And the camera is back!

All that lovely stuff is from Pam. She sends a fantabulous package doesn't she? Some of the stuff isn't even there, the kids had already high-tailed it with the candy bracelets and little pills that turn into animal shaped sponges when you put them in water. They could have died from the awesomeness, by the way. Both of them love stuff that turns into other stuff. Does anyone else remember how fast you could transform a Transformer as a kid only to grow up to totally suck at it? That's what I learned from Christmas: Mom can't figure out the Transformers for crap. Anyway, Pam sent me a ton of stuff including some Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) which I've wanted to try, frou frou smelly vanilla stuff, bomb homemade hot chocolate mix and marshmallows (one of my son's favorite things), a spiffy new knitting bag, the aforementioned treats for the kids, and last but not least: my very own pair of knitting gloves! I was totally stoked to get them I've been thinking of cannibalizing and old sweater to make some mitts for my freezing fingers but now I don't have to. Truly an awesome gift that I was practically giddy over. They room in my knitting caddy so that I can pull them on when the temperature drops. I'm toying with the idea of moving one of the fingers over because I had no idea I used my right ring finger while I knit but I do. Though now that I'm working on something other than the socks for RTK, it's not as much of an issue. The naughts (size 0 DPNs for the uninitiated) really got tangled up but I think it's because there were so many as oposed to just the two size 7s I've got going now. Yeah, I've got a dead line for Veste Everest so the other sock can wait a bit. To tell the truth I'm still mad that I had to rip out that beautiful top to replace it with plain old boring ribbing. Okay, I didn't even rip it out, I had to cut it off and pray I didn't lose the whole damn thing. As you can see I didn't but I'm not in a huge hurry to start the next one. It's one of those projects you can't take with you since you carry the yarn through most of it you have three balls attatched to tangle up around each other.I've included a nice close up of the yarn here so you could see the pretty colors. I really do like them, so at least something worked out. Red Todd Kidd tried this one on and ended up wearing it the whole night, it was pretty funny. I mentioned the peg-leg to him but I don't think he's going to go for it. Of course one of you all pointed out that if he did have a peg leg I'd probably have to knit it a cozy. I fell off the ground last night. I was walking out to the car to put groceries away and just fell right off the walk into the grass. Yet, somehow I still managed to slam both my knees down on the concrete. That's the kind of thing that never happens when you're by yourself but when you have both your parents, little brother, best friend, and husband standing there... How was that for a non sequitor? Lastly, I'll leave you with the begginings of Veste Everest for my MIL. She likes red but rather than the darker tones I enjoy she likes the really bright reds. I'm using Patons Decor because it's soft, bright, and washable while still containing enough wool that it will block well. If this turns our well I'm going to use the same yarn in a white or off white for my mom's aran sweater if I ever get around to it. I've discovered that I do like cables. They don't vex me like lace work or color work. I've been having a fairly relaxing time knitting this up so far. Though, now that I've said it, I'm sure disaster looms just ahead, you know how that goes.

Video post! (In honor of my 150th post)

If you hate bathroom mirror photos you will abhor today's bathroom mirror video post. Just warning you. Oh, and the sound can't keep up with the video so it's all off. This was a bad idea... Here's the intro: Part one: Part two: Hope you enjoyed my bad hair, lack of make-up, and unscripted lack of witty comments! EDITTED TO ADD: The fantastic yarn you see me talk about briefly was actually a gift from my CASP, Cheapass Underlord. I didn't get to finish that round and never found out who made that beautiful handspun for me. I have to say, that package came on one of the worst days I've ever had and it made me SO happy. Thanks to whichever knitty made that wonderful yarn for me (She called it Sarah's Seaweed which I LOVED!). You can reveal yourself if you're reading!

Packages

I got TWO packages last week and being the terrible person that I am, didn't blog either of them. So here they are, a package from my Cheap Ass Secret Pal (who likes Target) and one from my Summer Fling Secret Pal (who also likes Target). Oh and CASP, the reason there's only three bags of M&Ms in the pic is that we tore into one as soon as we opened the package.

Best. Day. (For mail.) Ever.

(Click the images for larger views) I got TWO packages in the mail this morning! One came all the way from the UK, sent by my lovely SP, Glittrgirl. The other came from the oposite direction, sent by the wonderful Keohinani. Over there to the left you can see my package from Glittrgirl which included a cute green bag (linen?), two balls of Noro Aurora in color 6, some Earl Grey tea, a bar of delicious soap that I MUST HAVE MORE OF! Ahem, a cute stuffed bunny (Lola has made off with it already) that she knitted, a box of Lindor truffles, A felted pincushion, a blank journal, some english candies, a ball of Curious Yarns sock yarn in Gothic, and a couple of stitch markers! Oh the last few things were in the green purse so I tool a second pic to show those. So many goodies! Oh, and the card says, "Honey, you gotta sin to be saved!" I love it! That's going to get used in a project eventually I think... As for the box from Keohinani, I knew she was sending me some of her handspun but what I didn't know is that she saw it was my birthday and sent some extra goodies along. First off, she's so dang sweet she sent me a box of presents and she thanked me! I can't wait to get to her incredibly soft handspun. It's going to be the first thing I grab when the birthday knitting for Miss Beans is done. It's bright and soft and I can't wait! Anyway, she also sent along a bit of her handspun that isn't dyed and I may just hit that with some kool-aid, I haven't decided yet. Then there were the extras, 440yards of self striping sock yarn from All Things Heather (jaywalkers?), a little purple journal, some soap from the Body Shop (do I smell?), and a box of some crazy Japanese... candy? I don't know, I didn't open it yet. She calls it a party in a box. I call it my lucky day. Hooray for me! I feel so special!

