Saturday was really tiring. That’s when the Leicester DanceSport Competition was. Basically, it was a day for me to just knit, read and of course film Oliver as he danced. He did pretty well, especially in the team match Quickstep where he came in fifth. Ran out of space on my memory card so unfortunately I didn’t get any of the Team Walk On or the team matches. :( Being up for about twenty hours and nineteen of those spent travelling or being at the competition… TIRING! Fun, but I need to remember to bring caffeine with me to the next one that I go to. Oh and a guy from the team took a photo of me asleep on the bus when we were coming back. I never realized how odd the position I sleep in on busses is. Sorta flopped over face down onto the seat next to me. It’s on Facebook if anyone’s interested.

I also bought some yarn on Thursday when I went to meet Oliver after work. I went to just buy the yarn I’ll need to make my dad’s present, did get that, but I also wound up getting a skein of Regia Color. It was just so pretty and it wouldn’t let me leave without it! Like I said, I only got a skein of it, so I can’t make socks. I could make one sock, but I’m not a mis-matched sock kind of person. I think I’ll make a Calorimetry out of it. For some reason, I keep wanting to call it caliometry, not calorimetry. My way sounds nicer in my opinion.

I thinking of dyeing my hair again. Just have to wait and see if I stop by Superdrug tomorrow when I go to Meadowhall. I need to buy some jeans since I’ve only got one pair that is not ripped somewhere. Plus, I think I might have to get some that are a little bit smaller because the sizes I’ve got now are a bit loose. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve worn them so much that their stretchy-ness is gone or what. Yes, I have lost some weight, but in my opinion not enough to warrant smaller clothing. It’s still a long way before I even get to what I was three years ago…

So I was kinda bored…

1. What is your name: Julia
2. Spell your name backwards: Ailuj
3. Date of birth: July 22nd
4. Male or female: Girl all the way
5. Astrological sign: Cancer
6. Nicknames: Juli
7. Occupation: Student/knitter
8. Height: about 5'6-ish I think
9. Weight: 85 kg (just lost 2 kg in the last month, w00t!)
10. Hair color: dark blone/light brown
11. Eye color: green/blue
12. Where were you born: Finland
13. Where do you reside now: Aberystwyth, Wales
14. Age: 22
15. Screen names: luliriisi pretty much everywhere, I’m nothing if not predictable
16. E-mail addy: I’m sure you could find out if you really wanted to…
17. What does your screen name stand for: It’s a variation of my first and middle names
18. What is your LJ name: Luliriisi
19. What does your LJ name stand for: Same answer as for #17
20. Pets: One dog, sorta. She (a German sheperd named Mocca) is at home and I wasn’t even there when they got her so… Well, she is kinda my dog too.
21. Number of candles you blew out on your last birthday cake: 1. It was actually one of those tea lights. XD
22. Piercings: Two pairs in the ears
23. Tattoo’s: Nada
24. Shoe size: Er, European 41/42, UK 8, US 11… I think.
25. Righty or lefty: Righty
26. Wearing: Black v-neck shirt, navy blue sweats, Gingerpeach Monkey socks! ^-^
27. Hearing: Lime&Violet, Ep. 45
28. Feeling: Bored and kinda itching to go back to knitting and anticipating tomorrow’s travelling.
29. Eating/drinking: Sparkling water

Guys/Love/Kissing/And Other Stuff

61. Have you ever been in love: Yep
62. How many people have you said “I love you” to: We’re not counting family and friends right? So then it’d be one.
63. How many people have you been in love with: One
64. How many people have you kissed: Still just the one
65. Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex: Nope
66. How many people have you dated: I’ve gone on dates, but actually had a relationship with? One
67. What do you look for in a guy/girl: Physically or personality-wise? I’ll just answer both. I’m really drawn to blue eyes and someone who is caring, makes me laugh more than makes me cry, makes me feel safe, is smart, someone I can talk to…
68. What’s the first thing you notice about the opposite sex: Their smile, hair or eyes. One of those three.
69. What type of guy/girl do you usually go for: The tall ones! Some of the questions are missing….
70. Do you have a crush right now: Yep
71. If so who is it?: The Cute Teacher, duh.
72. Do you believe in love at first sight: No
73. Do you remember your first love: Yep
74. Who is the first person you kissed: Oliver
75. Do you believe in fate: Yes and no…
76. Do you believe in soul mates: Kinda
77. If so do you believe you’ll ever find yours: I think I’ve already found one of them. ^_^

