You deserve better

For all my readers, I want to issue a sincere apology.

I'm sorry.  You deserve much better.  I haven't been blogging as I've meant to, to the extent that I thought about changing the entire format over to Tumblr . . .as much as I tweet, you would get more frequent updates.  But I'm loathe to move from Blogger.  I just have to try harder.  For me, blogging takes effort, because I really hate releasing a blog without a picture to go with it.  So, I'm going to start taking my camera with me more often so I can blog my mobile life and update you more.  Yes, I'm still knitting (more on that below) and sewing, so maybe I can get more info released.

A year later

As of September 28, I have been a traveling consultant for my company for 2 years.  What has that meant for me?

• I'm so tired these days I missed the 1-year anniversary of this job.
• I sleep in my bed at my own home (the one I pay taxes on) 3 nights a week.
• I consider the hotel (any hotel) my home.
• I've developed gastritis and duodenitis. Trying saying that five times fast.
• My yard is a disaster-zone
• Spiders are running my house
• I visit family twice a year and they're only 5 hours away.
• I have 300K frequent flier miles.  I am now Platinum Medallion on Delta.  I'm aiming for Diamond by the end of the year (My coworkers have been doing this so long that they think my mini-celebrations when I hit a new level are mildly amusing.  They're so jaded).
• I have 200K+ points with both the Marriott and Hilton chains. I like both, but I think Hilton sometimes edges Marriott out.
• I constantly feel stupid.
• I'm back to working 10+ hours a day just to keep up.
• I've developed the ability to fall asleep anywhere.

I've also learned the following:

• To be grateful I have a job.  Unemployment is at 10%.  Nothing can be taken for granted.
• That regardless of intentions, higher salary really does mean you spend more.  I can't understand how I'm spending more than I use to, but there it is.
• Savings are important.  Emergency funds are your friends.
• It is important to take time to enjoy the small things.
• The North has four distinct seasons.  I've now experienced them all and I like them.  The south has HOT, "I'm sticking to the car seats HOT", Hot, and cold snap.

I initially started writing this post on September 30 and was planning on publishing it that night.  However, I found myself unable to press the button and I still don't know why.  Possibly because it just didn't feel right, but now it does.

Twitter + Kanye

What happens when you combine pictures from the New Yorker with Tweets from Kanye West?

LMAO!!!!

Please excuse me.  I need to find a tissue to wipe my eyes....That was hilarious!

Investing

I've been watching Clean House all week. It's an exercise in amusement and bemusement.  My favorite part is watching the homeowners, who have presumably watched the show and know what's going to happen, try desperately to hold on to their stuff.

However, it is making me look around my house and wonder what I would get rid of if Niecy and company blasted their way into my house.  Thankfully my house isn't very cluttered, just slightly messy.  So I started thinking, what would Niecy and Company want me to get rid of the most, my Tigger?

Eh.  That might not hurt.

What would hurt?

The Yarn.  Yeah.  I would put up a fight over the yarn.  So, just out of curiosity, I pulled a spreadsheet from Ravelry and did some quick math to determine how much yarn I have.

$1,140.33

That was the total for the yarn, in stash, that I had prices attached to.  71 yarns didn't even have a price attached.  So, that means that I probably have over $2000 of yarn...


Whoa....

I have ~$2000 of yarn in my house.  That means that the stash is easily the most expensive collection of anything in my house.  The stash is worth more than the TV, the computers, any other single item.  I have in yarn what I am trying to save for wood floors.

Whoa...Clearly, I need to rethink some priorities. Perhaps I won't put so much in the yarn budget each month...

I'm glad I have alarm system on the house.

Vacation Crafting

I spent all of last week chained to the desk in my spare room doing work, so I wouldn't have to do any work this week (that plan failed.  I've checked the email everyday this week, even if I didn't act on it).

However I do have some knitting related items to share with you.
The Cambridge Jacket is 99% finished!

I still need to modify the zipper (the instruction called for a 26in zipper, I bought a 24in zipper, and it's still too big) but do you remember what I said about the size issue?

Yeah . . .It fits me.  This will definitely swamp my dad.  I'm a little worried about this.
(momentary pause to acknowledge that it is currently 89 degrees outside and I'm standing here in a wool sweater)

I have a few things I need to finish on the jacket (weaving in ends mostly), but the jacket is largely done.  I feel pretty good about it because it is my first completed sweater, it looks pretty decent and I learned a lot.  The Rubicon has been crossed.

I've also done some sewing this week.  I finished this in two hours last night.

The back of the DPN Case

DPN Case Interior

When it comes to sewing, I don't have a case of Startitis.  I can sit and look at the pattern and the fabric all day long and won't cut the fabric.  However, I have to admit that once I get started, I'm always pleased with the results.  I still sew decently well.

I've been working on this hat all week

M'Gonigle Hat

I loved the pattern when I saw it on Ravelry and I thought it would be a breeze, since the cable pattern has the look of the Bayerische socks I knit two years ago (wow, has it been that long?).

I've had to rework this hat 4 or five times.  Every day I end up tinking something because I either forgot to do a second repeat of the cables, or I messed up the pattern or I put the pattern where it wasn't supposed to be.  Either way, I goofed something.  But now I'm almost at the end of one skein of Stroll Sport Mink Heather and ready to finish this off.

In sad news, Needles and Knobs in St. Petersburg is the newest victim of the economy.  I got her email yesterday saying she was going out of business.  I know I should run up there to see what is on clearance, but since I just spent $151 at A Good Yarn Monday, I'm holding off.  I'll probably go on Friday.