Say "Aloha" to my aloha shrug

Yes, it is finally finished. I know it doesn't look like much, but it took me a while because I got side tracked by other projects and life in general. So here are the specifics:

Pattern source: Comfy shoulder shrug (aka Aloha Shrug) from Creative Knitting Sept. 2007

Size: Large (big boned)

Yarn: Shine worsted from Knitpicks in coral and cream, 8 and 2 balls respectively (around about that amount)
Needle size: 9

Started: Mid-March 2008

Finished: June 26, 2008

Enjoyed working with this yarn and I do love the color. Makes me think of my tropical vacation, hence the name. It would have been finished Wednesday night, however I bound off and realized I made a mistake. Like seemed up the sides too far, and did not pick up enough stitches around the opening. DUH! Blond moment! (highlights count) So I frogged the edging, and some of the side seams, and re-finished it last night. Ahh...much better. In my defense, the instructions were not exactly that clear.

I must say though , that I impressed myself with the seaming. The last time I seamed something, it looked like crap. I think I did a much better job this time, considering there was open work right next to the edge. Not a lot of room/stitches for seaming. There are a few boo-boos in this shrug, but I made it with my own two hands. And for that I am proud.



I'd like to give a big shout out to Suzy Girl for being my photographer, hence the laughter. We always laugh when we are together. Here is too our lunches filled with knitting :)

TTFN!

Thoughts about blogs

Well, I have not met my deadline for the shrug.....let's just say I had some issues. I don't even want to say it, in case I jinx myself, but hopefully tonight I can finish it.

So anyway, I found a contest on Darcy's blog, Darcy's Knotty Knitter, and it was about reading blogs. Why you do it, what keeps you coming back. Basically my comment made me think about how much I enjoy reading all your blogs and Ravelry, and knowing I am part of a big sisterhood, People who will always listen to me and offer advice, whether its knitting or life related. A place to be myself. Sounds corny, I know, but true. That's just how I feel my peeps!

Darcy's blog is pretty cool and she has a lot of interesting things going on there. So, if you feel like visiting, and sharing in the sisterhood, please tell her I sent you. Make a comment and you too may win some interesting stuff.

TTFN!

I can see for miles and miles

The past two weeks have been unbelievably hot here in Philly. May was kind of cool and spring like, and then WHAM...we got hit with temperatures in the high 90's with high humidity making it feel like 105 degrees. I know the summer brings heat and humidity, but it's usually a gradual process. Not out of the blue.

This weather does not make for nice walking weather. Walking is one of my favorite things, behind knitting of course. I walk every day at lunch for the whole hour; pretty much like the post office, except for rain, sleet, and extreme hot and cold. If it's in the 20's but not windy, I'll walk. No biggie. A few snowflakes never hurt me. But when the weather makes you want to pass out, I have to draw the line.

Walking at lunch helps me to get through the day; stretches my legs and clears my head. Now if I could just combine knitting and walking I would be set! Maybe I would finally get some FOs for 2008. I even have the perfect setting for indoor walking....

This hallway connects our office with the other building. It's very long and there is another hallway around the bend at the end. It's air conditioned, safe, and pretty boring as you can see. I have walked this with my headphones, but even then it's boring. No city sights to look at. So I decided, why not try and knit while walking? It's flat, it's carpeted, it's safe. I would never try knitting and walking out on the street.

But what to knit? My projects are bulky and I didn't think I should try with my Monkey socks (the first one is coming along nicely, btw). But I got an idea from reading Jeanne's blog. She mentioned making a dishcloth while on a teleconference for work. I figured I could try the same one while walking. This what I have for my first day:

Not bad I don't think. However walking with your head down and your arms bent, knitting is not something I would do on a daily basis. But once in a while is nice.

Suzy girl is on vacation at the beach, so I am sure she is having fun. She was going to try and get her DD into knitting again while she was at it. Can't wait to hear what happens. On my own knitting front, I am trying to be a monogamous knitter. I have a sleeve to go on my Aloha shrug, and I am working on the gusset of my first Monkey sock. I want to have my shrug finished by the time Suzy is back from vacation. I think I can do it. We'll have to wait and see.

Happy knitting and TTFN!

Tag...Jenny's Girl is it!

Dustinac also tagged me for the A to Z thingy. So here are my answers.

ACCENT: I guess Philly accent would qualify, however there are sayings or words I use that are neighborhood related. I live in South Philly, the Italian section of the city, and every Sunday we make a big pot of gravy and meatballs. Gravy is what non-South Philly people call tomato sauce.
Don't ask me why, it's just a South Philly thing.

BREAKFAST OR NO BREAKFAST: Breakfast bu not a big one, something small like cereal or toast and yogurt.

CHORE I DON'T CARE FOR: All of them. Just pick one.

DOG OR CAT: One precious dog, who is spoiled. It's really her house and she just lets us live there.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Radio/mp3 player/CD player and a computer. Oh yeah and a camera

FAVORITE COLOGNE: Happy by Clinique

GOLD OR SILVER: Either one.