again, more missing questions

Family Stuff

104. How many siblings do you have: four
105. What are/is your parent(’s) name(s): They both start with P…
106. What are/is your sibling(s)’s name(s): Ellu, Jasu, Jade and Diana
107. How many siblings does your mother have: 3
108. How many siblings does your father have: 2
109. Where are your parents from: Finland Okay, who took #110??
110. Does your family get together for holidays: Kinda. It depends on where everyone is currently living.
111. Do you have a drunk uncle: Yep. How cliche is that?
112. Any medical problems run through your family: *shrugs*
113. Does someone in your family wear a toupee: Not that I know of..
114. Do you have any nieces or nephews: Yep, a niece
115. Are your parents divorced: Yes
116. Do you have step parents: No
117. Has your family ever disowned another member of your family: Kinda? I dunno. We just kinda don’t talk to my mom’s side. A lot of bad blood between my mom and her sisters. Two of my cousins are okay though. Same for #119!
118. Did some of your family come to America from another country: Uhm well I don’t actually live in the States so I’ll just ignore this.

Music Stuff

121. What song do you swear was written about you or your life: *shrug*
122. What’s the most embarrasing cd you own: Oh god I can’t think of all of my CDs. They’re not on my iTunes so I can’t keep track of them.
123. What’s the best cd you own: My current favorites are Josh Turner and Carrie Underwood
124. What song do you absolutely hate: Can’t think of any right now, but I’m sure there are some out there
125. Do you sing in the shower: Sometimes if I’m bored.

again, a chunk is missing

Favorites

152. Color: pink
153. Food: Steak
154. Song: Currently? Boob Fairy by Deirdre Flint
155. Show: Friends
156. School subject: Creative Writing. Duh. That’s my whole degree. Out of the modules I’m doing right now, I’d have to go for Writing Lives for two reasons: the assignments are interesting and it’s being taught by the Cute Teacher. ^_^
157. Band/singer/artist: Josh Turner
158. Animal: Cat
159. Outfit: a top and my white flouncy skirt
160. Radio station: Don’t listen to the radio, but I do do podcasts. Lime & Violet. People, go listen. It’s awesome.
161. Movie: Gone with the Wind, Last of the Mohicans, The Skeleton Key
162. Pair of shoes: high heels
163. Cartoon: Jem and the Holograms, plus Disney stuff
164. Actor: Costas Mandylor is yummy….
165. Actress: Uhm.. the cast of Desperate Housewives?
166. Potato chip: Sourcream and onion
167. Drink: Gingerbread or peppermint latte
168. Soda: Root beer or Cherry Coke
169. Holiday: Christmas
170. Perfume/cologne: Ghost is good. The blue kind. I am wanting to try out some Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs stuff. I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about them. But I need to get through the stuff I’ve already got before I buy more. Which is why I’m sort of on a yarn diet. *sniffle*
171. Pizza topping: Goat’s cheese
172. Jello flavor: Don’t like jello
173. Lunch meat: Turkey
174. Card Game: Dunno.
175. Video game: Mariokart
176. Website: the L&V message boards and Ravelry
177. Computer game: Civ4 and Sims2
178. Number: 3
179. Cereal: I prefer muesli
180. Comedian: Dunno
181. Dessert: Cheesecake! And carrot cake and chocolate cake…
182. Disney character: I have to pick just one? Well Scar is very entertaining…
183. Clothing store: H&M
184. Past time: knitting
185. Teacher: the Cute one!
186. Childhood toy: I used to have this huge fluffy Simba, but I don’t know where it is now. :(
187. Carnival game/ride: Rollercoasters all the way baby!
188. Candy bar: I don’t really eat candy bars anymore
189. Magazine: Cosmo?
190. Salad dressing: Blue cheese
191. Thing to do on the weekend: Go to the movies
192. Season: all of them. I can find good and bad things about all of them, so it’s really hard to pick one. Possibly autumn…
193. Sport to watch: American football
194. Person to talk to online: Jasu

