I'm writing my last paper for this semester. It's due on Tuesday, so I still have time to finish it, but it's really starting to get on my nerves.
I'm not particularly interested in this subject area, but I've somehow garnered the academic affection of my professor, so I really want to do a good job.
All that said though, I keep taking breaks to watch trashy TV...which I never do. But I guess I just need moments of brain-dead non-stimulation activities.
I can't wait until I'm done with this paper. I want to knit so badly...
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
How to Survive Winter in New England as a former Floridian (Part 1)
On the day after Christmas, I will officially have lived in Massachusetts for 4 months. It's been a really big change for me, but that should be obvious. Florida was almost like a different planet by comparison.
I haven't used our air-conditioning unit since September and our heat has been on almost constantly for the last six weeks (thank goodness it's included in my rent!). My hair, rather than frizzing and poofing up from the humidity, is overcome with static electricity due to the near lack of humidity. My skin is clearing up too, thanks to the dryness and I've had to buy extra-strength moisturizer and chapstick in bulk. The sun starts to set around 4:30pm, which means I see more darkness than sunlight. But I do love being able to go outside without sunglasses and actually open my eyes without squinting.
Academically, I've never been so busy in my life. Nearly every week I have a paper due in some class, and these papers are never less than five pages. Not that I'm complaining, in most cases I'm happy when they're under twenty. I'm reading close to two hundred pages a week of literature and associated scholarly articles. And then, there's my students.
I teach one course, Beginning French, and I love every minute of it. In fact, I almost prefer doing lesson plans, making up quizzes and activities, and whatever else I need for them to doing my own work. I'm not supposed to put them first, and I think I've reached a point where I'm not putting them first for their benefit, but I enjoy doing work for them for my own benefit. They seem to like me, and I really like them. I can only hope that in the future, I'll get to have classes as wonderful as this one was.
On the non-school front, I spend a lot of time knitting, reading, and watching television shows. I like a really exciting life, let me tell you:). The Knitting part will be a separate post after this one.
I've been watching Beverly Hills, 90210 on DVD while I work on my queue of sweaters. I'm almost finished with Season 6, which is as far as they go on DVD at this point...so I'll have to find another way to see the last four seasons. Or I can just wait until Netflix gets them...after all, my Netflix queue has plenty of other stuff on it.
Once my semester is officially done, when I turn in my seminar term paper on Tuesday, I have some projects planned. I have a stealth pair of socks to work on, several sweaters to finish so that I can go outside without feeling like death is looming, and the new winter Knitty has no shortage of gorgeous patterns to choose from. I'm also going to clean off and reformat/upgrade the desktop computer, and maybe do the same to the laptop.
For now, I'm going to sign off and try to finish another page of my paper. When that's done, I'll post again with my knitting plans for this winter while I'm off from school.
I haven't used our air-conditioning unit since September and our heat has been on almost constantly for the last six weeks (thank goodness it's included in my rent!). My hair, rather than frizzing and poofing up from the humidity, is overcome with static electricity due to the near lack of humidity. My skin is clearing up too, thanks to the dryness and I've had to buy extra-strength moisturizer and chapstick in bulk. The sun starts to set around 4:30pm, which means I see more darkness than sunlight. But I do love being able to go outside without sunglasses and actually open my eyes without squinting.
Academically, I've never been so busy in my life. Nearly every week I have a paper due in some class, and these papers are never less than five pages. Not that I'm complaining, in most cases I'm happy when they're under twenty. I'm reading close to two hundred pages a week of literature and associated scholarly articles. And then, there's my students.
I teach one course, Beginning French, and I love every minute of it. In fact, I almost prefer doing lesson plans, making up quizzes and activities, and whatever else I need for them to doing my own work. I'm not supposed to put them first, and I think I've reached a point where I'm not putting them first for their benefit, but I enjoy doing work for them for my own benefit. They seem to like me, and I really like them. I can only hope that in the future, I'll get to have classes as wonderful as this one was.
On the non-school front, I spend a lot of time knitting, reading, and watching television shows. I like a really exciting life, let me tell you:). The Knitting part will be a separate post after this one.
