Updates

Motivation on all fronts is getting really low. Now that I made it past Thanksgiving break I'm just really ready for winter break. So for today, a fun updates post.

Knitting: I finished my lovely multidirectional scarf last night. LOVE IT! It needs a blocking, but I want it ready for wearing so that'll probably wait. For some reason I've been having some serious gauge issues recently. This is the second project that has changed gauge midway through, although the first was after a bit of a pause and I made the mistake of switching needles partway through this one. It's just getting a bit annoying. Guess I'll just have to be more careful about it.

The reason I switched needles partway through my scarf was that I got in my first order from Knitpicks. Yeah, I'm a little behind, as usual. So I finally decided to try out their new needle system. I've had trouble with Addi's so I wasn't sure whether to bother, but I couldn't resist. The verdict---well I absolutely love them, and I thought things were going well. But I'm starting top see some trouble around the joins. The finish is wearing off just like with Addi's. I still haven't given up, if it just stays in that tiny area it might be ok, but I'm afraid it's a sign of things to come.

School: As I mentioned, no motivation. Finals are coming up and I really should be studying for an investments test. But it'll be over soon and then only one more semester. I'm not ready to leave yet!

Job Search: I still haven't heard from any of the prospects yet. I have heard that the government takes forever to get around to that though, so I guess I'm not totally defeated yet. And there are other jobs out there I'm sure. I have heard back from the US Geological Survey about a part time job doing some light accounting and filing type stuff. It seems like things are progressing and they must be interested, but now I'm waiting for paperwork and such. More money is always good :)

WW: I've had a bad few weeks as I got totally off plan and was just eating whatever. I've been trying really hard this week to do better, but I'm not sure how well it's working. Again, my motivation is slightly lacking. I've been using all the stuff that's been going on as an excuse, and I'm very convincing!

Life: Besides all that, things haven't been that exciting. My aunt and uncle were here from Louisiana a few weeks ago and we had some fun, but most of it involved antique/thrift store shopping which isn't really my thing. For Thanksgiving my mom and I cooked for Jaime and my dad. It went pretty well, although Jaime keeps whining because we didn't use any salt.

Spinning: Hah! I'm hoping to get back to that soon, really.

So, that's the past month of my life in a nutshell. I'm getting seriously in the mood for Christmas. Hopefully I'll be able to get a good shot of my scarf for you soon. Have a great week!

Fighting Startitis

Well, not fighting too hard. I've started two very happy projects in the past couple weeks. Of course there are still probably five more I'd like to start. I was doing so well with clearing out old projects too. Ah well, they won't mind waiting a little longer.

So here they are, the two I just can't stop working on.


On the left we have "Mediterranean Lace" from A Gathering of Lace. It is just divine. I'm using some lovely alpaca laceweight I've had in my stash forever just waiting for the right pattern. I have had a craving for some lace, though I'm not completely sure where I'd wear lace, but was having such a hard time finding something that appealed to me. I'm a bit picky about my lace apparently. For those who aren't familiar with it, this shawl as written has the beginnings of a regular triangular shawl in the back, but then it has two rectangles that make the front look more like a long stole. I'm leaning towards just making a straight triangle... We'll see.

On the right is my multidirectional scarf. I've seen these all over blogland (about 4 years ago of course) and have loved the pattern but just never found a good candidate for yarn. I probably shouldn't say this, as I've never actually knit with it, but I'm not a big Noro fan. To me they all feel pretty scratchy and for some reason I have trouble finding colorways that I like. But then I saw this Rowan Tapestry. The colors are amazing and it is SO SOFT! I couldn't resist this lovely autumnal colorway.

One requires a bit of concentration and the other is prefect for my podcast knitting. I could just knit on those two all day. Unfortunately, as it always goes, just as soon as I thought things were slowing down I got really busy again. I'm getting ready to graduate in May, so the job search is on. I went through what I now know to be the first round of on campus interviews at the beginning of October, but nothing came of them. I was trying to keep my spirits up and just figured that after the new year I'd start looking in papers and applying to companies I've heard of in the area. And then a week ago I was offered the opportunity for two more interviews, the first of which is tomorrow. *Sigh* I really want to get a job lined up so I can just enjoy the rest of school, but I so seriously hate interviews.

And to make things even more complicated, one of the jobs I'm interviewing for wants me to move to Cincinnati in a year. I don't really mind the move in itself. I mean, I love KC but Jaime and I have talked about moving. The thing is that I hate to leave my mom when her cancer could return at any time. If this job was my last resort, I would do it cause I must get a job. But I feel like there are still opportunities in town that I haven't checked out yet. If they offer me a job in two weeks though, I just don't know how I'll handle it.

Well, this has gotten you pretty much up-to-date on stuff in my world. Now if the interviewing and homework gods will just let me keep up.

Have a great day!

A Good Day

Although you probably can't tell it from my blogging schedule, I've finally gotten over the summer lazies and have begun the productive phase. I do this same thing every break, waste a couple weeks doing nothing and then suddenly decide I have to DO something. I've been making lists and getting stuff done all week.

*I've started my online class, Technical Writing. It shouldn't be too bad. I have to write a sales letter and a user manual among other things, but no 10 page papers. Thank God!

*I've applied to a few places for a job. So far I've applied at Michael's, JoAnn's, a scrapbook store and Kohl's. Still hoping for a call...

*There was a bit of a booboo in my mom's taxes from '04 (which I did for her) so I had to write a letter to get that straightened out.

*More cross stitching (progress pictures eventually, it doesn't grow very quickly though).

*I've finished up a bit of spinning. I spin until I feel it's about full, then roll it off onto a toilet paper roll and try to spin the same amount to ply with it. Halfway to a skein of yarn, woohoo!

*I've managed to clean up a bunch of my clutter, like my desk and our file drawer.

And the biggest accomplishment, I finally got my butt in gear and signed up for Weight Watchers. My aunt goes on and on about how amazing it is and finally convinced me to try it. Well, and a girl who works with my mom's financial planner wanted to start too so I had a buddy. I'm so pumped to get going and lose some weight. I'l try to post my progress from time to time to keep me honest.

Mom Update
I really should rename this the Mommy and Me blog ;) My mom is doing really really well. She's now been through two sessions of chemo and still she's up and active. There has been a bit of nausea and constipation, but nothing bad at all. SUCH a relief.

Update

Wow, even worse than my record of getting posts up is that of getting the sidebar updated. Well, I just went through and cleaned it up some. The projects site still needs some work, but I've been in front of this computer for far too long today already. Possibly due to a twinge of guilt over the price of the ring (which we may or may not have gone back to purchase yesterday!!!) or possibly due to the fact that I'm now completely broke from price of said ring, I've gotten serious about finding a job. I've applied to 3 places already and am hoping that one will work out. I'll probably be heading to a grocery store later to get an app just in case.

Well, I still have lots of reading to do tonight, along with going to pick of the needle I need for my Olympic project. I sorta failed to think about that part when I ordered the kit, duh! Is it crazy to anyone else that today is February 8th? Time goes WAYYY too fast nowadays.

Make it good :)