NOTE: THIS IS THE THIRD POST IN A SERIES. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO START WITH THE PREVIOUS TWO POSTS.
You've got to be freaking kidding me.
(imagine here a photo of our coffee canister...EMPTY)
Just for the record. I haven't been awake all night. At about 3.30 my eyes actually crossed. Really, they did - one went in one direction and the other in a different direction with no help from me. I meant to just have a little lie down...not a lie in. Dang! It's 8.30! I gotta go.
More later.
Friday, January 30, 2009
multiple times a day...second one
NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND BLOG IN A SERIES. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THE PREVIOUS POST.
2.10 am. Multi-tasking right now. Barely. Knitting. Watching a movie. Writing a blog. AND trying to get some photos off the camera onto new computer. No luck. I realize without photo documentation you all might not believe that I'm actually finishing this sweater for David. But the carbo-loading I did for dinner is causing a great crash in my energy at this point so arguing with the new computer about how one SHOULD be able to access photos off the camera is futile.
(imagine here a photo of a great pile of white pasta...a dish known to most of you as mac and cheese. It's not yellow because cheese here is white...all cheese in this country is white. Well, except for blue cheese which is, well blue...but I digress. Also seen in non-seen photo is a glass of wine. Also white. Also a carb that delivers more energy initially but with diminishing returns over time)
(imagine here a photo of the sweater. Front, back, 1 and 1/3 sleeves completed)
I have completed 42 rows of the second sleeve, I according my calculations (which, admittedly could be a bit faulty at this point) I have 48 rows to go before I start the rib cuff. Yes, that's more rows to go than I have done HOWEVER I'm working the sleeve from the top down so those rows are getting shorter. Even so, I am at this point a little worried.
(imagine here a photo of a 1/3rd of a sleeve that is wide enough to fit the ankle of an elephant)
Did I mention that I noticed I hadn't done the collar yet either?
stay tuned.
2.10 am. Multi-tasking right now. Barely. Knitting. Watching a movie. Writing a blog. AND trying to get some photos off the camera onto new computer. No luck. I realize without photo documentation you all might not believe that I'm actually finishing this sweater for David. But the carbo-loading I did for dinner is causing a great crash in my energy at this point so arguing with the new computer about how one SHOULD be able to access photos off the camera is futile.
(imagine here a photo of a great pile of white pasta...a dish known to most of you as mac and cheese. It's not yellow because cheese here is white...all cheese in this country is white. Well, except for blue cheese which is, well blue...but I digress. Also seen in non-seen photo is a glass of wine. Also white. Also a carb that delivers more energy initially but with diminishing returns over time)
(imagine here a photo of the sweater. Front, back, 1 and 1/3 sleeves completed)
I have completed 42 rows of the second sleeve, I according my calculations (which, admittedly could be a bit faulty at this point) I have 48 rows to go before I start the rib cuff. Yes, that's more rows to go than I have done HOWEVER I'm working the sleeve from the top down so those rows are getting shorter. Even so, I am at this point a little worried.
(imagine here a photo of a 1/3rd of a sleeve that is wide enough to fit the ankle of an elephant)
Did I mention that I noticed I hadn't done the collar yet either?
stay tuned.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
multiple times a day...first one
Just to prove to you all that I'm serious about that blogging more regularly...no wait, I mean more OFTEN. Once a week is regular but not often. I'm trying to be more often. Anyway...in this effort, I'm going to blog multiple times tonight! Yep you read that correctly, I'm up for an all night blog session.
So here's the thing...David is in Venice tonight. He went on a little bead buying trip for me. Can't wait to see the new stuff (if you're interested, check my etsy shop in the next few weeks, there should be new bling). He left this morning at 3.30 so he could be there in time for morning as well as afternoon shopping. Maberga Designs could really only afford one night at a hotel so he made this sacrifice to maximize the shopping/meeting bead artisans time to get me the best stuff he could.
