yet another reason to hate public transportation

Oh, I was ripping mad to see this article today:

Wireless Services Launched in Subway’s Core

Like it wasn't bad enough to have to have half of my train ride (the trolley/above-ground part) taken up having to listen to obnoxious, loud, totally unnecessary phone conversations, now I also have to deal with those people underground, too?!? It used to be somewhat justified when we'd hit Fenway and I'd know that the obnoxious person talking loudly into their cell phone with no regard whatsoever for those around him having to listen to him talk about the latest rash on his ass or how his girlfriend's mother wouldn't take the money he wanted to pay her (because these conversations really must be pressing and got done now) was going to be cut off midsentence when the train went underground...I thoroughly enjoyed gloating while those people would yell a few last "hello?"s into their phone before getting frustrated and hanging up. Of course, I'd rather not have to deal with them at all, but I figured there really was no way to cut off cell phone reception above-ground.

And don't even try to tell me it's for safety's sake - even the MTBA doesn't attempt that. They fully admit that they already had a safety system in place, and that the reason they are wiring the tunnels is so that people can do business. ARGH! The last thing I want is to have to listen to some jerkoff in a tie yell at his suppliers about how they aren't getting enough toilet paper in their warehouse. Or something. I hate hate hate being stuck in enclosed areas, being forced to listen to people's phone conversations. I think it is perhaps one of the rudest things in the world, to subject people to listening to your half of a telephone conversation. I get so angry at those assholes who think the world revolves around them, that I'm at some points close to causing them bodily harm just to get them to realize that there - wow! - might actually be other people in their vicinity who don't want to hear all about their incredibly fascinating lives.

And does the MBTA really want to be implicit in murder, now? I highly doubt they could also afford that, on top of all of the other things they really need to fix (for starters: the old trolley cars, the leaks in the station roofs, their card system...those would have been good things to invest their money in!). I'm livid that they decided to spend money on wiring the underground areas for wireless phone access when they could have done so many more productive & wonderful things. Instead, they just subject me to more talkative assholes. Ugh. Thanks a billion, T.

miniature fo

[Cross-posted from SPK]


sweater ornament

Here's just a little sample of my holiday knitting, for now. I've got pictures of most of the gifts, but not all of them (one still has to be blocked! although it was luckily knit in time, anyway), and I want to wait until I can do a comprehensive post of all of them...all 3.5 of them, really. There wasn't as much holiday knitting to do this year as I had thought, especially because the majority of the pieces I had finished well before the holiday (some by March or so!). But I of course had a few things to finish (including final touches on the early ones) right at the finish line.

I hope to get started on next year's presents early again this year. We'll have to see. I have already found one present, but I haven't been inspired by any other patterns yet - and usually, I prefer to see a pattern and think "that looks like something [insertnamehere] would love", much like shopping, rather than think that I really ought to make this person a scarf and that person a hat, and I have to search out a suitable-enough pattern.

Okay, enough talking from me! I will just add that I knit the sweater ornament from some Claudia Handpainted Yarn that is much like KPPPM, because I picked it up on a whim when I was out shopping for the latter. The pattern was this one, knit with these same modifications (see sweater #2). I will be knitting another for my other sister soon. It's a lovely, lightning-fast little knit - I knit it all up on the train ride home from work on the Friday before Christmas. It was inspired by a sweater-and-booties ornament set that my grandmother once knit for my father - I hope to enhance my sisters' collections soon with some more miniature knitted goods. Socks would be fun. xo

so true.

metalgirl...to the rescue?

Was there an eclipse of the sun that happened recently, that I wasn't aware of? Because I'm pretty sure that I've recently acquired a new superpower. Of course, I don't yet know the full extent of my power, nor do I have control over it, as it's still new to me. But I'm really, really good at breaking through solid metal...inadvertently, of course. For now.

First, right before Thanksgiving, it was my cane - yes, it is wooden, but it was not the wood part that broke. Nope, the actual screw that held the 2 pieces together snapped clean in two. I reached down to tighthen the connection one morning (sometimes the head unscrews a bit from the base), and it came apart in my hands. The cut was smooth, and seemed unnatural.

The second time was this morning, when I was on my way out the door (and I left early, both because of the inclement weather and because this is Meetings Week at work). I stopped at the mailbox to post a couple of letters, and when I turned around, I felt something snap and go flying...turns out my awesome messenger bag, which I've been using 24/7 since I got it, decided it couldn't handle the stress anymore: the bottom of one of the metal buckles holding the strap to the bag simply snapped off. It's irreparable! Not to mention seriously uncanny.

So maybe this does mean I have special powers? That, or I just overuse the things I own. =\

Hey: save MetalGirl, save the world. Hah! xo

a semi-FO

Behold! The Pine Street Inn blanket that I seamed (using squares others had knitted) - using crochet! My first crochet "project", and I do think it turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself:


(Thanks again for the impromptu lesson, Wendy!)


I actually like the "reverse" side better, even though the side without the white crochet showing is supposed to be the "front", since all the better sides are facing that direction. But, luckily it looks pretty good from either side! That always helps with blankets, as they always end up all twisted about anyway.

So, now comes the mailing part...I have to find a box I can package it up in, and then figure out how to mail it cheaply...first, though, I'll contact the woman it's going to. Maybe she'll let me hand-deliver it, instead?

I am so pleased that I got it done before the holidays...hopefully it'll be a lovely present for a PSI guest and even their family! I like to imagine this keeping someone nice & cozy on a cold winter night....

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trains & canes

I waited forever for a D-line train today. So long, in fact, that I was convinced that they weren't running those trains today! I saw at least 3 of each other line go by before a D came through. And the worst part? Bostonians are cutthroat. Instead of spending the waiting time sitting on the benches along the wall, I have to hover near where the doors open, because otherwise I would have to trade sitting on the bench for getting a seat on the train. Seriously. I have gone almost entire train rides without sitting, even though I use a cane!! So I learned my lesson pretty quickly - suffer up front (standing for a while on the platform), for rewards down the line (getting a seat!). Rather religious of a concept, if you think about it. Anyway, I won't generalize to all Bostonians - I know there are plenty of you very nice people out there who do offer me seats on the train. I even commiserated with another woman waiting for the D this morning, and she was so nice as to allow me to get on the train before her (even though I'm pretty sure she had been waiting even longer than I had!).

This always makes me stop & wonder what I will be like with normal hips...will it be as big of a deal to me, then? I know part of why I like sitting is because it's an hour-long ride, and I'd much prefer to be able to read to keep myself from dying of boredom. But part of that is also related to the cane, again, because it's rather difficult to try to lean on the cane with my right arm, hold onto a railing of some sort with the left, and also hold a book or paper (don't even mention turning pages!). So, caneless, that in itself will be easier. And, I wonder sometimes if I've ever had a really "normal" outlook on standing - I think it's always been a bit difficult for me to stand for any long period of time. I think I thought that was just normal. But I think if it didn't hurt a bit, I'd be much more inclined to want to stand, or at least to be okay with it. Right? I mean, normal people's hips don't hurt every time they stand or walk for a while, I don't think. And I can't really remember a time that mine didn't bother me in some way.

