Snake Surly

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October 31, 2005

okay, enough posting for one day

but first, this result amused the crap out of me.

Posted by Kate at 9:17 PM | Comments (3)

@#?&^*%!

Okay, so I have 66 stitches (the yarn is doubled) on my circular needle. I change to a single strand and I do this: Increase (by knitting the doubled strands separately) in first 2 sts, *k1, increase in next st,* repeat from *.

Why, oh, why, do I now have 89 stitches instead of the 100 I'm supposed to have? I could see where I might have gone wrong ONCE, but I'm off by ELEVEN stitches. WTF?

Posted by Kate at 9:05 PM | Comments (0)

wholesome or un-

Happy Hallowe'en, gentle readers! Here's my exciting weekend update:

Saturday night, I got laced into my corset (I also wore pink sparkly devil horns and had on my Prada boots & handbag. Get it? The Devil Wears Prada! I crack myself up.) and Rob dressed up like a hippie, and we went to a ragin' party at Chris' house. It was great. There was much drunken debauchery and hot-tubbing. And I will just leave this story there.

Yesterday, I pried poor hung-over Rob out of bed and we (I) drove up to my parents' house for family-friendly autumnal celebrations. Rob slept in the back seat of the Audi while I got to drive for 2 hours and 40 minutes (not my best time), singing at the top of my lungs. Once we were Chez Gardner-Vlach, we played pinochle (mom and I CRUSHED the competition. In one game, we beat them in three hands. HA! A thousand aces! Ha!), ate Cheesy Yummy Goodness, carved pumpkins, and had chicken and dumplings. My mom makes the absolute best chicken and dumplings in the entire world, and I hardly ever get to have them. MAN, they were good. Seriously, that's what I'd want for my proverbial last meal. Anyway, it was great.

Today, I wore my devil costume to work. My corset is, I think, officially broken in. Erin tightened the laces a couple of times, and, MAN, OH, MAN. That's all I'm sayin'. Erin was deliciously dressed as a USO girl, complete with great gams. And then later, Paula came in and modeled her Gryffindor outfit. It was fabulous.

Now I'm at home, grinchishly pretending I'm not home.

Posted by Kate at 7:13 PM | Comments (2)

October 27, 2005

You are Mohair

Given my past experiences with fusey, evil Crystal Palace mohair, and my ecstatic experiences with Kidsilk Smack, I found this pretty funny. I'd have added "and a lot of people are allergic to you."

You are Mohair.
You are a warm and fuzzy type who works well with
others, doing your share without being too
weighty. You can be stubborn and absolutely
refuse to change your position once it is set,
but that's okay since you are good at covering
up your mistakes.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Posted by Kate at 11:49 PM | Comments (4)

Upson Downs

Ever have one of those days where you feel like the universe is out to get you? Today it seemed like every time I let myself feel happy about something, I got smacked upside the head. For example:

• After much debate, I decided to use the Braided Mischief cable pattern from Scarf Style on the green Manos. It looks fabulous. So I was knitting away today, minding my own business, when I noticed I'd crossed a cable. It was pretty far back, and the thought of frogging annoyed me. So I decided to see if I could figure out how to drop down to that section and re-cross the cable. After about half an hour of cursing and swearing, I'd done it. I was so freaking proud of myself. I'd actually managed to drop many, many rows of nine stitches, re-cable and pick them back up. ...and then I noticed that in the process, I'd un-cabled a section. Sigh. So I frogged.
• Good casting news was tempered by great, great trepidation.
• Brief giddiness was completely washed away by a reminder of my place in the world. The reminder was delivered so sweetly and kindly, that it almost made it worse.
• I blew through the first couple of routes at the gym tonight, then I failed to make it to the top of a hard route. I know I'm a process knitter, but with climbing, it's all about the ascent. To get up to the penultimate hold on a route and then fail is maddening. And then I foolishly tried to do the route we're calling "Katebane", and totally threw my shoulder out. Don't worry, it only hurts when I breathe.

Thank goodness it's therapy day tomorrow.

Posted by Kate at 8:45 PM | Comments (1)

October 26, 2005

spoonful of sugar

So I got out of bed this morning in a really odd mood. I'd woken up in the middle of the night from a crazy dream. Everything was sort of extreme today. Colors were brighter, yarn was softer, the air smelled better. I just walked around today in total sensory overload. Don't know what triggers this in me, but I like days like this.

I went up to the City to get my corset. It's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen. Alas, I didn't take any pictures of me in it. Maybe I will take some later when I make Rob learn how to lace the sucker up.