This supposed 6 hour drive, unfortunately took a bit longer than his google map predicted. When he crossed Piedmont the car thermostat registered something in negative numbers. I'm talking here about the ENGINE thermostat...not the one that reads outside the car temps (that's even kind of funny to think about - David's 13 year old Fiat having a weather thermometer...excuse me for a moment while I gather myself from the hysterical laughing fit I'm experiencing......... OK, I'm back). So when he stopped to get some car-please-don't-freeze-and-destroy-my-engine fluid, the gas station attendant informed him that he was missing 3 (of four) tail lights. "you will get a large fine for that if the police stop you." So pallly David had to get some new tail lights and have them put in. Back on the road he noticed that there was no change in the thermostat. Next gas station guy put more fluid in and then told him, when there was still no change in the negative reading that his thermostat was probably broken. "this is not a problem in cold weather but it should be fixed before hot weather." Trooper David, rationalizing that he will be home before hot weather comes decided to go forward and think about the thermometer at some later date...shopping time is being a-wasted. Surviving all this only to arrive somewhere in the Venice outer-world and get lost in some desolate industrial hell. A desolate industrial hell that we happened to get lost in last time we drove to Venice compounding the frustration by adding "Groundhog Day" effect.
After all this, Champ Dave calls me at 12.30 requesting the address of my favorite bead maker. "Can you tell me the street. I"m sure it was here where I am." Yep, sure enough, it WAS. Dude moved his workshop. A few calls, some asking, a bit of wandering, Dear David found my Alessandro and got me my favorites.
I'm telling you all this because it is the prelude to the all night blog session. Call it foreplay if you want.
In September I cast on a sweater for my husband. I really worked on this thing like mad for, well, like a day. Then I got bored. Then a bunch of christmas knitting came, the Florentino, etc. I lamely knit a row or two while watching a movie but only if David had been asking after his sweater.
David: Do you think it will be done by winter?
Lynn: Not likely.
David: Do you think it will be done Christmas?
Lynn: Are you kidding? Have you seen the Florentino?
David: Do you think it will be done before winter is over?
Lynn: Um... um... jeez...get off my back.
So again I will say this is all preamble for the blog-o-thon. I'm going to finish the Dude's sweater by the time he comes home tomorrow evening with my beads. Pally, Champ, Dear, Dude deserves it.
It's 9 pm right now. I only have one sleeve to go and all the sewing up BUT 1. this wool takes FORever to go any distance. It's not thin. It just doesn't move, I can't explain it. It's part of the reason that the thing hasn't been finished earlier. 2. The last sleeve took me 3 weeks to finish. Yeah, a good deal of that 3 weeks was paper mache, my own pink sweater, my own blue sweater, a new rag rug and a few pair of socks, but still...
I will check in regularly with updates...as well as sleep deprived insane ramblings.
If you'll excuse me now I have some knitting to get to...right after I make myself some dinner.
Wish me luck.
So here's the thing...David is in Venice tonight. He went on a little bead buying trip for me. Can't wait to see the new stuff (if you're interested, check my etsy shop in the next few weeks, there should be new bling). He left this morning at 3.30 so he could be there in time for morning as well as afternoon shopping. Maberga Designs could really only afford one night at a hotel so he made this sacrifice to maximize the shopping/meeting bead artisans time to get me the best stuff he could.
This supposed 6 hour drive, unfortunately took a bit longer than his google map predicted. When he crossed Piedmont the car thermostat registered something in negative numbers. I'm talking here about the ENGINE thermostat...not the one that reads outside the car temps (that's even kind of funny to think about - David's 13 year old Fiat having a weather thermometer...excuse me for a moment while I gather myself from the hysterical laughing fit I'm experiencing......... OK, I'm back). So when he stopped to get some car-please-don't-freeze-and-destroy-my-engine fluid, the gas station attendant informed him that he was missing 3 (of four) tail lights. "you will get a large fine for that if the police stop you." So pallly David had to get some new tail lights and have them put in. Back on the road he noticed that there was no change in the thermostat. Next gas station guy put more fluid in and then told him, when there was still no change in the negative reading that his thermostat was probably broken. "this is not a problem in cold weather but it should be fixed before hot weather." Trooper David, rationalizing that he will be home before hot weather comes decided to go forward and think about the thermometer at some later date...shopping time is being a-wasted. Surviving all this only to arrive somewhere in the Venice outer-world and get lost in some desolate industrial hell. A desolate industrial hell that we happened to get lost in last time we drove to Venice compounding the frustration by adding "Groundhog Day" effect.
