Sorry blogger dieties...

I have not been a very good blogger. I could promise that I will be better, but I try not to lie to friends...I do have good excuses first of all my team is in the world series...Go Rays. Secondly, I have been working...a lot. Much more than usual it seems, although I do believe that sometime soon the work schedule will slow down. But on to better topics...Like a new finished project...
So its the super famous Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style. I knit this bad boy up during about a week and a half worth of baseball postseason games. It is a ridiculously easy knit, super easy to memorize the flow of the pattern. The yarn is from Knit Picks; gloss.

Its a beautiful pattern that is now drying on my new dining room table on top of a bunch of beach towels because I don't have one of those nifty drying pads.

I didn't really change the pattern all that much. I finished with row 12 of the edging and just bound off. The super pointy edges are not really my style and I wanted to be able to wrap it more like a scarf if necessary. I've never used Gloss before and it is ok. I mean for socks it seems like a good option, and it certainly is affordable but its not very cozy and there are certainly more squishy yummy merinos out there.

I'm working on a turn-a-square hat from leftover malabrigo scraps and a llama/wool blend that I think is from Manos...but to be honest can't remember.

By the way, on a silly note, I am so excited about the Twilight movie coming out. (Yes, I am a super nerd and read silly vampire books written for "young adults". If there are best sellers, there may be a reason, people!!!) More soon on my Porom hat, and my cotton sweater which have been off the needles for a while now.

Visions of football dance in my head...

Mittens, glorious mittens. This is the...(looks at hand) left mitten. It is beautiful the superwash wool was an excellent choice because now they are ready for snowball fights, or whatever else winter in Conn. might throw my way. Been pretty mellow around the apartment. Football season is back, thank the gods, so the bf and I are back to debating about which 2 games to watch on the the two tvs in the living room.

I'm trying to find a dining room table set for Thanksgiving with the impending 12 people on their way!!! Oh boy, can you say nervous. Not to mention the fact that I've never even met some of the relatives from Ralph's family that are visiting. To be one hundred percent honest, I'm just excited to see my parents. I saw my Dad in April or May, but other than that no visits since the funerals at the beginning of the year. And let me tell you, nothing says fun like 3 funerals in a month. Or quality time for that matter. I want to visit some fun stuff in Jax, since the bf and I haven't done all that much exploring. (Work has been hectic, to put it mildly)

Been having really strange dreams lately. Like really strange, involving freaky weird creatures like half mermaid half lion creatures, coupled with people from high school that I haven't seen in six years. Does that mean I've entered some sort of quarter life crisis? Oh well, I'm too busy for one of the those anyway.

I updated my ravelry page, finally. Including pics of the cotton sweater and some other stuff.

So in the mean time Go Bucs, Go Gators, and may my fantasy football team recover the loss of my starting quarterback...(knew I hated the f*cker Tom Brady).

PEACE AND LOVE

Someone's in the Kitchen with...

So I was in the kitchen a lot today. Seemed like a good day to have a big meal. Below is Lauren's extra awesome Banana Nut Bread (made with Pecans because, that's how we roll in the south) and chocolate chips. Its super, duper, uper yumm-tastic. I am willing to share the recipe (grudgingly), just put in a request in the comment section.
Next up...Brussel sprouts. I love them. Even the bf doesn't mind eating them when I cook them, and my Dad says they are the best. Nothing special really, just saute some garlic in a little olive oil and butter, see the butter is the secret. Then add a lot of onion and a ton of brussel sprouts cover over medium heat and voila! I promise to update my ravelry account soon because I am trying to finish a new cotton sweater, as well as the Brooklyn Tweed mittens. Check out his new hat pattern. Seriously the man is a knitting god. I love the green one, but if I knit with anymore green my fingers will develop a hue that many might believe is gangrene.

We are patiently awaiting Hanna's approach...fingers crossed that we can weather this storm as as well as we weathered Fay.

PEACE AND LOVE

Fay and the Ravelympics

Howdy-ho out there in cyber land. Currently holding down the fort here in Jacksonville, which hasn't been hit by a hurricane in like 30 years, so naturally the year that the bf and I move here we get one. So far its been pretty mellow. Windy, rainy, but nothing crazy. We haven't even lost power. Thank the gods for spam...don't ask.

I would like to say that I have lots to tell ya'll but really, I've been working pretty much around the clock and just trying to get sleep when I can.

I've been working on a pair of mittens for the Ravelympics, but I seriously doubt I'll be able to finish them because I am just now finishing up the thumb of the first mitten. I love the pattern though. Brooklyn Tweed's Jared is sort of a super knitting genius and this is the third of his patterns I've done and he just has a wonderful eye for detail.

Fay is just keeping us inside today, except for a brief sojourn outside to snap a picture of the sky which takes on a really interesting shade of gray during severe weather.

