I know, I know, I am one day early. But I have to work for 4 days, so I am afraid I am not going to have much time to blog tomorrow between working 12 hours and driving an hour and a half both ways, something I am not so thankful for. In the spirit of Thanksgiving I am going to do what all people are supposed to do on Thanksgiving, say what they are thankful for. I am thankful for my wonderful family, friends and dog. I am thankful that for the most part all entities are healthy and happy this holiday season. I should add though that this holiday season will not be the easiest for some of my family, and they are in my thought and prayers. Please send prayers their way as you sit down to enjoy a meal with your family, and feel blessed that you are able to do that. Also, please pray for Robby on his long road to recovery.
I will not be going home this Thanksgiving, because as I said before I will be spending it at Hopkins, which, may I add I am a little bummed about, not only because I am missing the best meal of the year, but because I won't get to go to Troy for the day. I have always gone home for thanksgiving, and it is a little sad that I won't be able to spend it with my family this year. But, while I am on the holiday subject I may add that I have completed damn near all of my Christmas shopping for the year. Which in itself is exciting considering all that I will have to be doing in the upcoming weeks.
Last night Jerm and I met with our photographer, he is great. He really put me more at ease about the flow of the wedding, and gave me some good advise. The big day is only 37 days away and it is getting very stressful the closer it gets. I am just hoping everything runs smoothly, and if it doesn't, that I do not have to worry about it. I know that I have an amazing bridal party that will help me get through everything and stay sane in the process (Danielle, that's a shoutout to you sista!)
I know you are all dying to know how my knitting is going. Since last time I blogged I have had 2 classes, and I am happy to announce that I have successfully talked Sue into letting me start a scarf. I walked around the shop for about 30 minutes trying to pick out the perfect yarn. I am making a scarf for my Aunt Nadine for two reasons, one because I love her and I want her to have a scarf and two because if it is not perfect I think she will wear it anyway, because she loves me just as much. So I finally find the perfect yarn, it is beautiful. It is a cream colored yarn that is 60% Angora, 20% wool and 20% polyamide. I do not know what any of this means but I know that it feels like heaven on my fingers when I am knitting it. I literally want to make a bedsheet out of it and sleep on it. Anyway I am well on my way to my first scarf, with about 17 cm done. I will post some pics when I have a little more time, but I promise this scarf will not disappoint. I have a few more projects in mind after this one (mainly scarfs, because I have yet to learn anything different). Yesterday Sue taught me how to cable, so next time I go back I can learn to increase and decrease in hopes to use the cable skills to make something like a hat. I am really excited, and I already have an itch to make neat things. Stay tuned!
Stay safe this Holiday!
Knit on!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Blair Stitch Project
Happy Saturday! Last night I was able to get a considerable amount of Christmas shopping out of the way, thankfully, because I am not sure I will have that much time in the future with the wedding approaching very quickly! I just have a few more people left to buy for. Jeremy has his bachelor party this weekend, so I let Ripken sleep with me last night. He snuggled very nicely.
Yesterday I had another knitting class, and as it turns out I was doing the purl stitch completely wrong and rather than an actual stitch I was just twisting previous stitches. So, Sue made me practices those for about 5 rows. Then, another beginner Phylis, who is about 2 classes ahead of me came in, and she started a scarf. I was so mad. I want to start a scarf. I am sick of knitting this piece of nothing Sue is making me practice on. I asked Sue if I could start a scarf too, OF COURSE the answer was no because I had messed up my purl stitches. And, Phylis has to add her two sense about it and tell me that she was two classes a head of me and that I needed to keep practicing to advance. Well, Phylis, I don't think I would have messed up starting my scarf 4 times like you did, MAYBE I do deserve to start a scarf. Anyway when Sue told me to keep practicing and that in the next lesson or two I could start a scarf I was furious. I had to actually leave my lesson, I am sick of just sitting there knitting for nothing. I know Sue could tell I was really upset because she told me that she was not trying to be an ogre. YOU'RE AN OGRE SUE, I WANT A SCARF. Anyway, I left my lesson, texted Jeremy some obscene things about Sue, went shopping and now I feel better, but not better enough to keep practicing my knitting quite yet. And quite frankly rehashing the experience is like pouring salt on the wounds.
Until next time!
