Denise Knits!

Much of the same...

Wednesday was much of the same as far as training. I showed up at the gym after some harried phone conversations (more on that later) and therapy a doctor's appointment. I waltzed up to Carrie's office to say hello and let her know that I was back for day two of grueling sweaty training. What I saw was a tall distinguished fit man named Dennis, who is not Carrie in case you were wondering. DANG! He was nice enough to show me where the lady's locker room had moved to since my almost 3 year absence from the gym. Can you believe they locked up all of the lockers and now you have to RENT them for God's sakes? My fellow Americans who don't pay your taxes, would you mind throwing a little money at MWR this year? I don't really give a shit if you pay your taxes or not since I'm a year or two behind on mine, I just don't want to pay for a locker that doesn't need a lock since it's the base gym. Not worried about anyone stealing my olive oil shampoo and underpants.

After I got over the melodrama, I proceeded to my work out (by the way, I chose not to rent a locker, I threw my bag behind the treadmill). Feeling smug, I started the treadmill at 3mph and went about my business of walking, pulling the headphones  out of the handy jack 3 times, and really embarrassing myself getting caught staring at same Hot Guy's ass. So much for focusing on a happy thought. After a few minutes, I was in my "zone" and thought, hey 3mph isn't so bad. My therapist doctor said I could probably handle 4mph, I stepped it up to 3.5mph. This got me sweating a little, but erm, after a while I wasn't doing so good so I took it back down again. Back and forth we went for 20 minutes. At the 20 minute mark, I went down to 2.5 for a "cool down". NO clue if this is a good idea or not, but I had a fear of propelling off of the treadmill if I just turned it off. Back to the Vertigo again. Oh, yeah, and turning around to check on your bag while walking on a treadmill is NOT A SMART THING TO DO in case you were wondering about that, too.

I hung in for a total of 27:17 minutes. All 20 minutes, I did not go under 3mph. Proud of me for that. I went 1.34 miles, and was rewarded with a nice cut on toe #2 of my left foot. Forgot to trim my toenails. Apparently, a lovely french manicured foot with long toenails is not prudent to walking miles a day.

Today, Thursday, my toe hurt so bad I had to take my rest day because putting my training shoes on hurt. Also, real life has caught up with me. My eldest is going to be in his first play tomorrow morning and did not know the words to either of the songs he's required to sing. We spent all day singing Glory, Glory Hallelujah and America the Beautiful. Lovely songs, but if I ever have to hear them again after tomorrow, I'll surely scream at someone.

In almost knitting news:

Remember my yarn drama? Well, Melanie my savior sweetly told me that she bought the big honkin bag of yarn for me as a gift. And, the IWK w 05, too. I have been threatened  told I am not to pay her back or to even think of it or mention it again. She can kiss my ass, I'm going to tell the world what a sweet heart she is for being such a friend at a time like this. Right now, my life is kind of in a shit hole, and I really do need a friend. Yarn is the olive in my martini. he he. Never you mind that it might take lots of martinis for me to recover.

So, yesterday, I ordered the 5 remaining skeins I'll need to finish the Ballet wrap. I haven't had a chance to work on it a lot in the last few days. I'm still working on the left front flap. It's fun, fun, fun to work on.

Picovoli is still the bane of my existence, and I refuse to talk about it.

Tomorrow is Josh's big play, the gym, and work work work. Maybe in the night I'll have time to knit!

Try Number Two.

Today, I'm going to babble on about training for the 3 Day. This is Try Number Two, because some bad mouse movement caused the entry page to be refreshed, losing the whole post I just wrote. Bad mouse, bad.

As I was saying...

Met my new trainer at the gym yesterday, her name is Carrie. She's very fit and very beautiful. Yes, because of that, I hate her. But in a nice way. I actually like her very much, she's not at all what I was expecting. I was imagining a DI-type person from my worst nightmares.

