What are we gonna do now?

A bad day back at work on Tuesday, another sick day on Wednesday, dragging on Thursday, and finally back to something approaching normalcy on Friday... only to have a few drinks, watch the presidential debate, then make the mistake of having a few more drinks out of a growing sense of apprehension and disgust. I could go into detail, but the fact that my household, Chris and I, make far, far under the national average American income while living in one of the most expensive cities in the nation, the fact that I have far more education than anyone really needs but that it was all obtained on scholarship and has not contributed to my current employment or income, the fact that I worked in health care administration for years and witnessed first hand the inequality and discrimination along the lines of wealth and insurance, the fact that both my parents are public school teachers and the research for my Dud's spinal cord injury is all based on stem cells, research that can't take place in this country, you probably know where I stand.

Hair of the dog on Saturday. Note that I am drinking some sort of fruity malt beverage that I would normally consider "stomachache in a bottle" but was rather pleasing yesterday:


The latest knitting project: The home stretch on Lochinver for Chris.

What was formerly a brown tube of various textures now has a nearly-complete sleeve. Hooray!


Gotta love Alice Starmore for the man-sweater perfection. As I wrap this up, think positive thoughts for the country. Or run away. Boy GET RUNNING!!!

Sick Day

Oh man, really, really not feeling well today... it sneaked up on me during what was supposed to be a long bike ride yesterday, cut short by my stomach issues. As I hung out in the bathroom of a service station we passed on our way back to the car, Chris made a small friend:

It seems he lives behind or within the station.

From my prone position yesterday I finished up something I've been planning for a while... a new pattern... or rather, blueprint for a pattern.

Remember the SCARF? Well, since cowls, scarves, and chunky knits are still very much the thing, I decided to write down everything I learned about knitting with roving and broomsticks and illustrate it with tons of photos so that anyone who's interested can make their own SCARF or COWL.


Seriously, I made the COWL this afternoon and it took about 45 minutes. What a present, right?

Enjoy! You can find the 10-page tutorial with instructions for both SCARF and COWL here for $3.00.



Hopefully it's back to the Job tomorrow. Until then, it's Law and Order reruns, lots of water, and some mindless round and round knitting.

Outtakes from "Fast Cars and Hot Women"

In celebration of our new acquisition, a 1998 Volvo V70, and one of my new finished objects, a Purple Suede Bikini, I present the following photo shoot:

Old, dear Mulva, our 1992 Volvo 740 whose drivability was becoming questionable, was donated to npr, to which I am listening right now. RIP, Mulva.

Excuse me, Sir?

Is that Haven in Rowan Cocoon you're wearing?


Oh, wait, are you a boy or a girl? Your accessories and facial structure confuse me.

Seriously, though, shopping the worn-once "Confirmation Day" shirts in the little boys department at Savers is good times. And that's the Tamarind Cowl in the second photo. It's a Christmas present for someone. Read it and forget about it, you family and friends you!

New York City Tour, 2008

Guess where I was this past Saturday? In Brooklyn visiting Stacey Joy of Red Lipstick and purchasing some fabulous things from her boutique, including stretch cotton leggings that look exactly like sprayed-on skinny jeans as long as the crotchal area is covered. Seriously. Come "casual Friday" this week I'll have some photos. See here for photographic evidence of my visit.

Yes, I am always that ridiculous.

Here we are, in our striped outfits:


There was knitting, but it's all presents for people who read this. It may seem like I don't make anything lately, but that's not the case, really. For now, ANIMAL EYES!!! I purchased these glass eyes at a store called Evolution in Soho, and we all tried them on while drinking beer yesterday afternoon:

Chris:

Amy:
Me:

New, Free, and in the Grellow Family

My new pattern, that is. Check out Metapostmodernknitting's Fall/Winter 2008 issue for my Double Gloves pattern and other very, very cool stuff. By the way, Grellow is forecasted to be big. But we knew that, didn't we?