So my Sister finally sent pics of herself wearing the two projects that she got as gifts. The picture above is Tam A from Knitty and the picutre below is Ella Rae Fusion. You might remember that this was originally for my Mother, but Pam P. managed to snag it, since it was a better fit on her. 
5:24 PM
6:39 AM
I had a really nice mini-vacation. I took another trip to Vegas and got to see the Shark Reef. Anyone who knows me well, knows my passion for salt-water fish. I’ve had a salt-water fish tank for the last 15 years! It was beautiful. The fish were enormous and the reef was done really well! Even though I was in Vegas, I actually managed to make some progress on Orangina. I’m still working on a KAL with Brandi, but knew that a cabling project is not a good pick for travel-knitting.
(I actually had a fish like this, named Jack Davis)
After five months with my new guy, we have ended our relationship. There are no tears, as it was just not meant to be for us. I hold no animosity and hope that in time, he and I will be able to remain friends as with my previous relationship. Sometimes two really good people just aren’t so good together.
(Here I am lounging at the Shark Reef)
(A view on the way to the airport to go back home)
I have been tagged for a meme by Hillary at the Yarniad:
"The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer."
1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was just about to start my new job as a Client Services Director for an AIDS Service Organization called Imani Health Institute. This would prove to be a challenging, but very rewarding position; from running HIV support groups for violent offenders incarcerated in prison to client advocacy.
2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today?
1. Meet with my boss to go over the last 3 weeks of work, while she was visiting one of our manufacturers in China. (She was there during the earthquake, but was not harmed.)
2. Catch up on my blog reading.
3. Make some more progress on Orangina.
4. Pick up my cats from Brandi’s house.
5. Take a hot bath and relax.
3) Snacks I enjoy:
Almonds, grapes, cherries, skittles, laffy taffy, and chewy runts
4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
After taxes and tithes, I would have a trust fund set up for my three nieces and three nephews for their college. I would pay off any family bills, mortgages, etc., buy a place for myself and take a little cruise. While I would take a year off from working, I would then go back to school to get my Law degree, which I have postponed for too long as it is, now.
5) Places I have lived:
I am originally from Philadelphia, but was raised in Burlington Vermont most of my life. Except for one year living in the dorms at Southeaster College in Lakeland Florida at age 17, during my second year of college, I lived in Vermont until I was 31. I have been living in San Diego, now for the last 2 years and counting.
6) Jobs I have had:
McDonald’s – cleaned the bathroom toilets until being promoted to cashier. Worked there for half a year when I was a freshman in high school at age 13. I worked for the Mayor’s Youth Office from age 15 to 17, when I went away to college in Florida. I have worked as a Director of two HIV-related programs including one that was funded from the Centers for Disease Control through a grant that I wrote with my Sister. I am currently the General Manager of a medical supply company that manufactures placebo products for clinical simulation labs.
7) Bloggers I am tagging who you will enjoy getting to know better:
Deb
Canary Knits
Shannon
Robin
Desiree
4:17 PM
I’ve been going through a bit of turmoil in my personal life these days and things have been a bit tough. While I have always been comfortable in my own skin, it’s never nice to think that people have issues with you, especially when they don’t even know you. I think that it’s often easier to dismiss a person and write them off as an unlikeable person than to realize they are a good person with good intentions. I have been feeling like a bit of a mess these days and am happy to have some local support, which has made all of the difference.
With all of the things I’ve been dealing with, I’m reminded of a few scripture verses:
- “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:7-10)
- ”When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.” (1 Corinthians 4:12-13a)
- ”Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)
…Yesterday was my anniversary….I moved to San Diego May 20, 2006. My life has changed so rapidly in the last 2 years – too much to even list. It’s odd to think that I couldn’t have made it through some of my more challenging times if it hadn’t been for the online knitting community. God blesses us with support from a variety of sources. I’m glad He saw fit for this to be my outlet. I have travelled all over the world, but have always lived close to my family. Once you stop travelling and settle down somewhere, being away from your network of love can be tough. I am feeling more settled and have no plans made to uproot my life again. For now, San Diego is where I belong.
6:33 AM
I am in a complete knitting rut. I made a small problem on my Mother’s Tam. It’s ripped back to right before the decrease section, but can’t get the pattern to work out. I have put it aside to pick up a bit later…or rip the entire thing and restart if the frustration doesn’t dissipate. I am still planning on a mini-KAL with Brandi for the Aran Accent Vest. After buying new yarn, we decided that it will not work! The pattern’s smallest size will be too large if I use the suggested gauge. Brandi was kind enough to give me an entire bag of Peruvian Quechua from elann.com. Well – of course, I bring my pattern to work and leave it there over the weekend! I will not be without a project…so I start Orangina. Great progress, only to make a tiny mistake (I did two skps, instead of one skp & one k2tog) that when I ripped back, I lost a bunch of my yos. I’m telling you, I am unable to fix mistakes right now – even tiny ones. With that said, I frogged it and have started again. Now I am 1 ¼” into the Vest and a 1 ½” with Orangina. They are barely projects, yet!