Side note: In case you were wondering, I in fact cannot afford a personal trainer. Trainers are provided free at our base gym by your tax dollars. Muchos grassy ass to you all for paying your taxes.

I saved this draft on 2/22 and forgot about its existence. Again, I'll try to catch up!

FFWD through meeting Carrie. For day 1 of training, I very unbecomingly was introduced to the treadmill by Carrie. She started me out at 2 MPH for 20 minutes. 10 minutes in, I didn't feel like I was really being "worked out" per se, so I stepped it up to 2.5 MPH. This felt a little more difficult, and I finished my 20 minute routine uneventfully. Never mind the feeling that I had when I stepped off the machine that I was still moving, a little dizzy, and a slight touch of vertigo. Thankfully, I held it together, and the hot guy on the treadmill in front of mine didn't catch on.

Not sure what other gyms in the world are like, but mine is about 1/2 "real" people and 3/4 hot sailors and Marines. Thankfully, there seems to be a segregation of the real people and the hot people. I think the hot guy was lost.

In the post that got deleted by the blog-gods, I talked about Carrie chewing my ass about my diet. Apparently fast food and pizza is not what marathon-walkers eat... they eat things like complex carbohydrates (huh?), protein (eww) and something else that I wrote down in my handy-dandy notebook that I can't find. I can find my knitting notebook. My knitting notebook is what I've been cheating on the blog with. Sorry!

Training summary for 2.21:

Machine: treadmill

Distance: 0.77 mi

Speed: 2 mph (10mi.) 2.5mph (10mi.)

Total Time: 20 min

Woot woot.

Overall goals: Do something (walking or cross training) 3 times a week for 15-20 min. Change horrible diet to real food.

more updates

WILD FIBRE

I mentioned before that I went to Wild Fibre in Savannah. Oh, where to begin? I was wisked away by Melanie and her husband to Savannah for the day. Our plans were to hook up N with a friend and then busy ourselves with Wild Fibre while he did man things. N's friend was indisposed, and poor N was stuck with us for the yarn store. To make you more jealous, N is actually interested in knitting and seemed to enjoy the experience very much. If only we were all so lucky!

Wild Fibre is in what I believe to be the historical district of Savannah, near parts of SCAD, municipal buildings, and several other lovely touristy things. WF's building is very old and charming. The front door simply states "Wild Fibre" and has a line drawing of a ball of yarn with two needles peeking out. Very elegant, old-world feel to it. The window display features books like Knitted Babes, cuddling up next to one of the dolls from the book. Also, there is Dyeing to Knit and a bag made of recycled sweaters. I cannot remember the name of the company, sorry!

Once we walked in the store, we knew we were home folks! My first thought was to run back outside, shimmy across the street and beg the homeowners to let me buy their house. Reality set in, and I soon realized maybe staying IN the yarn store would be a better idea. Lots of selection... every fiber I can dream up, all of the major yarn companies are represented, and a few gems. I saw some things I've never seen in person, and some I've never heard of. Like, this yarn that feels like paper... linen yarn, some very unusual yarn that's priced by the ounce. Before that day, the only things I knew of that sell by the ounce are metal and pot.

Then... are you sitting down? A whole wall of Addi Turbos. Lots of sizes, lots of lengths. Heaaaven... I'm in heaaaveeen. Also saw spinning wheels, and that fiber stuff you spin with (roving?) crochet hooks, crochet cotton, and of course, a big couch for plopping down to knit. There were 3 knitters currently knitting.

We met the owners, Tom and Jennifer. This is the best part... there was a MAN working in the store. I found out later he seems to be in a co-owner capacity. And he knows stuff about yarn! And knitting! What a dreamboat. I proposed marriage, but he declined, seeing how he's married to the other co-owner and all.

Tom and Jennifer are both VERY warm and friendly. They know their stuff and were very very cool to Mel and I. We then begged to move in upstairs with the Ya-Yas. We offered to knit for yarn, explaining that food was not necessary.