So, will I be less cutthroat myself, more inclined to go with the flow? I hope so. But I know that's a ways off, and sometimes I hate to watch myself in the meantime. It's like the public transportation version of road rage, and I can't stand it.

i guess i'm hip

Yesterday, I had to leave work early to go see my hip surgeon, Dr. Millis. It has been several years since I last consulted with him, because of various health insurance problems. But I was glad to get to have a checkup with him, because my hips really have been bothering me. As is customary, I went in for x-rays before the actual appointment. I got there at 2:50 for what was an appointment schedule for 2:45 (stupid trains...I left work at 2! it's supposed to be a 20-minute ride). I didn't actually see the doctor until 2 hours later. However, he's wonderful & entirely capable, and totally worth the wait. Every single patient of his raves about how much they love him. So while I had hoped to get out of the hospital earlier than 5:30, I still made the movie in time (more about that later) and met & bonded with another patient who had been through a PAO, so I wasn't complaining too much.


When I did finally have my appointment, I was surprised to see that it was with both my doctor & the physical therapist (who I usually only see after my hip checkups). It turns out that there isn't nearly as much structural bone damage as I had been thinking (it really felt like there was!) so much as it is muscular, and has a lot to do with my poor posture. Those who know me probably notice that I walk with my ass sticking out a little bit. That ends up causing bad support throughout my entire body. So what the doctor & PT want me to work on are exercises and stretches that will help me strengthen my lower abdominal muscles, so that I am "organized" more stably, and am walking and moving correctly. That, they believe, ought to help ease a lot of my hip pain! Hurray!

I'm well aware that a total hip replacement is imminent at some point in my life, but the doc wants to stave that off at last for the next few years. I am hoping that this PT will really help me carry myself so that I can even eventually do away with the cane again! (I have to admit, a tiny part of me was hoping he would say I should start looking into a hip replacement, because I know that will be the first time maybe in my life that I'll have "normal" hips and be able to bend and flex in ways I never have before! He does, however, want me to start consulting with THR surgeons, so that everyone can keep an eye on me and so we'll all know when it's really time for one.)

So, I was sent home with some exercises and 2 more upcoming appointments: one in a couple of weeks to re-consult with PT, and one in 2 months to re-consult with Dr. Millis. They want to see if this muscle-building really is going to do the trick for me. I'm hoping that's the case.

The last and weirdest thing for me was that I was also sent home with the instruction to take 1200mg of Ibuprofin a day! (600mg in the morning, and again at night.) I feel kind of weird doing that...I've never been huge on taking medications, and I rarely take painkillers. I had been doing so a bit more often recently, because of hip pain, but even then "often" was maybe 400mg once a week. This seems like so much! I don't know how my body will react. I know Ibuprofin is really mild and probably won't do anything (except thin my blood? no, nevermind, that's aspirin), and I know it's an anti-inflammatory so should help with my arthritis, but still...it seems strange to me to be taking it every day, even when I'm not hurting. It's probably partly a preventative measure, but...I still don't feel 100% comfortable about it. I had a hard enough time being okay taking oxycontin post-op back in 2004! I am not so worried about becoming addicted to Ibuprofin...but maybe I am a bit worried I'll become dependent on the pain-free-ness of taking it regularly...?

I suppose I just need to think of it like taking a multivitamin every day, which I currently do. It's supposed to be helpful, and more of a supplement than a crutch (either in the supportive or restrictive roles). I'll give it a go. As they said in the movie last night, "[It] can't do any harm, right?" (Or something along those lines....)

And yes, to return full-circle, Bethany & I finally got to see Gone, Baby, Gone in theaters! We were able to put together this exciting afternoon with the entire plot of the story. And, I got to see my most favorite actor, Casey Affleck, take one of his first real leading roles (and do amazingly with it!). Oh my goodness -- I've said it before & I'm sure I'll say it again: I love those scrappy Irish boys! xoxo

p.s. In knitting news, there is a new post on Sweet Potato Knits.

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Recently Finished:
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boo(hoo)

I'm thinking I'm not cut out for this "new" job of mine...I've been here 5 months, and I still feel like everyone thinks I have no idea what's going on. I sometimes do feel that way, too, although I do think I'm understanding more and more as time goes on. But I should never have taken a job in Java when I wasn't trained in it; I'm not confident enough in my abilities, and thus I ask really basic questions or aren't certain enough of what I need to do (try/catch blocks are killer to me, because I just don't always know where they are necessary). I have had two assignments that were once mine reassigned to someone else in the past two days. I feel like I'm being thought of as completely incompetent, and everyone's just figuring it's better to give the work to someone else, even someone who's overloaded. I don't know what to do. My old boss has offered me a position at my former company; I'd take over all the programming work from the old, established part of the company, and probably get a somewhat significant raise from what I was once making. And I know, for whatever reason, that he has confidence in my abilities...even if those abilities are in yucky Visual Basic.

I am not taking the reassignments personally like I might once have done; I'm not angry or upset at anyone, save for myself. I just am terrified that they presume me to be entirely incompetent. More trouble than I'd be worth, in the long run. I wish I had never agreed to stray outside of the comfy bounds of C++. Not that I'm not interested in learning new things...but to be the only new recruit that wasn't all that familiar with the language coming in makes me look really ridiculous, relative to everyone else. They know their stuff. I'm sitting here trying desperately to learn not only a new system, but a new language, too. It's incredibly frustrating. And I'm sure not only to me - also to my boss and the rest of my team. I'm pretty sure they'd be better off without me.

I'd hate to leave a new job after only having been here less than half a year. But it just doesn't feel like a good fit, as much as I like all the people and everything. I am sure the incredibly long commute every day also doesn't help matters, since I am much less inclined to "stay late" when that means I'd be getting home at 7 or 8. I value the time I get to spend doing my own stuff; work isn't my life. I feel like it's kind of got to be, here, or I'm not doing enough. And I don't want to forfeit my life for my job.

I don't know what to do. :(

p.s. Happy Halloween.

words words words

Maybe it's because I was doing a little bit of this this morning, but I just saw the word "microphone" and instead of my brain registering its normal use, I swear I thought, "Oh, neat, they have this miniature phone?" It took me a few seconds for the fog to clear out of my mind (I think it doesn't help that I feel so exhausted right now, so my head's not really on straight) and then I laughed at myself.

I just hope I can stay awake through work & get something done! xo

p.s. Thanks go to Christine for showing me the Free Rice site, which I'm currently now in love with/addicted to. But I could only get to level 45. :( I wanna be among the few that get to 50! Well, I'll have to spend more time on it some other time...when I'm not at work...heh.

coupla pictures...

...one way better than the other. But I forgot to share the first one the other day!

1. Just a meal I cooked myself the other night, one of the first improvised (sans recipe) meals I've ever made...it was very simple, just a sautee of yellow squash & tomatoes & onions with some seasoning over some thin linguine...but I was still proud of it! And even more so of my awesome new square red plates:

Bad picture (kind of blurry), but it'll have to do.

and 2. First photo from the wedding! I'm sure I'll post more soon. Doesn't my family look beautiful?? Love them. :)

This one was kind of small, sorry. There's a larger picture out there somewhere, but I don't have a copy of it. But you can at least get the general idea. I think the colors of the wedding were just beautiful - so vibrant and brilliant. Congratulations, Bethany & Kevin!!! xoxo

who'dve thunk?