After all this, Champ Dave calls me at 12.30 requesting the address of my favorite bead maker. "Can you tell me the street. I"m sure it was here where I am." Yep, sure enough, it WAS. Dude moved his workshop. A few calls, some asking, a bit of wandering, Dear David found my Alessandro and got me my favorites.
I'm telling you all this because it is the prelude to the all night blog session. Call it foreplay if you want.
In September I cast on a sweater for my husband. I really worked on this thing like mad for, well, like a day. Then I got bored. Then a bunch of christmas knitting came, the Florentino, etc. I lamely knit a row or two while watching a movie but only if David had been asking after his sweater.
David: Do you think it will be done by winter?
Lynn: Not likely.
David: Do you think it will be done Christmas?
Lynn: Are you kidding? Have you seen the Florentino?
David: Do you think it will be done before winter is over?
Lynn: Um... um... jeez...get off my back.
So again I will say this is all preamble for the blog-o-thon. I'm going to finish the Dude's sweater by the time he comes home tomorrow evening with my beads. Pally, Champ, Dear, Dude deserves it.
It's 9 pm right now. I only have one sleeve to go and all the sewing up BUT 1. this wool takes FORever to go any distance. It's not thin. It just doesn't move, I can't explain it. It's part of the reason that the thing hasn't been finished earlier. 2. The last sleeve took me 3 weeks to finish. Yeah, a good deal of that 3 weeks was paper mache, my own pink sweater, my own blue sweater, a new rag rug and a few pair of socks, but still...
I will check in regularly with updates...as well as sleep deprived insane ramblings.
If you'll excuse me now I have some knitting to get to...right after I make myself some dinner.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
a drought...
Sorry about the weekly blog routine that we seem to have fallen into. I really have great intensions of being a 4-5 blog sessions a week kind of girl but, well, it seems that lately I've sort of lost my blog-drive.
I know what you, my blogging partners are thinking, "what's happened? In the beginning we blogged every night..sometimes you wanted to blog multiple times a day. You didn't even want to knit because you wanted to blog. There were the photos and all the other fun blog toys. You used to DRAW blog pictures for us when you weren't actually blogging with us because you were so into it! What's happened? Are we destined to be once a week blogging partners for the rest of our lives?"
I know. I know. Isn't it sad? It's not that I don't WANT to have an active blog life, honestly, I DO. I love blogging. It's relaxing and therapeutic and, well, come on - it feels really good! It's a great way to finish a day. I love the whole process, starting with a little glass of wine to set the mood. Then the typing and typing and typing,... sometimes with a photo or two,... more typing and typing and typing until... PUBLISH! Wow. I sleep much more peacefully after a good blog. I wake up with a smile on my face.
So what I'm saying is that I really do enjoy it but it's like this: each night I snuggle right up to the computer for little fun, a little end of the day release. I check my mood - am I feeling serious and introspective, ready to blog deeply, or is it whimsical and playful I feel like? Or maybe just a quickie blog to let you know I'm still here? Then I notice that I just feel, well, like not blogging. Then, I don't know, I get a head ache, or I'm too tired, or it's too cold, or the dogs have to go out or I'm really into this book that I just want to read or ...well, you get the picture.
Yes, I've heard the saying before - use it or lose it. So, dear blog partners, I'm telling you that I'm committed to this blog relationship and will do what it takes to get us past this little drought.
