just...one...more...row...

Want

2008-01-07T14:10:57Z

Yes, I'm aware that it's not terribly pretty but it's kind of amazing.... I'd like one please (that I can have redone in blue).

Super Bed

Tremendously Terrific Television

2007-12-29T14:27:52Z

I don't usually watch daytime TV. I don't really watch TV in a focused "my show's on" way anyway, it's more like the television is always on as the constant buzz of background noise (this is also the reason I need to replace my stereo) that accompanies much of my daily life. I like my background noise but it's usually just that, something in the background while I do my vastly important daily activities :::toungue far in cheek:::.

But I was on vacation this week. I didn't have to do work. I didn't have to study. I did knit but knitting usually involves something else like watching TV (or reading Fark). So I thoroughly enjoyed watching daytime television shows; they are truly awful and a wonderful waste of time. It's not even that the actors on the soap's are bad so much as every emotion is over-the-top and the guests on the talk show's are hilarious even though I don't think that's what they're going for that. And those 'early' shows - those "news" shows that come on after the local news at eight or nine or so - are absolutely fantastic, the early shows are almost exclusively a tribute to the hosts' personalities. It was terrifically entertaining.

I do think a week is all I can do. And while I'm ready to rejoin society with the working and the studying and the getting out of the flopped-on-the-couch position and other such nonsense, I've got absolutely no regrets so far as having spent my vacation being a lazy bum

Because I don't cook

2007-11-23T04:58:40Z

Yeah... I burn things :) It's sad.

So while the mom created a fabulous feast, I finished up the cabled sweater. This has been one of those pick it up and put it down over and over again project that has taken about twenty months to complete (she bought the yarn in March of 2006). So here's the front and back of the cabled cardi:

And of course, my puppy turned 11 weeks old now. I lovemy puppy. And I really love that my puppy looks a little high in the second picture. And I really, really love that what you can't see is right after I took these pictures she laid on my feet and was completely snuggley.

That present that everyone gets...

2007-11-07T21:06:15Z

I'm knitting everyone entrelac scarves because I pulled out the one that I had knit myself over the summer and remembered that I absolutely love this pattern.

There's a picture of the scarf I made my mom as a not-so-surprise X-mas present (I gave it to her in last July for this coming X-mas) in this posting: http://knittingknerd.livejournal.com/45277.html .

My version is the same yarn but in very gorgeous fall shades (slate blue, rust, dark orange, brown, tan, etc.) and I love it. It's a fun pattern and a warm scarf - therefore, everyone is getting an entrelac scarf because that's all I feel like making...

Until I go home and work on my really gorgeous reversible cable wool scarf ... :::grins:::

My Nieces are Nephews

2007-11-05T02:54:05Z

So, Zoe and Ziggy are girls names right? Well, Ziggy I could see being a boys name but Zoe and Ziggy have all pink stuff and are referred to using female pronouns. But they are boys! My nieces are apparently nephews.

I'm going to sit back and appreciate this for a while. And my new yarn. Yup, my nieces are nephews and I have new yarn.

And a pic of the new yarn (Classic Worsted Tapestry):

Appreciate :::Shakes Fist:::

2007-11-04T04:06:45Z

So this is sort of an update but not really. I've written a few private entries because I've been trying to figure some stuff out. "stuff". Because that right there means... nothing. Anyway, none of the 'stuff' I've been trying to get a handle on has been figured out but I'm done ruminating on it and I figure I'm not going to write about it right now, so this can be a public entry.

So first for the updates:
Update 1) My puppy is coming home in a week or so.
Update 2) Grandhoser and others passed the bar exam. I'm thrilled for them. Words cannot describe. I'm downright proud.
Update 3) Seven bars is too many (was it seven or was it eight?). I'm trying to remember and I feel like seven is the right number, but I keep feeling like I'm forgetting one.
Update 3a) Apparently, I'm getting old. I like drinking. I like going out. But I am feeling beat. I used to be able to do this three or four nights in a row. Now I'm sleepy. This is sad.