I didn't think this could actually happen (what is the probability?), but I actually received a tracking # that UPS has already used! I figured with their 18-digit random string dealie (well, I know at least the "1Z" part in the beginning isn't random, so 16-digit, anyway...), it'd be a long, long time (maybe 16!*10 packages, I think? if I recall my discrete math & permutations correctly, which I probably don't) before they needed to reuse one, even with the amount of packages they ship. But I received a tracking number yesterday for a bag I ordered online, and when I clicked the link to check out the status, I was infuriated that my package had been mailed to Fort Walton Beach, FL! And I thought that some guy named "Miles" was probably wearing the bag that very moment (I imagined he looked very cute). But then I noticed the date: "Delivered on: 09/08/2006 1:47 P.M." Yeah...that was over a year ago.

So either someone mistyped the number into the computer, or they actually did reuse it. Either way, I just hope my bag gets to me! I'm so excited for it. (I have a thing for bags...my friends - especially Tanya - can vouch for the fact that I've got dozens!)

Cross your fingers for me that UPS doesn't actually provide "Miles" with a lovely new handbag. xoxo

it's hip to knit squares

So, I have kind of put a lot of my other knitting on hold to work on knitting up squares for the Pine Street Inn, although I have to admit it's largely because I love the stash-busting of it all!! I've blown through a ton of the Cheese Grandma yarn, and I've got some other extra random balls here & there that I can also contribute. I also have gotten all lame and gone from knitting actual fun patterns to mostly doing mindless garter stitch. The reason for this is twofold: one, I get to watch in front of movies or shows that I'd rather be putting my mental energy towards (and kind of need to), like Heroes (love Milo Ventimiglia!); and two, because some of the yarn I've got, you really can't do much else with. It's thick and stiff and I don't really feel like wrestling it into submission to make some otherwise pretty pattern that probably can't even be appreciated because it'd look bad with the yarn! So I'll save those fun patterns for the lighter-colored, softer yarn I've still got lined up...and for when I'm watching some "lighter" DVDs. :)

I plan to share some pictures of my square-work-in-progress, especially those squares that are not just boring garter stitch. Soon. Promise.

You're also going to love the ones I did where I clearly ran out of yarn before I expected to! Hehe. But hey, they add splashes of color and a little bit of a change of pace...right?

xoxo

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sleep attack

I meant to go home and get things done last night, but instead I went to bed almost as soon as I walked in the door (around 7:30, I think it was).  I was dog-tired yesterday; I fell asleep on both the train to work & back.  I guess I just really needed to sleep.  Getting up this morning wasn't any easier, though, really.  I still had to hit the snooze button a ton of times.  But I guess I feel slightly better, in general.  I'm going to try to devote this week to sleep, I think.  Without it, I can get cranky & go kind of crazy when I'm already in a slump.  Sometimes I fly through several sleepless nights, being uber-productive, but these days I am just feeling rundown.  I think maybe slowing down on everything in general is a good idea.

We'll see how true I can stick to my goal; I've tried this before, but haven't been great at it...xoxo

grammarama

When someone writes group posts like the following two, I find it hard to believe that they're not deliberately misspelling everything as much as they possibly can:

This is for all veiwing these messages. I feel the erge to leave the group do to the fact that i barly talk to anyone anyway and because I'm not use to being in a group unless it's with my friends at school. Yes, frankly I'm out of school but i still have my gain there and I would appreashiate if someone would delete my request on joining this group. Its not the group's fault, its just I need time to figure out my oun problems.
Thank you.

i have asked the head leaders of this group to let me out but it seems
like im still in this group. i will make this quite cleer. GET ME OUT
OF HERE!!!!!!!!!! i want out and that means, no more e-mails about
chats im in no part of, no more e-mails telling me how to do this knit
stitch where i can only learn by watching before doing, no more e-mail
about where to go to get the best sail on yarn. I want out, thats all
im asking.

I mean, really. That is probably how I would write if I were trying to make it appear like I couldn't spell or select words properly.

No offense intended to the person who wrote these (hence why I didn't use the name), but I was bothered enough by the anger and self-righteousness of these posts anyway (and it's really not necessary for the entire group to have to read these; I don't understand why people don't get that), that I guess I don't feel too badly pointing out the horrendous writing.

p.s. And omigod, check out what happens when things get a bit too personal in the group! My jaw literally dropped reading this, which was sent between complete strangers & rather out of the blue:

I am sorry you are so fat that your husband doesn't want to have sex
with you anymore...so you spend your free time reading dictionaries.....

Good lord. What is with this world?!? xo

a clarification

Let me just add (because that last post sounded so despairing) that I am otherwise doing really well!  I had an excellent weekend and a great last couple of weeks.  I was so happy (despite hip pain) and busy and keeping my head more than above water.  But this morning was just a bummer, and of course it colored the post I wrote.  I'm stressed about some major things in my life that I just don't have any control over; I just have to ride them out, I guess.  I just wish it were easier to let the waves take me where they will.  But I get frightened that they'll put me off in a worse place.  I realize worrying won't help, I just can't seem to turn my brain off.  Which is difficult, because I really need to concentrate here at work.  I wish there was something I could take that would just shut off all the things I don't want to think about right now.  I mostly just want to shut out the world & go back to bed!!!  I never get enough sleep.  I have to work on that.

hip woman

My hips aren't doing so well these days, and I'm getting really scared. I have been in pain almost every single day, some more bothersome than others. I am using my cane all the time, of course, but I hate to have to. I don't feel like I could go very far without it, though. I'm so frustrated; things had been going so well with them. But I am terrified that my doctor's going to tell me that next up for me is a total hip replacement. At 26. I'll see him in mid-November; that was the earliest appointment I could schedule with him, unfortunately. I guess I'll just get by until then.

This morning's commute was especially killer; the D line train was only 1 car long today instead of its usual 2, and that of course made for a crowded ride already. I certainly hope they aren't moving to that format to "cut costs" or anything, because that was just awful. People couldn't even get in the door I was standing near, it was so packed! But the worst part was that I had to stand all the way from Government Center to Longwood. I was standing right in front of this guy who was in the seat that indicates that one should give it up for people with crutches or canes or other reasons they'd need to sit, right? But I'm never going to ask someone to move. I usually don't even take a seat when someone offers it, but it is nice that people are courteous enough to ask. This guy, though? Didn't even look up, he just hunched even further over his computer, which he spent the entire train ride basically showing off. He had a tablet PC, and I wanted to be like, "Dude, you're not special just because you can write on your screen. Could you please just let me have your seat? I know you can't demonstrate your 'awesomeness' while standing up, but I'm sure the world can survive for one more day without seeing that." I probably should have asked for the seat, but I just couldn't bring myself to. Clearly, as Mike says, I can sometimes be too nice. I get walked all over. But I mean, come on. Is it that hard to be nice & give up your train seat for one morning? The guy was clearly not in need of it (save to display how damn cool he was using his tablet); he was probably a few years younger than me. And he pissed me off even more because he was this businessman in a suit & tie. They always tend to be inconsiderate jerks, at least in my experience.

Sorry, I just needed to rant. I didn't used to often need a seat; in fact, I have given up my seat at times to people who looked like they needed them even more, even when I was using my cane. But when I do need to sit, as much as I feel badly about it, I will gratefully accept an offered space.

I think I'm also coming down with something, which doesn't help me feel any better; when I finally did get to collapse into a seat today, I didn't even bother reading the rest of the paper, I just napped the rest of the ride. That's very not like me. But I'm feeling so under the weather.

I need things to get better, soon. I feel like everything is just spiraling out of my control. I don't like it. It scares the hell out of me. But I don't know what to do.

