I've been meaning to write this for a long time
(written last night)
You know it's late and I'm drunk on knitting when I start to miss FARC.
I lived in FARC, the Fine Arts Residential College, for the first three years of college. 152 residents, something like 70 rooms and an entire floor dedicated to pot smoking, guitar abusing and horrid, horrid voice rehearsals.
I loved my freshman year. I loved John of FARC, my CE (think RA) who always wanted one of those motorized Rascals. I loved Rob Doyle, who played in a crazy band and was always just the most sincere guy around. I loved
Kella, who remembered me that first week because I wanted to be Gilda Radner and who took me to Shakey's for the first time in her old yellow bug. I loved the Arts Advocates - Kim, Benjie, Tim, Amy and Justin Poirot. I loved crazy Mary Barton and her desk sign that read, "Whether or not you shower or not, you need to not smell." I loved
Dave and became his twin; I loved
Adrian and became his little sister. I loved my FIG and I loved the other FIG (there should never be hating between the two FIGs, and they should always be in the same building, and I will stick to that until I die). It's kind of like
The Wizard of Oz: and Krithika was there, and Clare and Diana, and Austin and Dave G. and you and you and you.
And then I became an SA and that was the end of that.
When I'm with certain people, the people I was with the entire time, I can only remember the bad things: Wilson demanding a single room on the first day back, that girl pretending she was in a coma or whatever her deal was because she ate a Pop Tart, fighting with fellow staff members for what now seems like completely dumbass reasons, foam penises taped on the wall, smelling alcohol in the stairwell and not being able to find it, THE RAP MUSIC FROM NATHAN'S ROOM, THE NEVER-ENDING RAP, waking up to puke all over the bathroom on a Sunday morning.
But when I'm by myself, I remember the DAs. "My" staff, "my" DAs. The first year, I wasn't a very good SA. It was hard to get stuff done when you're working with your very good friends, especially when Paul and Justin can't pay attention to something for more than two minutes at a time. I loved them to pieces and we had so much fun, but they weren't "mine." They were personalities I knew way before I had to be their boss, and I liked it better that way.
My happiest memories of McDavid Hall include
Kate J.,
Rob, Laine,
Clark, Mel, Andi, Irfan, Kate A., Dan, Colleen and Joanna. God, I miss them. I miss Rob being Clark for Halloween. I miss
Erin being an honorary DA. I miss Andi having an army of Clark's babies. I miss the Halloween scavenger hunt. I miss Irfan asking Frankie Minor who he was. I miss bringing Kate A. candy during her shift. I miss our middle school retreat during Clark's first hangover and where I took that amazing picture of Laine inside the tunnel slide. I miss firing Rob every week. I miss the way he always said, "Okay," threw his hands in the air and pretended to leave the desk. I miss the DA Fun Log. I miss our Christmas party when Kate J. gave Rob the sweetest present - it was a sled, wasn't it? My very favorite memory is from that party - playing that weirdo movie game when Clark went nuts and Beth had to tell us that it was quiet hours. I sat there and just watched all of them, their faces all red and glowing because it was a kabillion degrees in the Jill Whatsherface art gallery. I realized that feeling must be what it's like to be a mother, to feel unconditional protection and love for someone (a feeling that was later verified at camp with my favorite group of the summer, Kristin's K9s).
And I miss them. I miss them every day. Kate just got a fabulous job, Rob is a Fargo celebrity, Clark's moving to New Jersey and is going to write amazing comic books. And I'm here. I'm here not doing too much and missing my friends and wishing that for one last time I could go downstairs and see all the people I love most in one room.
Someone in this room is a grump, and his named is R-O-O
Have you ever seen a grumpy mouse? My little Roo is not a happy guy today. Or yesterday. I don't know what his problem is. He's more fun on the weekend.
My arch nemesis, Matt Lauer, is trying to worm his way into my life even more so than just my living room every morning. He was on the (inside) cover of
Esquire. In Justin's house! The house of the man I tolerate on a daily basis! I nearly had to leave. Matt Lauer, you will rue the day we meet.
I bought yarn last night. NOT FOR ME. For a friend's birthday. I wanted to go tonight because I thought Jean would be working and hoped she could help me with my drop spindle (I would just ask when I work with her on Sunday, but I'm taking this Sunday off). I decided to go last night instead because "ANTM" is on at 7, and you know I'm not going to miss a single minute of Janice Dickenson. And I have to make bread. ANYWAY, I got to the store and Jean was there! I was confused about which night she was working. She actually had her drop spindle with her, so she gave me a quick demonstration before the "Which class am I in?" hell broke loose. (On a side note, if you sign up for a class, I think you should REMEMBER WHICH CLASS IT IS.)
