PIF is happening...and an FO!

Wow, I have two people signed up so far...my friend Cherry...and someone I don't know - Suz - from all the way over in Scotland!

How exciting! I'm already thinking of stuff to make...I'll be reading Suz's blog to find out more about her and will be asking both a few questions to help me make them something not only crafty, but that they will enjoy. Once the gift knitting is done, and the Holidaze are over, I'm going to get going on this. Whee!

Now need only one more person! Hello - knock's on screen - anybody else out there wanna play?

And now for bed...just getting over the head cold and I've been blind-sided by some sort of stomach bug. Gah!!!! Didn't make it to the treadmill today...headed to bed for a short nap instead and then went back to work.

This weekend will most likely be filled with many hours in bed being taken care of by my 13 yr old. About time, don't you think?!?

Ooooh...FO ALERT! The cable project is done...needs the ends woven in and a good blocking. Still waiting on the rest of the yarn for Spencer's hat. In the meantime, I have started the Honey's Dalek. I'm making it out of the leftover yarn from his Leeds United scarf. Going good so far as I've been managing to keep count despite my current state. Also going to start on a few other gifts 'cause I like to have a few projects in varying degrees of difficulty on the needles to switch around to if I get bored or tired of counting.

OH, and we've switched up the plan for Spencer's hat...it will be loosely based on Swell now and we're adding a third color. Once I get all the yarn, I'll show you the colors he picked out. He's found a different graphic pattern that he likes, and I'll be making the earflaps a bit differently, and there will be a color work pattern at the top of the hat as well, and , and, and... Once I'm feeling better, I've got a lot of numbers to crunch to make sure the new design and extra design work in with the amount of stitches I've got to work with...gah...so many numbers, so few coherent brain cells...

Honey visit update...Looks like it's been pushed back to Feb...Spencer is in the school play and they've finally set the date for January 27th. We've been working on his lines for a few weeks now, and there's no way I'd miss his stage debut. But you better believe I'll be jumping on a plane soon afterwards...

Keeping pace...

Really enjoying the treadmill experience these past two days. Going to stick with it for about a week or so longer before I start switching off to other machines. My body is definitely adjusting to this whole alien exercising thing. There are some aches and soreness and all, but it's all ok...the knee is doing well.

And yes AmpuT...it's in my jeans...and so is about 14 years of pie, bread and butter, and other yummy things. hee hee...

Lots of knitting and drawing and sneezing (yep still have the cold) and tea drinking going on in the chaos lately. Finishing up projects left and right...really needing to post this stuff up on Ravelry...cos there won't be like posting up on here cos they're all like gifts...and recipients aren't like up on Ravelry...hee hee...

OOOOOH...so forgot to mention...I've learned how to cable without a cable needle. It's like the coolest thing ever...seriously...kept reading knit blogs about how people are cabling without an extra needle...and decided to check it out...for me cabling is cumbersome...can't handle the extra needle very gracefully and needles slipping out of stitches and all that and of course my almost finished project is just covered in cables...don't have to worry about that anymore... Try it, you'll like it...just Google 'cable knitting without a cable needle'...lots of tutorials and even some YouTube videos will come up...practice and enjoy your new-found liberation.

Now...what else knitty can I learn today?!?

My 70-something year old Mom is in better shape than I am...

...I should be ashamed of myself...and I am.

One hour and 9 minutes to workout time.

And yes, she walks a few miles every morning, eats right and takes very good care of herself.

Hanging my head in shame and signing in to work now...

There is no try, there is only "Do"

...ok, so anyone who's been reading this blog for the last year or so knows I struggle with weight loss. I have done well, I have done not so well, but I continue on.

Just updated the ticker up top with the latest info...up 4 more pounds. Oh well. What's a girl to do?

Well for starters, she can get off her ass and exercise more. Watching what I eat is not enough. I've been doing well enough watching what I eat though: paying attention to calories, fat, salt, and sugar content and so on. Some days I'm better than others, but I'm getting back on track and want to stay there for a while. My problem is with exercising. I just don't want to do it.

Things have changed though. I have the encouragement of loved ones once again and a very hunky workout partner to help things along, so I'm getting back into it.

Today, after living in this complex for over 8 years, I entered the "Exercise Facility" over in the main clubhouse/manager's office building. It's basically a room with a mirror on one wall, a wall of windows overlooking the pond area, a universal gym, a stair stepper, 2 treadmills, an elliptical, a scale, and a TV suspended in the corner. I nice place for a complex as old as this one.

