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June 30, 2005
knit, footie, knit
Not much new here in the sick ward. I can actually put a little weight on the footie, which makes getting around a bit easier. I've been working on the blankie all day in between vicodin-induced naps, and since I've got nothing but time, I uploaded some stuff from my camera. Don't worry, Colleen, the picture of the HF is not that gross.
That's all there is. Must knit.
Posted by Kate at 7:53 PM | Comments (7)June 29, 2005
shucks
Warning: Vicodin makes me a little weepy.
Despite being in really fairly severe pain all day yesterday (okay, and today), I had quite a nice day overall, thanks to all of you lovely people who sent me happy thoughts.
Rob took me to the orthopedist in the morning, where it was decided that the broken bone in the Hurty Footie couldn't be set and that we should just let it heal naturally. We had to wait forever at the orthopedist's, but he was just as nice and sweet as could be. (And, actually, so was everybody in the ER.)
Then my parents drove all the way down here and kept me company while Rob went to work. Mommy brought me some cookies that Elizabeth had baked me, and she waited on me hand and HF *and* finished hand-sewing the pinafores, which are darling.
Later, I got flowers from the family - impeccable flowers that very clearly said "Abbie ordered these". And Rob brought us a wonderful feast of Indian food, and all sorts of nice people phoned me - Paula called, and Mary called, and Bob called, and Stephen Mack called on behalf of the poker game we were missing. And I talked to Nancy on her last day at work and I cried, and I talked to Nathania, who cheered me up with the lure of orange yarn (which I now have in my hot little hands - OH MY GOD, CLAUDIA HAND-PAINTED YARN). And all of you fabulous people sent me tons of e-mail and blog comments!
I must have done something really amazing in a former life to deserve such a wonderful circle of family and friends. You guys just knock my handknitted socks off. I love y'all so much.
Posted by Kate at 12:52 PM | Comments (8)June 28, 2005
Merde
Soon after I got to the theatre tonight, I started to get that wretched "I can't do anything right" feeling. It got worse and worse and worse as the evening went on. After the first act, I ran down the stairs to go outside to get some fresh air so my head wouldn't explode, and just before I got to the second landing, I missed a step.
You know that old theatrical expression "break a leg"? Well, it turns out I *can't* do anything right, because I only mananged to break my foot.
While I was at the hospital, I actually managed to take some cool photos of my grotesquely swollen foot, but my backpack is downstairs now and I don't feel like crawling down there to get my camera.
This post is brought to you by the letter "V", as in "At least I got some Vicodin."
p.s. holyfuckingshitmyfoothurts
June 26, 2005
Not So Bloody Tech Sunday
It's kinda weird having Tech Sunday *two Sundays* before opening, but that pesky 4th of July is in the way, so we did it today. It actually went pretty well. Nobody cried, it didn't take too long, and I didn't have to dip into my emergency Valium stash.
Not that I'm not wigging out about some prop and costume issues, but I was pretty calm today, largely thanks to the incredibly pleasant and relaxing evening at Chez Collier last night. It was sort of silly. Bob slaved away on the set all day, then invited me and Troy over and made *us* mint juleps and dinner and entertained *us*. At some point, we will have to spoil him rotten in return.
Posted by Kate at 6:08 PM | Comments (3)June 24, 2005
Meltdown
So I'm working on this baby blanket for a friend of ours who is about to have a baby. Rob originally told me she was due in September. Then two weeks ago he told me the blessed event was actually in late July. So I got the yarn and got busy. On Monday he sent me mail saying "Hediyeh's baby shower is July 6th". RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF OPENING WEEK. Anyway.
It's been going very well - I'm fairly comfortable with short rows. Anyway, I went up to visit the parentals this week (this is why I have been incommunicado lately) to have my mom "help me" make the Miracle Worker pinafores. Really, she's doing them all herself with assistance from Elizabeth, who is less of a sewing idiot than I am. I offered to help, but they told me to sit and work on the blanket. So I did.
