Tuesday, January 27, 2009

What's In It For Me?

I received an inheritance of sorts yesterday. My mom has been storing three pieces of Roseville pottery that I received from Mrs. Wightman. Who is Mrs. Wightman? She was my babysitter from the time I was in kindergarten until I reached the 7th or 8th grade.

This Roseville pottery is stamped on the bottom. The vase is stamped with "Roseville U.S.A. 180-6" and the candlesticks are stamped "Roseville U.S.A. 1157-4 1/2". A quick search of the internet reveals that this is the Magnolia collection. The pottery is ugly; the colors, the design, the overall appearance. I didn't realize that the relief was supposed to be magnolias until I googled it. I'm crossing my fingers that Antiques Roadshow hits Orlando some time soon. My bequest is only valued at about $400 so I probably will not rate appearance on the tube. Unless, of course, the Hope Diamond was stuffed inside one of the candlesticks. (And, for kicks and giggles, I checked and NADA).




I'm organizing my knitting. I have plans to finish the scarf (see below) to go along with my cable hat. I'll probably knit one more scarf in the jade yarn and then I'm going to tackle socks. I've decided that I am going to start on double-pointed needles. Let's just plan for a lot of cursing (although I am really trying to quit that bad habit).



I found a really funny birthday card at CVS this morning. I had to buy it. Of course, now I'm searching for someone to send it to. Lucky for me, my father's brother has a birthday on February 1, and he's the lucky recipient. When I find a great card, I feel like I've succeeded for the day. As if randomly walking into a drugstore and leafing through a dozen cards is work.

Curious as to the card? Remember, when you have to explain it, it's never as funny, but believe me, this card is HILARIOUS! The front of the card only has a picture of a man mooning you through a window. Inside, the card reads: "Birthdays are an ass in the pane". CLASSIC!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Any Excuse to Wear My Knitting

Last night, we hit below freezing temperatures; pretty impressive for Central Florida. This little apartment warms up very nicely so I did not feel the effects until I walked outside to my car this morning and saw SNOW!

Well, technically, not snow. More along the lines of frost. The frost was all over the front windshield and along the driver's side door. It had a cute little pattern to it.

As a native Floridian, I found myself totally unaware of what to do. My windshield wipers were not doing the trick. So I rummaged around the kitchen drawer and came up with a plastic spatula. I scraped the windows and took a picture of the snow....frost....that accumulated.



(Do you see my super-fabulous knitted scarf in the picture? I love this scarf - I'm going to miss it during our 11 months of warm weather.)

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Knitting and My Sanity

I've knitted four of the easy cable hats, two in each color. I really like knitting these hats, the pattern is pretty easy. I find I can do it and watch tv or talk at the same time without losing my place. However, I was hoping to knit a scarf to go along with the hat.



The pattern I found is listed as an "easy" pattern. I started it yesterday and I've frogged my work a total of 25 times. (Frogging means to rip it out and start over). Last night I was so frustrated with my non-progress that I just gave up and went to bed. I knew that if I continued to try to get it started, only to make a stupid mistake, I would be too frustrated to sleep. The pattern does not seem that complicated but it is rather hard to do unless I'm concentrating. I picked it back up today and actually made it pretty far before I came to a spot in the pattern that stumped me. After traveling to Knitting Help website, I was realized my errors but it was too late. My work in progress had to be ripped out. This most recent incarnation of the scarf is still full of errors; I'm just too tired to take it apart for the 26th time. Oh well, this one is definitely my test scarf. I just hope that I can finish it before spring hits.



I'm excited for Tuesday's inauguration; I voted for Obama. I know the networks are going to overdo all the coverage but I plan to bring a small television to work on Tuesday so that we can watch it live. My brother, who lives in D.C., is actually going to one of the official inaugural balls, and the President and his wife are committed to making appearances at all of the official balls. I can't wait to hear from him on Wednesday about his night.

Television networks cover things so repetitiously; I find it so aggravating to watch. I hope that I can limit my intake on Tuesday so I don't spoil such an important day with my attitude. Local news coverage (of anything newsworthy) is especially nausating. There are some news reporters that I cannot stand to see on the screen. Also, those scrolling news tickers? It drives me crazy when there are grammatical or spelling mistakes. I just yell at the television to relieve my frustrations. Or I switch the channel to the Style Channel and watch a re-run of Clean House.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

The New Year

I was so sick over the holidays. It started on Christmas Eve with any irritated throat and within a few days I was in full flu-mode. The rest of the week I moved from the couch to the bed and back again. Now, considering that the apartment is pretty small, there was not much else for me to go. I did a lot of tv watching and sleeping. I didn't eat for four days - my throat was so closed up. I went to work on Monday the 29th, and much to my surprise, my office closed for the remainder of the week (with pay). So I got another six days to recover, which I needed.

No, I never went to the doctor. I realize this fact does not allow me much room to complain.

Since this is the new year, my resolution is to start bringing my lunch to work with me, so I can save a bit of money and also possibly help my waistline. Since I work in a small office, this plan either requires me to be a hard-nosed bitch when it comes to my co-workers, or to encourage them to participate. I thought I had accomplished the latter. However, this last week, we ordered out four of the five days. Only one of those days did I eat the tuna pasta salad I had prepared early in the week.

Speaking of this pasta salad, I made a ton of it! Unintentionally, of course. It's really not bad but guess what I had for lunch today. And I still have one tupperware container left. I'm thinking about sticking it in the oven, mix in some peas, put some cheese and crushed potato chips on top, and calling it tuna surprise.

I want to do something wild and fun this year. I think I've earned it. I can't exactly afford to do anything but I do have a credit card with a zero balance.....

Finding My Treasure

Now that my shawl is complete (yarn purchased during the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl in March), it is just hanging out in my foyer until I de...