At least they were handing out free samples of Advil on the way into the train this morning. Painkillers are always welcome, haha. xoxo

i love you, xkcd

PSI: Boston

(cross-posted from SPK)

Knitting actually HAS been happening, I just haven't talked about it in ages. I guess I've definitely been in the mood to do rather than discuss. :) But I thought I ought to mention the Pine Street Inn Knit-A-Thon now that I've been knitting squares for the past several days...I kept hearing about the event, and thought it was such an exciting idea, but figured I didn't have enough time to get anything knit, because for some reason I thought it was taking place in late September. Luckily, I realized it's not until early November, and so I've got plenty of time to churn out some patchwork pieces! They are looking for 9"x9" squares that will be sewn together at the actual event to create quilts for the use of the guests who stay at the PSI. I have been really interested in that place ever since reading Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, so I am glad that I'll have a way to get involved with it now (even if it is just for a day).

Because I'm really uncomfortable with fundraising (I am just awful at it), I probably won't do any pledging, but let me direct you to Wendy's page if you are interested in making a donation & sponsoring her by the # of squares she knits! I think the concept is great...but I also do love that one can donate knitting by itself, without having to go the money route.

In any case, on to the knitting! I have a ton of yarn that Dan's grandmother gave to me a while back, most of which I can't use for anything of my own. I was thinking I'd pass it all along, but now I think I will hold onto it at least until the deadline for squares, and hopefully I can use up a good amount of it for a good cause! I'm also trying to learn several new stitch patterns while I work on these otherwise potentially boring squares. I've already completed 4 and part of a 5th:


See the Vogue Knitting Stitchionary there, underneath my blue & brown squares? :)

(And yes, those shoes in the background? They are this weird version of generic Crocs. I know, I know, I hate hate hate the ubiquitous things too, but I am pleased to no end that Bethany helped me find a pair that's not the usual awful shape & style. I needed a breathable closed-toe shoe that I could wear when I volunteer in the Women's Lunch Place kitchen (it's required by health code), so those were my best option for the summer. I apologize to anyone I've offended by owning them, haha.)

I'll post with more knitting soon -- I've been working on a sweater, a couple pairs of socks, a baby blanket, and I'm about to start a shawl/scarf. Fun! xoxo

addendums

(I typed "addendumbs" up there by mistake, and I almost left it, because it seemed quite appropriate, heh.)

I wanted to add several things:

• The shoes I just posted about are bridesmaids shoes, for my sister Bethany's upcoming wedding. She let us choose anything we wanted, so I went with a pair (thanks for finding them, Sarah!) that I really liked & knew I would wear again. They probably won't even be that visible at the actual wedding, since my dress is so long.


• I forgot to add another nice thing: that I also had a lovely weekend with (my other sister) Sarah (celebrating her 30th!) and my parents. We ate a nice dinner and shopped and crafted. We made these really cute fleece baby blankets that we'd both been wanting to try, but I got impatient (I hate working with fabric! I always forget that!) and mine was kind of messy (even though the dinosaur-print fabric was totally fun). Sarah's turned out beautifully, though. I should have snapped pictures!


• And, a fun outing with Sally this weekend yielded me *square dinner plates* (I've been coveting a set for just about EVER) from West Elm over at Fenway. I decided on large red ones and smaller black ones, and I love how they look together. I can't wait to have a dinner party (I don't know how I'll manage THAT in my small apartment, but one can dream, can't they?) and get to set the table. I've never been this excited for tableware, ever! :)


• Cake at work this morning. Can't start a day off better than that!

Okay, seriously, that's it for now. I just didn't want to leave out the important stuff! xo

on the bright side

Since I realized all my recent posts have been grumpy ones, here are some nice things coming up this week:

• An awesome pair of new shoes! (This already happened, but I couldn't resist posting about it.) Yay, Zappos.com:
  


• Fondue & Death By Chocolate to help celebrate Tara's birthday tonight!


• This already happened too, but yesterday's 1/2 hour power outage at work was actually fun: we're a software company, so while there are backup generators, for the most part people enjoyed the break and had some fun.


• Getting to see Kelley on Friday, finally! And going to see Live & Collective Soul with her!


• Finally picking up some tailored pants that I've desperately needed to rotate into my wardrobe for quite some time! (It's like new clothes, but hopefully slightly cheaper....)


• Spending some quality time with Danny!

I think that's it for now. I am sure there are other fun things, but that'll have to do for now, because I have GOT to go get work done! (And try to keep my mind off this credit card fraud thing.) xoxo

you bastard

Well, I certainly now know how Karen feels! I went to check my credit card account online this morning like I regularly do, and I saw a $600+ charge made to my card that was definitely not me. I immediately called the Citicard fraud department and was told that that wasn't the only problem: someone has my number and has been making crazy purchases all over the internet! $100 here, $200 there, etc. UGH. I hate people so damn much. Luckily I've gotten over the feeling that I've been specifically targeted - it's not like someone knew who I was and grabbed something of mine, knowing I was a sucker - but, still. It's a shitty feeling. I just hope Citicards can figure out which were my charges and which weren't...or however they go about doing all that. The last thing I need to do is shell out several hundred dollars when I can't even afford my own living expenses!

Another thing I seriously do NOT need is my credit card being shut down & mailed to me AGAIN: I just spent the last month trying to get them to mail my card upgrade to the right place. They finally managed it last week...and now, here I am, back at square one, with no card. And probably carrying a balance now while I pay bills out of my bank account and can't charge anything to my card. God, I hate this shit. I guess it's better for me to learn how to live without a credit card, but it's not like I was spending beyond my means...I just liked being able to accrue points and kind of be able to pay for everything all at once, with my end-of-the-month paycheck. Gah.

Well, at least I don't have to worry anymore about the fact that my credit card was printed with an expiration date of Halloween...yes, of this year! I thought I was going to have to call and go through another month of hell just trying to get that card updated. Now, I still have to worry about getting my card mailed to the right place, but at least this time it's also hopefully cutting off some asshole who is buying him- or herself lots of fun presents and charging ME for it. Ugh. I don't even know what you could BUY at Sprint for $600 all at one pop! Unless it was like 8 cell phones at once. Which, doesn't that look kind of suspicious...?

Arg, I hate this feeling. Maybe I just need to go without a credit card for good. What pisses me off the most is that I check my online account every day, but these charges started on September 14, and this was the first day I saw them come through. So basically I've been victimized for several days, and was blissfully unaware. I wish my credit card company could do something like my bank does, and display both pending and cleared charges. That way, maybe I could have seen the bastard earlier!

It still makes for a shitty day. :( And another stressful month worrying about money, good stuff. Thanks so much, you jerk.

angry afternoon

Someone came into my cube and took one of the empty cartons that's been sitting on my desk (I had several things delivered here a while back, because it's more reliable than at my place where no one is there to sign), and I'm (irrationally?) angry about it.  Not about the box, I could care less about the box.  But the fact that they came into my cube!  That really bothers me.  Is that weird?  I know it's work and it's not like I've got anything to hide, but just...even though it technically belongs to my company, shouldn't this be MY personal space?  I respect everyone else's spaces.  Granted, I may stop into one of my coworkers' desks to leave a note or something, but I KNOW this isn't someone I know, and I KNOW they TOOK something.  Without asking!  While I wasn't there!  It feels so sneaky.  I keep wanting them to come back so I can entrap them, haha.  I don't even know what I'd do.  But I'm feeling really violated right now.  I guess I mistakenly took my cube area to be a (kind of) sacred space.  I'll have to revise that notion.

