Well hello there! Thanks for the love on my last post. It's nice to feel like someone's reading, even if it's not the ONLY reason to post, ya know?

I have recovered from the nasty crud cold that was going around (and of course gave it to everyone in my office). Theraflu + tea = my friends. and also SLEEP. I realized that I'd been running on basically no sleep since the Christmas holidays, and my body just couldn't take it anymore. So, I'm trying to make it to bed before midnight these days, which is hard for me, but so far, so good. I've noticed also that my bedtime directly correlates with what time I arrive at work. Later bedtime = later work arrival time. Now I know that correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation. BUT, I'm going to make an assumption here that earlier is better.

We celebrated my mom's birthday this weekend! Yay family time. Got to hang out with the Big Head Schmoo and my absolutely adorable stepnephew Mason. Here's my mom with her two favorite grandkids:

So much happy.
Mason on the left, Bradypants in the lap. CUTE.

They are schmoos, all of them. We had yummy lasagna and played catch outside. Then my sis and her husband came up to Athens for fun times, which meant tapas and beers. and wii, of course.

Nerds.

It was a lovely weekend. It's a good thing that the crud went away and I had a nice weekend, because this semester has already started full swing. I'm taking two classes with major projects in both (don't you love group work in grad school?) and then I have to, ya know, work. Luckily, I really, really enjoy what I'm doing and work and grad school are closely related, so it's like one big mashup of technogeek fun. Hooray!

And then when I come home, there is the knitting.

Sleevecaps.

As you can see, I'm still working on the sleeves of my Drops sweater, and I did try the short row set in sleevecap method in Knitting from the Top. My first effort (to your right, above) was, um, rather large. I did the math required in the book, but you base all your calculations on the first measurement, which is "measure around your upper arm." So, that raises all kinds of questions - how much ease? what part of my upper arm? - and I realize now that she probably covers these questions in the first part of the book, but OF COURSE I DIDN'T READ THAT. So, I did the best I could and got a huge sleevecap.

The good thing is that once I saw how it works, I could tweak the measurement to fit how I wanted (see Sleevecap 2, to your left, picture above). I think this one is going to work out great, and man, it looks SO NICE. Much nicer that a seamed sleevecap, or at least, much nicer than MY seamed sleevecaps.

So hooray! I think I really, really like this method, and I think once I've figured out the numbers that work for me, I'll use it all the freakin' time. It just looks really clean and pretty. Yay for new techniques, and learning from your mistakes and all that.

I should probably go prepare for class tonight. Next time: my new sewing nook with my new sewing machine and my new sewing table that my schmoo husband helped me build. YAY.

Posted by Carrieoke at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)

Hi there. My name is Carrieoke. I used to do things like spend time with my schmoos and play on the internet and comment on blogs and knit and sleep and exercise, and maybe sew. Now I do this: workschoolworkschoolworkschool. sleep. eat. repeat.

I thought I would take two summer classes to free up my fall semester, since I'm getting married in the fall. BAD IDEA JEANS. I mean, I'm surviving. And the classes are actually quite enjoyable and I'm learning a lot and all that. I'm just tired. and busy. and tired. sigh.

but. I got to buy a new USB fancypants headset with microphone, because my classes are online. LOOK HOW MUCH FUN IT IS.

jealous?I know you are.
and also, can I take your order?

okay! hi there! so much has been going on! I don't even know where to begin. ooh, I know - we moved my dad back to Georgia. We'd been missing him, and he'd been missing us (or really he'd been missing his grandson, BigHeadSchmoo, and who can blame him?) and it was the right time, so my sisters found him a great apartment, and we drove on up to North Carolina and packed him up and now he's here! yay Dad.

Dad says hi.

Also, my band played at Athfest last weekend, which is like a big fun Athens music festival that happens annually. It was the best show we've played in a long time. There were tons of people there, and the guys in my band may have made three million dollars in fake money with our faces on it and thrown huge wads of the money into the crowd while screaming "Make it rain!" Maybe.

I know. They are totally insane.

It was fun times.

I'm still knitting away on my sockapaloooza sock number two. I finished sock one, and it is lovely. My first sock with both a short row heel and toe, and I'm pretty happy with the result. I can see why some folks don't so much like the short heel - but I'm totally converted to a short row toe. It's beautiful.

Number One, you're the best!

Anywho. After July 3, I'll have a little less on my plate, and hopefully more time for my schmoos and knitting and exercise. In that order. Hope your summer is lovely and peaceful.

Posted by Carrieoke at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (32)

to give you a geeky public service announcement.

Some of you may have noticed that when you left a comment on my blog, you would hit "Post" and then (after a long period of waiting) be sent to a lovely blank screen. Some people kindly tried to comment again, and others just crossed their fingers and hoped the comment went through.

After some lovely Googling and forum reading, it seems that this might have been causing the problem, and, dear Movable Type users, may also be causing a problem with the commenting system on your blog. So, if your commenting system has been buggy or slow lately, this could be why.

