Domestic Geek

Sorry I keep forgetting to post. Twelve hour work days and wanting to punch co-workers to knock some sense into them makes me brain dead.

Dad and I had a blast at the Stitch 'N' Pitch event a couple of weekends ago. I got to sit next to a guy that wanted to actually talk about the game — the WHOLE GAME! Sadly, I didn't get as much accomplished as I had hoped. I did add several rows to my crochet sunhat and a few rows to my alpaca scarf. I was bummed that there were going to be no "goodie bags" this year (as I didn't even know about the event to go last year). Fortunately, since it takes Dad so long to get around, we got there really early and I got one of the leftover bags from last year. Yay! We got a copy of the Fall Interweave Knits, a nice purple Rockies cap and free yarn from Knit Knack. If only the darned Rockies would have won. Hrmph.

Well, I don't know if it will be done by the end of the Summer Kal-Cal, but I'm finally making headway on my Market Bag. I'll try to remember to snap some progress pics tomorrow and post them. I've done about a dozen of the 70 rows of knit stitch I need to do (after finishing the Intarsia arrows) until I reach the top of the bag. Then I need to make the handles, felt it and I'm all done. I looked all over town (even the army surplus store in Arvada) for the slide buckles the pattern calls for. I even was willing to use something similar, but just couldn't find anything local. I finally ordered some online from a place called Creative Designworks. The site actually sells supplies to make pet collars. Shipping was included and they took Paypal. Hopefully they will arrive soon (at least by the time I get to making the handles).

To help out keeping track of where I am row-wise, I purchased the Clover row counter I've been wanting at Hobby Lobby. I've been waiting for what seems like weeks for Needlework stuff to be on sale so that I could get it. I splurged on the more expensive one because it has a lock button. One is supposed to wear it around one's neck, but I put a keyring on it and attached it to the beginning row marker. Hopefully, I'll remember to add a row as I move the marker (that's the plan, anyway).

Speaking of Hobby Lobby, they are so stuck in the 20th century. Why in the heck would that company invest in a new cash register system, but still not take advantage of technology that uses the bar codes? Everything is still priced with price tags, all merchandise is rung up one at a time by hand and now they have to pick an appropriate department for each item. Cashiers keep asking which department you got stuff in (if they don't know). Also, it's getting old "reminding" the poor cashiers that certain items are on sale. If they would utilize freaking scanners and a computer database, they would have all that information at their fingertips. It's one of the reasons that their checkout lines get so long. More than once I've dumped items at the front and just left rather than dealing with the checkout hassle. Lame.

Speaking of lame, I can't remember if I already posted this, but the Hobby Lobby on Monaco/Mississippi no longer has a fabric department. What did they do with the extra space when they remodeled? Added more gaudy home decor crap. Like the world needs more of that junk.

OK, I'm super tired and can't keep my eyes open (now who is lame?). Off to bed.

I've been thinking about my mother a lot lately. It started (not surprisingly) while I was in the hospital. I admit that I've had a nagging fear in the back of my mind that I'll die early like mom did (she was in her early 50s). Even my grandmother was not that old when she passed. True, I don't smoke and am not diabetic, but still that fear. Being in the hospital was the wakeup call that I need to take better care of myself. It was embarrassing that two nurses had to help move me after surgery because I was too heavy. I'm turning 42 next month and I would like to have way more than a decade left to enjoy my life.

While Dad and I were walking back to the car after the Stitch N' Pitch ballgame Saturday, I got to thinking about my mother again and got a little sad.

My mother hated knitting, but she could crochet up a storm. She also was really starting to get into computers. She would have so dug going to yarn shops, attending knitting groups and surfing around on Ravelry. I wish she was still here so I could share all this stuff with her. Heck, with circular needles, maybe she would have even given knitting another go.

OK, I've got lots of stuff churning around in the old brain, but none of it is worth its own post, so here's an all-in-one brain dump.

If you're reading this Dave W., Happy Belated Birthday! Hope you had fun 4-wheeling.

Marcus' Mom: Sorry you had to find out about my surgery through the blog. I told your son right after I was admitted to give you a call and let you know. He can be so darned stubborn sometimes!

