Winded

The hot shot in green at the front of the pack is my nephew. Don’t you just love how they all follow the ball. Defense, strategy, pass to a teammate? Nah…just chase that ball!

Actually, my life’s been feeling a bit like a 7-year old’s soccer game lately. Up and down, back and forth, run, run, run, until at the end of the day I collapse in a heap, light-headed and trying to catch my breath. Some days, I achieve a goal or two along the way, but mostly, the ball just goes screaming past the net, with me kicking wildly, praying that the coach will call a time-out soon.

Only 4 more days til vacation starts. Pass the gatorade. I think I can make it.

Keep on Trekking

My pants are feeling a little snug. I’ve been making plans to join the gym. Or at least use the lonely treadmill that sits upstairs. Just 30 minutes a day would make a difference, right?

One morning last week, I walked past the treadmill, plopped my plumpness in front of the computer and took a quick check of my email. I sipped my coffee, keeping one eye on the little clock in the bottom right of my monitor so I wouldn’t be too late for work. (Now that my commute is all of 15 minutes, I find it harder and harder to get there on time. It makes no sense, I know.) Anyway, there was the nicest message from Sue at Little Knits, inviting me to check out their latest yarn sale. How could I resist? A few quick clicks, a tap tap tap on my keyboard and before I knew it I had purchased enough Trekking XXL to warm the toes of all my family members under the age of 15.

Why can’t excercising be this easy?

Taking a Mental Health Day

Today, I’ve replaced my usual to-do list with this. 

47 Things You Couldn’t Care Less About

Hey did anyone else notice that #34 was missing?!

1. FIRST NAME? Lisa

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, every little girl born that year was named Lisa. Lisa Marie actually. Just call me the Madison of my generation. But…I am older than Ms. Presley, so that means she was named after me.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last weekend, watching Once Around. I’m such a geek.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I used to, before I became so dependent on my keyboard. Now I can barely read it.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Does chicken salad count? I don’t really do “Lunchmeat”.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes, but I would get mad at me for never returning phone calls, and occasionally forgetting birthdays. I would appreciate my good listening skills though.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes, it’s called a blog.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes, I do. Wisdom teeth too!!

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I have a strange fascination with reppelling, but Bungee jumping terrifies me.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I like it hot. Maple and Brown Sugar oatmeal.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Hardly ever, the only tie shoes I wear are sneakers. Mostly I’m a clog, slide, mule girl. Anything to show off my handmade socks.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically, not so much. Emotionally, getting stronger everyday.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Real pistachio, not that bright green stuff.

14. SHOE SIZE? 7

15. RED OR PINK? Red wine. Pink yarn. It’s a toss up.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My inability to keep my mouth shut when I know I should. And a close second is my inability to trust my instincts, though I’m getting better at that.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No, just post your own.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Grey pants, red t-shirt, no shoes. I was wearing black clogs, but kicked them off immediately upon getting home.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? A slice of cold pizza.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The hum of my computer, and the sound of hubby coming through the front door and blowing me a kiss. Awwww, isn’t he sweet!

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Probably carnation pink, with hopes of someday becoming magenta.

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Cut grass. Firewood burning.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A potential client at work. He was from Greenville, SC and kept saying y’all, which made me smile.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Smile, eyes.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? It wasn’t stealing, since she invited me to take it. I don’t know her very well, but I enjoy her blog.

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Cold gin and tonic on a hot day.

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Duh! Pitchers and catchers report on February 17.

29. EYE COLOR? Blue

30. HAT SIZE? Small, I think.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes.

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Anything chocolate.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Right now.

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Kisses. Chocolate and butterfly.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Not lemon meringue pie.

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Another knitter with no knitting news to report.

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? That co-worker of mine who ignores all my emails. You can’t hide forever you know!

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Knitting Without Tears. Do audio books count? If so I just downloaded the Secret Garden.

41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Cookie crumbs.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? The Red Sox Report, some of the Mets / Cardinals, Dancing with the Stars, and Lost.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The sound of hubby taking the dog out early on Saturday morning, and letting me get a little extra sleep.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles, no question.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME? Paris.

46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Mind reading.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Boston, MA

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nobody, I stole it, remember?

If You Live Near Wisconsin

You might want to check this out. I wish I could.

I spent some time this past weekend reading “Knitting Without Tears” and now I get why so many knitters are so in love with Elizabeth Zimmerman. She makes it all sound so simple and straightforward. The book has very few photographs, absolutely no color photographs, and yet it is a perfect book for knitters.

Christmas is right around the corner, which means for now I really must focus my energy on sock knitting so the nephews and niece all have warm toes this winter. But after the holiday craziness, EZ and I are going to spend much quality time together and I WILL knit a sweater that fits.

Too Cute Baskets

Looking for a gift for a knitter? Check out these “sweater-motif” baskets! Perfect for holding a project and all the little doo-dads that usually end up in the sofa cushions – stitch markers, measuring tape, scissors.

Welcome Back Old Friend

Some people can knit sweaters. I am not one of those people. Right now, I have two sweaters on the needles. Tilia and Viking Turid, both beautiful designs by Elsebeth Lavold. The designs are lovely, the yarn is a joy, its the gauge that gets me every time. No matter how much I swatch, the pattern dimesions come out all wrong.

It is just so frustrating, certainly not feeling like the “meditation” or “new yoga” that we all know knitting has become. So I’ve come back to my old friend, sock knitting. And I’m using an old friend of a pattern, Child’s First Sock in Shell Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks, by Nancy Bush.

Isn’t the trekking yarn 105 just perfect for a chilly autumn morning?

Please Forgive Me

Apologies for yesterday’s rather gross post. Work and family issues have been wearing me out lately and the weird mushrooms in the yard sent me over the edge. And now I see that haloscan is not working, so you can’t comment. Perhaps that’s a good thing.

On to knitting. Tilia is progressing. Please disregard the blech gray color. It’s really much prettier in person, a lovely blue green teal. The front is complete, but after reading Laura’s post about Silky Wool gauge and sizing, I’m concerned that it is too long and too narrow. Or maybe I am too short and too wide. Either way, pattern alterations are inevitable.

While working on Tilia, I’m continuing to enjoy my iPod, spending every available moment catching up on Brenda Dayne’s Cast-On. I’m listening all out of order, because I haven’t yet mastered the intracacies of iTunes, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. This week I listened to episode 11 and heard Franklin’s voice. His essay on the univited guest is hilarious and a little frightening.

Finally, Jeff and I leave for Florence in a month. It’ll be a quick trip, just one week, but I hope to pack in as much art as possible. I’ve already booked tickets for the Uffizi and The Accademia Gallery. Knitting is art too, so if you can recommend an yarn shops in Florence, please let me know.

Stinkhorns

Sigh. It’s not enough that I have to deal with d***heads at the office, but the Red Sox season is over, we are not in the playoffs, and this

lovely sight greets me in my front yard.

I’m sure there is a clever caption, but for the life of me I can’t put it into words. Any ideas?