when nice socks mate

Isn't this a cute sock? It actually has a mate and has been worn out of the house. Who knew that this could happen to a cute sock like this? But it has. There are several un-mated socks in residence currently. When I get around to taking pictures, there will be a plethora.

Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend!
Love,
Laura

p.s. No, I'm not dead and no, I have not become a hermit. I only resemble one on days ending with 'y'.

i knead out

Ok, it's a bad pun, but let's be honest... February is the longest month of the year here in Ohio. I'm thinking about Florida every single day. Or Cancun in Mexico. Think of it... sitting on a beach with a bottle of beer and seafood for dinner. *sigh* Until then, I'm baking bread at home. Nothing like carbs to make an ass larger, but happier.

Double your bootie, double your fun... isn't that the saying? I've started the next set, since I've got to mail these bad boys out to the newest boy on the block.

Aren't these the coolest socks? They have only taken me a few months, a couple froggings and quite a bit of cursing. But aren't they cute?

They are so cute, I had to show them off twice.

shake your bootie!

Note to Pregnant Ladies: Get your name in the pot for a pair of booties. All booties are coming in sunshine yellow or a white varigated while supplies last. Matching baby hats maybe also in the works.

the plague

This is what a sick day at Casa de BideshiGirl looks like. Slippers on, jammies still on, in my new favorite comfy chair looking at patterns. Yep, that's right... baby booties. Did I mention that there are about 14 bajillion girls pregnant right now. Ok, that might be slightly exaggerated, but seriously, watch what you drink ladies!

The Pink Stripey baby blankey is being worked on, even in sickness. No worries, I'll wash this before I give it away. I don't want any sniffley babies on my watch!

Mom has put in a request for socks. She scoped out my sock stash (which doesn't count towards your real stash) and liked these the most. I hope she gets them by her birthday in October. Ladies, please help a knitter out.... stop drinking the water.

Faux Baby Blankey which I have dubbed Fuzzy Wuzzy. A basic dishcloth pattern with super fuzzy yarn. I plan on putting an animal head on top, like a teddy bear. Or llama. I'm not known for my artisic endeavors. Just as long as it does not scare the child in question, all will be well.

The Entrelac Scarf of '07-'08. What wonderful colorways Noro produces. It took me 4 skeins (balls of yarn for you non-knitters) and a ton of time, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed the project.

In fact, I want to knit an entrelac afgan. Maybe next winter. I can't wait for this to be fixed, blocked and ready to show off in person.

Or at least when I'm done sneezing.

when i said change, i meant it

This is an entrelac scarf that Linda H and I took a class to learn to do. Mine has a slight jog in the road, but never fear... my guru says it is fix-able. I love my guru. She is the best. Also, please don't look at my scarred floor. No amount of scrubbing on my hands and knees will make all the scuffs go away. I prefer to look up.

You may have noticed that this is a pair of socks on one needle. I will somehow figure out how to mark it off my To Do Before 31st Birthday List. Aren't they super cool? I just hope to finish these before winter leaves for good.

This is the mystery project. When the person who receives this as a gift gets it, you will get a picture. Fair? It is a wonderful baby alpaca and a carry-along of a merino mix. Delighful to knit with.

This is yet another start to a baby blanky. I'm praying that someone pops out a girl. And that I have this done before that little girl goes home. I have also picked up a ton of baby yarn to start booties and hats, since I know about half a dozen girls who are currently pregnant. I don't have the time/money/creativity/patience to knit that many blankies. So, first come, first serve with this blankey. (Note to self: Don't drink the water)

This little hat has already found a new owner... Nisha's little Maya is the proud owner. What a dollbaby she is!

a new start

I think I need a new start to many a thing. As of now, this thing is going to reflect my knitting. I always have about 14 projects on needles at any given moment. They all need their time in the sun to shine. So, this evening, my camera is going home and The Photo Shoot will commence.

be thankful, damn it

Tomorrow is the 'rents and grand'rents for lunch. No, not cannibalism, hamloaf. I should get alot of knitting on the sock accomplished. Then a movie with Sweetie, who is home for most of the week. I doubt dinner, since we both will eat well. His Thanksgiving will consist of two 20 lb turkeys and one 22 pounder. Plus the sides that 3 or 4 farmwives can make. Poor boy! They will have to roll him out of the house.

