Opening Ceremonies

Tonight marks the opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Of the sports being played, our house is anticipating the curling, downhill racing, and snowboarding. Speed skating tops the list as well. :) And, while I never wanted to buy a DVR when we had the chance, our cable system came with one this year and I expect it'll be pretty full at the end of the 17 days of competition.

On the knitting front, have you joined up at the Knitting Olympics? I had to make some adjustments, didn't want to be accused of "doping" by bringing a started project to the games. So, I wound some yarn last night and swatched (all legal: falls under training) and washed the swatch.


My house is desert-like, so the swatch was dry this morning.... last night's unwashed gauge: 5spi (too small); this morning's washed & unblocked gauge: 4.5spi. Perfect! My stitches plumped up with a washing and got softer.


Oh? What's that? You want to know what I am knitting?

Project: February Lady (pdf), size 49 inches (2 sizes smaller than I am now)
Yarn: Aurancania Wool Solids, Color 53 "Marigold"
Needles: US 8 bamboo circulars and dpns

Pumpkin will be announcing my progress at times throughout the competition. She's been practicing her Howard Cosell impression.

Ready, Set....

Why is she stretching? The Knitting Olympics begin FRIDAY!

Are your needles ready? Mine are!

Project: Huron by Jared Flood in Reynolds Whiskey and Cascade 100% alpaca. J

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity, nay, the privilege of joining my fellow MetroWest Knitters at Whispering Pines conference center at URI for a long, luxurious weekend of knitting, eating, laughing, singing, and laughing. Did I mention the laughing?
Our annual retreat "sleepover" is always a success, but this year we had a special treat at the end: a trip to Unwind in East Greenwich, RI. Holy.smokes. Now, this is quite the LYS! Jeanne (the owner) opened up Just For Us on a Sunday and was so great about hosting the 20+ knitters who descended upon her store like a bunch of crazy women who've never seen yarn before. I'm sure Jeanne did 'well' for keeping the shop open, but we loved just having us in the shop. It was personal. The employees were great. So great in fact, there might be more surprises next year. :)
My mom flat out asked me for a cowl. Now, this is not something I thought she'd want. Mom wears oxygen and her tubing would get stuck under the cow l (I thought), but no, she likes mine and tried it on. And, of course, it must match her jacket. Her purple ski jacket I bought her a few years ago. I have a weekend to myself coming up (PC's got a curling tournament)... perhaps some coordinating mittens are in order.
And finally, the Steggy. JR's (my nephew is a JR) birthday party went swimmingly. Auntie Mini spoiled him rotten with several outfits, new sneakers, books and a handknit sweater (he got lots of toys for Christmas, the month before). My bro and SIL loved the sweater and I have been promised one of JR in it. I'll post it if I can crop the face out--- I don't put photos of kids online, unless they are mine. :)
I got home from a work trip to San Francisco where I sealed my realization that I am meant to do this job. And i love it. I'm amazed at how natural it feels and how much I am enjoying the work. But, I only had limited knitting time as I was exhausted by 8pm each night. I had cast on for some Monkey socks,using Paton's Croy Sock yarn that I had in the stash. It's "meh" but a coworker who watched me knit on them fell.in.love. And she's the resident no-shoes person at the office, so it's very fitting that she desire hand knit socks. So, they will go live with her. Once I finish sock #2.

Still No Photo

Grrr.. this week has been so....so... busy. I feel like I am running in place all the time. I'm knitting Steggy from Knitty (almost done-- 3 more inches on the hood, put in zipper and make spikes for hood): it is 'due' tomorrow at a birthday party. I don't want to be putting the zipper in, in the car, if you know what I mean.

On top of this, I started a new quilt class and we are working on Yellow Brick Road. A great pattern, I chose great fabrics, but I am running around so much, I have not had time to sit and quilt. And, I really want to quilt.

My mom requested a cowl a few weeks back. I should whip that up this weekend. And line her bag from Mother's Day. Yup. Mother's Day 2009. Gah- what a crappy daughter I am, right?

And finally, we have PC... who's had a cold this week. A bad cold. And when one of us is sick, the house just falls to pieces. I have to clean tomorrow or Sunday before I leave for San Francisco next week... coming home to a dirty house might just kill me.

Did I mention I am going to San Francisco? Yup-- Tuesday to Friday (red eye home Friday night). If you are there (at the conference), look for me...I'll be one of the ones with a walkie-talkie. I love my new job and I am excited to travel, but I am just so damn tired this week, I am not ready to go just yet. And, yes, I've already called Imagiknit to see if they'll be open Friday night. :)

Weekend round-up

I just spent 3 days and 2 nights with the most wonderful, insightful, creative and impassioned women I know: my guild :)  We had our annual retreat to Whispering Pines (at URI) and we laughed, knit, laughed, knit, sang, ate (and ate, and ate, and ate), walked, talked, shared, commiserated, swapped, cajoled and entertained each other. I saw old friends (hi Danielle! hi Lynn!) and new friends (hi Jen K!)... it was superb.

For those who don't know... I coordinate the MetroWest Knitters' Guild, which can be described as a blissful unpaid job that resembles herding cats on somedays and is complete perfection on others. The retreat went off without a hitch, although one camper didn't make it due to a death in the family. We were sad not to have her with us.

I worked on PC's curling socks... black and gray stockinette.... and then I cast on for Huron. I did my first ever turned hem with a contract color...

More photos tomorrow.. today's back to reality (work) and caring for a sniffly PC... who's getting the 'plague' and home today.

What did you do this weekend?

Attention Handbag/Knitting Bag Lovers

Okay, everyone who knows me knows that I rarely carry the same bag twice in a row. I am a bag whore. I am. I love them. The leather ones, the fabric ones, handmade, commercially produced, Coach, Gucci, Dooney & Bourke, Macy's 1 day sale specials, Marshalls clearance rack... doesn't matter. I love me a good bag. I have a zillion + 1 bags (ask PC... he asked me to cut my # by 1/2 before we moved... it still took 5 boxes (big ones) to pack them). I do not have a Jordana Paige bag. I'd love a knitters' satchel (in red, in case you are PC and you want to buy me a knitting bag... yes, I know... another one), but I am not in the place to buy one. Mostly b/c I bought a Lexie Barnes on super discount at Webs a few months back. ;) But, if you have some holiday cash and internet connection and want to feel good about how you spend... here you go:

 From Jordana:

I've been avoiding the news since last Tuesday. I absolutely hate the feeling of helplessness when disasters happen. But avoiding the news isn't going to erase the huge need in Haiti. I know I'm not alone in having a great desire to do something, but have to realize that for most of us, we can't fly over to Haiti to give comfort, hold children and hand out food.

