Monday, September 19, 2005
sockapal2za!
my sockapal2za socks arrived today! what a wonderful treat on an otherwise so-so day. they fit my feet PERFECTLY and they are HOT PINK- is there anything better than hot pink? the patterns is the maine eyelet socks from the summer '04 issue of spin off. Sarah (i don't THINK she has a website) also sent an adorable hello kitty pouch. i think i adore my sock pal an awful lot. hot pink sock and hello kitty? way to go sarah! thanks SO much!!
in other news, i'm nearly done MY sockapal2za socks, they were, of course, hampered by my stupid wrist. i've let my pal know they'll be late and why- and she was very cool. so i hope, with luck, they'll be done by the end of next week. i can only knit for short periods of time. my wrist, by the way, is doing a lot better, but i've barely used it or my hand for over three weeks. i'm afraid a full return to use will cause a million more problems, but right now i'm hoping my MRI was clean and that i don't need the surgery.
right now, because i just can't catch a break, i have a severe upper respiratory infection (nose, bronchitis, ear infection and so on) and i am MISERABLE. i have to use these nasty ear drops. four drops, FOUR TIMES A DAY for ten days. i've only used them once and the liquid just sat there on my eardrum and i felt like i was drowning. i am NOT looking foward to doing this again tonight and four times tomorrow!
and one last thing: while recouperating, i've become obsessed with the fact that i've gotten WAY too fat (i was at a point where i was pretty comfortable with my body- i am pretty fat, but i felt ok, self esteem wise). then i realized i GAINED about 12 pounds and freaked. while i know most of those pounds had a lot to do with a bc change, i still freaked. so, now i'm trying to lose weight. slowly- right now i'm just cuting out all junk food and cooking supper almost every night, rather than eat something from the freezer or takeout. after i get paid next, i'm going to join weight watchers, and after that, i think my mom and i are going to join the rec center in her town. i gotta do this in baby steps or i freak out. but right now i'm ok. i'm totally hooked on cooking, the food network, cookbooks (just got the giada de laurentiis and a barefoot contessa from the library). last night i made a glorious risotto. i'm finding i'm not really craving the food that is bad for me. i'm able to say no to the junk food available at work, no to fast food, and yes to cooking. will it last? i don't know, but so far i'm happy.
anyway- that's all the news from here. time to make some supper, and cuddle down with my book.
goodnight, everybody!
6:56 PM /
Sunday, September 11, 2005
secret pal six questions!!
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'm definitely becoming a yarn snob. i never meant to, but. really? i just don't like acrylic. i HATE novelty yarns- especially anything furry or that looks like a dead muppet. i love wool, silk, cotton and so on. yes. i am a yarn snob.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
i do spin, not much lately- i don't have a large amount of fiber around and i've been a little lace obsessed. i can crochet, i just don't do it very often.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
i'm allergic to smoke, fall, spring, ohio, dogs (but i take medicine). i'm allergic to fun fur, james joyce, turning the ringer on my phone on, survivor, and broccoli.
4. How long have you been knitting?
i learned to knit and crochet when i was about 7, but neither stuck until i was twelve or so. i practised both off and on throughout highschool and early university and then one day it just became a full on part of my life. so it's been a steady habit for about four years.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
yes, i do: amazon wishlist.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
i like lilac, raspberry, peony, sweetpea, melony candles, etc.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
yes. yes i do. i'm a sucker for chocolate, a good muffin or cake or brownies. i looooove maynard's wine gums (and buy them everytime i visit adam in canada because you stupidly can't get them in the states).
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
i like to play around with beads, i occasionally get the yen to sew a new duvet cover and pillowcases. when my hand gets better i'm going to sew some curtains for my bedroom window (that i hope the kitten doesn't destroy). someday i'll start weaving again (probably will involve taking my loom out of mom's basement...). other than that, lately it is pretty much knitting and spinning.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
i like almost everything. i do NOT like most country, ANY rap, 99% of r&b. but that's ok. i'm not really the target demographic. i personally LOOOOOVE ben folds. he's my current obsession.
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 pink. all shades of pink. i mostly wear black and pink. i also love red and purple. i can't deal with orange, yellow, etc. i don't wear white. but everything else is fair game. also, if i have a colour palette that is very me? it is jewel tones. mmm. such rich beautiful colours.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
i live alone, currently, with my two cats. i will eventually live with adam and my two cats. and possibly his roommate's dog, depending.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
happiness. a yarn shop. a better job/career. live with adam. happily ever after.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
lace yarns. i'm in a lace phase and i love it. i LOVE koigu. i would marry it if i could. the colours are amazing and then base yarn? i just love it. i'm a fan of most of knitpicks yarns. they're affordable and pretty decent (from what i've used). and sock yarn. i'm a sock yarn addict. i'd like to try bamboo and inego and other non animal yarns- just to see.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
acrylic. angora, most mohairs (those make me kinda sneezy and itchy). novelty. fun fur. muppet yarn. most lion brand yarns (save for cotton ease. long live cotton ease).
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
lace. i was in the middle of the yahoo mystery shawl knitalong when my wrist pooped out on me. always socks.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
socks, lace and fun scarves. i love scarves.
17. What are you knitting right now?
melanie's socks (regia jubilee india), my socks (opal magic pink), mystery shawl (knit picks shadow in vinyard).
18. What do you think about ponchos?
i think i would like one if i could find one that wouldn't look like a tent on me
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
circulars. much easier on my hands and wrists.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
plastic, then bamboo. never metal of any kind (though i'm trying to get used to addis. they're too expensive so i don't want to love them).
21. Are you a sock knitter?
yes. yes i am.
22. How did you learn to knit?
my grandmother taught me the basics when i was a kid. beyond that, i'm totally self taught.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
adam's valentine's bunny is two years old? three? something like that.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
hello kitty/chococat/pucca. i LOVE cats, penguins, giraffes, tigers and elephants. i saw a knit pig the other day that was adorable. man. my wrist needs to heal. i MISS KNITTING.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
thanksgiving.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
books. but i only let myself spend 25 a month at half price books, these days, so my collection isn't really growing. i'm starting to collect cookbooks.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
none.
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
folk shawls, a ton of sock knitting and lace knitting books. the barbara walker treasuries. anything on my wishlist.
29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
the pattern for the koigu charlotte's web shawl. some of the fiddlesticks patterns (lotus blossom and peacock). some new sock patterns. a perfect top down raglan cardi/shrug that i need to design. someone to redo the numbers on glampyre's mini sweater to make it fit my fat frame.
6:35 PM /
Thursday, September 01, 2005
all knitting progress has ceased. i managed to really screw up my right wrist and hand and am immobilized until next wednesday, when i go back to the doctor. rachel = not happy. so.. i guess the lace will wait for me!!! see you soon!
6:31 AM /
i'm rachel m, i'm 26 and i live in cleveland, ohio. i knit, spin, and read. i have a steady sweetie, two chubby cats, a full time job
and a messy apartment.
