Still Growing

I haven't stopped knitting which one might gather assume from my lack of blogging. Or, should I say, from my lack of blogs about yarn and knitting.


The blankie is coming right along. As you can see. . . .



I'm down to 91 days and time is ticking away. Yes, 91 days. I haven't counted the number of squares, but I did recently measure it. It's approximately 50" across and 62.75" in length .... or in other words, as tall as I am. I'd like to say I knew the length measurement when I decided to record it's dimensions, but I had no clue. Honestly, when I look at it lying on my floor I can't believe it's as long as me. Surely I'm not THAT small . . . Am I?

I'm finding there to be some pluses and minuses to its size. For instance, carrying this sucker around is a pain. There I said it. Or maybe I've said this before. If that is the case, then I'm saying it again. For awhile I've been wanting to put this on a scale, but since I don't have one in my home it's a little hard to do so.

Until later . . .

Some of the Sites Around Town - Part Two

By now you may have the impression that I have something against Millennium Park. Once upon a time this might have been the case, but it isn't anymore. Actually, I've spent my fair share of time there this summer. What I do have something against is taking what I deem "touristy" pictures when I am in fact not a tourist. Ok . . . ok . . . maybe I'm a bit of a tourist. I just feel pictures of the infamous bean and the fountain at MP are shots almost everyone and their sister have taken. Especially the shot of themselves taking pictures of the bean. Like this one . . .



Ok, it's not blatantly obvious were I am. The blatantly obvious ones I saved for Facebook. However, I think you get the point. Personally, aside from hanging with a friend of mine at the pavilion, one of my favorite things to do this summer was this . . .



Soaking my feet in the cool fountain water was nice while waiting for said friend. Yes, maybe a bit silly and childish, but it definitely helped me beat the otherwise humid, hot days. Actually, periodically I found myself envious of the kids running and splashing around in their bathing suits.

There are two MP related pics to share. The first, my favorite piece of art work that graces the grounds -

As much as I find beauty in simplicity, there is something about the appeal of abstract art I can't deny. The second picture is this . . . I know it seems like just a normal building and you would ask yourself what is so special about this? Well, what is special about it to me happens at sunset. In early August, I was at MP during sunset and I happened to glance at this building. The way the fiery colors of the sunset hit the golden peak of this building was breath-taking. It may seem cheesy to read that description, but it's true. I may have to hang around one evening to see if I can capture that site as well.

The remaining shots are things that caught my eye for one reason or another . . .

This gentleman played the violin so eloquently. Made me a bit regretful I quit my violin lessons in fourth grade.














First and foremost, I took this because of S. I know how much she LOVES the L tracks and even more so driving under them. (I believe it's her FAVORITE thing to do in the whole wide world). Secondly, there was just some ascetic appeal to it for me.

I'm not necessarily sure what caught my eye about this one. It's not like I don't see enough "one way" signs in my own hood. Maybe it is the fact that I took this picture while I was walking. Or maybe it had to do with my experience driving one way, downtown street in the wee early hours of the morning what now seems like many lifetimes ago. That was before I had a GPS or had any sense of direction in the downtown area. Did I mention I passed a cop car on this little adventure? Apparently driving the wrong direction in the middle of the night is par-for-the-course because I didn't get pulled over for said offense. Or, maybe (s)he could sense my car was a suburban car which gave me a free pass. Who knows, but I was grateful.


Compliments of The Shedd Aquarium.















And this one as well ->
















On that note . . . Until later . . .

Some of the Sites Around Town - Part One

I've been in the downtown Chicago area a lot this summer. On occasion I've commented to some of my friends that I needed to drag my camera along with me so I could capture some of the sights I've gotten the pleasure to enjoy. So, I finally did. Here are the results . . .

I'll be honest with you, I don't get the appeal of this one. One of my friends commented my Facebook page that it was "kinda weird, but cool." I agree, but I still don't get it. Furthermore, I find it a bit humorous because people are taking pictures in front of it like it's a great monument. Guess it's just one of those oddball (no pun intended) things you have prove you saw by getting a picture by it.


Just so you get the full effect . . .

I laughed inside when I saw this. I feel the expression on the Lion's face perfectly reflects how many Chicagoland drivers feel about the roadwork and alternate routes this summer. Perk up! Winter is nearing which mean an end is in sight - right!?