I'm posting this so I'll remember it, and also so maybe a few of you won't have to go searching!
This is still a bit of a lag after you hit "Post", but it now goes back to the blog entry (and shows your comment) instead of going to the blank screen.

A knitting post will come soon, and lots of modeling shots of BigHeadSchmoo and Trellis.

Well, I guess I can post one picture until next time...

Here's the one where we're all smiling.

Posted by Carrieoke at 3:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)

I'm trying out a new look for the blog -- let me know what you think. Unless you hate it, and then you don't have to tell me. :) Also let me know if you see any pages that aren't working -- I'm trying to change everything over, but I'm sure I'll miss something. I just decided wanted a new color to look at, and I also wanted to play with these Photoshop brushes (link via Dooce). Yay for nerding out with the blog.

This weekend, I went to Atlanta with my friend Cheryl to see Cathy and Wes and go salsa dancing. (The Pants stayed home to nurse a stomach virus and watch horror movies.) Loca Luna was so crowded that we didn't really get to dance much, but we did eat good food and drink yummy drinks, including some tequila shots. Hee. Guess what happened while we were at the bar? A blog reader said hi! I've never had that happen in Atlanta before -- So. Exciting. This is me and Raquel (hi Raquel! I hope that's how you spell it):

Sorry for the blurry camera phone pic.

Cathy and Wes were nice to enough to get up on Sunday morning and get some coffee:

That's Whitney behind them.

Aren't they just like a Christmas card? Good times were had by all, although we missed Jacob.

I knit on my new favorite project...Anemoi Mittens! I knit all the way past the thumb on my first mitten, and it looked so pretty, and I was happy, but they looked...big. Then, I checked my gauge and my needles. I thought I was knitting with 2s, and I was knitting with 3s. D'oh. Yes, I know I should've checked my gauge WAY before the thumb and checked my needle size BEFORE I started the mitten. Lesson learned.

Here's the first mitten, second try:

Here's the back.

Here's the palm.

Posted by Carrieoke at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (48)

So, the Pants had a birthday was November 28, and we did lots of fun things : went to the casino, hung out with his family, ate yummy food in Athens. We also got up at 5:30 on a Sunday the weekend before his birthday to obtain the best birthday present EVER: a Nintendo Wii (pronounced Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!).

The man loves his Wii.

We managed to get one on release day even though we didn't camp out or pre-order. We just got lucky. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. And dude, I was not all about getting up early that morning, but I am all about the Wii. It is SO MUCH fun. One of my favorite parts is that you can create a little character called a 'Mii' (hee) that you play the games with, and you can make them look like you. So, when Jacob and I play Boxing, it's a tiny Jacob on the screen boxing a little tiny Carrieoke. funfunfun.
Here's Jacob's:

Tiny cartoon Jacob.

Doesn't it look like him? I heart technology. And I heart my Jacob.

Anyways, now that things are starting to slow down at work and my schoolwork is done for the semester, I am really looking forward to more nights like this: right now, I'm sitting on the floor in my den with Jacob and Bella watching Tivoed Studio 60 by a roaring fireplace. Seriously. Jacob had to clean the chimney before we started using it and I'm so glad he did. Chim chim chireeeeeeeee.

Cute. Schmoos.

I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy and Christmas-y tonight, so I think I'm going to go knit and relax with my schmoos. Ya'll have a good night, and go give your loved ones a squeeze.

To the family: I added a link to my holiday wish list on the left sidebar (under the Carrieoke cartoon).

Posted by Carrieoke at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)

That is a ridiculous title for a post, but I do have hair news. I changed up the color for fall...

Red. Head.

My friend from class asked if it was "funk red, or day job red." I'm thinking it's funk red. And I lovelovelove it! Since Jacob's known me, I've always had shortish hair, and he wants me to grow out my hair for the wedding, which works for me. So we made a deal -- I'm growing it out, but I get to do whatever I want with the color. Woo-hoo! (Although -- shh! --- I'm starting to really love having it longer again. But you can't tell him that...)

And, I got the color done by an old old friend - someone I've known for 20 years. Crazy. (The wonders of myspace...)

So. House news. Everything looks good so far, inspection has been done, and we're in those stages of negotiating and finalizing everything. My twin sister came up this weekend and gave it the Cathy stamp of approval. (and also brought me clothes. She rocks.) If you want to see more pictures of the place, I've got some posted on my Flickr account:

[ House Pics ]

Thanks for all the good wishes. I'm so excited about being an almost homeowner, especially being an almost homeowner with the boy that I love, in a town that I love. It doesn't get much better than that!

School is moving right along. The midpoint of the semester is next week - it's flying by! Tonight my grad class was online - which means two things.

1. I got to wear this totally awesome headset so I could talk in class:

I am futuristic.

2. I got to knit while I was taking my class.

The Cowl part.

