Internet Therapy

I was having a crappy morning at work; boredom, frustration, that guy who won't stop tapping his pen, ya know the usual. Then I read the latest post on The Toy Society and I felt a little happier. Something about the idea that there is a little girl out there who believes fairies leave stuffed animals for people to find just lightened me up a little.

And that post led me to this post on Sheeps Clothing blog about a wool stealing cat and who knows what I'll find next.

I think if I keep clicking away during my lunch hour and I will be in much better spirits for stitch n' bitch tonight.

My Moment on the Podium

**Cue the National Anthem of Sarahland**

I am proud and honored to accept my medals in the following events: A gold in Cross Country Colorwork and another gold (natch) for The Mitten Medley.

They may have ended up a wee bit smaller than will actually fit on my hands but I am sure to find someone who will gladly accept them. I am quite proud of work and really enjoyed doing them. You know what that means, this year mittens for everyone!

Here's the Dish

Before I get to my ravelympics update I realized I never posted photos of my last project. My friend the daftcrafter asked for some pattern testers for her first pattern ever!!! It's The Mod Dishtowel that was a fun quick knit and looks oh so cute in my kitchen. My photos don't do it justice but it really is a funky pattern. She is due to post the pattern soon so check back soon. Oh also please ignore my grimy stove.



Now a quick ravelympics update. I cast on and knit a inches and then ripped it all out. I decided I didn't like the way the Silky Wool was knitting up, just slightly nubby so the pattern didn't come out crisp enough. So I was forced, forced I tell you, to buy some new yarn today. I went with Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light and started again. Oh and by the way, why didn't anyone tell me how awesome Magic Loop is? I may never use DPN's again.

Is That a Torch in Your Pocket?

All the training. All the sweat. All the tears. It all comes down to this. Nations come together to compete in events so challenging the world just stops and watches. It's....

For those of you who don't know what the Ravelympics here is the basic premise. You can not cast on until the opening ceremonies and you must be finished by the closing ceremonies and the project should be a challenge to finish in those 17 days. There are teams to join but apparently I don't play well with others since I am going solo on this. Nah, none of the teams were groups I was already involved with but had there been a Team Dive Bar Worship I would so be there.

I have decided to compete in two events (albeit with just one project) The Mitten Medley and The Colorwork Crosscountry by knitting The Squirrel and Oak Mittens by Hello Yarn.

Yes, this will be my first time doing magic loop, first hard core chart reading and my first serious stranding project - hence the challenge. But I'm up for it. I've been training (last night at SnB I worked on a practice piece) and reading a lot about stranding techniques so I am ready-ish.

Oh, I hear a bunch of people in China are doing some stuff too during that time period. Maybe I'll order take-out tomorrow in their honor....mmmm.....scallion pancakes.

Froggy Went a' Courtin'

A few months back I started knitting the Back to School Vest from Fitted Knits. I love the colorway of the Cascade 220 that I chose and according to lots of people's notes in ravelry it's a quick knit. I was making a few modifications but nothing that should have taken me very long. But for some reason I wasn't that into it and it got pushed aside as I did other things, and then it got too hot too touch wool. But finally last week I was motivated, I was going to finish this project. But as I neared finishing the first strappy thing and tried it on to see how long I should make it I realized there was a problem.

How do I say this delicately? My boobs. They are not nearly HUGE enough for this vest. I mean they would have to be surpassing Anna Nicole or Pam Anderson to fit in this vest and while there is nothing wrong with having ta-tas that big I just don't got 'em. (My brother-in-law has now closed the screen in awkward TMI silence).

I really have no idea how I made it that big but I made this in such starts and stops over such a long period of time that really elves could have come overnight knit a few short rows and I wouldn't have noticed.

So now it sits sadly mocking me and I think I will have to frog it to put it out of its misery and mine. Ribbit, ribbit. Maybe I'll try again at some point but for now I have some other projects in the works and a big challenge for the Ravelympics. Oh yeah, I'm that big a goober.

Word Up

I can see this being a good source of time-wasting fun....Wordle. You can have it pull words from your blog. Here's mine.

The Barge

In my family I have to say that we love us some pop culture. I love that my Entertainment Weekly is waiting for me in the mailbox every Friday evening and it is fully read and in the recycling bag long before I go to work on Monday.


I am the one that my mom calls to ask, "I watched a tv show and there's this guy who looks familiar and I think he was in a show with that other guy and maybe they were cops or lawyers and the theme was really catchy? Ya know who I'm talking about, right? " And usually after a few questions to narrow things down, What network? What night? Reruns? What decade? I probably do know who she's talking about. I love the challenge of a difficult Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and there is probably way too many of my brain cells used up by knowing the names of made-for-tv- movies starring Tori Spelling. (The classic being "Mother May I Sleep With Danger?) I love to hear the details of upcoming projects from Joss Whedon or J.J. Abrams. And if you are unsure of who those last 2 guys are, you will be a quite lost (hint, hint) in a conversation between me and my brother-in-law. And in those conversations it is not unusual to hear the phrase, "They are so on the barge!"


Ah, The Barge. The barge came about many years ago when there was a news story about a trash barge that was just sailing up and down the east coast because no city would let it into port and dump it's trash in their landfill. So somehow I decided that I would have a barge for those famous people that I just bug me and want them to just be floating around out there out of my way.



Most people come and go off my barge as need warrants; some are obvious - Ben Affleck was there during the age of "Bennifer", Paris Hilton when she went to jail thing or Donald Trump anytime he randomly insults Rosie O'Donnell. Really on any given day the passengers change. But there are some permanent fixtures....

• Martha Stewart -her voice just drives me crazy and she's so condescending! I like to think she's happy passing out hordes d'oeuvre's to the other passengers.
• Sharon Stone - really why is she so respected as an actress? She has made far more many crappy movies than good ones (Casino). I just can't understand it so on the barge she goes.
• Meryl Streep - before you yell at me, I just can't seem to get past the whole Kramer vs. Kramer character and the fact that she's "the greatest actress of our time" and can do a lot of accents will not change my mind. It's my barge and she's on it.

That is the thing about the barge, each person's is theirs and theirs alone. So while my sister's includes Adam Sandler (he just bugs her), mine doesn't. There are only two rules of the barge....Rule 1, don't criticize someone else's choices. Rule 2, the barges are non-violent. You can't blow them up or stage a celebrity deathmatch. I had to create this rule for my dad who kept wanting to take a bazooka to his.

So is there some celebrity who just makes you nuts for no apparent reason. Put them on your barge.