Monday, October 22, 2012

Soaking Inside and Out

Simple Things is now pinned out and blocking.

First it went for a soak in unscented SOAK:


And then the rain started outside.  So I was serenaded with rain dripping on the metal covering of the trash chute as I pinned it down:


Another good use for Spencer's room and old bed?  Undisturbed blocking space.  One of these days that poor bed is going to dressed up.  Soon, really soon, I promise.

This is all that is left.  It will be wound up in a neat little ball and sent along with the shawl to the recipient.  She's a knitter so I figured she would know what to do with it if she needed to make a repair.


Besides, there is no more room in the hanging stash, so it has to go somewhere!

Off to Ravelry to fill in the final specifics for this project, add the last few photos, and then I start a pair of socks for knitter's husband.  For those who don't have access to Ravelry, here's the highlights, size 4 vintage plastic circular needle, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Solids in Wisteria, one 420yd skein, with a bit left over.  I started it in January, just now finished it after not being able to knit on it for a very long time.

Wish I would have had the socks already with me on the way home today.  Nothing like sitting at the station for an hour after you 'just' missed the bus with NOTHING TO DO but sit and dwell on the fact that you 'just' missed the bus and now you are sitting on a cold metal bench waiting for the next bus to finally drag its ass into the station and oh here comes some rain.

Yeah, I definitely needed some knitting.


Sunday, October 21, 2012

One Shawl Finished

Simple Things is now complete - as far as knitting goes.

Now to give it a good soak and block.




Thursday, October 18, 2012

Crispy Leaves



Leaves on the sidewalk swirl as I walk through them
More float to the ground around me
Crunch, crunch, crunch
Fall is here.

More from the Poetry Corner

Alternate Commute Universe


An empty train pulls into the station.
It should be packed with commuters!
Am I in an alternate universe?
Who cares, I have a seat!

Monday, October 15, 2012

The Change Begins

So the work that was supposed to happen in Spencer's room a few Saturday's ago finally happened this past weekend.  Well, most of it anyway.

Finally started in on washing all the linens as well.  I ran out of fabric softener and then had issues with soap and not enough quarters and well, I'm lucky I got my clothes washed a few weeks ago.

There was finally a trip to Jo-Ann's for the last of the fabrics I need for the quilts I'm about to start up.  Doggie quilt needed one more color, Spencer's quilt needed two more colors and I needed some cotton thread.  Once I get all the tops made, I'll be back at the store for some batting and backing for Spence's and Sis's quilt.  Mom had already bought the backing and the batting for Doggie's quilt, so all I needed was thread.  I've got a cute idea for the Doggie quilt so hope he enjoys it when it's all said and done (like he cares, he just needs a new blankie because current blankie is about to fall into even more pieces).  I'm sure Mom had just the basic quilt in mind with the pattern fabric for the top and a plain fabric for the bottom, but being a quilter, I just had to add another color, cut it all up and then put it all back together.

Sounds crazy, I know.  One of these days I'll take some photos of the quilts I have here that I've made.

OK, now for the room (it's about time, right?!?).

Here we have the room "before", with the bed against one wall, all the stuff off the wall and everything else out of the room.


And here is the room "after", with the bed moved to a different wall.  After of course having vacuumed the nightstand, the lamp, the mattress set, the frame, the ceiling, the wall, and the floor.  Nothing like a nice cleany clean room!


Tomorrow night I vacuum the drapes, clean the window, vacuum out the closet and start bringing stuff in!

Need to get moving with getting this set up because I need to get moving on all those quilts.  Can't wait to get the sewing machines all set up with organized stash shelves, and everything in its place.

It will be my first dedicated sewing/craft area ever!  It will be nice to be able to leave out my machines and not have to worry about clearing off the table and putting everything away when I'm done for the day.

I've been finding a lot of small quilted items that I've got all cut out but need to be assembled, so I just might have to set something up to sell all this stuff.

Well the ones upstairs are done exercising and practically bringing down the ceiling, so it is my turn to make noise and fire up my NutriBlast blender thingy.  Need to get breakfast ready for tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Room Redeco, Step 1 - Yarn Stash Wrangling

After several false starts and just plain ignoring it, the yarny organization portion of the closet re-do in Spencer's room is almost complete.  Only thing left to do is to go through all my needles and notions and knitterly what-nots.  Most of those are going in a special box on the shelf, directly above the hanging thing.  The rest will go in organizers I hope to make and hang off the side of the hanging thing which has some very handy dandy pockets and straps along both sides.  First I need to see what I have.

Here is a photo as promised.  This is all of my yarn.  Yes, ALL of my yarn.  If it doesn't fit in this hanging thing, it does not stay or come into the apartment.  If you are a non-knitter, you will think, "Wow, that is a LOT of yarn!"  If you are a knitter, you'll think, "Oh that poor thing, she's STARVING herself, absolutely STARVING herself!"

I have plenty of stash, seriously, I do.  At the rate I knit, this should probably last me about 5 years.  A different way to look at it is: one sweater (that's the denim yarn on the bottom shelf, yes I found it!), a dozen or so cotton cloths, 11 definite pairs of socks, 5 shawls/wraps, 1 scarf, and what could be either 6 wraps or 6 pairs of socks.  Oh, and half a T.A.R.D.I.S.

Whether you are a knitter or a non-knitter, you are thinking, "Wow, that's a shitload of knitting."

(Some of you are thinking, "What the heck is a T.A.R.D.I.S."  Google is your friend.  Watch the Doctor and learn my friends.)

Anyway, yes, it is a LOT of knitting - especially for me because I knit when the spirit moves me, and it takes me a long time to finish something. Most of the time I start something, get pretty far in it, then decide to take it apart and make it into something else.  It's just the way I knit - and I enjoy the hell out of it.

By the way, not included in the hanging stash is the sweater I already have on needles and a shawl I'm also working on...the sweater lives in my project bag next to Chair and the shawl occasionally travels with me.

Next up is the sewing stash.  It's a bit too heavy for a hanging stash keeper, so I'm going to have to come up with something else.  I have been looking at various web pages about organizing such things as fabric, patterns, and thread.  I have shelf space, various nice boxes, and a creative mind.

Onward and upward.

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Stalled

Last Saturday I was full steam ahead on the Chaos Redecoration of Spencer's Room.

These past few days, not so much.  I'm just not feeling it.  The beginning of the week was soooooooooooooo hotttttttttttttttttttttttttttt.  Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine.

Seriously, it was triple digits for a few days.  It is now cooler.  I am much happier.  The internal furnace (aka hot flash) was full blast these last few days, either brought on by the high temps or just because it felt like firing up full blast.

Loving the cooler temps because even if the inner furnace is ready to blow, I feel "normal".  My cheeks may be purple or red, or one in each color, but I don't feel like I'm going to singe all the hair off of my head.

Side Note: If you see me out in public, no, I did NOT lose my mirror when putting on blush this morning.  I don't wear makeup, that is my new natural coloring.

Back to being stalled.  If you can't tell, I do NOT like high temps.  I feel drained, listless and downright useless.  Since last Saturday, it was all I could do to make sure I got back home.  Therefore, nothing was done in the room.  I tried several times to get some more work going on, but as far as I got was to go into the room, stand in the middle, sigh and walk out.  There really isn't much left in the room to do.  Just need to move the bed, vacuum that corner, clean the window, vacuum the curtains (they get dusty and the vacuum is the easiest way to deal with floor to ceiling curtains), move the bed to the other wall, move the drafting/sewing desk and chair to the room, move the big metal shelf to the room, and start putting things away.

Oh, is THAT ALL?!?

Saturday it's an early trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics for some fabric (of course), and then it's back to more linen laundry and work in the room while that is happening.  I need to get that room set up as soon as possible.  I've got some MAJOR projects in the works and I really need to get them going.  This time around, we're working with the serger and the sewing machine.  It's Chaos Quilting time. I've got three to make.

Dog-size, lap-size, and Twin XL-size.

That is all.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Getting used to things...

Mainly, I'm still not used to this new blogger layout.

Worst part about it is that I didn't actively change it.  Instead of doing that, I just ignored all the notices that popped up every time I logged in about a "new blogger coming" and then one day last week, there it was...

The "new" blogger...

And here I am trying to figure it all out.

I will, eventually.

One other thing I'm not used to is anything Spencer related.

