Saturday, June 30, 2007

On the Needles......

Finished half of Grow With Me (no smocking yet)
Grow With Me

Whisper Lace Socks for mom, using the Cherry Tree Hill yarn that she almost stole from me!
front Whisper Lace Socks back whisper lace socks

and the dreaded cabled baby blanket. knitting blankets takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R!
the baby blanket

Thursday, June 28, 2007

t h w a r t e d !

i was planning on taking photos of all the projects i have on the needles, but i guess it wasn't meant to be. my batteries are dead and it's raining outside. better luck tomorrow.

on a happier note~~ i got my dye stocks made~ YIPPIE! dyeing will soon commence! though i'm not sure when. i pick up the little one tomorrow and he'll be here all weekend. we leave for Orlando on tuesday and won't be back until late thursday. and then friday we pick up ant for a week. that leaves monday, but i'd rather not be rushed the day before we leave, so who knows.

it will all be a surprise!

bunco tonight. cross your fingers i win some $mula$

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Buff to Fluff (back to buff??)

i've been wondering lately, "what the heck happened?" when randy and i started dating, what seems like eons ago, i really took an initiative to start working out seriously. i dropped forty pounds and went from a size 15 down to a 0-2. i managed to stay in that range for a year or so. working out was a central part of my life. i even got my certification in personal training and did that on the side, in addition to teaching.

perhaps, when i quite training, is when my decline began. they gym i worked at, and had a membership to, screwed us over. i got slapped with several months charges after i stopped working for them and they also raised rates without informing us ahead of time. with all of that i said, screw it! i left and went to a smaller gym that was closer to work.

smaller, much smaller! and not as neat, rather dusty and dingy. randy stopped going to the gym altogether and my friend who signed up with me stopped going as well. so i was left all alone at the not so wonderful gym. wedding time last year, i was about a 4-6. no biggie what so ever.

that will be a year ago on July 15th. so, here we are, again a year later, and i am now wearing a sz 9! i have gone up at least 15 pounds! screw the freshman 15, i've got the newlywed 15. and toward the end of the school year with all of the moving and packing and what not, i never made it to they gym. haven't been to the gym in a couple months in fact. and now that its summer time, i don't want to drive to the other side of town to work out at a gym i'm not happy with.

enter, LA Fitness. just opened up the first of the month, maybe 2 miles from the house (probably not even that far). i went there yesterday to check it out~ FA-BU-LOUS! it's the same price as i'm paying now (my old gym started cheap, like $20, how the hell am i paying so much?!) but i get a whole hell of a lot more! they have tons of equipment, machines, cardio, a great free weight area, basketball, racketball, pool, sauna. i walked in and immediately felt inspired. this could be what i need to energize my life. get back into the shape i once was and will hopefully be again.

we have a ton of co-workers (many of which don't need to be there) going to a certain doctor for weight loss. he has them on a couple different amphetamines (i know at least one of them was in phen-phen, you know, that stuff that was banned!), they get their B12 shots, and eat, ready for this?, 500 calories a day. sure they drop weight like you wouldn't believe. but they also look terrribly gaunt, have awful tempers, and no meat on their bodies what so ever! it's gross, and it makes me angry. and meanwhile, it's all the rage at work~ "Oh look how great, so and so looks!" they get praise and glory. What really pisses me off is that I lost all my weight a few years ago, they RIGHT way! and my body was kick ass and toned. yet, i didn't get half the attention these girls are getting. not that i want the attention, that's not my point. the point is i actually got off my ass, worked out, and ate correctly. i didn't need to subject my body to harmful drugs and starve myself.

arggggggggggggg...... i really didn't mean for this to turn into a rant. but i guess it did.

on that note, i think i'll go make breakfast.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Yarn Haul!

one of our LYS was having their 3rd annual birthday sale. i wasn't sure that i'd be able to make it because we were fishing with my FIL. however, we made it back and showered by noon and DH and I were out the door and on the road. and what should come of it, you ask???? this wonderfully cute bag-o-goodies!!
the goods!

but what's INSIDE the super cute bag is what you really want to know, right?!! well, here ya go:
Yarny Goodness

oh, yeah, baby! my first large purchase of "REAL" yarn. you know, not that godforsaken acrylic stuff!