All was tranquil and domestic. I got to the end of the second section of the blanket, where I had to pick up my wrapped stitches. I struggled with the first few, then looked at my work, and it seemed...odd. I undid the stitches and attempted to re-wrap them. I then tried to pick them up again. Now there were gaping holes in my work. As the unfortunate readers of my blog know, I've had some troubles with undoing short rows before. By now I was starting to freak out a little. I tried fixing the stitches again, but now there were not only holes, but great big loops of yarn sticking out of the holes. It was as if SATAN had taken over my knitting.
A stream of profanity began to pour from my mouth, startling my mother and sister. I started to hyperventilate as I realized I was going to have to frog. I slowly ripped out a few rows, then violently ripped out a few more, then threw the whole thing across the room and burst into hysterical tears. I mean, I was SOBBING. I think it was partly due to pent-up theatre stress, but DAMN. It was ridiculous. Fortunately, my family members all know what to do in a situation like this. Mommy ran for kleenex and a cold wet washcloth for my forehead, and Elizabeth ran into the kitchen and got me a great big Tanqueray and tonic. Ethan just stood there and stared at me disgustedly.
Being a proper knitblogger, I had Elizabeth document the situation. The picture is a little blurry because I looked so sad, Elizabeth was starting to laugh/cry.
ANYWAY, later after another couple of gins and tonics, I was calmly re-knitting the frogged area. I was a row away from the contentious row, and I said, "Okay, I think I'm almost back to where I started." My mom, not missing a beat, said, "Is that going to happen here?" I just looked at her. She said, "Um, I mean, because we'd like to be ready with the wet washcloths and the gin."
She's the coolest. So is Elizabeth.
(And in case you're wondering, it turns out that I can't read. I got to the trouble spot and re-read the instructions. I was supposed to slip the first 26 wrapped stitches onto a holder (which I'd done), then knit across, picking up the wrapped stitches. Of course, I'd neglected to notice that in between the 26 wrapped stitches and the other 40ish wrapped stitches were about six REGULAR, NON-SHORT-ROWED stitches. I'd attempted to pick them up, then when that failed, I'd created these crazy loops, then tried to pick THEM up, and, oy, what a mess. I am as dumb as a sack of snakes.)
(But now I'm almost done with the third section and it looks great.)
(knock on wood.)
Posted by Kate at 10:55 PM | Comments (7)June 20, 2005
Knitbloggers are cool!
Part 1
So I'm at work this morning and Erin says, "Oh, there's a check for you in your drawer." I say, "Cool, thanks" and go on trying to arrange some yarn in a pleasing configuration. Later, Nancy is discussing lunch options, and the following scene occurs:
(I am fussing with some Noro)
Erin (or Nancy, it's all a blur): Are you going to the bank at lunch?
Me: Um, no.
E (or N): You're not going to deposit your check?
Me: Nope, I'm good.
E (or N): You don't want to deposit the check that's in your drawer?
Me: No, Not right now. (thinking: dude, quit bugging me, I'm trying to think about this Noro.)
E (or N): Are you sure you don't need to deposit the check that's in your drawer?
Me: I wasn't planning on it. (thinking: have y'all been drinking?)
E (or N): Oh, I was thinking you might want to DEPOSIT THE CHECK THAT'S IN YOUR DRAWER.
Me: (thinking: Maybe there's something in my drawer besides my check) I think I'll take a look at my check.
(Nancy looks like she's about to pee her pants)
ANYWAY, in my drawer is (along with the check) a package wrapped up in our yellow tissue and tied with some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. Attached is a note that says "To Kate from your secret pal". I pick up the package and know instinctively that inside it is two skeins of Artyarns Supermerino in color 116, or, as I like to call it, 'Super Delicious Creamsicle'.
Me: Ummmm, whadda you mean "secret pal"?
Nancy: (squirming like a child on Christmas morning) It's from your secret pal!
Me: Ummm, my SP5 secret pal?
E (or N): Yep.
Me: Um, who? How? Where?
E (or N): We're not telling.
Me: Did she come in the store?
E (or N): We're not telling.
Me: Um, who? How? Where?
Erin and Nancy: (laughter)
Me: But it's my favorite yarn ever!
Erin and Nancy: WE KNOW.
So, THANKS, SECRET PAL! You totally rock! Not only did you bring me joy in an annoying "no room in the inn for all this Noro" moment, but, DANG, did you amuse my co-workers. I really thought Nancy was going to have a conniption fit.
