Domestic Bliss
It's like you're unraveling a big cable-knit sweater that someone keeps knitting and knitting and knitting and knitting...
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Breakfast and socks.
We had a great day last Saturday. I went to bed when Syntax did, which meant that I woke up at an ungodly early hour and couldn't get back to sleep. The internet is a godsend for insomniacs and shift workers; no matter what time you're online there's always something good to read. I was checking out my favorite forum and found a link to Jon Rahoi's site, which is a highly entertaining account of his life in China; there are a lot of pictures of signs in mangled English ("Manglish"), and this entry had me in tears. I thought I was being quiet, but Syntax did wake up and came into the computer room, thinking something was horribly wrong with me. After he realized I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop, he read that entry and understood why.
Since we were both up, we decided to go out for breakfast. I was in the mood to try something new, so I looked for some restaurant reviews and found a breakfast-oriented site called Mr. Breakfast. This is a neat site, and we found a glowing review for The Sunny Point Cafe on Haywood Road. What a great little place! I can't believe I hadn't heard of it. After we got back I sent in my own review and a photo that Syntax took of me; a couple of days later I got an e-mail from Mr. Breakfast himself saying that I am the new Breakfast Buddy of the Month! (Go me!) Yep, that's me with the coffee mug in front of my face.
When we got home, I packaged up six pairs of socks and shipped them off to Afghans for Afghans.
Breakfast and socks.
We had a great day last Saturday. I went to bed when Syntax did, which meant that I woke up at an ungodly early hour and couldn't get back to sleep. The internet is a godsend for insomniacs and shift workers; no matter what time you're online there's always something good to read. I was checking out my favorite forum and found a link to Jon Rahoi's site, which is a highly entertaining account of his life in China; there are a lot of pictures of signs in mangled English ("Manglish"), and this entry had me in tears. I thought I was being quiet, but Syntax did wake up and came into the computer room, thinking something was horribly wrong with me. After he realized I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop, he read that entry and understood why.
Since we were both up, we decided to go out for breakfast. I was in the mood to try something new, so I looked for some restaurant reviews and found a breakfast-oriented site called Mr. Breakfast. This is a neat site, and we found a glowing review for The Sunny Point Cafe on Haywood Road. What a great little place! I can't believe I hadn't heard of it. After we got back I sent in my own review and a photo that Syntax took of me; a couple of days later I got an e-mail from Mr. Breakfast himself saying that I am the new Breakfast Buddy of the Month! (Go me!) Yep, that's me with the coffee mug in front of my face.
When we got home, I packaged up six pairs of socks and shipped them off to Afghans for Afghans.
The largest ones are about six inches long, and the smallest are two inches. So tiny! That's the average size of an Afghani newborn's foot. I'm working on several more pairs; I really love making these because they're quick (I don't get bored), I can afford to use good wool (they don't take much), and I'm improving my skills (I can now make socks without a pattern, and I can graft the toes with Kitchener stitch without looking at the book).
::Posted by Bliss at 1:44 PM ::
(3 comments) ::
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Why I'll be going to bed early.
I work at night. As humans are biologically programmed to be awake when the sun is out, there are certain things I have to do in order to enable me to sleep during the day. The bedroom windows are darkened to keep out the light. I take melatonin at bedtime. I keep the volume on the answering machine turned down. Since my doorbell is really loud, and its speaker is right outside my bedroom door, if it rings while I'm asleep, it always wakes me up (and very nearly gives me a heart attack in the process); therefore, I have a sign on the front door explaining that I am a daysleeper and asking people not to disturb me before late afternoon.
Most of the time this sign works. Once in a great while the doorbell will ring, but usually it's the gas company telling me they turned off the gas while doing some work and they want to come relight the pilots (which is good because otherwise I would wake up to a cold shower). There used to be an overly enthusiastic UPS employee who would put the package down, ring the bell, and leave, but that guy isn't on this route anymore. One time, a few weeks ago, it was a policeman asking if I had seen a possible murder witness who had once lived on my street; the officer apologized profusely for waking me up, but it was important and I didn't mind too much.
Then there are the idiots.
