Oh right, I have a blog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

And it is about knitting . . . . . . . .

Well the past few week has again been wild. The week last week ended with yet anohter person quitting from our office. It was the highest selling Rep in the office and I knew it would case some issues. There were issues with transfer accounts and such.

I went home for the weekend to help mom out a a church tag sale, knowing that the upcoming week would be crazy. While on the train home to CT I got to work on the South End Knitters Tag.
This is a team knitting project for our SNB. We have all been taking it home for a week and working on it. I can't wait till we get to put it up, it is going to look absolutely AWSOME!!!! Can't wait.

Friday night I had dinner with Dad and Step mom. We ended up sitting and playing Don't forget the Lyrics. SOmetimes it is funny to me how some great times are built out of the most random things, and this was one of them. My dad is normally asleep by 8pm, we were up till 10 winning the game. We had so much fun. My step mom just watched up laughing while we sang along with the game show, it was a blast.

On SAturday Mom and I spent the entire day at the tag sale. It was fun, tiring but fun. We got lots of fun stuff for Patrick, and I managed to get some great work clothes. We had a great time.

SAturdya night we went to a concert at mom's church. It really was good. A blue grass band called Marly's Ghost. Definitly worth the trip. The artists were very funny, great stories, good music all around. A Nice time.

Sunday I got up early and went to Mass. It was a little tough for me as I was thinking about Henry and his family the entire time. His memorial service was on Hilton Head on Saturday. I left amss and went down to Bishops for some apples, cider, and pumpkin woopie pies.

Then I was off to the new CT Yarn and wool in Madison. Right now it is still filled with the yarn from yarns, yarns, yarns. They are getting ready to fill it with Carols yarns. I picked up a couple of skeins of my favorite Farmhouse, lumpy bumpy in really saturated colors. Teal and lime green. They are great. Will probably turn those into a couple of hats.

While driving around I got a call from a friend who was magically in town. She is NEVER in town, so of course went to see her. Then, it was off to visit nutmegknitter and see Lorelai (and becca, jackson, and Dan). Oh, you want pictures, well of course I have pictures.

It amazes me every time I see her. She grows so much and she is so interactive. She has started playing by herself, and loves reading her books. Seeing Becca with her also give me so much joy. Becca is such a fantastic mom, and you can certainly see it in Lorelai, she loves her Mom.

Then it was back to Boston. While on the train I worked on the Calpotis. Oh yes, it is almost done I swear. I had to frog it because I made an error. I was pretty nervois aout that, but it ended up working out great.

So then it was back to work on Monday. I didn't really know what to expect, but I settled in. It was a busy week, lots of demos and learning.

On Tuesday morning Jennifer woke me up with the news "THere will probably be a baby today" Well, she was right.

Welcome to the World Grace Sophia I will get to meet her next weekend when I go home for RHINEBECK!!!!!!! I can't wait.

So on wednesday I was called into a meeting. I was told it would be good news, so I had no idea what to expect. I anticipated being offered a senior sales position but instead my position ws changed completely. I was offered an Account Management position. No more sales, but higher base salary, and I will be handling support calls. This is something I am so excited about. It is exactly what I was looking for. Requires more hours, but that is why they are paying me more. So I can handle it.

I can't wait. I am so excited.

Now I am working on my neck warmer for Rhinebeck.
This is a terrible picture of it, I promise to have something better as I get more finished with it. Great pattern, easy to follow, though it is a knot so it takes concentration. The yarn is letting me do this without hte cable needle, so I love that part.

So that is my life this week. Crazy huh. Can't wait to post more. . . . heading to salem with Jen today. It will be insane but I know it will also be fun.

What a rollercoaster

The past couple of days have been a complete roller coaster ride, and not in a good way. Tuesday I was to get my first paycheck YAY, then I found out that I set up my direct deposit incorrectly so I was not actually getting my money. I finally found my money YAY, then found out that I wouldn't have it for a few days.
(edit: just checked my bank account and hte money is there. . . YAY!!)

Then the worst down of all, a friend whom I worked with on Hilton Head lost his son on Monday night. This is a terrible loss. This family has been fighting a brain tumor for over two years. From the minute he was diagnosed Henry was a fighter. he named his tumor Lamar, he questioned his doctors ("Could you be wrong") he laughed, he persevered, and most importantly he fought and he fought hard. I have not been in touch with the family for a number of years, but found out about henry's illness and was keeping track of the family through their blog. I cannot imagine the pain that they are feeling, and I myself am not feeling to great about it either.

So that is my week so far, fun huh, don't you want to trade places with me!!!

I am starting something in Henry's memory though. I have always been knitting hats for charity, well these will be called the One Up hats. I am going to find away to include the nintendo power up mushroom in the hats (even just a patch or a button)

As we dined Friday night, Henry was wearing his new favorite T-shirt which featured a green mushroom and the phrase: 1-UP. Mama and Dad commented on how great the shirt looked on Henry.

"You don't know what it means do you?" he said.

We paused a moment...

"No, actually...we don't."

"In video games," he said very deliberately, " a 1-up means you get an extra life."

Mama and Dad shared a look deeper than the cut from a freshly-honed Henckel.

An extra life...
What parent wants more?

update: I went to the Nintendo website last night and went to the "charitable donations" link. I explained who I was and what I want to do. I am not trying to get anyhting for free from them, just want to know that if I start doing this I won't meet any difficulties by using it. Once I have the go ahead to do it, I will contact Henry's parents and ask them if I can use the story when I donate the hats.

I can't sit back and do nothing, I certainly want this child's memory to live on. So those of you on Ravelry, hopefully I will soon be starting a group which will be called "One Up for Henry" keep an eye out for it.