I've also posted some pictures of Danny and Kim's wedding. I don't know how we managed to not get a single good picture of the bf and I together, but whatever.

Pics O' Day!

Moving has DESTROYED the apartment. I have too many freakin' pairs of shoes. And I've decided that an extra closet is just a thinly veiled excuse for having an entire closet devoted to yarn...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday to the Bestest Mom in the entire world!

By the way...yes that is Red from Fraggle Rock...consider it a mascot of sorts. Oh and there are like 5 bags from Hanks on top of that yarn caddy...sad.

Exams, Moving, and Leaving my Boss Behind

Alright I'm beginning to think that my A/P teacher doesn't particularly like our class...Seriously.

6/21: Exam 1

6/28: Lab Midterm Practical

7/5: Off for July 4th

7/12: 3 chapters of lecture

7/19: Exam 2

7/26: 3 more chapters of lecture

8/2: Exam 3

8/9: Final Exam and Final Lab Practical

This is the most insane schedule in the entire world. Ever. I'm beginning to wonder if dreaming about bone names and muscle groups is a sign of some sort of psychological disorder.

All of the furniture is all moved in to the new apartment. The bf and I managed to do it all in a matter of like 4 hours, including a drive from Gville to Jville. It wasn't too bad, until we managed to wedge the couch in the railing outside of the front door (don't ask, it was like 11pm at the time).

::Sidenote...to Eric, Katie, and Sean if he still exists, it is a cruel, cruel joke that I am lugging this god-forsaken couch all over the damn state. Sometimes I really hate you guys::

Just kidding, I love you all.

Okay, so the good news...I put in my 2 weeks notice last Friday and can we say WOO-FREAKING-HOO? No more sexual harassment, no more disgusting sideways glances, no more having to hear about how much my bf sucks constantly, no more having to hear how I suck constantly. I did not realize until I put in my notice how much putting up with that crap day in and day out can make you ill. I have never felt better at work. Everyday I'm one day closer to never seeing him again, or getting calls or emails from him. Miracles do happen.

On the knitting front its mostly just my new vest made out of malabrigo which is like spun gold...only a ba-gillion times softer. I'm also working on a new scarf that is sort of more Katie's style then mine, but I still dig it. Plus its doing this weird zig-zag thing totally on its own. Oh, and a super secret project that can be seen on my ravelry page, because this might be read by the person its being made for.

Stupid Rays...losing 7 in a row fills me with a burning rage and often makes me want to hurl my knitting through the TV. I don't because then my living room would look even more depressing.

Moving is such a chore.

Don't get me wrong, I love the new apt. but I hate living in two places at once. I've managed to bring over about 1/3 of my stuff to the new place. The apt in Gville looks like a hurricane went through it. There are boxes clogging up the living room, the TV is on the floor, and most of the kitchen is missing. I can't wait to get settled in one place at least then when I visit the bf we won't be sleeping on the floor. At least the new TV is awesome. The view from the balcony is sort of obscured by a tree or two, but you can still see the "lake".

Finished my fair isle hat and wish some cool weather would roll in so that I would have an excuse to wear it outside of the house. Now I'm thinking about starting on a vest made out of Malabrigo...can we say yummy? I also am planning a new hat for Dad and a pair of socks for Mom. This has been a very generous knitting year.

The bf is doing very well in Jax. He seems to be enjoying the new position and the new people. I just can't wait to escape as well. The newest rumors at work have me "on the prowl for a new man; since [the bf] left me". Two giant guesses who's spreading those rumors. He is also spreading some rumor that when I first starting working there; post-Elliot; that I would have dated ANYONE. But that he wasn't interested. Really. No joke. I laughed my ass off when I heard that one. Katie thinks that he's still holding out hope for some sort of miracle. (If that happens, kill me please.)

On a side note...Jen, dear, when exactly can I be expecting an engagement announcement? I mean you said after graduation...hello...that was like weeks ago. (Come on, Kevin, we are all in need a rad party). Maybe we should all just fly up and visit Katie and Eric's new pad in Minn. That could be really far out too.

Love ya all, and remember I'm living solo for the moment which often leads to me needing another human to chat with...so I'm available.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!

Do you know what's the only really good thing about the bf being in Jacksonville? My knitting has taken over the living room...seriously. Not just one project...like 4. Which for me is a ton. I will admit to having a bit of a one-tracked mind, or a type A personality and it tends to carry over into my knitting, even when I try hard to not let it. I finish one project before I start another, with the exception of socks, and the blanket...both of which can get a little boring after a while. So right now I've finished my Wicked sweater and its hanging out in the living room, wet blocking, and as soon as I get a helper I will put finished photos of Wicked and the Lucy cardigan. (ravelry has pictures just none with me in the sweaters!)