I got home from work this morning a little after 7:00 a.m. and was in bed by 7:30, but I couldn't get to sleep. I finally managed to drift off around 9:30... then at 12:15, BING-BONG!!! BING-BONG!!! I drag my sleepy ass out of bed and shuffle to the front door; as nice as it would be to roll over and ignore the bell, usually when someone disregards my sign it's for a reason. I open the door and a young woman is standing there; she starts to speak, realizes I'm in my pajamas and only about half awake, and says, "Oh! Is that sign for real?"
Had I been fully awake, I'm sure I would have replied, "You mean the imaginary sign there? No, it's not real." Or perhaps, "No, I just put that sign there to fuck with your head." But I wasn't coherent enough to say more than "Yes. What do you need?" She muttered something about winning a contest and walked away.
I eventually got back to sleep and was still in bed when Syntax got home; at that point I realized nothing would get done if I didn't get up, so I did. But bedtime will be early tonight to make up for it.
Why I'll be going to bed early.
I work at night. As humans are biologically programmed to be awake when the sun is out, there are certain things I have to do in order to enable me to sleep during the day. The bedroom windows are darkened to keep out the light. I take melatonin at bedtime. I keep the volume on the answering machine turned down. Since my doorbell is really loud, and its speaker is right outside my bedroom door, if it rings while I'm asleep, it always wakes me up (and very nearly gives me a heart attack in the process); therefore, I have a sign on the front door explaining that I am a daysleeper and asking people not to disturb me before late afternoon.
Most of the time this sign works. Once in a great while the doorbell will ring, but usually it's the gas company telling me they turned off the gas while doing some work and they want to come relight the pilots (which is good because otherwise I would wake up to a cold shower). There used to be an overly enthusiastic UPS employee who would put the package down, ring the bell, and leave, but that guy isn't on this route anymore. One time, a few weeks ago, it was a policeman asking if I had seen a possible murder witness who had once lived on my street; the officer apologized profusely for waking me up, but it was important and I didn't mind too much.
Then there are the idiots.
I got home from work this morning a little after 7:00 a.m. and was in bed by 7:30, but I couldn't get to sleep. I finally managed to drift off around 9:30... then at 12:15, BING-BONG!!! BING-BONG!!! I drag my sleepy ass out of bed and shuffle to the front door; as nice as it would be to roll over and ignore the bell, usually when someone disregards my sign it's for a reason. I open the door and a young woman is standing there; she starts to speak, realizes I'm in my pajamas and only about half awake, and says, "Oh! Is that sign for real?"
Had I been fully awake, I'm sure I would have replied, "You mean the imaginary sign there? No, it's not real." Or perhaps, "No, I just put that sign there to fuck with your head." But I wasn't coherent enough to say more than "Yes. What do you need?" She muttered something about winning a contest and walked away.
I eventually got back to sleep and was still in bed when Syntax got home; at that point I realized nothing would get done if I didn't get up, so I did. But bedtime will be early tonight to make up for it.
::Posted by Bliss at 11:59 PM ::
(0 comments) ::
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
If only they'd pay me to knit...
I think "love" is a relative term when applied to one's job. I mean, I'm sure there are people out there who truly do love the work they do and would do it for free, and more power to 'em, but in my experience, work sucks simply by virtue of being work, since no matter how much I like the job, I'd still rather be home knitting.
Anyway. Until recently, I actually did love my work as much as it's possible for me to love any job. If you look at my work history (which I just did, since I've updated my resume), you'll notice that until my current position, I never stayed anywhere for more than two years before moving on, usually voluntarily. (I've never been fired for cause, although I have been laid off four times.)
I've been in my current job for over 7 years now (and at the company for 9). Egad! It boggles my mind... especially when I realize that it hasn't felt like anywhere near that long. My position was such a good fit; I have a rather odd skill set that played very well into my work.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. Over the last year, they've slowly taken away all the responsibilities I enjoyed and was good at, and given me more and more drudge work. And now it looks like even that may be in jeopardy as they reorganize our department yet again. But what really gets me is that the new boss will not tell us anything. For example: I met the person who is being trained to replace me in one part of my job. I have still not been told that I am being replaced. As far as I know, I will still be doing my main job, but at this point that's really just an optimistic assumption - I could easily be let go as soon as this person is trained. (New person makes about half of what I do, so replacing me outright would save them a good bit of money.)
