knitting

Well, I am so disappointed. I just found out that the Woolfest UK is taking place this year during the time that I won’t be in the UK. Damn. Damn damn damn! And there is no way that I can make it because my sister is graduating on June 20th (or maybe it was a bit later than that…) and her birthday is very soon in July after that. So there would be no point in me nipping over to Cumbria during that time. Urgh.

Right now, I’m making this in grey. I’m in the process of stash busting. Which means that I can then go and buy more yarn.

Speaking of buying yarn, Oliver got me some! *grin* Isn’t he the greatest? Supporting my habit. ^_^

Oh, I chatted with Cassie today and she’s interested in learning to knit. So I’ll be teaching her this Tuesday evening. Very slowly, but surely!, I’m converting the people around me into knitters. :D First Michelle, then Alysha, and now Cassie.

I have just finished my first pair of Mrs Beetons! Yay! o/ They’re really pretty. I did have to modify the pattern just a bit to suit the yarn I wanted to use and I had to leave out the beads. But I think they look great. :) I will put up a picture, eventually, along with a pic of the scarf I made for Marissa. The pattern for the Mrs Beetons (they’re wristwarmers, I just noticed I hadn’t actually explained what they were) can be found in the Knitty.com archives and it’s by a woman called Brenda Dayne.

And she, this is the cool part, has a podcast about knitting! I’ve just spent all weekend downloading various podcasts and so far, hers is the one I’ve listened to the most. It’s called Cast On. And through her, I found Quirky Nomads, another interesting podcast. :) I’ve also found two podcasts of old horror stories from like the 1920s and 30s and so on. “The Moneky’s Paw” is really good. As a story I mean. They’re all good podcasts, but so far the monkey story is the best I’ve heard. Sort of reminds me of Poe’s stuff.

Would you look at that. It’s five in the afternoon on a Friday and I’ve only got two bits of reading left to do until my homework’s all done. w00t!

Going out to eat with Marissa, Michelle, Natalie and Erin tonight. We’re all going to the movies afterwards. Gonna see US vs. John Lennon or whatever it’s called and then straight after that Marie Antoinette. It’s over at the UC and it’s only $4 for both movies if you’re a student. :)

Amazingly enough, I got the courage to speak up in class today. Usually I’m really shy and even if I think about it, my heart starts racing. But, I made up my mind that if I want to get a good grade I need to speak up so why not now? I had actually done the homework so I might as well join in so he won’t call on me when I have no clue as to what’s going on. XD

Went to the dentist’s today. Got my right side all fixed up. They’re still amazed that I refuse to take any anesthesia when they drill. But seriously, I feel twinges when they drill but it doesn’t actually hurt. When there’s that air blowing in then it sort of vihloos (can’t remember the word in English *shrugs*). Other than that, totally fine. :)

Oh really stupid thing yesterday: I was reading a section from Homer’s The Odyssey and it was the bit about the sirens. Well, that got me to thinking about that art school I used to go to when I was like 14. We were supposed to paint a scene depicting something that the teacher had read to us from lovely Homer’s epic poem. Anyway, I read the word oar. Then I tried translating it in my head to Finnish. And for the life of me, I couldn’t remember it! I came up with orja, oira (not a word!), arjo, and on and on but I couldn’t actually think of the right word. Even conjuring up the time when I went rowing with my cousin and sister couldn’t make me think of it. Then it comes to me: I’ve got a computer, why don’t I just look it up? Duuuuuuuuh. So now I do know what oar is in Finnish. Airo. *shakes head sadly* This is a definite sign that I need to read more. Maybe I could hint at it to my grandparents and like for my birthday or something they could get me an interesting Finnish book to read. Like Nuorena Nukkunut or something. Maybe something by Minna Canth… well, I’ll have to look into it.

Yay, I’ve finished off my bibliography which is due on Monday, and started the two big-ish things that are due the week after: my short story and my Shakespeare paper. I’m feeling very productive right now for some reason. Not complaining though. ^-^

Also, the blanket I’m crocheting is coming along nicely. It’s way too small if I keep it at the 48 squares the instructions tell me to make, so I’m making it bigger. 5x6 or 5x7 instead of the 3x4. We’ll have to see once I’ve attached the rest of the squares I’ve made so far. And, I’ve finished my mom’s present. It’s so nice, I almost want to keep it for myself. But I won’t. I chose everything for her and it’s gonna be hers. I’ll just have to make one for myself at some point. There will be pics up of them eventually.

As I was on my way to the library, I saw squirrels on the Oval. Not that special in itself, there are a lot of squirrels on campus. But the three that I saw playing were just so cute! Then there was a nutty squirrel trying to dig something up from the ground. Usually, I like squirrels. They keep me entertained as I walk to class in the mornings. But why on earth do they try to pelt me with acorns from the trees?? Today was the second time in four days that I’ve almost gotten hit by stuff flying from the tress. Okay, so I’m not totally sure it was a squirrel doing it, could’ve been a bird just knocking stuff down by accident, but still! I like my head the way it is, no need for bumps to give it character. Grr.. vicious little creatures. Cute, but vicious.

Gabez - Sep 4, 2006

Suddenly “I don’t understand anything!111” is constructive criticism? Oh, well, happy to help anyway! Let me know how it went. Also, I want to go ice-skating even though I’m rubbish at it.

I got my story finished on Saturday thanks to Gabe. ^-^ All I need to create masterpieces (okay, so it’s not a masterpiece really, but it’s an interesting story anyway) is some constructive criticism. Just simple things like what wasn’t clear/needs more explaining, a certain sentence sounds funny, etc. So thank you Gabe! *huggle* Now I just have to go make a gazillion copies for everyone in my class. Okay, so it’s just 15 copies, but that’s fifteen times ten pages with a page being five cents. Why can’t we just e-mail them to each other?