Is it crazy to consider moving 2 hours away to be near a yarn store?

T & J have a beautiful 5 year old (name not mentioned) who lead me around the store showing me where the "good yarn is" and where the sale room in the back is "all the stuff here is on sale, and all the stuff on this shelf is REALLY on sale a lot". She is very smart and knowledgeable about the store. I was taken aback when she told me that she knits, too! And with needles, no less! I got to see her first hand this Saturday, and she's good! I really just wanted to load her up and take her home, but that would be uh...kidnapping.

If you are in Savannah, make a point to go to Wild Fibre. It totally rocks. My favorite yarn store to date. It's 107 miles from my place, and worth every mile. Needless to say since I've been back twice in the last 10 days.

This weekend...

Mel and I headed back up to Savannah to go to WF & the Southern Women's Show. We were invited on our previous trip to WF by Jennifer for a knit-in at the show. We met some very nice knitters. I can only remember one of their names, Melissa. Melissa was working on Jaywalker for a sock swap. She was such a doll, and I could swear I've seen her somewhere before, but darned if I can figure out where. Melissa, if you happen to read this, drop me a line!

Family and Friends

Saturday was T's surprise party. He's departing the US Navy tomorrow, and I wanted to surprise him with a celebration. I invited a few of his old Navy buddies to Nexgamerz, and his family popped down as a bonus surprise. The party went very well, and boy am I glad it's over. We had a grand time visiting with old friends, but lying to your SO for 3 1/2 weeks is very stressful! No more surprise parties in the future.

It was great to see the fam, for sure. I vow to spirit maternal-unit away to a yarn store on her next visit, whether she likes it or not. She crochets, but has never, ever been to a yarn store. Isn't that just the saddest thing you have EVER heard?

I had hoped to snap her up a ball of angora yarn at WF Sunday, but stupid me forgot credit cards and cash. Duh, duh, duh. I'm not too bright sometimes. At least I remembered my knitting bag!

S.e.X. Sessions

Ooh forgot to mention the stuff I bought at WF trip #1 2/4/06

Unusual Toys to Knit and Enjoy

Lamb's Pride Wool in Rust, Orange You Glad, and Limeade for Squarey. Needle nipples and 100% bamboo yarn, can't remember name of it right now. Very good prices on everything... everything was under $50. I am very pleased to finally own some LPW! After I got home I casted on Squarey, but he got dissed because he's knit flat. I hate knitting St st flat sometimes. My children were THRILLED by Jess's book, they were just so tickled to see a book with "so way cool toys" and told me that they want me to knit all the toys in the book for them. I'm getting right on that, kiddos!

2/12/06

6-10 skeins Debbie Bliss Chunky Merino at 40% off, works out to $3.90 per skein. What a freakin steal! IWK Winter 05 was also acquired for Ballet Wrap pattern. I say 6-10 skeins because of previous post issues. Read back for explination.

Last week...

I got my first SP7 present! Yes, I will take pictures. I'm very back logged on photos right now... about a months worth are on the digi-cam. Stitch marker pictures take priority, and since I only have time to MAKE st markers, it's very difficult to set aside time for much else. Knitting is a luxury only acheived by being able to knit while watching tv, helping with homework, laundry, talking on the telephone, and grounding children who will not behave.

Anywho...

In my package there were 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino (2 of which I almost bought on WF#1, but had to put back because budget was already blown), a Creative Knitting mag, and lots of candy! Oh, I do adore some candy... there were chocolate covered espresso beans, jolly rancher gummies, jelly belly sports/energy beans, candy pop-rock lollipop, some exotic Sweedish chocolate, etc. I've already eaten most of the candy. So, there won't be any pictures of the candy. Ooh, it was good. I love you secret pal! Everything was wrapped very nicely in red organza bags, just in time for V-day and bright glittery tissue paper. I had such fun tearing through everything and then petting my new yarn while chomping down on the candy. It's hard to say whether I was more excited by the yarn than the candy, but I am definitely thrilled at both. I'm pretty sure 2 of the 3 skeins of DB will become magic loopy cable socks if I can ever get BROOKE to send me the PATTERN she has been WRITING for the Ya-Yas FOREVER... ahem, Brooke. She's like, a pattern-nazi. No pattern for you.