It's open from 9am to 10pm. Every day. I've never gone. 8 years people. And I've never taken advantage of 'free' equipment. Sigh...8 years...

Went today at 9am. Hopped on the elliptical for 30 minutes. Just about died. Pretty much crawled back to my apartment. Will soon take Ibuprofen and put up my feet...oh, and don't forget the ice pack for the knee. I hurt. Everywhere. And I did the lowest level workout.

Pitiful.

But I'm doing something about it. The weight must come off, no if's and's or but's about it. My health (and let's face it, my doc) demand it. So it shall be.

It's going to take a lot of work...and oh my GOD does it hurt...damn...I'm getting old, aren't I...but I will perservere. I must.

Tomorrow? I dread tomorrow. Oh the aches when I wake. Even with all the stretching I did before and after and continue to do...I will ache. That's what happens when you carry almost 200 pounds on a 5ft 2.5in frame. It wasn't meant for that...and it's been reminding me a lot lately...and it hurts.

Am I going to go again tomorrow? Yes, I said I would. So I will. Elliptical again? No...not just no, but HELL NO. I will move over to the treadmill for a while and get myself used to moving again. Lots more knee friendly over there. Walking I can do... I am walker hear me roar. Just need to be nice and level for a bit before I go all incline and high resistance on myself. Knee needs healing time, but I must continue to move. As long as I keep it level and consistant, knee will be just fine...and in a few weeks, I will climb back aboard that damn elliptical and show it who's boss.

And next month, the weight loss ticker will show progress. If I keep up the 30 minutes of daily exercise (and I mean daily), there will definitely be weight loss. Which is good because my jeans are tight and there's this really cute little black dress that's two sizes too small hanging on my door that I will wear soon. I don't care if it's just to go check the mail. I will fit into it damn it and I'll look fabulous...cos that's just the kind of dress it is...

PIF

Not pffft, but PIF as in Pay It Forward...

Saw this on No-Blog-Rachel's blog and then today on Amputeehee's blog. Decided to think about it and well...I'm in...so here goes...

First we have the pledge:

Here's the deal:

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days. That is my promise. The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.


And then we have the...omg what have I done?

Well, for starters, I'm going to get something handmade by non other than the Amputee. She's a wonderfully creative lady and can't wait to see what she comes up with...met her in person last year and she's just as lovely in real life as on her blog.

Next, I get to make something for 3 different people that I most likely have not made something for before...at least I hope it'll be 3 people...do 3 people actually read my blog?!? hee hee

Something different and definitely fun...oh, and please realize, I do all sorts of crafting, so it may or may not be knitted, but it will definitely be made by my own two little hands. Once someone signs on and pledges, I might ask you a few questions to help me decide what I should make and send to you.

OK? s'alright...let the crafting begin...oh and the 365 day time limit? No problem.

what the?!?

Hey everyone,
Yeah, I'm still here. Seems I'm right in the middle of a cold and something else decides to join in as well. WTF I say, WTF! Lovely way to spend a 4 day weekend, isn't it?!?

Anyways, I've been getting some knitting done, some online chatting with the Honey (of course) and some texting in with the kid while he's in Vegas living it up. Told him not to come back unless he won 6 figures on the slots. heh heh...

Have one color of the yarn I need to make Swell for Spencer. He picked out a dark brown and an oatmeal color of Lamb's Pride Worsted. Yes folks, I continue to knit with wool. I still have a bit of a reaction to it, but I'm definitely getting better with it. Still can't wear it myself, but I'm not having any issues knitting with it! Yay!

And that's good news because when I go soon to visit the Honey in England, I intend to pick up some knitterly goods...wool included of course!

Yes, that's right. I'm going to visit the Honey in England. We're shooting for Jan/Feb, but judging from the prices I've been coming up against, looks more like Feb. Now to convince the bossman he doesn't need me for 3 weeks (yes 3).

But Donna...won't it be cold?!? Well duh, of course! But now I'll get to wear all the winter clothes that I can never wear here because it just doesn't get cold enough!

I am so excited I can't stand myself. I haven't been to England in soooo long. This is going to be great!

OK...back to reality, my chilly apartment, some nice, hot, freshly brewed, mint tea, and Viggo II. Time to chill in front of the boob tube and knit out the rest of the night.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful day with family, friends, and turkey.

Spencer is off in Vegas with his Dad, and I've spent most of the day chatting online with the Honey (best. day. ever.), and called Mom and Sis in the morning...could almost smell the turkey and dressing. mmmmmm...let me tell you Mom makes the. most. bestest. dressing. Ever.

