Super Sunday

Yesterday was such a pretty day. I took a walk over to the Publix shopping center and ate at the sushi restaurant next to the store. Sushi has easily become my favorite meal.

A close second is Vietnamese food. Unfortunately, there aren't any such restaurants in my neighborhood. The best places to go are downtown Orlando, which really aren't that far away (20 minutes or so). I dined at a downtown Vietnamese place with a friend last weekend. After lunch, we shopped at the asian supermarket, where I bought items for summer rolls. Next time I make the rolls, I'll photograph it and post it on the blog. So simple yet delicious.

We might still manage to have some cold weather this week, so I can wear my hat and scarf combination. The one problem with the hat is that my hair is so big and fluffy that the hat does not fit right on my noggin. I love knitting cables. I find them so easy and the result is something quite beautiful and it just looks like it was so complicated.



Yes, I'm knitting another scarf. This pattern is well-known on the internet but the yarn you are supposed to use is just way out of my price range. I settled on yarn lower on the cost scale, but it does not matter to me. I just wanted to see the pattern in real life. I love the way the stitching looks, and, when I'm done, I'm going to add fringe to each end. The pattern only consists of repeating the same two rows so once you have the hang of the stitches it goes quickly. However, this scarf will probably require some blocking, and I've never tried that before.



I am going over to a friend's house to watch the Super Bowl. I'm not really interested in the game so we will probably just hang out and talk while the men watch the game. Please don't let me forget I have to bring paper plates.

Hope you are having a great Sunday too.

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!

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.)

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.

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.....

How Cute Is This Hat?

I finished my cable hat. I LOVE IT! I'm knitting another one right away. Yes, I'm going to wear it today, in spite of the balmy 78 degree weather.

Knitting The Night Away

I recently discovered that one of my friends is a knitter. She is fantastic! I've known her for about 5 years and never once did I hear about this hobby of hers. Recently, we haven't been as close, but I'm trying to make up for my non-existence in my friends' lives. When I went to see her new home, I saw her work; she was working a bunch of scarves. Her work was so professional and her stitches were so pretty and orderly and neat (sort of like her). She gave me a bunch of good ideas which I put into practice right away. It was like I rediscovered my friend.

There is no local yarn store near me so basically my experience is limited to Michaels and JoAnns. Michaels had a big sale last Sunday, so I bought several skeins of a wine-colored Bernat yarn (sport satin). The pattern on the label was so cute that I ran home and downloaded the free pattern. It's a cute cable hat (easy pattern - good for me). This is my progress so far.



I love knitting with this yarn; it's so soft and the color is really beautiful. With money tight right now, I shouldn't really spend a lot on yarn. This stuff was $1 off and I had a coupon for an additional 15 percent off. I realize that I'm excited over Michael's yarn (which I assume is akin to being excited over a Walmart purchase). I would not know what to do with myself at a real yarn store with exotic and expensive yarns. I usually pick out solid color yarns, but I would like to find a really beautiful multi-colored yarn. The ones at Michaels do not feel pretty - more utilitarian.

After I mastered this pattern (which might require me knitting it a few more times), I'm going to try my skills at a shawl (also a free Bernat pattern). In addition to the wine-colored yarn, I bought jade-colored yarn from the same company. The shawl will probably be knitted with the jade yarn. I'm so excited about these patterns.

I Forgot

I've had to start over so many times that I have lost a lot of my memories, both tangible and in my thoughts.

Occasionally someone who remembers me finds me on Facebook and send me an email. For a few, I sit on the email for weeks or months, not sure what to write back. Others, I respond to right away. I can't tell you why I do this; but it's quirky. One friend, from high school, wrote me a very nice email about 2 months ago. It's still in my inbox, but I haven't responded.

As I move past an event in my life; it's treated like the pages of a book folding up on top of themselves. In my head, the memory gets sucked into a black hole. I have a terrible time recalling so many things now, and now is when I really want to know. I protected myself to my own detriment.

Blog First, Title Last

My postings suffer because I focus on the title of the post; then I build some type of narrative around it. Because my mind is going so many different directions right now, I've decided to just start typing and the title will come to me.

Our office had a Christmas lunch at Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, where we celebrated with a buffet lunch and then we all went to see the exhibition called ICE. ICE is a collection of ice scupltures (in Florida, yes, ice is a big deal) with a Christmas theme. Outside of this exhibit is a collection of Florida county Christmas wreaths. I had to take a picture of my hometown, Polk County.



Then we venture into the exhibit (really you are just walking into a big freezer). The hotel provides you with a heavy-duty jacket but you supply anything more, such as mittens, hats, or scarves. I brought my knitted hat. The ice scupltures were very well crafted and the room with gigantic ice ornaments was cool (no pun intended).



One room had two or three slides crafted from ice. I had to try it, but I sucked at it - I didn't slide down very fast. Steve said I was out of practice. However, after 30 minutes, the atmosphere was no longer fun and I was just pretty damn cold standing around a bunch of ice cubes. So the nice man at the door let me out of the freezer and we went from 9 degrees to a humid 80 degrees.

Close Up and Personal

Just a quick couple of photos, close up, of my latest scarf. The pattern is a tri-cable and it's really pretty. The yarn is just too busy to show it off well. I should have made this in one solid color and the pattern would pop out. Live and learn!

So You Just Figured Out We're In a Recession?

I have to laugh - the top story on the evening news was confirmation that yes Virginia, there is a recession, and we are in the thick of it. I roll my eyes at this news broadcast because while most of the country is just a few months into this ridiculous economy, I've been watching it unfold for about a year and a half.

Around June of 2007, a bunch of mortgage lenders starting losing business and shutting their doors. At that time, I was in the thick of the mortgage closing business so the monthly reports of friends and colleagues losing their jobs was troublesome and becoming more and more commonplace. So now, 18 months later, I'm thinking that I cannot imagine having to put up with this for another four or five years!

The news is also reporting that here in the State of Florida, we are in a serious budget shortfall, and, in order to balance, there are going to be massive state layoffs. Even if you don't work for the State, by now, everyone should realize there is always collateral fallout. Sort of like six degrees of separation, the massive loss of jobs is going to affect you in some way.

Is it too naive to hope that Obama can take this mess and turn it into something that will stimulate the economy and create new jobs? I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket (if you will permit me the tired cliche) but what else can I pin my hopes on?

If we need to go back to basics, then I'm ready to provide for my livelihood with my trade - knitting. I finished my reversible cable scarf - the pattern is so pretty but gets lost in the yarn I choose. No matter. It's warm, thick, soft, and about five long. I've hired myself a houseboy to model my creation (and he comes really cheap because he's a silly old man - but a really good sport, too). Just in time too, because it's supposed to be C-O-L-D these next few days.....well, cold for Florida, which is about 40 to 50 degrees fahrenheit.