The next couple of shots I SWORE I would never take, but who am I trying to kid?

Damn Bean and Fountain!

Why did I have to fall prey to you?

Stay tuned for more !

Until later . . .

It's Back!!!

Just when you thought it was safe to ditch your dish rag cotton, it sneaks up on you like a shark in the water . . .

YES! That's right!!! It's the . . . .




Coming to 120 knitters

August 28, 2010!

Endurance Test

Last week, PT finished a 10 day class that is part of his JD program. Ten days of class and then three to three and a half hours worth of homework. During one of the few conversations we had over this period, he expressed to me how burnt-out he was from the class. I told him to think of it as an endurance test and that I knew he could make it to the end successfully. Sure, I know what you're thinking - I would have said that for any one of my friends. That's not necessarily the case and if I didn't believe it to be true I would have come up with other words of inspiration instead. I can't say all my friend could handle something like that. Honestly, I can't say that I could handle such a testsituation. Ten days straight of class (including weekends) all day, PLUS homework on top of that. Hmmmm . . . I don't know.

I've been thinking of PT's plight today because I recently dove in to making the Cookie A. Mystery sock that I posted about a few weeks back. After a few false starts I put them aside and focused my knitting energy on blankie. However, yesterday I decided the time had come to tackle this pattern once again. Ok, so making socks is not quite the same thing as taking a 10 day law school class. Not even close! But I have to say, these socks is somewhat of an endurance test in-and-of-itself.

Currently, I am finished with the first 26 row left leg repeat. (There are two more to do - though I may just do it once more since I don't like super long legs.) There is no way in hell I could knit this pattern two at a time. I'd have myself committed before that ever happened. Or, knitting two at a time would most likely put me in a state in which I would need to be committed.

Somewhere around row 10 I started to grow less and less fond of my cable needle (I need to learn my friend's secret to cabling on socks without a cable needle) and around row 15 or so I wondered if it would be truly THAT tragic if I were to just finish the left sock and not complete a right one. Seriously, the sock knitter that has never had second sock syndrome is considering taking on the habit. Do they call DCFS for orphaning your knitted socks???

***SIGH***

I can do this. I know I can! I know I can!! I know I can!!! (Said the little froggie that could. . . ) Right now, it just doesn't seem like it. I laugh each time I have put the sock down after a few rows because I know a friend of mine who completed this pattern recently would feel vindicated in their feelings towards said pattern. If I can understand anyones plight at this moment - it's hers! Actually, I'd be willing to bet dollars to dough nuts she's laughing just reading this post.

At the end of the day, this is not a difficult pattern. Cables aren't difficult. It is just a tedious one that challenges ones ability to persevere. In the end, I have no doubt that I will at some point be displaying my finished pair of mystery socks on this blog. When is just the questions.

Until later . . .

Expectations

We had just passed the Coach store off of Michigan Ave when I noticed the seam of my Coach purse had split. To say I was upset was an understatement - and shocked to some degree. As many are aware, the brand Coach comes with a certain level of expectation when it comes to quality and product reliability. Since we were literally in the neighborhood we make a U-turn and popped in for a second. Though I had purchased the bag at an outlet store, I figured it wouldn't be a problem to deal with one of their retail locations. I mean, it's a repair on a Coach bag and a Coach, is a Coach, is a Coach - right!? Think again. Turns out the serial number on the bag indicated it was an outlet bag and since it was such the manager in charge wouldn't handle my request. I would have to return the outlet center I got it from and work with that store. Now, I feel the need to point out that I didn't live out in Iowa back then so going to the particular outlet center I needed to go to wasn't as convenient as it is now. Alas, I went. In the end I decided to return the bag and found a "real" (or at least that is how I believe my manager friend would describe it) Coach bag for around the same price.

Funny enough, six months after I purchased the "real" Coach, we passed by the Coach store on Michigan Ave once again. As we joked about the experience I had had the last time we were there the strap broke on my "real" Coach. (I kid you not.) Once again, we did a U-turn and popped in. As they surveyed the damage, I relayed my story from my last visit. The staff looked horrified and asked whom I worked with. I couldn't recall the name as I had been so traumatized by the experience I apparently repressed the image of this person. All I could tell them was it was a guy and the time period in which the incident had taken place. They apologized profusely. This time my options were to send the bag out for repair or take a credit towards the purchase a new one. I decided to purchase a new one (a decision I later regretted as I've never found another bag like the one I traded-in). However, I do still like the one I got - even though now my wallet wouldn't even fit in it.