Giving money just never seems like enough. I always want to give more and wish I had a product that I could donate to help with relief. Handbags just aren't going to save a life. I've been thinking a lot on this and have come up with a way, with your help, that handbags can make a difference.

I will be selling all the imperfect handbags in my warehouse for $50 and will donate 100% of each sale to Doctors Without Borders Haiti relief.

My warehouse holds a mix of discontinued bags, including The Knitter's Satchel in Deep Red and Rio in Red Garnet, as well as current styles and colors. The "imperfect" bags don't meet our quality standards. Some have scratches on the fabric, broken zippers, missing removable pouches or upside-down labels. Majority of the "imperfect" bags have very minor problems.

The sale will start next Wednesday, January 27th at 8am PST. Every hour, on the hour, a new color will be made available. All sales will be final. The inside of the bags will be stamped with "final sale" in a hidden location. Due to the high volume of sales that I am expecting, I will not be able to personally identify what is imperfect about each bag. All bags are functional. We wouldn't sell something with a missing handle or hole in the bottom.

Some other details; we will only be accepting orders with USA delivery addresses. I'm sorry, but I just don't have the man-power to ship a huge number of orders internationally. Lastly, I will be charging for shipping. The cost of shipping will not be going to Doctors Without Borders, but to cover the cost of shipping your bag to you. California residents will be charged sales tax.

Please, please, please, share this with friends, post it on your blog, tweet it, Facebook it, you know, the works. Snag the image, spread the word! Together we can make an impact.

Go Scott Go!

Well, history has been made in Massachusetts. Even if you were/are a Coakley supporter and staunch Democrat, you have to admit this was a special election for the record books. As a non-Democrat (I'm not comfortable with Republican and I am too conservative to say Independent), I was watching the election these past few weeks with increased interest.

No, I didn't like the attack ads. Yes, I think both sides are far from innocent when it comes to this... but watching the "shoe-in" candidate scramble at the last minute reminded me of the complacency of Massachusetts politicians. Of all American politicians. It made me think of Canada. Now, I am not a fan of their nationalized healthcare, but I do like the idea that they can boot out a politician if they decide mid-term that they aren't doing their jobs.

Today is a day of change. Real change. Like the very liberal President wants: Change. Perhaps this is a case of "be careful what you wish for, Mr. Obama?"

But, beyond politics... what unites me to you: knitting. I'm knitty Steggy from Julia Farwell-Clay... and I'm on the sleeves. Oh, the sleeves. I'll try to pop up a photo tomorrow, but I have to say: intarsia is not my friend, but once you get going... it's not so bad. Remind me of this later this week when I am on the hood. :)

Please: play nice in the comments.... I rarely discuss politics on here b/c I am a Yankee through and through: keep your religion, politics and hands to yourself. :)

Nursing....

Momma, I can help you knit if you ate too sick....

-- Sent from my Palm Prē

Today was going to start with a hey "how are ya?" kinda feel, but I got felled by a "raging" (dr.'s words, not mine) kidney & bladder infection. Yeah. I know. I found some no sugar added cranberry juice and have my heat-up sheep pad ready to go.

But first, some adorableness :)
Pattern: my own : "MC's heart"
Size: to fit a 2.5-3 year old
Yarn: Berroco Comfort, pink and navy (purchased at Knit Purl in Sudbury)
Needles: US 6 dpns and circs
Notes: this might be my new go-to kid yarn. Normally, I would say "encore" but I think this is good. And, the colors are great. I have enough for a puppy dog sweater for Remi. :)

Pattern: my own, with a borrowed dino motif : Carson's Pet Steggy
Size: 6 year old active boy
Yarn: Cascade 220 superwash (blue) and Cotton Ease (red): note, I have used this Cotton Ease for like 80 projects... it's the yarn that won't die.
Needles: US 6 dpns & circs
Notes: Next time, I will try to catch my floats better... and next year's mittens/hat combos will be started sooner!

I'm off to bed... battling bacteria is tiresome work.
Look back here all weekend for more fun projects.

:) Mini

PS_ and a big hip-hip-hooray for my boy, PC, who not only cooked dinner but brought home the LARGEST and PINKEST and YELLOWEST bouquet of flowers for his wounded Mini. You know how they say you know a good man when you found one? I knew 7.5 years ago and I am so glad I stuck around. ;)

gifts

There are two kinds of gifts; the 'gifts' that you have (talents, abilities, innate qualities) and the gifts you get. This post is about both.

Gift that I have.
Knitting is a gift. Not everyone can do it, despite what knitters think when they convince a friend to 'just try it'. No, it's a talent. An ability to look at string and sticks and say, hmm... that'd be a great sweater. Mitten. Sock. Quilters do the same thing with fabric. I can't say that I have the 'eye' of a quilter yet, but I am determined to try to get there.

After my quilt class in the fall, I decided to tackle a simple charm-square quilt. Easy, right? Mostly 5 inch charm squares, with a couple of 1/2 triangles thrown in for 'tree-ness'. The inspiration was two-fold. One, I had seen a wall hanging online for this, but it has the tree on a white background and it's 1 1/2 inch squares (read: tiny). Two, on rt 225 in Lincoln, MA... on the way to Westford, there is a tree. It in a field and it gets decorated for Christmas. All by it's lonesome, out there, proudly holding up it's fairy lights. I love that tree. That tree says Christmas to me. I think of that tree and think serenity and peace. And, now....it's in my living room.

Final quilt: 58" x 62"


Gifts you get.
PC, hands-down, wins the award for best non-knitting boyfriend ever. He googled "rare exotic yarn" and found quiviot. Yup. Quiviot. And then he bought it. On Christmas Eve, I opened up a small gift bag and found 218 yds of the most perfect fall of yarn on the planet. It's a golden yellow that reminds me of late autumn... and I have enough to make a delicate lace cowl. With beads. :)

A true gifts is a boyfriend who gets it. I mean, really gets it.
Another gift that I should mention is Pumpkin. She's quite the gift all right. It took 30 tries to get the quilt photo b/c she was on it, under it, trying to get under it, attacking the camera, trying to trip me, and finally....the quiviot shots? She tried to attack the camera strap while i was taking photos.


Not all gifts are well behaved. :)

Sliding Scale....