I miss Penny.
Happy birthday, Psally! If I were there, I would gently punch you on the shoulder and say, "Jesus." But I'm not, so do a Carin-fall for me and wear a toga. I (hack) love (cough cough cough) you (there goes a lung!) all.
The top of the drop spindle. Isn't it gorgeous? It was hand painted (I can tell because there's a signature on the bottom). Words cannot express how much I love this gift.
My Secret Pal is AMAZING. Today I received Hershey's Pot of Gold, a cute notepad with matching pen, some really nice handcream for my supply bag and a DROP SPINDLE AND ROVING. I was so excited when I opened it that I danced across the apartment and lunged for my phone to tell my mom the good news. I have wanted to try spinning for so long. Secret Pal, thank you so so so so much.
The itty-bitty bracelet. It's hard to get a good picture because the beads are slightly hologramic (new word! new word!), but you can see that they twist around the bracelet.
Flames. Flames going up the side of my head.
Dear left-side of head,
Please stop hurting.
Love,
Kristin
***
I totally finished the itty-bitty bracelet. Pictures to come, hopefully. But j'adore the itty-bitty bracelet. So much, in fact, that if I ever feel like torturing myself with knitting pins again, I've got a stash of beads ready to go. It's a lot stretchier than I thought it would be, which is good, since my actual hand is wider than my wrist.
So that makes three - THREE - projects done this weekend. One more and I can start Charlotte. But the great question is: will I? Or will I hold off until I finish other things? Will I get crazy and do JUST ONE PROJECT AT A TIME? Just the thought of that makes me want to throw up.
Speaking of throwing up, I had the worst class EVER yesterday. We were doing the Slip-A-Color hat from
Knit Hats! I've done this hat a few times. The requirements for taking the class were that you need to know how to cast on, knit and purl. I had three students. One brought the wrong supplies (knitters, you know there's NO GODLY WAY to make a hat on a 28" circular when the pattern calls for a 16"), one didn't know how to purl (she thought it wouldn't matter too much) and the other...the other was seriously, honest to god (I am such a bitch) mentally retarded. She's been knitting for years, but every time she knits, she has to be taught all over again. I mean, she got the hang of it after she yelled at me for not knowing the way she cast on (thanks for helping out, Jean. I owe you.). But she kept laughing hysterically every time there was silence and I seriously didn't know what to do. How do you prepare for that? I would like to point out, however, that she was the only one who didn't have to start over. And I taught the other one how to purl with no problems. But I was expecting people who knew how to, you know, knit. It was stressful. So I went home, had dinner and two glasses of wine and slept for a few hours. Throughout all this teaching, I've learned that you never, EVER know what to expect when it comes to students. Ever. And also that I need to drink heavily before teaching another hat class.
More details - the patterns is the Weekend Warrior from the Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits. The original calls for Collinette Point 5, and the materials would retails for around $180. Mine was about $40, I think. But it's super-de-duper warm. I hope it doesn't smother her.
Abby's sweater. The color is pretty true here - it's Lamb's Pride Burly Spun in Lotus Pink.
Genie's Booga, post-felting
Genie's Booga, pre-felting
So kiss me quick
We just saw
Garden State. It was wonderful. I cried. Zach Braff has really great lips.
The two ponchos from hell are done. I don't have pictures of them, mostly because I never ever want to see them again. They turned out well, and Justin's a good fringe-maker. Slow, but good. Only two pretty small projects until I can start Charlotte. I haven't even wound the Koigu because I know it'll be too tempting.
I adore the two women in my sweater workshop. We started last week and we have two weeks to go. They're both doing so well, and they're just as sweet and fun as could be. Today I explained to them what "LOL" means - Gloria thought it meant "Lots of Luck." Both of their garments are going to be gorgeous, and they're both using yarns I've ever tried (Cherry Tree Hill Silk/Alpaca - delicious - and Big Kureyon). But I keep remembering my list of things to do and I stay strong. We'll see how long that lasts.
Bad Bono
I swear on all that is holy, if I hear that new U2 song played one more time today, I am personally going to throttle both Bono AND The Edge. (The Edge will get throttled twice because his name is ridiculous.)
Putting the horse in the barn
I am forever composing posts in my head while I drive. By the time I get to a computer, however, my fingers just throw up all over the keyboard and we're all left with a big, oozy mess of drivel. Mmm, drivel.
