4th quarter scramble

Wow! It's already October. And you can see how good I've been with keeping up with the blog (NOT!). So we only have 3 months left of 2010 and I'm gonna hunker down and get stuff done.

Quote of the day by one of my favorite authors: "We all create the future day by day, by leaving the past behind" - Ray Bradbury

Song of the day:



Amusing product of the day:


Beware of Zombies! And remember Rule #1: Cardio!

Need some energy?

I was feeling a little sleepy today at work and then came across an article in the July issue of "Real Simple" that had a nice little playlist of energy pumping songs. Logged onto Grooveshark and set it up there.




Listen, rinse, repeat!

Vacation all I ever wanted...

Vacation had to get away! How much longer until our annual trip to Ocean City, MD?



(They didn't have an option to put the time in for MD so I figured Dover was close enough)

This has got to be one of my favorite places for us to go for a super relaxing, recharging vacation. You can catch a glimpse of the fun in the sun here.

Oh how much longer?!?!?!?!?

What I've done in the last 2 months (besides blogging)

Wow! Here I was with this great New Year's Resolution to blog more and I was doing pretty good and then bam...two months without a peep. In my defense, I've been kind of busy. Doing what you say? So glad you asked...
We had Easter brunch with the in-laws at Mimi's Cafe (not my favorite place but if you are hankerin' for some carbs this is your place).

My sister April, my nephew Garrett, Josh and I went to the Body World's exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It is so amazing to see all that stuff that usually tucked away under your skin. I've got to say, skin is an awesome cover because if I had to see some of that stuff every day I think I'd barf.
Just to prove how insane we are, Josh and I headed to Disneyland AGAIN on April 10th and 11th.


We couldn't help it...Southwest Airlines had such a great deal it would have been a shame to pass it up. And we have to use those annual passes, don't we?

A mere 3 days later I was on a plane to Seattle for Blue Moon Fiber Art's annual Sock camp!

Here I am with my little swatch from Anne Hanson's class.
This was my third year as a camper and I can not tell you how much fun it is. Well, I could try but that would take up a lot of space and honestly, I am just trying to get caught up here. Suffice to say it is the most awesome of awesome events and I look forward to it every year.

I got back from camp and put in a few days work (got to pay for these trips somehow) only to head off to New York City late in the evening of 4/23.
We wanted to see the Tim Burton exhibit at the MoMA and this was the LAST weekend. Hubby wrote a great synopsis of our super quick trip so I'm going to cut and paste here:
NYC Part 1 So. We left the hotel yesterday morning at 7 am. Went to Flushing Meadows and the World's Fairgrounds of 1939 and 1964 (sort of a MIB thing), went back to the #7 and took it to Grand Central Station. Then went to the NYC Library and up 6th Ave to the NHL store, Radio City Music Hall, and eventually the MoMA. Waited there before being let in to see the Tim Burton exhibit.

NYC Part 2 Two hours later got out of the MoMA. Went FAO Schwartz, then the subway up to 86th to check out a bench at Central Park across from the Guggenheim. Looked at the lobby of the Guggenheim and went back down to Grand Central Station. Went over to 6th Ave and walked the other direction down sixth and caught a subway to the Brooklyn Bridge. (he forgot the part where I went into three, count em, three different bead stores to feed my new habit, beads in knitting thanks to a class by the fabulous Sivia Harding.

NYC Part 3 Walked over the Brooklyn Bridge

to Grimaldi’s. Grimaldi’s line was too long, went to Ignazio’s Pizza and it was just as good. Took the F to 14th and walked west to check out the High Line Park. When finished there went back to the subway and headed back to the hotel. Arrived back at the hotel at 8:30 pm. Did we do enough?

Headed out on a plane at 6am Sunday morning to arrive home around 10am after a plane change in Chicago. Whew, I thought, at least I can head back to work on Monday for some relaxation. Oops, no such luck, I had jury duty on Monday. But I thought since I was dismissed so quickly the last time I was called I would get out early and maybe have some time to get some things done with my Monday afternoon. How wrong I was. After waiting around until 11:30am (and you can't take knitting needles in the courthouse, WTF?) I was called as juror #9 to come sit in the jury box/courtroom with 70 other potential jurors and be questioned by the attorneys. After a break for lunch it was back to the courtroom for jury selection (and I couldn't even read at this point). Lots of questions, lot of potential jurors dismissed and still I sat there. Ever hopeful I thought, I'm sure I'll get dismissed, I'm sure I'll get dismissed. At 4:45pm I was still sitting in the jury box, the rest of the courtroom had emptied out and I heard the judge say "ladies and gentlemen we have selected our jury". Crap! I'm still in the jury box! And did I mention it was for a trial predicted to last 2 weeks. Stunned and silent 14 of us (12 jurors and 2 alternates) were shown the jury room and given instructions for reporting the next morning. I was on jury duty from 4/26 - 5/6. I am so thankful my job paid me for those days (although I did have to sign over my $50 a day from the court...dang that would have got me some nice yarn.)

Although the process of being a juror was interesting, the case was miserable. I won't go into it here but I'll just say I had to see things and hear things I will NEVER be able to get out of my head. Here's a quick blurb in the Denver Post as well as a link to his appeal trial that was what earned him this trial. He should have went with the first decision of guilty of 14 out of 18 counts because we found him guilty of all 28 counts. I really hope this sick SOB never sees the light of day again.

Let's move on, shall we? So, back to work for a week and a half then off to the Sanguine Gryphon's dying camp (that's a Ravely link) where we will learn 5 different techniques of yarn dyeing with acid dyes, play with dying the yarn, take a knitting and a spinning class (although I'm skipping the spinning class...I'm NOT going to spin! I'm just not going to do it!).

