« SchmooTape | Main | Dry County »
A (Good) Picture is Worth....
Jacob and I visited my dad in Mount Olive, North Carolina this past weekend for the Fourth of July. It was a seven-hour drive turned into nine or ten hours by lots and lots of rain, bad traffic, and a stop at Wal-Mart for new windshield wipers. (But oh, the knitting time was marvelous -- gotta love that about knitting. I actually secretly WANT things to take longer sometimes -- lines at the bank or the DMV, waiting at the doctor's office -- because I can knit more rows. knitknitknitknit.)
We finally made it. It was so good to see my dad! And I had big plans to take fun pictures of me and Dad, and fireworks, and doggies, and other Mt. Olive-y things, but I LEFT MY DIGITAL CAMERA AT HOME.
GASP.
I didn't realize how attached I am to my camera until I didn't have it with me. I was SO. SAD. (I'm not sure if it's because I'm thinking in the back of my head, "How can I blog this without pictures??" or if I just like taking pictures a lot. Either way, SO. SAD.) So, Nice Schmoo Jacob went to the store and got me a disposable camera so I could document the trip. And people, he got the good one - the 800 speed film, the smart flash. Note to self: Disposable cameras are not as good as digital cameras. Here's proof:
I call this one 'Barn at Night'.
That was my attempt to take a picture of the barn at night. Um, not so much. Here's Jacob shooting off fireworks:
Do you see him? Yeah, me neither.
When I got these pictures back, I laughed. SO. HARD. (I'd had a couple of beers, but not THAT many.) Of course the photographer Jacob cringed when he saw them. There were a few keepers in the bunch. Here's a picture of my dad watching Jacob shoot fireworks:
Do you see him? He's behind the door!
That's right, my dad watched the fireworks from just inside his door. He pulled a chair up. It was the cutest thing ever.
And here's Jacob pretending to knit:
I'll teach him one of these days.
And here's your ever classy friend Carrieoke, playing with sparklers while her beer belly hangs out. Can I get a hell yeah?
Woo-wee! Them sparklers sure are perty!
And here are two of the doggies that roam the yard in between my dad's house and my aunt's house. I never found out their names, but they like to rest on the lawn chairs by the aboveground pool.
Schmoo 1 and Schmoo 2.
It is so relaxing in Mount Olive. We watch TV, listen to my dad's favorite music station on his Dish (Classical Ambience) and eat. I also get to see relatives that I hardly ever see. And I can knit with carefree abandon, because there's nothing else I could be doing when I'm in Mount Olive.
So, I can't really show you the knitting because I've been working on all secret projects. The Jacob knitting picture reveals a little bit. I'll just say that I've started three different projects in addition to the original Super Secret Project (which is now completed.)
One new project was destined for failure from the beginning because I didn't do a gauge swatch and it was WAY too small. Jacob was driving and I was in the passenger seat and he noticed that the object I was knitting looked small enough to fit a tiny child, and he said, I SWEAR, "um, Carrie, did you knit a gauge swatch for that?" Okay, you know it's bad when your non-knitting boyfriend is totally calling you on not getting gauge. When I confessed, and held the little thing up to myself, he said: "You're going to have to frog that." No, really, he said that. It was priceless.
So, the trip was fun times, and now I'm back at work, starting to wind down from my current job and move to my new position. I don't actually start until August 1, so I'm doing a lot of transition stuff right now, writing a manual for my replacement, and smiling at the stressful stuff because it won't be my problem in a couple of weeks. hee hee.
We continue the family fun this weekend by attending Jacob's family reunion in Mississippi. This may be a rumor, but I've heard that there were T-shirts made for this event, with a sewing machine and a tractor on it. I can't wait!
Posted by carrie at July 7, 2005 01:49 PM
Comments
hell yah!
Looks like Mt. Olive was heaven on earth!
Glad you had a good time!
Jacob...what an eye!
Posted by: heather at July 11, 2005 09:39 AM
hi carrie!!!
i've been reading your blog for years (almost:>)...i love your knitting and writing....you really ARE a crafty SCHMOO!!!