Look to the right. Yup, the ticker. Check it out: it moved!!! Yup, 5 days on and 7.6lbs down. Holy tamales. I have learned a few things about South-beaching that I will share with you (and Kim, b/c she's a partner-in-arms on this one... we'll be the thin sophisticated ones at SPA this Feb. :) hee hee)

Good things:

• Greek yogurt (non fat, plain) is awesome w/ 1/4 packet sugar free, fat free jello stirred in.
• milk is my friend *
• nobody makes salad like I make salad... 100% green veggies and lettuce.
• Homemade balsamic dressing kicks the store brands patootie
• I can watch PC eat couscous and not want to kill him
• I can't watch him eat chocolate. I nearly died last night.
• My doc gets right on the phone when I tell his nurse that I don't "feel right--- kinda pukey and light headed"

Bad things:

• ketosis (see the milk above; if you get shaky, light headed and pukey... drink milk per doc's orders)
• smelling bread. Srsly. I smell it everywhere
• Spending at least 20 minutes per day planning for my 1st apple in 2 weeks. 14 days X 20 = 280 minutes of dreaming about an apple.
• knit night sandwiches... need to pack snack!
• extreme thirst. Drinking the required water for 2 days means now, you need the required water.

Happy New Year!

One can sit and think about the year in one of two ways: the good or the bad. The things you wanted but did not get or the things you got and didn't know you wanted. It's one of those quirky things about the human condition: our ability to break down a length of time into events/ideas/tangible items and then determine the best way to analyze them. The human condition part comes in when you make the very definite decision to be positive or negative.

I've decided to be positive. We all know that in late 2008, I lost my job; in January, PC got really sick; we've had snow storms, moved, illness... but here's what you don't know....

In 2009, I ....

• found a new career that I love and am really, really good at. Really good. Ask my boss. I amaze her daily
• re-found my love of quilting and took a class. And signed up for another class. And made a quilt by myself in between
• made new friends, and kept old ones, and purged my toxic friendships.
• took control of my health and stood up to my doctor***
• learned that PC and I can do anything as long as we do it together

In 2009, I knit....

• 2 pair of socks
• 2 shawls
• 3 of the same sweater!!! (Olivia and twin sisters, Brooke and Tori have matching outfits)
• 4 hats
• 8 mittens
• 5 scarves
• 4 baby sweaters (not counting the matchy-matchy ones)
• 3 dolls
  

All in all... a good year.

*** standing up to my doctor and taking control of my health. This is something that I think all women should do and I don't think we do because we don't want to seem pushy, rude, ungrateful, or like a know-it-all. In 2009, my doctor said the words "weight loss surgery" to me more than once. I fought to get someone else to look at my test results and I have to say, what a relief when you see a doctor who wants to help you. Dr. Schreiber, you rock.

In the upper right of this blog, you will see a new ticker... a weight loss ticker. Each week, I'll update the number and we'll all watch it move to the right. I'll also post my loss in a posting each week as well. Medication and a modified (highly) South Beach Diet will be my tools. And you. You are my cheerleaders. :)

Christmas Eve Mayhem

Now, I don't usually blog about where PC and I, but we live in Newton, MA. In Nonantum, to be specific. Also known affectionately as "the lake." There is not lake, there is the Charles River (about 200 feet from my house), but no lake that we have found yet.

Newton is not known for its Christmas celebrations, as it is usually associated with the large Jewish population that resides here. Nonantum is a bit different: we have two populations here, Italian Catholics and Orthodox Jews. The very conservative orthodox temple is nearby and within walking distance on Shabbat and Our Lady's takes care of the Italians. :)

Antoine's the local bakery and happens to be near my house. PC called me just shy of 7am to report " a mob outside of Antoine's"--- they open at 7am. So, of course, I took a photo on my way to work today. if you look close, you can see... those people are squeezed in tighter than the Green Line T after a Sox game.

And more people waited across the street for the fish shop to open (night of fishes).

Now, I am a Catholic by birth and this kind of scene makes me say "oy vey."

Merry Christmas to you all and to all a good night!
Be Merry, Be happy and most of all be safe!

Happy Holidays,
Mini, PC and Pumpkin, the wonder cat. :)

Roar!

Thanks for your support yesterday. It means a lot to know my knitters are on my side!

Well, the color's not perfect, but you can definitely see the dinosaur in this photo. I finished this up after knit night at Island Yarn on Monday. It's a combo of C220 superwash (blue) and Cotton Ease (red). I have to fold the brim back up onto itself and stitch it down. Hopefully this will 1) fit a 5-6 year old head and 2) be cool enough for the school yard :)
So, my little cousin, Carson, will get his ROAR on with his new dino hat. Mittens to follow soon... these are New Year's presents.

More tomorrow on the tree, the mittens with the cuff from hell and waiting for Santa!

Resolute

¹res·o·lute 

Pronunciation: \ˈre-zə-ˌlüt, -lət\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin resolutus, past participle of resolvere

Date: 1533

1 : marked by firm determination : resolved <a resolute character>
2 : bold, steady <a resolute gaze>

synonyms see faithful

In 2010, I am going to be resolute. Recently, I started doing something in my life that is shocking (to me) and freeing (to me): I have been standing up for myself. To everyone. I spent 31 years as a doormat. Being the good daughter, the sister who let her brothers walk all over her, tolerating being called names by family, and not being respected as an adult, a person or a woman. Well, in October, I turned 32 and it had to change.

PC and I had a long talk this fall about my happiness. And I realized, I am happy and I am a good person. But, I let other people take that away from me (several in particular). I'm tired of bending until I am ready to break in order to guarantee that someone will be less miserable, never mind happy. They don't bend to assist in my happiness.

I was afraid that in these 3 months I would have become a more jaded, less helpful, less cheerful person. I was afraid of losing that chatterbox-smiling-thinking-

of-others Mini that so many call friend.  I know a few things about myself: I am intelligent, creative, passionate and make good decisions.

I didn't change. I let myself be happy and I let it all go. I did. My sibling who is constantly belittling and berating me? Gone. It's his problem... not mine. His actions will simply not be permitted in my presence; either I leave or I ask him to. My sibling that assumes that since I am a woman, I have no real job and therefore can accommodate his whims on a moment's notice? Sayonara, my friend. When I didn't comply, he was forced to do it himself and didn't achieve the result he wanted. It happens and we all have to learn to deal with it.

Don't get the wrong idea, I haven't thrown my family away or even removed them from my life. I love them and I want the best for them, but I am not responsible for their happiness. This was learned behavior from my siblings... I taught them it was okay to treat me like crap, that I was not worthy of more. Well, they are old dogs about to learn new tricks.

So, in addition to the following resolutions, I am resolving to be resolute in my decisions. I am a confident woman who has been undermined for too many years. It's time to let Mini shine.

