Posts from — January 2006

Welll, I’ve seriously about had it for today with this whole Wordpress 2.0 upgrade :pullouthair:. I felt so accomplished when I was able to fix the smilies issue but now feel like a total idiot again. Posting issues. Oh yes, I could make this post, but try to do anything longer or with links? Forget about it…just the same error over and over again. I won’t bother you with the details. However, if you happen to be reading this and are some kind of techie, I’d greatly appreciate a consult.:happyflower:

Ok, so I’ve been a bit lazy with my posts this week…what of it? :badgirl: (notice I have the smilies back??? Oh joy.) I’m still in recovery mode for some reason. After a typical “vacation” I expect that. I come home absolutely exhausted (although feeling very fortunate and lucky to be able to travel!) from trying to fit absolutely everything there is to do in __________ (insert vacation spot here). This time was different though…we’ve been to Scottsdale several times now and have done much of what there is to do…AND, in an unprecedented decision by the Kemp team, we DID NOT BRING OUR CLUBS (that would be golf clubs for those of you just tuning in). So in truth, we did actually vacation quite a bit this vacation. Relaxation, naps and such things not previously heard of on our “vacations” happened with great regularity. Yet, in my usual sleep comments each day to Jim since we’ve been home I’ve been “sleeping my ass off”. Too bad it’s not literally true!

Oh, the knitting. Yes. So with all the relaxation one might think lots of knitting occurred. Not so (there was a lot of the Chronicles of Narnia though). I cast on a hat for Jim right before we left and just finished it last night *GASP*. I know! I can’t believe it either. Maybe I just need a wee break after the pre-Christmas knit frenzy. The hat is made from Knit Picks Elegance (70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Silk, Oatmeal and Coal). The resulting fabric is very nice…soft, drapey and warm. Overall the yarn is wonderful although just a little splitty. Not enough that it cause any problems and definitely worth the slight inconvenience. Pattern? My own…I may submit it to Knit Picks as it is a simple yet attractive pattern that uses little yarn. They really like to list the cost of projects with their affordable yarns. Oh, and I forgot to mention this was my first time doing color work. Fun stuff. The whole part though where you can’t carry the other color yarn for more than three stitches was a bit of a pain though. I think I just need to work on my “trapping” technique. I’m sure they way I did it was the most stupid way possible. Next, I give you the second pair of Bengal’s playoff slippers. I finished them just before we left and gave them to H already felted most of the way. They have a front load washer so L had a little trouble felting her pair that was finished a couple of weeks ago. She ended up bringing them over here to finish the felting while we had some cocktails. Although another “felting party” would’ve been fun, I really wanted H to be able to wear these during the play off games so I opted to just get them finished.

I’m off to cast on…well…something. I had a design idea while I was away (complete with a sketch that shows off my amazing artistic ability :rofl:) so it could be that or maybe all of the stash yarn in the upstairs closet waiting to become sweaters will actually begin to BE a sweater.

Edit:� I should have noted while the hat was my own pattern, the colorwork pattern is not.� It’s a traditional German pattern that I found in a James Norbury book.

Yeesh…of COURSE when JenLa made a request for fugly avatars, I raced to comply…in the midst of upgrading to WordPress 2.0, I welcomed the distraction (not that upgrading to WP 2.0 was particulary difficult although I did have some minor problmes…like being unable to post). So technical difficulties prevented me from showing my fugav love. The blog seems mainly fixed now, although I am still missing my beloved smilies. A moment of silence for them please (oh, and while you’re taking a moment, if anyone knows how to get the wp-grins plugin to work in 2.0, please let me know). I really didn’t need this mornings chastizement to make me comply. Without further delay I give you my ugly avatar. I couldn’t resist the ocean view though…which is obviously not so ugly.

The knit is still happening at chez Kemp, although a bit less than recent weeks. I’m still trying to recover after our trip (read: sleep) and get everything “back in order” (like that could EVER happen). Bonafide knitting content tomorrow!

:rofl::rofl:When I haven’t washed my hair for days and I do my first post holiday weigh in at least I’ll know this…nothing like taking some faux self esteem from a blog quiz which has absolutely no questions based on anything that could even remotely pass as having any bearing one’s “sexual appeal”. :rofl::rofl:What exactly is “sexual appeal” anyway? These little quizes always bring a little humor into an otherwise dreary day.

What is your sexual appeal?

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Finally, the holidays are over. For many it is a fun and festive time of the year; time to wear jingly earrings and buy more things than anyone can afford…but for others, it is pure stress and more trouble than it’s worth (there are people in between these feelings as well…at least I’m pretty sure of that). I tend to fall in the latter group. I’m a bit humbugish and generally disenamored with Christmas. That is why Jim and I started our own little tradition a few years ago….going away for the holidays. One year it was flying home from London on Christmas day (hallelujah, VERY merry Christmas…the airline upgraded us to first class as a holiday kindness…who knew they even had it in them???) others it has been flying somewhere warm (and generally west) on Christmas day only to return after the shiny new year’s day has past. No stockings, no gifts, just me and Jim on a lovely trip together…what better present is there really? I’m not against CHRISTMAS per se, just the whole mess it has become. Enough said (I’m sure this particular sentiment has been expressed ad nauseam in bloglandia). So….it may be obvious to you now that I have just returned home. Eating (lots), drinking (lots), hiking (some), knitting (little) and stitches (5 of the non-knitting kind) were just some of the fun events. My lame posts last week? My generally pathetic attempt to thwart any burglars that may stalk my blog to find out when I am away leaving my huge stash unprotected (thank goodness it worked…my yarn and my house are still here).

I did manage to check my email/the knitting internets once and found a little knit excitement in my absence. Yours truly (lowly, relatively new blog and not of the generally exciting type) was nominated for the Knit Blog Awards. Of course, I did plead for nominations both here and to friends at KH…whatever though…it’s not like I twisted any arms…you could’ve just nominated another more worthy blog. See my previous post? Typed out excitedly while waiting for Jim to get out of the shower before another lovely al fresco dinner in Scottsdale. Even more exciting and what will definitely (notice how definitely has “finite” in the middle??? A good way to remember how to spell it…see #8 from 2005 and most misspelled from 2004 list ) be on my top 10 blog moments of 2006…the famous Jen and La put me on their best of 2005 list!!! My award was for “most enthusiastic”. I guess that does kind of fit, especially given this warm and fuzzy, enthusiastic paragraph! Screw high school “best” blah blah lists…this is WAY (fu*k^$g…hi La!) better. Speaking of top 10 lists…I have decided to make that a regular thing. If you missed it, check out my top 10 things to love about Crazy Aunt Purl list. I can‘t promise total regularity as I’ll have to get a few more good blog crushes going. I’ve been working on the next one for a little while and I think it’s about ready. Coming soon!