Tell Me To Go To Bed.

I'm tired, I have nothing really to write about and I need sleeeep!

What am I still doing up??

Good night.

Where Has This Week Gone?

I've been busy. It's been a week since joining the gym. I've worked out daily, except for Sunday and today. I've walked 1-2 miles daily, biked about 3-5 miles daily and strength-trained every other day. I also had the pleasure of taking a water aerobics class with 20 of my closest 65-80 year old friends. One woman asked if I was their new instructor! Hehee. No.

I've lost 2.5 pounds. Disapointing. This happens to me everytime I start to diet. It's like my body tries to hold on to the fat, but once it realizes that I don't need it, it comes off easier. Luckily, I'm not doing it for the weight loss. My diet has improved, I'm not eating nearly the amount of sugar as I was and I'm not really craving it either. I'm sleeping better. This experience has been everything I had hoped.

In other news, I started yet another project. No, it's not a baby sweater. It's a sweater for Hubs! Sleeves are done, and I'm working a simple stockinette body in the round. I've been working on it everywhere- walking to the doctor's office, walking around IKEA today, at SnB last Weds. It's a simple project.

Val also inspired me to work on my MS3. Go check out her's (scroll down. And take a peek at those socks...awesome.)

Third Forest Canopy Shawl- DONE.

Finished shawl.

Beautiful.

Stats:

Forest Canopy Shawl, the best damn first lace project ever.

Using Schaefer Yarns 100% silk. Don't ask the colorway, I have no idea. I got this goodie in the yarn swap I did last month.

Needle: size 8 Denise interchangables

I started and finished this project in less than a week. Yeah, sweet!

It's the perfect decoration for a family member's shoulders. I can't wait to see who wins it!

Proud Owner.

I'm a proud owner of a HealthTrax gym membership.

I worked out for an hour and a half today. Walked, biked, and lifted. I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it feels.

I really wanted to swim, but The Boy had diaper issues and they don't change them so I had to stop towards the end of lifting to take care of that. Once he saw me, he wasn't letting me out of his sight. The day care attendant said that he cried a bit when he noticed me gone, but got preoccupied, cried again when he started to miss me, then got preoccupied. They commented that I should have started him off slower- come for 20 minutes one day, then 25, so on and so forth. Um, yeah. That would have been a great idea if I had thought of it. (One more strike in the "mom's going to hell" list.)

More later, I took photos of the silk shawl and it's beautiful!

A Decision Has To Be Made.

I feel good after last night's beating. I mean, workout. A little sore, but it feels like my muscles are just waking up.



I need to decide a few things, both with this workout stuff and with knitting stuff.



First, the workout. I need to join. But it's expensive. I wish I could grab a crystal ball and see if I will continue going in 7 months. If I do, then it's worth it. If not, I'd have wasted a ton of cash.



Second, knitting. I have to decide if I'm going to rip or continue with MS3. I'm stuck on clue 3. Not stuck- as in, I can't figure the pattern out, but stuck- as in, I've seen the wing portion for the stole (and hate it), I can't go on. I think if I did it as a symmetrical stole, then grafted, it would be ok. But I've never grafted more than 15-20 stitches and I have no idea how it will look.



I also want to do a pair of monkey socks- yes, I said socks, and I need that needle.



Should I rip or continue then graft or put it on another needle and put the whole project on hold?



BTW, I finished another Forest Canopy Shawl. I totally rocked this one out in a couple days for my family's reunion. Go me. It will be put into a raffle. I hope it goes to a good home! I'll take photos tomorrow, if the sun comes out.

Compare and Contrast.

I went to 2 health clubs yesterday. On paper, they are similar but that's where it ends.

I'm still up in the air about the whole thing, mainly because it's alot of money and I'm afraid of going for 2 months and then quitting.

Healthtrax was perfect. It has a more theraputic feel to it, there were "normal" people working out and the facility was spotless. There is literally not a single thing that I didn't like about this place, except for the high cost.

LA Fitness has it's downfalls. If I had only seen this club, I probably would have joined. But I saw Healthtrax and when I compare the two, I can't help but to be drawn to Healthtrax. On the other hand, it's almost 400 bucks cheaper, and I can stop the contract anytime. But it's a big, trendy gym. There were women there in full makeup, attempting to look hot while walking on their treadmills with their Ipods and ponytails bouncing behind them. Just silly.

I have an appt. to work out with a trainer as a "complimentary" session at Healthtrax on Weds. evening. We'll see how it goes.

I have a feeling there won't be anymore trips to the fibery heavens anytime soon- except Rhinebeck, which I'm going to no matter how poor I am.

Herky-Jerky.

So I started spinning again.

Hubs commented that I spent alot of money on the wheel and roving and I should do *something* with it...which meant, either use it or lose it, lady.

So I started by spinning mystery cream wool and then I plyed the orange singles, which kept breaking, which got me frustrated, which turned into depression, which made me want to eat chocolate. The wheel is also a bit herky- jerky. The roving sometimes feeds onto the bobbin too quick, leaving about half an inch of unspun fiber, which is where I'm getting the breaks, I think. I'm going to contact the wheel people today and see if it's lack of experience or if it's the wheel. I did clean it before using, including giving it a good lube job.

The Boy also noticed that the wheel is out of it's bag. Although I keep it in a gated room and he can't touch it, I sometimes let him come in and "play" with the wheel. He spins and spins the wheel by hand, then presses the peddle down until it stops, at which point he claps for himself. Adorable.

Anyone Else?

Anyone else totally addicted to this crap?

Scott Baio

and

Rock of Love

Yeah, if I can't have chocolate, atleast I can have these guilty pleasures.

