I'm An Aunty

Of course I had to post a photo of her wearing something I knit.

GG

Knitting is good for your health

Since I've been working full-time this means that I'm knitting full time. I don't have access to the internet so that means there's nothing to distract me from knitting. I average about 5 hours of knitting a day and I think my arms are getting a bit stronger.

My right bicep keeps twitching at night. Could that be a sign of muscle growth or muscle fatigue?

GG

Knitting Droolfest 2007

Issue Knit 3 from Jo Sharp came out earlier this year and I just got it in the mail today and it's one of the best knitting magazines ever. An amazing range of projects for men and women. Super inspiring.

Wish I could say the same of the Rowan Magazine I got yesterday, which was entertaining, but it's highly unlikely that I will knit anything from it. Whereas this Knit 3 has as many as 10 projects I would make. I do have some Jo Sharp yarn in the stash, but I've got a whole bunch of other yarn that would work beautifully in the patterns.

Wow

GG

Grenadine Girl is a Cranky Girl

for lots of reasons.

The seasons change. Things are getting serious and no sir, I don't like it.

Those who know me off-web know that I have a very optimistic demeanor and an outlook that does not endure prolonged periods of struggle. I generally move forward on things quickly and will switch gears seamlessly to something else if a goal isn't working for me.

Unfortunately I can't do that with this one goal I'm pursuing. This goal is all encompassing and not to be put on the back burners. There's little I can do to control it and whatever I do to try to distract myself from it doesn't work.

I cry. I get frustrated. I watch entire seasons of Sex In the City.

I find it hard to even pick up the knitting needles, let alone knit with them.

But then I find myself watching a documentary on PBS about a guy with muscular dystrophy and it gives me some perspective.

And my old habit returns and I focus on my next trip to Australia, moving this persnickity unachieved goal to the back of my mind again, only if just temporarily.

GG

Music: Guns and Roses Patience

Well There Goes Facebook

I got my ravelry invite. Guess now I'm going to have to reorganize the craft room and take photos of the stash.

GG

Saturdays Are For Comic Books

It's the beginning of the month and you know what that means.

Another crazy ride with Izzytart and Beergeek to Isotope Comics!

This time I'm bringing my camera!!!!!

GG

PS: I may even set foot in the yarn shop too. You know, just for shiz and giggles.

PPS: It's official. The class reunion is less than a month away. And I haven't started knitting a damned thing for it. Too busy knitting something for my in-utero niece.

Oh yeah. And. The. Book.

Ok, honestly nothing much has been done on the book b/c I've discovered the joy that is the xbox (gd Oblivion!!!!), but after the foray into comicsland I'm getting right back on it.

Solar Summer

The heat's finally on. Our house has begun it's part time job as an oven, roasting our houseplants to death. And I'm realizing that my high school reunion is less than six weeks away. Jitter jitter jitter.

I can imagine the conversations now.

"So Gigi, what do you do these days"

"Oh you know, living the American dream, writing a knitting book"

Now normally these conversations become stilted as most of the people I have to explain this to do not knit. But I'm realizing that it helps a lot if I'm wearing a knitted garment. It sort of proves that I'm not a crazy lady, or making this up to sound successful in a strange way.

Which brings me to the biggest problem with this whole reunion thing. What should I wear? It's in early October in a festive atmosphere (read NOT a hotel ballroom) where one can gamble. I have frequented the establishment before and truthfully the attire isn't typically fancy. But one can't look like a schlub in front of one's former classmates.

I think the key thing here is to start with the shoes. And it's going to be boots. Tall knee-high boots. Funny how somethings never change, I practically lived in boots all through high school...

Shit, I'm going to look exactly the same as I did when I was 17. In fact the dress that I want to wear with the boots could have been wearable in high school.

So scratch that. No boots, no black dress. That's just too easy.

What to wear instead????

It has to say I'm hot, but not trying to be hot. So in short, no dresses or skirts.

It's going to be dark jeans and open toe wedges. That gives me an excuse to buy a new top and jacket. Excuse me while I talk to myself about this.

Alright I feel better now...

Oh great, now I have to figure out what to knit for the damned thing. Hard to imagine in this heat. And I only have 5 weeks to make it. Must consult Lace Style. Yeah that's the ticket.

GG

No Sleep Til Brooklyn

Uh, I Feel Sick

That's what my mom says whenever she is presented with something she doesn't agree with or doesn't want to do. It's always said in good humor. But really right now, I feel sick. A little queasiness to the tummy right now. I don't know if it's the bbq I just ate or the Thai food I had for lunch, but I'm not feeling so good.