I just think it's one thing if someone stopped in to find me and I wasn't there, but it's quite another to be presumptuous enough to walk in, TAKE something, and leave.  Without even letting me know.  Maybe even hoping I wouldn't notice??  I hate presumption, it pisses me off.

Now I'm cranky, and not getting any work done.  Blah.  

I've got to go back to that. xoxo

p.s. I'm also now VERY curious about corporate law's views on what a company owns.  Like, do I own those boxes or, because they were on company property, the company does?  And if that's the case, do they also technically own anything I walk in with everyday (cell phone, wallet, keys), and the clothes on my back?  That seems a little creepy.

reminds me of that scene in Stand By Me...

I just saw an online ad warning kids against this.

Really...do people do that? As a pastime? Is it the new sniffing glue?

That just creeps me right out.

bad luck

I'm just waiting for #3.

Here's thus far:

1. Last night, I was out at dinner and my card got declined. Declined! I've actually never had that happen to me before, although apparently it's pretty common (that's the consensus, anyway). I knew right away what was wrong: I am supposed to be receiving a new card (upgrade PLUS new # - and it's black! ooo) in the mail, but I haven't yet. I figured my old one would work until the new one arrived, but it's now about 3 weeks late getting to me, so when I didn't activate the new guy, they just shut off the old one. Doesn't make any sense to me, because you'd think they'd realize that the old one was still showing regular activity, and the new one wasn't showing any at all. Don't they have systems to track that? Whatever. Anyway, I luckily had money in my checking account so was able to pay using my debit card, but gosh was that an awful feeling. You wonder if people look at you differently. Although I'd guess that wait staff see that kind of thing a lot more than I know...and I'm sure it's not all people who have just charged their card into oblivion. But still.

2. This morning, everything was going fine on my way to work, until I entered my office building. I said good morning to the guard as per usual, and then proceeded towards this little set of stairs I normally take, which gets me up about a half level...it's all very hard to explain, but very public. So one second I am walking along, not a care in the world (hah, not likely), and the next I am flat on my back. Seriously. I don't even remember the falling part! Oh, and then I realize that I'm soaking wet. Apparently the pretty little decorative waterfall right next to the stairs overflowed...a LOT. The puddle was a few inches deep. But, because of the color of the marble floor and because the stairs are kind of in shadow (also difficult to explain), it was almost invisible, even after I stood up to take a look at my surroundings. Well, to make a long story short, the guard made sure I was okay, gave me access to the fitness center (so I could blow-dry my jeans!), and I was on my way, just really embarassed. (The woman in the fitness center bathroom with me must've thought I had lost my marbles, aiming the hairdryer at my ass, which, by the way, doesn't look very wet). I've got bruises forming already on my upper thigh and shin, ugh. All I can say from that experience is: ow.

So, the way my luck has been going, I just hope #3 isn't awful; I don't think I could stand it. xo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Close to the Machine: Technophilia and Its Discontents AUTHOR: Ellen Ullman

crossworlds

I tried to tell some dude on the T this morning that he had dropped his crossword puzzle while getting on the train, but he got all pissed at me because he couldn't hear me (yeah okay, remove the headphones, jackass) and finally I just gave up and said, "Okay, never mind!"

God I love people.

phew

Well. That seemed almost too easy. I'm kind of worried. And still shaking.

I just (finally!) called Verizon to cancel my service with them, after having put it off again and again and again, due to being terrified that they were going to tell me I was in contract with them until the year 2086. I knew that I just wanted to get out; if I was going to have to pay the cancellation fee then I just was going to, but I was going to be really angry if so, because my contract with them was techinically up in September of 2006. I had inquired in several stores about what would happen once my contract term was up; I was worried it would automatically renew for one reason or another (I had heard horror stories), but was reassured that if I didn't get a new phone on contract, I would simply be paying month-to-month. I had kept the phone even after getting a new one, telling myself it was because I wanted to make sure I didn't miss any calls, but I know it was largely because I was literally scared witless of the dreaded Cancellation Call.

However, it turned out pretty well, I believe! (I'm still crossing my fingers, because the dance isn't over yet; it should be shut off by 10:30 tonight, and then they'll mail me a letter confirming the cancellation.) But the rep on the phone was very helpful (and I made sure to get his name, and record the date & time of the call), and told me that since I wasn't under contract, I was all set. Like I said before, it seemed almost too easy. I really did say "um, was that it?" Apparently I'm paid up with them through the end of September, but I asked them please to just turn the service off tonight; I didn't want to find out later on that I'd been charged extra or roped into another contract inadvertently. So hopefully they'll also refund me that money for September.

Anyway, all I can think is PHEW. I am so glad I won't be paying 2 phone bills anymore. It was getting frustrating because I barely used the Verizon phone, but I still don't think I've told everyone my new number, either. Eep. Guess it's mass-email time! Also, if any of you don't yet have it (I believe most of you do, though), please lemme know and I'll be sure to send it your way (or give you a call! hehe).

I need to go relax. I'm still all worked up; I had mentally prepared myself for such a battle, that now it almost (but only almost!) feels like a let-down. What do I do with all this nervous energy?! xo

adieu, mes crosswords

So I have kind of settled into this routine on my commute, wherein I will read the daily fluff paper (the Metro) to get a general idea of the news, and then settle in with the crossword puzzle, which can sometimes take up most of the rest of my ride. I'll read my current book to round out the rest of the time, and then on the way back home in the afternoon, I just read. It's been a nice system, and I usually enjoy it (when the crossword doesn't frustrate the hell out of me). But I'm thinking that, in order to keep up better with my blogging friends, I really ought to replace the crossword with a feed reader. (Since I've got a nifty phone to do that with!) I do so love doing crossword puzzles, for many reasons (I have to admit, I've probably learned at least one new word every day...not sure how well any of them have stuck with me, but...), and I kind of felt like I was warming up my brain for the day ahead, but now that I am much more limited at work in terms of what sites I don't feel awkward reading when anyone can walk by (and blogs unfortunately fall under that category), I think that I'll have to alter my routine a bit. I tend to do that pretty often: change things up to see if I can find something that works any better than my current routine (in many facets of my life). I'm always looking for some improvement. I wonder if that's what makes me often feel like something is always just out of my reach....

In any case, so for now it'll be newspaper-blogs/reading. We'll see how that goes. xoxo

p.s. I saw this in the Metro a few days back: it's about time. (By the way, is Boston Now part of The Boston Globe? I had no idea. Intriguing....)

p.p.s. I know I'm way late in the game, but I can't believe JK Rowling put "It's not all wandwork" (regarding how to charm the ladies) in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! I guess by now she knows she has adult readers (and plenty of them) who she can send some pointed jokes to....

p.p.p.s. Ohmigod, what has the world come to?? Mitt vs. Snowman

p.p.p.p.s. Wow sorry, I know this is an insanely disjointed post. I just had all these little snippets to add! Which probably just means I ought to be doing more regular posting! Hehe.

trois

I still can't believe it was so long ago that we were hanging out in my packed-up Woodbury apartment, watching Bubba Ho-tep and being sad-then-happy (then sad? à la Jimi).

Happy 3 years. ♥

(Sorry, this was kind of an inside-joke kind of post.)

p.s. Also, happy Left Hander's Day to all of those out there! Thanks for reminding me, T -- I actually did remember it was today, I just failed entirely to do anything about it because of an awful day at work. Blah.

