Just an FYI:
The sock club is closed! Thanks everyone, for participating! I'll be dyeing for the club starting this week. So. Excited.
Also, have y'all heard of Foxboro Hot Tubs? It's Green Day's "side project" and I might love them a little bit. You can hear the first song here (youtube) and it looks like you can download the song for free from their site if you click on the album.
This song is totally making my Monday bearable.
p.s. the GRE sucks ass. math makes me cry.
God, where did this week go? I haven't read blogs or knit (ok a little), or even managed to do laundry. Oh yeah, I'm studying for the GRE. And suffering from Pokemon addiction. I can't do math, but I can beat the shit out of some pokemons. Shouldn't that count for something?
I'm scheduling my GRE exam as soon as I get paid for April so that I can just get it over with. But y'all. I'm *worried*. I seriously haven't had any math since high school and when reviewing the "Basic Math" in my GRE study guide my brain shuts off, I become zombiesque (it's a word), and it just doesn't click with me. Solve for A? Fuck A. Somebody get me a drink! Granted, I don't have to do a phenomenal job to meet the program's requirements, but I'd like to not have to take it again.
I'm also working on The List (see the left sidebar) and I'm accomplishing a few things this weekend including:
- Recycling old cell phones
- Replacing the rest of our plain light bulbs with the CFC kind (the ones I can reach anyway)
- Cleaning out our filing cabinet, shredding old stuff and filing stuff that's hanging around
- Running my first 5k in 8 years. DONE!
- Recycling old comforters, etc, by giving to Goodwill
Did I mention that I love lists? And since Nate will be out of town this weekend I'll be able to get soooo much done. He's definitely a laziness enabler. And when he's gone he doesn't have to deal with my "must. clean. everything. right. now." mania and I don't have to feel like a bitch for making him help.
As it turns out though, some work crap yesterday has kept Nate at home (thanks so much Nigerian spammers, he's enjoying the fuck out of his weekend...'preciate it!) and he's just going to have to tolerate my craziness. Right after this nap.
Just to prove I did it, here's a pic from before the race this morning:
Oh hi. It's 7 a.m. and I bet you're all sleeping soundly while I'm about to run my ass off for 3 miles. Bitches. (p.s. it was a mental STRUGGLE to get my ass out of bed this morning. the freaking sun wasn't even up yet.)
And this is after. Awake and exhausted, but feeling really proud of myself. You can't see my running number here, but it was 385. Just for the record. I made the 3.2 miles in 40 minutes, which is not bad at all considering I totally forgot to factor the hilliness of Athens into my training. I ran most of it, but the three biggest hills kicked my ass and I had to walk them.
When I got home, my boy kitties were completely and utterly unphased by my return. Usually I get a greeting at the door, a third degree sniff, and some meows. Instead, they were obsessed with something else.
A squirrel had made its way onto our back porch and found the seeds that the birds drop from our feeder.
He's totally just staring at my kitties and eating a seed, like 'oh hi, stupid kittehs, you can't get me! muahahahha!' Fully aware that there is glass between himself and the big kitties and that he's totally safe. Mocking them. He could not be any closer to these poor tortured kitties. Then he starts to bathe his face and nibble at his fleas, all right in front of my boys. Once he realized that 'oh shit, there's a big human,' he took off and my kitties decided napping was more interesting.
Have a great weekend; I'm off to find a napping spot of my own.
As y'all know, I'm all kinds of nerdy. I have lists. And those lists have lists and there are sublists to those lists. Below is the ultimate of all my lists. I'm using it to keep with with things I have to do anyway (like take the GRE) and help spur me into action on things I really want to do. I'll probably set up a separate blog for this, or I'll add it to my sidebar. I've found that so much can be learned about a person by reading their list: who they are now, what they want from life and from themselves, and ultimately who they hope to be in the next few years. It's a lovely concept.
