Crash

Hi All. A quick note to let you know my computer crashed (again) last night. I'm posting from work just to let you all know. I'll post again as soon as I'm up and running! Truthfully, I probably could use a little break from all the time I spend online. Who knows, maybe my house may even get a little cleaner. Doubtful, but hey, you never know!

I'll be back soon!

Summoned

Today I got paid to knit in public. No really, I did. I think most people refer to it as "jury duty" but hey, let's call it what it really is. Jury duty is like a knitter's dream if you work for the government. Which I do. I really was disappointed because I never even made it to the jury box. Now, I was just positive that I would have been picked to be a jury member if I had! I am so neutral and unbiased and more than anything, I come off as mild mannered, but of course, not too much so. They dismissed anyone who seemed in any way opinionated or different. The thing is, deep down, I am extremely opinionated and very "different." But I like to keep all that under wraps. I do however, like to think that I am capable of keeping my bias away from my judgement.

You can't knit in the jury box, though. But still. I could have walked to jury duty since it is only a mile from my house. I could have visited Julie at Knit and Pearl since it is only a block from her store. I'm telling you, I am truly disappointed not to be going back there tomorrow! Ah well, maybe next year.

I did make some progress on a project. I'll show it to you tomorrow.

I Survived Graduation

I made it. I survived. The hours were not quite as grueling as they had told me -- I worked roughly 10 hours Saturday and Sunday. Saturday I waved traffic by at a stop sign. Sunday I worked the shuttle line, keeping order, answering questions, got yelled at. A lot. The highlight of the weekend was this:
Recognize him from Mythbusters? Yep, it's Adam Savage. He was the keynote speaker for the Engineering and Sciences ceremony on Saturday. Here's how it went down: It is Saturday and the staff are finishing up lunch in this empty theater backstage where they have food setup for us. This is also the area where they dress the chancellor and processional muckety-mucks who sit on stage during the ceremony. So the Science and Engineering group leaves to begin the ceremony and I hear some people nearby at my lunch table talking about Mythbusters. I chime in about how that is my son's absolute favorite show and that's when someone mentions that I just ate lunch oblivious to the fact that the star of Mythbusters was right behind me, that he is the commencement speaker! So I run out to the ceremony just in time to hear him give this great, charming, funny, down-to-earth address to the crowd advising the kids not to get too specialized, not to take themselves too seriously and not to be afraid to start over. It was a warm, folksy talk and worlds better than one of the other speakers who was clearly reading a speech that was so dry you could hear a collectively stifled yawn throughout the first half of her speech and barely hear her over the chatter of the second half due to the bad manners of the audience who, like unruly children, could not even keep still for 15 minutes. After Adam finished his speech, I waited breathlessly with my program for him to return to the staging area and fawned over him like a fifteen-year-old telling him what fans we were of the show and could I get him to sign the program for my son? He was very congenial and signed the program "To Kai: Keep Coooooooool. A S---------g ( that's sort of what the signature looked like). I was so excited I could hardly stand it. Getting stuff like that for your kid is even better than getting it for yourself. That is the first ever autograph I have ever obtained.

The best part was calling my son (who, due only to the fact that his parent's are no longer married to each other, has his own cellphone). It went like this:
Kai: Hello?
Me: Kai, it's me, Mom.
Kai: (Whispering) I'm in the movies, I can't talk.
Me: OK. It's just that I wanted to let you know Adam Savage is here.
Kai: (Whispering really loudly and I could just see him sitting straight up) What?!! No Way! Could you get me his autograph? Please?
Me: Of course.

The rest is history.

I took today off, but I have a sore throat and a bad headache and aches. Maybe my body is just really tired. It was pretty intense. 6 graduaion ceremonies. Probably about 2500 graduates, all told. And lots and lots of people. Everywhere. It's like a rock concert, only with multiple shows. As one group is trying to leave, the next is coming in. Lots of traffic, shuttle busses, maps, port-a-potties. But we made it. I did in fact bring knitting, but not much got done. I finished a hat in the break area between ceremonies and started another. Susan, I did not bring the sea silk because that shawl pattern at this point takes too much concentration. I'm kind of at a funny place with my knitting right now. Lots of starts but no real projects. I think it is a good time to finish up some odds and ends. I have started the Storm Water shawl 4 or 5 times now and either mess it up and need to start over or am not happy with the tension. I need to move down at least a needle size. Size 6 metals were way too slippery. I'm thinking me, ms. loosy goosy needs bamboo size 4 because the 5s aren't cutting it. I love the look of this yarn, but more and more I am discovering silk is not my favorite, and I am not a fan of the SSP. Not even sure if I'm doing it right and the yos next to it are disproportionately huge. I really am a wool-alpaca kind of gal. It's more forgiving. Like me. Heh.