Not used to:
  1. Not texting him at the end of the day to ask his opinion on that night's dinner.
  2. Going into his room and doing stuff - that was his domain, I hardly set foot in it.
  3. Doing the dishes, thankfully, there is only me, so there aren't that many now.  He somehow dirtied every dish every day - or at least that is what it seemed like.
  4. Not having 3 loads of laundry a week.  I'm down to 2 every other week.  Now THAT I like.
  5. Cleaning BOTH bathrooms, once again, the hall bathroom was his domain.
  6. There are many little things I come across, too many to list or remember but they cause memories and twinges of missing him.
I'll eventually get used to it all and I really do miss him, but with email, texting, facebook and Skype, I can keep in contact way too easily for his liking.  Bwahahaha.

I was going to take a photo of the first part of my closet re-do, but forgot, so that'll happen soon.  I've got a bit of a hot mess on the last few "shelves" of the hanging thing for yarny goodness, so I should figure out what I'm going to do with it before I snap any photos of the 'finished product' anyway.  I have been sorting through lots of things and moving other things around and still haven't found that other box of yarn, but I know it's in the apartment somewhere.  I'm missing some very cool denim yarn that my sister gifted me a LONG time ago. I KNOW I still have it.  The bottom-shelves-hot-mess may need to be donated to make room for it.  No great loss since it's been that hot mess for 2-3 years now - I obviously have no feelings for neither that project nor that yarn.

Tomorrow morning is a wash-a-thon of linens.  Stripping both beds, washing everything, seeing what linens stay, what linens go.  My donation pile will grow exponentially tomorrow morning, I'm sure of it. 

I have 4 rolls of quarters.  Bring it.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

What the?!?!?!?!

While it's nice that Blogger and Facebook move forward and make changes, and change is good and all that crap, I REALLY wish they'd stop changing for a bit.

Let me catch up for crying out loud.

I've just gone and deleted a few of my posts by mistake.  I was in the "draft" area deleting old items that were never going to be posted.

Somehow I managed to end up in the "posted" area and deleted two posts before I realized where I was...

There is no way to recover deleted posts, but I do have all my posts sent to my email, so I went there to make sure I didn't get rid of anything earth-shattering.

Just a post about ugly celebrity feet and ZipCar.

I think you all can live without them, especially since I'm too lazy to redo them.

God only knows what I'll do if I go and try to fix something.

I'm just hoping I don't mess up the rest of my blog just by posting this... sigh.

And so it begins?

I have made a few decisions on what to do with Spencer's room.

First I thought about going to a smaller space, then decided against that because I didn't want to pack to move, didn't want to pay to move, and didn't want to be bothered with moving in general.

So now his room becomes a craft/storage/bedroom room.

It's still partially his room, only I'm arranging it the way "I" want it to look.  His part is the bed.  Oh and he has a bit of the closet still, but not very much.

I've decided to store all my decorations and craft supplies in the closet.  I know the craft supplies will fit, but I'm not so sure about the holiday decorations.

Here's my plan:

Each craft and holiday is designated a certain amount of space.  It does not increase. 

First up: knitting/crocheting and all things yarny.

I hit Ikea yesterday and bought this and this for my knitting.  So far so good.  I had already thinned out a LOT of my knitting stash, so things are fitting perfectly just where they need to be.  I have a sneaking suspicion that there is another box of yarn lurking somewhere and that will throw my whole plan into chaos, but I'll cross that bridge when I find that box.  I have another shelf of the hanging thingy available so things just might fit.

Photo proof available soon.

I had the idea for the knitting in my head and it needed to come out and come into being NOW, so had to get that out of my system.  Now I can get back to concentrating on stripping the bed, washing everything, getting new sheets, and dealing with the corner of boxes that Spencer left behind.  Then I can move the bed to the wall I've always wanted it to be against, and start moving things in and out once I've given the room a thorough vacuum and cleaning.

The Chaos will truly be Chaos until the dust settles.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

New Beginnings


Having a fancy dinner Thursday night in LA after a very hot afternoon moving into Spencer's dorm.  He's all ready now for classes and this new phase of his life to start.

Congratulations Spencer on your new beginning at UCLA, I'm so proud of you!

Love you tons and missed you seconds after I gave you that last hug til I see you in November.

Keep in touch, I know it's going to be very hard for me not to want to text you every 5 minutes, but I'll be good. :)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Spoiler Alert!

Ok that clever little title up there combined with a picture I took of a car spoiler discarded on the side of the road the other day would have been very clever.

Corny yes, but still clever.

Too bad I deleted the doggone photo from my phone when I was supposed to be editing it.

That's what happens when you ride a shuttle that is so bumpy, it rattles your teeth.

And you can't wait 'til you are sitting calmly at your desk to take care of business.

Cos, doggone it, you're SUPER clever today and your mind is SHARP for once and you want to show it to the WORLD.

Total. Fail.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

It's almost time...

This Thursday, Spencer is off to college.  UCLA, here he comes.

Everyone (me, his father and his father's partner) is heading down to take him and all his stuff to school.

I have booked myself into a fancy pants hotel close to campus for 2 nights to pamper myself during this big transition.  There will be many mixed feelings in the next few days.  I am so excited and happy for him as he goes off on his own into the world and starts his own life.  I am sad that he won't be around much to get things from the high shelves, do the dishes, carry heavy things, go out to Chinatown for Dim Sum on a whim.

Time to let him go off and experience the world, time for me to finish adjusting to him not being around.  He's been getting me ready by not being around all that much these past few years - he's been busy with school, work, and friends.

I know he'll be ok, he's a great kid and hopefully, mama didn't raise no fool.

I'm very proud of what's he done so far to get where he is today.

I can't believe I've made it through these first 18 years.  It's been a rough ride sometimes, but it's been worth it.

Now it's time for him to go off and make his own way in the world and time for me to begin the next phase of mine.

Love you Spence!  May all your dreams come true.  Enjoy your college years, the real world of work and mortgages comes way too soon.


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Nothing like sitting back and taking a long look at yourself...

...and thinking, what the hell happened to me?

Seems like sometimes you blink and things change, even though you know that's not possible.

It's more like you've been in total denial and then something happens to make you pull your head out of your ass and see exactly what's going on.

And then you don't like what you see.

Time to get back on track.

Things to do:
  1. Buy clothes that are NOT t-shirts and capri yoga pants.
  2. Wear the new clothes.
  3. Color hair.
  4. Eat better.
  5. Exercise.
There are tons of other things that need to be done and are being done, but these are the biggies.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

More Thoughts

Sometimes I think I'm going crazy.

Sometimes I KNOW I'm going crazy.

Sometimes I think being a woman is awesome.

Sometimes I KNOW being a woman SUCKS.  Menstruation, menopause, need I say more?

Sometimes I think being a Mom is the best thing ever.

Sometimes I KNOW it's the hardest thing ever. Teen years, growing up and out, teen years.  Did I say teen years?

Clearly I have issues.

I think it's time for bed now.

But not until a few very important things are done.  Better get moving then. :)


Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Just sayin'

Thoughts on the Olympics:

I don't understand why there is such a big fuss about Opening Ceremonies.  They are not meant to be understood.  Just sit back and enjoy the pretty lights and costumes and get caught up in the feeling of excitement.  I always like watching the Teams walk in, the athlete's faces are so full of excitement and promise.  Love to see what the teams are wearing too.

That was the Best. Olympic. Cauldron. Ever.

Almost one and a half weeks of not-enough-hours-of-sleep because I just can't stop watching...and counting.

Thanks NBC for not showing all the stuff I want to see until 10PM.

Thanks internet for spoiling just about everything...I miss the old days of not really knowing what was going to happen until I actually saw it. Oddly enough I can't stop myself from looking at the damn internet.

Athletes shouldn't be allowed access to Twitter during the Games.  They get in enough trouble talking to the press.

Now that Mustafina has a Gold Medal, maybe she'll stop looking like she's going to bust out the waterworks every single second of the competition.

Can we just stick to discussing accomplishments of all these awesome athletes?  Save the digging for family dirt until after it's all over.

The athletes are at the Games because they earned it, not because of their hair, their weight or if they have had sex yet.

Can we stick to the GAMES?

One thing that annoyed me today...Gabby Douglas leaves the floor for a bit.  "Americans are known for not wanting to watch the competition"  Dude.  Maybe she had to visit the loo?

Gymnastics sure has changed since I dabbled in it way back in 1973.  Still love watching it and am just amazed at what some of those gymnasts can do.