Maybe it's that I just cast on the Tulip Jacket and I used the incorrect cast-on method and it looks crap. So I've totally undone the first 8 rows. Ripping back never feels good. Monsieur G is once again on the Xbox, testing out the new John Woo video game. I don't think there are enough bullets in all of America to account for all of the shots in this game, but I'm not so into the shooter games anyway.

So I'm in the craft room again procrastinating when I should be working on the book. I've made some good progress in the last couple of days. Now I'm working on two full-size projects at the same time -including an entirely *new* one. Monsieur G wants to see more physical proof, actually writing of the book. How convenient that our printer is out of ink!

But still I'm hoping that I'll spend a sizeable amount of time tomorrow going through the submission guidelines and typing out my official responses.

Otherwise this Sunday was rather uneventful. It took me most of the morning and early afternoon to boot up the old brain. I found a way to watch season 4 of Kath and Kim and got caught up on Flight of the Conchords. hardy har har.

Maybe I'll procrastinate some more tomorrow and take some knitting photos. But for now I'm on a roll on a story I want to write about knitting geeks.

GG

This Is More Like It

I've had my head in the clouds for the last couple of weeks. Change is imminent and I've been acting out like a toddler still learning the meaning of the word no. But that's all over and I've become more disciplined again.

Finished another pattern for the book today. Searched out and found a new piece of furniture off Craigslist and got it for less then half the value. Fingers crossed that I'll be able to fit it into my car.

and.

I'm cleaning the craft room. This time it's messy from actual use, a nice change of pace for me.

But that's not all folks. I also went out and socialized, taking coffee with my knitting partner-in-crime Izzytart. I'm going to have to do that more often. It keeps me motivated knowing I have to get a whole bunch of stuff done before I can go and meet up with Izzy.

The strangest thing happened today too.

I got a false start getting out the door for coffee. I had to put gas in my car, but once I got to the gas station, I found that I had forgotten my wallet. Instead of berating myself I wondered what the universe had in store for me since I had made such a stupid mistake. Then driving down the 101 towards Izzy's work, I realized I was superbly early, so I turned around and went to Barnes and Noble to pick up the new issue of Interweave and Craft. I stopped by the craft section to see if any new titles were out and found a man perusing a knitting book who wasn't Warren of Marin Fiber Arts fame. I wanted to pester the man, but didn't want to disturb his knitting book reverie. So I grabbed my magazines and headed to the counter where a nice middle aged gentlemen rang me up. Gazing upon my purchases he looked at me over his glasses and said "Knitter aye?" (all Canadian style) and I nodded and smiled. He got a knowing gleam in his eye and admitted, almost sheepishly.

"I'm a knitting widow"

It was the highlight of my day. I wish I had recorded it, the way he described his partner's knitting habit. It was full of respect and awe, an appreciation of the peace that fulfills her when she knits. I hope whoever that lady is knows what a lovely partner she has. He even went so far as to say that I should submit my knitting book to Interweave Press. And he even knew who that was.

I'm back on the horse. Giddee up m.f.

GG

On A Lighter Note

I've been hiding this information for quite some time. I've let it slip here and there, but I can officially announce that:

In the Simpsons Movie, I am the sound of Marge Simpson's knitting.

Those short clickity clacks are my doing.

It's my small claim to fame.

GG

One of Those Reality Whacking You Upside The Head Moments

The last couple of weeks have been rather strange for me. For one thing I haven't been jetting off to one location to another. I haven't seen an airport security checkpoint in over 21 days. For another thing, old friends keep popping back into my life, making me get out of the house. And then I'm meeting all these new people from work. This adds up to my routine being all broken up.

Anyhoo I was eating my lunch today and reading Knitscene and I realized that for the first time in months I had thought about something other than knitting. I had gone dancing, gone to parties, had conversations. Then flipping through the patterns in the magazine, I realized all the projects inside were crap, or at least unappealing to me. Then I was sitting on the couch watching the English Patient and by the end of the movie I realized that I hadn't knit a single round on my sock.

In short I had a private intervention and realized that I've been knitting too much. I forgot that there are other things that I enjoy doing.

This is a problem because I'm supposed to be writing a knitting book.

This isn't to say that knitting is bad, or that I'm quitting. There just needs to be a balance.

Knitting On the Job

Yes friends I have achieved the unlikely and have found a job where I can knit while working.

