LO: Yum....

Page is 8.5 x 11

Supplies used:

Cardstock is Bazzill
Font and letter stickers are David Walker
Chalk
Buttons are Making Memories (I think)
Tomato I made myself

Something new to play with

See this? This is my new toy.

Just what I needed. Something else to use as a sig line. I don’t know why little things like this excite me. What can I say. Deep down I am just a nerd! :-)

If you want one too just go to Feedburner.


Let me start by saying that B and I are not fans of American Idol. When the show first started B used to work nights and I would only watch the audition shows. Well now that B is home at night, he has caught a few episodes here and there of this season’s show. Since my hubby is a rocker himself, he was excited to see someone like Constantine on the show. This morning as I am getting ready for work, B was downstairs watching the news. I heard enough to know that the topic was American Idol. I could not hear anything else but I knew exactly what happened when I heard a loud ‘what the F?’ coming from downstairs. LOL! Well I guess he won’t be so interested in watching the show anymore.

Strictly Scrapbooking

What size pages do you scrap?

small~ medium~ large

What kind of albums do you use?

Post Bound ~ 3-ring ~ strap hinge

Do you prefer textured cardstock or plain?

Lumpy or flat?


I mainly scrap 8.5 x 11 unless the photos are from a vacation trip. All vacations go in their own 12x12 album (or they will if I ever get to scrapping them). I did a 5x7 gift album once for my sister.

I use Dalee post bound albums.

I prefer to use textured cardstock (Bazzill all the way Baby!)It feels weird if I have to use smooth cardstock and I find that I rarely use it. Which is sad as I do have a stockpile of cardstock (smooth and textured) and the smooth stuff is not going anywhere.

Yeah I am lumpy (Hey! We are talking about scrap pages here!)But I would say I was a mid-weight lumpy scrapper as I don't like my pages too heavy.

Strictly knitting

What method of knitting do you prefer?

English or Continental?

What type of needles do you prefer to use?

Straight or Circular?

What kind of needles to you use?

Metal or Plastic or Wooden?

For me I guess I use the English method as I hold the yarn in my right hand. I would have though that since I learned to crochet first that I would prefer to hold the yarn in my left hand but I have never seen it done in person (yet) and I don't think my tension would be quite right. I have read though that the Continental method of knitting is much faster. I would love to be a fast knitter!

I have only used straight needles but at the suggestion of some local snb'er I bought a set of circulars this past weekend. I moved my shawl onto the circulars and I am liking that my shawl actually looks like something instead of just a lump of fiber. I can definitely see that I will have to make my shawl much larger than the pattern states. They do take some getting used to as the right needle likes to turn. I was thinking it was the plastic but the plastic is fine. I have also realized that I have a lot more leverage with the straight needles. I think I am getting the hang of using them though. I know that some people prefer to use strictly circulars when knitting. I do not know if I would be one of those knitters in the future but never say never! :-)

As for the kind of needles......I prefer the Bamboo. My first two sets (Christmas presents from dh) were metal. I thought that my inability to knit and enjoy it was due to me but I found that once I bought my first set of bamboo needles I loved knitting so much more! Yay Bamboo! So basically I am a Bamboo snob and that is what I got for my circulars as well!

LO: My Birthday 2004

Due to the issues I was having posting photos I realized that although I had links to this layout on my sidebar - I did not have an actual live link.

A very simple layout that still took me forever to do (have I mentioned before that I am the world's slowest scrapper?)

Size is 8.5 x 11

Supplies used:

Bazzill cardstock
SEI buttons (seasoned I think)
I made the tag myself and stitched on the layout using floss
Title is made with lettering stickers

Good-bye Grandma

May 25, 1912 - April 14, 2005

Today was the funeral.

This picture was taken back in 1978 or so. It is of both of my Grandmothers. My Grandmother on the right passed away when I was in high school. She was my Mom's mother and lived with us for many years while she was sick with Parkinson's. She died peacefully at home.

My Grandmother who just passed is on the right. She is my Dad's mother. She would have been 93 next month. She lived a very long life and survived two husbands and a son. Over 30 grandchildren, over 20 (I think) great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Have I mentioned before that I am from a huge family? :-) The sad thing is she had extreme Alzheimer's and did not remember us all.

