Make Me

No Bears in Big Bear

Once upon a time there were 7 little girls who went to the Police Academy Big Bear... Yoly (who needs a blog), Mary-Kay, Nancy, Wendy, Heidi, Cristina and I ventured north for a little knitter's retreat. Much fun and frivolity were had.  We wore tiny nighties and smacked each other with pillows and then showered together.   Okay, maybe not, but someone just Googled "girls+nighties+pillow fight" and he is ever so disappointed right now.

       

      

The cars were packed (mostly with food, some knitting, some knitters) and we were ready to go to mountains.  How much food do 7 knitters need for a weekend in the mountains?  Apparently a grocery store's worth.  If we had been snowed in, we would have been set for a coupla months.

It was lovely lounging about knitting and watching Six Feet Under.  Lots of knitting was done and lots of laughing.  Mary-Kay boasted the first FO of the day - her nifty little sweater that is bound to get good use out in Colorado (don't leave, M-K!!!)  Yoly, who needs a blog, got some serious work done on her sock - I was impressed!  I worked on the Eyelet Chemise sleeves.  It's done now, just needs buttons.

We ventured out to the local "yarn store" where the yarn selection was somewhat disappointing for a cold weather area.  Still, there was much fun to be had and Mary Kay did scout some alpaca that she HAD to go back for. 

We dined in two yummy restaurants.  Don't remember what we had but it was delish, trust.  Of course we had to dine out because there was so much food packed in the fridge we couldn't determine how to get it out!  We took a walk down the main drag where I bought yummy fudge - the last of which I've yet to finish - and we also walked down by the lake.  Nancy bought a Christmas ornament which I just realized I forgot to give her at Mr. Heidi's pirate party. Sorry, Nancy!!!  Before Christmas, I promise!

Cristina took some excellent photos - check them out here.  Heidi also got some excellent photos - how'd she get the eagle and not the fence? Check 'em out here.

We also went to the zoo up there.  All the animals there are rescued and can not be released back into the wild.  The Bald Eagles were magnificent.  I tried and tired to get a decent picture but failed miserably.  Apparently some morons shoot Bald Eagles. The ones at the zoo can't fly anymore.  Wouldn't that be depressing? Being an eagle, yet not being able to fly?  Makes me sad just thinking about it.

    

 

This hefty dude was trying to catch a bath.

They also had wolves which were way cool.  I got a craptastic picture of one that fails to capture how large they are. I think this guy would have come up past my waist.

I'm not really a zoo person because I always think the animals must be incredibly bored there.  I mean stuck inside an enclosure that looks nothing like their natural habitat.  The cool thing is the Moonridge Zoo got a lot more property and will soon be moving to bigger digs.  If you've got any extra money lying about I'm sure they would appreciate it.

So much was learned that weekend.  Now I'm afraid I've forgotten most of it.  I will, however, ALWAYS remember to never lose my jewelry near Wendy.  Let's just say not everyone would be eager to find where she hides it....

Cheesed Off

Well, I'm not a happy camper today. 

Just bought the new IK Holiday Gifts issue.  Been looking for this issue since I saw it advertised in IK.  So I bought it last week at Borders.  Only to come home, in anticipation of savoring all the pattern-y goodness, to find out that all the pattterns are reprints from previous IK issues!!!  And they charged 8 lousy bucks for this outrage!  And today I find out you can't return periodicals to Borders.  I kind of thought you couldn't but it was worth a try.  So now I'm stuck with this 8 dollar reminder of my own stupidity.  Thanks a lot IK.

So I haven't written in a while.  Been cleaning up the computer files and playing Sims till my eyes bled.  I downloaded some new skin tones and had to play them out right away.  Meet the Mhevas.  Aren't they precious?

I've also been working on a project.  I'm the new newsletter writer for Stamping Details in Poway. (BTW, they're having a big sale this weekend.  You should go check it out if you're in town.)  Check out my first job:

click to supersize it

Now I'm doing their newsletters.  It'll be fun.  I spent several hours in the store today talking to DiAnn and Linda and scoping out all the new supplies, taking pictures and ogling over all the samples. I really liked looking at these collaged photo blocks.