And now for the goodness:

blythefishy is one of my favorite people on a regular day but today, she officially rocked. She and I are going to do a knitting project together. Different yarn but the same pattern and same needles. And we both love the peanut m&m's - how awesome is that? ( ...my nerdiness - let me show you it... )

I also got yarn for a scarf for my mom. It's pretty and blue and will a present. She's been wanting a scarf to go with her winter jacket but just couldn't find the right yarn or pre-made scarf, so I'm thrilled because I spotted this and new it would be perfect. And unrelated to yarn, I also bought a crate for my puppy and a trashy romance novel for me. It was a ridiculously fun 24-hours. Just plain good. I had fun. I am relaxed. I feel like I could go tackle my ridiculously long to-do list and that makes me happy. Because I was feeling a bit overwhelmed yesterday but now it's better.

And tomorrow I get to go meet my kitten-nieces, Ziggy and Zoe. The older sister got these adorable cats so I'm heading to DC to play with them (and her). The older sister and I haven't seen each other in forever because, even though I'm in DC fairly often, our schedules never mesh.

And now I'm going to read my trashy romance novel :) G'night.

Lust

2007-09-22T04:23:43Z

I don't need a Jordana Paige Knitter's Satchel.

I lust for a Knitter's Satchel.

I am actually willing to pay the exborinant price for a knitter's satchel.

But I'm not going to. Because I have control.

Lots and lots of f*ing control.

the joys of the ivory tower

2007-09-19T02:38:16Z

Allow me to tell you who I am. I am the one paying $1500 for the tuition to take your class. I think that at the least, you can respond to my e-mails in a timely fashion and clearly communicate what exactly you want from me or us (the students).

Not only has my stats professor taken a week to deign to respond to my e-mail but he won't give useful feedback on the work. All the work also happens to be group work and he says he doesn't want to respond to individual questions about the class (after all, that's why we've been assigned groups).

He was also rude, condescending, and misquoted me. It's really hard to misquote an e-mail when replying to it since the original text is right there. But this guy has done it. I'd say I'm impressed. But that level of failure is really more disturbing than anything.

I'm really more amused than pissed off at this point because he has a really nasty attitude and I know that he doesn't know I work for his boss, but I know that I work for his boss. And I have no qualms about going to Provost and tell him that his new director of the M.P.A. program is refusing to talk to students.

In fact, I've done that twice in the past week. Not about academic stuff, but about financial aid and HR. In fact, I rarely have this kind of problem with the academic side of things, it's usually UB's business side that farks up.

But this guy seems to think he can be a dick and get away with it. I'm simply going to have to correct him.

Ring-side seats go on sale at midnight, the show starts tomorrow at noon.

Hilarious

2007-09-13T16:56:49Z

This popped into my inbox this morning. Such a tragedy.

Subject: Texas Flood Destroys President Bush's Library
2007 18:03:50 -0700 (PDT)

Crawford , Texas - A tragic flood this morning destroyed the personal
library of President Bush. The flood began in the presidential bathroom
where both of the books were kept.

Both books have been lost. A presidential spokesman said the president
was devastated, since he was almost finished coloring the second one.

The White House tried to call FEMA, but there was no answer

Enamored

2007-09-10T03:17:06Z

I love my house. I love my neighborhood. I love my jobs. I love my school.

I love that I can walk three blocks and be in a park, five blocks and be at a coffee shop, seven blocks and be in a bookstore.

If I feel like walking further I'm about fifteen blocks from Hampden and Lovely Yarns.

If I want to go further the #3 and #11 busses run two blocks east of my house.

I walk to school and work because I can't see paying $1.60 for the bus when the weather's pretty.

I love that my neighborhood isn't too white or too black or too anything. If you go over a or two block you're in a bit of an elite enclave. But my side of the street's better (I'm in Remington, not Charles Village). I love that one of my neighbors is working on his Ph.D. at Hopkins and another works for the MTA. The guy up the street is Frito Lay distributor and if you cross over, there's a house of four or five guy living and working together. I know that my other neighbors are students of some sort, but I haven't talked to them as much.

