So, our dogs got into it again. Both dogs are fine - albeit a little scratched up. Gah. and also Sigh. Bella has been trying to get at her wounds, and consequently, she has to wear this:

Bella is mad.
(sorry for the psychedelic black and white, but the lighting was bad and I wanted you to see her face.)

The vet recommended putting a t-shirt on her. I promise I didn't do that for my own amusement. Although we did giggle. A lot. Poor schmoo.

I'm not going to talk about the doggy situation because I'm sad and it's lame and that's that. Harumph.

I will talk about socks instead.

Stripey socks for my sock pal! The Fiber Denn yarn is turning out fabulously. I lovelovelove the stripes...

Green + black = STRIPEY FUN TIMES.

I'm actually even further than this now. What do y'all think is a good length for socks (from the ankle up, I mean?) I can't decide. I'm about 10 stripes up the leg right now. I love these socks! I might be a toe-up convert, for real. And the fun thing about this yarn is the striping looks so nice that it's almost *better* with a plain old sock.

The sock also went to band practice with me on Monday:

Rock out with your sock out. Har.

My band is playing at Athfest next weekend, so we decided that a practice was in order. (The Bling Boyz do not have any sort of organized practice situation. Bless their hearts.) I discovered that the leg of a purely stockinette toe-up sock is the BEST practice knitting ever. I might have to knit on stage.

If I knit on stage, I will hopefully look much cuter than this.

In other news: I'm taking two summer classes, and they are keeping me busy. I'm taking two this summer in hopes that I can only take one in the fall (or maybe none) when I'm about to get married. We'll see how it goes...

Posted by Carrieoke at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)

The semester is over! Yesterday marked the end of the semester for me at work, and it was a v. stressful and tiring day, but it is OVER. Hooray! I will probably be taking classes this summer, and a new semester begins next week, but I just feel the need to celebrate the end of this particularly stressful semester. WOO-HOO!

Just to give you a little taste of my day, it ended with me backing into a brick wall and making my muffler look like this:

Apparently, you shouldn't drive with your muffler dragging. Lesson learned.

Sigh. At least I'm safe and now my car is being repaired.

Now I will make a list of good things, which obviously outweigh any badness that is going on right now.

1. I had knitting at my house this week for the first time in ages. I forgot to take any pictures, but a good time was had by all. We drank daiquiris, sat on my porch for a while, and Melanie even joined us! Yay for new bloggy friends. Bella was on her best behavior and got to hang with the knitters for a while.

2. Jacob and I went to a fancy-pants fundraiser last weekend with his family. There was a silent auction and a live auction, and yummy food and drinks. Jacob wore a tux, and I got to wear a dress I got on super sale at Dillard's:

That might be after a few drinks.

We won an $100 gift certificate to Doc Chey's. Yum, noodles.

3. Ravelry. I'm sure you've been reading about it on lots of blogs, so I won't go into too much detail. I've been a beta tester for a little while, and it is fabulous. One thing I lovelovelove is being able to organize my stash (or actually see how much yarn I have - yikes ). It's a great tool for matching your stash to the patterns you want to knit. It's also fabulous to see what yarns other knitters have used for certain projects, and the interface makes it super easy to see that information! It is seriously addictive, and also makes you feel productive at the same time.

Now you're saying, that sounds great! But I can't use it! I'm not a beta tester! True. Frecklegirl and her husband are working their tails off to get Ravelry ready for full release. It's just the two of them working on it, and it's pretty amazing that they've already got such an amazing tool together. Have patience, and keep watching for news about the full release. And remember that Jess and Casey totally want EVERYONE to be able to participate - it's just a matter of time! They started this project because they care about this fabulous knitting/crocheting/yarny community and they wanted to make something wonderful and useful for us. How cool is that?

4. Mother's Day cookout at my sister's house was fun times. My nephew, otherwise known as BigHeadSchmoo, is almost one years old and absolutely adorable. And he said "Jacob"! He's also a genius baby, clearly.

Genius baby with Cathy and his mama, Michelle.

