Monday, September 26, 2005

hi ho, hi ho, it's off the France I go!

Last night, we went to the Deuce is Wild tour (Brooks &Dunn, Big &Rich, Warren Brothers) and it was fantastic! I have been waiting forever to see Brooks &Dunn in person and it was so totally worth it!

PC will tell you, I usually request very few musical things--- I like most of his music and he's much more into the whole "live" thing than me. So, asking to go to a country music concert (PC's SOOO not a country fan) was a big deal. :) But, the seats were great, the music was rockin' and well, I was just so damn happy! :)

In a little over 8 hours, I will be in the air... at 30,000 feet (or 10,000 meters) on my way to Paris. From Paris, I hop the TGV (the French amtrack) to Avignon and then off to my hotel to sleep off a "plane hangover". I won't be home for 2 weeks. :( No remote blogging, no email access. No PC. :( If anyone wants to feed him (and you know him), please feel free. He's gonna be a lonely guy these next few weeks.

I'm learning more about me than I ever expected while traveling. One thing: i'm a home-body.

More when I get home!
~mini

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

This one's for Sandy....

I am posting two sky pictures (is this cheating?) for Sandy's contest.

Photo #1:
At the DeCordova Sculpture Museum and Park near my home:














Photo #2:
the sky at 6:00 a.m. (GMT+1) in the French Alps:
I am posting two sky pictures (is this cheating?) for Sandy's contest.

Photo #1:
At the DeCordova Sculpture Museum and Park near my home:














Photo #2:
the sky at 6:00 a.m. (GMT+1) in the French Alps:

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Socks, cheese and Geneva

Well, I have returned from Geneva and Annecy, France as a new woman! I am a woman with a stamp on her passport! :) I had always said, I wanted one stamp on my passport before I turned 30 and dammit, I was ready to drive the 4 hours to Montreal to get it too, if need be. Nope, work did it for me.

But you want knitting stuff, right? Ahh...so many projects underway, some being re-thunk and some are "will post when it's done" b/c it's progress is yawn-inducing.

My sock pal socks arrived! My sock pal was Kira and I have to tell you I love them! Her kids picked out my colorway and they are perfect for the autumn girl in me! Stop on over and tell her hello! :) They are Lorna's Laces and the pattern is Broadripple... they fit PERFECTLY. And they are an international knit: California to London to English countryside to Edinburg... These socks and I have the same amount of international flight miles! :) Kira sent me a calender from Santa Cruz and an adorable picture of my "color consultants" (her kids)--- Kira, I put the picture up in my cubicle at work... :) Their grins make me smile! Tell them to look for a little "boomerang" for being such great color consultants!


So, here is where my conference was:
Le Baie des Voiles (Sail Bay)
Lake Annecy France, in the town of D'Uginet, at the foot off the Alps, about 50km from Mont Blanc. Yup, I know, my life is hard. There were 20 of us from all the teams: French, US, and Japan. It was a good conference for our company and much was accomplished. I also learned that once you start drinking everyday at lunch, that whole 'no tolerance' thing gets tossed out the window. I also learned a hard lesson in friendship during this trip. Tomorrow I will tell you about white water rafting in 28 deg F Alpine water and how my colleague saved my life ( I still have a rather large egg on my head from the trip).

PC started a brand new job last week and he's really excited about it.

I also got my SP6 assignment and this is going to be fun! My SP already stopped by to say hello! :) I can't wait! I have a few surprises up my sleeve!

And now, I leave you with a few pictures that I took from my room in Annecy... yes, this is the view from my business trip:

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These are from Geneva and the 1st is the view from the Best Western in Port Sud Geneve:
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Happy Knitting Tuesday! More info tomorrow!
~mini

Monday, September 12, 2005

Secret Pal 6 Questions

Dear SP6-
I will be out of the country (Geneva!) until 9/19/05, so my apologies if I don't respond if you email me!
~Mini


1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
kinda snob--- don't like acrylic, but like "low end" wools and wool blends--- knitpicks is a good thing!