Hug loved ones a but closer today

As you walk through your day today please keep all of your loved ones in mind. Young and old. Do this with Henry in mind. 

“When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars and he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.”

Where have you knit?

You know that cool feature on Facebook the "Where have you been feature" well, I think someone (with more time and who knows more about computers than I) should make a "Where have you knit/crochet? See, How cool would that be, I have knit in some very interesting places

The metro on the way to AlexandriaThe Beach at Pleasure Bay in BostonThe Public Gardens (Sorry, so yarn pics, grrr I got the idea on the way home so I didn't think to take it while I was there)


Anyway, this is what pops into my head while wandering around the city. Of course when I have some where specific to be, I get directions, but I have also discovered that by just "turning left" or "seeing whats' down this street" I have discovered so many things. So that is what I did today, I walked around Boston and enjoyed, what I hope, is he last day of summer for New England. Don't get me wrong, it was 80 degrees, no humidity, just stunning, bit windy, but so wonderful, but I am ready for the fall.

And on that note, I leave you with my day.

Reflecting

I can't let this day pass without thinking about it. I can replay the day almost to the minute. I can almost replay that entire week, it was a crazy week. Drop me aline if you want the details.

Anyway. . . . . Since I am still unemployed (though hopefully not for much longer) I decided to take a walk to the beach. While I was there I watched all of the planes landing at Logan. I was reminded of what it was like when there were no planes in the air for 3 days. My apartment in High Point, NC was on the approach to Greensboro Airport. I can remember hearing the first plane overhead. It was a helicopter transporting someone from a car accident (it had been on the news). I can remember people walking outside of their apartments to watch this one helicopter go by. We were all frozen. It was as if we had never seen anything flying before. Nobody said anything, we all just went back into our apartments or cars and life went on.

It is kind of amazing how when something that happens around us every day is gone for just a short time, we notice it when it returns.

Well, I have been here for a week

Crazy huh. I have been in this new city for a week. I am still unemployed, I am really hoping to fix that situation today. i have an interview with the CEO of Software Company "V" today. I am really hoping this is the third and final. I have also seen a couple more jobs that I am thinking of applying for, and I have also signed on with a temp agency. I am confident that I will have a paycheck soon.

I am getting settled in the apartment and finding creative storage options.

This weekend I am pretty psyched. I discovered the Boston Folk Festival here in town, and they were looking for volunteers, so I am heading there to help with set up and breakdown on Sunday, and I get to enjoy all of the music. I am psyched. It should be great. No huge names, but John Gorka and Kathy Mattea will be there, and that is good enough.

In knitting news, well I have to say this whole "Do one project at a time" has its merits. I am currently working on a Clapotis for my sister. I am more than half way done with the straight rows, it looks fantastic.

I am using Dark Horse yarns fantasy. I must say, I really love this yarn. It is great. It is soft, so soft. It drapes beautifully. I am thinking of a big challenge project of the drifting pleats scarf for Step Mom for Christmas. We shall see.

I have a few other things on the needles as well. Fishnets from SNB Nation for Vik, a blanket to donate to Victory Junction Gang in Dad's name, and that is about it. I am looking forward to trying out the magic loop once I am done with the clapotis. I have some of the Ravelry Mascot left over, thinking it is enough for a pair of socks for L.

I am loving Boston, especially the weather, and the things to do. I am going to two different SNB's this week. One out in Cambridge tonight, and one on the South End. The knitters have been so wonderful.

Well, guess that is it for me today, must get some cleaning done, interview is at 2pm. Wish me luck.

I think I'm Gonna Like it here. . . . .

Well, I am certainly not living with Daddy Warbucks, but I must say my place here in Southie with Jennifer is pretty great. Plenty of space, and a new cat to get used to. I spent my first real day in Boston yesterday. It was such a beautiful day.

I started my day by heading to my first interview at the Museum of Fine Arts.
The Interview went great, it is a great job, very good money, lots of new things to learn. It does involve pretty crappy hours. So, there are trade offs. I did get to take some great pictures. The Geese right near where I sat to knit before my interview.The amazingly blue Sky. It was such a great day. The of course there was the happy graffiti on the sidewalk . After this interview I went off to Brookline Village. At first I was not overly impressed, but then I crossed over a bridge and was in love. Tree lined streets, and then there was A Good Yarn I was so impressed with the shop. Well stocked, great staff, very friendly, and I am also hoping to head back there for spinning lessons. I was so happy. Went for a quick lunch and then off to interview number 2. It was a great interview at a small puppet theatre in Brookline. We will see how it goes. I found a lovely spot to sit and knit and enjoy probably the most expensive Latte I ever drank (seriously, I was shocked. I know it is he city and all, but $5.51 for an iced latte is a bit extreme) but a great people watching spot right in front of the T station. I officially became a mass transit knitter yesterday. I completed this project during my trips throughout the day Iot modified the mason dixon pattern a bit, and I am really pleased. Not sure what it will become, it isn't quite the right size for a burp rag, so it may just be a dust or face cloth. It certainly kept my hands busy. I cast on a pair of RPM's last night, so that is nice mindless bus/train knitting.

Currently I am balling up the yarn for my sisters clapotis. Hoping to cast that on tonight at my first Boston SNB at Flour I am really excited to meet some new knitters.

Oh, and I SO wore the wrong shoes. My favorite Heels backfired on me yesterday. These shoes have always come through, but not yesterday. Thankfully I was able to come home to my finished monkeys I haven't woven in the yarn ends yet, but that didn't stop me from wearing them around the house last night. They were so comfy and wonderful.