FiberTribe

Quick Update

Just a quick update on borrowed computing time, my house was burglarized yesterday and my laptop was among the things stolen so it may be a while before I can post regularly. I know. Don't say it. Don't even think it. Even I am afraid of my own cooties at this point. ack. The saddest part is that I did not back up my hard drive so all my pictures, including those of Bhutan are gone. And of loved ones also now departed. What can I say? Take the lesson from me and go forth and back up thy hard drive NOW.  Elsewise, there wasn't much else to steal, some silver jewelry and a few nice costume pieces.  of course there's the delightful thought that they may come back again, which they often do in my neighborhood.   

Alarm company you say? Oh, yes, I have one and they called the police. But the police were not even dispatched for another 20 minutes and so the burglar wasn't caught. you see the alarm company knows precisely when he/she left the house. By the front door. lovely, eh?

Ah, well.  I WOULD welcome some advice about software and hardware for backing up either a microsoft os pc or a mac. I'm looking at PowerBooks but they are pretty expensive compared to the Toshibas (what i had) and the Sony Vaios.

Thoughts, you guys? Hug your hard drive for me, 'K?  Mwah.

(I feel like I'm in looking glass land, ya know? 'scuse the disjointedness of the above)

WYSIWYG is Back

Whew.

Here's a gratuitous picture from Bhutan. Just because.

WTF? Where did WYSISYG go?

'Scuse the run on paragraphs below. WYSISYG has gone missing from typepad, evidently... Along with the ability to link or add pictures. ???

Not Making Nice

Life, that is. Look. I will not descend to whining and regular programing will resume tomorrow, but I've gotta tell you true, when even your teacher recommends a book to you with the title, When Everything Falls Apart, you know it's not just your imagination that life has been sucking the Grand Wazoo of late. What stings the most is that while I am usually the giver, the nurturer, I've been ever so slowly venturing into the land of asking (gingerly, softly) for help or company when I need it. And you see it coming, don't you? Yup. Zip. Nada. Mind you, I firmly believe it is better to know who you're dealing with than not. So it will all be to the good in the end. But this is one time I would have given much not 'know' what I knew when I asked. I got so clearly, even as the "I'll be right overs" were said that no such thing would happen. Claircognizance is no barrel of laughs, my friends. On the good side? I will have much more time for knitting, for reading, for contemplating what comes next in this funny life I've evidently signed up for. Am thinking that I need to do something for others, maybe some more Dulaan work, dunno. Maybe set up the Bond knitting frame and also have a little finishing party for all the un-seamed sweaters lying langorously in my bins. And a few weekend getaways, ya think? So I'm off for a nice scalding shower to ease the lovely bones. thanks for listening. I hate when Nietzsche turns out to be right about anything, don't you? Mwah.

My Raveled Sleeves of Care...

Yes, I am knitting them up... These are the sleeves for the criss-cross sweater, pattern number 5 in the most recent Vogue Knitting.  The color is not the red orange above, but purest, reddest, red. It's Berrocco Cotton Twist, which for all its splittiness is knitting up quite nicely. But it's clearly in need of some serious blocking. The sleeves are knit in straight stockinette because there is a picot edging applied later.   Sleeve island, you say?  Nah, say the quickest knit ever. VERY gratifying when I seem to be unable to make much progress in any other area of my life, ya know? 

I'm exaggerating but if you have noticed my blog-absence it's been due mostly to very low energy from the ongoing frozen shoulders and lack of sleep therefrom. heh.   Good news is that I am finally making some progress and have had a few decent night's sleep. I sleep therefore I blog, eh?

and I dreamt I was apartment hunting in Philadelphia because I was going back to grad school. Huh? Where did that come from?  And then there was the derailed Amtrak train just below the surface of the water of a river that had flooded a hillside so recently that the green grass of the hillside was still visible through the shallow water along with the empty train.  Don't you just love the subconscious?

I'm not good with dream interpretation but if you want to have a go at it, go for it. For myself, Ok, guides, could you just dispense with the obfuscation and go back to the neon letters across the sky? It's ever so much easier....

Buy More Yarn

Oh, yes, I did, my peeps... Red Berro*cco Cotton T*wist for pattern number 5 from the most recent Vogue. Go see SiowChin's beautiful version (May 2nd post) and you'll see why I had to do it.  OK, it's not Calmer but it's about the same watermelon-y shade of red.  What do we do when we're in a rut, restless as hell, and incapable of tackling anything that would instigate meaningful progress in life with a capital L?  We buy more yarn, yes we do. And contrary to ol' Vicki, we are definitely amused.

The only gummi bear in the works is the fact that Cotton T*wist is very splitty, which fact I overlooked before buying it. But the price is good, $50 exactly for a lovely top, in stock at the LYS, and hopefully the 30% viscose will make it as shimmery and drapey as the silk called for in the pattern.

And I am coveting the lacy hoodie (same Vogue issue) that Iris is making (I actually have some stash Vittadini Lara (a light cotton tape yarn) in palest, almost white aqua for it) and the Shirley Paden flame cardi Rachael recently adapted so beautifully.   I'm thinking a no-thinking, much-knitting weekend getaway. Pity I'm such a slow knitter but what the hell.

Oh. And the Boy has adopted a kitty left behind at the apartment complex where he lives. Her name is Mischief and she is the most adorable and mannerly kitty ever. Present feline company, yours and mine, excluded. heh. So a kitty bed is on the list, too.   One day soon, my lovelies, pictures will be posted. mwah...

Double Happiness Pals

Double happiness 'cause I've been doubly blessed (no, not barely 17 and barely dressed, heh*) by the Secret Pal who gifted me,  Becky of The Attention Span of a Gnat and by getting to know and gifting Mary of The Wool Palace. Go. Visit and get to know them. They so totally rock. I swear Becky is telepathic in her choices of gifties. And Mary holds up the knitterly side so well over Clapham way...she's been a great sport in not looking too hard to find out who her colonial SP mate was.

The knitting blogiverse is so perfect. It would likely have taken me much longer to find both these incredible women if left to my own lame noodling around the web.  So here's to Triple Happiness Bun with a big shout out to the SP Mistress with the mostest...Jacqueline of Norge Thingy. Yes, another wondrous Toronto knitblogger. What are they feeding them up there, eh?

Clarity + MWAH

First, the MWAH to all of you for your funny and serious and true comments. and also to those who winced and couldn't comment because after all, what can you say sometimes? The support vibes are felt and mean a lot. 

And the clarity? I've lately been asking a lot for clarity about so many things. So a word to the wise, chicas, if you ask then be ready for it when the view opens up smacks you ever so gently between the eyes.

Sitting down? Actual knitting has taken place. I cast on for this pullover in Sesamo. but there will be major mods, like:   short sleeves, no three bands of garter stitch color to draw the eye to FiberTribe's ahem, generous hips, and added waist shaping because FT, she is not, shall we say, box shaped? Heh. And I'm knitting it in the round.  Of course, now I am ransacking the house for another pair of size 10 circs so I can cast on for the sleeves since they'll be such immediate gratification. 

The color is #26, take a look here. Click on the image and you'll see it in all it's larger glory. I'm loving it 'cause most of my wardrobe is black and it will wear on into the heat that is fall in Miami. But tell me true, don't you want ALL those colors?

Pictures when I get back to the ranch.