Knit on!
Yesterday I had another knitting class, and as it turns out I was doing the purl stitch completely wrong and rather than an actual stitch I was just twisting previous stitches. So, Sue made me practices those for about 5 rows. Then, another beginner Phylis, who is about 2 classes ahead of me came in, and she started a scarf. I was so mad. I want to start a scarf. I am sick of knitting this piece of nothing Sue is making me practice on. I asked Sue if I could start a scarf too, OF COURSE the answer was no because I had messed up my purl stitches. And, Phylis has to add her two sense about it and tell me that she was two classes a head of me and that I needed to keep practicing to advance. Well, Phylis, I don't think I would have messed up starting my scarf 4 times like you did, MAYBE I do deserve to start a scarf. Anyway when Sue told me to keep practicing and that in the next lesson or two I could start a scarf I was furious. I had to actually leave my lesson, I am sick of just sitting there knitting for nothing. I know Sue could tell I was really upset because she told me that she was not trying to be an ogre. YOU'RE AN OGRE SUE, I WANT A SCARF. Anyway, I left my lesson, texted Jeremy some obscene things about Sue, went shopping and now I feel better, but not better enough to keep practicing my knitting quite yet. And quite frankly rehashing the experience is like pouring salt on the wounds.
Until next time!
Knit on!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Knitty Gritty
Blog Day Three I suppose. Last night I had talked to my (best) friend Danielle on the phone for a period of time, and we had talked about what is going on in our lives, what we are happy with and ideally, where we would like to be in five years. I didn't give much thought about the conversation until today. Yes, I may be disgruntled with a few things in my life, and of course it could always get worse, but really what do I have to complain about? I have an amazing job, and actually I was able to get two amazing jobs, right out of college, that alone is something to be happy about right? I just bought a saucy new car, and I am getting married to the man of my dreams. Sure, I am not exactly where I'd like to be, but I have nothing but time for that right? I've got time to get where I need to be I've got time to buy the things I want to buy. As I look at myself today, and think of where I was a year ago, I am happy, I am proud, and I am thankful. My glass is half full.
Enough with the sappy stuff. I know that you are all dying to hear about my knitting progress, am I wrong? So, I had my first knitting class Tuesday. Thankfully I went in and Susan was ready to get started right away! She got me some needles, and let me pick out a ball of yarn. She told me to pick my favorite color so I picked a nice green. I am not making anything yet, because like I said before she tells me I need to learn the basics. The first day of class I learned how to "cast on" and the knit stitch. I sat there for about two hours and she watched me knit and I was slowly getting the hang of it. Several people came in while I was there and Sue was helping them with their projects, some very intricate, some simple, but, she knew every solution. This lady is like a knitting goddess! After each costumer left she game me a little recap of their lives," her husband died 9 years ago, that's when she took up knitting", "her grand daughter lives in Ohio, wants to dance but hurt her back" ect. I loved it! I was learning how to do something new, and I was gossiping with this sweet old lady. I can't wait to "get to know" all of her crazy customers (which may I add I am at least 20 years younger than anyone I saw there). I went home and I did exactly what she told me to do practice, practice, practice. I got a few inches done, and I was learning from my mistakes, just like Sue said that I would! I was doing a good job, I could do this! Yesterday I didn't go to class, I went to visit my cousin Jessica and had a much needed girls day (for both of us!). So, my second class was today. She was very happy with the progress I had made, and told me I was catching on quickly. Today I learned how to do a pearl stitch, I could not get the hang of this, and it seemed like with every new stitch Sue was saying "now, is that right?". I wanted to punch the sweet old lady in the face. I was hungry, frustrated, and she was working on my last nerve. I had finally got it. FINALLY. Now, I supposedly have the basics, and if I keep practicing I can start a project. She tells me a few more classes and I can start a project, REALLY? I want a scarf now! Now I get her reasoning, I should be good at knitting before I start something and my scarf is three inches on one end and four inches on the other, but right now I feel like I can't do anything Sue, you're making me feel worthless. So, I messed up my last row before I left today, Sue taught me how to fix it and I told her that I need to leave, because I was getting frustrated. She then proceeded to tell me that knitting is like a marriage, when you get frustrated you need to take a deep breath, maybe walk away, but keep working at it, or you will never have something beautiful. Damn it Sue you've got me again. Crazy, wise, old bird.