Your Bedroom/Sleeping Habits

197. What color are your sheets: Oooh I just switched them this morning! Now they’re stripe-y pink. Used to be white with flowers.
198. What color are your bedroom walls: Cream
199. Do you have posters on your wall: No posters, but I do have some Monet things and nature photos Michelle has taken
200. If so of what: Well, nature things. Oh and a Welsh flag and a calendar
201. Do you have a tv in your bedroom: Nope
202. How many pillows are on your bed: Three
203. What do you normally sleep in: Depends on the weather. Either nothing or PJs.
204. Describe your favorite pair of pajamas: I’ve got these really long and colorful stripey bottoms and I have several tops for.
205. What size bed do you have: Single while I’m at school, twin at home and almost a double at Oliver’s
206. Do you have a waterbed/bunkbed/daybed: Nope
207. Do you have your own phone line in your bedroom: Nope
208. Describe the last nightmare you had: Let’s just say it was family related
209. Do you sleep with stuffed animals: Nope, the pillows take up enough space. And then there’s Oliver. :D
210. How many people can comfortably sleep comfortably in your bed: I can squish into a single with Oliver, but he’s about the only person I’d share the dorm room bed with. It’s really thin…
211. Do you sleep in any unusual positions: No?
212. Do you have to share your bedroom with a sibling: Nope, I’m 500 miles away from my sisters
213. Do you snore: Sometimes, apparently.
214. How about drool: No, not in my sleep anyway. But looking at yarn? XD
215. Do you have an alarm clock in your room: I use my cell phone as my alarm clock
216. What color is the carpet in your room: icky red
217. What’s under your bed: Pretty handpainted butterfly teacups & saucers and a suitcase containing a suitcase containing bags. And no dust since I vaccuumed this morning!

Okay, now that that’s done, I’ll go back to knitting. And someone’s setting off fireworks on the beach. Don’t they realize that Bonfire night was last night?

Back in Aber again. But just for a few days. I’m going away again on Wednesday. And that means that I won’t be online a lot. Soooo here goes.

Let’s see… Wednesday was the party at Mel’s. ‘Twas fun, met *a lot* of new people. I did get pretty tired the closer it got to midnight though. It was a costume party. The host and hostesse were both dressed as geishas, there were two draculas, a Wonder Woman, Alice in Wonderland, a fox, and others dressed in random black outfits with white make-up and fake blood on their throats and stuff. I went as a gypsy. Well, tried to anyway. But since I had to travel in my outfit, I didn’t really do over the top make-up and stuff that probably would have made my outfit a bit better.

Thursday was spent doing laundry. Like a whole month’s worth of laundry. But it’s all washed and dried now. I’ll iron it all when I go back for a week and a half.

Friday night was spent at Shaun’s. There were fireworks and good food. I still have to remember to ask Shaun to ask his mom write down the recipe for the pumpkin soup that she had made. Yummy. At around midnight, which was actually 1 a.m. for my body, I pretty much conked out on the couch, using Oliver as a pillow.

On Saturday we went to Meadowhall to buy a black long sleeved T-shirt for Oliver to dance Latin in next weekend. Had lunch at Pizza Express and then went to see Saw IV. It was actually pretty good. One of the guys in it was really good looking. To me anyway. No idea what his name is, but he plays a detective. [hits pause and wanders away to IMDB] Aha! Okay, so his name is Costas Mandylor and I knew that he looked familiar. He played the Fransiscan friar that Samantha had a thing for in Sex and the City.

Sunday, as in yesterday, I came back. Trains were delayed and I almost missed my connection. Really full of people all the way to Machynlleth and then they kinda disappeared. At first I thought that okay, it’s Sunday all the students are coming back. But nope, not that many of us came all the way to Aber. Then later Gabe and Ruth stopped by. We chatted for an hour or two, then we all pretty much went to our respective beds and crashed. I keep forgetting how tiring travelling actually is.

I was supposed to meet some German girls (Jenny and Nicole {I think}), take them to the yarn shop and then teach them how to knit. Jenny came at ten, like we had agreed, but we rescheduled for after reading week because she’s really busy this week with an essay that’s due soon and well, I won’t be here. We did exchange numbers and e-mails so we’ll be in touch later.

