Fostering Creativity and Smartness.

It is very early in the morning (1 am to be exact) and I’m listening to the Knit Picks Podcast on itunes. I stumbled upon the podcast and listened to only three episodes (they are less than 30 minutes each) and really enjoyed listening to her talk. I am very pleased that I found someone else to listen to and knit along with.

I woke up this morning around 8:30 am, fell back asleep and re-awoke at 9:30 am. I got up, did some stuff on the computer and knit a tad bit then went into the kitchen around 11 am. I started talking to my mother and she was explaining how we were heading home on Tuesday so that I could get ready for school on Wednesday. I looked at her, she must be crazy, I thought. Classes don’t start until, I paused. Shit. They start Wednesday.

How this things sneak up on us, I do not know! But damn it! I didn’t realize that I had two days of free, unadulterated time without school books and stress! I am beginning to pack my suitcase with yarn, magazines, books, tea, food and other odds and ends that I brought down to my uncle’s house and left here throughout the summer because of our frequent visits. Now it is time to pack up and I had my last mug of Jasmine Green Tea on the front porch at 12:30 in the morning until next summer. Or maybe next weekend. Who knows with this family.

At the realization that classes were about to take up all my beloved free time, I read (“Chasing Shakespears”, I forget the author currently) and knit.

Here is R31 from the MagKnits website.

It is for the boyfriend. We were flipping through pattern books (this happens often) to try and find patterns he likes and dislikes. He saw this one and basically fell in love. Unfortunately, he went to a friend’s house to do their radio show/podcast C121 for itunes and while he was over, the friend’s cat peed on his laptop case. His mother, as she has explained to me, has tried everything (baking soda, pet deodorizer, ammonia, soap). Like I said, everything! And still, she cannot get the smell out.

Well, the boyfriend saw this, along with the cabled laptop case from Knitting with Balls, and decided this one would suit his needs best. Currently, I am finished the back, sides, base and top pieces. I still have the pocket lining and front. I’d like to have this finished for him by Wednesday so he can take it to college with him on Thursday, but sadly, I don’t think I’m going to have the time to knit and felt it correctly. This will be his “going off to college to live in a dorm with strangers to learn things” present but I don’t think it’ll be completed in time. I’m hoping by this weekend it will be finished and I can take it up to him or his parents can take it up whenever they go up next.

Now we all remember when I was so excited to knit the Ribbed Lace Bolero from 10 feet high. Well, I actually started it once I had my needles in hand (and the yarn of course).

And here is where I started.

I had such an issue with the lace pattern. At first I thought it was written wrong (of course, it wouldn’t be MY fault) then I thought that I was incapable of knitting lace, then I realized I was reading it incorrectly. Bummer.

I finally figured everything out, even though I had to frog the piece several times (I can’t tell you the frustrations). And it turned out great!

I missed the mirror.

The best picture I got. And that awkward thing in the upper left hand corner is my hand and the camera. At first, I didn’t even know what it was.

I’m going to try and get someone to take some better pictures. Maybe tomorrow when I clean myself up.

Hopefully, I’ll get back early enough tomorrow (really later today) to go out with the boyfriend for dinner or tea. Just spend some time with him. Then Wednesday at 8 am is my first class. A three hour Physical Science Lecture. Joy, joy, elation, elation. But afterwards I’m hoping to meet up with the boy for some quality time together.

Next post, if I remember mind you, I will tell the story of the high speed line, Philly, possible gay pride and something extremely Wicked! I meant to tell you now, but forgot to get the pictures on my computer.

The Waiter Story.

This will be a quick one. It is late and I have to be up at six tomorrow morning. Orientation time! I can’t believe school is just around the corner like this. I feel as though I’ve had no summer. God! Oh well, the 3.750 G.P.A. isn’t complaining. This is what it takes to me a Student Leader. Any way, so that means it might take me a bit to get back into the groove of blogging again. But not to worry, it won’t take long and I’ll have pictures.

An egg salad sandwich with chips, lettuce and iced tea. Yummy!

I went on a shopping spree. Old Navy, Payless, another store I can’t remember the name and the library.

My boyfriend and I went out on Monday night to go see the movie Superbad. Great movie. Laughed through the entire thing. Afterwards, we decided to go to a restaurant which shall remain nameless. And we had an interesting waiter.