So, for the first time in almost a decade, I'm looking for work. Even if they decide to keep me where I am, the uncertainty is getting to be too much, and I don't know how much longer I can stand being on the edge. My stomach has been upset for two weeks, and I'm pretty sure it's from the stress, because even the most digestively destructive burrito takes less time than that to leave one's system.
My suspicions that I won't find another job in this area which pays anything close to my current salary are proving correct. I had one lead on a job, but found out that I wouldn't be able to accept it because I would make more money drawing unemployment than working there. My one bit of hope now is the internal position I just applied for; it's not my dream job by any stretch of the imagination, but I am qualified for it, I don't think I'd hate it too much, and there is at least a chance that I would be paid a decent amount for it (but "salary commensurate with experience" leaves a lot of leeway). We shall see.
On a much happier note, I went to visit my niece last week. When she got up from her nap she found me knitting socks, and asked me some questions about them. (In other couple of years, I am so teaching her to knit.) I showed her the baby socks I had just finished, and pointed out that they wouldn't fit her since she's a big girl now and not a baby (she just turned 3). Then I asked if she would like me to make her a pair, and she said yes; I asked what color she would like, and she replied, "BIG blue. Because I am not a baby."
So here are the BIG blue socks in progress. I'm using Regia sock yarn in "Atlantik.
" The variegations are a little weird in this yarn; I think the colors are turning out better in the second sock than in the first. I know the proportions look a little strange, but I'm pretty sure they'll fit her - we made a big production out of measuring her feet and drawing around them on a piece of paper. If I work on them diligently tonight, I think I can finish them and mail them to her tomorrow. I'd like for her to be able to wear them for at least a little while before her feet grow again.
If only they'd pay me to knit...
I think "love" is a relative term when applied to one's job. I mean, I'm sure there are people out there who truly do love the work they do and would do it for free, and more power to 'em, but in my experience, work sucks simply by virtue of being work, since no matter how much I like the job, I'd still rather be home knitting.
Anyway. Until recently, I actually did love my work as much as it's possible for me to love any job. If you look at my work history (which I just did, since I've updated my resume), you'll notice that until my current position, I never stayed anywhere for more than two years before moving on, usually voluntarily. (I've never been fired for cause, although I have been laid off four times.)
I've been in my current job for over 7 years now (and at the company for 9). Egad! It boggles my mind... especially when I realize that it hasn't felt like anywhere near that long. My position was such a good fit; I have a rather odd skill set that played very well into my work.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. Over the last year, they've slowly taken away all the responsibilities I enjoyed and was good at, and given me more and more drudge work. And now it looks like even that may be in jeopardy as they reorganize our department yet again. But what really gets me is that the new boss will not tell us anything. For example: I met the person who is being trained to replace me in one part of my job. I have still not been told that I am being replaced. As far as I know, I will still be doing my main job, but at this point that's really just an optimistic assumption - I could easily be let go as soon as this person is trained. (New person makes about half of what I do, so replacing me outright would save them a good bit of money.)
So, for the first time in almost a decade, I'm looking for work. Even if they decide to keep me where I am, the uncertainty is getting to be too much, and I don't know how much longer I can stand being on the edge. My stomach has been upset for two weeks, and I'm pretty sure it's from the stress, because even the most digestively destructive burrito takes less time than that to leave one's system.
My suspicions that I won't find another job in this area which pays anything close to my current salary are proving correct. I had one lead on a job, but found out that I wouldn't be able to accept it because I would make more money drawing unemployment than working there. My one bit of hope now is the internal position I just applied for; it's not my dream job by any stretch of the imagination, but I am qualified for it, I don't think I'd hate it too much, and there is at least a chance that I would be paid a decent amount for it (but "salary commensurate with experience" leaves a lot of leeway). We shall see.