I've been watching Beverly Hills, 90210 on DVD while I work on my queue of sweaters. I'm almost finished with Season 6, which is as far as they go on DVD at this point...so I'll have to find another way to see the last four seasons. Or I can just wait until Netflix gets them...after all, my Netflix queue has plenty of other stuff on it.
Once my semester is officially done, when I turn in my seminar term paper on Tuesday, I have some projects planned. I have a stealth pair of socks to work on, several sweaters to finish so that I can go outside without feeling like death is looming, and the new winter Knitty has no shortage of gorgeous patterns to choose from. I'm also going to clean off and reformat/upgrade the desktop computer, and maybe do the same to the laptop.
For now, I'm going to sign off and try to finish another page of my paper. When that's done, I'll post again with my knitting plans for this winter while I'm off from school.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Great Move
At 5:30pm on August 20th, the FBH (Fiance-Boyfriend-Husband) and I started the great trek to New England so that I could start graduate school.
We had in our car the three cats, the turtle, and the recently-operated-on guinea pig.
FBH had accidently packed his wallet on the moving truck, so I had to do the entire 24-hour drive myself, and we only stopped 5 times for fuel and Code Red Mountain Dew.
The trip was fairly uneventful. It rained off and on until about South Carolina, which is also when my "Service Engine Soon" light came on. And at 6am on the 21st, we stopped in Virginia for gas, and we discovered that our beloved 5-year-old guinea pig, passed away. She'd been sick and had been spayed to deal with an infection, but she just wasn't strong enough to survive the trip. She probably wouldn't have been better off even if we hadn't moved, as she was so weak after the surgery. We miss her alot, but she had a good life with lots of love.
The last big thing that happened was that our mapquest directions had us going on a lot of tollroads, so when we got to one toll that was $8, and we only had $5, we went through the lane for the prepaid people, because it was the only way we could get through. Hopefully we won't get a ticket or a fine. My Dad recommended writing them a letter explaining why we did that and sending them the $8...but I'm sorta favoring the wait/see method to see if they act on our decision to run the booth.
The last time we made this trip from Florida to New England, it cost us about $10 in tolls...this time it was over $30....so even though we compensated a bit for inflation, we were still short. That really sucks.
Anyway...we got to our new apartment complex around 5pm on the 21st, so about 24 hours after we left. We walked around the town and checked out some stuff, ate dinner at Subway and then came home again and crashed.
I'll post again later about the furniture stuff and the parental units' visit.
We had in our car the three cats, the turtle, and the recently-operated-on guinea pig.
FBH had accidently packed his wallet on the moving truck, so I had to do the entire 24-hour drive myself, and we only stopped 5 times for fuel and Code Red Mountain Dew.
The trip was fairly uneventful. It rained off and on until about South Carolina, which is also when my "Service Engine Soon" light came on. And at 6am on the 21st, we stopped in Virginia for gas, and we discovered that our beloved 5-year-old guinea pig, passed away. She'd been sick and had been spayed to deal with an infection, but she just wasn't strong enough to survive the trip. She probably wouldn't have been better off even if we hadn't moved, as she was so weak after the surgery. We miss her alot, but she had a good life with lots of love.
The last big thing that happened was that our mapquest directions had us going on a lot of tollroads, so when we got to one toll that was $8, and we only had $5, we went through the lane for the prepaid people, because it was the only way we could get through. Hopefully we won't get a ticket or a fine. My Dad recommended writing them a letter explaining why we did that and sending them the $8...but I'm sorta favoring the wait/see method to see if they act on our decision to run the booth.
The last time we made this trip from Florida to New England, it cost us about $10 in tolls...this time it was over $30....so even though we compensated a bit for inflation, we were still short. That really sucks.
Anyway...we got to our new apartment complex around 5pm on the 21st, so about 24 hours after we left. We walked around the town and checked out some stuff, ate dinner at Subway and then came home again and crashed.
I'll post again later about the furniture stuff and the parental units' visit.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Nanners
I've joined Plurk.
This site functions a little like Facebook's status updates, only it displays them on a timeline and gives you the option of responding to other people's updates or "plurks".