While I can drink quarts of joy in one gulp, I can also slowly savor tablespoons at a time. And those are just as good.

edited: okay, here are some pictures. Please ignore my ugly yoga pants.

Posted by Kate at 8:42 PM | Comments (6)

October 25, 2005

drama queen

So I dragged myself up to the City tonight for auditions for the Dickens Fair. It was, um, interesting. I was *way* off my game, as I'd had to wait an awfully long time to be seen and all of my adrenaline had sapped out. And I was starving. And nervous. And fighting off a migraine.

But the directors were all very nice and very encouraging, and I read lots of different stuff. Fortunately, I can cold-read passably well. But then I had to improv, which I was totally not ready to do. I have to be awfully relaxed to do that well. Boy, did I feel like a doofus.

Anyway, I auditioned, and that was a Good Thing. I haven't been on stage for ages and ages and even auditioning (which I loathe) felt pretty good. We'll see if they want me.

And tomorrow I get to trek back up to the City to pick up...(wait for it)...my corset! Woohoo!

Now I'd really like a festive adult beverage.

Posted by Kate at 11:05 PM | Comments (1)

October 24, 2005

dyno-mite

Went climbing tonight. There were a lot of frustrating bits, namely the stupid 5.8+ with the big round holds that I can't seem to work out. I said a lot of very, very bad words. But then I did this gigantic 5.9 after much effort. I sounded like Monica Seles there at the top. We also ambitiously tried a 5.10- on the wall that's all balance problems. Despite a lot of beta from a talented onlooker, neither Rob nor I were able to get more than halfway up. But it was fun to try.

My poor little fingers were so sore and raw that I could barely get my shoes untied. Here's me attempting to chew the knots. Aren't I glamorous?

Posted by Kate at 11:40 PM | Comments (1)

October 22, 2005

Super Fun Corn Maze, year 2

Okay, it's officially autumn, my favorite season. (and not just because I look good in orange.)

Today, Cruise Director Amber hauled us, her boyfriend Chris, and Mike and Julia from TiVo (okay, Julia doesn't work there anymore) all the way down to freakin' HOLLISTER to visit this allegedly cool corn maze.

Okay, it was pretty fun. We got punkins, played with goats, put punkins in gigantic slingshots, and got LOST, LOST LOST in the gigantic corn maze. You'd think with THREE program managers (and one ex-program manager) in the group, there would have been team cohesion. Alas, there was not, and the engineers took over. Well, they tried, anyway. Eventually, after a lot of bickering (the program managers) and whining about wanting a martini (that was me), we made it out. Amber had ASSURED me that there would be martinis at some stupid place called Casa De Fruta, but there were most decidedly not. I was annoyed to discover this:

Anyway, it was a blast. I've put up lots of pictures on smugmug.

Now we're at home, having a much-deserved drinkie.

Posted by Kate at 10:35 PM | Comments (2)

October 21, 2005

Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!

Okay, forgive me for harping on the Beethoven, but FUCKIN' A, this Gardiner recording of the ninth just knocks my socks off. I listened to the whole thing on Monday, and it's amazing.

About halfway between work and home today I put it on, just the last movement. I was stuck in traffic, and I was reading the liner notes and the translation. It's a great translation, and really fits the spirit in which Gardiner conducts the piece.

I especially like the Wem der große Wurf gelungen part, which basically says, "Don't rain on my parade, Debbie Downer, I'm happy!" and then flips you off.

Here:

Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife,
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise;
But any who cannot must creep tearfully
Away from our circle.

Dude, this so was what I needed to hear today. I was all joyful (har har) and riled up after I listened to it. I tried to listen to my other "happy happy" piece, Bach's "Magnificat", mostly so I could sing the Et Exultavit, but that after the "Ode to Joy, DAMMIT", it was like putting on a pair of Kate Spade flats after you've been kickin' around in Prada boots. Yeah, they're well-made and cute, but they're flats. Prada boots kick ASS, and so does this Beethoven.
Anyway, the only thing I could do was to listen to it again. Now I'm all peevish, like Lucy Honeychurch.

Anyone wanna go dancing tonight? I feel like blowing off some steam.

Posted by Kate at 5:29 PM | Comments (2)

October 20, 2005

Absence of a KIP

Yes, ladies, it's true. Besides the FBS, which is on a semi-permanent Time Out, I have nothing on the needles. I knit another teeny tiny sweater today, but I finished it. I mean, I even wove in the ends.