The funeral was good. Well as good as a funeral can be. I was the last to arrive as I could not find a place to park. They all were waiting for me. Have I mentioned I love my family to pieces? I do not recall lots of crying and the mood was very good. I guess you could say it was a happy funeral. (Well not at the beginning as someone was vacuuming in the room next door). Our pastor spoke a short sermon. The grandsons were the pallbearers and I thought that was a very nice touch. Afterwards we all drove to the cemetery. After a short talk again by our pastor we left. I went home to change and then headed to my parents (where everything is always celebrated). Not everyone was able to go to my parents afterwards but there was still over 40 people there (minus the kids). Lots of good food and it was nice to visit. After a short time all the relatives from out of state headed home and it was just us local folks. My cousin who lives in New York City was able to make it so I had a nice time visiting with him. It has been years since I have seen him.

Thank you to everyone who commented on my blog about my Grandmother. That was a very kind thing for you to do. I really appreciated it.

Not posting much

Things have been busy around here this past week. Everything happened on the same day too. Friday.

My Grandmother passed away. She is the one that taught me how to crochet. I am the only one of her grandchildren that learned how. It is sad she is gone but in a way it was a blessing as she did not remember any of us. Tomorrow is her funeral.

I found out this information on Friday the 15th. Tax day. I was the only one working that day. Needless to say I was exhausted as I was doing the work of 4 people. The two guys who used to be on my team were asked to help but they ignored the email. When I was getting ready to leave - when everything was clear - one of them said he could now help out. Well hey! Where was he when I worked thru my lunch? When I worked past the end of my shift? I told him he was not needed. I know what he wanted. He is the one that will only help out on overtime. The nerve. Well....it is over and done with and I am the one that came out on top!

So today I am off of work. Tomorrow I am off of work. Wednesday I am off of work. I will see what is waiting for me on Thursday but right now I have other things to think about.

I am thinking of crocheting something small for my Grandmother's casket. A snowflake maybe? Knowing me I will make something but then be too chicken to put it in there. I am still trying to convince my husband to go. He hates going to funerals yet one of our first dates was my Grandfather's funeral so go figure out that one. He is not a big family person and I have a huge family. There will be people here from out of state and Mexico - my Grandmother's sisters. It will be good to see them as it has been years but B is not used to that. I don't expect him to be but hey! I hate going to family functions like this alone when all my cousins husbands and wives are there.

Well I am off to look at patterns to see what I can make quickly tonight. Oh and that reminds me....I need to go grocery shopping for what I am bringing tomorrow.

Snobby Scrapbookers

You may have noticed a link for a scrapping ring on my sidebar the past week and a half. It is no longer there.

For months I had been looking for other scrapbookers who blogged. There were none that I could find. I was going to start my own ring when I found out there were some recent ones already out there. I even filled out the info to join one. Well I must say I am disappointed in the snobby scrapbookers that are out there. Forgive me for not being a 2 peas snob! No where on the ring site info does it state that the person must be a friend of the ring owner or a 2 peas snob. I should have already known this. I post to 2 peas but not that often because of how rude they get on that site. I am so disappointed but I should not be surprised. I visited each of the blogs on this ring and commented on them - not a single response to my comments.

Now on the other hand I am part of a crochet ring and also a knitting ring. I must tell you that the people on these rings are the nicest people ever! I have not met online (other than an email list) a finer bunch of people. Even their message boards are the friendliest places.


Update (04/25/05): I am sorry if I appear to be the one that is being snobby. I did not mean to come off that way yet I think I did. Please ignore the above post. I was most definitely have a bad week.

Another Wednesday

Whoo hoo!!! I have received a call back for a 2nd interview for tomorrow! I am very excited about this and it is hard not to get my hopes up.

Today is going much better than it was this morning. My team now consists of just two people - Me and one other person. We are doing the work of 4 people. Because of the downsize I no longer work 4x10's and have to work on Fridays (my normal day off). Well the person working with me does not feel he has to work 5 days and has decided to not come in the past 2 Fridays. He told me he made plans again to not come in this Friday and I lost it. This Friday is the 15th. We work with Tax customers and it is going to be a busy day. I had to put my foot down. I am at my wits end with being the dumping ground for all the work around here. I am happy with what has been decided for that day. Hopefully I should not be the only one here to do the work.

