Still alive, by the skin of my teeth

Here's some advice, it's free and I'm most definitely not using it. Once you reach the age of 38 (or so) you have no business going out to a stagette and drinking with the 19 - 26 crowd. Just so you know.

Before we get to that though, 'Nessa and I went to the production centre tour of Bard on the Beach on Saturday afternoon. It was great. Got to see the teeny tiny little mockups of what the stages will look like, checked out the costuming department (beyond cool!), and then...wait for it...we got to sit in on part of the rehearsal for Taming of the Shrew. FABULOUS! My three favourite actors were all there, Haig Sutherland, Rob Frazer, and Kyle Rideout. It was wonderful. They are doing it in the concept of spaghetti western and it really worked. It's going to be hilarious.

From there, I'm afraid things went downhill. A bunch of us were going to celebrate a friends impending (hmmm, that sounds sort of ominous) marriage and away we went. To the strippers. I'm proud to say, I had never been to the strippers before. I can no longer say that. Sigh. Before we went Vanessa and I were having a few drinks at home. Which led to a few shooters. Which led to this:


This one has some Stella in it. The dogs were having a gas with us running around like idiots.

Why yes, we are cool! It's like Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings threw up. You can tell how this is going to end, can't you? Off to the bar, more drinks, falling, having to leave the bar. Yep, I am way too old for these sorts of activities. Anyway...needless to say 'Nessa and I were just a scoach hung over on Sunday. So hung over in fact that I did not make it to my mom's house and take her for dinner. I might actually be the worst daughter in the world. I'm sorry mom! I'll totally make it up to you this weekend. :)

Also, because of the production centre tour I didn't make it to the Fibre Festival. Lavender says it was lovely. Go see the linen she's spinning, very cool!

After my interview with the RCMP yesterday (which went okay I think,) I popped over to a yarn store in the area that I had never been to, Three Bags Full. Nice, lots of stuff I hadn't seen in person before, Blue Sky Alpaca, Kidsilk Haze, Louet Gems, etc. I did pick up a few things, you know to make me feel better about missing the fibre festival. Okay that's what I'm telling myself. Some Lorna's Laces shepherd sport in purple and orange, a couple skeins of Malabrigo, and I think what might be the last two skeins of Sweet Georgia sock yarn in Vancouver. Oh, and a Noro book.

On the Sockapalooza front, I've started my pal's socks. I did end up changing my mind about the pattern about 76 times. I'm just getting to the patterning so I'll take a pici tomorrow when it looks like more. Version 76.a.1 are the Tidal Wave socks. I think the greens will look nice. Okay, that's it, I'm outta here. I got a tonne o' stuff to get done before work tonight. This working afternoons is starting to grind a bit. Have a good day everyone, I'm going to go sit in my yard in the sunshine and knit a bit before I go to work. :)

Wicked, ungrateful, forgetful,

Daft, etc. I totally forgot to show you this:

When I got up yesterday there was a surprise waiting for me. Look what Vanessa got me! How sweet is that. I wore it to work last night. I felt gangsta and knitta, all at the same time! Ta da! Thank you 'Ness. I love it!

Nerves

I start my new job tomorrow afternoon and I'm feeling just a touch nervous. Actually, when I stop and fully think about it I kind of almost throw up a little bit. I'm sure that's perfectly normal. Oh well, at least I finally took the leap and moved out of that comfort circle.

On Friday there was cake at work and then Lisa and Vanessa had a wee song prepared. They revamped the So Long, Farewell song from The Sound of Music to be all about where we work. It was awesome! Then some time in the pub where some shooters were shot. It's been so long since I did tequila shots that I forgot the order one is supposed to do the salt/lime/tequila in. How sad is that!

Yesterday Vanessa and I went to Macleod's Books. WOW! It was fantastic. When you walk in there is that old old old book smell. Inside the front cover of a collection of Thomas Moore's poems was a gift inscription from 1902. It was wonderful. We wandered around and drooled for two hours and didn't even feel like any time had passed. We didn't even make it to the basement! Next time. We also hid Grand & Toy and bought blank notebooks. It was brilliant to go with someone who gets that same look in there eye for pens, paper, and books.

After our shopping foray we had grilled panini sandwiches in a little cafe and drooled over our books some more. It was an awesome day.

I washed and blocked my Glampyre raglan and I should be sewing up the hem today. If I do I'll post a pici later on. It washed up so soft, I'm sure it will be one of my staple sweaters come next winter. Actually, the way the clouds are rolling in maybe I'll get to wear it today before I fold it up and store it away for winter.

And finally, I'm very sad to report that my Canucks have lost two straight. Both of them shutouts. They have to win tomorrow night or they are eliminated from the playoffs. Soooooo, if everyone out there could send a wee happy hockey thought to Vancouver at about seven pm pacific time, that would be great! Thanks. :)

More entries, and a linkfest

The Dulaan contest is getting exciting! Just look at this! Lucy over at Workbasket submitted 16 items. Whoot whoot! I am blown away.

Now go on over there and wish her a happy birthday. :)

And Beth, (who I believe is blogless, but if not, please speak up and let us come to your place!) made this gorgeous steppe sweater for Dulaan. I love the colours and it looks amazingly warm and comfy. I love it. Note to self, must make one of these sweaters.


It's always so exciting to see what other people are creating, especially for something as wonderful as Dulaan. Thanks guys, you rock!

Now, how many of you signed up for Sockapalooza 4 today? I can't wait to get my partner. I want to cast on right now. Sing out in comments if you're in on this. I would love to follow along with all of you on what socks you're making.