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
used to crochet, but don't spin

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
not a big fan of cat hair or any pet dander on items, but can hang it out in the cool New England air if necessary

4. How long have you been knitting?
off and on-- 20 years
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
knitpicks, but can't figure out how to link to it. :(

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
pumpkin! apples! fresh cotton!

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
yes, but WW says I need to lose that. :( allergic to Splenda products
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I quilt! and sew bags

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love country! and rock! nope, no MP3s... sorry :(

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love fall colors-- burgandies, rich reds, pumpkin oranges, and forest greens. Am really getting into jewel tones too!
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
don't live with PC (soon though!)--- no pets, unless PC counts.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
to be a mom, a wife, and a good person. Knitting wise- i'd like to learn fair-isle and intarsia

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
i really like wool blends... have been petting cashmerino for about a year--- still haven't purchased it

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I am not a fan of anything without "stretch"...like linen.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
sweaters! i am working on Kepler and will start the newest Knitty.com version.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
mittens, socks, hats (quick and easy)... really love sweaters!

17. What are you knitting right now?
Kepler, sweater for PC, sweater for PC mom, 3 pair of anklets for my mom

18. What do you think about ponchos?
umm... great for my 8 year old cousin... not so great on me.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
circulars! and I am really getting into bamboo... I don't have alot of bamboo circs.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
bamboo.....

21. Are you a sock knitter?
yes!

22. How did you learn to knit?
7 or 8... my godmother taught me, my grandmother tried, but lost patience.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
8 months?
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
love giraffes! and eyeore...

25. What is your favorite holiday?
christmas or thanksgiving.

26. Is there anything that you collect?
yarn? Nope, working through my stash...so, probably books, music boxes, and compliments!

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have Rowan and that's it.
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Plus size knitting! and the knitter's handy book of sweater patterns.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
hmm... there are so many, but i have quite a few. It's really hard to find good plus size knit patterns that aren't "geeky"

Dolphins and cougars and socks oh my!

My sock-pal 2 socks are DONE! All washed and smelling fantastic. :) I wrapped them up with a sock band with a wee little dragon on it. :) They are on their way to Omaha, NE. I hope she likes them. This was one of those projects where somedays I liked the yarn, some days I hated it. Lorna's Laces is tricky. I bought the same color, same lot and the socks look different. Not even in that kitchy "oh it's cute they "kinda" match " sort of way. The purples are completely off one shade. Oh well, they are adorable.
They had to be mailed today (early) b/c of the trip to Geneva this week... So, my sockpal will have it by the "mail date."
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Anyone I owe an email to: I am sorry. It might be until October when I get back to you. Tomorrow I leave for Geneva (the Alps!) for a business trip- global conference with the WHOLE company. Then I am home for a week- working a 70 hour week to catch up on all that I missed here... then off to Avignon, France for a two week training at our "home base" there. Yes, I know rough life. But, I really don't like traveling that far from home, alone for so long. I will live, but I am hoping that this doesn't become a "normal thing".
So, anyone want to guess where I saw this:
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and this:
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and this:
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Why only here of course!
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It was PC's birthday over the Labor Day Weekend, so we headed out west (longest plane ride for him so far!) to the land of Lost Wages and had a weekend of fun! We stayed at the Imperial Palace (that they are going to implode!) and had a blast playing blackjack with the "dealertainers". We had blackjack dealt to us by Reba McIntyre, Toby Keith, Billy Idol, Little Richard and the girl from Blondie. Also there was Dolly Parton, Ricky Martin, Elvis (young) and Stevie Wonder.

Question of the weekend:

How does STEVIE WONDER deal BLACKJACK?

So, for all my hard work, organizing, fretting, and stressing... On Tuesday, these arrived at work:
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The card said "thanks for the best birthday ever." PC rocks. These smell awesome! A girlfriend from work needed a ride that evening and she rode in my car hanging onto them. For scale, they are about 28 inches off the top of the dresser. :) So, since I found out today that I will be checking a bag for Geneva (I need to shave my legs while there, so the razor needs to be checked)- I will probably pack a little knitting. :) We'll see. I have tons more pictures from Vegas... and now, I will have more from Geneva!
Happy Knitting Monday!
~mini