One Crazy Fiber Lady

For the first time in a long time (about 8 years), I’m once again proud to be an American. ¬†I’m proud of how this country came together and voted the right man for the job.

After 8 years of Dubya-speak, Obama’s eloquence is refreshing, envigorating and enouraging. ¬†I might be an east coast elitist, but I like the idea of a man who can speak in full sentences and who uses big words correctly.

I’m hopeful that this country will once again move in the right direction, both at home and on in the international stage. ¬†

I’m relieved that we’ll have someone in the White House that will think before shooting from the hip if the phone rings at 3:00AM. ¬†

I’m encouraged that the world will once again look upon this country favorably since we won’t be led by a bully who won’t even discuss matters with other countries unless they first comply with his terms.

I could go on and on, but will leave it here. ¬†I’ve never been so completely engrossed in an election, though I’ve always voted. ¬†Always. ¬†I’ve never sat in front of the TV watching returns, let alone stayed up until the winner spoke. ¬†This is an amazing time that brings tears to my eyes as I once again have hope that this country can be great.

Yes We Can!

There are polls turning up everywhere. ¬†I just took one online at the last place I expected: ¬†Dominos. ¬†Yeah, I know they aren’t the best pizza place around, but they’re convenient, reliable and I can order online with my credit card. ¬†Yeah, the folks are out tonight so I’m fending for the kids. ¬†Yes I’m essentially lazy and I hate cooking. ¬†I can cook, witness that I did survive out of the house for 16 years (2 of em with the kids) and didn’t only subsist on takeout. ¬†Seeing as I only have to provide food for them once every couple of weeks, pizza just fits the bill. ¬†

Whatever.

So yeah, I placed the order and got the confirmation screen and saw a poll.  Here are the results.

Keep in mind that Jersey is generally a very blue state.  Looks good to me!!

Anyway.. I’m still knitting away on T&C, didn’t get much time today as Saturday is the only shopping day around here. ¬†Bergen County still has blue laws that close stores down entirely or limit what they can sell on a Sunday. ¬†Annoys me no end, but apparently the residents of Paramus want a day without traffic. ¬†They still suck and I makes Sat a very VERY crowded shopping day. ¬†We hit only two stores but that took up the whole day. ¬†Party City for the kids’ halloween costumes. ¬†Kat is going to be a Spanish Princess and Alex selected at Clone Trooper with blaster gun. ¬†Awesome. ¬†Next up was 2 hours spent at BJ’s where amongst other things, I got me this:

I got some strange looks as I wandered through my North Jersey BJ’s wearing this! Though I wasn’t alone, there was a feller in one of them Red Sox windbreakers and blue baseball hat. ¬†Awesome! ¬†I’m so wearing it for tomorrow night’s Game 3. ¬†

Go Sox!

I might just make it. ¬†What’s this part of T&C sitting on my leg this morning?

Is it that pesky sleeve I showed last post?

Nope!  Finished that sucker during the day/night double header on Sunday.

Is it the second sleeve?  

Nope! ¬†After casting that on immediately after finishing the first, I took it all around with me over the last couple of days, including a picnic with the kids while celebrating the new year (L’Shanah Tovah to you)

Oh and yeah, I finished it during the debate last night (we’ll get back to that in a minute). ¬†I took this shot on the ferry yesterday.

You can see how close I was to finishing it I was.  Sadly I got stuck at work pretty late yesterday trying to fix a major production problem and had to skip not only lunch with Kim but also SnB.

So what is it? ¬†The last remaining large piece to be knit. ¬†The other front!! ¬†I’m so getting this sweater done. ¬†Oh holy hell, I just tempted the knitting goddess. ¬†I forgot about the whole sewing it together, knitting the collar and button bands, and oh yeah, I don’t have any buttons yet to even think about sewing on. ¬†

Now, back to the debate. ¬†I rarely (if ever) go into politics here. ¬†However this election has me so engrossed to a level I’ve never been before. ¬†Maybe because this election is more important than ever before. ¬†I think McCain’s picking of Palin is a petulant and irresponsible act. ¬†Her performance during debate last night further strengthened my belief that they are just the wrong choice. ¬†And in her honor, I donoted to Planned Parenthood.

I won’t go into everything that pisses me off about the ticket and why I wanted to smack her. ¬†All I’ll say is that I fell in love with Biden last night when he finally called McCain-Palin on this maverick business and slammed her on the looking to the past. ¬†Obama has my vote.

I’ll leave you with a moment of zen:

Craft on!

One of those days.  I was just finishing one list bit in a rather lengthy, brilliantly written, emotionally deep and otherwise fabulous post when I got a little confused closing a browser window that I had open for a link.  You know where this is going right?  I’m using the maxthon IE with its beloved tabs and well, closed down the whole works 98% complete posting and all.  Since I’m only brilliant once a day and that time has passed, we’re going to do this Cate style with bullets and overall randomness.

• I’m still waiting to hear word from my uncle Richard in New Orleans.  Last my cousins (or other family members) heard from him was Tuesday morning when he reported that the water had risen to the middle of his driveway and then had started to receed.  Cousins and aunt are pretty sure he’s okay and just unable to communicate.  They also advise that the house is in the 20% of NOLA that isn’t flooded.  Naturally, I’m still concerned.  My cousin Paige, who’s due in some 5 weeks, was directed to her sister’s OB in Atlanta where she’ll more than likely have my little nephew.  Doesn’t look like anyone is going home to NOLA anytime soon.