Part 2
So late in the afternoon, this extremely pretty woman comes in and wanders around the store. She goes to check out, and Nancy asks her what she's going to make with all that Euroflax.
Extremely Pretty Woman: Well, I'm going to make this shirt...are you on the Web?
Nancy: Yeah.
EPW: Do you know Grumperina?
Nancy: Yeah.
Me: (nearly falls onto floor)
EPW: I'm making her TiVoli (side note: did you notice how I capitalized that? Sigh.) T-shirt.
Nancy: Wow, cool!
Me: GRUMPERINA IS MY IMAGINARY INTERNETS FRIEND!
EPW: Wow, are you a blogger?
Me: You bet!
(Nancy and I chime in with the names of our blogs)
Nancy: And you?
EPW: I'm NonaKnits.
Me and Nancy: DUDE! (or equivalent)
(Nancy and Nona then have animated discussion about the Nothing But a T-Shirt, which Nancy happens to be working on)
Me, Nancy and Nona: Knitbloggers are cool! (or equivalent)
So it was a pretty good day at work. I got paid to fondle yarn, I got way surprised by my SP, and I actually met an actual knitblogger. Rock on, Beavis!
Posted by Kate at 10:44 PM | Comments (8)June 19, 2005
Tequila!
...or as Alice would say, "I don't feel even the tiniest bit good."
Posted by Kate at 3:52 PM | Comments (2)June 17, 2005
The Coast is Toast
(Oh, wait, that was a volcano movie, never mind. Anyway...)
Dear Hayward Fault,
I live right on top of you. Could you do me a big favor and not shift or erupt or whatever you do that causes a huge earthquake to happen? I would be crushed like a bug, and Rob's office would sink into the landfill. That would, like, suck. I don't have an earthquake preparation kit or anything. I don't even know where my gas main is. So if you could not shake me into oblivion, I'd really appreciate it.
Yours sincerely,
Kate
SPEAKING of toast, I'm starving. I'd love some toast, but there is no butter in the house. How could I have allowed this to happen?
June 15, 2005
Waiting for Aussie
Hooray! The washer repair guy just called and is allegedly on his way. Alas, he didn't sound like the hot Australian guy I'd been hoping for. Oh, well. At this point I don't care who shows up, as long as he SHOWS UP. I gotta get out of here and get to Kinko's.
So I'm about half done with the back of the Shapely Tank. It's going okay, but I'm still not convinced it's goint to fit. But I'm determined to finish it, because I just got the pattern for this. I think it's the most beautiful sweater I've ever seen. And it's made with Artyarns Regal Silk, which not only do I love, but we carry at work. Now I just have to pick a color and scrape up some cash.
It's pretty cool that I think there's even the remotest possibility that I'll be able to knit this baby. I've read the pattern over a couple of times, and I really think I can do it.
Ooh, the washer guy is here! Alas, he is neither hot nor Australian.
Posted by Kate at 1:15 PM | Comments (2)June 13, 2005
oldey moldey
I am so sore. I'm sore from shelving yarn (hey, don't laugh, it was a lot of high-up stretching), I'm sore from hauling flats and gigantic sheets of plywood, I'm sore on my head where the Makita fell on it, I'm sore on my tongue where I bit it when the Makita landed on my head, and I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow because (are you sitting down?) I went to the gym today.
I'm all creaky and achy like I'm a hundred years old. Fortunately, I know what'll fix it. Drinkie!
Posted by Kate at 10:15 PM | Comments (2)June 12, 2005
Plenty of Nuthin
Okay, so I had a really busy weekend, but I feel like I don't have anything interesting to say.
Rob and I cleaned up the backstage of the theatre on Friday night. I worked all day (ALL DAY. A whole shift. When was the last time I did that?) on Saturday, and I was at the theatre ripping apart platforms all morning and then there was rehearsal. I'm pooped.