Announcers can be rather annoying.  If you're just guessing and grasping at straws...just stop.  Stick to the facts.  We wouldn't mind if some of you just shut your pie holes for a bit.  Really, we wouldn't.

Not sure if I like indoor bike racing.  I'm much happier watching outside road races.

Why do men's beach volleyball players wear board shorts and tank tops while the women wear bikinis?  I personally wouldn't mind seeing a bit more male skin out on the sand.  Really got tired of hearing all the hulabaloo that it was going to be too cold for women to wear their bikinis.

To all those athletes winning the first medals for their country...YOU GO!!!!

For all those breaking records, winning multiple medals and so on...YOU GO!!!

For ALL the athletes that are in London participating, you are all awesome and should be honored for just qualifying to go up against the best in the world.  You are all winners whether you walk away with a medal or not.

To the athletes who have been to the Games time after time, you are a great inspiration to us all.  Thank you vaulter Oksana Chusovitina (37 yrs old), rings competitor Iordan Iovtchev (39 yrs old) and equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu (71 yrs old) to name a few, who prove that age really is just a number. I wish I could have 1/20th the get up and go that you have.

Gah.  Midnight again.

Can't wait until the games are over, I need some sleep! :)

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Laxative for the brain?

In my head I had thoughts of photos and lovely sentiments for awesome birthday posts for both Mom and Spencer.


They didn't quite come out the way I wanted. I still can't seem to write more than just the basic stuff as the emo block is still in play.  It is affecting a lot of aspects of my life.


Someday I'll be able to write again.

There has been a creative block - but after 2 months, I've found myself wanting to make something again.

Progress.

I've been trying to finish two projects that I had been working on before I ran off to Texas and Mom passed away. The knitting project I can't even bring myself to look at let alone pick up.  I have, however, been working on the beading project.  Unfortunately it is an epic fail, so I'm completely changing the whole damn thing. Hopefully this new incarnation will work. This is number 4 or 5 already with each incarnation having at least 4-5 tries before I move on...each try another Fail.  If this last try does not work, I think I'll just have to let that one sit for awhile.

The last time I had such an emotional blow (when Dad passed away in 1998), I went into a creative frenzy and even learned a new art - painting.  Dad painted, so I learned what he did.  This time, Mom and I did the same sort of things - needle and yarn crafts - so I find myself "blocked".  My brain full of ideas that I just can't bring into being.

I think the only thing I can do is wait for the emo block to work itself out.  The only laxative for this I know of is....time.

Sigh.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Happy Birthday Spencer!

Today is my son's 18th birthday.

I am extrememly happy for him.

I am sad for me.

I am proud of the man he has become.

Happy Birthday Spencer!  May you have many more and may all your dreams and wishes come true! 

Love you LOTS, Mom.

Monday, June 04, 2012

Sigh

Today would have been Mom's 81st Birthday.

I took a photo of an old photo of Mom that I wanted to post.  On my phone it looks fine.  In reality it is blurry.

I wanted to write a nice post and put that old photo in it - it is one of my favorite ones of her.

Suddenly I have no words and now I have no photo.

I miss you Mom.

Edited to add:  Jeez, I could have at least said Happy Birthday.  "Happy Birthday Mom".

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Reality and One More Thing I learned while riding my bike.

First, let's find out what I learned:

Ducks not only fly in a V-formation, they also swim like that.  I spotted some ducks in the canal going full blast in a V.  Spontaneously started humming Flight of the Valkyries.  It was fun. They were cute.

Even little baby ducklings will swim in a V behind their Mama Ducky.

Now for some reality:

So I gave up on the cutting down of the broomstick skirt.  Decided it wasn't going to look right.  Broomstick skirts are long for a reason.  Instead, I stopped in at Ross with Spence today.  Found a cute mini-dress made of the softest t-shirt material ever.  On other women, it would be a short dress, on me, it's mid-knee.  Sigh.  Anyway, it looks pretty good on its own and I'm sure it will look good over the compression pants.  Even if it doesn't, I'll have a cute summer dress.

Happy Mother's Day to all my readers.  Hug your Mom's close if you are blessed to still have them with you.  Give them a big hug for me.  Many mixed feelings tomorrow for us here in the Chaos.  Sniff.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Bike To Work Day 2012 was yesterday...

Things I learned on the commute ride to my BART Station:
  1. My haircut does NOT work well with a bike helmet.  Especially after I went to bed with it still damp. I've been wearing a baseball cap all day.  Must come up with a more bike friendly coiffure - that's still sassy.
  2. It's still nice and cool at 6am.  If I could only be so lucky at 6pm.
  3. Gnats love swarming round my head - had an unexpected second breakfast.  Blech.
  4. Trail Maintenance cut the weeds recently.  The wind was blowing.  Very bad combination for someone with allergies.  Not looking forward to that on the ride home.  Ack.
  5. Really need to get over my apprehension about wearing spandex compression shorts.  They really are the best thing to wear when riding.  I just hate feeling (and looking) like an overstuffed sausage.  And what if all the seams simultaneously burst?!?
  6. My new bra passed the riding-the-bike-down-a-bumpy-trail-and-not-getting-black-eyes test.  Thank you Playtex.
  7. Not too many Energizer Stations were open at 6:25am.  I decided to wait a few minutes while the nice ladies and gentlemen set up things at the trail crossroads for their 6:30am opening.  I wasn't the only biker there waiting so didn't feel so bad about it.  The yummies, bike bell/compass, latest trail maps, and other assorted goodies packed in the free tote were worth the 5 minutes I "rested".
  8. Clif Bar has a bar aimed at kids - "Kidz Bar".  It's just as nasty as the ones for adults. The smiling REI reps at the BART station assured me they tasted better than the adult ones.  They don't.  Guess it's just me, I never have liked those energy bar things.
  9. Even though I forgot my lip balm, the smiling REI reps did have some to give away.  They are forgiven for the Clif Bar thing.


Things I learned on the ride home:


  1. Gnats have no time boundaries.  They swarm all day, every day.  Yes, there was also a snack on the way home. Gah.
  2. People want to talk about my bike.  It took me 55 min to make a usually 30 min trip.  I had too much fun socializing.
  3. Little girls under 5 LOVE. MY. BIKE.
  4. The later in the day it gets, the more free stuff you can get.  Yes, Honey, I have a bag each for you and your Mum, and Spencer has lots of snacks and a mini bottle of Gatorade.  I loaded up on "Cuties", and 100 calorie snacks.
  5. I have my best ideas while riding along.  Going to cut quite a bit of length off an old broomstick skirt I used to wear to dance class and see how it looks over the compression pants.  In my head it looks very cool and bohemian.  In reality, hmmm...  These things don't usually go very well for me, but I'm always willing to try!
  6. It wasn't as hot as I thought it would be - but it was still quite toasty.
  7. I need to ride more.  I miss riding my totally awesome bike.  I LOVE my bike.
  8. Allergies suck.
  9. Not enough of a good thing leads to too much of a good thing.  Someday I will find the happy medium where anti-chafing lotion is concerned.
I sure do hope I sleep well tonight.  I worked HARD, and I definitely need some sleep.  Haven't had a decent night since I ran off to Texas to be with Mom and Sis...

Thursday, May 10, 2012

People for Bikes

In conjunction with "Bike to Work Day" today, I've added the People for Bikes pledge banner to the top of my blog.  They have just over 500,000 pledges.

Their goal is one million.

If you like bikes and want to have a voice in local issues concerning bikes and bike safety (paths, bike lanes, etc), future legislation and funding for bikes, click and pledge.  It's free.

Have a fun and safe ride today!

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

A Poem for Mom

Sis and I were having to go through Mom's photo albums for pictures for a nice memorial slideshow that the funeral home put together for her services.  During the process, I discovered a poem I had wrote for Mom for Mother's Day back when I was very young.  She had saved it, along with several hand made/drawn Mother's Day cards I had made her over the years.

Unfortunately, I didn't date it, but I suspect I was between 7 and 10 yrs old.

I read it at her Funeral Mass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Treasure of God to me - my Mother.
Dearer than gems of earth and sea - my Mother.
Guiding my steps along life's way - my Mother.
Growing still dearer day by day - my Mother.

With much love, Donna

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Mom

Don't have much time now, so I'll keep this short.

Rushed home last week to be with my Mom and Sister.

Mom passed away this morning.