Last night while watching Amazing Race I was able to work a couple of rows on the knitted shawl. I so hope this thing fits me as I am unable to tell while working on it. All the stitches are bunched up. I guess I could always add an additional round just to be on the safe side but then again I don't want it too big. The pattern is easy to follow but with all the yo's, increases and decreases the stitches get a little tight. Thank goodness for those occasional knit and purl rows!I love the softness of the Homespun yarn but I am not too happy with the way it is looking all fuzzy. I just have to remember that I am mainly making it to wear at work so I should not be too picky. I would show pictures but it just looks like a jumbled piece of fabric and who wants to see that right? Also, I am having problems posting photos to my blog at the moment.

Well you may not hear from me in awhile as I need to get my own taxes completed. Darn I sure hate that I procrastinate everything!

Yes. It is definitely Monday.

Today was going oh so well until I encountered the customer from hell. That is where she must be from as every email she has sent to me today has included this word! This customer is demanding I make personal changes to an account that she cannot verify is hers. She wants me to make the changes just because she said so. Why oh why won’t she go away? Does she not understand that legally I cannot do this? I so need some Advil. Why is it my fault she is waiting until the last minute to do her taxes?

On another note……I am still waiting to hear if I have made it to the second round of interviews. I got an email on Friday that I will find out either on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. I want to find out today! I really don’t think I made it so I want to get my feedback and get it over with.

I still need to work on my taxes. I have not even started. But I can tell you if I have a problem this week I am not going to be blaming it on anyone else!

I guess knitting got in the way this weekend, as I never turned on the computer so I would not be tempted to do my taxes. LOL! I am half-way finished with the shawl. I cannot really see how it is turning out as it is all bunched up on the needles. I sure hope it fits!

k1~p1~yo~ssk~k2tog?

Huh? Wha?? (aren't I just being clever today – LOL!) I have started on my shawl. I decided to knit instead of crochet and it is my first pattern that is not just knits and purls. So far, it does not look like anything but a big mess. Granted I am only on row 9 but heck…..the dropped stitch look with all the yo's is driving me nuts! I am sure it will look just fine if I continue at it but for now, it just looks like a big mess. I get real excited when I get to just knit a row (which is very few and far between). I think I will continue working on that today although I really should sit my butt down and start my taxes.

Visitors

I really hate when strangers use my bathroom. Especially when said strangers leave empty mini-bottles of liquor on the bathroom floor. Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freezing in the desert

I have had it with how cold it is at work. Even though the thermostat is set to be warmer than usual - it is freezing in here! It seems to get that way when the temperature gets hotter outside. At least I am not the only one. Everyone seems to be freezing. It is going to be 90 degrees today and it is already starting to freeze up. I think I need something hot to drink.

So I decided that the fastest thing to make that would keep me warm enough to work would be a crocheted shawl (fingerless handwarmers are a close second). So after work I headed over to pick up some yarn. However I got distracted along the way (I sure hate when I do that). Since I had to be home by 7pm I needed to make my trip a quick one. However, I ended up stopping by Barnes and Noble (I think that is where I stopped) to look at knitting magazines. I was there a bit when I decided not to buy anything. Then I headed over to JoAnn's for some yarn. Unfortunately the JoAnn's I have to go to is on the FAR FAR East side as the other one does not carry much of a selection. Before going to the store I had picked out a couple of patterns (crochet and knit). I decided on a crochet pattern as I wanted to make this shawl quickly and if I knit it - I would not have it done until next winter. Since this JoAnn's is the only store in town (including Michaels) that carries wooden knitting needles, I grabbed a set. I found a few different yarns that I would like for other projects but for this basic shawl it took me forever to decide. The patterns I had called for Homespun so that is what I was going to use but the color selection was limited. I made my decision and since funds are tight - I put back the knitting needles. It was already 5 min to 7pm when I left and it takes me at least 20-25 min to get home. I had to stop at the bank on the way to make a deposit so that took some time too (especially since I had to go to multiple ATMs to find one that had deposit envelopes - darn bank!). I don't know why I am so slow when it comes to making decsions. I think I think too much.

So fast forward to home. Even though I missed the beginning I did get to see the majority of Lost ( I love that show). It pretty much turned out the way I expected. The season finale looks exciting and I am looking forward to next Wednesday night.