I may take another day. I'm still exhausted and I barely did anything today.

There's A New Sheriff In Town

Okay. So. Tomorrow? If you happen to be at UCSB? And you see a lady who looks like this
who is directing traffic? --DO NOT-- I repeat -- DO NOT -- run her over! Yes, that would be me in my neon vest attempting to keep the peace out there. From what I understand, I have been relegated one of the "cushier" outposts at the bus loop. Not a whole lot going on there. Hey, it's fine with me. I have my lawn chair and knitting packed. They will serve food and I will do my best to remain polite and cheerful FOR TWELVE HOURS STRAIGHT!!! Don't even go there, it's "mandatory." Yup. Then I have to do it all over again on Sunday. By then, my hair will probably be all wild and my vest will be all dirty and there will be a crazed look on my face. Just bring yarn and I'll be nice. Promise.

So if you pray, I ask that you would remember me. I just hope I make it. I took Monday off because I figured two 12 hour days in a row after a 40 hour week, I might just keel over. I'll let you know how it goes.

Fun in the Sun

We had fun at our WWKIP yesterday. We met at a park near the beach and I had a chance to catch up with some long lost knit pals. For some time now I have been part of a Yahoo group for Santa Barbara Knitters. I never participate, but I get the emails and read them pretty consistently. Anyway, there was this girl I noticed who joined the Yahoo group and she would often post emails to the group. Here name is Marieke, and in my head, I always thought it was pronounced Ma-REEK. So I get to the WWKIP and there is Ma-REEK. She looks vaguely familiar, but hey, by the time you get to 48, almost everyone looks vaguely familiar. But then I find out her name is pronounced Ma-RYE-ka. Vaguely familiar, no blip on the radar. Yet. I make some remark about the parallel between World Wide Knit In Public Day and Global Day of Prayer (which was two weeks ago). Marieke looks at me and asks me what church I go to. I tell her and a big smile comes across her face. She goes to our offspring church! Then I realize! She's Ma-RYE-ka! My friend's daughter's friend! I hear about her all the time but have only briefly met her once. All this time I've been looking at these posts from Ma-REEK, never knowing all this time that it is Ma-RYE-ka.

That is Thuy (prounounced "Twee"). My daughter says, "Twee. I like that name, Twee." I know what she means. Anyway, Thuy has a cool blog, schmeebot and doesn't post nearly enough in my opinion. She is a really big reason that I blog. She is also the first blogger I ever met whose blog I had read before meeting her.
To her left is Chauntel. She's the one who pulled the local WWKIP together. She and her best bud, Tracy are total characters. They wandered in to the knit group a couple years ago and the rest is history. She is one prolific knitter, let me tell you. And talk about a yarn stash! She is also very sweet and it was fun to catch up.


I tried to get some more pictures of the jacarandas, but it was not the right time of day. I think early morning will work better. I'll try and go out this week. Speaking of which, I have a big week coming up. On Saturday and Sunday, after working all week this week, everyone in my department is required to work commencement. We all have to work Saturday AND Sunday from 6am to 6pm. Then go back to work on Monday. Sheesh. I am NOT looking forward to it. Apparently I am being posted at one of the slower areas of the campus. You can guess what I'm bringing. Yup. A lawn chair and my knitting.

Here is a picture of a pretty rose bud.

Friday Fun

I think getting packages in the mail is a lot like getting comments on your blog. Only better. Today was a good day. Emi agreed to be my Vanna.
We got home this evening and found a package. From Australia, Mate! We oohed and ahhed at the cool stamps from Down Under. I had recently received a happy email from Rose Red informing me that I had won her drawing! Yahoo!



Check out the cool card she made with her blog picture on it. So. Cute!


We found these inside. We could hardly stand the suspense! One of the packages looked suspiciously like chocolate! In case you didn't know, I adore chocolate. Luckily, my kids prefer weird candy like gummies and suckers. More for me.
Let me tell you, you can get some goooooooood chocolate in Australia! Creamy and rich

And now take a look at this: A simply gorgeous ball of handpainted Merino Cashmere Sock yarn from The Knittery (that's in Australia!) in Dark Reds. I'm smitten. And speechless. And soooo excited! Thank you Jane! You totally Rock!

