Knitting & Losing

April 30, 2007

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Good? Good. My weekend was nice, nothing too spectacular. Friday I took myself on a date. I went to the mall, went to the movie ATM and purchased my ticket for the movie 300,perused Nordstrom, bought some insanely expensive Chanel lipstick. The color is called Attitude. That's right...I have attitude now! I do love it, it is really luscious and stays on well and all but I guess I've never spent so much on a tube of lipstick before and I'm still justifying it in my mind. The tube is way cool. It is square and the lipstick tube you push down and it stays by itself. Then to use you press it and it pops up. Guess it should perform tricks for what I paid. I also was not able to make it past the MAC counter without a purchase. I went there innocently enough, but you know, they have these new colors coming out On May 4th and so I had to check it out...and well, geez, the temptation...they are so beautiful and just right for summer. I pre-ordered a pigment in this really gorgeous pearly color, forget what it's called, and then I got a pinky/peachy blush. That's all. Not too bad, not enough to break the budget, but enough to tame the beast. Then I got my booty out of Nordstrom and walked around, went and got a cup of chicken soup for dinner, then I went to check out Borders and waste some time before my movie at 7:20. I found an interesting book called Loved Walked In. It was on the bestseller lists and I am enjoying it. I also found a cool notebook that I'll write all my secret thoughts in and I found Adorn magazine there so I had to get a copy of that. It's OK. Then I went to the movies, got my diet coke and small popcorn and I was the first one in the theater, I chose a center seat toward the middle, perfect seat. The movie "300" was actually very good, I liked it, it was historical and interesting. There was a lot of blood but not gory, almost artistic in a way. And oh my my! The eye candy! Ladies, go to maybe appease your men, it's a guy film I guess, but you get the benefit of seeing all the hard bodies. It was a good evening for me.

Saturday we were having some cabinet work done for my brother and I did stuff around the house but wasn't feeling well. Had to take a nap in the afternoon. Sunday I was doing well until I got a burst of energy, did a bunch of stuff in my room, and laundry, but then I got a headache and felt like crap. I wasn't sure I'd be OK for work today, but I made it. I sometimes really wonder if I have fibromyalgia...but I shouldn't even say that because words have power and I don't want it.

I almost finished Cindy's socks and I did finish knitting the baby kimono. Getting some cool ribbon to make a cute bow and then I have to wet block the kimono and lay it flat to dry and then sew it together, which I hate doing. But I will...

Have a great day!

April 27, 2007

Contest!

How cool is this? Teamouse is doing a contest and all you do is sign up and put a link to her contest. I love this! Go enter, you can enter more than once too. Here's more info about the contest.

It's Friday!!! Way cool. I'm looking forward to it because I'm going out tonight, don't know where, but I am, I'm sick of sitting at home. And over the weekend I'm painting that bathroom. I couldn't stand it and had to paint some small sections to see how it looks...and I love it! But I still need to clean the walls and take down the stupid border, hopefully that won't take too much time. Let's see if I can get the whole bathroom painted this weekend.

Have a great day!

Labels: Contest

April 26, 2007

Thursday Thirteen Edition #10

Thirteen Things on Mitchypoo's Desk!

My green Excalibur coffee cup that I just love. It's the perfect size~BIG and feels good in my hands.
El Yucateco Chile Habanero. I'm a tad addicted. I like it on breakfast items. Need a little heat.
Affirmation Calendar by Louise Hay.
Believe in Yourself magnet given to me by dear Tori.
Ice Breakers Sours mints.
An orange.
Bath & Body Works Breathe multi-vitamin hand cream.
Old dried roses near my computer. They make me remember good things.
A blue plastic salamander on my computer. My brother won it at Chuck E Cheese's and he gave it to me.
A resin purple high heel shoe with purple boa material around the front that is actually a cell phone holder! My clients get a kick out of it.
Vanilla Boost. My breakfast today.
A Mary Engelbreit figurine that says QUEEN....because I am!
Vera Wang perfumed hand cream.