I'm answering phones for a kitchen refacing company and I'm loving it aside from the obvious knitting reasons. The ladies I work with are fabulous, open, warm, and welcoming. My first day of work I was greeted with a gorgeous living floral arrangement. I don't have any stress and I don't have any responsibility.

The only down side is that I'm only working part time and making less money.

But then again, I'm free to do what I want, any old time.

Sadly, I do spent much of that free time on the computer, but hopefully next week will find me exploring the city on my own, trying to achieve some of those 30th birthday goals. This weekend I am determined to see La Vie En Rose and go to the Farmers Market.

All the while, I'm knitting like a fiend for my book. The patterns are written and I have to knit the large scale versions to ensure correctness. Then I have to prepare the proposal and come up with an ingenious way to present the other, unknitted patterns for the book.

So far people have been responding well to the samples. I have never felt so confident about anything before in my life.

GG

PS I think I have it waaaay better than Pam from The Office

Rebuilding Myself One Day At A Time

Sometimes you just really have to treat yourself. My sister in law is in the beauty business and I went to her salon and had the works, manicure, pedicure, facial and hair. I felt so renewed that I scheduled an appointment for highlights next week.

I feel reborn.

If you find yourself in Santa Monica go to Chu Nin's Beauty Salon on Wilshire in Santa Monica. It's right by the Third Street Promenade. Ask for Erina. She does a phenomenal facial, using all Aveda products, which are so yummy. It was so relaxing that I ended up drooling on the facial table, which was a little embarrassing, but still worth it.

Also noticed something funny about LA. If you're wearing sunglasses, people are more likely to check you out. And there's alwasy the possibility of bumping into a celebrity, so you find yourself checking people out more than usual.

Of course we're pretty jaded about celebrity because where I live we have quite a few and it's rather gauche to gawk at them. I run into the guys from Metallica all the time. James Hetfield is always driving some bomber around and I frequently end up next to him at the stop light, so much so that he might think I'm stalking him. I've seen Lars Ulrich bowling and Kirk Hammett getting angry with a United Airlines desk agent. These Metallica run-ins make me chuckle because when I first discovered that I was moving to Northern California one of my good friends was a Van Halen and Metallica fan and was jealous that I might run into them, which I thought was absurd, but there you go I see them all the time.

So we're now on day 3 of no headaches. But then I haven't really tried doing anything with the knitting book. I'm hoping that these headaches aren't in any way related. I would like to have at least one big apron pattern written before I return home.

I found some new clothes today. Macy's was having a huge sale and for once I've benefitted from being normal sized. All the skinny clothes were gone, leaving my size 8/10 on the sale rack with HUGE mark downs. I got three pair of jeans for the price of 1 really pricey pair. It pays to shop in LA, and there was so much better selection than in my local Macys.

So this evening will be a quiet one. I'm going to put on some new clothes and go downstairs to the lobby for dinner. Then I'm going to knit and watch tv.

Ah the good life.

GG

Knitter's Weekend

My parents have gone to Texas to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa. That means I get to spend the weekend catsitting at my parents' house. You'll find me on the couch, KWI. You know, Knitting Without Interruption.

It's not too often that I'm alone for days at a time, without having to go to work. It's quieting and restful. I'm trying to find some sort of personal insight into this peaceful weekend, but I'm not finding any.

I must be knitting too much, because any insights I have are in my knitting.

I'm still working on the Central Park Hoodie, and I've 3-needle-bound-off the shoulder seams. They look nice and tidy. And now I am knitting the hood part, for which I needed to pick up some stitches. It's nice to see that my picked up stitches are much neater than in past attempts. Quite gratifying actually. I feel like I should be sweaty in the middle of a boxing ring holding the championship belt for finishing. But we still have the botton bands to do yet.

I'm still working on the Lace Style beginner lace shrug thing-o. I'd tell you the actual name of the project, but I left that book at home. Just when I think I have the hang of the lace, I get to the end of a row and have an extra stitch. Harumph. But that's why we have the extra projects.

I cast on for the One Skein Baby Bolero. That will be a quickie, fortunately b/c there's a baby on the way (not mine) scheduled for arrival in May, and with all this upcoming Japan travel I need to get that finished pronto. I'm using the Blue Sky Cotton it calls for and I have a huge stash of it, in an abundance of colors, but this is the first time I'm actually using it and man, I'm soooo glad I bought so much of it, because it's like buttah, Barbara Streisand buttah. One day when I get crazy enough to buy a knitting machine, I might actually make myself a blanket out of this stuff, but then again, there's this cardigan that I like from Greetings from the Knit Cafe that I could make with it. oooo wouldn't that be cozy.