THANK YOU SECRET PAL, and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! xoxoxo.

Oooh, here's somethin' funny. As you all know, I offered a discount to SP7 participants. So, I'm kinda on the "in" with who's pal is whose. (do not ask me who your pal is, I will not tell you). So, one giftee orders some st markers for her pal. As most pals have, she's requested to have her pals st markers drop-shipped directly to her pal. No sweat, I do this all of the time. As I'm printing out her invoice to add to a stack of many orders to fill, I catch the ship-to address on the form. This person has bought st markers for my best knittery-friend. Total coincidence! Isn't that creepy?! So, I'll be hand delivering her markers to her. And, now, she's begging me to reveal her pal's identity, and I won't, and it's really bothering her. I gave her a hint, though. I said... "I will not tell you who your pal is, but here's a hint." She, hanging on my every word says "Ooh what's the hint?".  I said "She knits!". Muwahahaha.

Alrightie, if you haven't moved on by now... I must stop blogging now, my fingers are bleeding from typing. Well, not really, but you get the picture!

Ah, updates from knitterly world. Suppose I'll go from most recent to the last decade, aka the last time I posted. Have been in a blog-posting-funk lately...not to mention VERY busy with Stitch markers for SP7.

Started IWK's Ballet Wrap last night with Debbie Bliss Merino Chunky/Chunky Merino. As it's moniker tells us, it's very chunky and goes very fast. By my best guess, I'm about half way finished with the back. And, just a few rows ago a wee dim bulb went off in my head, and I am halfway into my yarn allowance. I'll briefly relay the conversation my head and I had.

As I joined in the third ball of yarn...which struck me as odd since there's still 2 front flaps and 2 sleeves of the cardigan left to knit...the pattern only calls for 6 skeins.

Deede started doing the math. Yeah

"DiDi, you should really do the math on the yardage so you can tell Mel for sure how many skeins you'll need." "Self, yeah, no shit... duhhh I'm knitting right now. Must get out of boring St st." "But, like, we need to be responsible knitter... find out the yardage, calculate the costs, and pay back Mel." "FINE... if you'll shut the F up already!"

as I'd joined in the third ball of yarn...which struck me as odd since there's still 2 front flaps and 2 sleeves of the cardigan left to knit

Deede started doing the math. Yeah, sure... 50 m is about 150 feet or so. The designer calls for 6 skeins of 125 yards of some frou frou yarn that is uh, really expensive. I've got plenty here. I should be able to give Mel at leaast 4, maybe even 5 skeins back out of the 10 we are to be splitting. "Uhmm... Deede. 150 feet is only 50 yards. You need 750 YARDS OF YARN. That's 13.6 skeins of yarn. You only have 10, 4 or 5 of them are not yours, and you owe $20 for the 6 you planned to keep." Houston, we have a problem.

Basically, I have two options. Both kind of suck.

Option 1: rip progress made thus far on sweater, find other use for 5 skeins that I am to keep, pay Mel and be done with it. Cost: $19.50. Not so bad.

Option 2: carry on with sweater. pay mel the $39, and find 4 more skeins in same dye lot, same shade. This will prolly cost another $26. Total cost: $65 for a sweater that is not yet assembled.

For some knitters this wouldn't be an issue. For me, it is. See, my yarn budget got blown last weekend's trip to Wild Fibre. Before that, my yarn budget was blown by yarn for Picovoli. And before that there was... well uh, my yarn budget has been blown for about a year now. Since I started knitting.

