A New Direction

Hi hi!
I've just started on a path to RNY surgery. Gastric bypass surgery. I have been wanting to do this for years, but for one reason and fourteen others was forced to put it off. Now is the time and I'm very excited and a bit nervous. My surgery wont be until probably late July, due to the insurance waiting period.

The week after my first visit with my doctor I had a bazillion calls from all the pre-surgery appointments. Did I mention I didn't like doctors? Eeps! I've met with the nutritionist once. She didnt tell me anything I didn't already know. I'm trying different protein drinks and trying to eat like I had already had the surgery. It's tough. Confirmed just about everything I have read about the Isopure..umm.. clear drinks. Ugh. Tastes like a sweaty swimming pool. Anyone run into a unflavored protein that would go in a clear drink? And I've been trying the dry stomach eating. Wait 15 minutes after drinking to eat a meal and wait 1/2 hour afterwards That seems to be working. I did go thru a weird period of... eating strange things that I like that I didnt think were going to be accessible to me after the surgery, due to dumping or just delayed because of restrictions. That seems to have calmed down. Oh! My mom adds dry no sugar added Koolaid powder to sugar free jello to ramp up the flavor, I'm going to try this with vanilla protein powder shakes, Anyone tried that?

I have been on the search for an Iphone or Ipad app that would be useful for keeping track of my food and protein intake, but havent found one that is easy and efficient. Anyone have any suggestions?

I have my sleep study on Friday night, it is required by my doctor, I am not looking forward to it. I have never slept on my back, and I have the deep suspicion that I have issues when I am on my back. I absolutely fear a cpap machine. I'm slightly claustrophobic and having something on my face is going to freak me out. Really not looking forward to that.

On the knitting front, Ive been knitting socks and more socks. Ive also decided to cast on a sweater on the day of my surgery and see if I can finish it before I can fit into it... I'm knitting it for the size I want to be!

So many things going on!

more knitting and other stuff

I've been knitting again and life has been good! Let's see, priorities...

DH is wonderful. We are doing really well, our first anniversary is coming up! We have stale cake to eat ( the top level of the wedding cake, isnt that some sort of tradition?) and we are so thrilled about the whole thing. Oh! Also, we got a new car. A very sporty Dodge Challenger. Vroom Vroom!

DS1 and 2 are well. DS1's hair is almost down to his waist! How come mine wont do that? It's very pretty. DS2 is a cutiepie as usual, he grew a bit. I'm going to be the shortest in the house in not very long!

Now the important stuff! Knitting continues.

Same as last year

So, look two posts below at the one I wrote last year at this time. Same sorta thing going on.

Well, we did get married and things are going wonderfully. I'm doing the tax thing again. The money coming in is a good thing, we just need that little extra. I don't have to deal with the annoying one.

OOOH! I have a friend. She's crazy! She amuses me.

Let's see... oh, knitting. I've knitted about four quick hats for DH. I'm working on a nice one for my brother now. It's a beautiful brown wool, maybe fingering weight? Which is bigger DK? or Fingering? It's smaller than worsted. I started with Nancy Bush's Gentleman's Sock in Railway Stitch pattern on 110 stitches. Should probaby made it 120, but it is good and stretchy. I dont know how I will decrease it yet. The stitch is kind of slow going for me, but I've got a good three inches done now. Maybe four.

So that's life right now. I'm enjoying it. Happy and not so irritated.

annuall update?

HI!
I'm doing so well! I'm married. Working seasonally, again, at taxes. We have plans for the future... big plans. We'll make them work a step at a time, but finally I can see them advancing.
I told him about the "sweater curse" and he wouldn't let me make him one till afterwards. Now he wants one... with saddle shoulders. I'm planning it. Made a so cute angry birds hackysack, but not a finished pic yet. So here's a pic of the wedding table and most of an angry bird.

Arrrgh!! But not the Knitting

Knitting is rocking. Going well. I'm getting better and better. I just finished a baby blanket and a new pair of socks. ... Wow! It's been a long time since I posted. Sooo... and another baby blanket and two hats and a baby surprise jacket and another for a doll... lots of stuff. Knitting is good.
The rest of life is mixed. Liked christmas pudding. With nuts.
A list. Maybe a list will help.

1- I've been divorced for just more than a year. (best anniversary ever)
2- X has been married for almost(?) a year w/family. (so much for getting rid of responsibility)
3- I've been out of work for almost 3 years. (!?! thanks, Dad! I lubs you!)
4- I have a boyfriend!! (such a cutie!)
5- He proposed! (So romantically... with a ring and everything)
6- He thinks I'm awesome! (He's right!)
7- I'm working at temporarily (seasonal) at a tax company.
8- With an idiot...
9- Who made it so I had to come in on my (sunny and warm) day(morning) off with the man.
10- and asks stupid questions... every three minutes.