Adding fuel to the fire, my Mom’s shrug did not fit! Even though I’m about 10 pounds heavier than my Mom, and she has tinier arms than mine, her shoulders are too broad for the shrug. In an unfair twist of fate – my tiny Sister weighing in at only 116 pounds has a perfect fit. How I was able to get it on me and have it come out looking like a custom-made job on my Sister is beyond me! Hopefully she’ll send progress pics soon. I recently had told her she was not getting anymore hand-made knits from me if she wouldn’t send me pics to post…I’m still waiting for a pic of her wearing the Tam B I made for her. At any rate, she’s tickled and a mother of 3, so no real crime, I guess. My Mother leaves for Togo, Africa on Friday, so she will be knit-less until she returns. I’m not even sure what project to attempt for her at this point…maybe Green Gable with one of the two new yarns I just purchased.
On a good note, at the Infinite Knitters KIP, Jolene showed Brandi and I how to crochet steeks for Eunny Jang’s Deep V Argyle Vest. For my first try, I felt very successful. That will be another mini-KAL project down the road. What can I say – so many projects, so much yarn, and no motivation to actually make any of them! Lol.
In non-knitting-news, I had a nice weekend. First, managed to lay out at the beach on Saturday and then went to the Sicilian festival on Sunday. Overall, I had a nice time this weekend. They had horse rides for the little kids and tons of food, clothes, and jewelry. With perfect weather, I’d say it was a great success. Well – I’m going to try my hardest to make progress on one of my open projects and post pics soon.
5:57 PM
So I have given my current housemate notice to make way for a better suited living situation…my first knitting friend in San Diego - Brandi . She will be moving in this July. I’m very excited to double my stash without a trip online or to the LYS. *grin* Since I already have a subscription to Interweave Knits, she is going to subscribe to another yarn mag. Perfect!
I’m hoping that I will have my Mom’s Tam completed and blocked by this weekend so I can mail her the last portion of her Mother’s day gifts. It’s looking great so far. With tonight’s KIP at Starbucks, I should have no problem dusting off a fair amount of the pattern. I am excited to start the cable vest with my new Knit Picks yarn. In the meantime, here's a progress pic of Tam C.
1:03 PM
I have finished my second Fusion. This one is for my Mother. She is an incredible woman that has always been self-sacrificing, loving, and available. She is the Senior Pastor of the Tabernacle of Worship Church and also has a non-profit organization called Hilltop Light Ministries. She has done humanitarian work in North America, South America, Africa, and the latest - India. She has a huge heart that always has room to love. Growing up, there was always a stranger that was living with us, because she found out they didn't have a place to live. While she was born Patrica Ann Cain, when she went to Malawi, Africa and started doing AIDS relief work and started a grass-roots orphanage, she was renamed Kwacha. The name is derived from a nationalist slogan alluding to a 'new dawn of freedom' from the word for 'dawn' in some Bantu languages. She has indeed brought liberation to those she has helped. Kwacha "I Love You. No one could be blessed with a better Mother than you."
As one of her presents, I have made a matching shrug. This one is out of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Instead of using the silk Ella Rae yarn like the one I made for myself, this wool/cashmere blend will get a little more use in Vermont, with it's fickle weather. As you might see in the photo, it's a little snug on me. My Mom and I are close in size, but she has smaller arms, so I made it one size down from the one I made. I think it'll be a perfect fit!
I'm also finishing up the last of the Three Tams from Knitty. She really liked the one I made for my Sister, so this one is for her. Another FO to come soon.
5:55 PM
Happy Birthday to my new guy! He is the big 4-0!
In knitterly knews, I have re-finished my shrug. I really like the organic feel of the raw silk and the redone neckline with the additional picked up stitches. Here are some pics taking my Ella Rae Shrug out to Pacific Beach.
Details:
Ella Rae Shrug from Ella Rae Book #7
Size - Medium
Yarn - Ella Rae Shibu
Needles - Knit Pick Options size 5, Clover Bamboo size 6
Modifications - I went down two needle sizes to achieve a snugger medium and knit the sleeves a little bit longer than the 10 cms called for in the pattern. I did a 3-needle bind of for the back seam.
I think this piece will get a lot of use. Even though I'm in sunny San Diego, the ocean can give off a strong breeze. Who wants to cover up an entire outfit? Fusion is the perfect balance.
6:33 AM
I have really been enjoying my KIP streak these days. While I’ve known her for a year and a half now, Brandi has become my go to girl for knitting in San Diego. Last night we went to Lotus Thai in Hillcrest and enjoyed a multitude of Thai delectables, wine, knitting, and chatting. This was actually part of a Ravelry group that Brandi is on. Even though I’m not part of that group, I’m always up for good food and company! Could it get any better than on a Thursday night?
Here’s what our mouth’s watered to:
Yesterday, I also received yarny goodness I have also received yarn for new knitting projects:
Other knitting goodness that is still on route:
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