2010 Resolutions:
1. knit more stash yarn. it's a problem.
2. learn to budget better... casa de Mini y PC will be a reality in 3-4 years.
3. stick to dr's orders and take medicine, eat right... and save my own life
4. be resolute about the above paragraphs, which should reduce stress eating
5. walk more. move more. exercise more.
6. go to spin class... love spin class!
7. love PC a little bit more each day... and tell him.
8. enjoy life now, but plan for later... don't wait for the fun start!
9. be a better friend
10. say NO when I need to or even when I want to.

hats & mittens

Many thanks for the well wishes while I was sick. It's been on and off for a week now, and I am feeling a lot better. With all my Christmas knitting (which was few and far between) done, I can move onto very important things, like hats and mitten sets for some of the cousins' kids.

First up, dino hat with mittens. I found the dino graph on Ravelry, and yes, it's a steggy. The designer also had a brontosaurus. :) Cast on 100 stitches, 1 1/2 inch k2, p3; then switch to p2, k2 (for turning) for 1 1/2 inches. Then knit 4 rounds, start chart.
The dino's little sister is 100% all girl and all things girly. So, a cute heart beret. Pattern will be up on my site before Valentines' Day.
And, while I am knitting and PC's out shoveling, Pumpkin was wondering... Is the snow gone yet?

I didn't mean to just abandon you all like that! Life took over and while I'm still not up to speed on my knitting, I am knitting. My 2nd quilting class starts Jan 14th... and I cannot stop dreaming about the quilt!

Yesterday left me at home, gargling salt water and praying for death. Today there is an added cough, the lymph nodes are swollen and tender, and my head feels a bit foggy. It's not a cold.. I am definitely a nose-dripping cold kind of girl. I'm wondering if its allergies? I did spend a few hours with some adorable pups and it's been awhile since I was exposed to dog hair.

Holiday knitting is pretty non-existent. I purchased most gifts this year (easier and I don't spend Christmas night wondering if people *really* liked their gifts). I did knit a hat for an aunt, a scarf for a cousin, and my brother's gf requested a scarf, but is getting a cowl... and am working on two hats for two smaller members of the family. They can be shipped up after Christmas though. I'll show photos tomorrow, okay?

On my 'wishlist to knit' this week: Rav links
Maine Morning Mitts
Auda Beret
Tulip Yoke Baby Cardi
and finally finish my Girl Friday!

Holiday Newsletter

I was reading about Lucia's recent Thanksgiving fiasco (she's prone to breaking ovens, don't invite her over if you have cookies due for a swap this weekend! ha ha ha)... and she said that it was good that she doesn't write a holiday newsletter. I got to thinking... this might be how ours would go...

Dear Friends and Family,
2009 was certainly a year of firsts for PC and Mini. When you last heard from us, we had been remarking how fortunate 2008 had been and how we couldn't wait for Christmas. Two days after mailing the cards, I lost my job. We agreed it was too late to return gifts and after checking with Emily Post and Miss Conduct, it was established that asking for "rent" was not considered "okay" at the holidays.

Keeping with the holiday spirit, PC thought we ought to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday entertaining our local hospital employees. We played a raucous game of 'how high can you go?' with his blood pressure. At 3am, a very kind, sweet, young nurse asked me if I was PC's mom... and that's when I made a mental note to wear more makeup. We went from a very normal 30 something couple to people who worried about salt content. Forever cheerful, we established 'not dead' as our motto.

February, March, April and May.... I looked for a job, tried to remember to shower, interviewed 12 times and got rejected 12 times. PC was spiritual in his daily reminders that 'something will come along'. PC and I tested our relationship by discussing how long I'd look for a job 'that speaks to me' before taking contract work in a lab. Wonder at how strong our relationship is.... secretly hope that like dinner plans and birthday parties, PC will forget our agreement. Smile and wonder at the strength of our relationship. Throughout this time, I developed a relationship with our cat, Pumpkin. Once she realized I was going to be around all day, she stopped hissing and taught me how to give her cookies.

June. We decided to move. Just because I was out of work, getting unemployment, and we had no idea when I'd get a job, doesn't mean we can't move! Moving gave me a project! I cleaned, organized and packed. I searched for apartments on the internet. I called agents and landlords. We met Satan. She owns a lovely 2 family on Middlesex Rd in Watertown.

July. We went on vacation to Niagara Falls. LOVED it. Resisted all temptation to throw myself into falls so that PC could have life insurance money. Remembered: Life insurance disappeared with job. July was also the filing of my first 'extension' for unemployment... cried to state worker over the phone. Very nice man named Brian talked me through the very easy process of "do you need an extension?" question. I continued to cry. Discovered I do have pride.

August. Applied, interviewed and received job offer. Read and re-read job offer letter to make sure they weren't joking.

September, October, and November.... slowly regaining my ability to get up and go to work every day. And just like last year... we're really looking forward to Christmas!

Thankful Thursdays--- Finale

Wow... only 4 short weeks in this month of thankfulness. Today's the day... Thanksgiving, Turkey Day, or Gobble Gobble is what I call it.

I have so much in my life to be thankful for... my home (it's rented), my cat (it's adopted) and my family. I should be stating that I am thankful for my job, my car, my clothes, my bank account, my furniture and even my food today, but I can't.

This past year, I have lost a job, been rejected more times than I can count... and I'm still here. I'm still fighting back. It's not perfect. I love my new job, I am thankful I have it, but it's not perfect. I love our new apartment (and what were we thinking adding an extra $400 to the budget without me having a job????), I am thankful I have it, but it's far from perfect.

What I am thankful for is the strength I had this past year. To get out of bed every morning and shower. To get up and sit at the computer for hours and hours, sending resumes that weren't read, asking for jobs I didn't want and smiling everyday at 4pm, because it wasn't fair to not be happy when I didn't have to work. So many days, I thought about how much easier it would be to stay in bed. To not shower. To not leave the house. So many days when my self-imposed lunch break was eating 1/2 a sandwich and crying to the cat... and then cleaning myself up and pushing on. I was strong this year. Stronger than I have ever been. I received a lot of support (PC, especially), but a whole lot of it came from me. This year I am thankful that I found out I am a strong, creative, generous, kind woman that I always wanted to be.

Knitting!

I've been knitting! This is a toddler sweater (size 4T) for my cousin's daughter, Livvie. She's a big sister now! The yarn is Bollocine that I had in the stash... it's a pattern that you make bigger by upsizing your needles and yarn. I did add 10 rows of garter stitch to each sleeve though.

And, here are all 3 matching sweaters together: big sister and two new baby twin sisters. :)

Why does this woman look so happy? This is a new friend, Val, who I met at my quilting class. Yup, I have been taking a quilting class--- very basic,but it helped reinforce some things I needed to relearn or learn brand new. I loved the class so much, I am signed up for the next one!
This is my quilt from class. I love it. It's the first time I have ever made a quilt that came out square. Everything from the cutting to the hand stitching of the binding was an experience.