(Excuse the au natural photo - haven't cropped or nothin' - too lazy.)

I've been working on a project for work that is a lot of InDesign and it's me and the computer screen all day long.  Hopefully it will all be done tomorrow. I'm looking forward to blinking again. 

Yet to come is some knitting content and my photos from Big Bear.  Sorry for the lame-o post-o, but I'm waaay tired!  I'll do better next time, promise.  Stick with me, okay?!

It's That Time Again!!

It's craft fair time for me again and I just found out I got the last table! Hurrah!  I'll be selling purses and some other things.

It's also time to start thinking about Christmas presents.  I'm so very poor this holiday so it will take extra ingenuity on my part to come up with good gifts.  I'm always stumped on what to get for the menfolk.  I'll be looking into that and sharing those things here, if you don't mind.

Now that I finally have an internet connection I can update you with photos.  As soon as I locate my camera....

Big props to Mary-Kay for finding a home in Colorado.  We'll miss her, but me and Vinnie da Lip will make sure she visits often.  Vinnie can be very - uh - persuasive.  And can you believe she's leaving just days before my birthday?!!  A girl only turns 25 once you know.  Or twice. Or 17 times. 

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I guess I really am unique.

Update

Guess where I'm writing this from?  No, not the library.  No not a friends house.  No, not from my private jet (that was last week!)  But from my very own desk in my very own bedroom!  Yay!  The fourth call to Mumbai was the charm.  I placed the third call to today and talked to a very nice gentleman "Mark" who assured me that he knew "his stuff".  Ethernet cable he said.  Go to thine store of computer parts and get thee one.  Yessir!  Right away, sir!

Off to Fry's I went.  Boughteth thy ethernet cable.  And noticed Fry's now sells knitting mags. There were Knit N Style, Creative Knitting and IK Crochet.  Wondered if they would carry the new holiday knit mag that releases tomorrow.  Consider asking Fry-ite to go look through the stacks in the backroom.  Remember the mission and refocus.

Ethernet cable purchased and installed.  Bupkis.  Nada.  Zilch.  Whimper.  Go watch Heroes and Studio 60. 

Call friends in Mumbai again to see what's new.  Chick tells me to take out the ethernet card and install it in another slot. 

Post happily for the first time in 9 days.  Go to sleep dreaming of dancing ethernet cables and wondering how much it costs to send flowers to Mumbai.

No Internets

I still have no internets.  Yup, it was an internets-free weekend at the Factory this weekend.  Blech!  So now I've wasted my lunch hour on such folderal as this:

So, the bad news is no internets.  The good news is some computer thinks I look like Beyonce and Lauryn Hill.  I guess it could be worse...

Rock That Vote

If you're so inclined, go vote for my friend Traves' dance company at http://bestof.signonsandiego.com/bestof2006/vote/best-dance-group/ .  You can vote once per day, so vote early! Vote often!

If you want to know more about his dance troup check out Butterworth Dance Company - they're really amazing!

Autumnal

So I've put on my fall colours and am snuggled in for a season of knitting, movie watching and cocooning.  I can taste that first cup of hot chocolate now. 

I was hoping to wear the eyelet chemise today but the buttons I had didn't work (too small) and the idea of wearing it open only slightly appealed to me.  Maybe after all the scars heal...

I started this pullover a couple of nights ago.  Even though it's stockinette I don't really know where I'm starting - waist? front? back?  I'm just following the directions blindly in the absolute faith that the completed project will turn out similar to the photographs.

I'm doing it in some burgundy something or other from KnitPicks.  It's a pattern from a magazine I bought years ago. Even though I didn't know how to knit then, I kept it all this time in the hope that I could make it one day.  I was surprised to learn that it is a Lily Chin design.  I like Lily Chin and I like the articles of hers I've read, but I just don't like her designs!  So far I like that dress she did in the first IK Crochet mag and this sweater. 