And so, from Day One:
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
101 Goals in 1001 Days
Take a photography class
Take the GRE (by April 15th)
Apply to Masters program (by July 1)
Get a Masters degree
Visit England/France (March 09)
Visit Seattle (August 08)
Visit DC (hopefully Obama’s inauguration)
Paint bedrooms and bathrooms (0/4)
Run 5 5ks (0/5)
Limit soda to one per day for a month (0/30)
Cut all soda for one month (0/30)
Lose 15 lbs (0/15)
Meet inches goals by May 23 2008
Decorate my office space
Pay off my car (Aug 08)
Pay off my credit cards (0/4)
Install bamboo floors
Buy new living room furniture
Open an untouchable savings account
Arrange to transfer $100 to that account every month for a year (0/12)
Donate $2000 to my IRA (0/2000)
Organize my pictures on my computer
Put photos in frames and hang them
Fix master bathroom walls
Buy nothing for one week (0/7)
Bring lunch and breakfast to work for one month (0/30)
Audition for a musical
Exercise every day for a month (0/30)
Donate boxes of books
Sand and repaint the dresser
Buy new bedroom furniture
Audition for Knit Girl
Organize family tree info from Dad
Knit a sweater for Nate
Plant 2-3 bushes in my front yard
Make our mailbox area pretty (pavers, dirt, flowers/vine)
Meditate every day for 30 days (0/30)
Create a website from scratch
Knit a sweater I love (or 2)
Buy fresh produce from a local farmers market 5 times (0/5)
Go to Rhinebeck
Write our wills
Set up and fund an emergency account
Bring credit rating back up to the old number
Organize filing cabinets, file and shred irrelevant stuff
Landscape side and back yard
Pay off my student loan
Go to an opera
Practice voice 20 minutes every day for a month (0/30)
Sell sewing/embroidery machine
Find a good doctor who will listen to me
Read 50 books (0/50)
Knit only from stash for 2 months (0/2)
Try something new once a month (1/33)
Try 10 new recipes (2/10)
Plant two trees
Go to a gaming convention (August 08)
Finish rereading Harry Potter series
Make a photo album
Go to the eye doctor
Knit a shawl for my mom
Knit 10 pairs of socks (0/10)
Buy a pair of great comfortable heels
Get back in touch with 3 old friends
Do something nice for my mom just because
Learn to use Dreamweaver well
Learn to use Flash
Learn to use Fireworks
Learn to use Photoshop better
Buy 5 new bras (0/5)
Volunteer at a soup kitchen
Volunteer with the Athens Literacy Council
Do one thing each month from We Are What We Do (0/33)
Follow 10 suggestions from apartmenttherapy.com (0/10)
Follow 10 suggestions from unclutterer.com (0/10)
Do an action/adventure activity with Nate every weekend for 2 months (0/8)
Subscribe to Real Simple magazine
Eat locally for 2 weeks (0/14)
Visit 3 state parks in GA (0/3)
Eat all meals in for a month (0/30)
Switch from coffee to tea for one month (0/30)
Go to 2 visiting speaker lectures (0/2)
Give blood twice (0/2)
Get a passport
Make 10 vegan recipes (0/10)
Nix fast food for a month (0/30)
Get another tattoo
Clean and cover the gutters
Donate 3 knit items to charity (0/3)
Attend an IT/Tech convention (other than PAX)
Use only my reusable shopping bags at the grocery store for a month (0/30)
Organize the attic space
Teach someone to knit
Finish and send Pete’s hat
Go on a weekend spa retreat alone
Host a knitting retreat
Donate to Child's Play charity
Learn to crochet
Ride bikes 20 times for more than 5 miles each trip (0/20)
Dye and ship for the sock club (0/3)
Get pregnant
Celebrate!
(I'm 2 short since I noticed some duplicates, but y'all know me...I'll add them in due time.)
I've already started working on a few of these!
If you read through the list you can gather that Nate and I are going to a gaming convention in August. PAX to be exact. Seattle had better brace itself - the number of folks going to this convention almost doubles every year and I think they're expecting some 100k this year. I actually could care less about the gaming (ok a fraction of that is a lie), but I *really* want to see Seattle. If you have any Seattle travel tips, let me hear them! We'll be staying right next to the Convention Center and will have NO car, so I'd love to get some ideas on great places to eat and fun things we can walk to. Well, that *I* can walk to. I doubt I'll be able to drag Nate away from the gaming.
And to help me get my nerd on, Nate got me an early anniversary present:
The nerdiness knows no bounds.
Hi y'all!!
I hope you guys had a great weekend! Thanks so much to all of you who signed up for the Sock Club! There are still a few spots left, but they're going pretty fast, so if you haven't signed up yet you better get on it!
Last week was our Spring Break so I got most of the week off, though I was answering emails and doing little things here and there. Mostly Nate and I laid around the house sick with whatever the hell is going around this time. I'm glad to know it's not just me. Nate never gets sick, so to be ill twice this year already says there's something really icky lingering about.
On Saturday I decided I'd had enough. I woke up, declared myself well and set about cleaning my house (well ok, only the main floor - I'm classy like that) for a gaming party. Oh yes. A Gaming Party. Consisting of six mostly sober adults playing Rock Band with much fervor, then Super Smash Bros. with much yelling and superfast button mashing. Great fun was had. There will be more to come. (also, we covered some pretty interesting topics like diva cups, breastfeeding, ravelry, sewn up coochies, saggy boobs, two girls one cup (DO NOT ASK, hell don't even google), and quilting.)
I'm a bad blogger and didn't even take any pictures. Duh.
I also started watching John Adams and I'm in LOVE. It really puts the events of 1775 in perspective and is well told and touching. I just watched "Independence" and they're reading the Declaration on the steps of Independence Hall and I can't stop the tears. For what those men accomplished for us, and for what it's all become. Bittersweet, I guess. If I were a better writer I'd get all mushy on you, but alas.
Anyway, I've made some progress on the mini Clapotis. It's about half done I'd say.
And I spoiled myself last week with a big honkin' bag.
Holy shit is it huge, y'all. It dwarfs me! This is my knitting side...
This is the business side...
And of course, the creamy lipstick center.
Have a great week! I'll be trying not to overload my bag and commit suicide by big ass purse.