I've started a new hat for myself. Something that is a bit more grown up than my KRAZY KITTY hat...trust me its insane. I'm actually attempting fair isle and its been super-duper easy...duh. (People have been knitting for centuries, and they weren't rocket scientists, so why would fair isle be impossible? Sometimes I completely talk myself out of stuff...stupid.) So tonight I am watching Rays baseball, making a pizza with about a million vegetables on it, and knitting my hat.

Unfortunately in my A/P class we will not be having a cadaver. I am totally bummed. We had a cadaver but there was something wrong with the preservation so it had to be returned. I'm just wondering if you get store credit for that type of thing. And if so, what is a defective corpse worth? A pair of Jimmy Choos?

Speaking of which, saw the Sex and the City movie. It was pretty good. A little like a really long version of the show, but I always liked the show so...suited me just fine. Poor bf went with me, on the promise of nudity and sex, and nearly cried he was so bored. He's wonderful, huh?

This yarn is for Dad's new hat...its going to be really rad once it's done, but I've already started one hat...so it will have to wait for a bit...just a teaser photo.

PEACE AND LOVE to all...

Moving on up!

Home sweet home. Or at least I think. We have been to Jax four times this week. Everyday after work we drive an hour and a half to visit apartments. You cannot trust a damn thing that people say. The sq footage, the neighborhood, the accommodations, etc. The first apt. we thought about renting is not exactly in the best neighborhood, so the bf doesn't feel comfortable leaving the company vehicle unlocked. So...no go. We ended up finding a new place that's in a better neighborhood, with a gate, and all the extra stuff. The bf is really excited because for like $50 a month you can rent a 42" plasma screen tv for the living room. Just what we need right? Another tv. Whatever. It makes him happy.

My cardigan is block and buttoned, but we've been a little busy and haven't gotten around to taking pics. I told everyone who matters at work that I'm leaving in 2 months. Most people are really sad to see me go. One girl said "Sh*t the last good person is gone". It certainly makes work more bearable knowing that I won't have to deal with so much of my boss' crap anymore.

Oh one more thing...two Jax bonuses...

1. Beaches...with sand, and ocean, and YEAH!

2. Malls...real ones, with more than 3 stores...

PS This picture is for mom and dad...sailboats...around the corner from the new apt.

Note to self (and others)

1. Death by ants...not pleasant.
2. Sociology is a joke. Not a funny joke, but a joke none-the-less.
3. Jacksonville has malls, real malls, with real stores. This = awesome.
4. Finding an apt. in 3 days is hard...very hard.

Pictures once the bf and I decide on an actual place to live...toss up between 3 places now. The question is do I want to live closer to the beach? On the water? Or in Argyle (a suburb of Jacksonville, which is newer and has the lowest crime...)?

Lazy Saturdays

HEY EVERYBODY!! Guess what? The bf and I are moving! To Jacksonville! Woo! We are trying to find a place to live and hopefully the bf and I can agree on one soon, because he's leaving in like a week to start his new job. I'm staying until my A&P class is over at the beginning of August which is good because then I can get the apt in tip top shape, pack everything up and get rid of some of the junk that has accumulated over the past 4 years or so.

So today I had class for 6 hours and in between class and lab I managed to sneak in some knitting fun time...

The buttons are for my cardigan that I have yet to block...bad me, and because there are like 9 million different types of buttons and I didn't have the cardigan with me, I had to buy like a million. Luckily they were all 50% off so...BONUS! The red sweater is my WICKED which is coming along quick nicely, although I'm adding like 2 inches of lengths to the torso because my torso is freakishly long. (Thanks Mom) The Malabrigo is for some type of lacey thing that I have yet to decide, but its super pretty and super soft. (Greens and a little blue...

More later...now Indiana Jones...

The week in review

A lot happened this week. Let's see...

Sunday : Worked for like 14 hours without a meal break. Fun.

Monday : My boss decided to wait until 2 hours before a store started to tell me that I needed to run it and proceeded to provide me with no equipment or paper. I left that store at 2am, got home at 3:30am and then...

Tuesday : Went to work at 5am. So...no sleep. My boss thought it would be keen to show up late, so then I had to ensure the customer that everything was fine, and that I'm sure he's on his way. He then decided to keep me until the very end of the store, even though he had 2 other potential "helpers" there. On a high note, he also threatened to fire me in front of about 15 new hires, if I didn't "check myself". Yeah. I am/was pissed. Called his boss and told him what happened, he promised a sit down meeting to discuss this issue.

Wednesday : Worked in the morning and finalized my summer class schedule in the afternoon. Anatomy/Phys. and Sociology. The bf finally came home from a family/Catholic thing in Miami. During his time down there he spent the vast majority of it being sick.