Now you need to go check out her blog. She has a great post on her 7 favorite items of clothing. I'd join her and post my own 7 favorite pieces, but it'd be a snorefest. Baggy tee shirts, khaki pants, and flip flops for me. And these camisoles I found at Costco that I love. They have a little bra-thingy, well, actually a strip of fabric with elastic built-in and if you are, well, flat-chested like me, you can wear them all summer in comfort. And they come in a gazillion colors.

Time to go hover over some sock books for merino cashmere sock ideas. And to go stroke my pet ball of yarn, yes we will, my pretties. We love our pretty sock yarn, yes we do!

Updated to add: I had a fun idea. I would like to challenge Chauntel, Tracy, Rose and Ana to post their 7 favorite things to wear! As I said, my personal participation in this would be a big yawn, but I happen to think these ladies would have some fun things to share! And ladies, why don't you tag at least 3 or 4 more just for kicks? Anyone else care to share? Jump in!

100 Things About Me

I know I just did the 7 random things, but in honor of my 100th post, I thought I'd post 100 things about me. Without further ado:

1. I love playing with color, shapes and textures in almost any medium
2. I don't like to do housework
3. I am not very self-disciplined when it comes to doing things that I'd rather not do (housework, paying bills, balancing the checkbook, working out)
4. I used to throw temper tantrums when I was a kid.
5. I am still not very good at controlling my temper.
6. But you'll only see that side of me if you know me really well, or I know you will never see me again.
7. I call people names when I am driving if they make me mad.
8. I am trying to stop doing that because it doesn't set a good example.
9. I am a mother of two who are often in the car when I am calling people names.
10. I pretty much thought I was never going to have kids because I just COULD NOT picture myself as someone's mother
11. Then when I was 32, I was told by several doctors that I would probably not be able to have children. All of a sudden, I felt that my life would have no meaning unless I had children.
12. After three years of trying to get pregnant, I had a surgery and afterward became pregnant almost immediately.
13. Because of that surgery, I had to have my 2 kids by c-section.
14. My doctor calls the location of my incision "my zipper."
15. When I was little, I assumed that I was going to be famous when I grew up.
16. I joined AA 20 years ago in June 1987.
17. I no longer attend meetings because I found Jesus.
18. I became a born-again Christian in January 1995 and got full-immersion baptized on my birthday.
19. I was 7 months pregnant with my son at the time.
20. I highly value integrity, honesty, love and hope, and of course, Jesus.
21. I have an older sister and two younger brothers.
22. The youngest of the younger brothers is 16 years younger than me.
23 Even though I am middle aged, I still feel young and immature, and I don't mean for my age. I mean for any age.
24. I cry really easily especially at movies. When I saw "Terms of Endearment" in the movie theater over 25 years ago, I cried so hard I was hitching and gasping and my eyes swelled up so much I could barely see as I was leaving the theater.
25. When I was pregnant, even a sentimental Pampers commercial made me cry.
26. At certain times of the month, violins playing sad-sounding dramatic music could make me cry.
27. I love food and eating, especially Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Moroccan
28. And See's chocolate.
29. I've always considered myself to be an artist, but never wanted to use it in a career.
30. I like to work with my hands, whether it is baking bread, doing ceramics, knitting, drawing , coloring, painting, making origami, even typing.
31. I am a terrible procrastinator.
32. I never know what to do with paper, like mail that is too important to throw out. It builds up in stacks everywhere.
33. I thin it out by throwing out the junk, but there are always leftovers that I am unsure what I should do with them.
34. When I put everything away, I have a hard time finding stuff.
35. I have to backtrack my logic and try and remember where I would have put it.
36. I have very low self-esteem
37. But I can also be a know-it-all.
38. People tell me I am very likable (even though with the combination of low esteem and know-it-all-ness, I'm not sure why).
39. I do really like people, all kinds of people.
40. Except when they smell. It is hard for me to like someone when they smell bad.
41. When I was a child, I am told that I would not "play" with someone if I didn't like the way they looked. They had to have a certain standard of attractiveness.
42. I am horribly embarrassed by this, even though I think it may actually be true.
43. I am no beauty myself, so don't ask me why I held others to this standard.
44. I am rigorously, sometimes painfully honest, especially about myself.
45. And self-deprecating.