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Labels: Thursday13

April 25, 2007

I am flexible and flowing.

I like the affirmation today but I feel anything but flexible...as in my body. I have got to get out and move more. I know this because my body is telling me so. I am too young to have all these aches and soreness in my joints. And I know that it would make me feel better to be more active in mind and body. Last night after work I did go get 3 tomato plants and herbs and mesclun seeds. I came home and ate because the food was still hot, BUT I did not just sit as normal. I went and changed and got outside and worked a little. I planted the herb plants I got into a small container. I got cilantro, sage, sweet basil and thyme. I planted them together and gave the poor plants some water and they look so nice in the outside entryway. I watered Mamacita's roses and the rest of the front yard. I still need to find a place for the yellow pear, big boy and roma tomatos. I was going to put them in the back yard, but I'm not so sure. There are water issues in our backyard, so I'll decide that tonight. I also have mesclun salad seeds that I'll plant in a bed on the side of the house like grass, my favorite way to plant. Then when the plants are ready i'll cut it with scissors and like grass, it'll grow back. Cool, huh?

Oh, I also found the paint for my bathroom and plan to get that done this weekend and I cannot wait! Well, I'll be dipped...the colors are so new, I cannot find a reference for you. Well, it's a Martha Stewart color and I'm in love! I'll have to just show you the before and after and see what you think!

As I'm writing this I'm getting a migraine...a bad one I think. I feel nauseous already. I'll go to lunch instead of eating here and load up on carbs, I know, I know...but sometimes that helps. I don't want to miss again b/c of a stupid migraine.

April 24, 2007

Freedom is my Divine right.

Have you heard? Crazy Aunt Purl went and wrote a book! I can't wait and I've already ordered my copy of Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair! which is scheduled to be out in October. If you haven't ever visited Crazy Aunt Purl I highly recommend that you do. She has a great outlook, she's very funny and her writing on "diet" issues has really had an impact on me. Go reserve your copy!

I've been MIA because I went away for the weekend. It was really great to get away. Nowhere too exciting but I had a great time! And yesterday my bosses were out of town so I was as busy as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. So today is back to normal, pretty much.

The weather is so beautiful right now. We had some rain Friday and Sunday and the wind blew out most of the icky air and I can see clear to the mountains above. I'm going after work to get some tomato plants and some herbs to plant tonight. I have to really get moving after work, because if I sit down to watch TV, eat or knit, I'm done for the evening. My goal this week is to get something done after work and enjoy this beautiful weather.

My weekend included a yarn store visit and they were having a sale! I got some Tofutsie yarn, have you seen it? Anyone used it yet, I'd love to hear how you liked it. It has chitin in it which is a fiber made from shrimp and crab shells. Isn't that amazing? And it's naturally antibacterial. I also got some beautiful sock yarn with my new favorite color in it, aqua. And I found some really pretty pastel cotton yarn that I'll make into bathroom towels for my bathroom that I'm going to remodel in my new favorite color. I may start painting the bathroom this weekend. I'll post pics of my yarn later today hopefully.

Have a great Tuesday!

April 18, 2007

Thursday Thirteen Edition #9

Thirteen things that Mitchypoo is grateful for.

To live in California.
My family. Great Mamacita and brother.
A job that I enjoy going to.
My best friend Julie.
Knitting.
That I have a warm and comfortable house to live in.
My animals, they give so much love.
Having enough.
That I'm American.
To be able to lose myself in a good book.
That I've loved deeply.
The love of learning.
Knowing how to cook.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Labels: Thursday13

April 16, 2007

I now allow the genius within me to flow freely.

So much tragedy today at Virginia Tech. Truly tragic and it makes you realize that there are some really wicked and sick people in the world today. My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who have lost someone.