It's a complete and total time-suck, but I leave it open all day long so I can read (mostly) strangers' posts. Since most of the people on my friends list are knitters, it's a lot of fun, and occasionally free advice.
I joined Plurk because Miss Violet of Lime 'n Violet kept talking about it, but also because Wendy of WendyKnits.net offered a free pattern to knitters on Plurk for a limited time.
They are called Nanners, in honor (I assume) of the dancing Nanner one gets to use as an emoticon once you've earned 25 Karma points on Plurk.
I've been working on these socks like crazy, and I've ripped back the gusset section twice. I'm hoping that I've got it figured out this time. We'll see.
I'll post pictures when I finish them.
Keep knitting everyone!
This site functions a little like Facebook's status updates, only it displays them on a timeline and gives you the option of responding to other people's updates or "plurks".
It's a complete and total time-suck, but I leave it open all day long so I can read (mostly) strangers' posts. Since most of the people on my friends list are knitters, it's a lot of fun, and occasionally free advice.
I joined Plurk because Miss Violet of Lime 'n Violet kept talking about it, but also because Wendy of WendyKnits.net offered a free pattern to knitters on Plurk for a limited time.
They are called Nanners, in honor (I assume) of the dancing Nanner one gets to use as an emoticon once you've earned 25 Karma points on Plurk.
I've been working on these socks like crazy, and I've ripped back the gusset section twice. I'm hoping that I've got it figured out this time. We'll see.
I'll post pictures when I finish them.
Keep knitting everyone!
Friday, May 16, 2008
CRL - Second Season!!!!!!
CRL is coming back! With any luck on the 22nd of this month! How exciting! This is one of my favorite podcasts. Everyone should go subscribe right now so you're ready!
Listen to the first season if you haven't already. And you don't need an iPod to listen!
Yay!!
Listen to the first season if you haven't already. And you don't need an iPod to listen!
Yay!!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Hoodies, Sock Yarn-to-Mitered Squares, and Late-Night Spumoni
A good friend of mine decided she had too much yarn and gifted me a bag of Paton's Classic Merino in Rich Red. It ended up being 10 skeins worth, which is more than 2,000 yards.
I've decided that this is an opportune time to attempt the Rogue hoodie, and I've cast on, finished the under-hem, and have started the body. Here's the problem: one of the increase instructions is crazy and I am obviously not doing it correctly, because there's a little hole that I doubt I could fudge. So I'm trying to decide if I should frog it and make something else, but I really want to make this hoodie; it's so pretty.
To keep myself occupied on the knitting front, I have dug out all of my leftover sock yarns. Because I have such small feet (5.5 US at the end of a long day at the salt-lick with no water), I don't use as much yarn as a "normal" person would, so I always have a fair amount left on the ball when I finish a pair. I usually tell people that I could make a third sock out of the leftovers and that it's a pity that I don't have a third foot.
So, to remedy this problem, I dug out all of the leftovers and started working on the Sock Yarn Blankie from the Heathen Housewife. I can already see that this project is going to be ongoing for probably at least a decade at the rate I knit socks. It's not that I knit them slowly, but rather that I don't knit socks at a constant rate. It is this fact that will probably prevent me from finishing a decent-sized blanket any time soon.
On a non-knitting note, I got a really rather raging (I love alliteration) craving for ice cream tonight. I want to get something approximating that fabulous Red Velvet Cake flavor that they had at Publix, but since my only available "cash" was a Target gift card, I had to go there. They didn't have Red Velvet Cake...but they did have Spumoni, which I looked for a couple of weeks ago after a trip to Buca di Beppo's didn't yield any for me. So I got a box of that and some good ol' strawberry.
I'm now full of ice cream and plotting the errand exploits of tomorrow. But I have a question for any readers out there...if there are any at all... if I can't make the aforementioned hoodie with this large stash of red merino wool, which pattern would you recommend that I check out? I need to get on this whole sweater-making thing since I'll desperately need them in a few months. So what do you think? Any must-haves?
Have a good weekend all!
I've decided that this is an opportune time to attempt the Rogue hoodie, and I've cast on, finished the under-hem, and have started the body. Here's the problem: one of the increase instructions is crazy and I am obviously not doing it correctly, because there's a little hole that I doubt I could fudge. So I'm trying to decide if I should frog it and make something else, but I really want to make this hoodie; it's so pretty.