first up: Sockotta Sock yarn, not sure the color, it's just a number. but it is in a fair isle pattern
Sockotta sock yarn

next: Opal Rainforest Collection~ Fish (because, duh, we went fishing today!)
Opal Rainforest Collection

and with the fish, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck in a Water colorway
Cherry Tree Hill

ohhhh, mmmmm, malabrigo! i've never owned any, EV-ER! i was on one side of the store looked up and saw it and said, "oh my god, I see something good!" my hubby knows me so well, he said, "i know what!" went right over and picked it out of the cube on the wall. he's so good!
Mmmmm.....

and last, but not least...
Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere to finally make Zephyr Style's Ms. Marigold.
Debbie Bliss

damn right it was a good day!

oh yeah, and fishing, i caugth a buttload of Spanish Mackerel, yup, buttload!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

shopping, yay!

i get ads and coupons from Joann's all the time. the problem is that i don't really get my yarn there anymore (unless of course it's for a baby project of sorts). i was in need of #8 circs which i was planning on getting at my LYS, but since we were a block away from Joanns i went there instead. they're having some sort of firefly sale and their needles are all marked down 40%. i found an interchangeable circ set that was originally $69, but on sale. now, i know it's not the Knit Picks Options set, but it does have needles from #2-#15 and several different lengths of cables. and how can you beat the price when it's on sale so much?!? i tried using my 50% off coupon, but couldn't. A) it was already on sale and B) they couldn't ignore the 40% to give me the 50% off. no biggie. i bought a set of #8dpns and some hooks for our keys and still walked out only spending $44!! and even that wasn't my own money, because i still had a money on a gift card from my birthday. WHOOO HOOO!!!!

so that said, i finally cast on for Grow With Me on knitty for Tara's baby. two projects being worked now. i really need to get a move on!

Saturday, June 16, 2007

32 Purlfections of a Knitter

I just have to share this because it's just way too funny!
Yarn Ball Boogie had posted this on his blog in response to the little "goddess" girl visiting the U.S. I love it!!!!!

The knitter “32 Purlfections”

1. Must own an Ashford spinning wheel.

2. Must possess at least one ball of cashmere yarn. The good stuff.

3. Must have at least PETTED a vicuna.

4. Must have an allergic reaction when within 100 meters of acrylic.

5. Must ONLY knit with Rosewood needles.

6. Must take a daily bath in wool wash.

7. Must study stitch pattern books by candlelight every night.

8. Isn’t afraid to use spare bamboo needles as chopsticks in a pinch.

9. Raises alpacas.

10. Has never knit a dog sweater.

11. Uses beads in knitting sparingly.

12. Has a self-portrait tapestry out of self-striping yarn hung in the foyer of their estate.

13. Breaks out in hives at the very mention of “Fun Fur”.

14. When carried through the streets, attendants must be wearing sashes made from knitted wire.

15. Thinks novelty yarn is for decorative trim applied with Elmer’s glue.

16. Always sits at the head of the table at knit-a-longs, etc.

17. Is forbidden to utter the words “Stitch and Bitch”.

18. Has specially crafted wooden needles with personalized initials carved into them that are only used for hair decoration.

19. Never uses stitch markers. The knowledge of stitch placement was implanted at birth. No need.

20. Has a color wheel birthmark in between the eyes.

21. The umbilical cord is replaced with an I-cord, and can only be snipped with Gingher scissors.

22. Whenever the feet are kissed by adorers, they must be wearing hand-knitted socks.

23. The word “stash” is replaced by “bejeweled collection”.

24. Instead of “click clacking” - CHANTING is heard when knitting with Addi Turbos.

25. The body AUTOMATICALLY assumes a pose when sitting down to knit. And locks it in.

26. Must have a colorway named after them from at least 32 yarn companies.

27. TV appearances are immediately followed by a post-show hosted by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

28. Tickets sold to public appearances must be printed with gold-leaf lettering.

29. Never has UFO’s.

30. Never has WIP’s.

31. No project is ever the subject of scrutiny, or is ever called a “loser”.

32. There is always a waiting list to be added as a “friend”.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Some photos from Williamsburg

Here's a photo of our house~ the Orrell House from 1750.

The Orrell House

Me in my colonial underwear!
Colonial Underwear Model

Perhaps arrested for being half naked????
Oh the despair.......

With G.W.
Me and George

the Yorktown onion
The Yorktown Onion

Windmill!!!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

I'm Ba-a-a-a-ck!!!