Now, ya’ll need a back story here. My boyfriend is a Stand-up Comedian. That means, we spend every weekend in a club so he can preform 10 minutes of material that he’s been perfecting for quite some time. This is also important because he is 18. He was in high school up to this past year. He had held many comedy events at our high school. Everyone there knows he’s a Stand-up Comedian.

Back to the story. The waiter, after he brings our drinks, comes back, empty handed. And the conversation goes like this:

Waiter: Do you think you’re funny?
Boyfriend: What?
W: My friend over there says you go to school with her and says you’re a comedian.
B: Yeah, I am!
W: Tell me a joke.
B: (disappointed and kind of annoyed) I don’t have any.
W: But you’re a comedian.
B: Sorry man.
Me: You should come see him perform -insert place here- at -insert date-.

The waiter leaves and our conversation goes something like:

B: He’s not getting a tip.
M: Just wait, he didn’t know it was rude to ask that.

The waiter walks away and comes back with our food in a couple minutes with:

W: Sandwich?
B: That’s mine.
W: Tell me a joke first or else you don’t get it.
B: I don’t have any.
W: That’s a shame. You must not be a real comedian then. A real comedian does improve. You’ll need to work on that.

The waiter leaves the food and our table and us to say:

M: Fine, fine. No tip.

But I lied, we left him a tip. A very good one:

Napkin reads: Here’s your tip: Don’t ask a comedian to tell a joke. If I see you in a store, I wouldn’t ask you to wait my table.

Priceless. We booked it out of there. Laughing.

Mind you, we did this because the kid ruined our very late dinner. We were really happy! Laughing and talking about the movie. Then he comes and is very rude and insults us! Maybe people would not understand this unless they were a comedian or were close to one, but it is very offensive.

So here’s what you all learned today: don’t ask a comedian to tell you a joke. You want to see them “tell a joke” go to the comedy clubs and watch them perform.

And lastly, ’cause I love this picture:

At one of my college events called Fun Fest. This was months ago, but I just found it.

That may be it for a couple days. But I promise, I’ll come back with more.

Oh! And I want to say hello to my Knit 1, Tea 2 swap buddy! Hope you enjoy the blog and I look forward to receiving your package and finding out who you are!

Knit One, Tea Too

Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire

1. Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try? I use bags normally because of easy transportation but would love to try loose tea!

2. What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)? Right now I really love Twinings of London Tea and use Lipton Original to make ice tea. I love most Green Teas and some Black teas. I don’t like anything too heavy though. Currently I really like Indian Spiced Chai Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Green Tea and White Tea but am willing to try different types.

3. Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up). I prefer Green or White. I do not believe I have tried red and am open to trying it. I like some black teas including Indian Spiced Chai and Irish Breakfast blend Teas but I do not like anything too heavy.

4. Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind? Tea Pot. For sure.

5. What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself? I collect small tea pots (tea for one or two) and always like to collect those sorts of fancy tea pots. I’d have to say, I really want to try those tea pots that are see through with the strainer in the middle. I also love mugs that are pretty yet durable.

6. How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc). A good book, some tea, a September night and plenty of free time. I love good treats be it candy (Twix), cookies (Oatmeal Raisin or Snickerdoodles) or something of that nature. I take care of myself and like to do the girly thing every once in a while (paint my nails, put on a facial mask, pretend I’m at the spa in my shower). Otherwise, I’m outside on my porch knitting or reading to relax.

7. If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why? Patrons Merino Wool. I love that yarn! One of my favorites. Or Alpaca because its so soft and pretty. Truly, any natural fiber is fine.

8. If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why? A fair isle sweater. I have no baby to knit for and I do not like fun fur of any sort! So fair isle would be my choice.

9. What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?) An Open Mic at the local coffee shop (I preform poetry) or a night out on the town with friends or my boyfriend.

10. What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?) I am not that traditional. I would prefer some cookies (Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar, Snickerdoodles) and cup cakes (Strawberry). Or some sort of snack I cooked up in the kitchen on a whim.

11. When buying yarn for a project how do you choose – do you buy the one called for or do you substitute? I tend to substitute. I am a college student and do not have a lot of money (or a credit card for online purchases) so I try and substitute, buying yarn more in my price range. I tend to stay away from acrylic and lean more towards natural fibers.