Maybe someday I'll be able to tell you all about it.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Prayers, love and light needed

Hey everyone, things going all crazy here in the Chaos.

My Mom is in the hospital in Texas and was moved this morning to CCU.

Lots of decisions to be made as I have surgery scheduled (here in California) on Friday for myself to take care of an issue that raised it's ugly head during my recent physical.

My sister lives there and is with her now, so she is not alone. My Aunt is driving up now from South Texas to help out.  Now I just need to decide when I go, because I WILL go.

Lots of calls are being made, but the waiting for test results and if she is responding or not to treatment is the worst.

Send prayers, good mojo, rays of light, rattle your beads or do whatever you do please.

We all need them...

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

All I got is Meh.

I should be excited.

This Saturday is "Bruin Day" and we are off to UCLA to wander and tour and talk and meet and greet and buy Bruin stuff.

I am working on an AWESOME jewelry project for a friend.  After a few false starts with the wrong beads, the wrong needles, the wrong thread...I am off and running and it is looking fantastic.  Even if I do say so myself.

With the skills I'm learning from this project, I will finally be able to do justice to my Grandmother's beads - of which I don't remember posting photos.  Hmmmm.

Anyway, I should be excited and all I can do is go Meh.

Too many other things going on and I haven't been sleeping again.

So...

Meh.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

U. C. L. A.

Things have been crazy.  Mostly me.

Lots of things going on lately, but the most news-worthy thing that I want to share is:

Spencer was accepted into the Pre-Med Microbiology program at UCLA.

His number one choice.

I am very proud of my son.  So is Grandma M, Auntie L and everyone else who knows him.

Just wish my Dad (Papa B) could see him.  Somehow I know he can.

Did I mention Spencer is also on his high school's baseball team?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

This calls for a poem...

OH. Mmmm. Geeeeee.
Universe hear my plea
Stick their feet to the floor
So they'll stomp no more
And in peace once again I'll be


Oh the joy of having neighbors who have absolutely NO consideration for those who live above, below and beside them.

Get control of your brat, keep your cigarette and marijuana smoke to yourself, and God in Heaven PLEASE get some good taste in music.

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Great Frizz-out of 2012

Here in Northern California, we are experiencing the "GREAT STORM OF 2012".

I put it in caps and quotes because, well, because it is such a big thing on the news.  It even has it's own theme song.  Every station has it own "storm weather" music.  So when it plays, you know they are going to be talking about the weather.  Which really hasn't changed much really.  Wave after wave of storm fronts carrying so much moisture they have no choice but to dump it on us.

The worst of the dumping comes during the peak morning and evening commutes too - I don't think I've taken off my wellies or ducks all week.  And my umbrella has yet to dry out completely.  My world as I know it is a GIANT puddle.

Up until this past week, we've had a pretty dry winter.  Our water levels or whatever the hell it is called were at 20-30% throughout the area.

This time last year just about every area that counts such things was at 100% or more.  Most were over 100%.  According to the snow scientists dudes the snow pack was impressive - also close to or surpassing the 100% mark.

What that means is that we have enough water to get us through a summer and a fire season.

Just last week everyone was predicting drought conditions and a very dry summer which would lead to what could only be (in my opinion only) the entire state burning to a crisp in the coming fire season.

We needed more rain and snow if we were going to survive the year.

Well folks, all that wishing and rain-dancing has paid off because your dreams have come true.  It has been raining / snowing since Monday.  Non-stop for five days.  FIVE.

I'm not one to begrudge Mother Nature when she does something that we all need and have been hoping for.  You GO Girl, let us have it!  And all that, yada yada yada.

BUT...

I have a new haircut.

It is short.

My hair is naturally curly.  (those of you who know of such things can pretty much see where this is going)

I had just got to the point where my new hairdo and I could agree on what it should look like after I'd applied the right amount of frizz control/ shine serum and blow dryed it using a multi-bristled round brush. (None of which I have EVER done in my entire life.)

It has taken me many days of trial and error with the serum and many hours of practice with the brush/ dryer combo to get it just so.  It's not anywhere near what it looked like right out of the salon, but hey, I'm working at it and it gets better every day.

And then the Great Rain Storm of 2012 started...which then triggered the Great Frizz-out of 2012.

Apparently the amount of serum I was applying is only enough to give my hair a shine.  It does nothing for the frizz.  How can it when it's up against the Great Rain Storm of 2012.

I am reminded of a school photo back from 3rd grade.  It was a particularly humid day that September in Chicago.  My hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail, a front tooth was missing (maybe two?) and my smiling face was surrounded by a slight halo of frizzy little wisps of hair.

Water levels: 50% (that is MY estimate, I haven't seen any numbers yet, but rain in inches is impressive)

Frizz Factor: 200% (and rising)

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Did we miss something?

Yesterday morning, Spence and I were out waiting for the 6:12am bus.

Yes, I said 6:12am bus.

Cars were speeding all over the place.  Three alone just through our apartment complex parking lot.  At 6am.  We maybe see one car per week at that time in the morning.  Three in one morning.  Hmmm.

People speeding up through yellow lights, speeding through green lights, not even slowing down to turn corners.

Were we walking that slow? No.

We then began to wonder if it was the zombie apocalypse and we should be running away or something.  Looked round, nope, no zombies.  I asked Spence if he was a zombie.  He said "not yet, you?".  Nope.

We looked up.  No Motherships or Alien Invaders.  No flaming asteroids screaming towards Earth.

Gas at the corner station: $4.29 per gallon (regular).

Fast forward to 6pm.

Got off the bus at the corner, gas was $4.35 per gallon (regular).

I think we did miss something.  I think we missed an entire week.

How else would you justify a 6 cent increase in one day?

Don't answer that.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Hair Chaos

With a sassy new 'do comes not so sassy new duties.

No more wash n' go hair.

I'm actually going to have to put forth some effort to keep my new 'do sassified.

Purchased this weekend: smoothing serum and a nice round brush.

Dug out from the depths of the undersink bathroom cabinet and dusted off: one old blow dryer that remarkably still functions.

Just for the record, I've only ever used that poor blow dryer when I was desparate to dry my hair.  There was no shaping with a round brush involved.

Time to learn some new skills.

Wishing right now that I had an extra hand or two until I get the hang of all this...

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Pampered

Sassy new 'do and not a grey hair in sight.


I walked last minute into a local salon that I hadn't seen before.

Told the stylist, "do what you want".

She ran with it.

Love. It.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tired and vamped and ready to rock

Tired: Still not getting enough sleep.

Vamped: I had blood taken today.

Ready to rock: I have a Zipcar membership.

I'm looking forward to packing up a Zipcar or Ziptruck full of donations or consignments or hazardous household waste and taking it off to someplace other than the Chaos.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Think I owe a hair update...

...it is still not colored.

I'm tired of doing it.

I had to file my taxes early so that we could fill out and submit financial aid forms for college.

I'm getting a refund.

It got deposited yesterday.

Work is having another convention booth down in LA at the end of March.

I've lost 9 lbs.

I'm stressed and not sleeping enough.

I deserve a rest.

I deserve a treat.

Mid-March I will be going for the works.

Mid-March plus one day:

The before mid-March will be forgotten.

No grey hairs.

A sassy new haircut.

A happy me.

...and I won't scare anybody off at the convention.


Bring it.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

If I had millions in my back pocket...

 ... I'd have to blow $3,695.00 on the most fabulous dress ever.

Maybe Ms Donna Karan will give a fellow Donna a discount?

Saturday, January 28, 2012

The Ottoman Empire Strikes....

...A Pose!

I went to visit my Generous Friend last weekend.  Ms. Cow waved hello to a GIANT cargo ship on the ferry over.  We found an awesome vintage clothing shop, and quite a few others.  A good time was had by all.

A few cool things came home with us.


Two, yes TWO storage cube ottoman's!  A purpley one and a burgundy one.

The purple one is full of my movies (Viggo I, II, or III anyone?)  The burgundy one is full of yarny goodness.  Lots of yarny goodness.


The burgundy cubey seems to like posing.  Here it is with the last project off the Chaos needles.  Said project is currently blocking with a zillion and one pins.



And here it is posing with the yarn for the next 3 projects.  The big cake ball of yarny goodness in the back is currently being knitted up into a shawl.  The two darker cakes are destined to be socks.  The two lighter colored ones in the front will be another shawl.

When it's not posing, burgundy cubey is supporting my tired hand-knit covered tootsies.