Punkrawker86

My thoughts are with the family of Miss Megan after her rather sudden departure from the land of the living yesterday. She was a very sweet girl with a kind word for everyone and a generous heart. It's so strange to deal with death in such an abstract way, I've never met Megan in the real world, I don't think I've ever even seen her picture, but I conversed with her at least once a week through the knittyboard and nearly everywhere I look today there are little reminders of her (she sent me a truckload during holiday SP). I wish her well wherever she's moved on to and I'll think of her whenever I pick up the fabulous bag she made me, watch Incubus, or try in vain to crochet. What's particularly odd is that I just this morning picked up some of the yarn she sent me to make something for a friend who's dad also died yesterday.

THANK YOU SP!

A great big thanks to my SP who sent me a very full package from the UK. It arrived yesterday. Here it is in all it's glory! I'd say more but it took me over a half hour just to get blogger to upload these photos. So My SP is great! And now on to the package and contents.

SP 6 is underway

It's secret pal time again! I'm doing the knitty.com SP6 (the one I created the humorous controversy buttons for months ago, hey, I think I'll put one of those up!) and I just got my first package on Monday. Yipee! As it turns out my SP is from the UK and has sent some interseting treats. In my package there you can see I received a delicious dark chocolate bar, some stitch markers that spell "knitting", A felted cuff (very cute!), some brushed alpaca that she dyed herself (the color isn't quite so riotous in person), and abag of Rice Cakes flavored (or should I say "flavoured"?) with "yeast extract" which she explained is marmite. EEK! Marmite! I'm afraid! Anyhoo, I'm plotting what will become of that alpaca even as we speak. I'm also trying to think of some thing I should make for my SP which of course I won't post about until the round is over so she won't find me out. I think I have her fooled pretty well so far, I don't want to blow it! It was 80 degrees yesterday. I'm not going anywhere with this, just thought I'd mention it. My brain is wandering. I know there was something else I wanted to post about today. What was it? Seriously, what was was it? Eh, whatever. I guess I'll post about it tomorrow!

Catharsis

I haven't had the best of weeks. I had a falling out with an old friend and have been torturing myself about it ever since. Oh you know you do it too. "Twist the knife," as Red Todd Kidd likes to say. You know, you go and watch all the movies that remind you of them, listen to the songs you know they like, read old letters or emails. It's just something I have to do before I can let go and move on, catharsis the Greeks would say. Don't worry though, this post gets much better in a sec. On Monday I took my ailing children to the doctor's office and when I arrived home I had a note from the mailman saying he tried to deliver an insured package (because it was the two hours out of the ENTIRE WEEK that I would be gone) and that it would be redelivered or I could pick it up at the distribution center. HA! Yeah I can really imagine going to the distribution center in Otay in December NO THANK YOU. So I waited for the box to be redelivered on Tuesday. No package. What the hell? I decide to chase down the mailman. So when he comes back down the street in the other direction I stop him. Never mind that It's 3:00 and I'm still wearing pajamas. Never mind that said pajamas are covered in baby snot from the aforementioned ailing children. I stop that guy in the middle of crossing the street and ask: "Do you have my package? I got a note yesterday." "Oh do you want me to deliver it?" "Uh... Yeah." "It was insured." "Okay..." "I need the card back if you want me to deliver it." "I'll go get it." I go and get the card. "Here you go." "So then you want me to deliver it?" "Yes. Please. I don't want to go to Otay and get it." "Okay but it's insured." "Okay." "Okay." I was so baffled by this conversation that I wasn't even rude. Like I would decide I didn't want something because it was insured and I missed it the first time. Our mailman is an okay guy but man alive, that is one flickering bulb. Anyway... I got my AMAZING haul from my Secret Pal who turned out to be punkrawker86! She totally gave me a huge hint by sending mixed CDs in both packs but for someone who can figure out the ending of Law&Order in the first 5 minutes of the show I was way more than slow on the draw. So my bulb fickers from time to time too. Now I feel all judgemental. Eh, I'll get over it. So here's the break down of haul: -A box of Cheeze-its -A bag of Oreos (all mine keohinani!) -Three packets of Kool-Aid -A very groovy tiny candle in a jar (it's the red feathery thing) -Bryspun DPNs, the short kind you use for gloves and such -AN ADDI TURBO! (My first one!) -A teeny weeny circ for god knows what but I'll find out! -Tim Burton's Garden of Nightmares -A fridge magnent that looks like Frankenstien's monster with the explaination that she couldn't find a zombie-lol -A mixed CD (That's pretty awesome BTW, great job!) -Four balls or partial balls of Fun Fur for the Overalls of Shame And my two favorite parts: -NINE BALLS OF ANDEAN SILK!!! In cranberry. Oh do I have just the project for those... -SheMADE me the most beautiful knitting bag! Do you see it there? She MADE it! With a matching little bag for notions. She MADE it! Just for me. In her note she said she was sorry that she couldn't afford to buy me one so she made me one. punkrawker86, you couldn't have bought a bag like this. I love it. It's totally unique. The fabric is fantastic. I love the colors. I'm just floored. I feel so special! I've even done something that I've never done in my life. I named it. Yes that's right, I named the bag. It's name is Mao Yin which to fully understand would require me rehashing a LOT of personal trauma so suffice to say the bag is helping me to get over some stuff as well. Thank you. THANK YOU. THANK YOU! It's awesome.