Daily dose of reality. This article/post on Boston.com's very popular "love letters", has proven to be a way to stir up conversation.

The gist: a guy met a girl 1 1/2 years ago, they've been dating... and she gained weight. Now he wants to know how/if he should dump her. He states that she wasn't 'small' to start with, but now it's on the border of restricting their love life. Translation: he doesn't want to have sex with her anymore.

Today's LL got like 200+ comments... about 50/50 women to men. It's mind boggling the amount of good, bad and just idiotic advice that was provided.

And, it also makes me thankful for something today. Thankful for my better half, PC. He's seen my weight go up , go down... he's tolerated it. I know it bothers him, but we are this together and I am thankful each day that he's the yin to my yang.... even if my yang is twice the size it used to be.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for modern medicine. PC's dad had to have open heart surgery earlier this week and last night, he'd already been through physical therapy, climbed stairs and was off pain medication. It truly amazes me that we have doctors who can literally hold your heart in their hands, fix it and have you home in a week. It's remarkable. PC's dad is, obviously, doing well and he's receiving 1st class care at a local hospital.

Beyond this immediate thankfulness, there is the overwhelming thankfulness for Dr. Zhu and Dr. Ferguson at the MGH who saved my dad from esophogeal cancer... when so many doctors within their own group said he wasn't able to be saved. They worked together, were aggressive to the cancer, lovely to my family, and my dad's watching his grandson have his 1st Christmas this year.

My mom's illness is also tough to treat, but her pulmonologist will not give up on her. She recently entered an experimental treatment that uses low impact exercise to improve lung function in emphysema and diminshed pulmonary capacity patients. An 'old fashioned' treatment of removing a pint of blood has made an amazing difference in her lifestyle and abilities.

Modern medicine, caring doctors and unlimited access to great facilities... something to be thankful for.

The true meaning

...of giving. It's here. In this story. Go read it and then come back. I'll wait.

You back?

Good. So, what does this wonderful human interest story in our 'local' paper tell us? That giving doesn't have to be with all the hoopla. I spent 4 years of college volunteering, and never stating a word about it. I just did it. PC and I give to Lazarus House (please join us, it's in dire need again this year) each year, but while we ask others to participate, we never disclose how much we give.

It's about doing the good thing for the sake of the good thing. I think Mr. Stone is the last of the mohicans... a true standout gentleman who looked around, saw the community where he has a business and said "hmm. they need "X"." and then gave them X. Mr. Stone has the money, the resources and the mindset to do this and I, for one, think it's great.

Nothing is named after him, he's already provided for his children (he owns Sterilite) and I think he might have wanted to see the good he does. A moment of pride. That's it.

So, god bless Mr. Stone... and keep up the good work.

I'm thankful for....

Imagination, the one I have and the ones that others have. Look down at your cell phone. Your iPod. Your car alarm thingie. Someone used their imagination and said "what if...." I work with a large amount of "what if" people, people who's creativity knows no bounds and who think mine is limitless as well. It has been my good fortune to have a creative lifestyle and an outlet for my need/desire/urge to create. I love watching little children play... their imaginations are so alive! A toy truck can be a telephone, or it can be a baby carrier. The ability to look at something and see not only what it is, but what it can be.... this is the part of my imagination that I love. As knitters, we look around a room filled with balls of string, essentially, and say "i can see that as a sweater" or a hat, or socks.... we imagine the potential. And, it's an amazing gift.

Is your imagination limitless? What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursdays

Well, Carole says I started it, but wow... she really took an idea and ran with it!


My thankfulness comes today from being thankful for my time. PC gives me 'my time' without complaint and I'm not sure I ever really appreciated it until recently. I've always been fairly casual about stating that since PC and I don't have kids (yet), we are free to do whatever we like, whenever we like. But, that is as a couple. As an individual within a couple, I have responsibilities toward the other individual, PC. Years have gone by with me running off to knit night, having shoved some dinner in his general direction and heard the following words "I love you, be careful and have fun *click**click* (makes general knitting movements)" I need this time, he knows I need this time. All the weekend retreats (SPA, the guild sleepover, Rhinebeck)... no complaints. Yes, one or two mentions of being "taken over" by yarn, but I'm learning to keep it in one (or three) rooms... and he looks before he sits. :)

But, it's the time. I need my time to create. To be. To want. To do. In a crazy world with massive economic problems (we were one of those problems, remember? 10 months of unemployment), I am thankful to have a good job that allows me the time to knit and be creative. And I am really thankful for PC for always having known I needed it.

I am thankful today for:

• the time available to be creative
• the time to prepare nutritious food
• the time to listen to leaves crunch

Join the Thankful Thursdays.... you'll be in good company. Add to the comments each week... and let me know if you are blogging on Thankful Thursdays.
Carole
Susan
KmKat
Simply Sock Yarn
Lisa
Zarzuela
SuperChunk
Crazy knitting fool
Noolie
Painted Sheep
Danielle (mostly b/c TT got her to blog again)
Ruth
Vicki
Kathy
Terri
Margene

Babies! Socks! Snot!

Have you ever just been so tired of being tired? I'm there. I'm over this cold... make it go away! I'm tired of waking up with that 'crud in my eyes, mouth, nose" feeling. So, I'm going to focus on the positives: dinner with a friend from California tonight. Work is only 8 hours long. My family has 2 new babies as of Sunday! The twins--- they are here! My cousin Sue had her baby girls on Sunday. Now, I just gotta hop to getting O's sweater done and mail them all up --- I think I can do it by Monday.

I'm thankful today for:

• hot tea with milk
• advil cold'n'sinus--- I know it has pseudoephedrine, it's why it works, and it's why I love it. I'm not making meth with it, but if meth cured colds... I'd be first in line.
• warm kitty sitting on my handknit socked feet. She's purring and it makes my toes tickle.

Spooktacular

So, in addition to having a cold, we had some company this weekend! My bff, Sylvie, brought her hubby and son (my nephew), Remi, to go trick or treating! Sylvie, being French and living here for 6 years, had never been trick or treating! So, we took Remi, age 14 months, trick or treating. He lasted 5 houses. :)

A dinner of Chinese take out and chilling with friends was just what we needed.

Sunday day: knitting with Dora, drinking free (shh!) lattes and catching up. Our hours of knitting fly by when it's just us hanging out.

Sunday, it was OUR turn to treat... Celtics! Celtics won, by more than a handful of points, beating the New Orleans Hornets... it was a good game, but not great. Pretty choppy in the first half, with more and more fouls being called. Being me, I noticed that the Hornets used all 5 of their personal fouls before the 6 minute mark each quarter. The Celtics only used all 5 of theirs in one quarter. So, yes... a slower paced game. BUT, I got to see 4 really good dunks--- which I have never seen in a professional game, in person. We walked through the cool night air to Government Center to catch a D train (skipping all the craziness of North Station on a game night)... and I realized just how much I miss being in the city.

