I'm still here!

Still here and still alive! In case you haven't heard, I've started my own videocast, which is why I haven't been here. I put up a new episode each week, either late Wednesday or early Thursday. Look over there --------> in the sidebar for the link, or just go here. There are links to everything I talk about included in each episode post.

I guess I've been slacking on this blog because everything I'm working on has been posted over on the blog for Round the Twist. I'll still be updating this one periodically, but if you want to keep really up-to-date then head over to the other blog.

the Queen of Procrastination strikes again

One of my college roommates is coming into town later today and will be staying with me over the weekend. I should be cleaning. I'm not.

Well...that's not entirely true. I've cleaned the kitchen and cleaned off the dining room table. That's actually quite a bit. I've still got to: take down the old computer/card table from the spare room, set up the airbed, vacuum the entire house, clean both bathrooms, dust, and give the dog a bath. If I've got time, I'll clean my bedroom too, but I do want to sleep at some point in there.

Guess I'd better get my butt in gear. I've got the ipod loaded up with podcasts, so I guess I just need the motivation now.

My new video cast!

Go take a look!

I know the sound is wonky on this first one. I'll work on it for next week. And if anyone has any insight on how to get the "embed" feature on YouTube to actually paste to the blog, then I'd be forever greatful.

Sock Summit - Day 2

Wow....just wow. I'm on so much overload right now.

Today was an early day for us. Up early so we could be at the convention center to pick up our tickets for the Guiness Book of World Records knitting. We got the tickets, then Mom and I started moving chairs. The convention center people have a *thing* about having chairs set up in neat rows all facing the same way. We take the rows apart and make a circle. Who knits sitting in rows like a classroom? How are you supposed to have a conversation like that?

9 AM was our first class. We both took Toe-Up Socks for the Stubborn by Deb. I've got all my numbers crunched and I'm ready to give the toe-up socks another try thanks to her!

Then at noon it was a run up to the upstairs ballroom to take part in the Guiness record knitting. The 15 minutes went by so fast! Probably the best part was when Yarn Harlot announced that the 15 minutes was up and someone hollared out from the back of the room, "Just one more row!"

Lunch was the buffet at the convention center and it was some of the best food I've had buffet style in a while. Today was a taco salad offering and I had so much food.

Then it was another wander through the marketplace to hit the booths that I'd seen yesterday and hadn't been able to get into. Snagged a great deal on Misti Alpaca laceweight from Webs, spotted the spinning fiber at Blue Moon, and got Dye for Glory entries from Purlescence Yarns (sock yarn) and Yarn Love (spinning fiber). Got some merino/bamboo blend sock yarn from The Sanguine Gryphon too since I missed out on their Bugga yarn. I think the only booth I still want to hit is the Signature Needles booth. I've got a yearning for some Stilletto dpns.

Tomorrow is my slow day, but I'm planning on being at the Ravelry meet-up tomorrow night. Hope to see some people there!

my very own weenie

Some of you might remember the Yarn Harlot's story of her encounter with a weenie on an airplane

Leaving Omaha, I was in the middle of three seats on the plane with Mom on the aisle and a business-man type in the window seat. As soon as we sat down, we pulled out our knitting. Immediately, the guy next to me said "They let you on the plane with those?" I really wanted to tell him no, but just fixed him with a *look* and said "They've been allowed by the TSA since 2002." Now, I'm knitting on dpns, but Mom's on the other side of me with a circ. Weenie kept going.

"What about that one?" Nodding towards Mom's circ. "Can't they be used as weapons?"

Mom just piped in with "These are allowed too as long as it's under 32 inches. Which this is."

Dude just kind of hmphed, leaned back in his seat and proceeded to dig out every electronic device known to man.

What a weenie.

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Met a very nice knitter, Janelle, at the Denver airport. We ended up sticking together to get to the hotel from PDX and then met her and her friend at the lounge to get some food. As we stepped off the elevator to the lounge, we ran into Yarn Harlot. She looked busy and tired, so I just let her go. Rashad, the awesome bartender, got us pizza and wine. A very good end to a great day. Also met MrsQuimby and Annimol (rav IDs), and got to chat with them. We managed to stay up until 11:30 or so before we both collapsed for the night.

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Today is the day for registration, finding a grocery store and possibly Yarnia, and volunteering to help in some way with Summit. When we emailed about volunteering, we were told to show up at the info booth to get our marching orders. We'll see what they have us doing. I'll report more later. Hopefully with pictures!

Let the Freak Out commence!

I always tend to freak out a little bit before I take a trip. Scared I'm going to leave something important behind, worried that something will happen to the dog while I'm gone...that kind of thing. This is a little bit bigger.

Sock Summit. I'm going. Leaving Wednesday. Have I packed? No. Do I have a list? Sort of....I've written down all the stuff I need to remember for classes and my laptop and Kindle. Am I worried that this trip will somehow come off the rails and crash and burn in a glorious explosion? Oh yes!

I know that everything will be fine, but that little ocd part of me wants to plan everything out to the smallest detail and do it *now*....two days before I leave. I'm fighting this right now. But I'm going to show you what I've got on the *must not forget* list so far.

-Stuff for toe-up sock class (half-done sock, needles, copy of stitch pattern)
-Stuff for sideways sock class (pick out yarn, needles, knit swatch)
-Scarf for Guiness World Record knitting
-Queen of Beads sock for plane knitting (yarn, needles, pattern)
-Kindle and power cord
-laptop and power cord
-camera and power cord
-phone and charger

And that is currently my whole packing list. Should probably include some things like clothes, underwear and deodorant, huh?

Excuse me while I go freak out in my little corner.

Pulling a 360

I don't know if I ever wrote about it, but when I first started knitting socks, I did them from the toe up. There was so much appeal to this! Since I've got size 11 feet, I could knit until I ran out of yarn and not worry about running out before the socks were complete! Unfortunately, the pattern I chose (one from Elann.com that I can't even remember the name of) had a short-row heel. I've got a freakishly high instep that I have inherited from my mom, so the short-row heel posed a *big* problem. Still, I slogged my way through two pairs of socks (one in Koigu KPPPM and one in Knitpicks), neither of which will fit my foot without a major wrestling match.

Then I switched to cuff-down socks. Amazingly, I have yet to run out of yarn knitting from the cuff-down. It's been close a couple of times, but I've managed to make it through. The closest episode was a pair of Dublin Bay socks out of the old put-up of STR lightweight. Finished with 10 feet to spare and I was freaking out through that whole toe.

Well, I have now come the full 360. I am taking a Toe-Up Socks for the Stubborn class at Sock Summit in a couple weeks. Homework was to get a sock done halfway up the foot to be ready to do a gusseted heel turn. And I am happy to report that I have a toe. One sock toe out of Flat Feet by Conjoined Creations. We'll have to see how it goes....