Last night was Knit Nite. I love Knit Nite. I love Abbey, Kyra, Gretchen, Judy, Kim and Leslie. I love being with friends and talking about yarn and dumb things we do. I love Abbey's French accent and I love eating good soup and I love feeling exactly like myself when I'm with them. I love coming home, kissing my mouse and snuggling into my pillow while I talk to my boyfriend, my jaw tired from an evening of gabbing and chewing.
And I love ice cream cake. So much, in fact, I had some for breakfast.
I'm plugging along on Klara. I have a sleeve and the back finished. I started on the second sleeve and I'm still toying with the idea of short rows as bust darts on the front. I'm going to block the back tomorrow and see what kind of measurements I get to determine if I'll even need short rows.
I'm planning on finishing both of the devil-ponchos tonight while we have girls' night at Connie's. That brings me two steps closer to starting Charlotte! I'm also going to try to get some pictures up here this weekend, but I'm lazy and my camera's battery loves to die.
Pop Rocks
It's been quite a delightful afternoon. They're setting up tents outside for an agency alumni party, I ate some Pop Rocks and my favorite rep made me laugh until I almost cried (it also helps that he's super hot and was in my dream last night). I have forgotten what I was working on.
Roo was awfully snuggly this morning. More so than Justin.
Dammitt! I had things to say!
I will say that America's Next Top Model was excellent as always, even though Janice Dickenson wasn't in this episode. I hold my hopes high for next week, when the very good Kevin Hill premieres after ANTM (I saw the pilot a few months ago and Taye Diggs is so hot and it's not a bad show in general). I love the UPN.
I DID NOT BREAK THE VOW
I'm still technically a born-again virgin as far as buying knitting supplies is concerned. But I must confess that I signed up for a class at That Yarn Store That Shall Not Be Named a few minutes ago. I can't remember who's teaching it, but she's nationally known and designed knitting lampshades and American Girl doll clothes. She's teaching a class called "Stashology" - essentially how to use your stash. And I've got stash. It's on a Friday night with cheese and wine and Justin will be out of town and it'll be my first weekend not teaching. I can't wait. Best of all - I don't need to buy any supplies because I ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.
A very Natalie Imbruglia moment
I feel very torn today. Not torn between issues, but just kind of torn up. My to-do list is a kabillion miles long and I just have this weird feeling of badness. As soon as I walked into work, I knew today wouldn't be easy. I'm trying to take it just one hour at a time and not focus on the fact that "America's Next Top Model" premieres tonight and I really want to cut my nails and finish those two ponchos.
Breathe, Kristin, breathe.
The post Blogger hated. Suck it, Blogger!
Debbie Stoller, in all her
Bust and
Stitch 'n Bitch wisdom, knows what she's talking about. But whoever made that dumb Rowan Cotton Braid Malibu pattern is definitely a shit in their own right. I have never in my whole life had as much trouble with a project as I have with this one. And it's just chains and single crochet! For the love of God! I think I straightened out the mess (do you know how hard it is to work with Cotton Braid that's been ripped back at least five times? It's damn near impossible.) while I watched Thelma and Louise. My very first time. If I had seen this years ago, I wouldn't have spent so long questioning Brad Pitt's attractiveness.
I've been a bit of a yarn whore this week. Well, knitting whore. I bought enough Koigu to make Charlotte and then some (which, hopefully, will be returned once I determine I indeed have enough to make Charlotte). And I got TWO 50% off Michael's coupons in the Sunday paper, so I used them to buy books -
Weekend Knitting and
Knitting on the Edge. I wasn't so sure about the last one - I mean, do I really even care about edges? I'm just happy to finish something - but it has so many stitch patterns that you can use in any kind of garment/accessory, etc. that I think it'll be really useful. Especially since I only paid $15 for it.
Weekend Knits has some cute little dolls and neato purses and good socks. I'm kind of into socks, even though I don't really have that much luck with them. I'm hoping that this week's whoring is over, but I would like to get
Scarf Style, by the editor of Interweave Knits whose name escapes me right now. Oh, yes, and I also got the Interweave crochet edition. Like I said, whore.
I did a really good job at work today. I negotiated something that I didn't think I would get - I was shooting way low and they said okay! Yay for me! I never thought I would like negotiating, but I really like the way I feel when I do a good job. Maybe I should just do cocaine and get it over with.
The Heave and the Ho
I've made a very big decision. I am going to try my hardest not to buy any new knitting paraphenalia until I finish part of the heap of projects I have on deck and in the hole. This includes yarn, needles and books. I say "try my hardest," because, really, am I going to be able to do this? That lone skein of blue/green Schaefer Anne, sitting all by its little self near the sock yarn, keeps trying to hop into my project bag every time I'm at the store. I'm sorry, little skein of yarn! I want to take you home, I do! But I can't!