Oh oh, it's almost time for bed and I've got work in the morning then off to the airport. I guess I better go pack!

Crazy for Disney

As most of you know Josh and I love going to Disneyland (we like Disney World too but much prefer Disneyland). I got Josh a membership to D23 for Christmas and soon found out they were having a 1 year anniversary party for the club in March (March 10th to be precise). Since I had to teach on Saturday we realized we would have to do a quick out and back trip which was just as crazy as it sounded. We left Denver at 9am on Wednesday morning arriving first at In n'Out for lunch at 11am (PST). Then it was on to the park where we walked in the gates shortly after Noon. Keep in mind Josh just had his ACL replaced just 3 weeks ago but he was trucking around the park like he was good as new. There wasn't much of a crowd so we got on a lot of the rides. I made Josh go to see the newly re-opened Captain Eo. I had never seen it before and was thoroughly amused by the total 80-ness of it. I think Josh wanted to poke his eyes out.

We had planned on going back to the hotel to rest a bit but ended up staying in the park until the anniversary party started at 9pm. We then proceeded to ride every ride in Fantasyland, eat lots of desserts (YUM!) and met Dan Robuck (Dr. Arzt from LOST). He even held my sock (dude, I got some Arzt on my sock)

I also took my Queen Alice socks on the teacup ride (you can check out the picture on my Ravelry project page from the previous link). These are from the Woolgirl Alice sock club. A fabulous design by the wonderful Carrie (aka Irishgirlieknits). I am loving this pattern and I especially like the idea of taking all my Alice in Wonderland socks to Disneyland to visit. Mad Hatter comes out in April so I guess those just have to go to sock camp with me because I don't think I could justify a trip to Seattle AND Anaheim in the same month.

The party was over at midnight and we got back to the hotel around 12:30am or so. Then up again at 7am to head back to the park until 2pm then back to the airport to fly home. We arrived home around 9pm Thursday night and then had to go to work the next day. Crazy? Yes! But did we have a blast? You bet!

I was happy to find some Cheshire cat tails treats that I had seen DisneyD23 tweet about earlier this month. Apparently they are only available for a limited time so I'm glad we got to try them because they were marshmallow, caramel and frosting heaven on a stick! Notice how nicely they coordinate with my outfit of the day.


But shhhhhhhhh....don't tell my trainer.

Must not buy yarn...must not buy yarn...must not buy yarn

I guess I'll be the first to admit that I probably have more than my share of yarn. I never intended the stash to get so out of control but when I see the lovely stuff I just have to have it. When I first started knitting I only bought yarn for projects. Now keep in mind that I would frequently have several waiting projects but still, the yarn had a purpose when it was purchased.

Then I started buying souvenir yarn when I went on vacation and visited LYS. Then it got really bad when I went to Sock camp in 2008 and brought home not only lots of souvenir yarn from the various shops I had stopped at on a pre-camp yarn crawl but also a giant bag of Blue Moon yarn. Then there was camp in 2009 and a smaller (but still significant amount) of yarn came home with me. And let's not even talk about what followed me home from Sock Summit 2009.

Then I have the sock clubs. The BMFA Rockin' Sock Club was the gateway club. Then there was WoolGirl and Yarn Pirate (who thankfully has put the club on hold for awhile), and Sock Yarn Cinema. Those are just to name a few. I think there were others. It's hard to keep track.

But, since I am going to Sock Camp again this year (Week 2 here I come) and in just a few short weeks I'll be headed to Madrona I am feeling like I must STOP buying any yarn for some time. The stash doesn't fit under the bed and in the closet anymore. Although you can still get in the room...I mean, it's not like I'm this woman. But as I looked at those pictures this time (I've seen this blog post several times since becoming a knitter in 2001...it's kind of passed around via email like an urban legend) I started to realize that's the road I'm on. Soon the yarn will overtake the room. Okay, maybe not today or tomorrow but at the rate I'm going (and not knitting it up very quickly) it could happen.

So, for now, no more yarn. (well, except for the sock clubs I'm already signed up for. I mean, it's not like I can cancel them). And, I've taught my little sister how to knit so I'll be the most awesome of awesome-ist big sisters and share my yarn with her.

Must avoid updates from The Sanguine Gryphon and The Loopy Ewe. Perhaps I need to block the websites.

Help me be strong!

Oh weekend where are you?

I see you right around the corner. TGIF! Except that means I've got a ton of stuff to do in the next few days. Before you know it January will be gone.

I went to my Stitch N' Bitch group last night...first time in a long time I was actually able to make it. We had to move locations and are now in the coffee shop area of Borders which is actually better than the coffee shop we were meeting in before. I was planning on working on an afghan square but it seemed to complicated to work on and talk so I worked on the second yoga sock. Here's the first one:
See my little dolphin tattoo peeking out?

I cast these on for the Eclipsing Blue Moon Cast On and actually finished the first one that night (well, it was around 2am when #1 was done). It's pretty quick when they don't have a heel or toe. Maybe I'll start making all my socks this way. The yarn is one that I dyed myself at Sock Camp last year. It was my "uncomfortable colors" and I thought that would be fitting to use for yoga socks since yoga is rather "uncomfortable" for me. I should have plenty left after the socks so maybe I'll do some wrist warmers too. I really like the way the colors look as they are knitted up...such pretty stripes.

I still haven't rounded up the UFOs lurking in the spare room (aka the yarn room). That's on the list for this weekend.