It's December

The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy knows best: DON'T PANIC

So, some pluses and minuses:

- it's warm and raining, which means goodbye to our first big dump of snow, just accumulated this morning
+ we totally suited up and cross country skied all over our neighbourhoods this morning
+ we've been out skiing 3 times now and we love it. There's lots of placed to go here, and lots of them are free and easy to get to
+ I know I'm getting a Mac for Christmas (eeee!)
- I will acquire said Mac and then NOT USE IT TILL Christmas!
+ Christmas this year for us is Dec. 15th
+ This week we go see Feist!
+ That counts as another plus
- I have a few more undergraduate final projects to mark
- I have about 8 million more articles to red for my thesis and then I need to write it. and collect data. Then write about that too. Then get people to read it, do some re-writing and some defending. I about 6 months.
- That counts for another minus.
+ Craft fair coming up next weekend, knitting is fun!
- I'm worried some of my stuff isn't as good as it should be considering I want to sell it under an actual business name

Here's a picture:
Sorry no skiing pictures because I keep forgetting. I will eventually remember, I promise!

Take it easy, mega-people

back on the wagon

I picked up the needles recently and have decided to finally start the Fugl sweater/jacket I'm so enamored with. Even though I collected enough second hand and new(through second hand stores) wool to do it, the main colour I found was not the one I wanted, and it was in kind of ratty shape. So, unprecedented for me, I went out and bout both the needles I needed AND the rest of the wool I needed too. Usually I'm totally against buying new wool, sinple because it's too expensive for me to enjoy knitting, but since 1/3 of the stuff I need was scavenged, and I really want this to turnout well, I feel good about it. I have the body done up to the belly buttn about, though I changed the colour pattern a bit. It feels good to be back on that!

Also, it look slike we are in the dreamy state of thinking baout our next trip. It ws too early before, sicne we had two years here, but tht time is dwindling, and the hazy future is looking more plausable. And, and time a lease is up, I consider it a sign to go out and do something. Hopefully somthing different than I'v eever done before, but like I say..it's hazy ;-)

School is good. I went to a green building meeting yesterday and my sister is helping me out with her mad research skills and her plum job connection, so I feel better about it than ever before. And my dreams have gotten less weird, and less stressed, so hopefully that's a good sign. Sad to say, not much else going on over here. Rob's got some nice gigs lined up which is great. We're hopin go go camping hte weekend after next. Things are good. See ya!!!

Texas on the horizon

I leave for Texas on Tuesday after tutorial...around 6-ish in the evening.

I got my F-class licence! I can now (legally) drive a 15 passenger van. Man, I forgot how freaked out a person can get waiting to do a practical test. Also, I waited until less than 10 days before the trip, meaning a fail would have left us in a pickle. Generally you have to wait 10 days to re-test...anyway it's done. Phew! It's cool because I will get experience and have the licence forever (with a written test maintenance every few years) and it'll come in handy I'm sure.

My thesis is coming along well. I have a pile of research to do to get it up to snuff, but I at least know what to look up. It's good. I might get to talk to eccentric excellent people! very good!

I can't really believe how fast Texas snuck up on me. I'll be gone for 2 weeks then it'll be March and school will proceed to kick my ass. Awkward! I'm hoping g to get a good stab in on getting things done in advance because I know that every little thing I do now will help me in the long run.

Tomorrow I'm taking a new knitter to a yarn store! I'm excited because it's always fun to talk yarn with people who actually care and I like to go back to this shop as much as I can because it's kind of discount-y and thy sometimes have wicked deals on clearance needles or yarn. I absolutely don't need more yarn, but whatever. I like to look. I'm a yarn porn voyeur!

Tomorrow Ludwig goes back to the vet for a check-up. he started scooting along the carpet and looked really uncomfortable [non-cat people STOP READING]
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And he has an anal gland infection. He had to get them, uh, expressed, and take an antibiotic every day. He "takes" his pill like a trooper every morning and I'm hoping he shows a good improvement tomorrow. He hasn't scooted since the antibiotics started, so I'm taking that as a good sign.


[/gross cat stuff]

The vet also said he was too fat, so we've started restricting their food. 1 and 1/4 cup per day for the two of them. And I add some psyllium husk as extra fibre. They don't seem too worried, though they complain if the food is getting low. Ah well, as long as their bums are good.