I also want to learn how to do socks on one circular, but I don't have the right needles. So I have to wait for that, too. But I think if I do this, it'll be a really nice "prize" once I finish those projects. I like having goals, I like having a To Do list so I can cross off stuff. It's what I do at work now, and I'm never wanting to work anymore.
So maybe this will help? Maybe?
The very definition of weirdo-beardo
Blogger kind of hated my post from yesterday about me being a knitting whore. It hated it SO MUCH that it jacked up the sidebar (which, apparently, only showed up on my computer). So I took it off. Maybe I'll try to post it again later.
How to waste time, Big K style
Teen Girl Squad is the funniest thing I've ever seen. Thank you neighbor for having wireless Abby could steal last weekend. #3 is my favorite.
Look to your right. My sidebar is all jacked up. Please send help.
Boom! goes her head onto the desk
I am a worthless pile of drool and sleepiness today. I had a tooth filled this morning. My body doesn't really respond to novacaine, so I had THREE shots of it. I can't feel my tongue, left part of my face, or my chin. I'm so sleepy. Novacaine makes me want to just go to sleep. The numbness is starting to disappear in that painful way disappearing numbness has, and I'm beginning to feel the places where the needle was inserted. AWESOME.
I will accomplish nothing today. I should just go home. This is silly.
I swear I'm gonna marry you someday
So I was reading my hometown
newspaper online, perusing the "Family Album," for engagement and marriage announcements, as I am wont to do. EVERYONE I knew in high school is getting married. Everyone. And they're all marrying each other.
I'm not going to lie about it - I think about being married all the time. I think about weddings and diamond rings and coming home to someone I love every day. In some respects, I don't find it exactly fair that these other people are getting married. I read the announcement, immediately think "WHO would ever marry HIM/HER?" and then proceed to wallow. What about me? When's it my turn?
I used to write the engagement announcements for The Bettendorf News (and sometimes The Times) back in the day, after my senior year in high school. When I read them online, I often imagine what I would write.
"The bride-elect is a heinous bitch who is rarely seen without her bright yellow Mustang with the "4.0" license plate. Her fiance is a complete tool who once did a presentation about scuba diving in fifth grade. His vocabulary hasn't progressed much since. She is a graduate of Capri Cosmetology College, Davenport, and he dropped out of the University of Iowa because he drank too much and got fat. After honeymooning in Muscatine, the couple resides in Silvis."
Maybe I don't want to get married. Maybe I just really want to have a blurb about myself in the "Family Album."
"The anti-bride-elect, of Overland Park, KS, works at a large advertising agency where she has earned herself wicked cases of tendonitis and TMJ. She enjoys knitting, sleeping and giving the finger to fellow motorists. Her really hot, tall and undeniably sexy boyfriend (who is also a fabulous kisser) is a little scared by this. Unlike her high school classmates, she doesn't live with her parents."
I like him because you like him, but right now I don't like him at all
More secret pal questions/answers:
22. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I love big dogs, especially golden retrievers. Mice are good, too. And my favorite animated character, without a doubt, is Jem. But I also like Rainbow Brite and her sprites. Unfortunately, I have no love for Spongebob Stashpants. I just can't get into it.
23. What is your favorite holiday?
I'm rather fond of my birthday (January 22), but Literacy Day is right up there. Shit. I think I missed it.
24. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn, I collect
these. They're gorgeous and each is different. I have two celestial dancers (Eliza and Delilah), a fairy (Dorothy) and a kite girl (Kate, who, coincidentally, looks like Kate J.). They used to be over my bed, but then that freaked me out when I woke up in the middle of the night. The first three are over Roo's cage, and Kate is over my computer (about three feet from Roo's cage). I got Eliza and Delilah at Coda in Park City, UT, Dorothy is from Door County, WI, and Kate is from San Francisco. I'm hoping to get a butterfly girl for Chirstmas. I also really like Mary Englebreit, especially anything with Miss Smarty. I have a watch with her on it, as well as a pencil pouch that holds all of my knitting necessities.
A Public Notice to Those Without a Second X
Listen, it's never cool to treat a girl like a goddess and then suddenly stop as soon as she's in a different city, especially a city that's not too far away. If you tell someone you love them, by god, get off your ass and actually love them. Don't run away, don't make excuses. Grow up and be a man. Or else you're going to have to deal with me, and I swear on all that is holy that I won't be as nice as she is.