Finally got back into town last night, around 9:45pm. Our flight out of Atlanta was delayed 3 freakin' hours because of weather in D.C.

The trip to Colonial Williamsburg was AMAZING!!!! We were busy from 7:30am until 9pm. Lots and Lots of walking. Lots and Lots of learning! I really do have a newfound respect and understanding for the history of our independence. We were in Williamsburg the majority of the time, but also spent the first day in Jamestown and the last day in Yorktown. There's so much to say about it I don't even know where to begin! I have a gazillion pictures, very close to 200. I haven't even uploaded them to my computer yet.

While I was gone, I finally got my invite for Ravelry.com. YAYAYAYAYAY!!! I'm on now. I spent over an hour on it already and can see this consuming my day! But, I can't. I have to get all of my stinky laundry done.

and of course I have to get caught up on all the L&V action on the boards. so much to do, so little time!!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Colonial Williamsburg Teaching Institute.....

here we come!! flying the great big bird in the sky, tomorrow, about 25 hours from now... look out virginia!

Monday, June 4, 2007

Infertility Woes

i haven't posted anything about this, but i feel the need to vent a bit.

DH and i have been trying for a baby for about seven months now. the problem is that my body doesn't seem to want to cooperate. since going off the pill, i haven't been able to have a normal period. maybe some spotting and at very lengthy cycles.

my obgyn, who i love, who saw me thru' my cervical cancer days, has been treating me with provera and clomid. the first month was all screwy because after the provera, i never got an actual period, just some spotting. didn't know if we should have called that a "period" or not. dr. said not to take the clomid because the lining of my uterus is most likely too thin and so needs to be fluffed. good medical term, "fluffed".

and so i was prescribed another medicine, Premarine (named so because its from Pregnant Mare Urine... yup, you got it folks, horse pee!) and immediately after that i was to take more provera to bring on that celebrated period. again, i only got spotting, but we counted it as day 1. a few days goes by and on day 5-9 i take the clomid. all pills are done for a few weeks.

we have a flow chart on our fridge that we are supposed to follow. our sex life all scripted out for us (romantic, right?). so we follow that flowchart almost to a T. the last day got mucked up because i was sick and nauseous but we made up for it the day after that.

and so the waiting began.... i was to expect menses any day from CD #28-30. those days came and went w/ no sign of a period. of course i peed on several sticks in the meantime to see if i was prego. i felt like it~ exhausted, dizzy, nauseous, slightly crampy. but, to my avail, all sticks of pee were negative. on the flow chart it said to try again on CD 35, which i did~ still negative.

ARGHHHHHHH!!!!! where the fuck is my period?!?!?!


so, i called up my doc yesterday and left a message (because that's what the flow chart says to do). the nurse called me back and said they're going to try one more cycle of provera and clomid. this time instead of 50mg we're upping it 100mg. research shows that those on clomid should ovulate during their second treatment (if not on the first). if i don't ovulate this time around, my dr. is referring me to a reproductive specialist.

i'm not sure how i feel about that. my immediate thought is $$$. however, i'm also thinking specialist=knowledge. perhaps enough to figure out what my problem is right away (wishful thinking, i know).

in the meantime, i'm going to see an acupuncturist today for a consultation. at bunco last month, a friend of mine suggested that i try acupuncture for infertility. she then sent me a ton of information thru' school mail. in there was a certificate for a free consultation. i've been reading up on it, and at the very least it should help me relax. apparently w/ infertility it could be because of a Liver Qi stagnation. this apparently happens to people who've been on the pill for awhile. it causes the blood to not flow as freely and symptoms include irregular periods w/ light flow or clotting, worry, stress, sighing and headaches. acupuncture, done at the right time of a woman's cycle, is supposed to free up this meridian and allow the blood to flow more smoothly.

worth a shot :o)

Saturday, June 2, 2007

Ouchy!

don't know what's going on, but i'm NOT happy! my thumb is quite achy and has been for a couple of days now. i bought a thumb brace to wear, but have discovered its rather difficult to knit while wearing it. now's not a good time to be incapable of knitting. i've got to get tara's blanket worked on. i don't normally knit blankets because it take so long. but, since she can crochet herself, i wanted to give her something different. silly me. and we leave for Williamsburg on Wed. i can't exactly work on it then since she'll be there with me. arghhh.

and it's a rainy day~ perfect for knitting. i'm going to cry! but, perhaps i'll get in some much needed spinning!