Schrodinger's Kittie

So, I’m sure a lot of you figure I’ve totally given up on knitting. That isn’t the case, though it has been very slow.

I finished up the seed block blanket I was working on and gave it to Mike. No photo of the finished project. I’ll try to get one the next time I’m down on Liberty. He absolutely loved the blanket. It’s the perfect size for traveling on the bus or just curling up under. I certainly wouldn’t use it as a afghan; but, it suits the purpose for which it was created. That purpose being a small blanket for tossing over your lap or used while traveling. It’s big enough to cover you in a bus/airplane/car seat without being obnoxious.

There are currently two projects in the works. One is a baby blanket for Paco’s latest addition. I’ve been designing/working on it for forever, it seems – and, it’s slowly coming to a finish. I figure by the time the newborn is a toddler, I should have it finished. Here’s hoping it actually lays flat when I finish – I’m working from the outside in, which is always a challenge. For some reason working outside in has more issues with laying flat than working from the center out.

I had to order more yarn.  I had no idea I’d burn through so much!  I get a feeling this blanket is going to be a lot larger than I anticipated.  Not a problem in the least – but, when you figure I’m working on US 3 / 3.25 mm size needles…well, it does take a bit of time to finish a project.  Especially when you get a bit bored by the repetitive nature of the pattern.  I do enjoy how it is turning out, mistakes and all.  The people receiving it will love it no matter what it looks like; but, it’s nice to be happy with something you are designing and creating yourself.

As there is so much of just a single stitch (knit, knit, knit, knit…yeah), the project can get a bit tedious at times, so I am also working on a pair of twisted rib socks for myself.  They are being knit on a pair of US 1/ 2.25mm needles.  I lost the band to the yarn so I’m not sure exactly what it’s called, though I know it’s a German import.  I love it…except that it splits like crazy!  Ah well, c’est la vie.  I like how it feels knit up; and, will enjoy wearing them after I’m done…and, it serves its purpose of giving me a break from the incessant knit stitch from the baby blanket.

We went out dancing at Swallow’s Inn, last night.  I’d forgotten how much I love that dance floor.  It’s tiny, but a pure joy to dance on.  Mike and I were receiving all sorts of compliments from people.  It was a little disconcerting; but, I do have to admit it’s nice to have your ego stroked like that, sometimes.  I always enjoy listening to the Honky Tonk Kings.  They are a good band that understands the difference between good listening music and good dancing music.  I wish more bands could figure that out.  They had a good number of people up from San Diego to support them, which I thought was wonderful.  Ken even showed up – which was a surprise.  For some reason, I’d believed he wasn’t going to be there.  I always enjoy getting to dance with him.

As for the Honky Tonk Kings…they will always have a special place in my mind/memories.  I originally met them when they played at Swallow’s Inn in August.  They were the group that wound up causing me to start making the drive south to San Diego and the Renegade every weekend. Which is where/how I met Mike.  Lot to be thankful for, there. Amusing that the guy who the first thing I noticed was that he was in my way has wound up being such an intrinsic part of my life.  Isn’t it interesting how life takes its various twists and turns to get you someplace you had no idea you needed/wanted to be?

Speaking of said fellow…I think it’s time I grabbed my knitting and went and curled up with him for a while to watch one of our favorite shows, “How It’s Made“.  And, if it strikes his fancy, maybe I’ll make a London broil with Yorkshire pudding and English peas (or green beans) for dinner.

Well, I drove down to San Ysidro this weekend to pick up Mike.  Let me just say, right here, right now – very clearly – I am not at all thrilled with the fact that TAP does not have an arrival tracker on its website.  The bus in to Tijuana was 3 hours late; and, by the time I looked up and saw Mike walking toward me I had gone past mild concern and hit full blown worry.  It was so wonderful to see him walking up – as a relief to worry and just getting to see him again.  I’d missed him horribly.  I mean, Skype and chat are great and all that – but, there is nothing like having your loved one physically there with you.

He had stopped in Guaymas on his trip here and visited some friends of ours before they splashed.  I sure wish I had been able to join them – we could have sailed off with them and be enjoying a totally different kind of time together than we are right now.  I love having him here – it makes dealing with my job so much easier.  I mean, it’s great to be pulling in a paycheck and all that…but…Qlogic’s really not endearing themselves.  They flat out turned down the option to telecommute because of many reasons that I managed to counter successfully – including one that was “well, we need you near the developers”.  Let’s think on this a moment.  The developers I’m currently working with are in India.  I’m in California.  Pray tell – how is this “near the developer”?  Yeah.  It finally boiled down to the fact that the CEO just won’t go for it.  Add to that the layoff of 25 people, the move of my testing job to India (yeah the same people that I’m currently working with) and my job changing to a glorified admin…And, some of what I need to do is just not in my line of “quality” performance.  I just don’t do it as well as I do other things.  It will be a stretch for me to accomplish the level of quality that I demand from myself.  And, putting forth that kind of effort for a company that doesn’t give a d*mn is really – well, I’m seriously lacking motivation.  Let’s just put it that way.

At least, though, I have Mike here and that makes me have something wonderful to look forward to.  It’s enjoyable to get up in the morning and have coffee and Irish oatmeal (with nectarines and strawberries this morning) while I sit and talk with him.    Doesn’t matter the subject or anything.  I just love having him there with me to talk, debate and sometimes just sit in silence. 

We won’t be out dancing as regularly as I used to go – probably every other weekend instead of every weekend.  Since we went out last weekend, this one will be a stay close to home weekend.  It’s good for saving money and gives us time to curl up with each other.  Much as I love to dance with him – dancing just in general – a quiet weekend at  home is good for the budget and not at all bad for us.

My son is in town for the next couple of weeks so we will be getting to visit.  I am really hoping they get along well.  I think we’ll hop out to see a movie and maybe hit some garage sales, flea market or whatever if there are any around.  Should be a good time and will get us out of the house.

Omly reminded me of my ginger-cinammon cookies the other day and I totally am jonesing to make some, now.  I was planning on making chicken and dumplings this weekend (from scratch) – and I’m thinking some homemade bread and ginger-cinammon cookies might not be too bad to throw into the mix.  Maybe some chocolate and walnut cookies for Mike.  In case y’all haven’t noticed reading my recipes, I don’t do nuts in my food – so they will definitely be his cookies.

Anyway – back to the grind.  One day closer to Mazatlan and Liberty.

…why it is I hate to shop for clothes.

Well, take a look…Here is a standard size chart for the US. It’s not guaranteed that this is how all US clothes are designed; but, it’s pretty much spot on for the majority of off the rack items in the US.

The coloured cells are my measurement ranges.  Nuff said? 

It was kinda nice when low rider jeans came into style – though it took me quite a while to adjust to it.  I kept trying (and still find myself doing it sometimes) to tug my jeans up.  I can much more readily buy off the rack items and not have to deal with the scrunching and bunching of the waist with the low riders…but, things are inching back up again.  If you notice the fashions coming out to the mainstream waist lines are slowly coming back to to being **gasp** waist lines.  This does not bode well for my future clothes shopping endeavors in the US.

^{Chart courtesy of About.com}