I just got back from ice skating with Mark. It was a load of fun. But boy am I going to feel that hour’s worth of skating tomorrow in my legs. I can’t wait to go again. It’s so affordable too. Just $1.00 for the rental and $2.00 for admission. Cheap stuff!

I want to continue making my mom’s Christmas present. But I’m out of space! *sobs* And the stuff I’m using is so soft too. I’m so jealous, I want it for myself. But I’ll be good and give it to her for Christmas because she was the one I had in mind when I picked out the yarn. And no one tell her that I’m making her something!! So anyway, yes, I’m out of space. Which means that I’ve begun crocheting. That’s something I practically never do! Maybe I’ve just had a bad experience when I was younger. It’s actually quite fun. The result isn’t as soft as knitting, in my opinion, but it does look pretty nice. Plus, it’s a throw that I’m making (most likely for lil ole me) so it’s allowed to be a bit stiff at first because it’s so thick. Oh, and I finished knitting the UM colored blanket. It’s all pretty and maroon and grey with white. Taking it with me to Saturday’s football game. Hopefully Michelle can get a ticket for herself and we’ll go dressed in our Griz sweats. We just happened to buy the exact same outfits. As did Alysha. Good taste, perhaps? Well, if she can’t go, it’s no biggie. Emily has already invited me to go with her. :) And we’re going bowling on Friday! o/

Okay, must go back to reading Shakespeare. Act IV of As You Like It awaits.

… I was told that once I get to uni in Montana, I’d get hammered. Well, my dearest roomie Michelle has brought back some Bailey’s and Malibu from home and today we went and bought some milk… yeah, we’re drinking. But since this technically isn’t a party, I’m still keeping to my word of saying that I’m not much of a party person. XD She is sooooooo hammered right now. Talking to her crush, being very hyper. It’s pretty amusing. She’s trying to get me to feel the buzz too. So I’m on my second drink which happens to be stronger than the first. I really hope I won’t get a hangover tomorrow. The good thing is that we’re both 21 and as long as we keep the door shut and keep it to ourselves (as in be QUIET!), we’re allowed to drink in our room. So that’s what we’re doing.

I soooooo should be writing the story that’s due on Tuesday. I still need about two more pages. I know how it’ll end. I’ve got the beginning. I’ve got most of the middle. Now I just need to flesh it out a bit. Maybe I’ll get some weird spark of inspiration tonight while I’m drinking. *keeping fingers crossed*

I’m teaching Alysha and Michelle how to knit. Alysha really wants to have kids, so now that her sister’s pregnant, she’s going to knit a baby blanket and get some practice. Michelle just wants to join in on our mini knitting club. She’s also making a blanket, but it’s for herself. I’m almost done with mine, just need one more square of grey (after the one I’m almost done making) and then to piece it all together. Then I can start on my mom’s Christmas present. Not saying what it is, but it’ll be knit. :) I hope she’ll like it.

So I finally got around to putting up pics of what I’ve made. Just click on Knitting Pics to see the whole list of stuff. Or just go straight to here to see finished wristlets or here to see the unfinished legwarmers.

Tomorrow the Grizzlies are playing South Dakota State. Their last game against Iowa was awful. Lost 7-41. I just hope tomorrow’s game will be better. The thing that amazes me is that the tickets (for students) are only $4.00!! Seriously, that’s really cheap. I thought they’d be like $20. And the guest tickets are really cheap too, just $10. So in November when they play Montana State (our rivals) I’d better line-up early because the tickets sell out fast. Especially the guest tickets. Oliver’ll be here when the game is, so I’m dragging him there. I know he doesn’t want to go, but if I’m paying for his ticket then he’ll show up. I really want to go to that game. As do Michelle and Alysha. We’re gonna go as a group I think. They’re not coming tomorrow though. Both went home for the weekend. I’ve been trying to reach Emily to plan where we’re gonna meet up but she hasn’t answered her cell. Hopefully she’ll call me back tonight.

I’ve finished making wristlets for Michelle (there’ll be a picture up eventually) and now I’m working on making a blanket in Griz colors (maroon, white and grey). I’m working on my third square now. They didn’t have any grey in when I went to Wal-Mart, but they’ve ordered it for me. So I’ll stop by either tomorrow or Monday to see if they’ve got it. I’m already itching to start something new… the garter stitch is just so boring to do. Quick and easy, but boring. I like to have a bit of a challenge. Maybe I’ll just try out making cables once the blanket’s done.

Well, on a boat actually. The taxi’ll be here in about 20 mins. At least I’ve packed. Unlike someone I know… They’re driving me nuts. >_< My mom was asking about what to put into a suitcase and what stays behind, my dad was trying to talk about ghost writers to me, Inga was trying to talk to my dad, Jade came in asking about ghosts… Urgh. I escaped into the kitchen to eat something before we go. But of course, they all followed me. Fun fun.

Jaz and I washed the car today. It’s actually quite fun. We tried to move it, but for some strange reason we couldn’t release the handbreak. So in the end, we wound up getting our mom to move the car for us, after releasing the handbreak. We wanted to drive! *sniffle*

Er, what else.. what else.. Ah yes, I’ve begun knitting some Manresa legwarmers. About halfway through the first one. Pretty changing pink background with the picture bit done in black. I’ll post pictures once they’re done. ^-^

I should probably go before they start yelling at me for being on the computer when I should be helping them with something. XD

Oh! One more thing. I got a new pretty red phone yesterday. o/