It's Friday
woo-hoo! It's Friday! It's rainy and gray outside, but it is TOTALLY Friday. Hooray.
We totally went to Panama City Beach for Memorial Day Weekend. Fabulous Melanie invited us, and we had a kick ass time. I didn't take many pictures - I was too busy knitting and relaxing to do that - but I managed to take one or two. This picture is fairly indicative of our weekend.
Woooo-hooo, PCB.
There was lots of game playing (Rock Band, Grand Theft Auto, and Boom Blocks - yes, we had more than one game system with us), lots of beer drinking, and lots of knitting. I may have accidentally started another new project and finished a sleeve...it's the Dollar and a Half Cardigan [Rav link].
oops, I knit a sleeve.
I'm using my yummy Brooks Farm Willow, and it's perfect for this sweater. I will say this: it took me a little while to understand the lace pattern. I actually had to call my personal lace expert to get her help. I finally figured out that I was forgetting a YO over and over and over again. Now that I've done a whole sleeve, I've got the lace pattern memorized, and I can pretty much read the knitting and see what I need to do.
Other odds and ends: I'm doing stockinette instead of reverse stockinette for the panels in between the lace, and I'm also going down a needle size when I do the stockinette panels. I did some research on Ravelry and on some blogs , and apparently some knitters experienced weird poofiness when they knit the lace panels and the rev st st panels with the same needle size. I'm SO glad I read this, because switching needles seems to have totally eliminated that issue.
Once I figured out those initial things, it's totally easy knitting - it even travels well. Which is great, because I've just added some extra knitting time into my day: I started taking the bus to work!
Bus time.
Hee. I am seriously giddy about this. I live about 8-10 miles away from my work, and I'd always assumed that it would take forever to get to work using the city bus. It turns out that it's a 30 minute ride, AND, it's free because of where I work. HELLO. Free bus vs four dollars or more per gallon for gas? I am SO taking the bus. I was actually inspired to research it because of a thread on a Ravelry forum, and I'm so glad I did. I was really nervous the first time I had to pull the little cord to let the driver know my stop was coming up, but now I've done it successfully. (I know those of you who ride public transit all the time are probably laughing at me. I know, I'm a total newbie to this.)
So that gives me knitting time BEFORE work, and on my way home. How awesome is that?
Let's see. What else? My nephew, otherwise known as BigHeadSchmoo, turned two this week - can you believe it? I can't. He looks so grown up!
It seems like yesterday that he was born!
We'll be celebrating this weekend, which means I've got to find the perfect present tonight. After all, I need to keep my status as favorite aunt....
schmoo.
Comments (25)
Just found your blog! Nice sleeve and sounds like a fun trip.
Posted by Jewel | June 10, 2008 3:00 PM
Wow, he is as cute as a button! I totally know how you feel about the bus riding, I think that I will have to go that route as well.... gas is so expensive! Well, at least we are not alone!
Posted by Silver Ilix | June 9, 2008 12:53 AM
You were in Panama City?! That's where I live! Crazy! Not really, it's an awesome beach town that everyone loves to vacation in. I actually live on the "town" side of the bridge and not the "beach" side, though.
I hope you had a great time!
Posted by michaela | June 5, 2008 5:37 PM
I LOVE your sleeve! Yay for the bus and more knitting time!!!
Posted by Purl | June 2, 2008 7:01 PM
aww, Happy Birthday BHS!!!! soo cuuuuuute!
Also cute? your new sleeve!
As for the bus, you are a better woman than I... Although, Adam tried to take public transpo from my apt to where I work once, and it took him an HOUR. Considering I only live 8 miles away, that's kinda wack, so no bus/metro for me.
Posted by Lara | June 2, 2008 2:56 PM
Awwww, happy birthday BHS!
I completely know what you mean about the bus! The first time I ever take a bus on a new route I get freaked out about pulling the cord - what if I pull it too early?! Too late!??!! Congrats on your adventure - and your thriftiness ($4/gal is ridiculous!)
Posted by danielle | June 2, 2008 2:40 PM
I would be completely nervous to pull the chord on the bus. You are not alone.
Your nephew is so cute!
Posted by biglug | June 2, 2008 9:18 AM
Sounds like some BAT/KAT trips to me! Good for you.
Posted by claudia | May 31, 2008 5:14 PM
That yarn is knitting up beautifully!!! Yay for bus knitting!
Posted by sarah b. | May 31, 2008 3:32 PM
Boom Blocks! Do y'all like it? Because I keep looking at it to see if it would be worth it....