My stepfather and my mom, relaxing on the porch.

Posted by Carrieoke at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (22)

So, Forecast? Not gonna happen by Wednesday.

Here's why:

Swollen.

The short version is that our dogs accidentally met each other in the backyard, started fighting, and when I jumped in to help Jacob pull them apart, I got bit [edited to add: Bella bit me, not Chili. Neither of our dogs are usually people aggressive, but Chili's never bit a human before. ] Really, really hard. I'm okay. We ran to the ER, got fixed up. The dogs are fine - neither of them had a dang scratch. Note to self: don't put your hand in a dog's mouth as a method of stopping a dog fight.

Ahem.

Anyways, my arm is really swollen and sore. I've spent all day resting, trying not to type and I actually didn't knit a stitch. I just relaxed. So, I guess no Forecast in NY. Maybe I'll finish it there, but I probably won't get to wear it. Very soon, though.

Now, here's a rare picture of my nephew looking serious:

He's v. serious about being happy all the time.

Babies make everything better sometimes, don't they? It's been a very emotional and stressful week so far. I'm about ready for a trip.

Posted by Carrieoke at 12:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (49)

It's been ... a week. I'm not going to lie: I'm a tad grumpy. There are things in my life that I have no control over -- things I will never be able to change -- that are currently making me a grumpy. schmoo. Harumph.

But I really can't complain too much -- life is mostly good, and the weather here is freakin' beautiful. BEE-YOO-TEE-FULL. I'm talking 70 degrees and breezy. (Don't hate me, my Northern friends.) And? And!! Spring Break is next week, and while I do officially have to work, I've decided that I might take a short little vacation and fly up to New York. Yayayayayay! Me and my sis are going to shop and hang out and eat good food and visit yarn stores. Suggestions? (Trip contingent on a plane ticket, but I think I'm going to be able to swing it.) It's cold up there, right?

Trip Trip Trip. This will probably mean no Maryland Sheep and Wool this year, but I need a vacation and this is a perfect opportunity. Hopefully I will have a finished pair of Anemois in the mail by the time I leave, and a finished Forecast to wear.

Here's where I am tonight.

There! That's my challenge to myself: finish Anemois and Forecast by Wednesday of next week. Then I can actually wear Forecast in cold weather! It's a plan.

In honor of happy things, here's a picture of my cutecute nephewschmoo.

He didn't like my flash. Schmoo!

Now, a meme.
Stolen from Carolyn.
It's in the extended entry...

Continue reading "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm." »

Posted by Carrieoke at 11:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (35)

I have gotten early morning phone calls from the Pants on several occasions when he's accidentally locked his keys in his car. It happens fairly often. I grumble ... but I always bring him his keys. What else can you do?

Today, he gets to return the favor. I have locked my keys in my car. I THINK. If they aren't in my car, I have no idea where they are and I am a sad, sad schmoo. Keys, if you're listening: pleasepleaseplease be in my car.

Anyways, this unexpected break in the middle of the day + having my laptop + wireless cloud in downtown Athens = blog post. And there are things to talk about, actually. For example: High Energy Jenny had a BABY!!!! I can't believe it! I'm so happy for the High Energys and their new TinyHeadSchmoo. Go on and give her some love! Dude, that kid is lucky - he has pretty kickass parents. I can't wait to give him a squeeze.

In non baby-related news, I've been knitting several different things. I started a Headline News cabled newsboy cap, and it turned out a little large:

Trust me, it was too big.

(Look at that yarn, by the way. HEJ gave that to me last Christmas - she recycled and dyed it herself. It's a beautiful angora wool blend and it's lovely to knit with. She's multitalented, that one.)

So, seeing as how it was too big, I ripped that, and started just a plain rollbrim hat using some Manos I recently added to the stash. Here's a look...

Basic Rollbrim Hat.

That one is actually done now, and I've worn it a couple of times. It could be longer, but it works. I just needed some plain old circular stockinette to keep my hands busy.