I love that my neighbors have exchanged phone number with me. And that even though some guys have been sitting on my steps (I kept catching them --- I don't really go to work at a consistent time :-D), they haven't been leaving their trash (they usually have drinks and a paper - I think they work at the glass shop diagonally from my house).

I love that I don't even have any more cardboard boxes in my room.

And I really love that I baked Turtle Brownies from a grocery store that's like five minutes from my house in my freshly painted kitchen.

I am in lust.

There are things I don't like. The crime is the biggest one. I also didn't appreciate seeing the guy peeing in the alley on the way to work (but that's life, wasn't the first time and it probably won't be the last I'm treated to that show). The bus I take is also a major route and that can get hairy (woohoo crazies). But the public transportation is one of the overarching things I don't like about Baltimore.

But I guess this is why I'm so happy. Because I'm already aware that there is some stuff that sucks. Some if it I can work to change (like high crime and insuffiecient public transportation) and some of it there's not much I can do about (like people will always pee in public whether it's a drunken Saturday night or a sunny Tuesday morning and there will always be lots of people on major public transportation routes.) I can't be prissy or pissy about stuff I'm already aware of because getting all pissy about stuff I know about won't do any good.

Can you imagine the fool that moves into Baltimore and then goes-- oh, no! What do you mean there's problems frequently associated with urban areas in Baltimore? Waaaaah.

The love I'm feeling is balanced by the realism that there is some shit. But I'm still so happy. And the bad stuff doesn't feel hopeless. The stuff that sucks can be dealt with.

Yeah, ideally I'd like to feel comfortable skipping around my neighborhood at 2 a.m.. But I'm not a complete dumbass. I don't know anywhere where I could walk around completely relaxed at 2 a.m..

This might just be love. I feel like I belong here. And I feel like I could do something really great here --- I used to feel like I was working hard but not actually accomplishing much. Now I feel happy.

I must be in love with Baltimore.

So ask me again in a month or a year, and we'll see if this is true love or if I'm just enamored with the newness of it all. It's my first time feeling this good about where I live so we'll see if it lasts. For now, I'm just going to enjoy the sensation of being happy.

Long Overdue

2007-09-05T04:04:12Z

I need to do a real update. Because I like livejournal. I just haven't had time.

So let's do it this way:

- I moved. Hooray new house!
- Classes started last week.
- I started a new consulting job last week for CCTS
- I'm starting another consulting job tomorrow for the France Institute.
- I still can't find any good interns. And my standards are kind of low at this point. I really only need someone who can form complete sentences.
- I get to help present at CUMU in October. I'm waffling between excited and worried (who knows - I may have a latent speech impediment).
- I sent in the puppy application so I can adopt Charlie the Chocolate Labradoodle later this fall. I'm so excited - the puppy is my incentive to get everything unpacked (puppy's going to need space to play and there are a lot of boxes in the house right now).
- I may have a new project for the EOC but I won't find out for another week or so.

Plus I've been doing ridiculously fun stuff --- And it's actually almost all been with blythefishy. Hooray fun stuff. I'm making a baby hat for a friend that is currently gestating with a pattern from the class we took and I have a new appreciation for my neighborhood (I'm a ten minute stroll from the Baltimore Museum of Art). I also had friends help with the moving and getting my furnitute into the new house. Big Al even sawed my furniture so it fits in the basement (high furniture + low ceiling = damn it). I though I was going to weepwhen my furniture wouldn't stack in the basement. But everyone has been so wonderful (and patient) during the craziness of the past couple weeks.

Anyway, I'm exhausted and it is past my bedtime.

I have to get a good nights sleep so I can do my stats homework (booooo).

Vote for me! Do it Now! I command you!

2007-08-09T20:06:30Z

What kind of pirate am I? You decide!
You can also view a breakdown of results or <a

I am the King of France

2007-08-07T15:40:48Z

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

That actually doesn't go to the description, which I thought it did. But that's okay. Because I am the King and what I say goes.

I'm going to go pack a box now.

Ack

2007-07-23T16:10:01Z

I spent much of the weekend in a cavelike state but that's alright. Between Saturday and this morning, I have either completed or developed a plan of attack for almost everything on my to-do list. Therefore, I rewarded myself.