Did this all from bed. Yep...woke up with a cold. weeee. Not a bad one, so not so bad. Propped myself up with lots of pillows and enjoyed life on the innernets almost all day.

Kept myself full of tea, juice, and pizza. An unorthodox Thanksgiving yes, but a well deserved rest as well. And there will be much knitting tonight as I watch movies on TV...or whatever I can find on TV to amuse myself while I knit.

Rest well all you Day-After-Thanksgiving-Shoppers. You guys are crazy, but more power to you. Happy bargain hunting and may you get everything you set out for...

Psychotic Knitting lives...

Whoops, I've frogged it again...

I was um working on a gift thing and like I um didn't like how it was turning out and like I am so frogging it...it's still going to like be the same like thing, but you know, like it's going to be a different stitch pattern, like ok? I've already started the new thing and like it's totally awesome. Cool!

You'll have to excuse me. Spencer's friend HWFT (he who floods toilets) is here for the weekend. They are like saying the word like, like every other word. Dude. It's annoying and I'm like finding myself like saying it too. GAH!!!

The cat is totally traumatized. She hissed, and growled, and spit at the boys the second they walked into the apartment. She has hidden herself in my room and probably won't come out until HWFT leaves on Sunday afternoon. Don't blame her, last time HWFT came to stay with us, not only did he flood the toilet, but the two of them teased her so much. Poor baby kitty girl.

Quite a few baby booties coming off the needles lately. I really have to post pix of those and update my Ravelry...

Ooooh...beep beep beep...laundry is ready to come out of the dryer. Yay. I just like totally like doing laundry. Like NOT!

Dude.

Post #301

Wow...can't believe I missed making a big deal out of post 300...

Oooh...Look!!!! A quiz...

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

ummm...commune? Don't think so...

Vow of silence? As if...Once I get comfortable with you...you can't shut me up.

Night owl? You betcha. Hoot Hoot!

Lookie what I did!

OOOh...she lives! Yes, I've been uber lazy about the blog lately. Lots of things piling up to post about...and a few finished objects as well. We won't even go into how much I've been ignoring Ravelry...

Anyhoo....

Last month, I participated in Claudia's Stricken Sie Deutsch swatch contest thing. And I have yet to post about it.

Well, now I am. First off, for the entire month of October, Claudia put up a German Knitting Word every day. At the beginning of November, she put up a pattern for a swatch. Anyone who wanted, could knit up the swatch, post a picture of it somewhere on the internets and comment on Claudia's blog.

I can't tell you how much fun I had doing this...my German is very rusty, so having her 'dictionary' of words was very helpful. One night last week, think it was Thursday, I finally sat myself down and knitted it up. After a few bad starts - somehow last week, I lost all abilities to count - I did it!

Hmmmmm....vat have ve hier....vas ist das? Wolle? Mmmmm....yum...





Ya...es ist eine deutsche Maschenprobe (a German Swatch)...ya ya...(can I eat it now? huh can I? Can I?)




Die deutsche Maschenprobe...post inspection...pre snackage...




She actually didn't eat it, but did lick it a few times.

Materials used: frogged swatch from the Honey Scarf, size 8 bamboo circular needle from WalMart.

YAY! and another YAY!

First of all, Spencer passed his latest Karate test at the Dojo last night. He now has two blue stripes on his purple belt. Next test? Full blue belt. The kid is movin' on up... Will add photos this weekend.

Next YAY! - no jury duty. Off the hook for another year. 'Nuf said.

Courthouse Knitting Update

OK, so I've decided to not try and think of something 'clever' to use as knitting needles when I maybe go next week. It hurt too much. Instead, I'm going to take actual needles. This past week, Antonella and I headed out to In N Out for some yummy burgers and then went on down the highway to Wal~Mart.

While at WM, I found a 16" size 8 bamboo circular needle. It cost me $2.44. This lovely, possibly disposable needle will accompany me to the courthouse. Along with some stitch holders. Just in case "they" decide that these wee, little needles are the most dangerous things ever and they get confiscated. I'll be upset, but not as upset as if they were some of my vintage needles, or the ones my Mom bought me in Alaska, or some of my other precious needles (that were my grandma's).

Only time will tell. I get to phone the courthouse the night my son is testing for his next stripe in Karate to see if I have to go in...I'd better hear "Group 8 does not need to report. All members of Group 8 have been excused." Otherwise, I will be one cranky Mother.