Now, I'm back to my pretty HEJ yarn, and I'm making a little mini Clapotis. It might be for a present...I'll never tell...

Do you like my grainy coffeeshop picture?
It's the best I can do right now.

No matter how many times I knit a Clapotis, I just can't memorize the pattern. I always try, and I always end up screwing something up. I will be a good girl and bring my pattern with me every where I go this time around.

Other news? Eh, not much, really. I'm in a Christmas musical extravaganza called "Deck the Halls" -- I couldn't resist volunteering for it -- and I'm singing the lead on two Christmas songs. Are you ready? It's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", and "Last Christmas". Yes, the one by Wham! I was going to resist inviting anyone because it's going to be super cheesy, but then I thought: when else will they get to see their friend perform a Wham! song for an audience? MAYBE NEVER. So I invited my friends. And you, if you're in Athens. It's through Athens Creative Theatre - the website has ticket info.

And that's my story right now. I decided to make some creative Christmas presents, so I've been working on those - not knitting - and just relaxing by the fire when I can. I'm readyreadyready for Christmas break. And also ready for my car keys. Hopefully, by the time this is posted, I'm in my car, driving back to the office. We shall see...

Posted by Carrieoke at 2:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

So my family (lovingly) calls me 'Black Cloud' sometimes because every now and then, I get these runs of bad luck, like a little thunderstorm following me wherever I go.

Like this.

And these past two weeks have been a little cloudier than usual...

The Scene of the Crime.

Exactly a week after our cars got broken into at my house, I came out to my parking lot at work to find that someone had smashed into my driver's side view mirror and left the mess for me to find. No note. Now, I guess it could be someone who had a big backpack and didn't realize they'd done it, but ... yeah. Probably not.

I've decided to try and install the new mirror myself. I ordered it online for $70, and it's on the way. I realize this may be a ridiculous venture, but try and stop me. JUST TRY.

Ahem.

Okay. I realize that my brand of bad luck is actually very minor compared to lots of other things happening in the world, so I'm trying not to harp on it. But sometimes I feel like the universe is snickering at me behind her hands...

In much better news, I'm almost done with the body of my Somewhat Cowl.

Just a few more inches.

I used Wendy's pattern update for a more fitted sweater, and it looks like the waist shaping is going to be perfect. I can't wait to see what this will look like when I add the cowl...

My goal is to have the sweater finished by Rhinebeck. RHINEBECK! I've already got my plane ticket and I'm even going to play a little Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo. SO looking forward to this trip. I'm going to spend some time in New York City - I've never really been there as an adult, so AM and I are going to wander around and shop and sightsee. Yay.

And in totally awesome news, two of the coolest people I know just had one of the cutest babies I've ever seen. Congratulations to MJ and Robert - you are going to be kick ass parents.

Posted by Carrieoke at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Just in case you were wondering, here's how NOT to start your work week:

Wake up at 5:30 am to crazily barking dogs. Get up, check email, look outside, lock front door, go back to bed.

Wake up at 6:30 am to fiance saying that we've been robbed.

!!!!!!!!

GEEZ.

The assholes took Jacob's camera out of his truck. They rifled through my car as well, but there was nothing of value in the car (and lots of trash to go through, serves them right. Although they did unzip my Travel Scrabble game, I guess to make sure that I wasn't hiding valuables in there???) This has been a general trend in our area lately, so we're not totally surprised, but of course you never think it will happen to you. Luckily, we are fine, the dogs are fine, and our computers were in the house. Harumph.

We have renter's insurance, so at least some of the camera will be covered.

This marks the second time my car's been broken into, and the second? fourth? time the Pants has been robbed. I just hate feeling so vulnerable in my own freakin' house.

Here's how I feel about the whole thing.

Sad. Clown.

Here's where my Somewhat Cowl is.

Almost ready to join.

Here's a blurry picture of the show we saw this weekend:

She Wants Revenge at the 40 Watt.

That's how I feel this morning. Like choosing darkness. Har. Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Send happy vibes and sunshine and all that...

Posted by Carrieoke at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (44)