Procrastination

Hokay! I have a huge piece of my thesis draft due on Monday (in 48 hours), so what better time to blog? I do have some stuff to catch up on. As usual, click any photo to embiggen.

Oldest first: Halloween. We didn't do much, but there was a spontaneous creation of dead hands (old gloves) dripping blood (pasta sauce), which scared the trick-or-treaters (teenagers not even in costume traveling in packs).




Next up: just in case you wanted to see my ring, here it is! I think Kenny did a great job picking out something that is thankfully blingless, with a great pattern that reminds me of fibers, combed and braided:

And a congratulations card from two Upper Elementary students (sweet!)


I've also been feeling the all-too-familiar itch of Startitis, that classic malady of knitters with way too much time on their hands, or in most cases, not enough time at all. I figure it's not as if they'll go bad if you start them early, right? I can finish later. Much later. I have been finishing things, but they're all Xmas gifts, so I can't blog them yet. Alas. Here's what I've been starting:


Top: a longways scarf in Noro Kureyon and the very soft Cascade Pastaza. I plan on dropping a few stitches at each edge before I bind off to make easy fringe (one of my favorite new techniques, which I learned from making the Loop d'Loop Hat from Chris Bylsma).
Bottom: the amazing Phiaro scarf, which I fell in love with as soon as I saw the pattern, and then found some perfect yarn at 40% when I was in Arizona last weekend. You just cast on 195 stitches, knit stockinette for 22", then do this stitch dropping thing which you should probably buy the pattern for. Yay. :)

Wonderous, and wonderful

Two things happened in the last 24 hours that made me extremely happy, and grateful, and excited:

1. Obama WON! I'm so proud. I'm so glad that I can hope and be proved right, and really believe in what I know to be true and important and see that reflected in (imagine!) our government. Hallelujah, hallelujah, and thank you SO much, Barack, for being willing to take on this mess. I gave you what was left of my hope for this country and you helped us make it happen. I am so, so glad. I feel like we are safer. I feel like my gay friends, my multiracial friends, my future itself can breathe a little easier. Also, McCain's concession speech was honorable. I wish your followers really listened and I hope they can get over this loss and, well, loosen up. I mean hey, I'm a liberal for a reason.

2. Kenny and I are ENGAGED! He surprised me with a totally romantic dinner, said perfect words, made me remember why I'm so excited about being in love with him. We're pretty thrilled with ourselves right now. :) Don't hold your breath for a ceremony, though; it's gonna be awhile! It's our style.


Man, it is so great to be right here, right now. You have to keep your eyes open to all the unfortunate horrors of the world, yes; but you also have to focus on what's good and be true to what you know is right. Barack (and Kenny): I'm with you 100%!

Before and After: An Organizational Contest!

(I've been meaning to start this thing for weeks now. I wish I could say it's the school work that's been keeping me busy... but no. Just life. So I'll just post this, and then I'll get down to some school work. I'm just sure of it.)


Before and After: A Contest!

(or: my 1st meme)

What: a little something for crafters of any persuasion, or writers, even. Anyone who has a stash, or a drawer full of tools, or a shelf where you just keep tossing all the bits and pieces of paraphernalia that go with your chosen line of crafting.

When: Now until the end of November. That's right, one month. You can do it next weekend, if you want, or the day before (American) Thanksgiving. Or on (American) Election night, to keep yourself distracted. Sorry this is so Ameri-centric so far. hang on... (googles Canadian and British holidays in November). Okay, do it for Remembrance day on November 11th!

How: Go snap a photo of what your work space looks like right now. Then, give it an overhaul, be it major or minor. Get those needles arranged by size and rubber-band them together! Refold and restack all your fabric! Arrange anything by color, and get rid of anything you're never really going to use. Really, you can take this as far as you want. Think of it as an airing of the stash, or an investigational search into stuff you've already bought (since the economic times, they are uncertain).

AND THEN: Take a picture of your shiny new organized life. Comment here, on this entry, and provide a link to your before and after pics. Enjoy yourself.

THE PRIZE: A brand-spanking new calendar by Franklin Habit: that's right, it's Guys With Yarn!

And now, to show you my own before and after shots.
Before:


Ahhh! It's a snake pit! And how many size 2 Addi Turbos are in there*?


And after:

Sooo much better. And look what I got myself:

Neat, eh? *The answer: three. Oops! Wish I had organized before buying... all three times...

Now, go organize!