I finished Anji’s Christmas present. It just needs blocking. Am working on my mom’s present right now. Can’t actually say what it is, because she now reads my blog as well. That would kinda ruin the surprise, now wouldn’t it? But, if you’re on Ravelry, there’ll be a pic of it soon. :)

I’m sick again. And I know why. It’s because there is no friggin’ heat in the building! Okay, after the gas leak they had to turn it off. I get that. But apparently they’ve tried turning it back on and now it doesn’t work. Grr. So now that means I can’t shower because of the lack of hot water. I don’t like cold showers on the best of days and now that I’ve got another cold, I’m not risking it. I slept in a lot of layers last night. As in I’m used to sleeping in just a T-shirt/tank top and pyjama bottoms (sometimes not even that) and last night? A turtleneck, sweater, sweatpants, gym socks and wool socks on top of that. And yet I’ve still got a cold. *rolls eyes* I’m vascillating on going to class today or not. Granted, I’ve only got four hours a week. But my voice is pretty much gone. If I go, it’ll just be to sit there and listen. Or I could just stay in here (in the cold no less) and drink a lot of honey tea and hope that I get at least a bit better before tomorrow. I could e-mail my teacher saying that I’m sick and if he could just e-mail me back with this week’s handout, I’ll do that assignment for next week.

I’ve got three hours to decide, so for now, I’m listening to L&V and continuing knitting Christmas presents. :)

Okay, tonight has been odd to say the least. First of all, around nine p.m., the fire alarm went off. Nothing new there, right? Wrong. It went off because they needed to evacuate the buildings because there was a gas leak and we could have been blown to smithereens. And apparently, this gas has been present in the building for like four days. I thought I had smelled something off about twenty minutes before the alarm went off, but Lucy and Tash, two of Gabe’s flatmates, had been feeling ill and stuff and they’d told the porters about it. Several times. They hadn’t taken them seriously, but finally their foot stomping got someone to come up and check it out. Why yes, yes indeed, there’s a gas leak. *rolls eyes* So out we go. Thankfully we were allowed to go in Alexandra Hall to wait instead having to stay out in the cold and get wet from the sea spray. Remember when I said that there were big waves earlier today? Those were nothing compared to these waves (and actually, that surf is still crashing away there).

So I’m in Alexandra Hall, knitting since I had my needles in my hands when the alarm went off and I just took them with me. I don’t stop knitting in the middle of a lace row unless I really really have to. I’m sitting there, listening to Gabe tell some girl named Ruth about his grand plans for transforming the university if he were the vice chancellor or something of UWA. Eventually people left the entrance hall, probably went to the pub that’s next door now that I think about it, and soon it’s just me and those two. Then another guy I sorta recognize shows up (turns out we met at a party during our first year) and Gabe and Ruth go explore the building. Then Alex, the other guy, goes after them. So I’m all alone in the entrance hall when a group of girls and a guy come from one of the flats and ask if we can go back into our buildings yet. Told them I don’t know, no one has told me anything. We all get to chatting, they comment on my knitting and I offer to teach them how to do it. Continue chatting some more and this guy comes rushing in from outside, and in rapid German, tells the group that some guy has fallen into the sea. One of the girls translated this for me since my German really ain’t that good. Anyway. Then three of the girls Gabe lives with come rushing into to Alexandra Hall to check if Gabe’s still alive and not drowned in the sea. He’s not there, so I can’t really help them. So eventually our building dude Stefan (who’s also German btw) comes to tell me that I can go back in (I’m the only one he recognizes, but that’s because he was my tutor during my first year). I set up a time with the German girls to go yarn shopping on Monday (not tomorrow, but a week later) then come back. Squee! Other knitters! *happy dance*

Jaz is a bit pissy that I haven’t said anything to her in the past hour or so on MSN, but I tell her why and she’s cool with it. Then I’m talking with Gabe on MSN as well and he invites me over. So up I go to the third floor and chat with him, Lucy and Tash. Turns out that what they’ve heard is that the police are trying to determine if the person that went over the railing just fell or was pushed. They told me that there had been a large group of people, some holding drinks and stuff, and when people are drunk, they do stupid things. Like push people over railings because they think it’s funny in their inebriated state. No clue what actually happened though. There’ll possibly be an e-mail about it tomorrow. I hope that whoever it was that went over is okay. Those are some huge rocks beneath the railing over on this end of the beach…

The waves are awesome. Big crashes every once in a while. ^-^

Did anyone else remember that we go back an hour today? Not complaining though. Now I feel like I’ve definitely got the time to listen to L&V! Squeee! (There was a new ep last night but I had to go to bed when I found out about it).

Then again, I am feeling a bit productive right now, so I just might write up the commentary for my second portfolio.

Hmm… knitting or school work? Tough decision. I think I’ll go for the school work. It’s easier to knit on the train than it is to write a commentary. Less thinking required during stockinette.