I had a great weekend, nothing too exciting to report. But I finished another pair of socks and then I took a small break. I went to a newly found yarn store Thursday evening and found some cool yarn that I want to make into an entrelac scarf. Entrelac has intrigued me and I've tried a pattern and I don't know why but I am not able to get the pattern. I want to try again, I can usually figure out any pattern and it's bugging me that I'm having a hard time getting entrelac down. I've been trying to find easy, clear, concise directions and at this point I am just frustrated. My Mamacita asked if I had anything done for a baby. She has a coworker who is having a girl. I did not. But it gave me a good excuse to whip up a Kimono Sweater from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I had to work on my gauge a little because I'm using a beautiful mercerized cotton in lavender that I got from dear Tori. It calls for worsted yarn and this is not quite, so I used a size up needle and I love the look of it. It's knit in garter stitch and knit in one piece. I got at least 2/3's, maybe 3/4's of it done yesterday. I almost found myself wanting to just stay up last night and finish it but around 11 pm I hung it up. I hoped to finish it tonight but we have our massage lady coming, so that'll cut into my knitting time. NOT that I'm complaining! I can't wait to have my massage.

Mamacita made us a treat Sunday morning by making waffles at my bro's request. We had some blueberries we needed to use up so we sprinkled some on top of the batter and...yummy!!!!

Make this a great week!!

April 11, 2007

Thursday Thirteen Edition #8

Thirteen things that creep Mitchypoo out!!

Drunks. They scare me. It always has and there is no reason for it. But I remember when I was really young and I could be sitting in the back of a car and if I saw a drunk walking down the street I'd freak out, make everyone lock the doors.
Hacking. Coughing is one thing but if you hear fluids moving, oh lord. This comes from my ex hubby. He had a nervous habit and when he was up to no good he would hack, cough. It was a nervous habit and I just can not tolerate it even to this day.
Hankerchiefs. Ewwwww. It's very gentlemanly, if there is a man who offers you a hankie. I've seen Dr.Phil do it often on his show and that is fine if it's a brand new clean one. But face it, that is just gross. You blow your snot in there and then what? Stick it in your pocket....give your snot back to gross...
Open wounds on animals. I realized that I can not watch Animal Rescue because it's gross and makes me cry, but if it's a person, I have no problem with it. I can watch them open up a chest, insert a chest tube, surgeries or whatever and it fascinates me. I once watched a breast reduction surgery and it was intriguing. I think I care more about animals than people sometimes.
Pee... I have to deal with urinals sometimes, portable ones because of my brother and I hate it.
Innards. Especially watching people eat things like livers and kidneys. Ewww. I am fairly adventurous when it comes to food but I don't do innards.
Sanjaya...sorry but he's just creepy. That sideways glance he gives the camera...Gag.
Trolls. They are just creepy looking. I don't think they are cute when people put them in their yards.
Needles. I can't watch the needle go in my arm, it makes me feel faint, but once it is in, it doesn't bother me.
Wheelchairs near water. I used to have a fear of my brother falling from a pier. It gives me anxiety to think of it.
Maggots. Need I say more? The word is even creepy.
Mold. If I find something growing in the fridge, I'll throw the whole thing out WITH the container. And I don't like to breathe near anything that is moldy.
The movie The Shining.....redrum....redrum...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Labels: Thursday13

I am prosperous, well, and happy.

The visitor counter went over 10,000 today! Wow, wowwee. That is really cool. It's a milestone. Feel like I should have a party or something. So get out your horns, get the balloons ready, I'll make some party hors d'oeuvres for you all to enjoy and then I'll sing a happy song!! Yeah....right! You don't want to hear me singing. But truly, this makes me very happy. How about if we play a game instead today? It's a chit-chat game, pretend we are all in the same room, celebrating of course, but we're all sitting around and just having some small talk. So I'll start in the comments by asking a question and then the next person to comment answers that question and asks another and so on. Get it? (Idea taken from Michele ~great name huh!)

