yarntherapy

I got nothin'

Man, am I a crappy blogger or what? I really didn't mean to go so long without posting but I just have nothing much to say. I haaaaate this time of year - we got a few warm, springlike days last week and then the temperature plunged back into the 40s and it's just been cold and windy and miserable. I'm just so sick of winter - sick of coats and hats and freezing on the subway platform, sick of wind and my ears hurting from the cold. I *always* gain weight around now, and I got on the scale this morning and did not like the number I saw. So, back to Weight Watchers. Woo.

My apartment is still a disaster area after the work they had to do last week, which meant I had to clear out my cabinets and front closet - I'm trying to be really smart about how I utilize that space now but it's a little overwhelming.

Anyone else on Postcrossing? Love it! For some reason I get a lot of cards from Finland, of all places - in fact I got three in one day last week! Great stamps - I'll post pictures when I can find my camera, which is under a pile of ...... something right now.

Yeah, I know it's supposed to be a knitting blog. I'm even bored with knitting right now. Tubey is almost done, but I am seriously never doing that much ribbing ever again. Yes, I know I've said it before. I really mean it this time.

I finally explored a part of my neighborhood I've never really checked out before (thanks to the MTA and their freaking weekend track work that forced me to walk five blocks to a different train). I knew there was a Pathmark not too far away, but it's actually closer than I thought. I went in last night and I'm going to drag my shopping cart over there later today to stock up - very decent prices and big selection of some things. Not so much in the way of organic or health food, but it will be great for staples.

Walking back last night I passed a guy selling ceviche from the back of a van. Now, I love me some street food - grilled corn in Greece, churros in Mexico - yummy - we even buy tamales from the lady who shows up every Friday outside of the theatre. But ....... I'm not sure about buying nearly-raw seafood in the parking lot of a Hess station from a guy named Bobby Fish.

Even if he does call himself "El Rey de Ceviche."

Hey, look what I made!

And it's not fiber-related at all!

Yay! My first completed project from jewelry class, and I'm really happy with it. It's been so fun learning a totally new skill, and I think I'm actually pretty good at it! I just wish the instructor was better - she's a total sweetheart and really fun, but completely disorganized and scattered, and just not a great teacher - she'll demonstrate something without telling us the names of the tools, she'll stop in the middle because she forgot something, she has zero time management skills. It's so frustrating, so it was really satisfying yesterday to finally make progress and walk out with a finished piece. Next week's class should be OK, too, as she showed us the next project right at the end of class yesterday so we'll be able to get started right away on Tuesday.

Last week's class was so frustrating, in fact, that I felt compelled to do a little retail therapy immediately afterwards -

Yay! Love, love, love it. I suck at crochet - learning to knit first has really affected the way I hold yarn and I have terrible tension issues, but the patterns in this book have inspired me to figure it out.
Plus, her basic instructions make it so easy to understand the technique, just as she did in the Stitch 'n Bitch books. I think I'll start with the One-Skein Scarf, which looks like a nice little stashbuster. I also love the Sweet Pea Shawl, all the purses, the Knot Ugly Shrug, and the Unseamly Sweater. The Prepster jacket is incredible, but I just don't wear jackets. Great pattern, though.

In other news, I did indeed emerge as co-winner in the Oscar pool - we had 26 people enter at ten bucks apiece so I am $130 richer. Woo! Barbara even made us fancy Oscar envelopes for our winnings -

Cute and crafty, huh? I think I am going to spend my ill-gotten gains on some jewelry I've long coveted at smallthings - I've drooled over their ads in Bust & Readymade for a few years and I just have to have something. Not sure what, though - so many cool designs! And reasonably priced, too - hey, maybe I'll get TWO pieces!

I'd like to thank the Academy...

Hilarious - I just juggled the numbers and it looks like I tied for top honors in the Oscar pool - with the person I consider my arch enemy. Hee. I don't know why this amuses me so much.

20 out of 24, people. I got skills, yo. As always, the short films were hard to call, and I really should have known that cinematography would go to Geisha. Duh.

Pretty boring and predictable, I thought - lots of very beige women. I have really grown to love George Clooney, though - I never got the appeal in his ER days, but he has such a natural charm about him. And he's aging extremely well.

Loved Lily Tomlin & Meryl Streep doing the Altmanesque tribute to Robert Altman (loved La Streep's gown as well.)

I guess the biggest surprise was Crash winning Best Picture? (I haven't seen it or Brokeback Mountain, so I have no real opinion). Not exactly Avenue Q beating Wicked, but it's always nice to see expressions of actual surprise at an awards show.

Still haven't finished my taxes but I'll be stuck at home all day tomorrow while they tear up my kitchen. I can hardly wait.

annual procrastination exercise

What I should be doing:

My taxes.

What I've been doing:

Cutting out pictures of jewelry I like for inspiration in class.

Reading the boards at Television Without Pity

Eating whole wheat sourdough toast with almond butter (gag, so healthy)

Reading knitting blogs.

Reading craft blogs.

Reading design blogs.

Researching the Oscar nominations for my pool at work (I haven't seen a single nominated movie, but I am going to win this damn thing!)

Listening to ESPN . Sports radio is my guilty pleasure and it's finally almost baseball season!

Playing with my Sims - I'm making Sim families of my favorite Amazing Race teams.

What I think I will do next:

Pick up my half finished Tubey and keep on knitting.