To keep myself occupied on the knitting front, I have dug out all of my leftover sock yarns. Because I have such small feet (5.5 US at the end of a long day at the salt-lick with no water), I don't use as much yarn as a "normal" person would, so I always have a fair amount left on the ball when I finish a pair. I usually tell people that I could make a third sock out of the leftovers and that it's a pity that I don't have a third foot.
So, to remedy this problem, I dug out all of the leftovers and started working on the Sock Yarn Blankie from the Heathen Housewife. I can already see that this project is going to be ongoing for probably at least a decade at the rate I knit socks. It's not that I knit them slowly, but rather that I don't knit socks at a constant rate. It is this fact that will probably prevent me from finishing a decent-sized blanket any time soon.
On a non-knitting note, I got a really rather raging (I love alliteration) craving for ice cream tonight. I want to get something approximating that fabulous Red Velvet Cake flavor that they had at Publix, but since my only available "cash" was a Target gift card, I had to go there. They didn't have Red Velvet Cake...but they did have Spumoni, which I looked for a couple of weeks ago after a trip to Buca di Beppo's didn't yield any for me. So I got a box of that and some good ol' strawberry.
I'm now full of ice cream and plotting the errand exploits of tomorrow. But I have a question for any readers out there...if there are any at all... if I can't make the aforementioned hoodie with this large stash of red merino wool, which pattern would you recommend that I check out? I need to get on this whole sweater-making thing since I'll desperately need them in a few months. So what do you think? Any must-haves?
Have a good weekend all!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
It's summer again...
Classes are over again, but this time I can say that I'm completely done with my current school.
While I graduated last Spring, I kept taking classes because I need something to do, a way to practice my French before starting graduate school, and also because there is a minor financial benefit to taking classes in that I can keep my student loans from going back into repayment without needing to file for a formal deferment or forbearance. It's terrible that I abuse the system that way, but I couldn't have made the payments anyway, so perhaps it's just better this way.
Now though, my classes are over. I get to file for a deferment for the summer until I can enroll in my chosen graduate program. In the interest of anonymity, I won't reveal where I'm going other than to say that in August, I'll be moving to Massachusetts.
I was accepted into all three programs to which I applied, and the best deal is coming from that beautiful state in New England. So, I guess I'll no longer be a "warm-weather knitwit"...but I'm going to keep that byline because I've lived in Florida for nearly 20 years.
I'm in the process right now of planning the move. Most importantly, I'm picking furniture that's going with me and my FBH (Fiancé-Boyfriend-Husband). My parents are coming to visit tomorrow for the weekend, and my mom and I are going to be boxing books and packing up the paintings by my grandmother that aren't on the walls, but rather occupy closet space. Whatever we don't take with us is going to be stored in my parents' house until I can finish my education enough that I can settle somewhere more permanent.
Ok, so enough update stuff, and more knitting fun!
My friend, RetroGeekGirl, and I took a leap and started a local knitting group. There were a couple of groups in existence that were close enough that we could have gone to them, but we felt the need for another one that met closer to the school. So we started the East Orlando Fiber Therapy group. It's slow-starting in that the first meeting had two ladies other than us in attendance, and the fourth meeting had one. The second and third was private knitting time/dinner for RGG and I... not that I'm complaining; I love spending time with her, especially since I'm leaving so soon. I just wish there was a more dedicated and more active presence in this group. I'm afraid it won't survive past August.
Right now, I have two active projects. I'm working on a pair of the Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in Wild Cherry and the current Dishcloth from the Monthly Dishcloths yahoogroup. I really want to start another sweater so that by the time the winters begin, I'll be good to go.
I finished the Boogie Vest...and a couple of other projects...since I posted last. I had to frog the vest twice, but I finally finished it. I decided ultimately to knit it in the round so I could avoid seaming and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I would love to make more, but I just haven't found another bulky weight yarn that makes me as happy as the late Knit Picks' Panache.