• I spent last night watching the news coverage of the continuing tragedy, keeping my hands busy, much in the same way I used my spinning wheel thru 9/11.  I made myself a bracelet last night from a pattern I found on the Interweave Beadwork site in their subscriber area (the last issue I picked up on the stand had the subscriber-only password on it!).  You can see the whole bracelet here.  It is made from 4mm hematite beads with gunmetal delicas and a pewter toggle clasp.  My first bead order arrived and my second is scheduled to arrive today. I also finally got a picture of the necklace up in the album as well.  Note to self:  set up a light tent for proper pictures of beaded and yarny goodness.

• The knitting and beading collision is not far away on the horizon.  I have this pattern ready and waiting.  When?  When the orders from Elaine’s favorite crack bead seller and The Mannings arrive with the needed supplies.  What can I say, I’m weak.

• I finally did manage to cast on that second fish sock.  Took me until this morning on the train in to do it.  Boy am I a slacker.  It does look like I’ve managed to get the color repeats almost exactly the same as on the first sock.  That was a good mental note I made.  I held this sock to the first and the stitches are dead on.  Yay me.  Sorry for the crappy picture, I took it this morning on the train.  That’s my pink mohair "Kerry Blue" shawl in the background.  That’s been my train shawl for the last couple of weeks.  I made it during my last last phase some years back.

• I had yesterday off so I took advantage of the hairdresser appointment that my mom was going to cancel and finally get my hair trimmed.  I missed/cancelled the last three so I vaguely remember my last cut being somewhere around February. Nothing special, just a trim with some fringey bangs cut in for excitement.  The fun was how she styled it.  Kassie used one of them nifty wet-to-dry ceramic flat irons.  I love the results!  It got my wavy hair pin straight.  She did give it a smidge of a curl under and I’m just digging it.  I did some googling when the twins went down for a nap.  Now I ordered this (same model she used), but also see this one and this one.  All the same model number, all on Amazon and three different prices.  You betcha I ordered the cheaper one.  The one I ordered appears with a Ships in 3 to 5 weeks delivery note on the product page.  I can wait, right?  Lived this long with wavy hairs, what’s another couple of weeks.  I just got the shipping notice.  It went out today, actually a day ahead of the estimated ship date that I got in the confirmation email of tomorrow.  Go figure.

• After I blew away my witty post, I had to get away from the evil that is a computer.  I headed uptown to  ever crowded midtown and hit a bead store.  Yup, weak I am.  I had seen another pattern I wanted to try and I had to get more beads for it.  Hope the kids nap well this long weekend, wouldja?  I’m into beads in a big way.  I see a side business starting up before long.  Must support the habits somehow 😉

Prayers and thoughts are with those affected by Katrina.

Craft on.

I sat in horror watching the television reports that terrible February day.  I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this acknowledged and outted Trekker was very happy to see the shuttle program resume.  Space is a dangerous workplace but the exploration is a calling.  I cheered as Discovery escaped the planet once again.  I wanted to wait for the full celebration until her safe return.  I tell you there was a victory pump, a lump in my throat, and tears in my eyes as she touched down.  Safely.  Welcome home Discovery.

I had a bit of a snafu at the daycare center this morning.  The teacher who was supposed to open at 7:30 completely forgot about it.  I arrived at 7:55 to find a crowd of parents outside with their kids.  Lots of phone calls and folks driving about, I was able to head for work at 8:20, only 15 minutes late.  Late enough to miss the train though.  I opted for the 8:32 bus rather than waiting around for the 9:08 train as I wouldn’t get to work quite as late.  Besides, while the bus isn’t my first choice, in a pinch it does offer up bonus knitting time, especially if traffic was bad. I cast on the second sock for Kat this morning.  Unlike my pair, I actually tried to start the yarn in about the same place.  Instead of 4 rows off for mine, I’m off by stitches, if that.  Take a good gander in the photo.  Cruddy colors.  Mea culpa.  I’ll explain that a bit later.  By the time I got the office, I was two rounds short of the heel flap.  I turned the heel on the train tonight.

My office has/will install web monitoring software.  They’ve also set a computer usage policy.  Sigh.  What that boils down to is less fun internet time at the office.  I doubt that I’m going to be posting every night, unless of course, I can figure out the posting by email thing.  I could always add photos later.  Not like I always post a photo either.  Email response is going to be even spottier than it already is. (My apologies to anyone expecting an email from me now.  I had a deadline today to make and I spent last night rearranging kitchen cabinets as the new melmac has been arriving.)  Seriously, the last thing I want to do after spending a day in front of the computer is to come home and do it again at night.  I also won’t get to read as many blogs as I currently do.  Surfing is not exactly productive.  I’m sure there will be some understanding that a break is needed every now and again.  If not, I’ll take up smoking again and take advantage of the breaks that offered!  Yeah, not likely.  I’ve made it 4.5 years, I’m not starting again… though I could in a heartbeat.  Now might be the time to train myself to do away with the sleeping thing.  Yeah.  Think of how much more I could accomplish if I gained back those 7 hours! All good things.. right?

Craft on.

[Edited to add….]

How could I forget about this?  Elaine and I are co-hosting an Eris KAL.  Elaine did a fabulous job setting up a forum much the same as the Rogue KAL.  It is here.  Read her equally fabulous posting about the KAL on her blog today, here.  Go read it.  Now, go join the forum and the KAL 🙂