Thursday : Worked most of the day, but it was a good day with little hassles from people doing stupid stuff. The bf set the house on fire. Literally. Learned to use a fire extinguisher...quickly, and how to put out a grease fire. Luckily there is only a lot of cleaning up and a burned carpet to deal with. Did you know that carpet melts? Well it does.

This was also the day that my DM was suppose to meet with me to discuss the situation that happened on Tuesday with my boss...yeah...that never happened, am I surprised? Nope. Not even a little bit.

Friday : Worked early in the morning and got home around 1pm. Went to the mall to take advantage of a sale at JC Penney's, and then the bf and I went to see Harold and Kumar, which unfortunately was not as hilarious as the first one. Still had a good time though. Then I avoided talking to my boss, because I'm pissed and don't want to quit until I have another job lined up. The bf had gone grocery shopping so we stayed in and watched the Rays win (woo hoo!) and the bf made his famous ribs. I grilled zucchini and made some nice roasted potatoes. It was a good night, until my DM showed up for some stupid reason that just pissed me of more because it seems like even making dinner at home can't be a f*cking private event. UGH!

So...that's my week in review. Hopefully this weekend will involve a whole lot of knitting and that's it.

Oh...by the way, no moving to Tampa. :( Might be moving to Jacksonville...dunno. Whatever. On a happier note....

CONGRATS TO JEN AND ERIC! MY LAW SCHOOL HEROES!!!!! Love you both so much!!!

Grumblings...

Stupid Red Sox beating my stupid Rays into the dirt. Stupid Magic losing to the stupid and old Detroit Pistons. Stupid Celtics needing a stupid game 7 against the stupid Atlanta Hawks. Stupid Spurs beating down on Steve Nash for the the 70th stupid time. Stupid horse people killing a horse just because her ankles are broken.

GRRRRR!!!!!

On the plus side...4.0 gpa this semester. So I rock.

FINALS!!!

Okey dokey. Two finals, no days off, both due on the same day. Crap. Crap on toast. Alright I can do this, just buckle down the hatches and become a hermit, and don't sleep, ever. That ought to do it right? Actually its not that big a deal. Hopefully I'll be able to do one tomorrow and another either Monday or Tuesday. I feel pretty confident about one of them and the other I only need like a 58% to get an A, so...

So for the first time in like 4 years I did not watch the NFL draft. I feel so dejected. I mean its the most exciting NFL event in April...(its the only NFL event in April). I didn't get to see people all sad and scared like Brady Quinn last year, or when they are so happy and desperately trying to call their moms. My Bucs decided to draft a CB with a problem avoiding the Mari-ju-ana and a Kick Returner for App. State. The bf thinks the KR is just an attempt to "capture the magic" of their magnificent defeat of Michigan. Also, in sporting news, the Rays had a really excellent win over the Red Sox last night. My man, Carl Crawford, just did what he does best and stole 2nd.

Knitting has slowed. Too much school and work to do anything but sleep in my free time. So right now I'm watching the Celtics vs. Hawks game and trying to convince myself that watching the end of the game is not necessary, but sleep is. Oh well, pictures soon on Dad's socks.

New Blog

I had to start a new blog. For some reason the old one was problematic. It kept having issues whenever I logged into it. So the old is gone and the new is here. I had to request some time off from work, mainly because working for almost 2 weeks straight does not leave a lot of time for school, but also to spend my anniversary with my boyfriend.

Uh. Well, someone forgot to tell him that. So those plans went out the window. (We have new plans in June, or so I'm told.) I am enjoying my time off though. I had plenty of time to write my papers for class, and even turn them in early. I'm just happy to have them done. My grades are pretty much set, so unless I really just threw up garbage on those papers, I should be fine. Since the bf was awol, I got to go down to St. Pete and visit with my Dad. It was definitely a super nice visit. I drove down on Sat. and we went to MainSail which is this huge arts&crafts show on the water. The weather was really nice and it was fun to walk around and enjoy the show. Afterward we had some beers at a bar and watched some sports, before heading down to the Trop. to see the Rays plays the White Sox. (See photos below). What a great game and even better pitching.

Knitting is pretty slow right now. Mainly I'm just working on my Dad's socks, which are pretty close to being done. Might even finish them during the NBA playoff games tonight. (Go Celtics!...shutup. I don't care if I'm a bandwagon fan.) I'm still occasionally working on my Hemlock Ring Blanket, but I never intended to rush that sucker. Plan to start on the Talia vest tomorrow or so. I have the yarn ready to go, but I've been putting off starting it, mainly because I like to finish something before I start something else.

Anyway...the bf and I have been together for 2 whole years now. And I came home to this

...now I just need something to fill it with!