In the middle of a cornfield...

... in the middle of Illinois is where you will find me. I can see two from my hotel room window. Its odd being out in the country after NYC. And its really odd to be driving again. (but i did rent the cute yellow car)

So far work has been easy. I spent all day labeling things up. That is about as far as we have gotten on the work portion of our week. Which is a bit frustrating. Hopefully tomorrow we'll make some real headway. What we have is really simple, but taping and labeling always takes longer than you'd like it to. And I don't think my crew chief realizes the looming he is in for once we get started. He's new to the company, and we have a very specific manner of doing things, to which I get to introduce him. He is an interesting person. There is much name dropping that he does. But, as I don't know the names, it just sounds ridiculous to me. And he likes to talk for the sake of talking it seems. I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the crew at the end of next week, and having others to absorb the brunt of the personality.

My travel was uneventful. I made it to the first drop on my clapotis. So exciting. I worked a bit on the socks too, but it was just too tedious for the plane. I still haven't figured out the best way to hold the needles comfortably, which makes it really slow going. Plus the stitches don't slide as smoothly on the wooden needles. I'm trying to be conscious about not knitting too tightly, but I don't think I really know how to do that. Plus, I'm hating the ribbing part. I keep messing up on it. But I'm too lazy to go back and rework it. Perhaps I should though.

And I've just found out my hotel doesn't carry Bravo. Which means no Top Chef for me tonight. :( Sad The time zone change is also messing me up. Central Time runs their tv shows at different times... the 8 pm shows are on at 7, and so on. Its confusing me.

Leaving on a jet plane

Its my last night here in the apartment before leaving town til late June. I've been packing and organizing. Well, kind of. Mostly, I've been procrastinating and knitting. I finished the first ball of noro for the clapotis, which got me to the point of being on the very last row of the increases. I'm not sure if I'm going to throw a couple more in just for the hell of it. I think I might want it wider. I also cast on for my first ever pair of socks. I've got the first few rounds done. I think that is going to be my plane project for tomorrow.

I am a bit scared of taking my needles on the plane. I don't want TSA to take them away from me. I think I would cry. Especially if they were to take the Addis (which my clapotis is on). I'm thinking I might be safer with the wooden dps. Any one have any experience with flying in or out of LGA or ORD?

I think I do have most of my stuff packed up though. I keep finding more things though. You do forget how much you have when you live in a place for a bit. I think I have everything condensed down though. Hopefully. I've yet to try to close the suitcase. I have to drag it to the subway and then on a bus tomorrow though. Hopefully it isn't too heavy. I don't think my clothes weigh 50 lbs, but you never know. I do have several pairs of shoes and books in the bag. Those could be an issue. And along with the duffle bag that has the tools in it. Those things are heavy, which is why I need a second bag for them.

I still have dishes to do and sleep to get. My alarm will be early in the morning so I can gather up the last of everything, empty the trash, and vacuum one last time. The last night here with D was good. We ordered in some food and had a low key evening. It was so great that the week ended on such a high note.

Pictures tomorrow of projects and perhaps cornfields. Here's hoping for a smooth travel day, no over weight suitcases, no confiscated neeldes and no exploded bottles of shampoo this time around. (an entire bottle ended up all over everything last year when I took the flight to O'Hare. Teach me to pack without ziplock bags....)

Teaching myself to say no

I said no to a request last night that I normally would have caved to. It was an odd feeling. The request was for something that is not good for me, and something that I need to close the door on. If the request had been reversed, I have no doubt his answer would have been no without a second thought. Yet, it still felt strange to actually say it, as its something that I'm just not good at. It is something I need to learn more of though. To stand up for my own feelings and make sure I am getting what I want, not just providing others with what they want.

I then spent the rest of the night plagued with odd and scary dreams. Murders of friends, trials, stolen cars. How my mind combines things and creates dreams is beyond me, but I think I'll lay off the mixing of tequila and red wine for a bit. (the day started with an all you can drink mexican brunch with the girls, and finished with knitting and red wine with Alyssa.... a great day, but odd drinking combinations...)

Its odd to think I'm leaving NYC for the next six weeks. I've spent the week making the rounds of everyone and hanging out as much as possible with friends before I leave. I will miss how social my life has become, and the constant having someone to spend time with or do something fun with. I think I better get to my packing...

More Stash and new toys

My knitting friends are the best. Not only did the take me out for dinner last night, they bought me yarn so I won't get bored while I am away from them. We all met for dinner and tea at Alice's Tea Cup. It was an entertaining night, full of good food and scones and lots of tea (and even little drip catchers that had balls of yarn). I am going to miss these girls while I am away. Who knew a knitting group would lead me to form such close friendships?

I hit the yarn store here in town to get the last few things I needed to make sure I can complete projects on the road. I somehow managed to break one of my bamboo needles yesterday, so I replaced them with some addis. Which really are my favorites to work with. I also picked up some point protectors, as I'm going to be going through airport security a few times... I don't need TSA deciding that I might stab the person in the seat next to me and taking away my needles. They had these totally cute Devil and Angel Ducks at Knitty City today. And I totally turned them into tip protectors.

I need to recast on my clapotis. I dropped a stitch along the edge, and as the edges are where you add stitches to each row, the dropped stitch unraveled and I couldn't figure out how to pick back up the dropped messed. Combined with the broken needle, I just frogged the whole thing back. I'll recast on tomorrow on the addis.

(pictures of the new stash additions and the fun tip protectors to come tomorrow. I think the tea kept me up last night... It was after 4 am before I managed to fall asleep.)

Tuesday...

One week from today I leave. I kind of wish I was leaving now... its a bit rough sharing the small apartment. Especially where it has been my home for the last three months, but its still his house. I feel a bit awkward being here. We had a bit of an issue over space yesterday, but today things seem to be back to normal. Which is a good thing, as we're both here through the week.

It is going to be so different leaving on tour this year. Its exactly a year to the date that I left for my last tour. But life is so much different this year than it was last. It will be hard to be gone from the friendships and connections I have made here in the city, but nice to know I have a home to come back to. Last year, I didn't feel that way with Vegas. My relationships there were over, and other relationships in my life were all up in the air and confused beyond belief. This year, I know myself more and have a place in the world that I feel is mine. Amazing how 365 days can change so much in life. As quickly as it goes by, a year really is a long time.

Tonight was dinner with some girls, tomorrow is dinner and tea with others... And I need to do errands and clean and pack at some point. Its going to be a busy week.

Pictures

Here it is... me in my sweater.




I'm not sure I liked how it came out so cropped. I guess I too am part of the freakishly long torso club. I might try wet blocking and see if I can get a few more inches out of the wool. Also it's a bit tighter around my rib cage than I'd like. But I'm not sure there is much I can do for that.

I might knit a medium next time around. Cause, although I take an XS in most stores these days, I think the small a bit too small in this...

Happy Friday night everyone. I have a couple of movies, and some cleaning to do. And ice cream.

My first sweater

I've finished knitting the sweater. I'm working on the ends. And then some blocking. I love the way the shoulders fit. But I'm not sure about the ribbed bottom. I guess I'll see what happens after I block it. I'm excited to have finished the project though. And I love the way the yarn knitted up. Now if only I didn't dislike my ribcage so much...

Pictures to follow... once ends are woven in and blocking is underway.

And for those of you who are curious, I'll be going out with Death Cab for Cutie.... I don't know their music, but maybe you do...