Okay. I've gotta go study some Flash now. Here's some of my remedial Flash for you. It's interactive! Make the car go boom!

Posted by Carrieoke at 12:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (39)

Hi hi hi! I'm here. I'm a little behind on the posting schedule. Oops. I have so much to say, too, but every time I sit down to post, something else comes up.

So. Here I am! hihihihi! How are you?

I'm great. Labor Day weekend was super relaxing, and nice and long. Spent quality time with both my sisters and got to see the BigHeadSchmoo:

Brady loves his grandma.

and I even got some knitting time:

Silky. Wool.

In addition, I have some sewing to do.I have a super cute skirt just waiting to be finished, and I have a pattern for a dress (inspired by Vibegrrl - scroll down to see the fabulous dress she made!) and another skirt. Then, my sister Michelle gave me some fabulous fabric and patterns for my belated birthday :

Pretty squares. and patterns to boot!

[nerding out]
And, in nerdy news, I'm learning Flash and loving it. So far, I've made a stick man kick a ball across the screen and created a yo-yo that moves up and down. (You've gotta start somewhere, right?) I can't WAIT to get into Action Scripting...
[/nerding out]

So, that's all the news from my neck of the woods. Today is breezy and cool, and I've got a load of homework to do. I'm HAPPY. I love being busy! Bling is playing this weekend (Friday night at Nuci's Space with Badkat and Ishues, for the locals), and there's plenty of time for knitting and sewing in between.

Yay for four day weeks.

Posted by Carrieoke at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Is it Thursday? I've lost track.

School is great. My professors rock, and there are lots of really interesting and different people in my courses. And I get to learn new software programs, and learn about teaching, and be creative and come up with projects. There's a lot of freedom in the two courses I'm taking, and I'm excited. I also got to bring my laptop to class and use the wireless connection in my classroom. Nerding. Out.

I'm also tired, but it's more from a busy work week than from school stuff. It's also the first week of school for the students I advise, so it's busybusybusy on all fronts.

But you probably just want to know if Puppy has a home yet.

I'm so cute!

Puppy is currently being fostered by my friend Jenny. We've had two almost homes for Puppy, and neither worked out. Jenny insists that she is only fostering Puppy and will not be keeping him....

Love me.

We'll see. So, Puppy is still around, and being well-cared for, but he's no longer at my house. I think the Pants realized what was going to happen if Puppy stuck around our place for too long. At any rate, between all of us, Puppy will be fostered until a good permanent home **coughcough Jenny coughcough** is found for him.

Knitting time has been rare lately, although I have a slightly lame progress picture of the silk razor cami:

I swear it's a new picture.

I have a skirt, with zipper, all ready to go except that it needs to be hemmed, and it's actually pretty cute! I've ordered 3 new sewing patterns recently and as soon as I can get to the fabric store, I'm going to pick some stuff out for those.

And I got new glasses. Because I sat on my old ones and destroyed them. D'oh.

New. Glasses. Time.

And last, but certainly not least, we booked a location for our wedding, and it will be on October 20, 2007. We want some time to save money and plan. YAYAYAYAYAYAY.

I know I've been talking about everything but knitting lately. Perhaps when all these new things become more familiar, I'll be able to fit more knitting. I hope so!

Posted by Carrieoke at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (32)

So ... it looks like I am going to be in school this semester.

Hooray! Thanks for all the sympathy and good vibes you sent my way ... it really made me feel better. Luckily, the other program was happy to take me back, and I'm already really excited about my classes this semester. Now, instead of a Master's in Internet Technology, I'll be pursuing a Master's in Education with an emphasis in Instructional Design and Development. This semester is going to involve a lot of studio time, learning software, and being creative. I think I'm gonna like it heeerrrrreeeeee....

Let's see, what else? The laptop I ordered for my first program arrived, and I decided to keep it since I'll still be in school. Thus, I'm blogging in bed. So. Happy.

I checked the battery. It's not one of the exploding ones.

And, Bling is playing tomorrow night (hey Athens and Atlanta folks, this serves as your official notice! Come see us! There's a great Florida band called Velveteen Pink opening for us...it will be fun times. Farm 255.)

Oh. And. The Pants rescued a small puppy from the highway today...and long story short, he's home with us now. There are no plans currently for Puppy to stay with us permanently, but he's going to be here temporarily until we figure out a living situation for him. His name is Puppy because Jacob won't let me name him. Yet.

Puppy wants to give you a big sloppy wet kiss and then bite your finger.

Puppy also wants to play ALL THE TIME with his new best friend, Bella the Giant.

Bella is so HUGE next to Puppy.

Puppy is a schmoo.

There has been knitting, it's just the same old same old : silk tank. You know what that looks like. Knitting has taken a back seat lately to doggy issues and crazy school issues and busybusy work stuff. But it's still there.

Sleepy. Time for bed. Thanks again for all your good vibes...you guys rock!

Posted by Carrieoke at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (50)