I've lost almost 30 pounds from my highest weight ever. Wow, I couldn't believe it when I got on the old WiiFit today.Granted, gall bladder surgery and the resulting changes in my diet would not have been the way I would have wanted to lose weight, but I guess the universe wanted to give me a wake up call and I'm grateful. The WiiFit has made a major impact. Exercising with that thing is actually fun. Also, the new position at work has helped. I'm no longer a desk jockey and actually move around on my feet all day. It's murder on the feet, but it's good for the body. I am positive that this trend will continue since I will be able to start WiiFitting again in a couple of weeks.

Speaking of work, things in the printing industry are not going well. Magazines are folding, page counts are down and clients are looking for more economical ways to print or advertise. Rumors of impending layoffs are heard daily, it seems. One more reason I'm glad I took this new position. Not job security per se, but less of a chance of being let go that where I was before.

We were given hats at work yesterday. I'd show a picture, but our logo is all over it and I don't really want to mention where I work on this blog. It's so comfy, I might actually wear it on a regular basis (at work - not out in public).

One good thing about the surgery and the work change - Dad and I can spend more time together. Especially since he's addicted to Wii Bowling.

I found a recipe for crock pot Apple Butter that I want to try. Mom used to make Apple Butter and I've always wanted to make it myself.

Dad and I went to the Stitch N' Pitch Rockies event last Saturday night (photo in previous post). We sat with a women (and their husbands/sons) from my knitting group. Even though the Rockies lost to the San Diego Padres, we still had a good time. I wish we could go to more ball games (since Dad really seems to enjoy them), but damn! Tickets are expensive!

I want more time to knit. All of my knitting friends seem to always be finishing up this project or that - even big sweaters and the like. I've only got 3 main projects I'm concentrating on and can't seem to get anywhere close to finishing. Let's not even discuss things waiting in the wings that I have materials for and am waiting to start until I actually finish something.

I love Freecycle. I've gotten some craft supplies, two parakeets named Luke and Leia and a hamster (whom I need to rename, but nothing is coming to me). Marcus has threatened to block Freecycle. Meanie.

I am writing a post about my hospital stay. I'll publish it when it's complete. Hard to believe it's been a whole month since that happened.

Our Dish PVR died. We're trying to find one, but they're still really expensive. I am hoping we can find one at a reasonable price before the new fall TV season begins. If not, I'm going to be watching a lot of programs on the old computer.

I'm going to have to find a part-time job. Our neighborhood is turning into a Mexican ghetto (as evidenced by the increasing graffiti) and I'm no longer comfortable living here. I feel quite vulnerable and unsafe, actually. I never leave my door unlocked and only leave the bedroom window open at night with a board wedge in it to keep if from being opened from the outside.

Well, that's it for now. I've got to get ready for work. I hate working half days (even more when it's the 2nd half of the shift). Normally right now I've been working 7-1 on Wednesdays, but the other guy had an event of his daughter's that he needed to attend, so we swapped shifts. Going to work at 1pm is not as lame as going into wok at midnight like I was doing, but it's still kind of lame.

One guess as to where I am right now...






posted via Moblogging

Sorry I've been away so long. I wish my absence meant that I was working on lots of crafting, but sadly, it hasn't. Work and unexpected gall bladder surgery (you'd think a week in the hospital and recuperation time would've allowed for it, but no! Damned IVs and drugs that made me sleepy) really put a crimp in my crafting. I think I've finally got my work issues ironed out (for now) and I'm healing nicely from the surgery, so watch out — heaving duty crafting to come!

Tonight I'm bringing Dad along to the Colorado Rockies Stitch N' Pitch℠ event. We've had some heavy duty rain this week, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the rains hold off and the skies remain clear this evening. I need to pick Dad up in an hour and a half and still haven't decided what project to bring yet! LOL

I joined the Summer KAL-CAL in hopes of getting my butt in gear to learn to knit socks. Once again, the aforementioned events put a crimp in that plan, too. I'll at least have a couple of bags done by the September 2nd deadline (I hope). I'm jumping on the bandwagon, I know, but I'm making market bags so that I can reduce the amount of plastic bags I use and help reduce trash, as well. I hate how much trash Marcus and I generate. If nothing else, less trips to the trash dumpster would be a definite plus.

Well, I'd better get my butt in gear and get stuff ready to go. Go Rockies!