All said and done, my second visit to that Coach store location reinforced the expectations I had always associated with the brand. However, even until this day I still remember that one bad seed I encountered and being made to feel lesser than some.

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Lifetime guarantee. Apparently, the Eddie Bauer backpack I purchased my freshman year of college came with a "Lifetime guarantee." (I just learned this the other day.)

When I purchased the backpack I thought spending $50 for it was a bit on the pricey side, but I justified the expense as "treating" myself. I figured if I had to spend at the very least close to $100 per a text book the least I could do was a have something nice to carry them in. I never imagined I'd still have it 16 years later. Yep, I still have it. Well, sorta. The zipper recently broke and you can see it's not new by any means. This is one of those items that I would say has "seen war." It's been through practically everything with me. It's been taken on planes . . . on trains . . . and (most definitely) automobiles. It's carried all kinds of things - Text books, my crap when I've moving and laptops and work items when used as my "briefcase." Most recently it was my knitting bag. It provided a safe environment for blankie. Actually, the only reason blankie got a new bag had do with the fact that I was starting to anticipate problems with my backpack's zipper and the last thing I wanted was for blankie to get caught in the zipper.

Since it had lasted so long, I figured I'd make the investment once again in an EB backpack. As I was browsing the site I noticed the words, "Lifetime Guarantee." This made me wonder if my broken-zippered bag was covered as well. So I called customer service. After my pathetic rambling about how I had the bag for 16 years and how the zipper had broken I asked in a sheepish voice, "Can I get it fixed? Is it covered by the lifetime guarantee?" The customer service rep on the other line immediately asked me for my name and address so they could send me a return slip and address label. Upon receipt they would inspect the bag to determine whether it would be replaced or refund my money for the last known price.

I realize this means that I could potentially received a check in the amount of $2.00 for said bag, but I figure that's better than dumping it in the trash and getting nothing. At the end of the day, I'm impressed that even after 16 years a company is willing to standby their product and honor their promise. It's one of two reasons the next time I purchase a $50 backpack from Eddie Bauer I won't be justifying my actions. Instead, I will be repeating this story and people will just immediately understand.

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About three weeks ago I got some madelinetosh sock yarn from a destash sale at a local yarn store. I was jazzed! I paid practically nothing for it - $8 to be exact. For anyone who knows the price of madelinetosh that mean I basically save around 70 - 75% of the retail cost. (Just try calling me a spend-thrift . . . I dare you!)

Since it came from another home I decided to soak it in some wool wash, air dry and then freeze it in an effort to kill any undesirable bugs or such. Now I don't normally do this with yarn purchased at a LYS where it has most likely been petted time-and-time-and-time again by many knitters, but I felt the need to cleanse it as I wasn't privied to the type of home it came from.

During this process there was a lot of color bleeding. I mean A LOT. The only other time I had seen this much color bleeding was with yarn I had hand dyed. I expected it from my dyed yarn since I am not a professional dyer by any means, but from well known commercial dyers . . . not so much. Isn't that part of what I'm paying for? Ok, I'll put it like this. If I get inexpensive yarn at JoAnn's or Michael's and the quality is lacking I don't make too much of a fuss about it. However, once I start shelling-out more cash my expectations increase as well.

Especially with hand dyed yarns. Yes, I guess I accept there could be some color bleeding, but the amount I had was unreal to me. It was enough that made me glad I didn't put it in the wash with any of my clothes. Surely there will be more when I go to wash it again. So, like most I decided to contact the dyer directly through their site. I explained the situation and had a simple question - "Is this normal?" After several days of waiting for an answer without success I turned to the Ravelry forum regarding this matter. Yes, apparently this is normal. Apparently, part of buying this yarn is either soaking it in vinegar to set further, switch wool wash should mine be scented or just accept it as it is hand-dyed.