I know what you, my blogging partners are thinking, "what's happened? In the beginning we blogged every night..sometimes you wanted to blog multiple times a day. You didn't even want to knit because you wanted to blog. There were the photos and all the other fun blog toys. You used to DRAW blog pictures for us when you weren't actually blogging with us because you were so into it! What's happened? Are we destined to be once a week blogging partners for the rest of our lives?"
I know. I know. Isn't it sad? It's not that I don't WANT to have an active blog life, honestly, I DO. I love blogging. It's relaxing and therapeutic and, well, come on - it feels really good! It's a great way to finish a day. I love the whole process, starting with a little glass of wine to set the mood. Then the typing and typing and typing,... sometimes with a photo or two,... more typing and typing and typing until... PUBLISH! Wow. I sleep much more peacefully after a good blog. I wake up with a smile on my face.
So what I'm saying is that I really do enjoy it but it's like this: each night I snuggle right up to the computer for little fun, a little end of the day release. I check my mood - am I feeling serious and introspective, ready to blog deeply, or is it whimsical and playful I feel like? Or maybe just a quickie blog to let you know I'm still here? Then I notice that I just feel, well, like not blogging. Then, I don't know, I get a head ache, or I'm too tired, or it's too cold, or the dogs have to go out or I'm really into this book that I just want to read or ...well, you get the picture.
Yes, I've heard the saying before - use it or lose it. So, dear blog partners, I'm telling you that I'm committed to this blog relationship and will do what it takes to get us past this little drought.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Serenity
Hey there, I'm back. We've been experiencing some major technical difficulties here in Maberga...something involving a glass of red wine and the keyboard. The thing with a lap top is that the keyboard is right on top of all the important stuff that makes the computer a computer. Luckily, our old PC, the one that we thought was dead 6 months ago, prompting us to buy the mac, wasn't really dead and we therefore had continued using it. Continued until last week, that is, when it met its demise - killed by a glass of Tuscan Reserve. I can think of worse ways to go. Not to worry though, David got the new mac connected to the internet so all is right with the world again.
Any of you guys recently (like in the past 10 years) gone a week without internet? I've realized that I have indeed become addicted to the internet, addicted to all its services, conveniences, tools, entertainment, distractions and the hour sucking vastness of its existence.
Here's how I know...I googled the definition of withdrawal (first indication of IA - Internet Addiction: anyone remember how find answers any more WITHOUT the internet? yeah, me neither.) and found this...
"Definition: A term referring to the feelings of discomfort, distress, and intense craving for a substance that occur when use of the substance is stopped. These physical symptoms occur because the body had become metabolically adapted to the substance. The withdrawal symptoms can range from mild discomfort resembling the flu to severe withdrawal that can actually be life threatening."
The definition went on with this:
"There are five basic stages of withdrawal:
Withdrawal Stage – may be accompanied by fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression."
For me this lasted two days and sounded something like this: oh my god!, my email! my blog! my Etsy shop! everyone else's blog! what if I have to find the definition of something?! Ravelry! yeah, Ok, I guess I'll just work on that sweater for David that I started last Septmeber. Honey, do I feel warm to you?
"Honeymoon Stage – the opposite of withdrawal that is often accompanied by feelings of energy, optimism, and confidence."
This was day three and looked something like this: SWEET!!! I have soooooo much extra time now! This is awesome! Who needs email? If someone wants to tell me something, they can call me! And my blog - well, I have a real excuse for not writing! (no offense to you Olive Knitting readers, it's not that I don't like writing this blog but it does take time from a busy girl's day).
"The Wall Stage – time when most relapses occur due to the reemergence of feelings of anxiety and depression."
Day three and a half - David, can I use your blackberry?
"Adjustment Stage – a period of realization and acceptance that change is a lifelong struggle."
Days 4 through 8 - when, slowly slowly I accepted the fact that we are in Italy where getting basic software that is sold at the 7-11 in the US, is a difficult task and I will remain without the internet for some undetermined time. During which time I think I started muttered something along these lines "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."
There is a 5th Stage...
"Resolution Stage – occurs after six months of sobriety or abstinence."