Ok, the buttons are on the right!
You can sign up through April 15th, but I can't guarantee there will be spots left by then.
Thanks so much everyone, for making this so much fun for me, and for making it a reality. If you have questions or see a problem with the paypal buttons PLEASE let me know. This is my first time with this so be gentle.
:D
Hi y'all! I just wanted to fill you in on the theme and ideas behind the very first sock club! The Punk Rock Sock Club! I’ll be creating a colorway each month around album art from one band from each decade: the 70s, 80s, and 90s! Clash, Social Distortion, Green Day...I'm looking at you. I'm super excited about dyeing these up because some of the album art is really out there (some of it's very gray/black/white too, but I'm doing the colorful albums only)!
Again, the sign ups will be on the blog, NOT on etsy and you’ll be able to pay through paypal either all at once for the 3 month subscription or be billed monthly. The sidebar reservation buttons will go up Friday morning (the 15th)! ****Ok, this should have read Saturday the 15th, but I'm on the Dayquil and can't read a calendar. Let's split the difference and make it Friday night/Saturday morning at midnight EST. HA! Take that Dayquil!****
Whee! I’m so excited about dyeing for this club! It’s gonna rock.
Feel free to steal the above button, but please save it to your own server!I'm so sorry. I've been reading WAY too much Project RunGay. I'm running around calling everyone "kittens" and "poodles" and "bitches". Told you I missed my gays.
Anyway, it's been one hella bad week. I'm so over being sick every two weeks. It's dumb. Now my allergies are joining in and I can barely keep my head from imploding. Makes me wish someone would create Dayquil you can inject directly into your veins. Bliss.
But I know no one really wants to hear about me feeling like warmed over shit all week. BORING. Excuse me while I go drain.
My highlight was last night's knitting with Courtney, Alison, Sarah, and Cheryl. We discussed knitted swiffer covers (awesome), politics, religion, the origin and assonance of the word 'asshat,' (which was so hilarious I had to leave the room to recover) and there might a been a little talk about Pandora and some boxes in there somewhere. Next time I'm taking a notebook and writing down all the quotable stuff. It was classic.
So, this is what the 'oh, bitches' is about:
The Cecilia Chemise from Stitch Diva. I think I might have to turn to the Dark Side for this top. I was unaware that crochet could be so cute and sexy...rawr.
Also, I finished my Entrelac Scarf in Noro Silk Garden! I think I like it best all wrapped and poofy around my neck.
Entrelac! Just look at all those cute little criss-crosses! Love.
I really adore the aqua color. I think I might sleep with this tonight...
Hi! I hope you're having a great Saturday! Mine has been wonderful, but we'll get to that in a minute.
First, the news you've all been hoping for! I'm opening sign ups for my first sock club on March 15th! You'll be able to sign up through April 15th (or until the club sells out, whichever comes first) and the first package will ship on or around May 15th. You'll get 3 monthly shipments of a skein of yummy sock yarn, a bit of info about the colorway and the inspiration behind it, and a couple of little goodies as well. I'm not doing any major swag in order to keep the price to $30/month (includes shipping).
Reserving your spot will be super easy. On the right hand sidebar you'll soon see two Paypal buttons. One will get you the full 3 months subscription and you'll pay all at once. For those of you on a yarn budget (like me) the second button will also get you all 3 months, but you'll be billed once a month instead of all at once. There will be a limited number of total subscriptions, so first come first served!
I'll release more details as we get closer!
Ok, on to my Saturday. Thanks to Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Nate decided we needed some badass chocolate chip cookies. I usually make my own badass cc cookies, but we decided to try something new and found a recipe online. OMG yum. We did all the mixing by hand with NO mixer (ow, thank the gods for electricity) and the texture was perfect.
Mmm yummy dough.
We made the cookies super large, and they're about 3 inches in diameter. I can only eat one at a time without going into a sugar coma. Not that I usually stuff three at a time into my mouth or anything. Ahem.
Later I met Karen at the MAC counter for my fabulous makeover. Holy shit did I buy a lot of stuff. I'm convinced they put as much "product" on you as possible so you'll feel compelled to Buy It All.
I managed to get out of there with as much colored stuff and fewer primers and enhancers than they would have liked. But hey, there's always next month's paycheck.
Eyeshadow. I got Fig 1, Star Violet, and Gleam. They're so pretty all blended together and they make my eyes really pop. I tire of hearing the word "pop" but it works here perfectly. If my eyes ever actually "pop" we're going to have a serious problem.
The second most awesome thing I got is the powder foundation. It goes on super light and smooth and barely feels like I'm wearing anything. Yet I look amazazing. Love it.
I also got concealer, moisturizer, and another lipstick. And that effectively kills my yarn budget this month. Of course, looking fabulous is far more important than yarn. Holy god, someone stop me.
p.s. There was a super cute little gay guy running around the MAC area working on faces and he totally made me miss having gay guys in my life. I need some adorable guys around me to tell me how fierce and fabulous I am (regardless of how silly that might be, shut up). Oh Christian, come home to mama.