Trash tv rules.

Life Bullets

• I'm the heaviest I've been since giving birth almost 2 years ago. After seeing the photos of me at the wedding, I've decided to adjust (again) my eating habits. I go off and on diets like you wouldn't believe. We've (meaning Hubs and I) have eaten pretty healthy for the last 24 hours, but I'm DYING for sugar.
• Anyone know a good, resonably priced gym in my area? It has to have babysitting, of course. I have issues with staying motivated, so anyone have advice on that too?
• I started a new project. I'm such a project whore, I know.
• And no, it has nothing to do with babies...why do you ask?
• Gram's well, she's home and resting comfortably. Thanks again for the thoughts.
• Thanks also for the compliments on the Spring Things shawl. It was a battle I won fair and square. haha.
• I've also decided to be a good housewife and get myself on a cleaning schedule. I made a pretty microsoft spreadsheet and everything. Now if I could just stick to it and the diet.
• Anyone up for frozen yogurt on Weds?? (I'm always begging the other NH SnB group to go get ice cream with me. They have frozen yogurt, right girls??)

Diets make me cranky.

So does housework.

Comin' Down Off My High

The weekend is still a blur. I'm still tired and feeling drained, then hyper. Slightly manic? Yeah.

I had to put everything on hold knitting-wise until I finished the shawl. Now I feel like I have nothing to do. But I have more things on the needle than I'm comfortable with.

First, MS3. With all honesty, I'm not loving the idea of the wing. I've seen only a couple of photos of clue five finished and it doesn't make me say WOW! like the beginning of the stole did. So, I have a feeling I'm going to be learning kitchener's stitch quick or figuring out how to do her charts backwards.

Second, the red Valpuri. It's due the 13th and I don't have the strength for it. I'm bored, I admit it.

Third, the surprise blue cabled sweater. I have the sleeves and the fronts to do, but since I have so much time (it's due in Oct.) I feel like I can procrastinate more.

Fourth, pick a baby, any baby. I have 5 friends/relatives who are expecting. I have 1 sweater done. Even with my limited math skills I know it's not enough baby stuff. It's not like I can expect them to share, right?

And fifth, Hubs says I can't go to Rhinebeck unless he has a sweater, completed and wearable. Anyone know any men's easy v-neck sweater patterns? It's got to go up to a xxl. Damn it, why didn't I marry a goldfish??

Spring Things Shawl- DONE!

Thank you for your words of love and thoughts for my grandmother. I'm happy to say that she's doing awesome and will be coming home on Monday. We saw her yesterday, she has her color back and was cracking jokes about everything.


To update the rest of my busy weekend-


I went to see the Yarn Harlot talk and sign books. She's funny and sweet and listened to our stories while she had 20 people left to meet. I brought the shawl with me to tink while she talked. I begged Rebecca to show me a looser bind off while we ate ice cream after the signing. It worked. I was up until almost 1 am trying to pin this thing out on The Boy's floor, in semi darkness, while he slept. Funny, it went super easy and smooth. I thought it was perfect. Of course, I saw it the next morning and it was right-side down. lol


I got up Saturday, ran The Boy to his grammie's house, then went home and started to pretty myself. We went to the service- no air in the church. It was stifling in there. Nasty. We visited Gram between the service and reception. She was so surprised to see us dressed up. I even had on makeup (and panties- Rebecca! It was that kind of place.) Trust me, she'll get that joke, but no one else will.


We went to the reception, drank, ate, drank, ate. Went home. (Thank god for sober drivers, I swear.)


So here's what you've all been waiting for- Me in the finished Spring Things Shawl. (Can I say just one last time how much this thing kicked my ass?)





And sorry, Christine, many people complimented me all night, so you don't get it.

I Could Cry, Part 2.

I got a call today from my mom. It was an early phone call, which is never a good sign.

My beloved grandmother had a heart attack last night and is in the hospital.

No longer *could* I cry, I am.

She is the matriarch, the glue that holds my family together. She is a whirlwind of love, hope and energy.

If you can spare a minute or two today, can you think of her?

I Could Cry.

I went to block the shawl last night. It was perfect- The Boy is at Grammy's house, the house was quiet, I could sit in his room and stretch it to perfection, then relax as it did it's blocking thing.

As I sat on his freshly vaccumed floor, I realized that something wasn't right. I couldn't pull my bottom point taunt without the left side moving. "That's not good," I think to myself.

I sat there for almost an hour trying to pin it out. It wouldn't work. I wasn't getting the pretty points that I love so much, the center seam was wonky....

My problem? The bind off is too tight!!!

I went up 3 needle sizes, I did a "stretchy" bind off like the directions stated.

This thing hates me, I swear.

Now what? The wedding is tomorrow afternoon. The Boy comes home today. I have no time to pull it apart and reknit....I could make time, but I think Hubs is sick of me using this project as an excuse. I could wear it half-assed blocked and pretend like it's supposed to be like that. I could wear another machine made shawl....

Opinions?

PS. I going to see the Harlot tonight! EEEEEKKKKKKKKK!

It's Off The NEEDLES!

So I feel like I haven't slept, ate, showered or done any housework in 3 days. My wrist is beyond pain, and now just numb.

But it's off the needles and looks beautiful. It's going in for a bath tonight or tomorrow. I'll have photos then.

To answer questions- I'm wearing a black dress to the wedding. The green will be a good match for it. I hope to have hubs take photos of me wearing the shawl.

Back to Harry!!

And nupps are stitches that are knit together to make round bumps in the fabric, smaller than a bobble though.

And there is no fighting over anything I make, but damn did that make me laugh!!