Last night, I went to the Daedalus book outlet with the Boyfriend and bought four books (for under twenty dollars!). I got two knitting books I'm thrilled with - A Rowan knitting book and Mindful Knitting, I 'm very pleased however, I'm not allowed to read either of them until I get a few more things done (I'm banning myself from doing fun stuff until I've accomplished more). I'm having one of those I want to knit all the time moments :) Not terrible feasible in my current career path, but it does make the idea of owning a yarn shop infinitely appealing.

Anyway, since I'm already procrastinating I might as well dawdle just a bit more... I can't wait to go see the Simpsons movie this weekend. In honor of it's debut, I'd like to take a trip back to the time when Do The Bart-Man was a hit song. Seriously, if you don't remember that, click and watch it. It's six minutes long, a perfect coffee break length. :::Do it::: The movie itself one of those things were I don't have high expectations. I want it to be at least a good Simpson episode that just happens to be four times as long as usual (or five times, I don't know how long the thing is).

With that, I really should get back to the work so my list can continue to dwindle... Eventually, I'd like to be able to have a to-do list I can just sort of remember. That's the goal.

Before I forget: Good luck to those taking the bar tomorrow. I thought about calling people but I think it's best to let people alone.

Final Comment: 23 days to settlement.

Puppies

2007-07-18T18:28:01Z

Two things are inspiring this post. First, blythefishy's first trip to cute overload and second, the story about the NFL player, Vick's, dog abuse news.

Dogs are something wonderful to be treasured. And that's that. If you are lucky enough to have the ability and resources (finances, a home, etc.) to care for a dog, you should treat it like you would a child in your care. Also, I would like to point at that putting a large dog in a tiny place is cruel. I don't mean a kennel or something the dog would sleep in, I mean having a large dog in a tiny apartment that you only take out for a walk two or three times a day.

With that being said. I am very excited that I'll be able to get a dog in the not so distant future. *grins*

And yes my first choice would be a Bernese mountain dog, Irish wolfhound, or a sheepdog. But I'm not a moron and am well aware that the house we're moving into is not that large. Plus, that whole severely allergic little sister issue certainly puts a damper on things.

So I am working on getting one of the fabulous designer-bred labradoodles. Yes, the do cost around $2500 and no, I do not have that much money...

but I will. I'm hoping that I can be very frugal for the next few months and get him in January (during that nice six week winter break).

So, kids if you wonder why the lovely knitting knerd smells like popcorn and peanut butter for the next six months, it's because those are the cheapest foods I can get my hands on (I'm so over Ramen).

Procrastination at its finest

2007-07-17T12:21:43Z

So here in the US, we have a strong nonprofit/ quasi-public sector. Many of our companies have very cool names. I'm in Baltimore so daily, I see names like Casey, Weinberg, and Rosenberg.

However the Brits are still winning. I mean, they have foundations called things like Rowntree and Barchester and Strattford-upon-Avon. Seriously, Stratford-upon-Avon.

I just think the names are cooler therefore todays score (as of 8:20am):

US: 0 UK: 1

Fewer UFO's grins

2007-07-12T04:22:04Z

I finished two smaller projects today and am feeling quite pleased wth myself so I'm posting them in all their glory :) These are actually two things I made for mom... Isn't she lucky to have me (I'm also feeling very full of myself).

This is a wrap-around sweater from Mason-Dixon knitting I knit for a teddy bear. It's sized for a new born with skinny arms. I still have to block it and attach ribbons to tie it shut, but I need to go purchase ribbon for it (I think it's a lovely little present.... :-D)

I knit myself a Kuryeon scarf in entrelac a while ago and my mom had major scarf envy so she picked out this color-way to go with her black jacket:

Yes, I'm aware it's sideways. But I'm still learning about taking and posting pictures that don't suck so bear with me.

Now I'm going to go work on the other two dozen knitting projects I have on my needles :-D

Hilarity Ensues

2007-07-10T19:34:17Z

Last night it was amusing to watch the first senator announce he's going into counseling because his number's in the D.C. Madam's phone records. The sheer quantity of 'citizen-journalists' out there downloading and trying to find a big name from her phone records is impressive. But I can't help but wonder if they all just don't have jobs. I mean, this is seriously time consuming. We're talking about the equivalent of a 2250 page pdf file.