The Chaos is happy to welcome the two cubeys into the mix.  Chair is happy for the company.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Poerty Corner

Oh. Mm. Gee.
I REALLY have to pee.
I wonder just how nasty
this BART station bathroom will be.



NOTE: And that, my dear readers, is my morning commute in a nutshell.

Monday, January 16, 2012

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

And now we come to the last and final SQUEE.

Now that the little lost box is safe at the House of Grandmother, we can move on...

Here we go, the last and final shipment of squee worthy yarn received last Wednesday.



From left to right:

Cherry Tree Hill Yarns:
Fingerpaints Supersock Self Striping color Middle Earth
Fingerpaints Supersock Self Stripes color Secret Garden
Fingerpaints DK Supersock Silk Self Striping color Black Cherry
Fingerpaints Supersock Self Stripes color Mulled Wine

Henry's Attic Yarns:
The Fantasy Collection Silk Sock color Hold Your Fire

Inca Tops Grupo Inca Yarns:
Alpaca Lace color Moss

And now the knitting of the current yarn continues while the new yarn ages gracefully in the stash.

Squee.

Friday, January 13, 2012

And so we come to the end of our Story...

...fortunately it is a VERY HAPPY ENDING!

Main occupant of the House of Grandmother just called to say that the lost little box has FINALLY found it's round-about way to her location.  It is safe and sound and will be opened once Auntie joins Grandmother tomorrow.

There is much rejoicing across the land.

THE END

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Round and round and round it goes...

...where it's delivered, nobody knows.

This is the strange but true story of a long journey made by a small little box filled with stitchy giftness - and a few pairs of really cool gloves.

It started out on January 4th, 2012 when the little box was packed, taped up tight, labeled with it's very own barcoded label, and dropped off at a California post office to start it's journey across the country.

On January 7th, the maker/sender of the stitchy giftness wondered where the little box was in it's journey.

With a checking of the tracking information, the strangeness began...

The mysterious Track and Confirm entity stated that the little box had gone out for delivery on January 6th in a place the maker/sender did not know.  This strange place was not the intended destination of the little box.

The little box was lost.

Maker/sender was confused.

First thing Monday January 9th, the phone calls to the Post Office began.

Maker/sender was told many times (5 at last count) that the little box was out for delivery, there is no problem.

When maker/sender explained that the little box was not in the city where it was intended to go, she was told as many times (that same 5) that she had probably addressed the little box incorrectly, so that is why it is lost in a strange city.

At which time the maker/sender shook her head in confusion and tried to explain.

The little box was addressed correctly because it's label was printed from the online account of the maker/sender.  The address was taken from the account's address book.  The maker/sender has sent stitchy giftness and many other items, cards, and letters to that address for 17 years.

So, no Ms Post Office person, the address does indeed exist, the occupant of the house has not moved to the strange city, and it actually WAS addressed correctly.

That address is the House of Grandmother.  It is a house of love and the spoiling of the grandson and the magical bottomless plates of Grandmotherly cooking goodness.  The Grandmother would NOT move without letting the grandson know the new location of the House of Grandmother.

Maker/sender was asked to leave names, addresses, phone numbers and was promised phone calls back.  She was given various phone numbers of postal locations she could call and check herself while she waited.

Maker/sender waited.  She called the numbers.  She was told time and time again that she had probably addressed the box incorrectly.  She received messages telling her again that she had probably put the wrong address on the little box.

But no one left a message saying the little box had been found.

One particular phone number was called repeatedly, but no one ever answered.  Maker/sender thought that was odd since it was in the middle of the day, and was curious as to why no one would answer the phone in the place where the little package had been sent.

After three days of no answers, and no one answering at the place that the little box had gone, maker/sender took matters in her own hands.

She googled the postal location of the lost box.  She found a new number and called it.  Once again, no one answered and the maker/sender was saddened.  She knew the little box was there, she just knew it!

She went back to the google listing, and went to the second page of articles and information.

With shock, she read article after article of how the postal location where the Track and Confirm Entity said the little box had gone was....closed!  The phone numbers that she had been either given or found were ringing in an empty building.  There was much knashing of teeth.

A bit more googling and maker/sender found out all mail that used to be sent to the closed location now went through another location - low and behold, there was another phone number.

With a knot in her stomach, maker/sender called the number.  It was answered after two rings.  Maker/sender was elated. The nice Mr. Postal Man on the other end listened to the sad story of the lost little box.  He asked her to wait while he went in search of the little box.

When he returned, he told her that the little box was not there in the office, although it had been before.  He told maker/sender that the little box had been sent back to the main sorting office in the city where the House of Grandmother is located.

Maker/sender was very thankful to Mr. Postal Man.

When she checked the Track and Confirm Entity tonight, the lost little box had found it's way back to the main sorting facility and had been scanned as being located there.

Maker/sender wonders where the little lost box will go now.

...to be continued...

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Squeeeee... UPDATED

01/11/2012     5:27 A.M.    Out For Delivery


Bring it UPS!

UPDATE:  The squee-able items have arrived.  I'll try and post pictures and have a final big SQUEEEE by the end of the week.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Squee...

OK, we're just warming up with the squee here...



Behold the first shipment.  These two were ordered after the first wave, yet they arrived first.  Go figure.  These are earmarked for a Honey Project.  These are the only ones that will be remotely connected to a project and/or a person.  The rest will just be shown and you can all ooh and ahh my stash enhancements from afar.  While I sit on my Chair and squish and squee.

No, there is no craziness in the Chaos.

Really.  There isn't any.  Craziness.

The rest of the yarny goodness should be here tomorrow.

Unless UPS tracking is lying.

Monday, January 09, 2012

Back on...

Going au naturale (grey) is back on again.  I'm holding off on the hair coloring.

Mainly because I really don't feel like doing it myself - and I don't feel like sitting in a salon chair for 3 hours (or more) getting it done.

We'll see how long this lasts as there is a box of color in my medicine cabinet.  I could just flip out one night and decide to crack it open and have at it.

If this was Vegas, I'd say the odds are 50-50.

It's actually been an eye opener to see my natural color.  I've been using a brown a shade or two lighter.  Guess it's a shock because I haven't actually seen it in about 17 years.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

The calm before the SQUEEEEEE

After many sortings and cullings of the yarny stash, I am left with not very much.  That is both good and bad.

The good:  Less to have hanging around the Chaos.  Less that needs knitting  up (wait a minute, that means less knitting - that is not good).

The bad: The hole left in the stash that is begging to be filled.

What's a knitter to do?

Enter an email from Cherry Tree Hill yarn.  Just my favorite merino sock yarn ever.

Yeah, you know where this is going...

"Don't forget about our Annual New Year's Eve Sale - 50-60% off select yarn!"

Yeah, so now you REALLY know where this is going.

Let's start here:

The stash got sorted and put all in one place (except the needles, I don't know why - that has been corrected).

Knitting patterns were gone through, matched with yarns and set into two containers that now sit next to the Chair.  A long list was made.


12in cube box of yarn and my knitting bag.  Full to the brim with yarny goodness and looking happy.

There is also my poor Juliet sweater...



...which now seems like it would fit. Whatever.

The only way I'll ever know if it will fit properly or not is when I finish it and put it on.

Whatever.

2012 will be filled with knitting.  Not going to show you my list of projects because 90% of what I'm knitting will be gifted.  Most of the people I knit for know they will be getting something - they don't need to know exactly what though. :)

The projects are all small, except for the Juliet sweater.  I think I have enough yarn to do one project per month for about 1.5 years, maybe more.

Even so, on New Year's Eve while Times Square was counting down, I was online shopping.  It was oh so darn easy.  Especially since it was not quite 9pm here in California. :)

The yarn was purty and it easily fell into my cart.  I have never in my life bought so much yarn at once (even though there is not that much of it) and spent so much money on it.  It was on sale and I had put back some of my Xmas gift money.  I had a strict limit, and I stuck to it.

It will arrive about Wednesday-ish.

Much squeeee-ing and squishing and general ooooh-ing and aaaah-ing and more squishing will then occur.

After all that is over with, I will post photos of my latest stash enhancing exploits.

Then the new additions will be put into their own 12in cube box and put up on the shelf.

If things go as planned, I'll be ready to knit on all that Next January.

Even if I'm not, I'm pretty sure I'm set for yarnage for the next two years, probably more.

Coming soon to a Chaos near you: 10 skeins of more yarny goodness.

I've definitely spoiled myself with my gift money. 