Okay, first game of the NHL playoffs tonight. My Canucks are playing the Stars, at home. And...it's Trevor Linden's birthday. Swoon. Everything send some good hockey juju for my boys. They so deserve a Stanley Cup.

The only problem I foresee, my gauge is completely screwy when I'm watching hockey, especially playoffs. Should make for an interesting Poppy.

Oh, before I forget, I also joined Hello Yarn's fibre club. 'Cause I ordered that Spindolyn. Oh crap, another obsessive hobby. Sigh.

Well hello there!

And how are ye? Sorry, we were just discussing St. Patrick's Day and I'm feeling a wee touch o' the Irish.

We had the Big Brother's Bowling fundraiser on Friday night. It was a 50's theme. Here are couple of picis for you to feast your eyes upon.

Obligatory bathroom shot in the morning before leaving for work. We decided to wear our outfits to work. It was casual Friday after all. Besides that, we're children.

Here is Vanessa and her amazingly poofy skirt. You wouldn't think a girl could bowl in that. Vanessa may just be the most agressive bowler I've ever seen in my life. She didn't so much bowl as shotput the ball down the lane!



And here is the lovely Sandra. We had to do wacky bowling, of course, this was Sandra bowling while sitting on Vanessa's lap. Much harder than one would presume!

We had a lot of fun and our team raised almost $1,500.00 for the Big Brother cause.

In other news, it is still year end at work and yesterday began the days of the the 12 hour shifts. Wow, I had forgotten how long 12 hours felt. I think I'm getting soft the older I get. Oh well, tonight I'm home and I'm knitting and it's all good.

I wanted to give some links to some fun knitting items that you might like to consider for Dulaan. Then you can enter the contest and maybe win a little something something. Wink wink. You know you want to! Anyway, you can find some very nice items to knit here, or here, or here, or here (as suggested by Mary on the Dulaan Knits Group), or here. That should give you a few good ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Now go forth and create! Then tell me all about it, my email is off to right there.

Wow, is there a class for this?

Man, I have got to get better at taking picis of myself and others. Pictures of yarn and nonmoving objects, not so bad. Anything with a pulse, forget it.

There is the giggle and jiggle

The flashbulb in the mirror.

Tottally off centre

The one where I look like I have a stick up my butt.

The one where I have 7 chins and a weird facial expression.

'Nessa looks good though, such a pretty smile! Needless to say, these are my fruitless attempts so show you my new cardigan. It needs some form of closure in the V-neck area, I'm thinking a length of thin leather to tie if I want it to stay closed.

I really like the sweater, very comfy and the yarn is great after being machine washed and dried flat. Not sure I if I would use the dryer, maybe one day when I'm feeling brave.

In other much more productive notes, Ann is knitting like a mad woman. I think it is the new swift and the ballwinder driving her on. Take a look at this little sweater she made last week. So cute! I've made this pattern for a friend at work and it is a winner. Actually, the cardi above in the incredibly sad photos is from the same designer. I love her patterns. I'm lazy, I don't sew, what can I tell you.

I found a new home for the Denise needles set. Hi Darlene! They are heading east as we speak and I hope she will be very happy with them. I'm going to order my Knitpicks set this weekend and then stalk the mailman for a week or so. He likes that. I still have not found the box with the book prize, but I will, I promise. Some time this week.

I also finished a couple of Flap Caps this week during my odd moments of free time between work and home. One two strand model of sock yarn and DK weight wool like Pat did and one in Patons SWS.

I'm off to do some more work on my long in the works crocheted afghan. I think I should be able to finish it this weekend. Finally. It's only been ongoing for about two years. Sheesh!

A quickie with some picis

Vanessa, my friend from work, and the daughter I will never have, got me the greatest gift! Look at how cool this is. It's one tremendously long zipper that you zip up and up and up and up into a purse. It's my new small project knitting bag. I love it!



To prove that Nessa is the daughter I will never have just look at this. We bought the exact same geek shoes two days apart and when we weren't even together. Love it!


I also got these in the mail yesterday. They are really nice! I am seriously swooning over the pointiness of these needles and the smoothness of the join. Wow. I think I'm gonna buy the set.


To that end I will be selling my Denise set + an extra 52 inch cord (very handy for ponchos and blankets). $25.00 US plus shipping via Paypal and she's all yours. If you're interested drop me a line at beentsyATyahooDOTca.

I've also been a busy little beaver lately making some stitch markers and such for the upcoming Dulaan contest. We're gonna start the party on March 1 so get you're needles warmed up. I'm thinking some stitch markers, a book, some yarn, and I don't know what else there will be for prizes. Aren't you excited? Wicked!

Oh, and I got the new Spring IK. I am not amused. IK is not supposed to have all the patterns in the back like Vogue and FCEK do. That's one of the biggest reasons I like IK. Make the OH! noise about a pattern, look to the side, check out the pattern and see if you have the yarn, is is something you want to attempt, what does the designer have to say about it, etc. etc. etc. Oh well, whatcha gonna do eh? That said, I love the Green Tea Raglan, the Bauhaus Fair Isle, and the Dollar and a Half Cardigan.

And Kat, you are totally right. Matching is probably highly overrated! And to that end, I scavenged a really cool mirror yesterday when I was at work. A woman who was moving was putting out a bunch of stuff for the garbage and I swept in and saved the mirror. Within about 15 minutes everything she had put out was picked up and taken away by people. I love recycling!

Okay, gotta go do laundry. Must have clean undies & jeans for casual Friday. Too much information? Yeah, you're probably right.