Thanks!

Thanks for the comments on the funky and monkey pants. I also whipped up a pair of pink/yellow/orange plaid pants. I just have to do the hems and they are fini!

I did absolutely no knitting at work today. It's the end of the month, so I was closing out files and I also did some collections for my second job. You would think that collecting money from banks, mortgage and escrow companies would be easier than the common man... well don't. They are WORSE!!! Condensed version:

me: I have an invoice from July of 2003 that still hasn't been paid

Mr. Big Bank: Big Bank doesn't pay invoices older than 90 days.

me: We've been trying to collect this from you for two years.

Mr. BB: Big Bank doesn't pay invoices older than 90 days.

me: We've sent several invoices.

Mr. BB: I'm sorry, but Big Bank doesn't pay invoices older than 90 days. We've had to implement this policy because smaller companies (implying mine) don't get invoices to us within a reasonable time.

me: The appraisal was done well before closing and I have a registered mail receipt that was sent within your 90-day policy.

Mr. BB: There is nothing that I can do about that. Big Bank does not pay invoices older than 90-days.

me: Do you have a supervisor that I can speak to?

Mr. BB: I can give you the address for the corporate office in New Jersey. However, the policy is...

**** about this time I felt the urge to shove his policy somewhere*****

me: You have explained the policy and I fully understand it. Do you know Mr. X? (one of his loan officers)

Mr. BB: Yes.

me: Then I'm sure you are aware that the invoice in question is for his refinance?

Mr. BB: wha wha wha (just imagine some similar sounds while I'm finishing)

me: I'll be glad to write a letter and bring this to your boss' attention.

Mr. BB: I'll look into it and get back to you.

In other non-knitting news, 3 of my friends are moving. Megs is moving to South Carolina in 6 weeks, Heather is moving to Utah in 2 months and Laurel is moving to Colorado as soon as the house sells. WAHHHHHHH! Megs was the first friend I made when I moved out here 2 years ago, so I'm REALLY bummed out about her moving.

Funky Pants!!

Funky pants and pattern

So here are my funky pants completed. I have never been a capri type of girl, but since moving out here, I've come to love them. I figure that if I can't wear shorts, I can come darn close to it. Plus I love funky fabrics. Only one problem, I can never find a pair that fits the way I want. So I found a pattern and modified to the length I like and voila - I have capris I can live with.

Alas, no knitting. The wind wasn't blowing today, so I spent most of the day in the pool and sewing funky pants. I'm going to sew a shirt (plain black) to wear with it and if I have time I'll work on clap. I would have knit more last night, but I fell asleep around 7 and didn't wake up until this morning.

The good, the bad and the ugly

The good.

I found a fun knit designer - Oat Couture.

The bad.

I've lost my DPNS! I have my 5's and my 1's (they're in socks), but I've lost my holder and therefore, all of my other dpns. I've searched high and low and I can't find them.

The ugly.

While I was cruising for patterns, I found this.

Thanks!

Thanks to Deneen and Knitty Gritty (sorry, I don't know your first name) for the suggestions for tanks and what to do with my shimmer. For the tank I went on over to Rox's and checked out the list given to her by Lisa. (o.k. how many links do you think I can fit in one post?) I did find a tank that I want to do, luckily I printed it out, because I can't find the webpage right now.

I've cast on for branching out, but I don't think it worked too well, so I frogged. It seemed like to get anything that looked decent, I would end up with a scarf that was about 3 inches wide. I've also tried the airy scarf in LMKG, again looks like it will be too skinny. Maybe it's just me. I've never done lace work, so it looks off to me.

I would be outside swimming, but it's too cold. Yes, it is 75, but really, compared to mid-90's, it's cold. Think of it this way - how does the difference between 75 and 55 feel... or 55 and 35. BIG DIFFERENCE! Plus, the wind is blowing wildly. So really, I'm not crazy. I swear.

My monkey shorts - cute pattern, would have made some fun pants. 

Weekend!!!

Yeah! A 3-day weekend. I got all of my shopping/laundry/daily bullshit done yesterday so this weekend is all mine! What a beautiful weekend it is going to be. They say it's going to be in the high 80's, low 90's. I really do love living in the desert. At least this particular one. Yes, it does get hot, but really, it's not humid. Plus, every day around 3 or so,the wind picks up and there is a beautiful breeze.

Last week we got one of those snap set pools (16'x4') and I intend to be in it as much as possible. I'm still trying to figure out how to knit and float at the same time.

I've gotten further on the clap and am at row 10 of the straight rows. I'm debating if I want to do more than the 12 (or is it 13) repeats. Beautiful yarn, beautiful scarf/shawl, but I'm really getting bored with it. I want to break out and actually make an article of clothing. I'm thinking a tank to go with my funky pants (since my monkey pants had a melt down and became monkey shorts). I'll crack out my camera to show off my first attempt at sewing clothing in over 10 years.

I'm still looking for a pattern to use my Knitpicks Shimmer with. Any ideas? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

SP5 Questionnaire

WHOOOPS!! A little late with this. I've been answering a question here and there, taking my time... and look what happens. This is my first SP, so I am SUPER excited.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I am not a snob. Sort of. I will use Lion Brand (love watercolors, microspun, cotton ease, etc) but I haven't found a Red Heart that I like using. The snob part comes in with the sock yarn - only good sock yarn must be used.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I don't currently spin, but I will one day! I used to crochet... until I discovered knitting.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Nope... just your everyday pollen allergies.