I feel really good today! I feel rested, sort of, because I went to bed at 9:30 last night. And because I feel good with what I'm wearing today, I'm having a good makeup day (you have those don't you? where you look in the mirror and think, wow, i like my makeup today!) and because two clients (men) told me this a.m. that I'm looking good. Just a comment like that can truly make your whole day!

Have a great day and don't forget to comment and play the chit-chat game!

Labels: chit-chat

April 7, 2007

The Mystery Picture Revealed

Thanks for the guesses and you were on the right track. This is 4 lbs. of cotton sock loops. I just love them and have another box waiting for me to work with after this project. So what you do is loop them together and make your own very bulky yarn with knots between. It was suggested that you could weave a bath mat and the pic shown was beautiful, but I had the idea to knit a bath mat, taken from the book Mason-Dixon Knitting.

So I looped them all together and got a giant ball of super bulky yarn. Mamacita had one end and me the other and helped me to loop them together. I put it on my niddy-noddy and surprising it was only about 53 yards of yarn. I wasn't sure I would get a nice size bathmat out of it. So I cast on using size 15 US needles and I think about 20 stitches. That was all I could fit on the needles. It was very tight and quite uncomfortable to knit. So I found a pair of 17 US needles at the large discount store and was able to knit about 24 stitches.

And this is what I'm getting. It's super bulky and nubby and I have a garter border and then stockinette in the middle because it's nicer on the feet. It's super soft and squishy. I just love it. I'm almost done. In fact I think I'll save this post and add a pic of the finished product. I'm really happy with it and have another 4 lb. box waiting for me!

Here is the finished product and I'm super happy with it! It's a good size and it's soft and squishy and going in the bathroom today! It's really great because it's really durable but can be put in the washer and dryer, no problem. I needed a little more yarn to finish the garter edging so I opened the next box of loops waiting for me and just added them on, instead of tearing out a couple rows and reknitting. I'm glad I did.

Look at Mr.Henry! Isn't he regal?! He ventured out to the front room all by himself and sat in this chair for awhile checking out the scenery. We have Tom and Henry down to one eating dish, water dish and cat box, they are doing well, but not hanging out together yet. The most they will do is sit on the bed together, but not too close.

And here are my boys, sharing space on the washer, eating. They are really starting to do well together.

I also finished this pair of socks yesterday, using the Francis Patrick hand-dyed yarns. I love it and I also starting knitting a toe down sock pattern I got from Wendy Knits. And I'm not sure I'll ever make socks the other way again! It's so simple to start with the toe and not have ANY seaming! And then I started a purple pair last night. I'm so in love with this yarn. I think these socks are for my bro. He needs good socks to keep his tootsies warm.

After we had our Champagne Brunch including ham and sweet rolls, eggs, and our Easter goodie candy plate we went outside to give our dog Rufus some yummies and Mamacita said I needed to go see the bougainvillea because they looked glorious, and they do, don't they? The lighter one is a pale pink, almost white, but gorgeous and this is part of why my heart is in California. Look at the beautifulness! Is that a work? If not, it should be...

Happy Easter!

Labels: knitting

April 6, 2007

I give thanks for this perfect day.

So the question of the day seems to be, was Zachary right, was he a good judge of character of my date? Well... yes, he actually was. This guy was a co-worker and older than me and also a different culture. With all that being said, I was just young and out to have a good time, get to know him. He took me to a comedy club in Hollywood, I think we went to dinner before that too, I don't really remember. So it wasn't that memorable a date either. But what bothered me about him was that he took me to a comedy club and chances are high that there will be some sort of racial humor and in fact there was, about his race...and he didn't think it was funny. And he made me uncomfortable and although I worked with him, I never accepted a second date. Moral of the story ~ if your dog pees on your date, don't bother anymore....they KNOW! It was actually fun to share my embarrassing moments and now I'm happy that I can laugh about them. And I guess my dorkiness came out so I may have to join Friday the Dorkteenth! A couple of you said how brave it was ~ au contraire. I don't think of it like that, it's just allowing people in and accepting that people will have opinions and I'm okay with that.