Thanks Mom for aiding and abetting my yarny deliquency.

The first item made from the new stash has your name on it. :)

Thursday, January 05, 2012

2nd verse

Rinkety tinkety tink
This knitter is pushed to the brink
She's tired of tinking
Her mojo is sinking
Rinkety tinkety tink

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Chickened out already...

Remember the other day when I said I was thinking of going grey?

Well, yeah.

Not gonna happen.

My roots are rather long right now, and I was messing with my hair and pulled it back off my face.

The color of my grey does not go well with my skin tone.

I have come to that conclusion several times over the last few years.

About every 6 months actually.

Guess I keep forgetting.

D'oh.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year Everyone!

May the New Year bring all that my dear friends and readers wish for and a few happy surprises.

I wish every good thing for my Spencer - he'll be graduating from High School, turning 18 and going off to college to begin his own life.  All around a HUGE year.  Choose well my son.  Is your turn to do all that now.  I've done my part, now it's your turn.  Go get 'em!

Excuse me while I go cry...

OK...

For my Mom and Sis I wish a happy, healthy New Year and a bottomless box of Kleenex as we all watch our Spencer go forth to conquer the world.  And he will, cos that's the kind of guy he is...

Oh crap, here come more tears....

My Honey and I get the same wish: health, happiness and to be united with the one we love.  Anyone know a good immigration lawyer who gives free consultations?

Friday, December 30, 2011

Going going gone...

Many things going in the Chaos.

The old year is going (obviously).

Things no longer needed are (eventually) going.

The Chaos is also (eventually) going. Somewhere else.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.

I will be going.  Maybe.  Haven't decided yet. I always chicken out.  Going where you ask?

Not where, what.  I am once again contemplating NOT coloring my hair.  Just going au naturale. 

Grey. 

I think I'd be a 50/50 salt 'n pepper.  I'm not quite sure because I keep coloring my hair. :)

Anyway, now would be a really good time to do it.

I'm feeling the need for a coiffure change.

Whether going grey will be that change, I don't know yet.

One thing I do know for sure is that I really need a haircut.

Maybe a salt 'n pepper new cut?

Dare I do both?

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Me and my big mouth...

This is what happens when you are stupid enough to not start on time, then rush, and then have the balls to brag that things are going along GREAT JUST GREAT!

And then you publish it on the internet.

You mess up the pattern and don't notice until 3 rows later.

THREE LONG ROWS OF 130+ stitches.

And it wasn't a simple enough thing for me that I could just let a stitch go, go down a bit and fix the mistake.  I don't do well with that process to begin with...  If I did that, it would just be better to frog and start over because it would all be a big fat yarny mess.

So just spent almost the entire knitting time since I bragged about how well things were going, tinking*.

Rinkety tinkety tink. 
The yarn ball fell in the sink. 
The knitter went skating, instead of just waiting,
and busted her butt in the rink.

(Makes no sense whatever, I know. It just popped into my head.)

So... Sorry Sis, you'll have to wait a few extra days for your knitterly item.  There's an envelope coming to Mom's house by Saturday.  Enjoy your gift card in the interim.

*Definition of Tink:
Tink is the term used by knitters to mean unknitting or knitting backward. Tink is actually knit spelled backward.

When you notice a mistake in your knitting either in the row you are currently working on or the row you just finished working, the easiest way to fix it is to tink back to the problem stitch and start over.

It is not recommended that you tink over several rows because it takes a long time and is very nerve-wracking.

Also Known As: Unknitting, backward knitting

Monday, December 19, 2011

Secret knitting continues...

...I am pushing the limits here, but still knitting my little fingers off.  If I was using metal needles, I think sparks would be flying.

Not really, but the projects have been going along a lot quicker than usual.  I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with the short deadline I'm up against.

Not at all.

One project is blocking another is halfway done on the needles.  The rest are not due before Xmas, so I'm in pretty good shape so far.

I'd be in better shape if I would have started earlier, but well, I'm knitting now, that's all that matters.

Spence and I spent yesterday with family friends who came into town with their son to spend the day "in the big city" shopping and seeing the sites. 

Spence and I went earlier so I could shop for a coat. Happy to say I found one and now I won't be freezing my butt off at the bus stop in every long sleeved shirt and fleece I have with a down vest zipped over it.


One of the downsizes of losing weight is all your nice warm winter coats and jackets are too big. Don't get me wrong, clothes being too big is a good thing, but not in winter.

Anyway, we met with friends after lunch and spent more time trying to keep track of each other in the crowds than actually LOOKING at anything.


Oh, and I don't care what language you speak, I'm sure they ALL include the words EXCUSE ME or PARDON ME or THANK YOU.  We may not all speak what words you speak, but most of us can recognize good manners.

And to the guy trying to sell his "art" for money instead of begging...it was a good idea until you started yelling out random insults.  Kinda ruined the whole vibe you had going on.

Just sayin'.

We gave up on the insanity after 2 hours (not even 2 actually) and got in the car for the long journey out of downtown.  It took us longer to get from Union Square to the Bay Bridge than it did to get from the Bay Bridge to Back 40 Texas BBQ.

Where we all enjoyed the company of friends over a yummy meal.

After we waited 40 min to be seated.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Winter WonderSuck...

More like Winter WTF?!?

Not much to say here except that there has been a whole bunch of SUCK going on...as in lots of little sucky things have happened to add up to one giant HOOVER.  And from what I've been reading in other blogs, I'm not the only ones who has had a Hoover sort of week.  WTF?!?

Whatever.

It is over now - so far as I know.

I'll take it.

I won't take the daily afternoon hot flashes though.  Mother nature can have those back.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Happiness in the fog of What.Ever.

Happiness is having a dedicated Knitting Chair.  Mine is now known affectionately by the name Chair.

As in My Chair, do not sit in My Chair.

Capitalized because it is a such wonderful revered place - if only by me, but who cares.

This is the first time in all my knitting years (that's about 42 total btw - yes, i started VERY YOUNG), that I've had a dedicated knitting chair.

It's the first time, since I became a single parent that I've had a VERY NICE chair.  All my other furniture has been fine: second hand/ consignment furniture that has more than done it's duty and served it's purpose.  It's worn out, I'm worn out and I only had the bare necessities because that's all I could afford.  An extra comfy chair would have been considered a luxury.

And right now, I need some luxury.  Still can't afford it, but I have an Angel.

Chair is not brand new, but it sure does look like it.  Thanks to a very generous friend who manages to give me some wonderful cast-offs whenever she moves.  I've had it for over a year, but have had to share it with a teenage son and an old Kitty and then some very soft donation items.

Now that Kitty has been gone for a while (sadness) and the son is getting ready for college (more sadness...especially since the acceptance letters have started to arrive), and I've packed up the donation clothes, I have now reclaimed it as MINE.

I NEED the Chair.  It helps me relax during what little down time I have. Definitely should have reclaimed it earlier, but I guess I wasn't ready to acknowledge I needed it.  Or some sort of hooey whatsit.  I now officially acknowledge the need.

It's the right amount of coziness.

And Chair soon could be joined by a storage cube/ottoman.  Generous friend informed me last night that she has a few to hand off after their last move (they are redecorating in the new place) and would I be interested.

HELL TO THE YES.

A place to put my weary tooties that also holds yarny goodies?

Oh yes indeedy, I am very interested.

Last night was the first night I actually sat in Chair and knit for more than a few minutes.

Knitterly heaven in a sea of boxes.

As soon as all the boxes go away, I'll post a photo of my special place in the Chaos.  There are still too many of them in the background.

What.Ever.

So tomorrow is the "annual inspecting of the apartments".

What have I done for the last few days or nights when I've had free time?

Knit.

Road my bike with Spencer.

Played a stupid computer game.

Some would say I'm not ready for inspection (like me, for instance).

I don't really care.  The place is clean and I'll shift the clutter around into the stacks where it should go and will end up anyway.  It's mostly in boxes right now, so it'll be easier than it sounds.

A few signs saying "Donate" and "Back to storage" on each of the respective stacks and I'm done.

Although the "Back to storage" is really "still need to go through" as I do not intend to put anything back into storage.

But the inspectors don't need to know that right now.

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

That's how we roll in The Chaos

OK, so my friend Antonella gave me these awesome covertible fleece gloves last Christmas in a most fetching green.  Fingerless gloves with the tops off, put the tops on and you've got warm mittens.  They even have zippers on the top to hold money, an ID, your bus pass, or a key or two.