Posted by: gaby at July 10, 2005 02:10 PM
Have you seen the new issue of Knitty? Might be just the ticket to encorage Jacob to pick up those needles for real!
Posted by: Teresa at July 10, 2005 09:04 AM
hahahaha! Jacob = good schmoo.
Posted by: Jenny at July 10, 2005 04:09 AM
speaking as a former photo lab tech, the place you had that developed has their channel balanced really crappily for whatever type of film was in that camera. but i really really like the jacob-knitting photo and the carrie-fireworks one anyway. and those are some great schmoos.
Posted by: karen at July 8, 2005 04:18 PM
carrie, carrie, carrie. it was great to see you and anne marie and jacob last night after what feels like eons! i'm sad you'll be out of town this weekend but we will have lots of fun next week singing karaoke on YOUR BIRTHDAY. oops, did i let that little tidbit of information slip out? have a great time in mississippi. i've been there myself a few times. ah, mississipppi. see you soon!
Posted by: nonsense jenna at July 8, 2005 03:37 PM
just wanted to give you a hell yeah for the sparkler pic. and tell you that i snorted when you wrote that jason called you out on your too-small project. :) boys are so funny sometimes!
Posted by: melissa j at July 8, 2005 02:48 PM
I LOVE that picture of you with the sparkler. Beer belly, my ass. Same goes for the story about Jacob's knitting lecture. It makes me wish (for the umpteenth time) that I had gotten to meet him when I was in Athens.
Posted by: susan at July 8, 2005 12:10 PM
HELL YEAH!
You are one sexy gal...you are so hot that you probably didn't even need to light that sparkler thingy. It just combusted in your hot little hands.
And Jacob knows about gauge swatches and frogging...the programming is complete...muhuhaha!
Posted by: Anne Marie at July 8, 2005 10:17 AM
I can totally hear Jacob saying that. If you get an extra shirt at the reunion save it for me!
Posted by: Leslie at July 8, 2005 09:53 AM
HELL YEAH!
It seems that you'll turn Jacob into a knitter yet . . . that's so funny that he has picked up the terminology, and that he'll let you take pictures of him pretending to knit.
Posted by: chris at July 8, 2005 09:47 AM
You w/sparklers: Aw, HELL YEAH!
You crack me up.
Posted by: Em at July 8, 2005 09:26 AM
The family reunion t-shirts sound like something that can only happen in Mississippi. That has become our new standard around here (since we just moved to Mississippi--admittedly from Alabama, but STILL!). Like when we go to a crazy new restaurant and we tell our friends about it. "It's one of those places that when you walk in you say to yourself...'Only in Mississippi'" And people nod in understanding.
Try it sometime.
Posted by: Rachel at July 8, 2005 09:24 AM
I feel your camera pain....I literally carry mine everywhere. It just stays in my purse. Last night, Brian and I went out, and I didn't have it with me, and of course thats when i saw like 20 things that I NEEDED a picture of. It sucked. Thoses doggies are soooo cute, I love their hound-y, floppy ears. Jacob and his knitting critique cracks me up....and I cannot WAIT to see what it is that he is pretend knitting, because it looks gorgeous.
Posted by: Sarah at July 8, 2005 08:35 AM
I need a good long car trip so I can get some knitting done! Looks like you had a good time visiting your dad. It is funny how bad those pictures came out! Thank god for digital cameras.
Posted by: biglug at July 8, 2005 08:31 AM
Wow those pics are scary! Schmoo #1 & #2 look like they have some sort of wierd freckled fur. You must bring the camera with you this weekend, I can't wait to see those shirts!
Posted by: Kate at July 8, 2005 08:12 AM
I'm totally with you on waiting time. Subway delays on the way to work are the best because 1) more knitting time and 2) a valid excuse for being late!
Posted by: megan at July 8, 2005 07:46 AM
so cute that jacob has picked up the lingo. my boyfriend called me out on having too many works in progress -- like i don't have enough guilt!
cannot WAIT to see the family reunion shirts. too fantastic.
