on Post-Partum depression, which absolutely kill me, I may never get pregnant.
~ I think, in the end, this post will be really boring to most people. I'm sorry for that. Please come back.
Bed's still not here. An hour after I started this. I'm hungry again too. Crap.
Posted by Cara at 01:59 PM | Comments (13)
September 06, 2005
Ends
I set myself some big-ass goals this weekend and guess what? I MET THEM! Yahoo! First up on the list: DON'T BE CRAZY! And I wasn't too crazy. Really. There were a few moments here and there of bad thoughts but successful thought-stopping ensued which may or may not have included jumping on a trampoline screaming "I LOVE YOU!" at the top of my lungs. Actually, just thinking about doing it made me smile which stopped a bad thought. Did you know it's scientifically impossible to have bad thoughts while jumping on a trampoline? It's true. Don't believe me? Try it yourself.
Second goal: EXERCISE! Which I did! I actually got off my ass and went out this weekend to run, not once but TWICE! Granted, I started my beginner running program from the freaking beginning AGAIN, but it felt so good to be out there and the weather was glorious. I was a little sad though because my running route is basically the same as my flower route - the path along the development behind my building is the source of most of my flower pictures. I basically missed the whole season. Literally. And what's out there dying is pretty much TOO dead for my tastes. I do like to take pictures of flowers on their last stem, but these babies are already gone. A trip to the botanical gardens may be in order very, very soon. My little sister will be coming to stay with me next week for a little bit while G is away (AGAIN!) and hopefully we'll make a trip up to the Bronx.
Third goal: EAT! Yeah. Too much of that. I'm already putting back on the gloriously lost crazy pounds. You knew it was going to happen. But for two days I looked thin again. Hopefully the running will keep things in check. I was back in pants I couldn't wear since LAST summer. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I always look my best and mentally I feel my worst. It's a sad truth.
Fourth goal: KNIT!
I'm really enjoying this lace project. I've put markers at all of the 12 stitch repeats and it's been fast going that way. I've barely had to tink back - I think maybe once so far. I've got one purl row to go on the fourth repeat. I'm planning on doing all ten - for the shawl. Those girls that can do the scarf and call it a shawl are much more petite than I. I may actually go even farther - depends on the yarn situation. I'm liking the yarn too - at least the color. The variegation seems to be working really well with the pattern. Each diamond has some blue, some green, some darker blue. It's looking lovely. As I knit it I'm thinking it will be beautiful to wear to synagogue this year, should I go for the High Holy Days. With a nice navy skirt and a crisp white blouse. I always loved High Holy Days clothes. Almost as much as I love the prayers said this time of year. They're mournful and melodic and I often catch myself singing them year round. Anyway, I've been enjoying the DFS and I highly recommend it!
Yes, I completed a sock. I very much like it - it's bright and cheery and it fits well. The heel isn't perfect - I need to tighten up some almost holes, but in the end I think I like the gusset/flap heel best. I tried two different kinds of short rows and didn't like either. I still have to try an afterthought heel - next pair of socks - but for now this works well for me. Nice to know that, you know? I haven't cast on for the second - but I will today. And I want these clogs. Especially for Rhinebeck.
And last but not least....
Yes, my friends, it's a FINISHED back AND FRONT of the now infamous Short Row Sweater. This was the MAJOR goal of the weekend - I want this sucker done! Of course, in succeeding at said goal, I kind of made pretend that there weren't 3,681,207 ends.
Just for kicks, you know, to see if this thing will actually, one day, miracle of miracles, BE a sweater, I pinned the back and front together.
WHAHOOO! This might actually WORK! I'm very happy with it so far. Here are some close-ups on the zigzags:
So all I've got left are the sleeves - which should be a breeze since they're all one color. I'm planning on doing both at the same time - and I still haven't decided yet if I'm going to even cast on for them BEFORE I attend to those ENDS. Ugh. I see myself wearing this sweater for the High Holy Days too. With the same navy skirt. It's nice to have goals. ;-)
Lest you think it was all fun and games and knits here this weekend, there were still tears and sadness. Some of it personal, some of it global. The more I read and see of the tragedy on the Gulf Coast the more disillusioned I am with the human race as a whole. People are just SO MEAN. I'm sick to death of the finger pointing and name calling and who did or did not do what. I've never had any love (or even like) for the current administration, but now I'm even disgusted with the people I supposedly AGREE with. Now is the time TO SHUT THE FUCK UP and ACT! It's not the time for who's right and who's wrong. It seems to me that the political atmosphere in this country is directly to blame - which means BOTH SIDES. BOTH SIDES. NO POLITICIAN OR PUNDIT IS INNOCENT.
[ETA: If I hear one more "person" say how everything would've been handled so wonderfully if Ghouliani had been mayor - I'm going to start screaming and not stop. There is NO WAY that the disaster in NOLA can be compared to 9/11. After the towers fell, the event was pretty much over, except for the clean-up. The whole tragedy affected (physically) a very small part of the city. There was no recovery. By the end of the day, things were back to "normal" in terms of people getting food, shelter, communicating with each other. Sure, some people were homeless - but those people had the means (by virtue of where they lived) to find other shelter. Ghouliani didn't have to hold the physical well-being of the city together. This may seem harsh - but it's the truth as I see it.]
I watched the Sunday news programs this weekend - it's something G usually does and occasionally I tune in. When I saw Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard on Meet the Press, I was beyond horrified. Then I read about shoe shopping and slack jaws and I wonder, where is our collective conscience? And even if you don't really care about what's happened here, where is your INTELLIGENCE to keep your mouth shut? We can't even make it LOOK like we care. (And isn't it so much worse that these WOMEN can't seem to gather up any real sympathy?)
All weekend long I'd pop on over to Margene and Susan's site and gain a little bit of hope back.
Knit on through all crises. And that's exactly what I'm doing.
Posted by Cara at 11:42 AM | Comments (17)
September 02, 2005
Listen
to the pain and desperation and frustration in this man's voice. It breaks my heart.
Posted by Cara at 04:28 PM | Comments (6)
Seasoned
Have a safe, productive, peaceful weekend. Hopefully nice knits to show on Tuesday.
Love,
Cara
Posted by Cara at 08:45 AM | Comments (5)
September 01, 2005
Posted by Cara at 03:43 PM
September
Oh how I've longed for thee!
September is so bittersweet. That first glorious end of summer day - warm, dry, blue, blue sky and I'm immediately back to that morning four years ago. I was psyching myself up for a run, doing some work. I hadn't turned on the TV yet. My father called. At that time, my father never called unless it was bad. And it was.
Watching the utter devastation on the television last night, I was reminded of a rainy gray day in the aftermath. The reporter was saying that sometimes the best thing to do is fill your car up with bottled water and clothes and supplies and drive them to the nearest place in need and just give it away. That's exactly what I did four years ago. I got in my car, drove to my warehouse store and filled my car with water and gatorade and batteries and t-shirts and whatever else was on the "list." I drove my treasures to a drop off point, the whole time the smoke from ground zero visible in my windshield.
There's something inherently fascinating about devastation so extreme. It's numbing almost, seeing image upon image and not being able to FEEL what they feel. But last night I connected - I was overwhelmed at the memory of driving in my car to help, but not being able to escape, for even a second, the horror of what had happened.
I've never been to New Orleans, or the Gulf Coast, but I know its importance in American History and Culture. I pray these events are only a tremendous setback, and not an inevitable loss.
Visit Margene for details on giving.
Posted by Cara at 09:01 AM | Comments (4)