I'm cranky. Verily. But happy.

A little sock humor

I've recently been entrenched in socks.

I have repaired socks, I've ignored socks, I have frogged socks,

and I've started new socks (and even finished some! )

And today mom sent me a little sock humor...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV9L-KX0M5o

Who knew they had such history!

Sock On!!

knitting ketchup...

LOL not like on hotdogs. my knitting is getting better. After the successful reception of the seacell socks, I was excited enough to start a pair for my dad. And since i am a masochist when it comes to a "learning experience" i decided to try toe up. I got to the heel and completely borked it. so ripped it back to about mid foot. it was too short anyway. Yeah, its a weird toe, just sperimenting, but i like the way it fits on my foot. These are on hold for a bit. The guage is pretty small and it was giving me a headache.



I also started some ankle socks for myself out of cascade Fixation. stretchy. got one done and started the other one. Love it. Cant wait till they are done and I can wear them. it has a garter stitch heel. bout 7 rows of k1p1 rib at the top. was done top down. Its very soft n squishy. Im past the heel on the second one. I have to figure out how i decreased for the first one... my counting sucks. but hey!! it fits!! im so excited.

The last thing I have finished is a baby blanket for a friend at school. it was my very first Lace, so dont laugh. I know there are a couple of errors, but i ripped the thing out a couple of times. you should have seen... wait, maybe i'll just show you.

<-Pre Frog

Finished ->

See, it got better. :)

Its about 45 inches. Double stranded of a wool acrylic blend on size 11 circs, size 9 doublepoints to start. . iminently washable. The pattern was

This one here....

http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns/doilies/doily4.htm

and i think it turned out pretty darned good, myself.

Sylvia's Shawl- The pattern

Sylviaʼs Shawl

I used Red Heart Plush and a Bates K hook.
Please adjust the starting chain and hook to your yarn and tension. Gauge is not important in this project.

Body
Chain 150- 200 to length desired across shoulders.
(note: Fingertip to fingertip is my favorite.)
Row 1: SC in each chain across. Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: SC in each SC across, Ch 1, turn.
Row 3: SC in each SC across, turn.
Row 4: *ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in next sc* Repeat from * to * across till less than 3 sc left in previous row, ch 1, dc in last sc (counts as ch 2 loop here and in each following row) , turn.
Row 5: *ch 2, sk 1 sc, sc in next ch 2 space* Repeat from * to * across till last ch 2 space left in previous row, ch 1, dc in last sc, turn.
Row 6-end: Repeat row 5 till row consists of 2 ch 2 loops.
Last row in body: ch 1, dc in last ch 2 loop. Finish off

Scallop Trim:
Row 1: Attach at one end of the initial SC row. Ch 1, loosly sc in each row along edge to bottom

point. In final ch 2 loop of body do point cluster (sc2, dc, sc2 ) then sc in each row up the

other side. Ch1, turn.
Row 2: *sk 2 sc, 7tr in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc*(scallop) repeat from * to * down one side. Adjust skipped scʼs to end a scallop in the sc before the point cluster. Sk 2 sc, (tr, ch1) 7 times in dc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc. *sk 2 sc, 7 tr in next sc, sk 2 sc, sc in next sc*(scallop) repeat from * to * up second edge, ending in last sc in initial row of scʼs. Finish off.

Sock Wars!!

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119766934184930123.html

Next year has got to be better.

I'm determined to survive until the new year.


This year has had a bit of a rough ending. My grandfather died. He was a wonderful person. Ill get a picture from my mother and post it. So handsome! I had some kind of nasty cold at Thanksgiving and now I have strep!


Hey! I did finish a pair of socks, tho! My first!
This is Fleece Artist's Sea Wool. 705 Merino, 30% Sea Cell. Plain Sock. uh...I think its a Flap Heel. made for a foot slightly shorter than mine, and slightly thicker in the ankles. Good thing, because that's how they turned out. :D The yarn was really nice to work with. Smooth in my fingers. Sometimes a little slippery if my hands were dry. I'd suggest wooden needles. I used sz 3, but I think, 2's would have been better. *I* coudln't have gone any smaller, but I think I knit pretty tight. The change in striping is my fault. Changes in stresses and 5 months? between starting the second sock and finishing it.
I liked doing them, and when I was actually working on them they went pretty fast. I LOOOOVE the portableness of them.
Oooh! I organized my WIP's! Now if i can remember *how* I organized them. At least they are all in one place.