On a much happier note, I went to visit my niece last week. When she got up from her nap she found me knitting socks, and asked me some questions about them. (In other couple of years, I am so teaching her to knit.) I showed her the baby socks I had just finished, and pointed out that they wouldn't fit her since she's a big girl now and not a baby (she just turned 3). Then I asked if she would like me to make her a pair, and she said yes; I asked what color she would like, and she replied, "BIG blue. Because I am not a baby."
So here are the BIG blue socks in progress. I'm using Regia sock yarn in "Atlantik.
" The variegations are a little weird in this yarn; I think the colors are turning out better in the second sock than in the first. I know the proportions look a little strange, but I'm pretty sure they'll fit her - we made a big production out of measuring her feet and drawing around them on a piece of paper. If I work on them diligently tonight, I think I can finish them and mail them to her tomorrow. I'd like for her to be able to wear them for at least a little while before her feet grow again.
::Posted by Bliss at 4:32 PM ::
(2 comments) ::
Saturday, March 11, 2006
It's not like I do memes that often.
Here are my answers to Edgy Mama's meme: you pick a band, and answer the questions only using titles of their songs.
1. Name of band/artist: Cake
2. Are you male or female?: Short Skirt/Long Jacket
3. Describe yourself: Open Book
4. How do you feel about yourself?: Satan is My Motor
5. Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: Ain't No Good
6. Describe current girlfriend/boyfriend: World of Two
7. Describe where you want to be: Where Would I Be?
8. Describe how you live: Waiting
9. Describe how you love: Love You Madly
10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?: Italian Leather Sofa
11. Share a few words of Wisdom: How Do You Afford Your Rock 'N' Roll Lifestyle?
12. Now say goodbye: End of the Movie
It's not like I do memes that often.
Here are my answers to Edgy Mama's meme: you pick a band, and answer the questions only using titles of their songs.
1. Name of band/artist: Cake
2. Are you male or female?: Short Skirt/Long Jacket
3. Describe yourself: Open Book
4. How do you feel about yourself?: Satan is My Motor
5. Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: Ain't No Good
6. Describe current girlfriend/boyfriend: World of Two
7. Describe where you want to be: Where Would I Be?
8. Describe how you live: Waiting
9. Describe how you love: Love You Madly
10. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?: Italian Leather Sofa
11. Share a few words of Wisdom: How Do You Afford Your Rock 'N' Roll Lifestyle?
12. Now say goodbye: End of the Movie
::Posted by Bliss at 10:05 AM ::
(1 comments) ::
Friday, March 10, 2006
I'm visiting Springfield.
That's me, looking for the Westville Pub. Thanks to DevilDucky for "The Simpsomaker" and to Felicity for the link. Try it, it's fun!
I'm visiting Springfield.
That's me, looking for the Westville Pub. Thanks to DevilDucky for "The Simpsomaker" and to Felicity for the link. Try it, it's fun!
::Posted by Bliss at 4:04 PM ::
(0 comments) ::
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Stripey.
No luck with the odd ball sale baskets at Purl's yesterday; there was a lot of cool stuff in there (bamboo!) but no wool. So I splurged on a hank of Artyarns Supermerino and cranked out another pair of baby socks. This yarn is a bit heavier than what I've been using, so the stitches are a lot more dense - these socks, like most good produce, are heavy for their size. I used a size 0 needle, but I think this yarn would be better suited to a 2 or a 3.
Once again, I'm sorry for the crappy photo, but oddly enough, I think the colors here are more accurate than in the photo on the Artyarns site. Weird.) This pair turned out really cute - and I made up my own pattern this time! I'm going to refine the pattern a little bit then I might post it here.
Stripey.
No luck with the odd ball sale baskets at Purl's yesterday; there was a lot of cool stuff in there (bamboo!) but no wool. So I splurged on a hank of Artyarns Supermerino and cranked out another pair of baby socks. This yarn is a bit heavier than what I've been using, so the stitches are a lot more dense - these socks, like most good produce, are heavy for their size. I used a size 0 needle, but I think this yarn would be better suited to a 2 or a 3.Once again, I'm sorry for the crappy photo, but oddly enough, I think the colors here are more accurate than in the photo on the Artyarns site. Weird.) This pair turned out really cute - and I made up my own pattern this time! I'm going to refine the pattern a little bit then I might post it here.