12. What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go? My purse.

13. Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting? The Garden State or The Professional. These are my two favorite movies and I can watch them over and over again and still enjoy them. I also watch TV while I knit like Crossing Jordan or The Office.

14. Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match? I normally use mugs. I only have two tea cups that I use and they each match the small tea for one tea pot. I do not care if they match.

15. Favorite childhood birthday party? Funny enough, I only remember my 7th birthday party and am embarrassed to even think back on it. Nowadays, I go to dinner with my boyfriend and family, go out on the town with my best friend when she gets home from college and eat cake. Always strawberry ice cream cake, always.

16. Favorite type of scone and jam? I like strawberry jam and I have only every had regular buttered scones. But I’m willing to try anything once.

17. If you use candles, what is your favorite scent? I do not use candles very often for my brother is asthmatic. But I love the smell of Lavender, Jasmine and Eucalyptus. I love clean, fresh smells.

18. If you could choose 3 people to have ‘tea’ with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead). My best friend, Katie; my grandfather who died when I was 12 and my boyfriend, Charles. These are/were some of my favorite people to converse with and solve the world’s problems.

19. You’ve been invited to a tea party, what ‘props’ will you wear (formal or casual)? Ballet flat style shoes, jeans and a fun, bright tunic. I will attempt to wear my hair down if it is manageable and I will wear some of my favorite jewelry.
    

20. Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to? Anything with high doses of caffeine give me migraines. But I do not like decaf.

21. Anything we missed that you want your pal to know? I love vibrant or natural colors. I love to knit with Patrons Merino Wool and Lion Brand Cotton. I never have but really want to knit with bamboo, hemp, soy and alpaca. I love addi-turbo needles and bamboo needles. I use straights, circulars and double-pointed needles depending on the project. I love jewelry, especially rings, toe rings and anklets. A good book is a must. I am a writer and am going to college to be a High School English teacher. I am almost 20 years old and am a full time sophomore in college and am trying to find more time to sit back and relax. I do have a tendency to knit during class so I always have small projects on the needles even if I’m working on a sweater. I can’t really think of anything else. I hope my knitting pal has enough information!
    

summer nights, crisp.

Alright. Let me begin with a story. I got busy knitting one day and had a project to photograph:

You would assume these are two different socks.

Got ya!

Ran out (as I’m sure you have notice) of this wonderful Cascade wool/llama blend that I got on sale at the local yarn shop ($5!) and realized as I was finishing the first that I’m not going to have enough yarn to finish the second. And I was correct.

These are my very first pair of socks, though they do not really match. They are very comfortable and will be a wonderful conversation piece.

A horrid close up of the cabling. Pattern from One Skein called Cabled Footies with some “adjustments.”

I got cooking today. You see, I finished the 6th (again) and 7th (oh mi gawd!) Harry Potter books over a span of 4 days. I now have nothing to kidnap my time like I did last week. I felt bored. I had been knitting but was getting fed up because I kept screwing up this pattern (freakin’ lace) and my pointer finger (that I use to knit) is swollen (arthritis in one finger at 19?) and it was paining me to knit.

The kitchen was empty around 2pm and I thought that this was prime to cook. At first I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but as I was going, I came up with this tasty salad:

Looks good, huh?

Ingredients:
-Romain Lettuce
-Green Leaf Lettuce
-Stir Fried Carrots
-Steamed Broccoli
-Red Grapes
-Mozzarella Cheese, grated
-Salt
-Pepper
-Grated Garlic Pepper

Very tasty! Though, if anyone knows of a good salad dressing (homemade please) I’d be delighted to know and try it out.

And to top it all off, homemade ice tea. Plus, what’s a kitchen without Pam?

Alright. There is so much more to talk about. Like my car, my lovely beautiful transportation machine, is currently dead. We hope for a revival. My swollen finger which is not allowing me to hand write or knit without tremendous difficulty. I do not know why this is occurring, though I am going to be real nervous if it continues to progress, as it has been, over the past two days. Also, my late-night, tea drinking parties of one.

But those stories are for another time when I’m not tired, cranky and my finger isn’t bloated!

Night lovelies.