I want to buy yarn. Like now. From Lisa Souza. I (heart) Lisa Souza. I want the Alpaca Lace and some Sock! and Sock! Merino wouldn’t hurt either. And I would looooooooooove to get some silk as well. Any silk really. A silk blend even. And Lisa’s colors… *drool* I want Milk & Honey, Emerald City, Mars Quake, Aww-tum, Printemps, Earth Birth, Little Devil, Sky Drama… the list goes on and on and on. I want almost everything that she has dyed. Seriously.

But, *sigh* I have stash. And I do actually want to get through it someday. And I am doing that. It’s just taking a long time. I just have this fear that suddenly Lisa will disappear into the ether and I’ll never get the yarn that I lust after. :(

The back of my Isabella is close to being done. Only 5.5" before I do the neckline shaping and then binding off! Yay! The 1840s scarf is turning out wonderfully. I have a feeling that it’ll take three skeins instead of just two, but that’s okay. I’ve got a third skein of the Rowan 4ply soft in my stash, it’s just a different color. Again, that’s okay because the person who’ll get this for Christmas likes both colors that I’m using.

I really feel like decluttering. That’s why I’m trying to use up all of my perfume/make-up. Then I can go buy more. Ah, I’ve been conditioned to be a consumer. And I want books! And bookshelves to house my books obviously. Storing stuff in a suitcase gets old pretty quickly. Especially when the said storage suitcases are moved into really awkward places that equate never getting to stored items because it’s a pain in the butt to get to them. Ahem. I haven’t experienced it yet personally, but I do know that my Little House and Jane Austen books are in a corner of the universe that isn’t easily accessible. Actually, what I *really* want is my own place (that I will obviously share with Oliver) where the only person who moves things around is me (and Oliver). That way, I know where it is. Simple as that.

Okay, going back to listening to L&V and knitting Isabella.

And, my dear friends, I believe I have just completed my first portfolio. 2,646 words about obsessions. And I didn’t even realize all of the pieces I wrote for the portfolio were about some sort of obsession until just now as I wrote the closing lines of my commentary. But yep, I quickly read through my portfolio and all five pieces are some form of an obsession.

Apparently, I am very interested in obsessions right now. At least I know I’m pretty good at writing about them. Y’see, today’s seminar was about how a piece of clothing tells you something about the person who owns/wears it. And I wrote a short piece about The Knitter who apparently is a bit loopy (I didn’t realize quite how crazy I had made them!) and everyone loved it. It was the only one that made people laugh and actually *talk* about.

Quick sidenote: It’s not too obsessive to notice if your needles are half a millimeter too thick for the yarn, is it? Because, that leads to gauge problems right?

At least I don’t hear my yarn talk to me unlike The Knitter. XP So if y’all wanna read about a loopy knitter (and I -just- got all of the possible meanings for loopy in this context), lemme know and I’ll e-mail it to ya. ;) It’s only a page long and feedback would be nice… *hinthint*

Took my breadloaf ends out to the beach today and fed the birds as I watched the sun set. Really pretty and no clouds! The pinks in the horizon and the gold drops of liquid light reflecting on the blue-green water… Beauteous I tell you, beauteous.

I love love love honey tea. For the life of me, I can’t remember why I don’t buy honey unless I’ve got a cold. So there is one good thing about this cold. Rediscovering a lovely hot drink.

Been working on my portfolio and knitting Isabella.

Pigeons keep trying to fly into my room, but even though my window’s open, the gap’s not big enough for them to come in: Free entertainment. XD But, there happens to be pigeon crap in the kitchen because someone keeps leaving the window open and letting them in. I refuse to clean it up this time. I’ve already been suckered into obsessively cleaning the stove; I’m not wiping up pigeon droppings as well. That job can be left to the person who keeps using my utensils (I don’t mind that part) and washes them after use (don’t mind this either) but leaves the soap to dry onto them instead of rinsing. Grr. This does seem to be a British habit though. I can count on two fingers the number of British people I know who rinse the dishes after washing them. The rest… Yum, soap.

Okay, so on Tuesdays I go to “Writing Lives” (the one with Cute Teacher). This week’s assignment is to write something based on a person’s clothing. I asked if I could write about a WIP (work in progress for you non-knitters), he said that that would be okay “and it’s actually a really interesting and original idea”.

So, I just spent the last forty minutes writing about yarn. *grin* I get to have fun and join two of my passions (for a grade too!). How lucky am I? Now I guess I should either pick up the project I wrote about or work on my portfolio. Less than 11 days to go until it has to be done. :-S