Knit on!
Enough with the sappy stuff. I know that you are all dying to hear about my knitting progress, am I wrong? So, I had my first knitting class Tuesday. Thankfully I went in and Susan was ready to get started right away! She got me some needles, and let me pick out a ball of yarn. She told me to pick my favorite color so I picked a nice green. I am not making anything yet, because like I said before she tells me I need to learn the basics. The first day of class I learned how to "cast on" and the knit stitch. I sat there for about two hours and she watched me knit and I was slowly getting the hang of it. Several people came in while I was there and Sue was helping them with their projects, some very intricate, some simple, but, she knew every solution. This lady is like a knitting goddess! After each costumer left she game me a little recap of their lives," her husband died 9 years ago, that's when she took up knitting", "her grand daughter lives in Ohio, wants to dance but hurt her back" ect. I loved it! I was learning how to do something new, and I was gossiping with this sweet old lady. I can't wait to "get to know" all of her crazy customers (which may I add I am at least 20 years younger than anyone I saw there). I went home and I did exactly what she told me to do practice, practice, practice. I got a few inches done, and I was learning from my mistakes, just like Sue said that I would! I was doing a good job, I could do this! Yesterday I didn't go to class, I went to visit my cousin Jessica and had a much needed girls day (for both of us!). So, my second class was today. She was very happy with the progress I had made, and told me I was catching on quickly. Today I learned how to do a pearl stitch, I could not get the hang of this, and it seemed like with every new stitch Sue was saying "now, is that right?". I wanted to punch the sweet old lady in the face. I was hungry, frustrated, and she was working on my last nerve. I had finally got it. FINALLY. Now, I supposedly have the basics, and if I keep practicing I can start a project. She tells me a few more classes and I can start a project, REALLY? I want a scarf now! Now I get her reasoning, I should be good at knitting before I start something and my scarf is three inches on one end and four inches on the other, but right now I feel like I can't do anything Sue, you're making me feel worthless. So, I messed up my last row before I left today, Sue taught me how to fix it and I told her that I need to leave, because I was getting frustrated. She then proceeded to tell me that knitting is like a marriage, when you get frustrated you need to take a deep breath, maybe walk away, but keep working at it, or you will never have something beautiful. Damn it Sue you've got me again. Crazy, wise, old bird.
Knit on!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Welcome!
I have decided that since my family lives so far away, and I have a lot of things happening in my life, I should start a blog. Because I have nothing better to do with my time, right? Where should I start? I recently read on some stupid little yahoo article that the five greatest "stress-ers" in life are getting married, buying a house, buying a car, starting a new job and having a baby. We, very foolishly decided to do 4 of them within two months. We needed another car, while living in Baltimore we had one car and I took the metro to work, now living in Lancaster, and completely metro-less, we needed another car. So, last week I bought a pretty new car, it is a 2010 Toyota Corolla S, we went into the car buying thinking we were going to buy a used car, 2 hours, some haggling with the car saleman and 0% interest later we are (not) driving off the lot with a new car, but we had purchased one! Why, you ask, did we not drive off the lot? Because we had yet to get our PA driver licenses. So we had to go to the DMV, get those and the next day I was able to drive my nice new car off the lot. Next, starting a new job. I officially have 4 more shift of work left at Johns Hopkins. Which is exciting and stressful all at the same time. My last day at Hopkins in the 27th and my first day at Hershey is the 29th. Luckily I have had two weeks off to sort out my life. I am excited to start my new job, but its always nice to have something familiar in your life, and I had almost gotten to the point of being familiar and comfortable working at Hopkins. Next, buying a house, I am trying to convince Jeremy we should start looking now, I mean what better time than the present right? He disagrees, so while he thinks we should wait until after the wedding to even start looking, I am online browsing. And lastly, having a baby...just kidding (mom please don't have a heart attack)! Getting married...Well is it 45 days away! People ask if I am nervous, no I am not nervous! I am excited! I am excited to spend a fun night with my family and friends, I am excited to marry Jeremy, I am excited to burn a hole in the dance floor, and I am excited to stop planning this wedding! We actually cannot wait to see all of your family and friends together and for them to be there while we celebrate!