On the knitting front, Linda H and I will be making a trek to Columbus on Saturday to take a knitting class. Yes, we are nerds. Knittin' Knerds. (isn't that just the nerdiest? yes?) I think that I have too much free time on my hands and if this keeps up, I'm going to have to buy a tv and rot my brain that way. Ok, who am I kidding? tv is evil and reading knitting blogs all day is great! And with that comment should follow pictures of stuff, like Harriet the Hamster. Or the project du jour. The only glitch is that I carry my camera in my bag, but I have nary a picture to prove it. I even put in fresh batteries. And the cord disappeared. That's alright, since I need less stuff in my life, right? OK, the cord needs to reappear, but I need to de-clutter. Friend Carrie and I were chatting the other night and she just laughed at my clutter complaints. She saw my house in Rajshahi where all possible surfaces were cover, nay, piled with things, while my floors were clean (thanks to a bua), and the same thing happened while we were roomies in Dhaka. And she also reminded me of the infamous 'Dirt-o-Meter'. I am fine with dirt up until a certain amount and then, when that amount of dirt has amassed, cleaning must happen. And that is what is happening right now in my house. The dirt-o-meter rang loud and clear and housecleaning ensued. Just the clutter on surfaces remain. I need to get better. Or hire help.

Maybe after I get a sugardaddy. That would help the financing of a housekeeper.

I'm just saying

Update, or go get a cup of coffee because I've written and I can't get up

So many times, I think to myself, "Oh, I have nothing to write about.... my life, what a boring mess" and then I go off and do something that even I don't consider boring. But I forget about it the moment my butt meets my chair and the computer is on. So here is a laundry list of stuff I've done, but didn't write down (or as much as I can remember, since my butt is having a meeting with the chair):

• Went to NYC with Megan and Sweetie to watch Megan run the marathon. Megan rocks, can we all agree to this? And Sweetie (whom also rocks).... well, he gave up all of his points so that we could stay in Manhattan without any of us giving up a first-born child. My checkbook did a happy dance. And we also met Dennis who is also darn wonderful! When Megan passed out (beware of your salt intake when running), he was Johnny on the Spot and just a all-around good sport.
• The knitting has been good, but I'm still a year behind in projects. Of course, every knitter knows this and works with this knowledge. I have two sets of socks on needles, a Jilli hat still being worked on, a scarf for myself in a lovely basketweave pattern and probably others.... I haven't looked too hard into my knitting basket lately. And I signed up to for an entrelac class with Linda H. for a Saturday this month. Talk about good times. Then, I can start the afgan that I have a pattern and yarn for in entrelac. No pressure, right?
• I contemplated moving to Tonga. This is what reading National Geographic will do to a girl on a particularly slow day at work. Maybe I could re-up for PC and go there. They still have an active program there. hmmm... if grad school doesn't work out, maybe Tonga could be the place for me.
• Gift bags. I won't go into detail of what I purchased to go into the gift bag, but all they need is tissue paper and something that can't be added until the week of giving, but other than that, it is finished. Yeah for being ahead of the game for once. :)
• Grad school application. It was in a while ago, but I won't hear a response until the middle of November, which is coming closer and closer. I've pushed it out of my mind, otherwise I'd drive myself to distraction and then some. I just don't have a good feeling, so I'm looking up other grad schools for future application. Or maybe in the back of my mind I just don't want to jinx it. Who knows, but I'm sure a future therapist will have fun trying to find out.
• I went on my first date in years. And when I say years, I literally mean it. He was a nice guy and it was a pressure-free evening. I feel good about it, even if it doesn't go anywhere and I get a new friend out of it. I've broken that non-dating barrier so that I might have a chance to reproduce within the next decade or so. Sounds stupid doesn't it? Now I just have to think positively and maybe wrangle another date.
• Cleaning out my closet. OK, so this isn't completely 100% done, but it has been started. I got tired of living out of my laundrybaskets, so slowly, the clothes have been finding their way back to hangers and drawers. I've given up on ironing, however, since I've misplaced my iron, but still have my ironing board.

Ok, my rant is over for now. I can't think of anything else I've done lately. Or I will think of something the minute this is posted.

Ya know... I haven't heard hardly enough updates of folks. Send an email or leave a comment with a personal update. I'd love to hear from you and it ups your chance of getting a gift bag for Christmas!

where is October going?

Today was uber boring, so I decided to share. Isn't that wonderful of me? As a professional who is licensed in the State of Ohio, I must take Continuing Education classes to keep my license. 20 hours every two years. And the first 40 you take to get the license in the first place don't count. Bummer. So, today I learned about ethics and risk managament. After 8 hours in class, the summary is this: Keep your mouth closed.

And this is why your insurance premiums are so high and keep going up http://www.stellaawards.com/2006.html

Over all, October has been going fast. Too fast. I have taken 2 out of 3 Toe-Up sock classes down in Columbus and can I say that my socks are beautiful? Of course, I don't have any pictures to prove it, but maybe later. Just don't hold your breath on that thought!

did you read a banned book this week?

Yes, it's that time of year again, when it's a good thing to go against the grain!

I read through the list and I am sad to say that there are a number of books on the banned/challenged list that I have not yet read. Surprisingly, a number of the books I have read off of the list, I didn't read until college. "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison is a great book, but I didn't read it until I was at least 20. Heck, I'm not even sure I knew who Toni Morrison was until I got to college, let alone read her work. And there are a ton of other great novels out there that should remain out there.

So do your part and visit your local library and read a banned book today!