I started right in on the shawl using the Homespun and a size N hook. I have used the Homespun before but only with larger sized hooks. I know it is a difficult yarn to work with but Darn! I had problems right from the beginning. I could not see the stitches at all. I started over twice and then started looking for a new pattern. I am now kicking myself for not buying those size 13 knitting needles. I have to decide if I will just use a larger hook (maybe a P) or just knit the darn thing. I have decided I will make this decision on the weekend when B is at work and I have the whole place to myself.

Speaking of having the place to myself. I thought that it was kind of sad that B and I will not have a single day off at the same time but on the other hand I loved having the weekend to myself last week and I am looking forward to this week as well. Peace and Quiet here I come!

Is it Wednesday again? Already?

I cannot believe it is Wednesday already. Wasn't it just Wednesday? Even though Wednesday sneaked up on me I still feel like this week is dragging. Maybe it is the 5am wake-up time to go work out.

I am kind of lacking in the WIP department as all the projects I want to make are pretty pricey in the yarn department. In fact one outfit I want to make will cost me over $150.00. Soooooooooooooo.........at the moment I am stuck using the yarn I currently have.

So that brings me to my current WIP. The Classic Man's Scarf. B asked me how I know it is a Classic Man's Scarf and I told him, it is because the book calls it that (so take that smart alec hubby!) I checked out a bunch of pattern books from the library and this pattern was in one of them. Here is my progress so far. B says it looks poofy. (Gotta love him)

argh.....................

I sure did have a tough time waking up this morning. I don't know why as I even slept later than yesterday. I sure hope I don't have this problem tomorrow as I need to wake up and work out at 5:30am.

I know I have said it before but work is super busy. Tax day is approaching and my case load just keeps getting bigger. I think I may be staying late tonight. That is if the headache I feel coming on does not get any worse.

As for the interview yesterday. It did not go well. The interview went fine but the position is not for me. Now I am just waiting to see if I get called back on the scheduling position (which I really want) and if not then there is one more position opening in that department that I will go for.

As for Norton - did I mention they suck? As I expected I did NOT receive the callback I was promised. If they ever do decide to call me back they will definitely receive an earful!

So that's it with me. I never said my life was exciting. Although sometimes I really imagine it is. :-)

Busy Busy

Just a quick update today. I am busy busy due to tax season. I am the only person changing account information for every single department. I hope the customers are not too upset at the wait.

I was a good girl this morning and woke up early to make it to Curves at 5:30am. Yep that is AM! I am not a morning gal. Talk about surprising my mom. It is only the first day but so far, I am loving the 8-5 schedule. I have a feeling that I will need to work late each day this week but tonight is out as I have to hurry home to wait for 2nd tier support to call me for my Norton Anti-virus that is NOT working and to fix other issues with my computer caused by their terrible technical support. I will not even start to go into how long I waited or had to deal with, as I don’t want to get ticked off again today. How many times do you have to tell a person that you do NOT have Windows XP! Outsourcing sucks!

I do have another interview today so I am all gussied up! It is the first interview for the 2nd position I applied for. The weird thing is, everyone else that applied for this position have their interviews on Thursday. I am the only one that has an interview today. That really makes me nervous.

I have an announcement to make

It is official! I have completed my first knitting project. Last night I finished up the ribbed scarf. I am so proud of myself. It sure took me long enough though. I will share the finished product soon.

Last night I frogged the garter stitch scarf I was making for B. I found a different pattern that I liked better that used just one of the colors. The yarn I am using is worsted weight. I decided to use size 10 knitting needles. The only size 10's I have are metal. I am NOT liking the metal at all!!!! I used wood needles for my ribbed scarf and those are so much easier on my hands. My results using these metal needles are not making me happy. I know that since the needles are larger than what the yarn calls for the result will be more of an open weave but it is hard to keep the yarn on the darn needles. The yarn just slides all over and I am having trouble keeping my tension. I am trying to decide if I should go buy some more wooden needles or just start over using my 10.5 wooden needles. I am still also trying to decide if I want more of a solid weave or not.

Today my glasses broke so posting will be limited as I am blind as a bat. B tried to glue them together but since they are metal and very thin, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can make it to the eye doctor tomorrow. The bad thing is I will have to go to my interview on Monday with glue on my lens. Oh well. If they like me, they like me for me and not my glasses.