Posted by Leigha | May 31, 2008 2:17 PM
so glad to hear you are taking the bus! don't worry. i was the same way the first time i ever took a bus in NYC. but it gets really easy and then you get to know the bus drivers even! fun :) the dollar.5 cardigan is gonna be super cute!
Posted by gleek | May 31, 2008 11:37 AM
I LOVE my subway rides to and from work. It's 40 minutes of sock knitting time!
Plus, nobody wants to sit next to the girl mumbling numbers and knitting terms to herself with four dpn's in her hands!
AND good for you for switching to the bus! Your stress levels will drop, since you don't have to worry about watching for idiots on the road!
Posted by Talea | May 30, 2008 10:50 PM
Such a cute Big Head kid! I think he's grown into his head tho, it seems normal sized now.
Cute sweater choice for that yarn. You rock.
Posted by sil | May 30, 2008 7:06 PM
Yay for taking the bus! I took public transportation for YEARS and still felt nervous/anxious/weird every time I had to pull the stupid cord. :)
Posted by elisa | May 30, 2008 6:41 PM
Ok, lots to comment on...
I have to ask because I hate research and don't want to look it up...what is reverse stockinette? I always hear of it...but sadly, I've been knitting for years and I still don't know.
I love pictures of BigHeadSchmoo. He is so adorable :)
And the bus? Yay! The whole pulling the cord thing always used to get me when I first started taking public transportation in SF. I was always looking out the window in a panic...did I miss my stop? Was that it? Did I pull it too soon? Whoops sorry, I didn't want to get off here. Eek. I loved the knitting time it gave me though. And now I have LA traffic. Almost slow enough to knit in, but not quite. It's such a tease.
Posted by Stacey | May 30, 2008 6:04 PM
I am excited to see your progress on that sweater, as I've been wanting to make it for a while, too. Always good to have the experience of others knitters to guide you.
Awesomeness on the bus. Hopefully, the knitting pre- and post-work will lower your stress level, too.
Posted by Jenna | May 30, 2008 5:42 PM
you are too hilarious. there is all kinds of happy in this post. and damn girl you really put ravelry to amazing use. you shame me!
Posted by carolyn | May 30, 2008 5:12 PM
OMG the PCB pic of you two is awesome.
THe lace pattern for $1.50 tripped me up too, because I kept reading "sl 1, k 2, psso" as a SK2P double decrease, and could not. figure out. why my stitch count was so off. Doi.
Posted by Michelle | May 30, 2008 4:58 PM
Carrie !
The buckfifty cardigan is kicking my butt. I am going to try your needle advice and the stockinette thing might work well, the reverse action I am not thrilled with. I have done the back and got to the decreases and stopped....can.not.figure.it.out!
and the poofyness makes me not want to show it to get help. And it is not even for me so that makes it even more stressful!
Let me know when you get to the back decreases, I am going to start over, after slashing wrists or downing vodka. It took forever the first time with the lace pattern. What tips do you have for that, it seems to be a different situation each section!?!?!?!?!?
HWLP~ME~PLEASE
Posted by Betsy | May 30, 2008 4:14 PM
I'm laughing about the bus. First time I ever road one was in college in Atlanta. Got hopelessly lost. Caught a cab which cost a fortune. Last time I ever road a bus (in US) was in college in Atlanta.
J
Posted by Jane Prater | May 30, 2008 4:06 PM
Awesome sleeve! I've had that sweater queued and now you've made me want to start it again!
I know how you feel about pulling the bus cord... We barely have public transit around here so I feel like a total n00b every time I take the bus in the big city. But just think, you've added 5 hours of knitting time to your week *and* you're saving money to spend on yarn!
Posted by Chelsea the Yarngeek | May 30, 2008 2:39 PM
haha, i was expecting cathy to say she was the favorite aunt :)
Posted by mai | May 30, 2008 1:51 PM
We love the PCB "COPS" show on reality TV. I'm not sure what the actual title is, but it is all cops busting drunk people during spring break week. Ah, good times.
I'm jealous about the bus! There is one down here but you have to wait in the Wal-Mart parking lot and I'm not sure I could brave the whole experience with a toddler.
Great photo at the end of you and the neph.
Posted by Rachel | May 30, 2008 1:47 PM
Awww, I'm really envious of your bussage! I live 13 miles from my work, and it would take me TWO HOURS to take public transport! That's one way . . . so four hours a day !
Posted by chris | May 30, 2008 1:46 PM
i am his favorite aunt.
i like that sweater!
Posted by Cathy | May 30, 2008 1:25 PM