Now, like I said earlier, this isn't the first time I've purchased hand-dyed yarn. That's actually most of what I purchase actually. Furthermore, I've actually taken a tour of a well known dye studio. One of the things the owner talked about was the process of rinsing the yarn so it didn't bleed once in the hands of consumers. Now, I've used this particular yarn as well and I can tell you - it doesn't bleed when washed

Now, I'm not looking to trash this particular brand of yarn. Actually, I love their colors immensely. I'm just trying to understand why it's ok to expect me to pay close to $30 (non-destash/sale pricing) for yarn to then have to take further steps to prevent dyes from staining my sinks, towels and potentially my clothes.


My point of all these stories is to demonstrate that if a brand would like to reap the benefits of being known as a quality, well respected brand they should consider the expectations of their customer . . . and live up to them.

Until later . . .

Be Careful What You Wish For

... because you just might get it.

It's an age-old adage - and one that popped into my head as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

"If he had cheated on me it would have been easier to end it." Those were my words. (Or, at least a paraphrase of what I said.) A 5-year relationship was ending because we had differences that couldn't get worked-out and I felt that had he cheated on me it would have made things "easier."

Fast-forward . . .

Sadly, I've been cheated on since then and I'm here to say it doesn't make it as easy as I had once proclaimed it would. Actually, to some extent I feel it made things harder.

Maybe it had something to do with the amount of lies involved in the cheating, loss of trust or even the fact that one party decided to stray rather than trying to work things out. At least in the former life, we gave it the old college try by seeking outside help. This time around, not so much.

Ever since her first book "Something Borrowed," I've been a dedicated fan of Emily Giffin's. So, when I heard about the release of her fifth book - "Heart of the Matter" - I was beyond excited. I had attended a book signing in her hometown of Naperville, IL two years prior and planned with much anticipation to attend this time around as well. Not even bad weather would stop me.

In the weeks leading up to the book signing, I feverishly scoped out as many reviews and press releases on HOTM as I could. It was upon reading the first review that I found out what the book was about and in that moment, my excitement became dampened. Without giving out too many spoilers, the book is about infidelity, forgiveness and trust. It's about the moments in life that change the course of our life and the decisions we make that aren't necessarily on the up and up or lead us to the bumps in the road we'd rather avoid.

The book signing came and went. (This past May to be exact.) Since that time the book has sat patiently on my dining room table waiting to be cracked open, but I couldn't do it. I was afraid of what the words inside the hardcover binding said and the memories it might bring to the surface of my soul. Recently I decided it was time to face the words had dreaded all this time . . .


For me, HOTM encompasses so much more then any review I have read thus far can even express. From start to finish, this story took me on a journey through a point-in-(my life)time that I have otherwise chosen to try to forget. Or, at the very least not dwell on and let mandate my present. (A task at which I do not always succeed.) Though the events are not identical the authenticity of the story is amazing. As the story progressed I often found myself thinking, "Exactly!" or "Yep, that's how they all respond or rationalize their actions." I found myself trying to feel sympathy for the cheatee, but knew my bias point-of-view would never allow me to fully understand her plight. And, at times, Ms. Giffin's words stopped me dead-in-tracks wanting to know how she knew exactly how I had felt or had been thinking. Overall, the story made me question who was really to blame in this triangle. . . the cheater? The cheatee? The cheated? Or, how about all three? (BFF and I had a few intense e-mail exchanges on this one!) However, more importantly for me this book's story has served as a stepping stone to understanding and managing my own feeling about what happened to me all those years ago. Furthermore, I solidified my belief that there is nothing "easy" about ending a relationship no matter how "cut and dry" the answers may seem. Every decision leads you down a different path and it is where your heart leads you that often dictates the direction you take. Also, it has given me a sneak-peek (of sorts) into the minds of the offending parties - a perspective I've never been privy to before. It made me start to wonder for a moment what types of justifications I would have gotten from the cheater and cheatee had I ever gotten their take on things.

Lastly, I'd like to think that all this has (potentially) taken me another step closer to forgiving the "supporting cast" of my story, but I can't say, with confidence, that it has or that I ever will forgive them. What I can say, with confidence, is that it has made me more cognizant of how much my heart has truly mended since everything took place and the strides I've taken in opening up to the idea that there are truly good (worthy) people out there that deserve a place in my life, and heart, more than those that had their chance.