I have several projects on the needles that I could keep myself busy with, and that are highly entertaining. One of the many, Picovoli. Grrr. I screwed up somewhere and have too many sts on the needles, which means I cannot start the waist decreases. I cannot figure out what I have done wrong, so I'm stuck until I can meet up with Brooke to help me fix it. Again. Poor Brooke...

Ah, and did I mention that I haven't spent $65 on a garment in 3 years? My last major clothing purchase was a ball gown. Nope, wait, it was a wedding dress. Nope, I didn't pay for that. Yeah, had to have been a ball gown. See... it's been so long that I can't *remember*. And I've bought winter coats that haven't even cost $65!

On the other hand... this is a garment that I will actually wear. I get very cold in the evening, or at any place that has A/C. Like, my house. My couches sit next to windows that apparently do nothing to keep air out or light in. They are, however, very good at giving free peep shows to my neighbors when I forget to prance around with clothes on vs. naked. Nexgamerz is also freezing damn cold because they must keep all the highly teknickel equimpent cool. It's so cold there, even with thick socks and sneakers my FEET get cold. I complain, they don't care. T also doesn't care that the house is freezing downstairs, but greenhouse tropical upstairs (where it just so happens we NEVER spend time). These were all my reasons for making ballet wrap.

And, so, now... I be screwed. I cannot afford to spend $65 on yarn when in 20.5 hours T will be unemployed. New job is highly likely, but until it's certain we are saving every penny that we can. $65 is a paid phone bill or one weeks groceries.

On the other-other hand (yes, I realize that I'd need to be an octupus to have this many 'hands'), this thing knits up so fast, and dare I say, easily that I know that I'll finish it. I'm nearly done with the back piece. At a gauge of 3.5sts to an inch, I could practically be finished by next week. I could even finish before the end of the Knitting Olympics (yeah, the one I didn't have time to join). The yarn feels so lovely, too. And I'm finally really using my Denise needles.

What a delimma! More updates in the next post, it seems I have written a novel!

Picovoli Progress

As you can see from the photos, I have reached the point in Pico right before I start the waist decreases. I'm a little worried that it might be a little bit too big. It seems a little too loose around the bust, chest, and armpits. Not as snug as I thought it would be. This morning I have been trying it on repeatedly and consulting TinkerMel.

Photos taken by my photographer, Abi. She's 5. Pretty good job. Now you know why I'm pointing, and why photo 2 is named the "Pico Money Shot".

Not sure if you can tell by the photos, but do you think it's too loose? If it is, blocking won't help much... my swatches gauge did not change after washing, drying, and blocking.

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Podcast Knitting

A few months ago, I got turned on to books on tape. Yes, I am aware that most of you who 'read' while knitting do it on CD. Well, my library offers few titles on CD. I actually have a genuine Sony Walkman that's about 12 years old. It still works great. 

So, I found a book on tape, The Shop on Blossom Street. Previously, I had read  A Good Yarn. I was thrilled to find a ficition book about knitting at the library! And then to find there was another in the series, a little defeated that it was on tape...what would I do with a book on tape? DUH! I could listen to it while KNITTING!

This made me think, wow, I will now read all books on tape and knit at the same time. Until I saw the rest of the library's collection...it's very grim. We have a local book store, but it has no knitting related books or audio books available. I rarely have the patience to order online these days, a trip to the city is so much more fun and gaurantees some instant gratification.

But, in the wee hours of this morning I discovered downloadble mp3 books. And many more podcasts than I knew existed. Shortly there after, I spent several hours listening to knitting related podcasts. My new favorite is About Time...all of this podcasting has made me want an MP3 player. Imagine all the things I could listen to and learn while knitting! And, no trip to the bookstore. No losing my page, no big book in my purse... the possibilities are endless!

MP3 player here I come!

One post, Two posts.

I do realize that it's been a little while since I've posted. The lovely SP7 participants have kept me very busy with the stitch markers!

Had a bit of an annoying delay with supplies coming in and my printer is on the fritz again. Those two things have held up production a bit. All seems to be in order now, and everything should be out by tomorrow.