Anyway, hope tomorrow is better for everyone out there -- whether or not today was good. :) xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: The Age of Innocence AUTHOR: Edith Wharton

the plan

Okay, so in September, my plan is to start sticking around Boston on most weekends (I haven't been in the city much this summer) and getting things done as much on the weekends as possible around here, so that I can actually get to bed at a reasonable hour on weeknights!  I can barely seem to stay awake today, it's awful.  I think I need to get more sleep at nights to counteract that.  I'll still do Wednesday nights at SNB (if I can ever make it home in time, once the T is back to normal) and the occasional evening out, but to save both time & money (and my sanity!), I need to stop spreading myself so thin.  And part of that means not quite so much traveling.

Of course, I'm going to NJ this weekend and NH on the 24th, which I probably shouldn't, but I want to.  But, you know.  I plan to start soon. xoxo

quick rant via my phone

I despise whoever it is that thought up stalled bathrooms. I think
they are so dehumanizing, ugh. Why can't we be allowed our privacy?!
xo

this is a test.

i am checking how Blogger Mobile works, because i want to link it with my existing blog. 

xoxo

oy vey

You know how sometimes you let something go for so long that you aren't really sure quite how to get back to it?

Well, I'm gonna try. I can't guarantee much because I've been superbusy (Dan: hah!) lately, but I miss everyone & keeping up with all those out there in cyber-land.

I hope all is well with everyone. I will post more soon, but for now, I'm up way too late. xoxo

jaywalker FO!

This is an awful picture (I am getting a camera with a flash SOON, I mean it -- I actually have one picked out, just have to get it!), but I just wanted to indicate that I actually have been doing some knitting, albeit not as much as I was for a while there (blame the long commute, for one thing). But, I've finished the Jaywalkers and I just adore them; they fit great and I love the pattern, especially with the yarn I chose to use, because the ankles and the toes turned out so pretty. The foot part, not so much, because the color pooled weirdly, but I figure that's the least important part, anyway. Right?


pattern: Grumperina's Jaywalker on Magknits
yarn: Knit Picks Sock Garden in Autumn somethingorother (thanks, Christine!)

In other leisure time activities, reading is going really slowly, despite my having so much allotted time for it (read: my commute) these days. But I really am liking White Teeth. Beautifully written. It seems that most people love one or her other, On Beauty, but not both. Perhaps I'll see sometime in the future, but in the meantime I've got plenty of other books in my piles!

Anyway, lots of things to go do. Goodnight! xo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: White Teeth AUTHOR: Zadie Smith
	TITLE: Harvesting the Heart AUTHOR: Jodi Picoult

rock-a-bye

I've been having trouble sleeping through the night again lately; I keep waking up every few hours. At least a few times every night, definitely. I think part of it is because I have this fear of being late to work, which is ridiculous because not only do I take the T, which runs like every 10 minutes, but they are also really flexible at work about what time you get in. I just think a big part of it is also nerves; hopefully that anxiety will subside as I settle in.

I'm also having very weird & stressful dreams. In one, I was a teacher (starting a new job), and I missed an entire day of school because I overslept by 5 minutes. In another, I was about to go swimming at a pool with my old boss and some mutual acquaintances, and I found out my ex had cancer.

All, really scary & terribly stressful. I don't know what has been going through my subconscious lately....

More another time, but I'm exhausted. I should go to bed soon. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: White Teeth AUTHOR: Zadie Smith
	TITLE: Harvesting the Heart AUTHOR: Jodi Picoult

a new beginning

Well, today was my first day! The train ride was loooong, but so long as I get a seat & can read relatively undisturbed, I guess that'll be okay. Work itself went pretty well; it mostly entailed paperwork & tours & a fun lunch out with a lot of people I already knew (both from having worked there before, and having friends and my soon-to-be-brother-in-law there). It seems pretty cool so far, but it's a huge difference from working at home (of course), so I think it's going to take a lot of getting used to. Hopefully, I'll just stay really busy & the days will fly by. Hopefully!!!

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: White Teeth AUTHOR: Zadie Smith
	TITLE: Harvesting the Heart AUTHOR: Jodi Picoult

stop: movie time

Last night, we saw Knocked Up, which I just loved, and would absolutely recommend. Still a big fan of Judd Apatow. Not to mention most of his usual cast.

Movies (out in theaters, or soon to be) that I want to see in the near future:
*Ocean's 13
*Waitress
*Paris, je t'aime
*La Môme/La Vie en Rose
*Eagle vs. Shark (15 june)
*Evan Almighty (22 june)
*The Simpsons Movie (27 july)
*The Ten (3 august, hopefully)
*Superbad (17 august)

There are probably others too, but those are the ones I remember.

(As for summer blockbuster-types (all third installments, so far! odd), I've already seen S-M3 & POC3; I might end up seeing S3 in DVD format at some point, but I have never gone to see any one of those in the theater, even though I've always enjoyed them well enough.)

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: White Teeth AUTHOR: Zadie Smith

are you happy now

This is a very emotional time of my life right now, for various reasons, so I guess there are going to be more of these personal posts than usual, although for many reasons I'll probably keep things pretty abstract.

I guess recently I've just been thinking a lot about happiness -- particularly, my own. I feel like I should focus on that -- that's what they say you should do when you are feeling down -- but I don't feel like there really is anything in my life right now that makes me unhappy, save for one thing, and I'm trying to work on that. Granted, I am terribly stressed about work, both the old & new jobs. That is just something I'm going to have to wait on. So why can't I wait on figuring out the other stuff, the relationship stuff? I'm incredibly impatient to get everything sorted out in my life, to get back to more stable footing. But I don't feel like I have control over eveything. And the stuff that I do have control over? I am happy with. I enjoy seeing my friends, reading, knitting. I don't require a lot to be content.

I keep thinking maybe I should be looking for something further, but what other area of my life do I look in? The only other thing I can think of is school, and while I know I do want to go back eventually, I don't feel like that's a pressing concern of mine. I'm definitely not chomping at the bit. Maybe one thing I should do is try to figure out what I'd want to go back to school for. Maybe I ought to start taking a class once I'm settled into the new job, if I can squeeze it in. It's not like I need to add more activity to my life, but I wouldn't mind trying to figure something more out about myself. Right now, I just don't know where to go.

The new job is going to be a pretty big upheaval, I think, so I guess I'll see how things go there, first. But I have been doing a lot of thinking about this, and I really can't figure out what more it is that I want out of life. I'm happy with where things are. I'm not anxious to have children, and I don't want to get married. I don't even have much ambition in terms of career. So...what is it? What am I working towards? What am I looking forward to? I need to figure these things out.

Yep, I may win for most cryptic post ever! xo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: White Teeth AUTHOR: Zadie Smith

does the "US" part stand for "u suck"?

As much as I hate to use "u" in place of "you", I'm seriously starting to wonder if, in fact, the first 2 letters in "USPS" don't actually stand for "United States", after all....

This is the second time in less than a month that I've received "special delivery" from the USPS, which basically means an empty envelope, correctly stamped & addressed to me, sealed in a clear plastic sleeve that is printed on the outside with an apology of "sorry, sometimes these things happen, can't be helped!" and instructions to help prevent this in the future by being sure to seal my mail carefully -- as if I had anything to do with the mail not reaching me.

The first time it happened, I figured, hey, no sweat. It's the first time in 26 years that I've ever seen something like that, and it was more novelty (since the missing mail itself, I could live without) than anything else. But the second time? Now I'm starting to worry.