4. How long have you been knitting?

Only for about 6 months.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes I do! Give me a day or two to update - I'll throw it on my side bar

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Orange, fresh clean scents (if you are familiar with Yankee candles - clean cotton, midsummer night - just using those as scent examples - also oceans candles from Pier1) I'm not into the really flowery scents.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

MMMM yes!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I bead, polymer clay, cross stitch, embroider, paint (watercolor)

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Yes, I can play MP3's. My music taste varies.... top 40, dance, classical, rap, big band - right now I've been on a country kick... but if you could see my CD collection, you would swear I had multiple personalities.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love autumn colors - oranges, reds, yellows. I've been on a white/blue/ocean kick lately (must be the higher temps). There are no colors that I would turn my nose up at.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

2 dogs, 3 kittens, and my mother. They are all housetrained.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Win the lottery, open a yarn store and roll around naked in fibery stuff.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I've fallen in love with SWTC's bamboo and oasis

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I haven't found anything that I don't like yet. Yes, even fun fur has it's uses

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Trying to find the perfect pattern for Knitpicks shimmer.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

socks - ok, sock, since I only get the first one done.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Clapotis, a neverending second sock, 2 other first socks, a purse of my own design for my mother, and I keep casting on and ripping out different projects (until I find the right one) to use my Knitpicks Shimmer.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

They are great for some people, just not for me. I still have painful flashbacks to the 70's and being a child forced to wear ponchos and courduroy. :)

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I like circulars for big projects and would love to learn how to do socks on them, but I also love using my straight needles.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I love my Denise's. Plain ole aluminum for my straights.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Yes, if you count that I have 2 socks done (but not a matching pair) I love making socks!! I just can't bring myself to finish the 2nd sock.

22. How did you learn to knit?

A book and a ton of patience. My mom tried, but she learned to knit left handed and I just got completely confused.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

6 months - a Christmas present for my mom.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Eeyore

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Ocean stuff - seashells, lighthouses

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

My mom gave me a subscription to Creative Knitting.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Anything by Cat Bordhi

Knit F.O.

Cat toy

Project: Fish Cat Toy
Started: 5/14/05
Finished: 5/14/05
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease
Pattern: Cat Toy from Teach Me To Knit by Leisure Arts

Mack 

Dooce 

Stormy 

Cats, cats and more cats

So, the babies that I so proudly posted the pictures of didn't make it. Just not old enough to be away from mom. I didn't blog about it when it happened because, although I tried not to get attached, I did.

Today I picked up 3 older kittens. They have their shots and are de-wormed... and if they ever slow down enough, I'll take some pictures. Two boys and one girl, all three are black and white. The girl is named Dooce (yes, just like the one and only). I was going to call her Dulce, but it just didn't roll off the tongue so easily. The little boy is Mack (short for either Mackenzie or Mack the Knife from the looks of my ankles) The big boy is officially Stormy although I don't know if that will stick... he's such a big baby.

They also love yarn judging by the way my mom's yarn basket looks. Thankfully, it's red heart. Mine is safely stored in plastic (and lidded) containers.

I think I've decided to cast on for the scarf. I'll start tonight and hopefully have a picture or two to share tomorrow.

I thought I might

I thought that I could finish my second sock, but I just couldn't. I got bored. So I worked on Clapotis.... and also got bored. Is it startitis or just that damn stockingette?

Here are my options:

A funky purse that my mom wants made out of microspun and fun fur - no pattern, just my imagination (she picked the yarn out today). Yes, it would also be stockingette, but it would be my first time knitting holding two yarns at the same time.

Classy Slip-Up socks from Knit Socks! made with Knit Picks Sock Garden in Hydrangea - yes, I'd be starting another pair of socks, but they wouldn't be all stockingette. It's a slip stitch pattern AND it has heels.

Airy Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts made with Knit Picks Shimmer in Hyacinth - something completely different - something NOT STOCKINGETTE! Plus... as a bonus, I would be learning a new skill.

A cross stitch F.O.

Sisters Spring Sampler completed

Pattern: Sister's Spring Sampler
Fabric: 25 ct Lugana - Summer Khaki
Thread: The Gentle Art Sampler Threads
Started: March 15, 2005
Finished: May12, 2005
Stitched over one thread with one strand

Funk-ti-fied

Yeah, I've been funk-ti-fied lately. I felt kind of like a failure, even though it wasn't my fault that my last two employers went bankrupt. I guess I was stressed about having to find a job and learning a new job twice in 6 months. Plus the financial stress of being out of work and then getting screwed on pay kind of put me over the edge stress-wise.

I've gotten into the groove of the new job, and received a raise to boot (still not quite enough- but it's better). I've learned how to do payroll and am trying to convince them to go to a computer based payroll/bookkeeping system. They've been in business for almost 40 years and, while open to change, still kind of like doing things "the way it's always been done". The owner's daughter has a real estate appraisal business so I've been supplementing my income doing collections for her during the slow times (which is pretty much Tuesday through Thursday). I'm hesitant to knit at work because, let's face it, it's an auto body shop... it's DIRTY!

I think I've banished the blues for now. Last weekend was the first time in awhile that I didn't want to just stay in bed and veg. I actually did some knitting and cross stitch and some pleasure shopping. (yeah, it was that bad... I didn't even want to shop). I even feel like blogging again. Anyway, I'm hoping to have an F.O. by the end of the week.

I am sooooo pathetic