I don't know if I could be that serene.
Any of you guys recently (like in the past 10 years) gone a week without internet? I've realized that I have indeed become addicted to the internet, addicted to all its services, conveniences, tools, entertainment, distractions and the hour sucking vastness of its existence.
Here's how I know...I googled the definition of withdrawal (first indication of IA - Internet Addiction: anyone remember how find answers any more WITHOUT the internet? yeah, me neither.) and found this...
"Definition: A term referring to the feelings of discomfort, distress, and intense craving for a substance that occur when use of the substance is stopped. These physical symptoms occur because the body had become metabolically adapted to the substance. The withdrawal symptoms can range from mild discomfort resembling the flu to severe withdrawal that can actually be life threatening."
The definition went on with this:
"There are five basic stages of withdrawal:
Withdrawal Stage – may be accompanied by fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression."
For me this lasted two days and sounded something like this: oh my god!, my email! my blog! my Etsy shop! everyone else's blog! what if I have to find the definition of something?! Ravelry! yeah, Ok, I guess I'll just work on that sweater for David that I started last Septmeber. Honey, do I feel warm to you?
"Honeymoon Stage – the opposite of withdrawal that is often accompanied by feelings of energy, optimism, and confidence."
This was day three and looked something like this: SWEET!!! I have soooooo much extra time now! This is awesome! Who needs email? If someone wants to tell me something, they can call me! And my blog - well, I have a real excuse for not writing! (no offense to you Olive Knitting readers, it's not that I don't like writing this blog but it does take time from a busy girl's day).
"The Wall Stage – time when most relapses occur due to the reemergence of feelings of anxiety and depression."
Day three and a half - David, can I use your blackberry?
"Adjustment Stage – a period of realization and acceptance that change is a lifelong struggle."
Days 4 through 8 - when, slowly slowly I accepted the fact that we are in Italy where getting basic software that is sold at the 7-11 in the US, is a difficult task and I will remain without the internet for some undetermined time. During which time I think I started muttered something along these lines "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."
There is a 5th Stage...
"Resolution Stage – occurs after six months of sobriety or abstinence."
I don't know if I could be that serene.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Viva!
Just a few reasons that I haven't posted to my blog in a week or so...
1. Mette's back!!! Viva Das Needle Club!
2. Putting wood on the fire in the bedroom. Viva living in the whole house again!
3. Just two words...paper mache. Viva flour, water, and newspaper!
4. The first FO (finished object) of 2009. Viva a warm neck! And Viva free knitting patterns from Ravelry (this one found HERE)
5. Taking sunny walks with two healthy dogs. Viva spring bulbs in January!
6. Handmade earring holders. Viva olive tree prunings and sea-bricks!
7. New earrings to go on new holders. Viva la bling!
8. New necklaces. I repeat...Viva la bling!
9. An almost finished sweater for MYSELF. Viva no more Christmas knitting!
1. Mette's back!!! Viva Das Needle Club!
2. Putting wood on the fire in the bedroom. Viva living in the whole house again!
3. Just two words...paper mache. Viva flour, water, and newspaper!
4. The first FO (finished object) of 2009. Viva a warm neck! And Viva free knitting patterns from Ravelry (this one found HERE)
5. Taking sunny walks with two healthy dogs. Viva spring bulbs in January!
6. Handmade earring holders. Viva olive tree prunings and sea-bricks!
7. New earrings to go on new holders. Viva la bling!
8. New necklaces. I repeat...Viva la bling!
9. An almost finished sweater for MYSELF. Viva no more Christmas knitting!
Friday, January 09, 2009
an actual conversation on day 3 of one room living
Lynn: I'm kind of enjoying these days where we are stuck living just in the kitchen. It's fun. Like a pj party in a fort...that's lasting for days.
David: Yeah. It feels less squalid this year than it has in years past.
It's good to know, at this turn of a new year, that we are improving.
David: Yeah. It feels less squalid this year than it has in years past.
It's good to know, at this turn of a new year, that we are improving.
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