Awesome! aren't you glad you stopped by! At least this'll be a travel blog of sorts again soon. No pictures sue to our wonky camera, but I will try to be descriptive and tell compelling stories of 12 people crammed in a van for 15 (think of the luggage! aaaaah!) and trying to figure out hotel room etiquette and so-on. Should be guaranteed laughs!

I'm also still biking to school every day, despite wind and blowing snow. That's the worst I've had so far. The blowing snow drifts make it slow going, and it's harder to control the bike in deeper snow. It has helped me get a better idea of a rear wheel drive though. I really like biking in the winter. I have a great route where I can stay off the roads and go through a park and I can keep a tight schedule and I don't have to take the bus! It was a personal challenge for myself this winter and feel good that I've stuck with it and am doing okay still. I like the idea of setting personal challenges for myself, and setting myself up for success. Small, manageable things that still improve my life. Building good habits. I have lots of those I could still work on getting!

I'm also still thinking about the next big adventure. Carolyn, Murray , Rob and I think we've got the next trans-continental idea set for after graduation, but I also have other idea of hings to pursue. I'm glad I'm going to Texas because it feels like I've been in one place for a long time. The thing I really like about this one is I'm coming home to the same place. I'm coming home to home! That hasn't happened for my last 2 trips at least.

I've been knitting up a storm and have completed a neck warmer which was too big for me but Rob loves. I also just finished a pair of plain, lined mitts. They are extra long on the cuff to stay tucked into jackets, and they are lined with soft wool roving, which I stranded along the inside like I was changing colours. It added an extra layer and now I'm worried that they are too warm. Hopefully they'll get some use! I've cast on my next small project, but I'm not ready to say what it in case it works out and I send it to the intended recipient.

I feel so relieved about the driving test! Now all I have to do is drive to Texas. Should be a piece of cake, right?

FO specs

I forgot to tell you my finished specs for Rob's sweater.

Design: Lopi 25's Strax

Yarn: Some mystery wool from the second hand store, but it's basically a 100% wool bulky lopi, in brown. Basically the same as the picture above actually, though I didn't have/use the orange at the neck. The pattern called for 9 or 10 balls, but I used 8. Maybe my wool was chunkier than they anticipated (i.e. I used bulky instead of regular?). Hard to say since my wool came without labels.

Needles:I used 9mm and then both 9mm and 8mm double pointeds for the sleeves and collar, respectively. The 9mm were homemade and saved my about $10. They are a little stickier than plastic/metal, but do the trick and don't wreck the wool.

Changes to pattern: I made the body longer, and the sleeves too. I didn't bother with the 8mm (smaller) needles on the sleeve cuffs since I didn't want them to be to clingy, and I modifies bits and pieces here and there as I got R to try them on. Nothing fancy, and nothing counter-intuitive.

I forget when I started it, before Christmas, but I knit then riped the whole body, then I knit and ripped a sleeve too. Anyway, fat wool plus big needles plus 3 pieces only = a pretty quick knit. I'd definitely make it again, though I'd figure out a better shoulder situation and better seaming techniques.

I'd recommend this pattern to all my knitty friends out there! It's not too hard and it's very rewarding!

She'll be coming around that mountain when she comes

Here is an almost done sleeve, re-knit from a too-small predecessor. I'm doubly proud of it because not only is it alovely sleeve that fits well so far, BUT it was also made with homemade needles! Michael's didn't have my 9mm double pointeds, so we bought a corresponding dowel, Rob rigged up the belt sander, and we made a great set. They were a little sticky to start but settled down nicely and are working perfectly! The set cost 88 cents plus about 2 minutes labour. YES. You can imagine just how well this little scenario plays on my delight meter. I'm knitting on reclaimed recycled wool with homemade freaking needles. Oh, it feels good.

On a slightly more somber note, I think I may re-knit the whole body as well, since it's seeming a little snug, too, but it's such a quick and satsfying knit, it'll be alright.

Sorry about the crappy poictures, I haven't got the hang of yarn close-ups yet. Hopefully I'll improve with more finshed object pictures.

Hasta luego!