Everlasting Bagstopper Progress

I like the idea of reusable bags for shopping. There are a few different patterns out there but I like the Everlasting Bagstopper pattern the best. So far it is knit without mods, but I do not like the twill tape handles. I'm not sure what I will use, but it seems like it needs something sturdier. I don't like the way the handles pull up on the bag in the original photo. It looks like it would dig into your arms. I had a spare cone of Peaches and Cream cotton laying around. It seems more wallet friendly than hemp.

Petsmart opened a few weeks ago and we bought Lance a Scratch-O-Rama mat. He really likes to sleep on it as well as scratch it. It was the best 15$ i've spent in a while. He no longer uses the sofa or wall corners. It doesn't come with catnip, but I doused it in catnip.

I Took a Little Break

I didn't mean to, but I took a blogging break. So many things have happened since July.

--> Work: I no longer work for the satellite tv company. There was an incident involving a blood clot in my leg that sent me to the ER. Work would not accept by sick note because there was no specific doctor's name on it. I guess ***** City Emergency Room is not enough proof that I was really sick. They told me that I could go back to the ER and try to find the doctor's name and have him write me another note. I told them to fuck off and walked out the door. At some point you have to believe your employees and I was not about to waste someone's time over a crap job like that. I was only out of work for 1 week total and I picked up some shifts down at the Belle. Then I got my dream job. I got a job managing front of the house for a semi-famous chef. Whoot! I'm pretty much a glorified personal assistant who happens to schedule reservations and yell at waitresses but the pay is good and if I stick it out I will go someplace great. It is stressful at times but I think it is worth it.

--> Health: not so good. I no longer have insurance and all of my wisdom teeth need to be pulled. I had this nasty infection in them and they really need to go. I am terrified of anesthesia and I've never even had a cavity filled. This will be the second IV in my lifetime. My parents are coming out to help take care of me. I have to pay so much money up front without insurance. Did I mention I was terrified?

--> Home: We got a new cat. His name is Ambulance. He howls in the car and he meows non stop. He has everything he needs but he's just chatty I guess. I call him Lance for short. He's good company and an all around good cat. He does like high spaces and his raptor-like nails click on the tile floor. I got a Feliway diffuser and it has helped with his noises.

--> Knitting: What's knitting again? It's been so long since I was able to. From time to time I work on mom's crochet tablecloth of doom, but it's far from finished after a years worth of work. It might be two years. I can't remember. There are so many nice things in Knitty this issue but sadly, I'm on a yarn diet until I get my teeth pulled. It's so expensive. It's starting to get a little chilly here and I'm craving a new sweater.

I got turned down for this promotion a few weeks ago. I didn't really want the job. I wanted any job but my current job. The unofficial word is that because I have frequent migraines I wasn't eligible. They needed someone who can be at work every day for 5 weeks straight. I guess I can understand.

Then the company email came out with who got chosen for this job. It was the same exact person that I had coached (coached = very bad talking too) for not following company policy. Basically he was too lazy to type in someone's information when his easy fill in the form button wasn't working so he did a direct transfer to my extension which forced me to eat the claim. I ended up taking the claim because I am able to type in customer information. He was supposed to tell the customer to call back in 4 hours. So he can't follow company policy yet he gets hired to train new employees? I just don't understand.

So I am just waiting, hoping, almost praying that another promotion shows up. I have been doing anything and everything that I can do to get noticed. My average stats last month fluctuated between third and seventh ranked in our center. But I can't move up until someone opens up a promotion.

New knitting projects will be posted shortly, not that they're very exciting. Lots and lots of mindless knitting that I can do while speaking with customers on the phone.

Summer 07 Knitty

I know that you're not supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth and just be happy that it is free. Knitty used to be so great, way back when it first started. It was full of unique, interesting patterns. Now it seems like a more watered down version of it's original self. The projects are hardly unique and well, this issue was downright boring. Honestly, I'd love to see the patterns that didn't make the cut. I'll bet they were great. Someone needs to start a website or collaborative blog called my really cool pattern got passed up by Knitty and replaced with yet another sock pattern. ...or something.

And what is with all of the sock patterns. Let me rephrase that. What is with all of the lame sock patterns. I'm talking about the kind where the designer just picks a stitch pattern out of a book and puts it on the front of a sock. Show me a different, unique type of toe or a innovative type of heel. Make it worth my while. Show me some kind of interesting design element.

I did really like a two patterns. Unmentionables is great! I doubt I have the need for knitted short pants, but they might also make good sleep pants. They are just so elegant (as far as knitted underwear goes). I can see these being a hit with the costuming crowd.

Wisp is pretty cool. I like that it is multipurpose without looking retarded. Convertible garments are hit and miss. This one looks good in each of the ways to wear it. I might even knit this. It looks good for cold shoulders in my cube.

Whenever anyone bitches about the lame patterns in Knitty, someone brings up the point of, "its free, you shouldn't complain" or "submit something better" Well, I want to see all of the rejected projects all together. I'll just bet that the rejected patterns would make one hell of a better knitty.

/end rant.

Jury Duty

Yes...I have the Duty. I was picked today for initial questioning, but the trial was canceled before they could get that far. I took some precautions before leaving the house today, mainly in the hair color department.

It's a lot more vibrant in the sun. My roots are neon aqua and fade up to blue and finally green. It's really pretty and I like it, but the upkeep on it is going to make me insane. Blues and greens fade quicker than the purple and pink that I'm used to.

I don't have too much excitement in the knitting department. I'm in kind of a slump. I have all of these great ideas of things I want to knit but I don't know how to get the ideas into a pattern form. It just leaves me frustrated. I do have a project that I keep at work.



Moving on Socks (pdf patternhere.)
Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock multi in Valentine
The only changes have been to the cuff. I went with 2x2 ribbing to keep them from falling down inside my shoes. Since these socks are knit toe up, I will just keep knitting until I run out of yarn. Then I can start the next one with the second skein.

Just a Little Crochet

In the quest to end the bordom at work I started to crochet some Reduction Totebags. I started with #10 crochet thread and a tiny hook for a test bag. I wasn't sure that this could hold my interest. It really didn't hold my interest, but it was just boring enough to allow me to take phone calls at work while crocheting. I started a second one out of some left over, discontinued Cotton-Ease. I'm using a much bigger hook and worsted yarn, so the size is bigger. I like the worsted version better.

Eventually I would like to crochet dozens of these and never have to use evil plastic bags again. We'll see how these hold up first.



Ooohh, I almost forgot. I finally got my Ravelry invite. I really like this site. It reminds me a lot of myspace, only without all of the emo kids and way more fiber content.

Weekend Recap

This weekend was packed full of good things. Friday has V and I down at the Honda dealership signing the paperwork on his motorcycle. I decided to buy a moped. V got his bike the next day. I'll have to wait awhile for the moped. I've got a few things to dispute with Transunion. Either way, a moped is in my future.



He isn't able to ride it yet. He still has the motorcycle license course, but he did great in the parking lot. I thought for sure he'd drop it, but no problems at all.



It's way too heavy for me to ride, but I like to pretend. It will do until I get my moped. (And with gas prices reaching 3.60 I hope I get the moped sooner than later. I can't beat 100mi to the gallon)

Saturday we went to see 28 Weeks Later. It was everything I want to see in a zombie movie. It was a pretty intense movie and the fist 10 minutes had me hooked.