Until later . . .

It's A Mystery To Me

I let a friend decide which sock I was going to make by posing a simple quesetion - Dream In Color or Socks That Rock? She choose Dream In Color which meant my next pair of socks will be the Sock Knitters Anonymous May Mystery Sock designed by Cookie A. I know . . . I know . . . another Cookie A. pattern. Both pattern options were Cookie patterns. The pattern for the STR came with my November 2009 sock club kit. I guess you can say I'm a bit of a Cookie (A.) Monster lately.

All puns aside, I really liked the pictures of finished socks I've seen thus far. So, I snagged the Dream In Color yarn. Colorway: Visual Purple. During the yarn winding process there was a HUGE yarn barf situation. In retrospect, I believe using my swift would have avoided that problem. If you don't know what "yarn barf" is simply put it is when the yarn gets all tangled and becomes one big, messy knot. The untangling process can be a frustrating one.

After getting everything untangled and caked, I then tried splitting the yarn into two cakes so I could once again make two-at-a-time. Let's just say they definitely aren't the same size and I may need to borrow a few yards from the larger cake as I make my way into the home stretch of this project.

With two cakes in hand I tried starting the pattern. Already I'm thinking part of the mystery of this sock is how to get it started. I'm also starting to wonder if I should even continue down the path of making this sock because I don't seem to be having much luck with any aspect of it thus far. However, my stubborn nature won't let me give up . . . at least not at this time.

It's not that the sock is complex. The "different" thing about it is that it doesn't start with a tradition cuff. It immediately starts off with a chart pattern. I'm sure I'll be fine with the charting once I get going. It's just getting started that seems to be the problem.

In honor of these mystery socks I'm making, I thought I'd put together a "It's a Mystery To Me" list.

So, it's a mystery to me . . .

• Why the theme of infidelity was all I seemed to encounter yesterday - conversations, books and tv talk shows.

• How strangers can become people you really care about without even realizing they have become so important.

• How those you really cared about can become strangers without realizing they have become so.

• Why I loosened the security setting on my Facebook account ultimately allowing more information to be accesses by certain people it wasn't available to before.

• What the purpose to all this is.

• That I can support someones decision even though I don't morally or ethically agree with their actions.

• Why I had to be the one to take care of it.

• Why people get on chat and then put on a "Do not disturb" status message.

• When, and if, this uber-humid weather will ever let up and allow us to really enjoy at least a few days this summer.

• Why I care sometimes.

• What some people have in their lives outside the obvious.

• That I even want to expose myself to it knowing it hits so close to home.

• If I'll ever be able to look beyond the current awkwardness.

• How quickly time passes.

Until later . . .

Update On That Blankie Project Thing

With all the socks I seem to be cranking out and lack of blankie updates one might begin to wonder if I've case it aside. The answer - nope. I'm just not working on it as much so the changes aren't as significant as they were back in, say, the beginning of the year. Since this is the cast here are some questions I've been getting from folks lately

Have I met the the 736 square mark?

Yep, and then some. I haven't counted in a few weeks so I don't have an exact number. However, I can say with 100% confidence I'm past 736.

As I've mentioned in prior posts, I've opted to increase the length of blankie that is why I can't move on to phase two right now.

Any current photos?

I'm trying to figure out how to take a picture of it. It's not like the "old days" when I could just stick it on my ottoman or dining room table. I guess I "could" drape it on my bed (you know where I intend to keep it once it's done) and attempt to photograph it there - but that seems to practical. At least for me.

Still bringing it along with you to knit group?

Most of the time, but not as often as I use too. This is mainly due to the fact that I'm not solely working on this project. Actually if I bring two projects with me I actually have a tendency to work on the other one and not blankie. Also, this thing is getting a bit heavy! One of these days I'm going to weigh it just for kicks. Every time it rolls-up I feel like it's a sleeping bag. Not as long, but feeling just as thick.

Do you miss swapping?

Yes! I've been helping a friend learn the swapping ropes so I am living vicariously through her swapping experiences. I'll also be helping her run her first swap soon.

Well, I believe that is all. Hopefully at the next update I'll have pictures to share.

Until later . . .

This Is What Happens

This is what happens when I have a bad weekend . . .



Until later . . .