So, with the theme of letting you all know about the exciting things going on in my life I should probably let you all know that I have decided to take up knitting. My good friend Adrienne from Hopkins knits, and I want to too. I want to make cool things for people, and for the cool things not to suck, because lets face it, I have no real talents right now (besides the obvious of saving lives...). So I talked to Adrienne and she told me to go to a yarn store and there will be some old lady there that will be willing to help me. Now, before going on I should let you all know that I like crazy people, I enjoy talking with them, and I usually find it easy to humor them for at least 30 minutes or so. Anyway, so I google "yarn shops, Lancaster PA" of course I get several shops, I read some reviews and I find the perfect yarn shop to go to. Reviews for the shop include "messy, but they have yarn you cannot find any where else" and "this place is a damn near fire hazard but the owner knows everything about knitting" . This is my kind of place. So I go to the Yarn shop, walk in the doors and Yarn is stacked so high I cannot see over it. I hear a meek voice say "Can I help you?" so I follow it and proceed to find this little old lady knitting a sweater in the corner of the shop. I tell her about how I want to learn how to knit and that I would start with something simple, but would first need everything that I need to start. She tells me I'd need some yarn and a few needles. She then says that I should not start on a project and that I should learn the basics first, and compares knitting to learning how to drive a car, I can dig this. Thinking that she would soon be getting me the supplies I need I am pretty excited about learning to knit! She then tells me the history of knitting, how men used to knit while they were hunting, how knitting is therapeutic, how prisoners knit, and how she knits for a charity here in Lancaster (among many other knitting stories). Now let me tell you Sue (that is the knitting lady's name) is not just a knitter, she is a scientist by trade. A smart lady, she went to the University of Pennsylvania and has a degree in Microbiology. A sassy little lady, we have a little in common. She proceeds to tell me about the research she used to do and about her declining health until she did some research online and she is now in complete control of her own health care plan. ...Needless to say I was at the yarn shop for an hour and 30 minutes yesterday, left with no yarn or needles, and I am going back today so Sue can give me private knitting lessons!
So, there it is, the most exciting things I've got going on in my life! I will try to update often!
Knit on!
So, with the theme of letting you all know about the exciting things going on in my life I should probably let you all know that I have decided to take up knitting. My good friend Adrienne from Hopkins knits, and I want to too. I want to make cool things for people, and for the cool things not to suck, because lets face it, I have no real talents right now (besides the obvious of saving lives...). So I talked to Adrienne and she told me to go to a yarn store and there will be some old lady there that will be willing to help me. Now, before going on I should let you all know that I like crazy people, I enjoy talking with them, and I usually find it easy to humor them for at least 30 minutes or so. Anyway, so I google "yarn shops, Lancaster PA" of course I get several shops, I read some reviews and I find the perfect yarn shop to go to. Reviews for the shop include "messy, but they have yarn you cannot find any where else" and "this place is a damn near fire hazard but the owner knows everything about knitting" . This is my kind of place. So I go to the Yarn shop, walk in the doors and Yarn is stacked so high I cannot see over it. I hear a meek voice say "Can I help you?" so I follow it and proceed to find this little old lady knitting a sweater in the corner of the shop. I tell her about how I want to learn how to knit and that I would start with something simple, but would first need everything that I need to start. She tells me I'd need some yarn and a few needles. She then says that I should not start on a project and that I should learn the basics first, and compares knitting to learning how to drive a car, I can dig this. Thinking that she would soon be getting me the supplies I need I am pretty excited about learning to knit! She then tells me the history of knitting, how men used to knit while they were hunting, how knitting is therapeutic, how prisoners knit, and how she knits for a charity here in Lancaster (among many other knitting stories). Now let me tell you Sue (that is the knitting lady's name) is not just a knitter, she is a scientist by trade. A smart lady, she went to the University of Pennsylvania and has a degree in Microbiology. A sassy little lady, we have a little in common. She proceeds to tell me about the research she used to do and about her declining health until she did some research online and she is now in complete control of her own health care plan. ...Needless to say I was at the yarn shop for an hour and 30 minutes yesterday, left with no yarn or needles, and I am going back today so Sue can give me private knitting lessons!
So, there it is, the most exciting things I've got going on in my life! I will try to update often!
Knit on!
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