HANDBAG I CARRY MOST OFTEN: More like a big a-- tote bag, unless I'm going somewhere and need to downsize

INSOMNIA: God forbid

JOB TITLE: The bestest Wife, daughter, and friend

KIDS: none

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Row home. (but not the place I intend to live out my days)

MOST ADMIRABLE TRAIT: Friendly, loyal (to a fault), easy going, free thinker

NAUGHTIEST CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR: Convinced my little brother that he was adopted. Convinced him he was bought on the blue light special at Kmart (if you can remember those). But best of all, finally convinced him that my mom was Lady Jaye and my dad was Flint from GI Joe
My mom and dad really couldn't talk about it, because, you know, it was a government secret. However, when my brother asked, my mom looked at me, and actually went along with it. Just until my dad got home from work!

OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Never!

PHOBIAS: Bugs, the crawly and flying kind.

QUOTE: I guess...tomorrow is another day. Scarlett O'Hara

REASON TO SMILE: Because it takes to much effort to frown and it's not worth it.

SIBLINGS: Aforementioned little brother who was "bought at Kmart"

TIME I WAKE UP: Depends on the day, work or not.

UNUSUAL SKILL OR TALENT:none I can think of

VEGETABLE I REFUSE TO EAT: Peas and Brussels sprouts. Yuck!

WORST HABIT: Piling stuff up at the side of bed...books, knitting patterns, recipes....nothing but a big ole pile of stuff!

X-RAYS: my knees (told you I fall a lot)

YUMMY STUFF: Pizza, pasta, garlic bread, Reese's Cups, chocolate ice cream, oh I could go on!

ZOO ANIMAL I LIKE MOST: The polar bears. At the Philly zoo they have the tank you can see through when they swim. My heart just goes out to them when I watch those global warming shows.

Okay, well that about does it. I am not going to tag anyone else in particular, because they have probably already been tagged. However, if you would like to share about yourself, please feel free to do so. I would love to learn a little something about you too!

TTFN

Coming out of the woodwork for a ....

tag! I've been a bit out of the loop lately. Trying to get back some balance in my life, but that's another blog post for another day. In the meantime, dustina, over at A Mountaineer Knitter tagged me and Jenny for an A to Z meme so I thought I get off my butt and play along. Go check out her blog. She's got a couple of little cuties that keep her busy, busy but she's always got something going on the needles. She's a knitter I really admire. And I learned we have a few things in common!!

ACCENT: I used to have a wicked awesome Boston accent. I’ve been here in the Philly area for 22 years so it’s all but disappeared... except when my brother comes for a visit it slips out now and then. Think Jimmy Fallon, SNL.

BREAKFAST OR NO BREAKFAST: I’m a breakfast believer. Not necessarily when I first wake up but within an hour or two. And it's my favorite meal to go out for.

CHORE I DON'T CARE FOR: I hate to go down to the basement to do laundry. If I could arrange it I’d have a laundry room on the second floor of the house.

DOG OR CAT: Cats! I’ve always had cats.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Computer and ipod

FAVORITE COLOGNE: I don’t have a favorite cologne. My most recent ‘signature’ scent has been grapefruit. I have all the pink grapefruit products from bath n bodyworks, though my stockpile is running out. That fragrance was so last summer apparently. And Trader Joe’s sells an awesome grapefruit sea salt scrub and shampoo I use. I also have some philosophy grapefruit body butter. I love the scent. I find it very invigorating and at the same time calming.

GOLD OR SILVER: I’ve worn both over the years but right now I’m in a silver period.

HANDBAG I CARRY MOST OFTEN: Nothing special. I’m not a ‘bag’ person.

INSOMNIA: No, I stay up too late but once I head to bed I have no trouble sleeping.

JOB TITLE: mom, grandmom, problem-solver, putterer, and hospital coder extraordinaire!!

KIDS: 3 all grown up. Jen, Kris and Brett

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: I currently have my son still at home with me. He's good company. And I like where we live, it’s a convenient location. Just outside of town, I can walk to the train, the library, the store. But can jump in the car and get to other places I want to be easy enough. I’m a mover by nature and habit so it might be that time again pretty soon. I’ve been thinking about it.

MOST ADMIRABLE TRAIT: mmm, this is hard, like one of those job interview questions. People tell me I’m “nice”. I’m not sure that’s really admirable or just a “nice” way of telling me I’m too tolerant. It takes a lot to rile me up. I’ve pretty much got a live and let live attitude. And I think, I generally look on the bright side. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.

NAUGHTIEST CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR: I was never naughty as a child… ask my mom, lol!

OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Just when I had my kids.

PHOBIAS: Snakes. Totally irrational. I can’t even contemplate getting over it.

QUOTE: Don’t know where it comes from but I heard it once when my kids were young and it stuck with me.

“There are but two lasting gifts we can give our children.
One is roots and the other is wings”

REASON TO SMILE: My family. I feel very lucky. And life in general.