Neither of the pieces of mail were particularly unusual or anything. One of them was a normal envelope with my paystubs from work (the inside of which arrived several days later in the mailbox, as my address was also printed on the paystub!), and the most recent one was a Netflix mailer, of which I only received the piece of paper with my address on it (if you don't get Netflix, this is kind of hard to explain, but suffice it to say, the DVD did not arrive).

Dan is convinced that someone at the post office finally figured out what all those red envelopes are, haha.

I love the USPS 99% of the time, as I'm a big fan of writing & receiving letters, and of course now of Netflix. Usually, they come through really well. But especially since being up here in Boston, things have kind of taken a downturn in my love affair with the postal service. I am sure some of that has to do with the fact that I'm residing in the most densely populated place that I've ever lived, but I don't know. You'd think they would have ways to deal with that, since Boston has been around longer than almost anywhere else!

Well, I'll continue to write letters & trust the post office, for the most part. But I have to say, I'm really grateful for being able to pay bills online. Gives me (slightly) more peace of mind. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marisa Handler

sweetpotatoknits.com

I'll still be keeping up with this blog, but I am probably going to be posting more knitting-in-progress shots on my "new" (it was set up very early this year, I just haven't touched it in a while) site, sweetpotatoknits.com. I will definitely still post all finished knits here, but I thought I'd start a separate site for more knitting-oriented content (or, at least pictures!). It's still in its very rough early stages, as evidenced by the titlebar reading "title here", but I'll get working on it in the next few weeks. For now, there are a few progress shots of the baby sweater I've been working on.

I'm going to get back to watching the rest of Shane, now. xoxo

wow

A heartfelt thank you to all of you who were so kind to me regarding my post yesterday, leaving me messages of encouragement & concern. I am doing much better, I think (although I still definitely do feel off-track); I probably should have posted later in the day when things were looking brighter (the weather outside still sucked, but I was feeling much less down, at least). I was thinking of skipping the Boston Knit Out meeting at 6:30 so I could get some work done, but I decided I'd go and help out, because there was a big mailing that had to be prepared (sorting, folding, stuffing envelopes, stamping). I got there a little early & had a nice chat with Patience, who has taken on the burden of running the entire Knit Out (understandably, Lucy needed to step back from doing it this year!), and we were joined by others throughout the next couple of hours. All the while, we were preparing the mailings, as well as trying to hold a meeting, so it was kind of chaotic! It would all have been totally fine, except for this one woman who was kind of aggressive with everything. She seemed angry that the BKO didn't have better organization around its PR, but we didn't know what to tell her -- everything is going through a huge change in leadership at the moment, and it's a really small volunteer organization. So that kind of put a damper on things, at least in terms of the meeting, especially because I was starting to grow hungrier & hungrier as an extra hour of the meeting went by, oy.

Luckily, when the meeting was through, I was headed to Joanna's for a Knit Night/going away party, as she is moving to New York City this month. I hate meeting all these awesome people through SNB, only to see them leave. It feels like that group is also going through something of an upheaval, but luckily it always seems to be composed of cool knitters, and hopefully thus attracts them, too! Anyway, Joanna's was fun; there was some delicious food, and there were some very cool new people to meet.

I got some more work done on this baby sweater I've been commissioned to do; I am enjoying knitting with Knit Picks Shine Worsted, even though the pattern (which I'll link to in a future post, I am sure) is very simple:


Hopefully I'll get even more done this evening, as Bethany & I plan to hang out & watch some Gilmore Girls (I've made it to season 6, finally) after we stop by the yummy Scooper Bowl this evening! xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marisa Handler

rainy day blues

I'm in such a funk. I feel like I just want to start the whole year over. I managed to lock myself out this morning, so I had to slog through the rain in my quickly-soaked jeans and sweatshirt and slippery flip-flops (I hadn't realized it was raining until after I had locked the door behind myself on my way out) to pick up the key from Bethany all the way over in the financial district. She really saved my life, as I couldn't have worked until I could get back in. Ugh. I know I am just feeling sorry for myself this morning, but I don't feel like anything is going right, these days. It's like I turned off at the wrong exit on the highway a few months ago, and can't seem to get myself back on the right road. I feel like nothing is in my control right now, in my life. I hate that feeling. I want control back. How do I get it back??

buzz buzz

My father just emailed me a photo of the gorgeous dragonfly sculpture he created (with a mixture of welding and stained glass, I believe), which is up in the backyard of the house I grew up in:


(Click the photo for a better view.)
The background of the picture, which is now beautifully landscaped thanks to his Master Gardener skills (yet another of his fascinating hobbies), at one time was home to our sandbox, metal swingset, and our dog Daisy's yard. What a change. And it feels like just yesterday that I was baking up mud pies.

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marisa Handler

"a magnificent ananchronism"

I just finished watching Patton this morning before work, and I have to say, I really loved it. George C. Scott was amazing in the role. I don't tend to love war movies (okay, save for Apocalypse Now and Platoon and Dr. Strangelove, and perhaps one or two others), and I was not expecting to enjoy this one. But Scott really put something real into the role. I loved watching him act. And there's a special feature on the DVD of Francis Ford Coppola talking about writing the script, and how he wanted to find a way to appeal to both those who loved & hated the general. I don't believe I really had much of any feeling about the man either way going into viewing the film, but there was much controversy over his tactics during WWII. (Which still remains today, from the looks of the IMDb message boards.)

(Spoiler alert; please don't continue reading if you don't want plot details.)
I have to say, I found the ending of the film initially surprising, but actually entirely fitting. While I was watching it, at one point I paused the movie to look up Patton on Wikipedia. I didn't mean to, but I read about his accidental death just post-war, and I was upset because I (unlike many people) didn't know about that going into the film. I sometimes really like going totally "blindly" into a film, not knowing a thing about it or really what to expect -- sometimes those end up being my absolute favorite films, simply because they haven't already been hyped to death by everyone else.

In any case, I figured I knew what to expect at the end, and thus was pleasantly surprised to realize that the credits were rolling with Patton still alive onscreen. I really liked the way the story was completed; it seemed totally appropriate and in line with the rest of the film. I don't think it could have ended any other way. And, as someone pointed out on the message board, the broken-down windmill especially painted Patton as a modern day Don Quixote. He was ridiculed and criticized, but ultimately he found his own way through. And the fact that he was left with only his (cowardly) dog as companionship was heartbreaking and yet truly appropriate.

The film really painted a modern tragic hero excellently. Part of it was the storyline & writing, part of it was the acting prowess of Scott. I think history was portrayed beautifully. And they say it was a fairly accurate film.

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marisa Handler

around the world

I think I need to travel more.


create your own visited country map

I also need to get the list of U.S. states that my family has visited; I know there's a good number of them! I just could never list them all; I was 8 when we traveled cross-country. I'd like to add a states-visited map here, too (they've got one on the same website).

Okay, I am going to go get some things done. xo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marissa Handler

middle earth

I'm having a hell of a time deciding on whether or not I should choose the $9.99/month option for the Lord of the Rings Online MMORPG, or the "lifetime" offer, which is a one-time fee of $199, and allows you to play as long as the game is going on! I love the idea of being able to come back in 15 years and play, haha, but I can't really afford the two hundred dollars at the moment. AND, I have to decide by tomorrow! As in, May 24. Bah!

hello.