It's Good Friday and I found myself a little melancholy this a.m. Missing my Dad. I couldn't remember what we did last year but remembered that he was really sick then and in the hospital or care facility by this time last year. We had our normal Easter Brunch, made a plate for Dad and then took our Easter eggs with us to go visit him and have egg fights. Do you have egg fights? You pick your egg and then you hold the small or big end with someone else and count to 3 and then hit, and there is always a winning egg. Then when that end breaks you try the other. And you either get the champion egg or you have a cracked egg and eat it!

So we're having a cleaning day tomorrow at my house and we're hanging out Easter, still having our Easter brunch, but no company. Slouch day. I may stay in my jammies and drink coffee all day and knit! I hope however you spend your day you enjoy it! Happy Easter!

April 5, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #7

Thirteen Embarrassing Moments for Mitchypoo!

Talk about self-sacrifice! But you have to laugh at yourself or what is the point, huh?!

One time when I was in my early 20's I had a date with an ex-Marine. He actually moved out to So. CA from Delaware. We were more friends than anything, but there was romance earlier when we met when I was still in high school. So he came out here to live and he took me out to a nice dinner and then we were going dancing. After dinner which was at a place near my house, I needed to run home and get a coat because it got cold, so we rushed home, I ran in, took a quick pee, got my coat and off we went. He waited for me in the car. I was in a beautiful flowing white dress and the place we went dancing had a coat-check. I gave them my coat and then we proceeded into the nightclub, walked across the whole place and finally a girl came up to me and whispered , "The back of your dress is in your pantyhose!"...
In high school I was tall and gangly, I wore jeans and boots a lot. We were walking between classes and it was raining. I tried to jump over a big puddle and lost my footing and ended up doing the splits, right in the puddle...
In high school I worked at an ice cream place, when making a sundae we always asked if they wanted whip cream, nuts and a cherry. A coworker was telling me a story about a woman who while pregnant listened to Bruce Springsteen and when the baby was born it would cry and cry, until she played Bruce Springsteen. I was helping customers and making a sundae and thinking about this story and instead of saying "Whipped cream, nuts and a cherry?", I said, "Bruce Springsteen?" The look on their faces...
My Mamacita took me to a jewelry mart to buy a ring for me from my parents. A lot of the jewelry owners are foreign and have accents, I liked a ring but wanted to know what the stone was. He said, "Blue topaz", but in a heavy accent...my mother looked at him and in all seriousness said, "What is a bleeeaaauuuh topaaaaauzzz??" I almost died. I elbowed her and said under my breath, "blue topaz"!!
I showed up for a job at a chemical company and it was my first day. I wanted to make a good impression of course, I wore my finest duds including very uncomfortable heels and a slightly tight skirt. So I meet my boss and he decides to take me to one of our customers chemical plants. The problem was, he had one of those big ass trucks...with no side boards. So I just didn't know how I'd get in the thing. I ended up hanging on to one of the upper handles and sideways somehow, almost splitting my skirt, got one foot in and kind of jumped up there. It wasn't graceful, believe me.
When I was married I went through a phase of making everything from scratch and had the bright idea to make salt water taffy. So you boil this sugar mixture to a certain temp. Like 130 degrees or so and then you take it out and then you pull it. Well I had my nephew and hubby there and decided they could pull it, so they are trying to listen to my direction, pull this boiling sugar from each other, BURNING their fingers, looking at me like "what are you doing to me?" and I'm standing there saying, PULL, PULL IT!!! Poor guys.
I've gone on a whole date with something gross in my teeth.
When I was engaged we went away for the weekend and the only dress shoes I brought for dinner was a black and a NAVY shoe... I wore them anyway for dinner.
When I was probably about 12 or 13 I had to make dinner for my Dad and brother while Mom was away for the weekend. I undercooked the spaghetti noodles and they were crunchy. And my brother will not let me forget this, he mentions it every time we have spaghetti.
I dated a guy in high school who's name was Musky.
I once fought a ticket because I was speeding because I had to pee, he stopped me on my street and I had a bladder infection. The judge dismissed it because I think he wanted to shut me up and not tell the whole story!
My dates had to come in and meet my parents. When I was 21 years old my parents gave me a basset hound puppy I named Zachary. A date came to pick me up and Zachary walked over to him and peed on his leg.
I had a first date during the day in Minnesota and it happened to be my birthday. March in MN is usually still icy and snowy. It was a clear sunny day but there were patches of ice. While walking into the restaurant I hit a patch of ice and fell, right on my bum...