I wore them every day when I got them until the weather changed and I didn't need them anymore.  They were set aside and that was that til the next winter.

Well the next winter is here.  The temps dropped last week and there I was going through all my winter accessories and lo and behold, NO GREEN GLOVES.

I look night after night. Sound familiar? Yeah, I was also looking for my knitting needles.

So The Chaos was torn apart, put back together and torn apart again.

The needles were found, but not the gloves...until last night.

Also found with them were a few other items (from top to bottom as they were pulled out of where they were):
  • two organic face towels that have been earmarked for a special project
  • a large freezer ziplock bag (empty)
  • Ms Cow's knitted sleeping bag (I was wondering where that was too)
  • the gloves
  • a small ziplock bag containing the leftover yarn from Ms Cow knitted sleeping bag and two sets of dpn's (which I noticed were missing from the ones I found the other day)
  • a small silk pouch with my best set of zils
  • my favorite veil (used mostly in dance class)
Quite an eclectic collection of items, wouldn't you say?

Oh, and Donna, where DID you happen to FIND all these items?

Ummm...wellll....

They were in a small tote bag sitting innocently next to a shelving unit in my bedroom.  I ummm never bothered to look in it because I thought the whole thing was full of the face towels that were the top layer.

I just so happened to accidentally knock it over as I moved the shelving cabinet to see if my gloves had fallen down behind it.

When BAZINGA all those diverse little goodies spilled onto the floor.

Of all the things I manage to lose in my apartment, I really do miss my sanity the most.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

...and she still tries...

OK, so how's the secret knitting going?

Ummmmm....

Ummmmm....

It was going along quite well.  Until.

Until the temperature dropped down into the 30's at night and my hands got so stiff and achy that not even knitting could help.  I have tried to knit in fingerless gloves, but that's not working with dpn's.

Neither is sitting on the train bundled up in every outer garment I possess and trying to knit.  I only have 20 minutes on the train, so disrobing in order to knit is not an option. By the time I do that, pull out the latest secret knitting project and get started, it's time to pack up, get dressed and run off.

Besides, everyone else on the train is bundled up in every single outer garment they possess, so there is not much elbow room.  The other day, I actually had to lean out in the aisle and knit.  That did not go well, as I was on a cabling row.

I don't want to talk about it.

And now we are having a City Inspector come out and do their yearly apartment inspection next Monday.

While I appreciate that my little town takes care of its renters, I don't appreciate them waiting until the Holidays when my apartment is a disaster while I downsize, shift things around and have boxes of Xmas decorations everywhere to come and do an inspection.

I'm supposed to be Knitting Secret Things, not cleaning up.

Jeez.

Friday, December 02, 2011

...and the secret knitting begins...

...but not after two whole nights spent tearing The Chaos apart to locate my stash of knitting needles.  I had even went so far as to hit Michael's during lunch yesterday to buy the needles I needed - knowing full well that a minimum of TWO SETS of the damn things were at home.

Somewhere.

Luckily for my wallet and my sanity, Michael's didn't have ANYTHING I needed.

And I found ALL my needles last night.

PHEW!!!!

So now this sweater languishes once again in the bottom of my project bag sitting next to the couch, buried under the new projects ready and waiting to go once the one on my needles is done.

Every night this week that wasn't spent searching desperately for needles was spent going through a shitload of knitting patterns, my boxes of yarn, and my gift list and seeing who gets what and in what yarn, and wondering CAN I POSSIBLY KNIT IT ALL BEFORE XMAS?!?

You know, typical knitter crap.  You KNOW you are or already HAVE gone through all this, don't deny it my knitting friends.

For the non-knitters, welcome to the insanity that is Xmas gift knitting.

Usually it starts earlier for me, in October or so, but I haven't picked up the needles on anything since Mom's birthday Damask shawl in June.  After the shawl, the weather got really HOT and I lost my mojo.  And it has stayed too warm-ish to knit until the last few weeks.

It came SCREAMING back Sunday night-along with high winds and colder temps.  Just in time to (hopefully) knock out a few small gift projects.  Now that I have all my damn needles, I think I'll be OK.

Here's an important tip...organizing all your knitting stuff into one general area only works if you ACTUALLY PUT IT ALL IN THE SAME DAMN SPOT.

So now after I finish off this post, I'm going to go back to watching Bocelli live from Central Park on PBS and pick up the needles and continue on with the first project on my list.

The only thing missing from this whole setup tonight is my faithful knitting companion Kitty.  I do so miss her company on these solo nights at home. :(

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Remember the Knitting

OK, so here I sit typing up a blog about knitting when I should be fast asleep.

Whatever.

Some things have not changed in The Chaos.  It hasn't moved and I haven't done much with sorting through things lately.

Some things have changed in The Chaos.  The Queen of The Chaos (that would be me) is shrinking.  Just a little.  If Her Majesty could get off her Royal Bum, she might be shrinking faster.  But that's a whole new blog post.

The point is, this sweater has been languishing in my project bag for a long time.  A very long time.  I'm making it with the most scrumptous yarn (in the 07 Autumn colorway) I have ever gotten my Royal Paws into...bought in England.  Yum.  And Purrrrrrrrrr.  And if I had an entire room of it, I would sleep on it.

Yes, it's THAT yummy.

Anyway, I had a feeling all along that Juliet would end up being too big, but that did not deter me one bit in continuing to knit it.

Why?

Well, honestly, because I have no concept of gauge and how to manipulate that S.O.B. to get it to work in my favor.  Also, well I am a short, potato shaped knitter with a warped sense of what should fit.  It's not that I'm a size 20 trying to fit into a size 2.  It's just that I cannot for the life of me accurately judge what size I am.  Seriously.  Measuring does not help.  I just cannot correlate measurements with making garments that fit me.

That sounds much better than "because I'm a total nutter", doesn't it?

This gauge imparement is why I make socks and scarves and hats.  Simple stuff for my simple brain - until I can get a handle on this whole gauge thing.  Honestly (again), if I could handle free-form knitting that ended up as something usable, I'd do that.  No pattern, no gauge, no rules - just KNITTING at it's purest.

Right.

Anyway, back on topic.  Now that I'm not so much the large Idaho I used to be, but, still potato shaped none-the-less, I realize that my Juliet will need to be frogged and restarted.

Which does not bother me in the least, because if you have been reading me since the beginning, you know that deconstructing is one of my favorite knitting activities.

Because then I can knit it all up over and probably over again.

There goes that whole "not admitting to being a nutter" theory.

Monday, November 07, 2011

The Chaos is still where it was...

...and the prospects for moving it aren't too good right now.

That's ok though, something will come up and when it does, we'll be ready.

This Friday, I'm taking a half day, borrowing a friend's car and taking a bunch of boxes to the Thrift store.

When I'm done there, I will be taking some Household Hazardous Waste to the local drop-off station.

So far, Spencer's room is 95% ready to move.  He's cleared out a huge mound of give-aways (which is what is going on Friday to make room for more sorting and piling of give-aways from my room).  Included in that mound, are some kitchen items and a few items from the "general stack of boxes from the storage unit".

I'll also be making a run to a local office supply store to take a box full of papers for shredding.  A lot of the boxes from my room are filled with old papers.  99% of which I do not need anymore (that's how old they are).

I dread going thru the hall closet.  It's filled with tools and hardware.  I'm sure I'll dump the hardware and will want to keep the tools.  A woman and her power tools are not soon parted.

As much as I'm giving away, I've thrown away a lot too, and have recycled as much as I could.

And I still have quite a few boxes to go through too.  If there is anything I know what to do, it's fill up boxes with stuff and store them in any nook and cranny that will fit them.

I've gotten out of that habit though and am making quite a few sacrifices to the "moving reality gods".

I am greatly reducing the size of my stashes.  Just for the record, I did indeed type that with an 's'.  There are stashes for sewing, embroidery, knit/crochet, jewelry and general crafting.  I have applied the "culling the closet principal" of organization.  If I haven't used the supply in question for anything within the last year and there is no immediate intended use, out it goes.

In other words, I'm winging it.  If I still like the supply and can picture myself making an item that is worth gifting, keeping, or selling, then I keep it.

A lot of things I have had so long that I just can't even imagine wanting something made from it for myself, let alone giving something I made from it to someone else.

Time to set it free out in the world so that someone else can be inspired by it like I once was back in the day.