Anyway, the other reason I'm posting is because I feel like everyone should enjoy the hilarious description of Dick Cheney, also rumored to be one of the Madam's customers, from Wonkette's blog.

And with that, I do have to get work done.... maybe... or I could always go knit something.

It is so very, very early

2007-07-09T12:34:25Z

Why do all the major cities in Ohio begin with the letter C?

Still Grumpy

2007-07-06T02:21:09Z

UB's Office of Financial Aid's new slogan:

"Consistency: It would be a virtue if we weren't such screw-ups"

Yes, I'm still irriated with UB. It's not just the financial aid office; it's really all the administrative offices. It's ridiculous when there's something that needs done that has to do with an academic office it is done with almost brutal efficiency. When it comes to the administrative offices - be it getting financial aid, dealing with admissions, or trying to get reimbursed - it takes weeks if not months for the smallest task to be accomplished.

Yesterday, I decided to hold off for 24-hours before doing anything further. If I were a 19th century lady, I would be given to histrionics. Since I'm a 21-st century chickie, I'm full of angst.

Anyway, just wanted to put that out there.

P.S. I'm also going to bitch about the parking permit situation. (Just an FYI).

People I'd Like to Hit

2007-07-02T16:41:09Z

Last week's Supreme Court ruling was the catalyst for today's Marc Steiner Show. His guests routinely piss me off. He generally finds morons. I like most of NPR, but seriously. This guest just said that anyone not coming from a two-family home is coming from a bad situation.

Appearently, living with an alcoholic or domestic abuse situation would be better than having one parent that loves, cares for, and is significantly involved in the child's lives.

Moron.

I'd make a full argument now. But I should be working.

Moron.

People I'd Like to Talk To

2007-07-02T16:12:28Z

Wendy Shilat, author of Girls Gone Mild and A Return to Modesty, is officially on the list of people I'd like to talk to. She's not a religious nut-job nor is she the extreme pro-life (she may be anti-choice, but, again, she's not a nut-job so I can respect her opinion).

She's on the Diane Rehm show right now-ish (depending on what time I finish this post) and her discussion is actually really interesting. It's a conversation up there with recent discussions I've heard on things like etiquette and manners. Which I think may be good things. I'm definitely someone that would not generally be accused of being a prude, but I'm kind of offended by things like sexy baby clothes (and I don't even like kids) and people talking during shows (everything from presentations at school to movies).

Like the guy sitting next to meet in the restaurant last Saturday that was shouting into his phone. Seriously. Shouting. I get that he didn't have good reception (he said it loud enough). News flash: that happens sometimes. And, FYI, the appropriate response is not to shout louder. And I'm not talking about the mall eatery here this was a real restaurant. So he probably shouldn't be on your cell phone anyway. And if it was important, he could have gotten up and stepped out to the lobby. Anyway, I practically fell of my seat laughing at this guy because he just kept going and people were turning around and looking at him, but he was completely oblivious.

I think topping the list of my current pet peeves isn't even rude people with their phones, but retail and coffeeshop employees with their phones. Lately, I feel like I have to alert them to my presence. "Hello, I'm a customer holding some stuff I'd like to purchase, could you get off your cell phone and check me out now please?" Seriously. When I'm standing in front of a checkout counter and the sales girl (and I'm not being sexist, I think girls are horrifyingly rude and are the majority offenders of this kind of behavior) is having a fabulous convo about the cutest boy ever, I want to leave. I ussually stay because I haven't been shopping lately for stuff I don't actually need (I know, I know. I wouldn't die without having the stuff I was buying, but there are certain things that just plain make life easier --- like coffee).

So I guess what I really think is that people need more manners and to be less obtuse. A little awareness of the people around us would be great.