And, since it's November and Thanksgiving lands this month.... I'm trying something new. Each day that I blog, I will post 3 things I am thankful for. Feel free to join me in the comments.

1. my health (even with my cold): I'm overweight, but have been relatively healthy this year
2. PC, who loves me even when I don't deserve it and who is my rock
3. my family. Crazy, all of them, but this is the reason I love them most.

I hab a colb

Scratchy throat.
Clogged, itchy insides of ears.
Slight sniffle.

The day before Halloween! I was always sick for Halloween when I was a kid. Ugh. I'm warding this off with Airborne (yes, PC I took it!), Dayquil, tea and lozenges.

Anyone got a homeopathic recipe that works very well?

(note; I'm allergic to kiwi)

Noodles and Rem-dogs

Pattern: Little Liza Jane, by Alison Green Will, the Twist Collective Spring 2009
Yarn: Cascade Superwash 220, just shy of 2 skeins of a lovely plummy purple.
Needles: US 7 circs and straights
Recipient: Noodle, for her Thanksgiving dress
Comments: Love this pattern, am casting on again for a smaller version, knit with sock yarn. Only modifications I have made are as follows:

• Knit at a larger gauge, so made 12-18 month size using 2nd sizes' measurements.
• Crocheted edges of dress.

Pattern: Snowman Hat by Susan B. Anderson, Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Wool Ease (red and black) & White acrylic
Needles; US 6 circs and dpns
Recipient: Rem-Dog, my nephew... this is one of his winter hats.
Modifications:

• I made the hat a bit denser by knitting to a smaller gauge.
• Did a striped scarf

Comments: Love this cute little pattern. He's going to look adorable in it! :)


And because I never show you what's on my needles... this is a bat! Someone's coming to trick-or-treat... and this will be his treat!

Off the needles as well... a Pumpkin hat for my nephew, Jackson. It had to wing it's way to him before Halloween.

Gluttony

Yarn gluttony.

Saturday, I 'refreshed' the stash with some more yarn. A lot more yarn. I'm okay with it, but I have to say, the idea of yarn shopping anytime soon is gone. good bye LYS buying. The WEBS trip netted:

• 3 skeins Ecological Wool in lavender (Starsky for my mom)
• 1 ball of sock yarn (PC)
• 4 balls of Cascade Fixation (socks for mom--- she loves these socks)
• 10 skeins of Nature Wool in orange (february lady for me!)
• 2 skeins Poem in pink
• 2 skeins Poem in blue

This is the year of knitting for me and PC... and not too many others. I've been knitting for some of the small ones, but they are simple 1-2 skein projects.

Has anyone else felt like this?? The over-fed stash sort of just staring at you???

On the needles:

• Little Liza Jane (Alison Green Will) for Chloe
• Girl Friday for me
• Socks that Rock for me

Contest, but no Rhinebeck.

After a careful 3 way emailing scheme, it was decided: too rainy-cold-damp to go to Rhinebeck. Now, this wouldn't normally be an issue, but a week of feeling 'eh' and a long week at work, being cold and wet is just not worth the yarn shopping. It's a bit sad b/c Erika was really ready to go. But, Erika, there will be a bed at the Hampton Inn with your name on it next year, I pinky-swear. And, I'll see what I can do about going up on the Friday. :) But, Amy, Erika and I did not say "well, we'll stay home and watch it rain." No! Hi, ho, it's off to WEBS we go! It's such a great shop and 100% Amy's suggestion, so we're packing up and heading out Saturday a.m. We'll go to Webs and Northhampton Wools. Oh, and since Erika's a vegetarian (A very flexible vegetarian: she can find meatless food anywhere! and that can be tough in Mass!), we haven't told her we are taking her to vegetarian heaven: northhampton. So, tell me your fave restaurant in Northhampton and if we eat there tomorrow (must be open for lunch), the girls and I will send you a little something for your troubles! Entries end at 11:30a.m. Saturday.

Note: I will be calling the Hampton Inn and booking for next year though, have no worries.

Gratulerer med dagen!

(Happy Birthday in Norwegian)


Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday to Sylvie!
Happy Birthday to me and Sylvie!
Happy Birthday to we!

Today is me and my best friend's birthday. :) Imagine having your birthday with your best friend? It's as great as it sounds. Now, PC has really pulled out all the stops on tonight's festivities: I have been surrounded in the perfume of IsseyMiyake, L'deau Issey, and will dine tonight at Lumiere.

Tomorrow is dinner/cake with friends and family at our house. Yup, throwing my own birthday party b/c c'mon, do we really need a reason for a party? :)

PS.. how awesome is that cake up there?

Stream of Conscience

• I woke up w/ a headache, stuffed ears and the sniffles
• PC gave me a birthday present last night: owl pajamas!!!
• I'm wearing them now
• The milk turned
• I found out the hard way
• Must.find. breakfast.alternative.
• Hotel for Rhinebeck is booked.
• Amy and Erika are my companions for the trip.... look for a midget flanked by two tall women.
• I don't think my sweater will be done.
• We're staying in Poughkeepsie
• I'm not planning on buying yarn

That last bit is a shock, right? I might pick up a skein or two, but I'm not going to shop. Nope, I'm going to visit. :) Also, my yarn 'habit' is a bit on the obscene side right now and I'm feeling awkward about it. Several me-knitting projects and a refusal to knit for Christmas this year will probably help. My FO basket is getting full.

Countdown

Countdown to what?

• my birthday: 5 days
• my birthday party: 6 days (thank PC--- he's the love of my life for a reason)
• knit night: 1 day
• Rhinebeck: 13 days

I'm knitting... I just haven't photographed my WIP: Girl Friday. She's delicious and I am loving knitting her. Do you think she'll be my Rhinebeck sweater?

We'll see.

And, here's a recipe for you (Erika: pay attention: this one's vegetarian)

Curried Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

2 large butternut squashes, split in 1/2 and seeds scooped out
2 tbsp butter, in 4 pieces
salt and pepper
2 boxes Trader Joe's low sodium veg broth (about 10 cups)
1 tbsp curry powder

Put squashes, flesh side up, on cookie sheets, add piece of butter to each, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast 1 hour at 400 deg F. Remove flesh from skins, discard skin, and add to stock pot. Add 5 cups of broth and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat. Blend w/ immersion blender and add additional 5 cups of broth. Stir. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

This works out to be a high fiber, low fat, low sodium soup. Since PC's cardiac event, he's been on a low sodium diet, but he loves the butternut squash soup from TJ's. This is my version for him. :) It made 6 containers for work lunches... about 1 1/2 cups each.