I'm working on the Harry Potter House Fair Isle Pouch which I'm doing in Red Heart Soft Yarn. I'm still trying to decide if opting for cheap acrylic was a big mistake that I'll end up regretting during the finishing and blocking. But I just figure I could always knit another in wool if I need to. Oh, and I'm making the Slytherin one.
I pulled out my Rowan RYC Cashsoft to start my Rogue Hoodie only to realize that I have 8 balls of Cashsoft 4-ply...not Aran. Which means, I've got 8 balls of fingering weight instead of worsted. So... no hoodie. But, it might become a Clapotis if I can get the patience to do the setup rows.
My mom bought the three summer cotton-blend yarn sampler packs from Knit Picks. When she gets here tomorrow we're going to cannibalize the packs and decide who gets what. The colors are beautiful, and it's so nice to have touchable samples of more of their yarns. It might help me to finally decide what I want for these sweaters that I keep trying to make. Knit Picks is pretty cheap yarn, which is great when you consider how high the quality is for their prices.
I think that's it right now on the knitting front. My magazines keep coming in and I see lots of nice summery sweater patterns, but since I'm really broke right now, I have to beg off and since this post is really long, I'm going to hit publish, and sign off. I promise I'll try to be better about updating this thing.
While I graduated last Spring, I kept taking classes because I need something to do, a way to practice my French before starting graduate school, and also because there is a minor financial benefit to taking classes in that I can keep my student loans from going back into repayment without needing to file for a formal deferment or forbearance. It's terrible that I abuse the system that way, but I couldn't have made the payments anyway, so perhaps it's just better this way.
Now though, my classes are over. I get to file for a deferment for the summer until I can enroll in my chosen graduate program. In the interest of anonymity, I won't reveal where I'm going other than to say that in August, I'll be moving to Massachusetts.
I was accepted into all three programs to which I applied, and the best deal is coming from that beautiful state in New England. So, I guess I'll no longer be a "warm-weather knitwit"...but I'm going to keep that byline because I've lived in Florida for nearly 20 years.
I'm in the process right now of planning the move. Most importantly, I'm picking furniture that's going with me and my FBH (Fiancé-Boyfriend-Husband). My parents are coming to visit tomorrow for the weekend, and my mom and I are going to be boxing books and packing up the paintings by my grandmother that aren't on the walls, but rather occupy closet space. Whatever we don't take with us is going to be stored in my parents' house until I can finish my education enough that I can settle somewhere more permanent.
Ok, so enough update stuff, and more knitting fun!
My friend, RetroGeekGirl, and I took a leap and started a local knitting group. There were a couple of groups in existence that were close enough that we could have gone to them, but we felt the need for another one that met closer to the school. So we started the East Orlando Fiber Therapy group. It's slow-starting in that the first meeting had two ladies other than us in attendance, and the fourth meeting had one. The second and third was private knitting time/dinner for RGG and I... not that I'm complaining; I love spending time with her, especially since I'm leaving so soon. I just wish there was a more dedicated and more active presence in this group. I'm afraid it won't survive past August.
Right now, I have two active projects. I'm working on a pair of the Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in Wild Cherry and the current Dishcloth from the Monthly Dishcloths yahoogroup. I really want to start another sweater so that by the time the winters begin, I'll be good to go.
I finished the Boogie Vest...and a couple of other projects...since I posted last. I had to frog the vest twice, but I finally finished it. I decided ultimately to knit it in the round so I could avoid seaming and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I would love to make more, but I just haven't found another bulky weight yarn that makes me as happy as the late Knit Picks' Panache.
I'm working on the Harry Potter House Fair Isle Pouch which I'm doing in Red Heart Soft Yarn. I'm still trying to decide if opting for cheap acrylic was a big mistake that I'll end up regretting during the finishing and blocking. But I just figure I could always knit another in wool if I need to. Oh, and I'm making the Slytherin one.
I pulled out my Rowan RYC Cashsoft to start my Rogue Hoodie only to realize that I have 8 balls of Cashsoft 4-ply...not Aran. Which means, I've got 8 balls of fingering weight instead of worsted. So... no hoodie. But, it might become a Clapotis if I can get the patience to do the setup rows.