Cheers to Next year being a better one!!

Fun Time

So much to talk about, so little time. I went down to Reno to visit some friends.

They were the greatest.

Sara

Sucker Holes and Fiber from LYS's only Read About

A "sucker hole" is a break in the clouds, where the sun shines through and gives you hope. Usually they disappoint you in your hopes that things are going to get brighter, but when the skies have been charcoal for so long, sometimes even a sucker hole can be good.
The kids and I are doing ok alone. Prescribed chemical support and a taste of some freedom have let the sun peek its toes through occasionally. For the kids, too. Better homework diligence. Better help around the house. Lots of visiting and bicycle riding. All is well as it can be for now.

And gifts from afar! Yon fair and thoughtful knight has once again returned, from Chicago! And wherecame he upon Loopy Yarns!! (www.loopyyarns.com) Well known to me is the name of this establishment, visited by me only through the tales heard from afar. Beautiful Alpaca cometh, soft, sport weight, 130 yards of golden olive luciousness. This treasure, I beleive, is bound to become something I can wear close to my face... a lacy hat, perhaps. It's sooo soft.

Knitting is going along as time allows.
I finished the seacell sock, (1). I promised the receiver that she will get a pair (2). She gets them instead of me as the foot is a bit short for me, but she has smaller feet. Lucky lady. I keep learning from them, however, and the pair that ends up mine with be the best effort ever!! Muhahaha!!
The yarn I received from my other friend, the part wool acrylic is slowly being knit up into a blanket. It will be strips of stitches, whatever catches my eye as a stitch for as long as I'm not bored with it, in whatever color comes to hand, till I run out of that ball. I'm going to have to look for some more of that yarn. It is not knitting up like most acrylics, no squeak. Probably due to the wool content, and it is nice and soft. I suspect it will wash well, also. The first panel started in a large bamboo pattern. Its about 48 stitches wide, which I think is 4 repeats... so 8 "sticks" of bamboo. The next bit is going into a basketweave, using the "sticks" for the guage of the weave.
I think this will be fun and a good pick-it-up-anywhere project. Keeping it in the strips means it wont get tooooo big. I will probably crochet an edging aroud it. Easy peasy.

again-pictures when I can scrape up the time.

More leakage...

Empty and hollow,
When like a zombie some nights,
He lies next to me.

This came to me all at once, one night last week.
People tell me, I'm at the bottom and things can only get better, but they keep getting worse.

I did learn a new phrase from himself the other day. "TTL" He uses it for 'talk to you later' but says it is used in his profession and means 'Time To Live' I like that better, and it is leaking into my brain. "Time to Live"

In all the confusion, I'm trying to find something to concentrate on. For some reason Knitting isn't working. I think I have to have more brainpower or less shaky hands. So, I have been trying my hand at spinning. Since I am a complete tyro at it, I figure the hands dont matter and neither does the end result at this time. I'm spinnning some stuff that has about a 1" staple. It's horrid, I think it is meant for felting... like needle felting or something... not really for spinning. I am working very hard at drafting and the short fibers involve some serious singular point concentration. It seems to help somewhat. I'm catching on, I'm sure of it. I'll post a pic of the results later. I just found my lost camera. (YAY!!!) and need to take tons of pictures.

TTL (almost)

Tarot

Me? So it says here... Take the Test to Find Out.

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

D'Artanian d'italiano

Yeah, forgive the poor spelling and the mixed and probably improper languages.

A knight today returned from travels afar, bearing gifts of great consequence!
Anon shall I reveal this treasure, but shall I first begin with A Tale of Illumination and great Gallantry!

Once upon a time, in a small keep nearby the Emerald City, a great and gallant man did watch over his companions, going forth on quests to conquer dragons, and do not harm to them, but stike up negotiations, for the mutual benefit of both the dragon and creatures of the forest surrounding the dragon, and the keep and its denizens. And the man was dutiful and most wonderfully victorious, and the keep prospered.

So came a time when this gentle man was sore haggard and he took his fair Lady in hand and set forth to Far Lands, exotic and soothing in clime and outlook of the natives. Gracious were the clime and the people and rested were the man and his lady.

Anon strolled they down the thoroughfare. "Hark", cried he, "just the thing I would be minded of!" For there, and they all unknowing, appeared a vendor. A board attesting a vendor of fine woolen materials, fit for the garments of kings and their betters! "Hence", Cried he, "knoweth I of just the one in great dispair, that a gift of such quality would Greatly Cheer."