I think people should have more manners and civility and etiquette and awareness. I don't mean people should be proper in a Victorian Era kind of way or follow strict tenets as laid out by Ms. Manners. But just be more polite. A little politeness would go a long way towards making people more pleasurable to interact with. Supposedly people have fewer friends today then they have historically. So here's a thought: Maybe if people were politer , they'd be more tolerable, and if they were more tolerable, more people would want to hang out with them. See, I meet new people fairly frequently (fortunately, as I'm still in college, I get to meet people quite a lot), I just don't want to come back for more.

gasp Capitalism Works!

2007-06-29T18:27:32Z

Just out of curiosity: why is that people tend to express surprise when they realize capitalism works?

I'm not being obsequious here, it’s just that every once in a while I read articles about capitalistic systems being created in things like women’s cooperatives that are quite successful but there’s an undertone of surprise in the article. It’s like ‘*gasp* setting up a business based on a well-thought plan that utilizes existing capacities within a community works?!?!?!?!’

And… I’m done being sarcastic now. This topic comes up because I was reading one of these articles about a women’s crafting cooperative in Afghanistan last night and then today, the schools website as an announcement about the partnership between UB and that National Foundation for Teaching Excellence. This is a fabulous idea and I’ve seen similar programs at other universities. UB and NFTE combine resources to train young people with talents to hone those talents into a profitable career.

I’m really quite excited that UB will have a part of this. Especially since I’ll become a city resident in just a few weeks ( can you believe that!).

Anyway, I’ll get back to knitting the hats now… pics to come shortly!!!

Surfing the net never ends well...

2007-06-29T02:22:55Z

This one kinda made me sad...

The Existential Quiz Your Result: You are Camus' ABSURD MAN! You realize that all actions and events are meaningless. Nothing you do will change an events outcome so why bother. "One life is as good as an other" is your motto. Marriage? Love? Kids? Money? WHATEVER is your answer. The universe is meaningless and vast. You realize you are just a speck on a tiny universe among an infinite amount of universes. Death is inevitable and you realize none of your actions can change your final step in life...
You are Nietzsche's UBERMAN!
You are Kierkegaard's KNIGHT OF FAITH!
You are Dostoevsky's UNDERGROUND MAN!
The Existential Quiz Quizzes for MySpace

Things I've Knit and Am Knitting and am Knitting to Sell

2007-06-29T02:07:18Z

I'm happily knitting away and have been doing so for about a week now. I'm knitting some stuff for me like this bag:

FYI, blythefishy, this is what I made with the fabric from Tuesday's post. I'm happy with the way it came out - there are a few ends I need to fix and trim but overall, it's a very thick, sturdy totes. And, now that I look at that pic, it appears the handles are off-center --- It's the picture (honest!), the tote itself is nicely symmetrical.

Of course, I've been knitting lots of other stuff. Like stuff to sell. I'm going to a flea market Sunday to sell a bunch of stuff from when I lived in an apartment. I'm selling a bunch of stuff I've knit, mostly bags and baby hats, because I don't have a lot of flea market stuff to sell from the apartment. I figure I'll try to make going to the flea as lucrative as possible by selling off some of the plethora of hand-knits I've been accumulating.

And because I know you're absolutely fascinated here are some of the things I'm selling:

A mesh market tote (this is actually one of several I've knit, but I didn't see the need to post the same basic thing a bunch of times):

Here's another market-type tote, only in felted wool. Not as summery and breezy as the mesh cotton totes, but yeah, still good. :)

And of course, there are the baby hats. I've got a bunch of different hats in different styles so I may line them all up for a group shot (I really do wish my camera were better, but thats okay). This hat is one I made with LionBrand's jiffy. I actually made this one a while ago, but it's going to be for sale on Sunday. (And yes, the pom-pom is pretty much the size of the hat ---- It's Enormous!!!).

and I have a couple more hats in progress, similar to the one pictured below. I have lots of leftover yarns from other projects as well as some baby yarns I've picked up on clearance (mainly because I have very little self-control around yarn). For some reason it seemed logical to me that, because I have two dozen sets fo double-pointed needles, I could knit a hat on each set. If nothing else, it'll be fun to see how many I actually finish to sell on Sunday.

And with that, I have had a really long day (client meeting's early in the morning make me go boo) so I'm going to crash.