My mom bought the three summer cotton-blend yarn sampler packs from Knit Picks. When she gets here tomorrow we're going to cannibalize the packs and decide who gets what. The colors are beautiful, and it's so nice to have touchable samples of more of their yarns. It might help me to finally decide what I want for these sweaters that I keep trying to make. Knit Picks is pretty cheap yarn, which is great when you consider how high the quality is for their prices.
I think that's it right now on the knitting front. My magazines keep coming in and I see lots of nice summery sweater patterns, but since I'm really broke right now, I have to beg off and since this post is really long, I'm going to hit publish, and sign off. I promise I'll try to be better about updating this thing.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Long time, no post
Wow. I'm really terrible.
I want to be better about this blogging thing, even though I'm positive that I get next to no readers.
I'm currently taking two French classes to fill my brain time until I hear good news from the graduate programs to which I applied. That's right. Good news. There will be no bad news. I refuse to acknowledge bad news.
I started another blog for my conversation class, which I'll link on this blog at some point...like when I'm not actually drowning under piles of homework and application paperwork.
The needles are kinda dusty right now. I finished a cabled bag with round bamboo handles...the pattern came from a Michaels flyer. It's cute.
I also decided to try my first sweater...well, okay...a sweater vest. The front and back pieces are done, I just need to assemble (which ought to be interesting because the number of stitches that I'll be performing the three-needle bind-off on don't match perfectly) and finish the crochet (ugh!) edging around the collar and sleeves. It's the Boogie Vest from Knitty.com and I made it with Knit Picks Panache (which I STILL cannot BELIEVE they discontinued...there is nothing else like in the world!) in Dusk. I'm hoping that within the next week, I'll be able to finish it and start wearing it. I'm just excited to have finished something so major-sounding like a SWEATER!
I've been knitting for a long time...as in, I'm approaching the big 2-0 anniversary when it comes to knitting, but this is the first sweater-anything. I did make a hideous Red Heart Super Saver halter top that somehow miraculously fits me...but I'll never wear it...it's itchy, hot, and did I mention, ugly!
Anyway, back to my sweater vest. It's sitting in a pile of cashmere/alpaca loveliness until I'm able to actually dedicate an hour or two to it. But it calls my name from the other end of the couch. I can hear its plaintive cries while I'm trying to be academically productive.
Anyway...back to my fake "lettre d'accompagnement" that's due in 8 1/2 hours. I sorta wish I hadn't signed up for the Business French class. It's cutting into my knitting time.
I want to be better about this blogging thing, even though I'm positive that I get next to no readers.
I'm currently taking two French classes to fill my brain time until I hear good news from the graduate programs to which I applied. That's right. Good news. There will be no bad news. I refuse to acknowledge bad news.
I started another blog for my conversation class, which I'll link on this blog at some point...like when I'm not actually drowning under piles of homework and application paperwork.
The needles are kinda dusty right now. I finished a cabled bag with round bamboo handles...the pattern came from a Michaels flyer. It's cute.
I also decided to try my first sweater...well, okay...a sweater vest. The front and back pieces are done, I just need to assemble (which ought to be interesting because the number of stitches that I'll be performing the three-needle bind-off on don't match perfectly) and finish the crochet (ugh!) edging around the collar and sleeves. It's the Boogie Vest from Knitty.com and I made it with Knit Picks Panache (which I STILL cannot BELIEVE they discontinued...there is nothing else like in the world!) in Dusk. I'm hoping that within the next week, I'll be able to finish it and start wearing it. I'm just excited to have finished something so major-sounding like a SWEATER!
I've been knitting for a long time...as in, I'm approaching the big 2-0 anniversary when it comes to knitting, but this is the first sweater-anything. I did make a hideous Red Heart Super Saver halter top that somehow miraculously fits me...but I'll never wear it...it's itchy, hot, and did I mention, ugly!
Anyway, back to my sweater vest. It's sitting in a pile of cashmere/alpaca loveliness until I'm able to actually dedicate an hour or two to it. But it calls my name from the other end of the couch. I can hear its plaintive cries while I'm trying to be academically productive.
Anyway...back to my fake "lettre d'accompagnement" that's due in 8 1/2 hours. I sorta wish I hadn't signed up for the Business French class. It's cutting into my knitting time.
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