For the lack of posting, you’d think I had forgotten how to write at all. ‘Tis not the case. It was a productive blog silence, as I attempted my fourth NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month.
Sadly, at about 18K words in, I pulled the plug last week. It’s further than I’ve ever gotten, so that makes me happy. But with trying to launch a site at work, two nights at the office past 11pm and a trip to the outlaw in-laws (outlaws only because my relationship isn’t legally recognized) in Eugene for the upcoming Tofurkey day, it wasn’t going to happen without a lot of pain. And I want to do NaNo in a spirit of fun and joy. There’s enough hurt in the world without scooping some more on myself.
That said, my newfound free time means a return to knitting, a chance to clean out some email inboxes, a truckload of Ravelry friend adds and hopefully more opportunities to be social. I’m back in the pool, too. As soon as that darn redesign launches, it will be a full return to normalcy.
Smarties are crack. No, not the Canadian Smarties, aka Nestle’s M&M’s (with a better quality chocolate).
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved the good ol’ fashioned, pressed powdered dextrose discs. And it has to be from Ce De Candy Inc., not some cheap imitation.
I prefer to eat them by color, after separating them into piles. Typically, I can’t just eat one. Sometimes I become so overwhelmed by desire I forgo the segregation step and cram a whole roll in my mouth. I know; it’s a problem.
Back in the late mid-90’s, I had a much worse problem with them. Around Halloween, I’d buy a 2 or 3 or 5 lbs. bag and horde them in my desk at work. I’d gorge myself on the bag for weeks. Usually, it was only one bag a year, however, there a few two-bag binges.
It’s been years since I bought a bulk bag. I’ve been able to eat a couple of rolls, here and there, when they cross my path. Yesterday, I found myself fantasizing about those days of yore, having a seemingly never-ending stash at an arm’s-length.
Thus far, I’ve remained steadfast and in control. No drugstore visit last night to the candy aisle. Yet, coworkers brought in their kids’ candy today, and I cherrypicked eight rolls which are sitting next to me on my desk. I can smell them, but haven’t opened one.
I’m using them as motivation to get stuff done today… yet I’ve just wasted 15 minutes writing this panegyric lauding them. Obsessed?
Just finished grafting the toe and weaving in the ends of the first Brancusi 2.0 sock. Sadly, I don’t have a picture to share with you, so you just have to trust me. Halfway there, hence the post title.
With more stitches and finer yarn, the pattern has changed a bit. The diamonds are isolated between twisted stitches columns. This is the third Brancusi I’ve knit, not counting the one and half “sketch” socks where I began playing with the pattern. As such (and with a little Cat Bordhi advice), in this one I was able to solve some of the tightness at the ankle.
All that remains is getting through the second one, just to make sure there’s enough yarn in the skein to enter in the Hill Country Yarns sock pattern contest. If there’s not, I’ll figure out a way to share the pattern with y’all.
We’re making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight in the dark. No, there hasn’t been a power outage. It’s Lights Out SF. Six tealights are burning on the coffeetable, next to a chunky make-it-yourself candle I make’ed years ago that’s burning for the first time. The only other light in the apartment is the dull glow of our computer screens as I’m typing and he’s on flickr.
Today was the surprise 40th birthday party for Michael, put on by his adorable and loving boyfriend Anthony. I assume someone will post pictures. Other than surprise Mr. Socktopus himself, a highlight was hanging out with Kate (who just heard about these new-fangled computers) and Tammy (of her own bad-asstattoos fame). I have the feeling that these three (along with Elaine who couldn’t make it) could be my future BFF’s.
I just worked out with a new trainer here. (You knew we had a gym here, right?) It was the first time I’ve exerted myself more than resisting a certain French bulldog’s tugging at the leash since Labor day. That was my last run. And I haven’t swum in, um, forever. So much for Run-a-go-go, eh?
A two or so mile warm-up on the treadmill and a series of stability ball squats and lunges and core stabalizations and planks and some bi- and triceps thrown in for good measure. I can only imagine how I’m going to feel tomorrow. A surefire way to make it hurt less would be to get out and go for a little 3-mile jaunt with the ol’ iPod at 7am. The stress of my workday usually keeps me from making time for a workout. But, as I’ve said before, these are the times I need it most. And tomorrow, I’ll need it mentally AND physically.
Blog about the environment. Do something for the earth.
Can you take one less car trip today? Ride your bike for a short trip instead of driving? Sorry for being redundant (yes, I mentioned it Friday!).
At 2milechallenge.com you can plug in your address and get a Google map that shows you what’s within 2 miles of your home. And the map opens with my office address (if you ever wondered where in Berkeley I work).
Feel free to share on your blog.
Posted in life | Comments Off on blogactionday.org
I’ve been reknitting the Brancusi sock on finer yarn, smaller needles and more stitches. It’s changed how the overall pattern looks, and for the better. I’ve since turned the heel and started decreasing for the toe after breakfast this morning.
This blurry photograph was taken on the plane to Vegas, two weeks ago. It was a 24-hour jaunt for work to go to Interbike to witness the launching of our latest program: 2 Mile Challenge.
What is it? It’s a challenge to ride your bike for trip under 2 miles: to coffee, to dinner, to the store or to a friend’s house. 40% of US urban trips are 2 miles or less; and 90% of those trips are driven in a car.
So, last night, I experienced the cutting edge… at an ATM machine.
I had to deposit some checks and, lo, and behold, there was a new-fangled ATM at my local Bank o’ America. It didn’t require envelopes, in fact, there were none. No, this new machinery takes the frustrating task of licking envelopes that sit out in public AND the challenge of addition has been abolished! Instead, it just sucks in each check as-is, I verify it, then it asks for another!
From what I read in their press releases, if I had had cash, these new “deposit image” ATMs can take a stack of up to 40 bills at once and count them for you. If only I carried that many Washington’s! As you can see, they then print digital images of the deposited checks on the receipt itself.
Does your bank have this? I head heard of Wells Fargo doing it, but until I used it, I didn’t get its magic! Is it me, or is this totally Jetsons?
the hizKNITS keeps me busy when I'm not waiting on Janie Sparkles + Decibelle Doughnut hand and paw, baking bread, running, or designing more things to knit. stephen [at] hizKNITS [dot] com