So now I feel all weird and naked. I really should start working on the green Manos scarf that my aunt asked me (indirectly) to make, but I don't have my #10s in my needle case for some reason. I swatched it on #9s last night and didn't like what I was getting. Besides, I was saving that project as an excuse to get Nathania to teach me how to knit continental.

What else is in the lineup? Yet another teeny tiny sweater for the window? Aiiee! I think my limit is one per day (sorry, Nathania. I'm not the sweat shop you'd hoped for.) The sweater (for me) in beautiful Atacama alpaca that will go great with my hair. Nah, don't feel like alpaca tonight. Um, I could make a random hat or something. There's all that Claudia yarn on the table. I could get my ass in gear and start seriously making decisions about my Christmas knitting.

Don't hurt me, but I sort of don't feel like knitting. I feel listless and out-of-sorts. Ironically, the thing that usually snaps me out of it is knitting.

Posted by Kate at 6:59 PM | Comments (4)

October 19, 2005

My whole existence is flawed

Some days I feel like I should just be put in a zoo. Today started out great, but by the end of the day (like, now), I felt really off-kilter. Am having drinkie.

But at least I finished my Katrina Rib sweater! Woohoo! It feels great. Here's me hootin' it out at the store (and this is a pretty good representation of the color):

And because I promised, here's a picture of me modeling Katrina, the orange scarf of deliciousness, and the teeny tiny green sweater. I didn't promise it would be a good picture.

Posted by Kate at 9:31 PM | Comments (13)

October 18, 2005

slugging and knitting and poker, oh my

So I totally slugged around this morning, but it was really quality slugging. Then I went to work and knitted like a fiend (after fending Rebecca off of the teeny tiny sweater. She tried to eat it.) and wound up finishing my delicious orange scarf. I had a lot to think about today and I thought about it a lot. Knitting sure facilitates thinkin'.

Later I went to play poker with the boys at an undisclosed location. I came in fourth in the first game and busted out on the second, so I only wound up losing $10, which is, of course, winning.

(I'm up late and have not yet photographed my FOs, but I promise that I'll do it tomorrow.)

Posted by Kate at 11:53 PM | Comments (1)

October 17, 2005

take this pink ribbon off my eyes

three more or less interesting tidbits from today:

1. I climbed a 5.9 at the gym tonight. It was tough, but I did it, and I was very pleased with myself.

2. I'm sending in my final set of photos to ISM (not safe for work, kids). Call me crazy, narcissistic, vain, deluded, whatever, but I had a blast doing it, and I'd do it again in a second. Once the paperwork is done, I'll be nakey on the Web. (if any of my adoring readers desperately want to see these pictures, send me e-mail and I'll hook you up.)

3. I did some knitting. Nathania is making me knit these tiny little sweaters that will be mini-Weasley sweaters for our Harry Potter window. Man, I hate teeny tiny DPNs. It's like knitting with toothpicks.

Posted by Kate at 10:43 PM | Comments (2)

October 16, 2005

weekend update extravaganza

Okay, so we went out on Friday. We missed the play because traffic sucked, but we went to this kickass new restaurant at Santana Row and had fabulous food and drinkies.

Here's me enjoying one of the aforementioned drinkies:

Then we went to the Normandy. It was, um, something. First I sang "I Will Survive", which is a sure sign I'm pissed off about something, then later I almost got thrown out for indecent behavior, and that's all I'm willing to say.

here's me feeling frisky (and I'm SO GLAD THE CAMERA GOT PUT AWAY AFTER THIS, and I'm so glad the only person to witness the debauchery was Rob):

The next morning, Kris and Chad came over (and I was never drinking again) and we wound up meeting Dennis and Lindsay and Carter at the creamery for brunch. It was all about babies. We also got to see Dennis' stylin' new natural gas-powered Crown Victoria. It is the dorkiest thing I've ever seen.

Here's Carter in the trunk of the souped-up wonder car:

Then Kris and Chad and Rob and I went to Nordstrom, because poor knocked-up Kris needed new shoes and a new bra. Neither of us found shoes, but we both got bras. I didn't see hers, but mine is smokin'.

After we got home and the Peddy-Mays left, Rob and I went for an 11 mile bike ride. Then we got gussied up and drove to Marin to get Michael, and we all went to the City. We went to the House of Nanking, which was as awesome as ever, then went to the Tonga Room and consumed fruity drinkies and laughed at the bad dancing.

I enjoy drinks with little umbrellas.

No, really.