Posted by: carrie m at July 8, 2005 02:02 AM
Those pictures are hilarious! Digital camera! Totally the new AMEX. Don't leave home without it! I LOVE that Jacob was ragging on you about your gauge. THAT ROCKS!!! I miss you girl!
Posted by: Lara at July 8, 2005 01:00 AM
cute schmoos! adorable dad! priceless boyfriend! lots of knitting time, beer and food! sounds like you had an awesome July 4th. love the sparkler picture. so funny!
Posted by: shell at July 8, 2005 12:10 AM
That picture of Dad is SO like him...
It's funny how different we are. Today Wes and I noted that here it is the fifth day of our vacation we STILL haven't taken the camera out of the car.
But then again, I don't have a blog.
P.S. You with sparklers = SCARY.
Posted by: Cathy at July 7, 2005 11:55 PM
Ha! One of the few people willing to admit that waiting time is now appreciated! I've had that thought before (my family doesn't get why mom doesn't mind waiting in whatever line) but thought I was the only one! Welcome to the Waiting Club!
Posted by: Leah at July 7, 2005 10:32 PM
Good Jacob!
Posted by: Rachael at July 7, 2005 10:18 PM
Ummm...with you holding the biggest sparkler I have ever seen, I think I'd be watching from behind the door like your dad! :-)
Posted by: sarah b. at July 7, 2005 09:27 PM
Those knitting quotes from Jacob are great. Can't wait to see all these secret projects when they can finally be revealed! Have fun at the big reunion!!
Posted by: molly at July 7, 2005 08:19 PM
The photos look like back home to me! And Jacob's absorption of knitting terms was too cute (and very sweet).
Where in Mississippi is his family reunion, if you don't mind my asking? That's my home state, and I've lived all over it. ;o)
Here's to more high quality knitting time while you're traveling, too! *clink of cocktail glass*
- Carolyn B.
Posted by: Carolyn Bahm at July 7, 2005 07:44 PM
Hey! Congratulations on the new domain! Love your pictures, I didn't see any beer belly, nope!
Posted by: MJ at July 7, 2005 06:52 PM
Tee hee! That Jacob is hilarious! I totally have tears running down my face right now from laughing so hard. Maybe Alex will get there one day, but right now I'm just impressed that he knows to start any request with, "When you finish that row can you... ?"
Posted by: stephanie at July 7, 2005 06:12 PM
What a fun 4th weekend! Your dad is so adorable sittin' behind the door. Have a great time at the reunion!
Posted by: Rossana at July 7, 2005 05:56 PM
Your dad is so cute! Is he hiding behind the door because he thinks you crazy kids will put out an eye with your fireworks?
I laughed out loud when I read about Jacob asking you about your gauge. It's funny how the significant others seem to pick up knitting knowledge by osmosis. One day, my bf was teasing me and started spewing out all of these knitting terms - and they were mostly right!
Posted by: Jenna at July 7, 2005 05:26 PM
heehee! it is so cool when the boyfriend "accepts" knitting enough to use the terminology correctly
Posted by: kim at July 7, 2005 05:07 PM
I can't wait to see those t-shirts!
Posted by: Nicole at July 7, 2005 05:06 PM
I've always sorta wanted to have a big family reunion with it's own t-shirt. I know, I'm nuts. Glad you had a good time :)
Posted by: Vicki at July 7, 2005 04:57 PM
sewing machine & a tractor?!
i so want to be part of that family!
Posted by: elizabeth at July 7, 2005 04:17 PM
BTW, where was Jacob Schmoo's camera?
Posted by: Carrie at July 7, 2005 04:07 PM
We acutally didn't do fireworks this year (for the first year in I don't know how long)so it's fun to see you standing outside holding a sparkler. Whatever the "Jacob Knits" picture is revealing, it sure is purty!
Posted by: Carrie at July 7, 2005 04:07 PM
Carrie:
Sounds like a good time-I've never used a digital camera yet but I understand what you mean about the picture quality. Your digital pictures are so sharp-YOU MUST HAVE TONS OF PIXELS!
And no, you don't have a beer belly!
Posted by: Susan at July 7, 2005 03:35 PM