I do have knitting news to report, finally.

Picovoli

Casted on 1/21 with the help of Brooke and made a slow start. That was Ya-Ya day, and also the day of the Nexgamerz Halo 2 Tournament. I have photographic evidence that I did continue to knit while watching the tourney.

This is the spectator room of Nexgamerz. My knitting was accidently captured in the photo. I hastily swiped it from the website the night it was posted. I think they'll eventually crop out my knitting. Knitting isn't really all that cool in terms of gaming.

But, all the guys were very interested in what I was knitting and how I was doing it. Of course, they all asked me seperately when their boys weren't looking. Guys are so...guys.

I also learned why my career as a professional gambler has ended before it even started.

I bet Tom (right) that he would beat his buddy Sean (left) in the tourney. These kids usually play together on a four man team, but Saturdays tourney was a 2 v 2.

As the picture shows, Sean lost in the last game. So, I lost $1.00. How very sad. He will be ridiculed incessantly.

Why I only need one gift for SP7

In today's real post I will state my case of "Why I only need one gift for SP7".  Somehow, in the last 5 months or so, I have acquired something close to 20 pairs of circular needles. This is a semi-edcuated guess, because I can't find all of my circular needles. They are all over my house. Places I can recall seeing them today: on my computer desk, under the guest bed, in my "craft closet" (that's really an armoire with some baskets shoved in it, used for yarn storage and fabric...amongst the yarn are several circs tangled with the yarn), in the bathroom, on the coffee table, undert he coffee table, junk drawer, kitchen table, buffet, computer desk drawer, knitting bags 1, 2, and 3. Sounds like I spent my day wandering all over the house aimlessly, doesn't it? Nope, I spent the day looking for my 16" Bamboo size 6 circular needles! I still haven't found them. But, I found lots of OTHER size circs.

Here's my proposed solution, Pal. I really need a circular needle case. Something that I can carry with me, with lots of pockets. Most of my circs are of a small gauge, so I can double up needles in each pocket. I know that this case is over budget. I'll gladly pay you the difference, or swap you a set of stitch markers. Heck, I'll give you the stitch markers either way...Just release me from this madness!

Until next time,

Circular Jerk, Kingsland Georgia...

Sometimes, knitting can be boring.

Shortly, I'm headed out to the coffee shop to knit. I'm knitting that swatch on the size 5's. I casted on 108 stitches. Miles of endless stockinette. I usually don't mind doing just plain stocking stitch, but since I have some things I want to try out after I finish this, I'm very anxious to finish it.

The other things? Well, those are taking another whack at the crochet version of provisional cast on that I just learned.  Maybe after I do that I'll post a mini-tutorial here on the blog. Maybe. After that, I'm going to try out the picot edging as written in the Picovoli pattern, and after the new Addi's arrive, just MAYBE I'll get to do an accurate swatch. Just in case you didn't know, airmail takes a long time to arrive from Hong Kong to the US.

Other new things going on... working on a few stitch marker orders. Today might be the day for chain maille. Maybe not! Have you noticed how indecisive I am today?

Good thing I'm not paid to make important decisions...

She likes to swatch it up on me...

Have finished a mostly responsible swatch for the KP Shine. I've used size 4 12" plastic circs. The gauge comes to about 5.5 spi, but mostly 6 spi. In the intrests of being fair, I'm going to knit up another on Addi Turbos to see how the size (5) and different type of needle (a very freaking slick metal) affects my gauge.

Am I really that dedicated? Fuckin' A, I am.

Not so much...the truth is, I am in postal hell waiting on my Addi's to arrive, and I will use any plausible excuse to knit with this KP Shine & Addi Turbos.

I also heard from my SP7 mystery buddy today! Woot! I am so very excited to hear from her. I did finally put up the questionarre.

Hmm, I need to come up with a groovy set of stitch markers for the pal that I'll be spoiling. Sumthin' Special.