I'm sure there are more...how sad is that!?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Labels: Thursday13

April 3, 2007

Today is filled with delightful surprises.

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life.You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships.
The purpose of your life: showing love to other people
Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah
Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

What Color Is Your Aura?

Maybe this is why my favorite color now is aqua blue. I love that color, it makes me happy. Not sure I like being like Angelina Jolie but that's quite opinionated I guess. I'm just not impressed with her these days. And her look is so sour now too, does she ever smile anymore? It's not for me to judge how she lives her life.

April 2, 2007

I do not fix problems. I fix my thinking. Then problems fix themselves.

I'm posting really quick because I absolutely love today's affirmation (the title of this post). And also because I came upon this video that is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Go check it out on Mason-Dixon Knitting. I mean, don't go if you have already seen two otters holding hands and being so adorable.

Would you like to win a Dyson Vacuum?! Click here to enter!

Happy Monday! Make today a great day!

April 1, 2007

My life is filled with love, joy, health, and creativity.

Thank you for all the comments on my projects. It was kind of fun to look back and see what I've made. I've decided that I'm going to find a way to teach knitting online in case anyone is really serious that they would like to learn because truly it's not hard to do, it just looks hard. And I know the value of having a creative outlet and I want to share that with anyone interested. So I'm going to work on it, let's see what I can come up with.

Can you guess what this is? Would love to see what you think this is.

Yesterday we went to Pechanga Casino. We being Mamacita, my bro and me. My Uncle hurt his back doing some gardening...ouch! and so he and my Aunt weren't able to make it and my cousin fell and hurt her wrist and maybe had to go to Urgent Care or emergency...ouch! again. But we had a nice drive down there, the weather was really beautiful. Not too hot, gentle breeze, I think it was in the 70's. The casino is really nice, we all enjoyed a nice day there.

I had to pinch my brother to get him to actually smile in this picture. He does this pose when taking a pic where he puts his chin out. Mom was doing her goofy pose and I can't believe I'm actually posting a pic of me, I hate pics anymore... We gambled, went to the gift shops, went and had lunch, gambled some more. Then we went back toward home but stopped at Tom's Farms which is a glorified produce stand. I love it there. They have a wine and cheese shop that has all kinds of goodies. We got something to drink and sat outside and listened to some music and relaxed. They also have a produce shop that includes brittles, jams, dried fruit, fresh produce, olives, you name it! I got some green pepper jelly which is just great with a cracker and some cream cheese and some jelly...yum! I also found Sweet Dark Cherry preserves and I got hickory smoked pistachios and Mamacita needed some pistachio meats. We got sourdough bread and some cheese and a bottle of wine. Did you know there is Elvis wine! Yes sir! Almost got some of that. Oh, I also found some yummy Coconut peanut brittle with more coconut than peanuts. Yummy! Then we headed home, hit some traffic, picked up a pizza and came home. It was a great day.

Did you notice the "What is your blog worth?" thing on the right hand sibebar? Holy moly, I was surprised that my little ol' blog is worth over $6,700. That is so cool!

Happy April Fool's Day!

Labels: food, knitting, Thank You

I Bought Gary's Book - Did YOU?