Can't you tell I've had a glass of wine?

Tomorrow morning I will wonder-of-all-wonders cast-on the Icarus Shawl. Gag, blah freak out!!!!! This is the Thelma and Louise of knitting projects. My pal Izzy is my Thursday night gal. If I'm not hanging out with her at gaming, then we're at Knit Night at MFA. And either I was drunk on wine, or on the abundance of new yarn that Warren had, but we decided that we have to do a knit-along together just for our gaming nights. That in itself is not dangerous. The dangerous part was deciding that we should knit the Icarus shawl. Why not? It's a beautiful shawl, and I haven't done lace of the micrometer gauge yet, but something tells me that gaming and delicate lace don't mix.

I can picture it now...

INT: Suburban Dining Area

Six people surround the dining table with dnd books, dice and junkfood. The Dungeon Master (DM) sits at the head of the table with his dragon divider.

DM "Grenadine, what's your initiative"

No response from Grenadine, she's busy knitting.

The rest of the gamers (except Izzy, the other knitter) stare at Grenadine.

Grenadine: "Oh are you talking to me?"

DM: "Yes what's your initiative?"

Grenadine: "2"

DM: "2, that's not possible, your dex mod is at least 3"

GG: "Oh sorry that was the number of repeats in the shawl? What am I rolling for?"

This kind of thing could get you kicked out of a game. But not to confuse my partner in crime Izzy, I'm looking forward to Icarus and people tell me it's easier than it looks.

Well I should get back to the knitting... and that glass of wine.

GG

One of those non-knitting posts (almost)

A friend of mine bemoans the fact that I spend most of my time on this blog writing about knitting and not so much time on any interesting personal insights.

And here I was thinking that I was able to occasionally blend the two.

It's been hard for me to write lately because I have an inner conflict. As much as I enjoy writing a blog and sharing my knitting projects and life stories, I'm not so comfortable sharing my personal struggles. And while life hasn't been so full of struggle per se, it can be difficult to share one's life without being too specific.

Which can be frustrating. I want to share, but I don't want to be too personal. I have learned the hard way to choose the consesrvative option when in doubt. As much as something can be difficult for you, and as much as it seems like your whole universe, most people really don't want to know. I mean this is a knitting blog. this isn't the -insert your favorite medical problem/social issue here- blog. So here, we talk about yarn and knitting projects and we like it!

I suppose this is why therapists are so expensive. But one can't afford both a therapist and a yarn habit.

Besides, yarn is a much longer lasting expense and infinately more theraputic. Yarn doesn't pretend to listen to you, doesn't give you that uncomfortable half-hug. Yarn doesn't email you on the infrequent whim. It just sits there, looks pretty, and feels nice. Wow suddenly I have a lot more in common with middle aged men that I thought I did. And no that doesn't mean that I'm experiencing a mid-life crisis.

just to interject here. I'm watching American Idol and doesn't Sanjaya have potential as a possible Knit-wear model? With tonight's hairdo he sure does look like a Filati Model.

So in lieu of therapy there has been a lot of knitting. A foray into LACE. A new sock design. Oh and a new fingerless glove design here. I'm gonna take some photos.

See I feel better already.
GG

What Are You Doing New Year's Day?

Me?

I'm watching the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy on dvd.

Yes, I'm a geek.

But I've been knitting like a fiend. I started a sock on Christmas Day and miracle of miracles I might have it done tonight, just one week later. That's a record for me. Usually it takes me weeks plural to finish one sock.

The Record One-Week-Sock


I suppose it helps that I've had this last week off.

It's knit with Crystal Palace Panda Wool, which is a dream to work with and feels fabulous on foot. I've decided my favorite sock yarns are the ones that aren't too thin in gauge. Out of the five pairs I've knit, the two favorites are knit with the Panda Wool and Fleece Artist Merino. So if you like the gauge of the Fleece Artist, you'll like the Panda Wool. Yum!

Not one to continue being entertained by one project I had to cast on another project, this time a hat of my own design to match the fingerless gloves I made for Mr. G.

This New Year's Day beats last year's when it was 110 degrees in downtown Sydney and Mr. G and I were madly hungover, wandering the empty city looking for water (there was none to be found!) and a diversion from the heat. (however NYE last year will go down as the best so far -come on partying on the steps of the Sydney Opera House?"
Perhaps one could hypothesize that you can't have both a rocking New Year's Eve AND a great New Year's Day.

Guess we'll try to prove that 365 days from now.

GG