August 30, 2008

An Update

This has not been a very "bloggy" month for a lot of reasons.
    A. The Fall school started. This is the part of the year I like least: scads of eager, fresh-faced college students descending like locusts upon an unprepared and unsuspecting campus. They take all the parking spots, cop attitude really quick, and their parent's also act like fools. Worse yet, the administration of every school I've ever worked at acts as if this is the first time they've ever opened in August. No one ever remembers how to do their job, which means:

    B. The people I have to work with turn into stark raving fools. However, since I have a new job, it hasn't been so bad. I only have to deal with one person and normally she's OK. However, this month she's been a hassle. I'm her liasion, yet she's sending everything to my boss, not CC'ing me on emails, so that when the CIO asks me what going on, I'm clueless. Now, I don't know what I've done to offend her, but best believe we will has a serious discussion about this little attitude problem she's having very soon. I can't take this, I won't take this, and I am seriously pissed about it.

    C. I am on Vacation. I am in DC right now visiting my friend Shaye, who has decided that, for some unknown and ungodly reason she wants to leave the happy shores of America and go to Africa...Seriously! Africa! (J/K Shaye!) I'm sad that she's leaving, but hey, that's a great new place for me to visit and hang out.

    D. Shaye's new son, Ahmed Allen Sidee, is without a doubt, the most adorable, gorgeous little 2-month old I've ever seen. He is also attached to Shaye ever 2 hours. Amazing...

    E. The Democratic National Convention was . . . words fail me. Inspirational and well-orchestrated come to mind first. 84,000 people at Invesco fields, 38 million people watching on TV. A bigger audience share than the opening of the Olympics, the Season ending of American Idol, and the Oscars. I can't wait to see what the Republicans come up with.
    American's are ready for change. We have two change agents at the head of major party tickets. Which reminds me . . .

    F. Gov. Sarah...Who? I mean really, Who???! If this isn't pandering, I don't know what is.
    I remember reading about her 2-3 months ago when her name came up as a possible VP pick and I thought, "If they choose her, all the Republican cracks about Obama's 'lack of experience have got to stop' ". This is hilarious. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL] said it best, "I have more people in my congressional district than she has in her entire state!"


In Knitting news, I finished the Baby Surprise Jacket for Baby Ahmed. I made a lot of upgrades on it:
  1. Did some double knitting around the hood to accomodate an I-cord tie for the hood.
  2. Added Moss Stitch to the edges, including the button bands in order to prevent curling.
  3. Made the sleeves extra long
  4. Added short rows in the back for more space.
I'm actually very proud of it. I'll post pictures soon.

August 21, 2008

Firebug

I have a new Friend called Firebug.

Casey (on Ravelry) suggested the use of Firebug to all bloggers who were irritated with their CSS and HMTL as a way to check script before loading.

I thought it was a bunch of hooey. Until I used it.

Firebug

I am in the league of believers now. Firebug helped me edit all those little things about Blogger I hated: My sidebar was higher than the main post page, those annoying double-line borders around my picture, etc. It helped me isolate all of it.

Wonderful! Now, if I can get over my obsession with pages, I might be able to make Blogger work for me.

August 20, 2008

In which our faithful blogger reveals her duplicity

I started updating my Wordpress site again.

I can't help it. It's so pretty and clean.

It's not my fault. The Walker Treasury Project has made me an author. I don't want to have to update Blogger, then update Wordpress. I want to do all my blogging from one place. Not to mention that Wordpress Stats are a lot better.

I even thought about self-hosting. Ridiculous isn't it?

I did break down and get a year subscription to Flickr Pro. I just don't know if I want to go all the way with Wordpress yet.

August 17, 2008

What a Difference a Year Makes

2007
  1. I was living a home with my parents
  2. I was working a great job for a great boss in a horrible environment for s**t money (it was getting better toward the end, but still...)
  3. I had broken my engagment six months earlier but we were still in a relationship (or at least I thought that)
  4. I had a lot of friends and family around for support and encouragement.

2008
  1. I live 450 miles away from my parents. I moved 350 miles, then my parents moved 100 miles.
  2. I work a good job for a good supervisor, a so-so CIO, and an OK environment. But the money is fantastic and the prospects for advancement are excellent.
  3. I'm single. The Jackass is married to someone else. Karma will get his ass. I try not to think of him anymore. I'm looking but I'm not really ready for someone else.
  4. I'm making friends very slowly. My closest relative is 3 hours away. I am my own support system.

A few months ago I spoke to one of my friends (and mentors) and I told her that there had to be some point to God placing me in "God's Waiting Room." She laughed and said that I phrased it quite well. I'm in the waiting room for some reason.
  1. Why am I here? I dunno.
  2. Is it to learn patience? Maybe; I am gaining more patience.
  3. Is it to learn to focus? I can't focus to save my life.
  4. Is it to learn to put myself first? Possibly. I'm definitely doing that now.
  5. Is it to fix whatever emotional issues I have? Possibly. I'm coming to grips with the fact that I'm not perfect, I'm not always right, I'm not a State Department official who spends her time globe-trotting, I'm not a lawyer. I haven't done a lot of things I expected to but I've done a lot more than I expected.
  6. Is it to become a better knitter? Why else would He place a yarn store within 10 minutes of me?
Hmm...I dunno. Let's see what 26 will be for me.

Happy Birthday to me.

August 15, 2008

Ravelympics Update

I haven't been blogging lately because I haven't had much to say.

I finished my beret for Ravelmpics.

Marabou Beret1
I immediately cast on for another one, but I've decided that Ravelympics is the perfect time to finish all those WIPs I have hanging around in the house. So I'm trying to finish the Bayerishche Socks first. BTW, did you see the fancy new button on the right?

It's not going well, but at least I've finished the gusset on one sock and I've brought the other sock to work with me to knit.

I need a vacation.