46. I love to laugh so hard that tears come to my eyes and my stomach hurts. I love it when something is that funny!
47. I love how affectionate my children are.
48. My favorite color is magenta.
49. My favorite colors to wear are deep, dusky purple and a certain shade of apple green.
50. I love the smell of flowers, especially jasmine, tuberoses, gardenias and sweet peas. (not together).
51. I also love the smell of freshly mown grass, puppy breath and wool.
52. I always use garden and growing metaphors when I speak, but this year is the first time I have ever tried to grow a garden
53. I have a tendency to buy yarn when I am feeling insecure or uncomfortable.
54. I like to cook without using traditional measurements. I prefer the "pinch of this" and a "liberal handful of that" method of cooking.
56. People tell me that I am a good cook. I believe it is because I like to eat food that tastes good.
57 I make a mean potato salad!
58. I was raised with no spiritual beliefs.
59. I was one of those Asian girls raised in the suburbs who would only go out with white guys. We were referred to in college as "bananas."
60. Nowadays, I hope beyond hope that I would not choose someone because of what they look like or what social standing they have or anything else external.
61. I have had weight and self-image issues my entire life -- although I have only been categorically overweight since Emi was born.
62. I look at pictures of myself from 20 or 30 years ago and remember thinking that I was too fat at the time. I was perfectly fine. What a waste of self image!
63. I like to price shop, especially for big items. Sometimes, I will make the illogical decision of driving a far distance just to save money, and I'm talking a few dollars.
64. More and more these days it doesn't make sense. Thank God for the Internet.
65. I have a pretty good head on my shoulders. I am practical and know how to stretch a dollar.
66. I like to be generous.
67. I used to wish that everyone had to wear uniforms all the time so I wouldn't have to decide what to wear.
68. Then I just decided that I would adopt a uniform-type look and not worry about it.
69. But sometimes I miss being thin and getting all dolled up.
70. I pretty much won't wear heels anymore.
71. Or nylons
72. Biting bugs love me: mosquitoes, fleas, no-see-ums. They will chew us practically to death while others around me remain unbitten.
73. I am considered to be a patient teacher
74. When I used to drink, I would always pay my bills after "having a few".
75. After I stopped drinking, my credit rating got completely messed up.
76. I get along well with kids.
77. I have never been what you would call athletic and really don't care for exercise.
78. I have bitten my nails since before 4th grade,when I clearly remember setting my New Years Resolution to stop biting my nails and failed.
79. I try to pray and read the Bible every day.
80. But I am prone to times of inconsistency.
81. I love to sing really loud and my kids think I am a great singer, but really I'm not, I just know how to sing along in such a way that it sounds a lot like the singer. Like a chameleon.
82. I also like to do imitations of people.
83. When I was a kid, I used to like to make my family laugh by doing imitations of whoever had visited after they left.
84. My mom is my best audience and always tells me I should have a one-woman show.
85. My son is my second best audience and I like to say things that make him laugh so hard he falls on the floor holding his stomach.
86. I do kind of like to be the center of attention.
87. I also like to recount funny things that happened.
88. Of course, it's always more fun and interesting if you exaggerate.
89. But I really try my best to never lie.
90. The other day, the girl at the craft store accidentally over-credited me by $8.00 -- telling the clerk she made a mistake and returning the overage was one of the most difficult things I have done in recent times.
91. This was not made easier by the fact that she didn't thank me or acknowledge what I had done. I felt it was a huge act of integrity. She had no idea.
92. I wish I didn't crave the approval of others so much.
93. I have 4 BFFs. Really.
94. I have a distinctive, low voice that carries -- and I do not like hearing myself on tape.
95. I spend way more time on the Internet than I should.
96. I miss selectric typewriters, ditto machines, carbon paper and "white out" that came in pink, blue, yellow, marigold and buff. But not operating them.
97. I miss when everyone called copy machines "xerox" machines.
98. When I was a brand new mom I one time almost pulled out of a parking space with my newborn son outside the car ON THE GROUND strapped into his carrier!
99. After he learned to talk and he called me in the middle of the night, I would awake from a deep slumber thinking, "Why won't that lady take care of her kid already! Can't she hear him calling her?"
100. Now I respond to any kid anywhere who is yelling, "Mom! Mom!"