Secret Pal, I think I already love you
It's the weekend! And I'm posting! On a laptop! From Abby's apartment! In St. Louis!
You know how things are just so different and good when you're with your best friend, and you feel like YES, somebody understands me? I love that feeling.
For my Secret Pal, who I already adore:
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I became a yarn snob when I moved to Kansas City and learned that there were other kinds of yarn stores besides Wal-Mart. And I work in a yarn store part time, so that doesn't exactly help matters. I do love me some Wool-Ease, though - it makes great socks. And there's nothing wrong with Red Heart, especially for afghans. That stuff washes the best out of anything I've used.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I've been crocheting for about nine years, I think. I've always wanted to learn how to use a drop spindle.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Nope!
4. How long have you been knitting?
About two and a half years.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I think so. You can look it up under my name.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I really love lime and orange and grapefruit - anything citrus-y.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Definitely. I love anything considered to be dessert.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Beading, sewing and quilting (albeit not that often and not that well), collaging
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD)
I like all kinds of music - go back about a month in my archives and you'll find The Great CD Challenge, which lists all of my CDs. I can play MP3s.
10. What's your favorite color?
I love "hot" colors - reds, hot pinks, pink, yellow, orange. I love color in general.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live alone with a fish named Roxy and a mouse named Roo.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
I would love to be an editor of a knitting magazine. That would be amazing.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I love Cascade 220. Anything Noro, and I'm obsessed with, but haven't yet used, Koigu.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I like all fibers.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I have to use every bit of yarn I have - I can't stand throwing anything "good" away. I have crazy little squares all over the house.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Sweaters.
17. What are you knitting right now?
A sweater for my mom, Klaralund for me, a hat for the store, a scarf for the store (crochet), some Pyschadelic Squares, a scrap scarf, socks at work...
18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us)
I was all about the poncho until about July, and now I just can't handle it. I'm of the belief that you shouldn't wear a poncho unless you're tall and thin, because otherwise you just look like you grabbed your comforter off your bed.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular.
20. How did you learn to knit?
I taught myself from the "I Taught Myself Knitting" kit you can get at Wal-Mart on Christmas Day, 2001.
21. How old is your oldest UFO?
I think it's my mom's sweater - probably about six months old. Not too bad, actually.
This is my very favorite picture of Penny.
Part of my mom's garden, as seen from the family room window. In the back left-hand corner is what used to be known as Elvis Island. She extended it, and now it's Penny's Island.
"Well, I never really liked you anyway. Where's my dad?"
"Hey, wanna play? Let's play. Look! It's my ring! I love my ring."
Penny isn't so sure why that ball is moving and what could possibly be inside. She liked to push the ball with her nose, and if I was Roo, I would have thrown up.
It's Baby Roo!
Baby cardigan for my boss, who's expecting a little boy in about two weeks. It's one skein of Schaefer Elaine in the colorway Snoopy's Crayons. I opted to just not put on buttons and left it open.
Jeanne's Booga Bag, pre-felting. It's really more purple than the camera shows. The CD is for sizing relative to the finished bag.
Unfunkalicious
How to feel better:
1. Seriously consider ripping out your own teeth because getting your jaw fixed is like, $560 and insurance doesn't cover it.
2. Sleep for two and a half hours.
3. Eat toasted ravioli.
4. Talk to your best friend in the whole entire world while making slightly scary cookies.
5. Do a gauge swatch for Klaralund and finally get it right on Denise 9s.
My mom found a mouthpiece for $70 online, so I'm going to try that. I hope it gets here quickly - my teeth hurt more and more each day and I've just become mean. Also, if anyone has any spare 10mg capsules of Prozac/fluxotine, send them my way. I've only got 20s and 20+20 does not equal 30. 20 one day + 40 the next day eventually equals 30, but that requires me to actually keep track of chemical levels in my body and I can't even keep track of when I last fed the fish.
I've spent a good portion of the last few days asleep. I went to bed at 8:30 Monday night and took a nap right after work last night. I love sleep.
I also love being able to go home after work and only doing the things I want to do, which, right now, includes playing Zuma, knitting and paging through catalogs. I am totally fine with that.
I'm going to the dentist this afternoon, meaning I leave work around 2:00 and don't have to come back. But I also came in early, so it's not like I'll only be here for four hours or so. I think I have TMJ - my teeth, ears and head hurt all the time and I can't open my mouth without my jaw popping out of place. Good times.
I realized this morning that I'm teaching the Slip-A-Color hat at the end of September, and I'm only about four inches into it. Agh. Hopefully it'll be good car knitting for when we go to St. Louis this weekend to visit my favorite pirate.