SIBLINGS: I have 3 brothers.

TIME I WAKE UP: Work mornings by 6am. On weekends I might laze about until 7:30 or 8:00. I’d feel like I wasted the day if I slept until noon. I never really did it often, even as a teenager.

UNUSUAL SKILL OR TALENT: I can pick the checkout line that's guaranteed to suddenly have a customer with a problem or require a price check. If you want to be in the line that doesn't move, just get in line behind me. This holds true for turnpike toll booth cash lines as well (someday I'll wise up and get EZ Pass).

VEGETABLE I REFUSE TO EAT: I really like most all vegetables but if I had to pick my least favorite it would be straight up peas. I can eat them when they’re mixed with other vegetables like in soups and casseroles. But a mouthful of peas, yuck!

WORST HABIT: Where do I begin?? I'm a procrastinator and from there it's all downhill.

X-RAYS: Yes, fractured my ankle as a teenager. Not too mention those torturous dental x-rays!!

YUMMY STUFF: Pizza, ice cream and chocolate. Interesting, I immediately thought of food, the bad yummies first. Give me some time, I'll think of some healthy yummies.

ZOO ANIMAL I LIKE MOST: Tigers and giraffes

And consider yourself tagged Knitting Novice!

YEA! FINALLY!!!!

Jenny finally graduated on Thursday May 29th. It was truly a day to remember. It took about 5 years part time to get my bachelors degree. Not an easy task, and not one I am looking to repeat any time soon.

The best part was standing in the processional line as we went in to Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center. I looked up and straight across the stage was my hubby, mom, and dad. They saw me and started waving. Then I saw the tissues come out and it was all over. Took me a while to control those tears of joy, because I knew it was too early for that!

The ceremony took about two hours which wasn't bad, considering it was a pretty big class. Several hundred students. When it was my turn to walk across the stage, all I heard was my name and the rest was kind of a blur. The university president shook my hand, said congrats and great job. My eyes were welling up, again, and right there was my family. Then I received my hood and just tried not to trip and fall. I have a bad habit of that.

All in all it was a good day. Jenny graduated in high heels, didn't fall, and received her degree. No, there is no grad school in my immediate future. I need a break and next time classes will be something I really like and enjoy. No more management and finance crap.

I am not posting pictures of the cap and gown because I felt and looked like I belonged in a Harry Potter movie. Plus they don't look like me. I think it's the glasses.

Now it's on to a summer filled with some cleaning, organinzing, and knitting. Yea for knitting!

See you all later!

TTFN!

I've been Memed!!!!!

Hi Everyone! How the heck are ya? Hope all is well. Cindy tagged me for a meme last week. My first one! Very excited and touched. So here goes....

The rules: Posted here at the beginning. The player answers all questions. The player then chooses six people you want to know more about and tags those people by listing their names at the end of the post and going to their blog and leaving a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Also, you let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer. [Gals...I'm sure some of you have already received this, and obviously you don't have to do it again. But I like you and wanted to tag you anyway : ) ]

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

My husband and I had just bought our first house. We spent the weekend cleaning, and wondering how we were going to get by for a while. You can say we were a little house poor for a while. The first night I made the hubby sleep on an air mattress in the living room because I had to sleep in my new house. We had an antenna on the T.V. until the satellite got hooked up, and this is when I discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Great show with awesome, witty, and intelligent writing. Summer TV back then was nothing but re-runs. Buffy is still one of most favorite shows of all time.

2. What were 5 things on my to-do-list today (not in any particular order)?

First: update my blog. Second: read all my peeps blogs. Third: Make low fat chocolate cookies (it is possible). Fourth: Clean out closet in basement for shifting my storage around. Fifth: KNIT!

3. What snacks do I enjoy?

Hard to say as I love all snacks I guess. My favorite is old school popcorn. You know, using a heavy pot on the stove with some oil and kernels. Not very diet friendly, but my dog makes me make it for her. She uses her special Jedi puppy mind trick on me all time :)

4. Where are some places I've lived?

Sorry but nothing thrilling here. I live in South Philadelphia. Does two summers down da shore in Wildwood count too?

5. What things would I do if I were a billionaire?

Ahh the high life. First, pay off bills for me, my parents and in-laws, and a few choice friends and one co-worker. They know who they are.

Then, I would travel the world visiting museums, experiencing cultures and history. There are so many places I would love to visit.

Also some philanthropy, just not sure exactly what. As much as I would love to help people around the world, there are a lot of people in the U.S. who need help, whether it be education, housing, or just a helping hand. I know what it's like to struggle and not be able to get help. It sucks when you are not poor enough. So I would like to do something in that vein.

Okay, now the infamous tagging. As I said previously, please do not feel the need to do this if you already have or don't have the time. Believe me I completely understand.
I'm tagging, in no particular order: Gnat, Bea, Knitting Novice, Dustinac, Cattywampus, Luni, and Cinnamongirl93. I cheated and added one. Whatever! Rules are made to broken or bent right? Have a great day!!

TTFN!