Saturday, February 28, 2009

Cracking Up

First, this made me laugh out loud... through the whole thing. It's like a train wreck. You know what's coming, but you have to keep reading. You laugh because you get it. You feel her pain. You've felt that pain. You hope to never feel that pain again... but you know you will.

Packing is always so much fun. This time around, I was really glad to be alone in my room! Most hotels have a vacuum I can borrow to suck the air out of my Space Bags. I like taking smaller suitcases. =) This hotel? Nope. They just have those vacuums that are all one piece with no hose. =( Crap. I had all that yarn to pack! So... I filled one of the bags with the yarn, zipped the top nearly closed... and laid down on it, rolling around a little. haha Worked fairly well, actually. Stacked my clothes in the other and sat on that one and wiggled around. =) Not quite as good as a vacuum, but worked well enough in a pinch and I got everything into the two bags... and my two carry-ons. We won't talk about those balls of yarn stuffed into my coat pockets. I'll be the first to admit that I'm cheap. I could have mailed some stuff home. I even had a box. I didn't want pay for it. Or go to the post office. It was gonna work... and it did! Sure, I left a few shirt and a pair of evil heels behind, but that was totally by choice. =) I did realize one thing yesterday. I really need to start working out again! I was sure that large bag was close to (or over) the 50-lb limit. What did it weight in at? 40. OMG. I'm such a wimp.

I got in late last night/early this morning. I'm pretty used to traveling, what with the round trip flights every 2-3 weeks or so for the past 8 1/2 months. My only issue this trip was that I had to connect in Phoenix... and change airlines. That meant changing terminals. That meant going outside (way too hot for February!), finding the right bus and going through security again... where they hand-searched one of my bags because they couldn't figure out what that odd-shaped thing in there was. It was this, btw. Don't buy one and pack it in your carry-on if you'll be running short on time. You'll mess with the minds of the TSA people. =) Did I mention that my first flight got in a little late? And I only had an hour between flights to begin with? ANd both gates were just about as far from the exit/entrance as possible? haha Yeah, my bags so didn't make it on that plane. Unlike Seattle though, they don't page you. No, Indy (at least US Air at Indy) lets you stand there like an idiot, wasting your time in the middle of the night when you'd rather go home and say, go to bed, while everyone else gets their bags and no more come out and you go find the customer service people who initially ignore the fact that you've walked into their tiny 10x10 room as if they could possibly not see you and ask where your bags are so they can ask if you were sure they weren't on the carousel. Hmm, I'm pretty sure my two black roller bags aren't that little tiger print thing riding round and round unclaimed (really? that person didn't recognize their bag?!). Have I mentioned how much I love Indiana? And how happy I am to be stuck here for awhile... *sigh* At least I found a group that has a knit night twice a month here! Yay, Ravelry!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A sad day... but full of yarny deals!


I went to my favorite yarn shop for the very last time today. Not because I'm heading back to the Midwest on Friday (I am, but not the point), but because today was the first day of their closing sale. =( Luckily, I finished the office-that-would-not-end yesterday and had nothing scheduled this morning so I was able to be there when the store opened. Good thing too as I was nowhere near the first to arrive! I went in a few minutes before "opening" and there were already probably a dozen ladies standing around the shelves ready to snag whatever they had their eye on as soon as the clock struck 11. haha I did get a few great deals on yarn and then moved on to the needles to stock up on some more circs - discovered I really like using 16" circs (rather than dpns) for hats. =) Then, I moved on to the patterns and books. Patterns for a quarter? Books for $1.50-2? I'm there! I even found a brand new color wheel for $3. And I think I can still fit everything into my suitcases for the trip home Friday - space bags rock!


On a non-fiber note, I finally caved and checked out the Ross in Everett after finishing up the office there Monday and found these awesome shoes. Also snagged a couple new Ts to replace the ones I'm tossing when I leave here.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Socks, socks, socks!

Finished these sitting on the tarmac in Philly waiting for takeoff coming back to Seattle. =) I hate to waste yarn, but this one was a little close for comfort. Cast-off with less than 2" to spare!! Love the socks. They were so quick and came out so soft and comfy. Great for keeping the toes toasty in my chilly hotel room!


Finally finished these too! I started the 2nd sock on the plane just after casting off the pair above and knit all the way from Philly to Seatac and got midway through turning the heel. Kinda got stalled after starting on the cuff though. Started a couple other projects in the meantime, but decided I wanted to finish these up today... and here they are!


Hmm, maybe he needs a pair of handknit socks too...

Friday, February 13, 2009

Be mine?

Got to the office this morning and this little guy was hanging out on my charts! =) Thankfully, he's pretty squishy so he should fit into my (already overstuffed) suitcase for the trip home in a couple weeks.

Hope you all have a happy Valentine's Day! I'll be spending mine in Seattle... alone. Planning a little road trip. Had I known Madrona was going on this weekend, I'd have planned to head down there. Still a little tempted. =) Alternatively, I do have a few choices here to while away the time:

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Again with the green...

Yep, more acid green. =) This time around, it's slipper socks!


These are turning out great - so comfy and quick to knit. (Thicker yarn and bigger needles help.) =) I started these before heading back to the airport to head home for the weekend. Finished the first one at home and cast on #2. Should have that one finished well before I arrive back in Seattle.


Notes for me for the future:

Magic CO 16 st on US6 dpns, work toe inc kfb to 48 st, work bottom in stockinette and top in 2x2 rib (k1, p2, k2, etc), work short row heel (7 sp) followed by few rounds in continued pattern then about 2 1/2" of 2x2 rib for cuff