There has been actual knitting, though. I worked on my silly sweater, and my other All Seasons Cotton sock is practically done. I finally acquired the FBS pattern and bought some scrumptious Schaefer Anne yarn in appropriately leafy brown colors. As soon as I figure out how to do a provisional cast-on, I'll be joining the FBS cult. Just don't expect me to make Clapotis. It isn't happening. Not even with that creamsicley Artyarns Supermerino. Nope, no way, no how. Nope.
Posted by Kate at 8:22 PM | Comments (2)June 10, 2005
performance anxiety
Spread out all over the floor, the kitchen counter and the table is the pattern and fabric for one of the three pinafores I'm going to try to make for Ariel (Helen) to wear in "Miracle Worker".
I haven't even laid out the pattern pieces on the fabric yet and I'm already having an attack of the vapors. I'm not convinced that I can pull this off. I think maybe I ought to take this whole thing up to Orland and have my mommy help me.
On the other hand, this is probably just the "month away from opening and there's lots of stuff to do" jitters. Mmmmm, Valium.
Posted by Kate at 1:44 PM | Comments (1)June 9, 2005
I'm not a wabbit!
So very tired. No energy to blog. Only...enough...energy for...drinkie.
Posted by Kate at 11:52 PM | Comments (2)June 7, 2005
Just wondering
Is it okay if I go to rehearsal in my pajamas?
Posted by Kate at 5:28 PM | Comments (7)June 6, 2005
behold the human pincushion
Okay, the front is done. I pinned it to myself to see if there's any hope of it working out. The jury is still out. I TRIED to get a good photo of it, but, well...
Posted by Kate at 4:36 PM
| Comments (9)
June 4, 2005
Sweaters That Make You Go "Hmmmm"
I measured myself, and my gauge is spot-on, so either:
A. I can't measure to save my life
B. I suck at knitting
C. I really am shaped like a piece of toast.
Discuss!
(note: the bulgey parts are from the short rows that allegedly encompass my ginormous boobage. If I'd had two canteloupes, I'd have used them as a visual aid.)
Posted by Kate at 8:51 PM | Comments (9)June 2, 2005
Yarn-tastic!
I had a great first day at Commuknity. Everybody is so nice, and the yarn is gorgeous, and the customers were nice, and I worked on my sweater (which I left holey) and did I mention the yarn?
And then when I got home I'd gotten the new Knit Picks catalog in the mail.
Why isn't there a song about yarn? I would totally sing it.
Not surprisingly, however, I'm tuckered out. The last time I got up before 10:00 was when I was at Disneyland. And I did get to sit and put stickers on yarn (did I mention there was yarn?) and later, I sat and knitted, but there was lots of standing and walking. I think I will now have a gin and tonic and sit on my butt and knit.
Oh, yeah, and I got some Addi (not Turbos, are you nuts?) bamboo circulars to replace my craptastic aluminum straights, and, ah, purling is a joy again.
June 1, 2005
WWGD?
So I'm about nine and a half inches into the front of my Shapely Tank. I'm at the point where I'm increasing for the bust (ha ha) and I just noticed a small hole (two, actually) on one side where I clearly knit into the wrong side of a m1.
WWGD? She'd frog it. I know I should frog it, but I am SO FREAKING bored knitting all of this stockinette on long aluminum needles. The purl sides are just killing me. I think it would be better if I switched to circulars, but my only circular US6 needles are 4.25mm and not 4.0. I'm fairly convinced that I'll be able to hide the holes when (if) it comes time to seaming.
Sigh. This is the farthest I've ever gotten on anything remotely resembling a sweater.
To distract you, gentle reader, here is a picture of me modeling my finished Backyard Leaves. I look a little surly, but it's mostly because I have Crest Whitestrips on my teeth.
hearts and flowers
My mom taught me how to knit last November, which was like the best present I ever got. So it was pretty fun to teach her how to knit in the round on DPNs this weekend. I gave her my beloved #8 Crystal Palace DPNs and the most beautiful skein of Manos ever. She started on a hat on Saturday, and yesterday she called to double-check how to finish the top. I always knew she was the smartest in her row. And now she wants more Manos! Ha! Welcome to the Cult of Manos, Mommy!
I'd also like to take a moment to give both of my sisters huge hugs right now. They are the greatest, and I dig them the most.
Posted by Kate at 12:50 AM | Comments (4)