I haven't posted in a while, but as per usual, not much to say, I guess. Um...pretty much I'm trying to get a lot of work done before my last day at my current job, which is June 15. I am majorly stressed about that. But I've also been sure to have some fun after work hours, such as getting to go to Fajitas & Ritas with Sally last night (Kelley, I finally got to eat there! hehe), and then to a really fun SNB this evening before meeting up with Lisa & her awesome friends for a few drinks at CPK. I can't really afford all these nights out (not nearly), but I really have needed them, so I am trying to ignore the expense right now in exchange for the lift they are giving me. But, I think I'm going to have to cut back a bit, sigh.

Monday, I attended a Boston Knit Out planning meeting at the Masonic Grand Commandery of Boston, which was quite a trip. A very beautiful building, and full of history.

LOTS going on. I don't even know where to begin, so I guess I won't right now. I'm sorry my posts have been really cryptic and not very full, but I just don't even know where to begin. I am trying to keep a more positive outlook on everything recently, though, and I really want to just throw myself into work until this is all over & done with. Please cross your fingers for me that I can get done everything that I need to before my deadline!!!

And on that note, I should probably try to get some sleep. Have a good night, everyone. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Loyal to the Sky AUTHOR: Marissa Handler
	TITLE: Manstealing for Fat Girls AUTHOR: Michelle Embree

baby surprise jacket

I believe it was early yesterday morning (or maybe the evening before?) that I finished the knitting part of the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket. Circles Salon in JP is offering the pattern & yarn for $10 if you sign on to knit it for charity. I thought it was a worthy cause. Now, I've got to weave in the ends, seam the shoulders, block, and add buttons. Good thing sweater season, like Allison said, is a long ways away, because I can definitely see myself not getting around to all that for quite some time....


pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket
yarn: no idea (it was people's donations)
This weekend, it's off to NYC! My sisters are treating me to a birthday weekend there (well, celebration anyway, since my birthday was a week & a half ago). Next week I think will be slightly calmer in terms of plans, which is good. I've got a lot to get done.

I wish you all the best of weekends! xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City AUTHOR: Anne Thomas Soffee
	TITLE: The Boy I Loved Before AUTHOR: Jenny Colgan

my head aches

I'm not sure why I'm feeling less-than-100% today, it's not like I did any imbibing this weekend or anything. But I guess I did spread myself a little thin. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'll have much free time to recover until next week, but I think (hope!) this week & upcoming weekend in NY will be a pleasant one.

I restarted my socks and they are coming along swimmingly, but I've temporarily put them aside to knit up the Baby Surprise Sweater that Circles has set up for a charity drive. I chose color combinations I probably would never otherwise have considered (many shades of purple, mostly), which are actually making a very nice blend. I'm a little less than halfway through, mostly because I knit my way through The African Queen last night, which by the way I just loved. The scene where Bogart is helping Hepburn turn some crank on the boat, and you see his agonized heart-on-your-sleeve face over her shoulder, is just so priceless. I am starting to see the attraction of Mr. Bogart -- because he's certainly not someone who would make me do a double-take if he walked by me on the street (not that he ever could right now, but you know...). But he is an amazing actor.

In other way important news, I need to point out to everyone that my fabulous print-making sister has finally set herself up with an Etsy shop! Please visit Buzz Buzz Bee and take a look around. There's plenty of adorable stuff, with more to come, so definitely keep her bookmarked! :) (Yes, shameless plug, but I do love her work. I would buy it even if we weren't related, no question.)

All right, back to work, sigh. Comme toujours.
Ciao! xoxo

p.s. D'oh, wait! I forgot to share my new haircut. Awful cameraphone photo, but it was the best I could do:


It's actually very dark-reddish, too (I think she called it mahogany? Or something?), but you can't really see that, sorry. Maybe more photos soon, although of course my hair doesn't look nearly as sleek anymore as it did post-salon.

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd
	TITLE: Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City AUTHOR: Anne Thomas Soffee

ah gauge, the bane of my existence...

So, I've been pretty much powering through this pair of socks recently; I started one of the pair last Sunday & was almost done with it yesterday (for me, that's fast). However, I was getting really nervous, because they looked really much bigger than I needed. I had Dan try them on for me last night, and I realized that they are much too loose. I wanted to kick myself for not doing a swatch, but I have knit the same socks before on the same needles -- I just forgot that I had done it with entirely different yarn. Blargh. So I guess I have to resort to starting all over again, oh well!

Tonight, as Christine knows (we ran into each other at Windsor Button yesterday evening and had a nice chat, about accordians and beers on a warm night, quite pleasant things really), I am going to help my friend try to knit a candy corn hat out of white, orange, and yellow yarn. She's a pretty new knitter, so it should be a fun project to keep her occupied, with a neat finished product (I'll try to remember to take pictures!).

Lots going on in other areas of life that I want to record (about my stay in CT, which I still haven't posted on, and about how I've finally finished The Blind Assassin, phew!), but all I want to post about right now is knitting. Sorry! More another time, xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd
	TITLE: Nerd Girl Rocks Paradise City AUTHOR: Anne Thomas Soffee

odessa #862

Nothing new here, just another Odessa completed:


yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK in Sweet (501)
pattern: Odessa, of course
On a totally unrelated note, I think now I know where my love of libraries comes from -- today was the day that Dewey proposed his famous decimal system to the faculty at Amherst.

I had a lovely lunch with Bethany at The Living Room, and then tonight Dan is treating me to L'Espalier. Could a birthday girl ask for more? (Well, besides also seeing the rest of her family, but at least I had a lovely celebration dinner/ice cream cake with them earlier this week.)

Thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes! I love you guys. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: The Blind Assassin (audiobook) AUTHOR: Margaret Atwood
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd

in other news

I forgot to mention some things in my post yesterday:

It's my birthday month, hooray! May is an excellent month. I'll be 26 very soon, eep.

I finally finished that "10 female authors" goal, and I actually really enjoyed it. I chose mostly very good books, but I also think that it was kind of a refreshing change. Not that I normally take specific note of whether or not the author I am reading is male or female, but I think there can be a definitely different feel to male authors. I like both, and don't really have a preference (although most of my favorites are male, I have to admit), but it was definitely an interesting experience. And one I actually plan to continue, for a little while! We'll see how long; there are plenty of books I want to read that are male-authored, and they are sitting impatiently on my shelves. Ack!

I actually have been knitting, but of course I can't share one of my latest FO's (I promise a plethora of pictures after the holidays, really!). But, here is the latest Odessa I've completed. This was one of my few impulse purchases, and I just couldn't resist the hot pink color. It will have to also be my one allowed digression from Knit from Your Stash, because I decided I'm going to keep this one for myself -- it'll be excellent for cold CodePink activities! I hadn't purchased it with anyone in mind (including myself), but I knew an Odessa was going to come of the skein. Like I've said before, I think it is the perfect travel project. I've got another one currently on the needles (another commission by my sister), and yet another I've promised a friend. At this rate, everyone I know is going to be outfitted in these hats! In any case, without further ado:


yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK in Madame 511 (I think)
pattern: Odessa, as always, it seems

I must have a Keyboard Waffle Maker, heehee.

And lastly, I thought I'd share a cute photo I took of one of Jen's puppies curled up next to me -- meet Duncan:


Okay, I've got some work to go finish up before some fun tonight! Have a good evening everyone. xoxo

Currently Reading:
	TITLE: The Blind Assassin (audiobook) AUTHOR: Margaret Atwood
	TITLE: Are Men Necessary? AUTHOR: Maureen Dowd