Speaking of designers - did you see Project Runway last night?  (win Michael win!) I can't decide if I still like Laura.  I mean, I applaud her forthrightness.   She told Tim what she thought and she told Jeffrey, but somehow I think she should have asked Jeffrey first.  But then he just would have been his obnoxious Jeffrey self. 

Do you think Jeffrey did all his own sewing?  I wonder.  He spent more than a little extra time gathering his receipts and made some comment about there being renderings and drawings on them.  I thought that was kind of weird. 

And why would his clothes be completely finished before you had your models?  Much as we think they are all toothpicks, even toothpicks can have differing shapes.  Vincent's model in the b&w challenge was bigger than his original model and she blew out the zipper (was it just me, or did anyone else get a secret thrill from that?!) And Jeffrey doesn't have to so much as move a hook?  Weird.

Still I kinda thought it was sour grapes on Laura's part until the other designers agreed with her.  And they didn't seem particularly malevolent, just honest - it was a lot of high quality work to have done alone in such a short time.  Even Tim was looking at that zipper dress a little closely.  And Jeffrey said he sews perfectly when he can take his time....but when Tim visited he was nearly done with his line. Weird. 

I guess it's just a matter of time before a bunch of Kathie Lee Giffords former employees come out and say that Jeffrey made them sew for him in exchange for a half a cup of rice and a free tattoo.

Enough about that show. Let's move on to Heroes.  I am so into this show!  It's media crack.  You think it's just been on for 10 minutes when you realize the hour is almost over.  And OMG - the ending of this week's show?! Did you scream?!

I tried to explain the show to my mom and I think I actually heard her eyes glaze over on the phone. 

I hope we still get to see his designs - I think so much of his stuff looks alike that I'm not really sure if he's just a one trick pony or a "real" designer.

I still don't have internet access at home. Sucks.

Eyelet Chemise is Finis! (Well, Almost)

Eyelet Chemise is all seamed up and waiting for 4 things:

1. Buttons
2. Ribbon tie trim
3. Blocking
4. Its closeup

I wish I could post a picture because it looks so cute and amazingly enough, similar to the original project!  But since I can't, here's a reasonable facsimile. 

Try to keep your awe at my artistic talents to a dull roar, please!

SBC, SBC! Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Problem #1:  Last week I lost my Dish satellite service for 2 days.  It only gave me the Sirius music channels and some obscure educational programming.  Then poof! It was back. No explanation, no apology, nothing.

Problem #2:  I have a DVR from when I had to switch Dish network carriers in August.  They sent me a box to mail the DVR back to them, but no address labels.  I called and requested labels and they promised they'd be right out and I should have them in 2 weeks.  3 weeks later I called to request the labels because I had not received any. They made me feel like I've got a secret yen to hoard all the SBC Dish Network labels on earth so I can do dirty deeds on them and post the pictures on the internet.

Which brings us to Sunday:

Yeah, so I've not posted anything about the great Knit Retreat in Big Bear.  There's a reason for that.  I downloaded some new software (Turbo Lister 2 for Ebay) a couple of weeks ago and I think it made my system all buggy.  Thing would just freeze up and stay that way until rebooted.  Meh!

So this weekend I got to fiddle around with it and now I don't get no internets.  Something about the adapter being compromised.  After I called my friendly neighborhood tech center in Mumbai, I got two different answers.  Either reinstall the modem adapter (say what?) or wait for a new disk to reistall the updated SBC software. 

"Yes, Ma'am - we can send you a new disk and you should have it in 5-7 working days."

7 days?!! Have all mail service options been replaced by syphlitic carrier pigeons? Um, did I mention this my lifeblood computer?  How'd you like to sit at your little call center desk and do your job without internet access, buddy?  Wouldn't have nearly so many friends on MySPace, would you?  Wouldn't have a high score of 145,000 in Bejeweled, would ya!  Make for a really loooong day with nothing but solitaire and Minesweep to keep you occupied!  Hmmm.  Wait, that's me.

Regardless.  I'm starting to get twitchy and hive-y just thinking about going home and not being able to read about Pomona or whether Wendy finished her brown skirt or see what new wondrous work of art Stefani has created.

Oh woe is me!