Nutritional Info:
154 calories, 2.1 g fat (the good kind!), and 8.4 g fiber, 300 mg of sodium.

To text or not to text?

A discussion has been occurring in my life that I never thought would.

"when is it okay to text?"

And, it's truly a dilemma. I try not to text while having a conversation with someone in the room. PC is an exception, b/c sometimes he's in the room and well, he gets it.

For example, a lunch out recently at a fairly nice establishment netted me spying 2 couples texting while at the same table. They weren't talking to each other. I don't know if they were texting each other, but it seemed odd.

At knit night last night, two members texted each other within the group. While I thought this was incredibly rude, is it really? I consider whispering within a group rude.... but I was raised that you kept your thoughts to yourself and discussed them at a later time, if necessary. But, is it rude to text someone the equivalent of a whisper? I'm not sure society agrees with me, and I am quite all right with being wrong.

And, what about out with a friend? Is it okay to remove yourself (with or without telling your friend) from the conversation or activity, and text? Or tweet?

Does the relative silence of the texting activity remove the 'rudeness' factor?

Please, help the 'uninformed'. And, yes, I cast on for Girl Friday last night. Photos once I have something beyond ribbing.

Friday!

PC has his first pair of handknit socks. Hooray! He likes them and can't wait to try them out on the ice at the first curling event. Which is next week? or the week after. Either way, it's soon.

My friend Dora and I are headed to the Franklin County Fiber Twist tomorrow. Anyone going??? If so, give a shout and we can meet up to say hi. :)

2 hour car ride with a new-good friend and some tunes, tea and some cash....all in the pursuit of yarn. Can you think of a better Saturday?

Last Day of Summer

A moment of reflection on the last day of summer. We didn't really have a summer here at chez Mini y PC. Sure, we went to Niagara Falls for a few days, and we bought a BBQ grill, but honestly, we usually do so much more in the summer. Not.one.camping.trip. Those who know us know: that was a sure sign on financial unrest in this house. And, I think it really took a toll on me. More than I can explain.

I didn't get to sleep under the stars, warmed from the campfire and super chilly in the cool mountain air in the morning. Didn't get to see the wisps of morning being chased off the lake and hear the loon mamas calling for their kids to hurry up. No bad coffee (b/c when you are camping, any coffee is good coffee) and trips to Echo Lake, to float in the middle, staring up at the sky.

My blood pressure visibly decreases when we cross the border into NH. It's 'home' in so many ways to me: it's where I spent every summer as a child. It's where I went to college, had my first real boyfriend, and found my voice as an adult. It's where I chose to spend my vacations and where I want to retire.

PC... next year, let's promise, ok? Let's promise to camp more than we've ever camped before. Let's promise to work hard now and spend as much time, sitting on that great rock, laughing and not catching fish, swimming in Echo Lake and kissing under the star-filled sky.

Knitting: working on a 2nd sock to PC's first socks. Should be there soon enough.

Winner, Winner!

chicken dinner?

Nope... Marceli won! With 29 comments, I had a random number generator pick the winner.
Send me a private note with your name, address and I will mail you a prize! (kskaare at gmail dot com)

Now, some knitting.




Kiri Shawl by Polly Outhwaite *warning: that link is pdf*
Yarn: Ball and Skein's handpainted 100% 4-ply silk, purchased at NETA Spa in 2006
Needles; US 6 metal circulars
Mods: added 1 additional repeat before the edging.

Made for: me. :) PC and I are attending a family wedding tomorrow night and I have the perfect little black dress and purple shoes to go along.

A True Survivor

Some of you know that in our little Monday night knitting group at Island Yarn, we have a celebrity mom. As in, she's the mom of a celebrity. Rochelle's son is Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor Africa, the very popular reality tv show. Now, no matter what you might think of reality tv, Ethan's taken philanthropy and community outreach to a whole new level.

He's the founder of GrassRoots, a soccer based AIDS/HIV outreach education organization that uses the fundamentals of soccer to teach young Africans about safe sex and the dangers of unprotected sex. Just last year, he raised money for this cause by dribbling a soccer ball from Boston to Washington DC.

But, Ethan has cancer. We learned earlier this year as we watched his mom try to stay strong and help her youngest fight back against lymphoma. A round of chemo has not been successful and he's getting ready to begin a new phase in his treatment. As we rally around Rochelle, she and her other two sons are rallying around Ethan.

Via his mom, a knitter, we have been asked to help Ethan raise more funds for his organization and cancer charities by voting for him in GQ Magazine's “2009 Better Men Better World Search”. What could be better than someone who is fighting back against cancer and still only thinking of what he can do to help others? When so many asked "how can we help?", the response was to help him help others.

So, I need YOU to go vote for Ethan (he's a top 5 candidate) at:

http://www.thegentlemensfund.com/final_vote.asp.

Come back here after you vote, leave me a comment (please: be honest) with your vote and at the end of the week, I'll give out some prizes.

I know EXACTLY what I am making with my 10 skeins of hot pink Cascade 220. So far this year, I have fallen in love with 2 sweaters... both are ready to cast on and get started. After last years failed cardigan attempt (where I thought I was 13 inches wider ON.EACH.SIDE than I am ), I am blindly following the sizing instructions. I already got gauge.

This will look so cute with a white t-shirt and black pants for work.....



Photos from Knitty.... Girl Friday Sweater by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark.

On the line...

I have been knitting. I've been knitting up a storm, actually. In between it all, I have managed to fit in a trip to the annual JCA sale (see Erika's blog for a photo of my haul), a trip to WoolPak and getting ready for my new job. :)

First up, one of 2 sweaters for my cousin Sue's twins. She's due in late October/early November (who knows with twins!) and these wee ones will need something to keep them warm. (don't worry Sue, O will be getting a new sweater too!)

Twin A will be sporting purple :

Twin B will have pink ( I have 3 rounds and a bind off to do, but I have to go to the gym, you get a 'twin shot' tomorrow). The sweater is a "Designs by Jeannine" pattern from the Wool Pak. Both sweaters are knit in Berroco Comfort DK on US 3 and 5 needles. Easy pattern, great little sweater-- you 'upsize' it by increasing the yarn weight and needles.

Another set of twins around here is PC's feet. They are GINORMOUS. My PC had freakishly large skinny feet. :) Like all men, I suppose. His first "curling" sock is done, waiting on a twin. The twin is being cast on tonight, I hope. Now that I have his 'recipe' down, the 2nd sock will fly along.