One good thing about Thrift Stores/Charity Shops is that items like these that are still usable and in excellent shape but have fallen out of my favor will definitely find a home somewhere...and for about 1/20th the price I paid for it.

I'm OK with that. Totally.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Would you like a pint of blood, my right arm, AND my firstborn?

Oh the wonderful world of looking for a new place to call "The Chaos".

And I thought it was difficult getting a new car or buying a house.

Has anyone else ever been asked for 3 years worth of tax returns for a rental?

Or do I just look like such a crook that they need that sort of proof that I'm actually gainfully employed...  Usually a call to the HR department of your current position takes care of that...at least it USED to...

What absolutely KILLS me is that I know people who have had bankruptcies, evictions, unemployment, etc and have not had near this much trouble finding nice places in nice 'hoods.

I've never had any of that but the unemployment (who hasn't been unemployed) and I've got almost 13 YEARS (yes I said years - in the same place) of solid rental history.

Good grief.

Next open house is tomorrow after work.  I think I'm going to GRILL THE HECK out of any potential future landlords.  If you're going to ask me for all this, I have the right to know stuff about you too.

Jeez.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dear Occupy San Francisco Protestors

I am all for folks exercising their right to free speech and expressing their frustration with the system.  BUT. It's probably not a good idea to yell at and insult the people who could possibly be sympathetic to your cause.  And...now that you've done just that, well, you can just shove it.  You stay over on your side of the street and I'll be on my side.  Don't talk to me and I won't talk to you.

Just because someone hasn't been camping out on the street with you and doesn't look homeless like most of you do, doesn't mean they are the "1%".

Why am I ranting?

Spencer is on his way to my place now.  He rode his bike from his Dad's place to the Embarcadero BART Station.  The Occupy folks are hanging out close by there.  For some reason, they fixated on him and started yelling that "you are the 1% you need to be brought down!"

REALLY?!?!?!?

A kid on his bike riding down the street.

"YOU NEED TO BE BROUGHT DOWN"

REALLY?!?

I think those folks have been breathing in the vehicle fumes (and whatever they have been smoking) there on the side of the street for WAY TOO LONG.  Go home, clean up and take a break.

First protestor who touches one hair on the head of me or mine draws back a bloody stump.

Really.

Didn't Get it...

...'nuf said.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

We're getting close...

OK, so I went to see one of the places yesterday and the other place open house was not tonight, it's on Saturday. I totally read that posting all wrong.

Anyway...

I absolutely LOVED the place I saw yesterday.  It's a small building with only 25 units.  It seems like a cozy place with friendly people. The manager seems like a really nice lady.

The building was the oldest of the ones I'd seen so far, but good heavens, it has been well taken care of...and there is a pool.  It was clean and so was the surrounding pool area.

I swear, you could eat off the floor of the laundry room in the basement, that's how clean it was in there.  There was a nice sized folding table too.  It was spotless.

The unit itself was awesome.  It's really old with mostly the original fixtures or very old ones, but it was all clean, and they all work and there are lots of cabinets and natural light and a fireplace!  And the bedrooms even had ceiling fixtures.  Have NEVER seen that in an apartment. EVER.

The kitchen has lots of cabinets and the closets are decent.  You can never have enough storage in a California apartment.

I'll have to do without a balcony, a second bathroom, an automatic dishwasher and air conditioning - but I think I'll survive.  If they accept my application/offer, I'll be moving rather quickly, so I'll have the Winter to get used to the climate there. 

And yes, it's quite different than the climate here.  I think the Bay Area has about 9 or more micro climates.

Among the many postives, it gets a bit chilly there, so there will be much knitting and wearing of the knitting.

Fingers crossed everyone!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

More to see here...

...going off to two more open houses this week.  In the same area as that very first place I looked at, actually.  The buildings do seem to be kept up better on that side of town than the other, so I'm hoping for something at least at the same level of where I am living now.  Old, but still functioning.  And NO MOLD.

Anyway, the pictures of the interiors look good, and I've checked the Google Satellite and all that, so things are looking pretty good that these will be ok.

Only problem with that is, everyone else and their 5 uncles will be there with the same sort of ideas that I've been having.

Wonder if I'll run into anyone that was at that first showing.  The two buildings are actually on the SAME BLOCK as that other one.

Let the games begin.  Sigh.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Reigning in the Chaos...a little at a time...

This past week has been a doozy, but I sit here today typing, so I obviously survived the dooziness.

A lot of things have changed lately, from where I sit, for the better.  Here are a few tidbits:

  1. I was starting a new online shop.  I've cancelled it for now.
  2. I was whole-hog on the looking-for-a-new-place.  I've slowed down.
  3. I had signed up to do a local craft fair (at my complex, this weekend actually). I cancelled.
  4. I felt like crap all the time.  I've changed my eating habits and I'm moving again (as in easing back into something that can be called exercising). 
  5. I was trying to remember too much with a memory that isn't as good as it used to be.  I've emptied the extras out onto paper and left other things forgotten. If they were important, I'll find out soon enough.  Then I'll add them to my calendar or my notes.
All of them important changes that add up to me being able to sleep again.  Not stressing over where I should be and what I should be doing or when things should be done or how many things still need doing.

Life is complicated enough, I really don't need to make it more so.

There were many things (both big and small) that signalled me that I really needed to change my ways.

The two most obvious things:

  1. My body was screaming for mercy.
  2. I sat down in front of some very pretty sparkly jewelry supplies, had a zillion ideas in my head about what to do with all those pretty sparkly things and could do nothing but look at the pretty sparkly things and think "ooh, pretty sparkly things, aren't they pretty and sparkly?".
When my body talks so loudly (or in this case just about whacks me over the head with a baseball bat) and my creativity STOPS, I know there is something wrong.  Not only has something been wrong for a long time, but I've been ignoring it.  Bad Donna. Bad.

This time, I sat back and looked at ALL aspects of what was going on, not just the one that was complaining the most.  I unloaded the unnecessary things, rearranged the necessary things, and added some new very necessary things.

I am by no means done, but I have a very good start.

Now if I could just get back all those lost hours of sleep, I'd be golden. :)

Note: I know I am moving in the right direction.  I was able to sleep last night even after having 2 earthquakes yesterday that scared the living daylights out of me.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Well...it's been a few weeks, hasn't it?

And still the Chaos is in the same place.  There has been no forward movement on moving.  I'm pretty much stuck in a loop.

Search ads online...call poster to set up appointment...go look at disappointing apartments.

Good grief, you think I have looked at hundreds, don't you?

There have been only 3 so far.  Three.  It seems like I have already looked at hundreds.  I think it's just because I check the adds about 10 times a day.

Once something gets posted you have to jump on the phone, so whenever I get a chance, I am checking to see if anything new has shown up.

I'll be honest here and say I did actually see an awesome place.  That very first one I went to see after work.  I did not get it.  Disappointed to the max, but there are lots of people out there looking for the same things I am and at the same price points (lowest possible of course) that I am.  it's tough out there.

The last two were awful.  I'm am not a picky person by any means.  And for me to say they were awful...well they just were.  The last two apartment buildings were "born" in the 60's - just like me.  I think I'm holding up a lot better than they are, and that's really not a compliment.  Not at all.

Cracked and peeling formica on the counters, peeled and warped under sink areas (can you say water damage?), one washer/dryer for a floor of 13 apartments.  Really?  Those poor overworked machines looked older than I did.  A pool that hadn't been cleaned in MONTHS, probably longer.  An exterior that probably hadn't been painted in 20 years.  Carpet older than the hills, cabinets that didn't close, moldy caulk in the showers.  And these places were "ready for immediate occupancy".  The musty/mildew/moldy smell was unbearable in the last one I saw today.

It's really a shame too as these places have such potential.  Too bad the owners won't put out the money to do a few necesary repairs and upgrades.  The managers mean well and can only do so much.  I just can't see myself living in a place like this and don't really know how others do it.

The worst part?  Large closets, fireplace, ROOMY living areas, kitchen with a ton of cabinets and EXTRA CLOSETS.  O.M.G. The storage possibilities in all these places were amazing.

I'm just very very bummed that they won't work for me. :(

So...when I publish this post, I will check the ads again and see if anyone did any late night posting.

This is going to take some time...sigh.

On a happier note: Things going out from the Chaos.  LOTS of things.  The Chaos is shrinking.  Now if I could only get my waistline to shrink as easily and quickly as the Chaos!