::Posted by Bliss at 3:46 PM ::
(0 comments) ::
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The joy of socks.
Someday, I'll knit myself a sweater. Really, I will. I've tried three times in the last couple of years, but none of them took. (I managed to finish the Shapely Tank, but it turned out so wide that it wouldn't stay on my shoulders, plus I used a crappy yarn that wasn't the best choice. I attempted a Spring Fling, but I kept screwing up and dropping stitches, and quit out of frustration. Most recently, I started the Hourglass Sweater and got up to the bustline, but I haven't touched it in months because I got really bored with it, plus I didn't like how the hem turned out, and I will probably frog it and use the yarn for something else.)
I seem to have better luck with small projects; I like doing things that I can finish relatively quickly so that I don't get bored. The Olympic gloves were fun, and I've also been doing a lot of socks. The one at right is the one I was working on before the Olympics; its mate is about 1/3 finished. (I scanned this sock and used it for the banner on this blog and then based the rest of the color scheme on the yarn; so of course the name of this pair is "blog socks.")
But now, I think I've found the ultimate quick project: baby socks! This month, Afghans for Afghans is asking for newborn socks and hats, so I used what was left over from one ball of the Sock Garden yarn from the blog sock to make these:
I used a free pattern by Ann Budd called Better Than Booties Baby Socks (.pdf file here); this is the "ruffle ribs" variant. I'm not crazy about how the striping turned out; the variegations are definitely better suited to larger socks, but that's okay. These are still pretty darn cute, and so soft - it's hard to believe this stuff is 100% wool. I made one change to her pattern; I think her instructions for the short-row heel & toe are more complicated than they need to be - I knit the first heel of the first sock using her directions, then realized I could get the same results using the method I usually use for short-row heels, so I switched for the toes and other heel. If anything, I think those look even better. (This toe-up pattern has the technique I usually use, and is the easiest sock pattern I've ever tried.) I'm going to hit the yarn stores and see if I can find any odd balls of yarn on sale so I can make more; I'm guessing I can get at least 3 or 4 pairs out of one ball.
The joy of socks.
Someday, I'll knit myself a sweater. Really, I will. I've tried three times in the last couple of years, but none of them took. (I managed to finish the Shapely Tank, but it turned out so wide that it wouldn't stay on my shoulders, plus I used a crappy yarn that wasn't the best choice. I attempted a Spring Fling, but I kept screwing up and dropping stitches, and quit out of frustration. Most recently, I started the Hourglass Sweater and got up to the bustline, but I haven't touched it in months because I got really bored with it, plus I didn't like how the hem turned out, and I will probably frog it and use the yarn for something else.)I seem to have better luck with small projects; I like doing things that I can finish relatively quickly so that I don't get bored. The Olympic gloves were fun, and I've also been doing a lot of socks. The one at right is the one I was working on before the Olympics; its mate is about 1/3 finished. (I scanned this sock and used it for the banner on this blog and then based the rest of the color scheme on the yarn; so of course the name of this pair is "blog socks.")
But now, I think I've found the ultimate quick project: baby socks! This month, Afghans for Afghans is asking for newborn socks and hats, so I used what was left over from one ball of the Sock Garden yarn from the blog sock to make these:
I used a free pattern by Ann Budd called Better Than Booties Baby Socks (.pdf file here); this is the "ruffle ribs" variant. I'm not crazy about how the striping turned out; the variegations are definitely better suited to larger socks, but that's okay. These are still pretty darn cute, and so soft - it's hard to believe this stuff is 100% wool. I made one change to her pattern; I think her instructions for the short-row heel & toe are more complicated than they need to be - I knit the first heel of the first sock using her directions, then realized I could get the same results using the method I usually use for short-row heels, so I switched for the toes and other heel. If anything, I think those look even better. (This toe-up pattern has the technique I usually use, and is the easiest sock pattern I've ever tried.) I'm going to hit the yarn stores and see if I can find any odd balls of yarn on sale so I can make more; I'm guessing I can get at least 3 or 4 pairs out of one ball.
::Posted by Bliss at 2:58 PM ::
(0 comments) ::