Would a beret by any other name be so sweet? The Leaf and Vine beret from Vogue Knitting Fall 2009; a gift for my aunt in Pennsylvania. She'll love the soft RYC Cashsoft and of course, the blue. Last year, I sent her a blue cowl for Christmas and she LOVED it. This year, I am adding to her blue ensemble with a beret.... a slouchy one at that. :) I am going to re-knit this pattern as I loved it and I want one for me... in a more 'mini' color and a smaller size.


And, the big project: Shalom cardigan for my friend Sylvie. She's a great best friend/sister and this is her birthday present. We have the same October 9 birthday and this sweater will look great on her. She's a very chic Frenchwoman and will love the silk/alpaca/wool of this vest. It's knit from 8 skeins of Mirasol Sulka. I have to say, knitting with the yarn was to.die.for. It shed, yes, but it was totally worth it. Island Yarn has a bunch of colors, just sayin'.


This was today's photoshoot location.... my back porch. It's been super nice to sit on the porch and read the paper, etc each morning. I'm looking forward to autumn!

A BIG first today: first time dropping off the laundry! Since our dryer is still D.O.A downstairs, we've all had to do the laundrymat thing. Since I wasn't working, it was no big deal, 1.5 hours of my life, $12 and I had my laundry done. Now that I'll be working, we are dropping it off. Neither of us wants to spend our evenings in the laundrymat and we can afford it, so why not, right?

I have knitting....

and a dead camera battery. *sigh*

Instead, I will tell you about the super-secret, oh-wow! experience I had yesterday with PC. PC took me to a place that I had never even heard about... the Bodega.

If you are like PC and into sneakers (PC is a sneaker-ho... he loves sneakers, all kinds, all brands... it's an endearing quality that he lusts after a pair of black and green Jordan's like a 15 year old boy on his first date)--- you must get to the Bodega.

Good luck finding it.

I will say, it's in BackBay, it's cleverly hidden and I'm very glad I didn't go alone. They have taken a typical 'corner store' storefront and used it cleverly hide a shop--- inside the store! You walk into what looks like it could be a crackden, go directly past the scary looking guys sitting at the folding table (playing on a laptop) and through what seems to be a wall. Trust is everything at this point. Welcome to the Bodega.

No sneakers followed us home, but a t-shirt did. It's rockin'!

Off to Portland Maine today with my PC... it's all about the Downeaster train ride and less about Maine.

Will blog again tomorrow... with a photo of my Shalom cardigan in progress and some cool stitch markers. :)

411

Since the acceptance letter is printed, signed and on its way to the employer, I can give up some info about the job. I do try to keep some anonymity on the blog, as I believe separating work from home is a little like separating church from state: required for the sanctity of both.

So, I will no longer be a scientista as of early September. I'm leaving the comfort zone of my favored field of work: lab science. I was a good scientist, not a great one. I knew/know a lot of about a lot of different subjects within my field, but I wasn't going to cure cancer anytime soon. Nor was I going to get much 'higher' on the totem pole without the PhD after my name. Before this, I got 'up' by using my talents and my ability to negotiate. After the layoff, it was 'where from here?'

I applied to a position I never thought in a million years I would hear back from. I had made a deal with myself in the beginning: try for the 'big career change' job for 3 months, then you are banking on 10 years of good lab expertise and trying to get paid. Sounds reasonable, no? Friends, PC --- all were very helpful. I tried everything and heard back from one position that I was candidate #2 for. Oh, I was pissed. I thought I had that one nailed.

So, back to this job. I thought it was interesting. I was intrigued... but I never thought they'd call back. I spent 3 days crafting my resume and cover letter. I sent them off and promptly forgot about it. Fast forward a few weeks: a phone call. They want to talk to me! Over the phone... Ah, they are weeding out the 'duds'. I pass the phone call! I go in for interview #1.... wow! I really want this job! I wait... get project assigned and date for interview #2! Work on project for a full week... research, write, re-write, evaluate, change, change back, more research... and then the interview. I am prepared. Confident. 4 interviewers later...and 3 hours... a trip to lunch with VP and HR. Small talk, order meals... .make offer. Ask for weekend, knowing I will accept, but need time to do private happy dance. So, I am a scientific conference content producer. I'm not sure my actual title yet, but that's a close guess.

A good knitting friend hooked me up with one of her friends for an informational interview for this new field. It was such an amazing advantage. This was something I did throughout my search, I networked not only for jobs, but for information: about companies, positions, roles... and it helped.

Mazel Tov!

First, thanks for all the good wishes. I will fill in the blanks next week, once I have officially accepted the position (was reviewing the legal documents) and have calmed down a bit.

But, today... today is a great day.

7 years ago today, I had my first date with PC. It was 102 deg F, muggy and disgusting. And, we went to the Franklin Park Zoo after lunch at the Joshua Tree in Somerville, MA. He was super cute with his blue eyes, blonde hair and adorable smile.... and I guess I caught his fancy as well.

7 years, 3 moves, and 1 cat later... here we are.

We are celebrating today by going on a whale watch (we are already back and slightly sunburnt) and then dinner at the Capital Grille.

I can't explain how much I love PC or how much it means to me that he's tolerated the past 8 months of unemployment, but when you have seen us together, you know how much we love each other.

In the past 7 years, we've never....

• gone to bed angry
• said mean things intentionally
• broken up
• cheated
• spoken ill of each other

In the past 7 years, we've learned....

• patience
• forgiveness
• acceptance
• tolerance
• faith
• and that love can truly grow.

PC, I love you more today than yesterday... but not as much as tomorrow. Happy 7th... and here's to 43 more... :)

xoxox
mini

OMG

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

details to follow... right now, I just want to run around in my excitement. :)

Baby Knitting....

So, my friend Lisa decided to have a baby. In North Carolina. I guess this is acceptable b/c well... she lives there with her hubby. They own a house, two cars and two wee kittens, so I guess it was way more practical for me to go to her. So off I went on a Boston-Raleigh flight last weekend for a baby shower. Now, most of you know that I would pretty much do anything for my friends, but I really never thought I'd fly 2 hours for a baby shower. Drive 2 hours? Sure! But fly?

And, this is no ordinary friend. This friend and her hubster have an unusual pedigree: she's 1/2 Jewish and Cuban, he's Indian. A beautiful baby will be arriving soon, but c'mon: this kid is NOT going to do well in pastels. You know, I know.... they know. So, I made the wee-one-to-be a quilt... full of reds, sages, and buttery yellows....

And matching bumpers.

And a sweater.

And I iron-on'd (is this a word??) some cute decals to some onesies.

Moving on... I'm working on a baby sweater and 2 pair of socks, one for me, one for PC.