Thus proceeding to the vendor, did he proclaim, "Hail and good health to thee. Procure for me a gift, of sunhine and warmth to bring light into darkness, and of a texture gentle to a sorely used soul"

The vendor produced a fine fiber of full softness and the colors of a warm summer sunset, just as the sun disappears below the horizon. And all in awe, purchased the fair knight of the vendor the fiber to convey on his return to the keep.

Graciously pleased was the one so gifted with this piece of warmth and thoughtfulness and so wrote down the story, and considered baking a great plate of chocolate chip cookies.

********Translation*********
A very kind co-worker, escaped for a trip to Italy (lucky guy) recently with his wife and fell into a yarn shop! Knowing how down I've been (and being a really cool dude anyway (and remembering my begging)) he brought me back a lovely skein of mohair blend called Quarzo trends #46 pretty pretty pretty. Thank you so much friend. Its beautiful and soft and I am hugging it right now.

here is a link to the yarn,

http://www.beatriceyarnshop.com/catalogo/prodotto.asp?ID=10016017

Color 64
I'll get a pic of it up Asap...yeah... like the others.

and a link to the shop he got to visit!
http://www.beatriceyarnshop.com/

I can relate...

This is what I am relating to today.

http://redshirtknitting.com/?p=99

*sigh*

Needle in a haystack?

I couldn't find my needles. The Lorna's Laces dried beautifully, so I was all ready to start again and Poof! The bag with my sock needles disappeared. So I went to the LYS yesterday and got new ones. Guess what? Yep. Found them this morning. The trip to the LYS did score me another ball of sock yarn, though. >.< I'm so bad. its pretty. uhh....digging out the lable... Fleece Artist's Sea Wool Sock in a green/purple/yellow/pink mix. Spring-y colors to try to help my mood today. It is a bit heavier weight than the Lorna's and I think the size 2's will be just the thing. Im doing the ribbing with 1's though. I like me some firm ribbing.

Im mostly through with a hat for D, based loosely on the stitch pattern for the Snickett socks. I'll try to get a link up for that. It's not on Knitty, it's on another online knitting mag. I love the pattern. It looks like chain link fence to me. Slow going for this beginner with all the cabling, though. Even working without a cable needle. Looks great if I do have to say so myself.

No respect.

Pictures and links to come... when I have more time.
New Yarn Sea Wool : http://www.flickr.com/photos/90227533@N00/492614124/
chainlink hat: http://www.flickr.com/photos/90227533@N00/492614120/in/photostream/

Frogs-A-Lot

Sooooo.... got that same sock to the same point...
and Frogged it again. Arrgh.

The first was on Size 1's. Decided size 2's were too big. I bought a pair of 1.5's. I'll do the ribbing with 1's because I think that that part turned out alright.

The yarn was very kinky and I had noticed the difference when I started the sock the second time, so I hanked and damped and hung it. It looks great now. I'm going to cake it up tonight and give it another try. I love the yarn. I love the abuse it is happily taking. It's Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in a color I don't remember right now. It's dark pink and orange. About enough for a round in each color in the sock, it will pool at the instep, but I don't care. I love the colors and it is fun to see what it does. More time to be fussy about stripes and such later... once I actually finish a sock. I know i can do this.

I have two other beautiful sock yarns waiting for me when I figure this out. I cant wait.

All will be well, when the decisions are made and we can all get on with getting on.

Leaking thru...

I am all alone
with him standing beside me,
but not by my side.

Crap from the rest of my life leaking through. but I like the way it turned out.

Knitting news-

I frogged my sock start. *cry*

There were too many errors and it was bothering me. When I came to an error in the pattern, I figured it must be me... but no. I'd read it multiple times, and decided just to go with it and see what happened, there were that many errors in MY knitting, maybe I was wrong, new knitter, first sock, all that. Uh, no. Heel decrease at the top of the instep? Right on the top of my foot if I was wearing it? Check the directions again... nope that is what it says.

So, it croaked.

But... I've started it again. Decided to go up a needle size too, because the fabric was tight. I took it in to my LYS with my little postage stamp size swatches for a second opinion. Yep. Move up a needle size.

I HAVE to find someone to knit with locally. Someone with convienient times and location. I need the second opinion, the examples to follow, the interactive assistance. And a friend or two.

Pics when I can...

First Sock

Work is dominating my time. Ive started a sock, but at the rate I am going, I'll not finish it until after I retire. I get a round or two done on it each day. I like the way it's turning out though.

Update: Struggled vainly through turning the heel and halfway through the gusset... Let's lable it a "Learning Experience" ...ribbit ribbit...